He was out to win the Chauvasse Prize. The sum went to the man who succeeded in flying round the world in twenty days. There was no stipulation to the effect that only one airship, flying-boat, aeroplane, or seaplane must be used throughout the flight. Therefore, since the goal was within a comparatively easy distance, he hoped to complete the circuit in the Albatross, and thus win the coveted prize. CHAPTER XXII--THE END OF Z64 "By Jove! Kenyon, what’s that over on our starboard bow?" exclaimed Bramsdean. Kenneth raised his binoculars and focussed them on a dark object in the direction indicated. "That," he replied after a brief survey, "is a Zepp. There’s not much mistake about that. She is also in difficulties apparently, since Zepps don’t generally assume an angle of forty-five degrees. It is also reasonable to assume that it is Z64, since we know that von Sinzig was keeping a course slightly divergent to ours. The southerly wind has evidently driven her northward." Fosterdyke was asleep in his cabin, but upon hearing the news he hurried to the navigation-room. "Are we Pharisees or Good Samaritans, sir?" enquired Kenyon. "Do we pass by on the other side, or do we stop to render assistance?" "It strikes me that something more than assistance is required," replied the baronet. "Obviously our friend von Sinzig is out of the running. His airship is down and out. If there are any of the crew on board, we’ll be just in time to prevent them losing the number of their mess." Z64 was in a very bad way. The after part of the envelope was half submerged. The rearmost gondola was entirely so. The foremost car was rising and falling owing to the slight buoyancy of the for’ard ballonets. At one moment it was thirty or forty feet above the water, at another it was smacking the surface and sending the spray far and wide. "Keep to windward," ordered Fosterdyke. "There are men still on board," replied Peter. "A dozen more or less are hanging on to the catwalk." "It’ll be rather a proposition to get them off," said the baronet. "We haven’t a boat; neither apparently have they, and I don’t like the idea of running alongside a half-submerged gas-bag. With this heavy swell there’s no knowing what might happen." "We might run out a hawser and take her in tow," suggested Kenyon. "I mean, tow her until we get the crew off by means of an endless line." "Might do," half agreed Fosterdyke. "It would be decidedly awkward if our head fell away and we drifted in broadside on to the wreckage. We’ll try it. Tell Jackson to get a hawser ready, and see there is a slip fitted in case we have to cast off in a hurry."