"We can but try it," replied Fosterdyke. "At any rate, if we can make Panama we will manage with hydrogen for the remaining ballonets. Right-o! Pass the word when you’re ready." At seven-thirty the crew were at their stations. The for’ard portion of the airship was straining at the guide ropes. The declutched motors, purring gently at a quarter throttle, were awaiting the order that would transform them into propulsive forces. Until the planes could be brought into action the "Golden Hind" was much in the nature of a rocket soaring obliquely under the influence of a self-contained impulsive charge. Throwing open one of the windows of the riddled navigation-room, Fosterdyke surveyed the crowd below. The Federal troops, in spite of their bizarre uniforms and varied equipment, were fairly well disciplined. Those not actually engaged in holding down the airship were formed up at about fifty yards from the nacelle, interested spectators of the largest airship that had ever passed over the territory of the Central American Republic. "Let go!" shouted the baronet. The order, interpreted by the Creole who claimed to have a knowledge of English, was obeyed promptly. The men seemed to have an inkling of what would happen if they did not, and they dropped the guide ropes as though they were hot irons. Simultaneously, as the bows of the "Golden Hind" lifted, Kenyon telegraphed for "full ahead." With four of the propellers purring in their accustomed way and the two after ones roaring like gigantic buzzers, as the jagged edges revolved rapidly in the air, the "Golden Hind" ascended obliquely, with her major axis inclined at an angle of forty degrees to the horizontal. The Federal troops were waving their nondescript headgear and brandishing their rifles in token of farewell. Doubtless they were cheering and shouting also, but the noise of the airship’s propellers out-voiced all extraneous sounds. At a height of one thousand feet the six planes were trimmed and brought into action, with the result that the "Golden Hind" settled down on almost an even keel. Four minutes later the scene of the unfortunate "regrettable incident" was lost to sight. "Thanks be, we’re up!" ejaculated Fosterdyke. CHAPTER XX--WIRELESS REPORTS "Kenyon!" exclaimed the baronet. "Sir?" "We’ll cut Panama," was Fosterdyke’s astounding decision. "We’ll carry straight away on. She’s doing splendidly, shortage of brodium notwithstanding. We’ve plenty of fuel, so it’s a dash for Madeira." "How about reporting at the Panama control?" asked Kenneth. "I’ll risk omitting that," replied Sir Reginald. "Being mixed up in a potty revolution is quite sufficient excuse for non-compliance with regulations. It isn’t as if we were bound to report ourselves, as in the case of Auckland. Bramsdean, you might ask the wireless operator to report us to Panama, and enquire if there’s any news of our rivals. Last night’s affair has given von Sinzig a very useful lead, I’m afraid."