I rested leisurely upon my back, trying to avoid giving way to excitement and wondering how long I could last, when suddenly a dark object swept across the sky, approaching me with marvelous rapidity. In an instant I knew it was the biplane, and the knowledge so excited me that it was almost fatal. I rolled over and began to sink; then I struggled to the surface to find the airship just over me. “Catch hold of the frame—here—anywhere!” called an eager voice—eager though it strove to be calm. I raised myself and made a frantic effort to obey, but failed and sank again. When I came to the surface a moment later the biplane was circling over the bay. Again it came toward me, and this time it dipped until it nearly touched the water. I grabbed the frame as it passed by and clung to it desperately, for it nearly jerked my arms from their sockets. Arrows were whizzing about me in a cloud; the natives were shouting angrily and a thousand boats were rushing toward us; but the next instant I was high in the air, dangling from the frail crossbar of the lower plane, and my safety was only a question of whether I could hang on or not. A face bent over me from the seat and stared into mine—a girl’s face. “Lucia!” I cried in wonder. “Save your breath and hold on!” she returned. “Can you manage it, Sam?” “I’ll try—for awhile.” “Till we get to the ship?” “I—I’m afraid not.” Indeed, this rush through the air was fast driving the life out of me. My arms and hands were so numb there was no feeling in them at all. Lucia had straightened up to attend to the machine, and the next thing I knew I bumped the earth, lost my hold, and went rolling over and over. “Quick!” cried the girl. “Let me help you.” I sat up, quite dazed, and glanced about me. We were in an open field, just now deserted by the natives, and Alfonso’s _Antoinette_ rested upon the ground a short distance away. I could not have stood alone, but Lucia dragged me to my feet and half supported me while I tottered to the machine. It was a great effort to climb aboard, but the girl, naturally strong and rendered doubly so by excitement, got me into the seat and then deftly started the motors as she sprang up beside me. The machine rolled along the ground a little way, lifted its nose and then soared into the air like a bird. I was still marveling at the girl’s wonderful control of the aëroplane when the ship came in sight. We dipped downward, the motor ceased to whir and the next moment we gracefully alighted full upon the deck of the ship. A mighty cheer rang in my ears. Then all turned black and I lost consciousness. CHAPTER XVI THE WAY IT HAPPENED