She shot like a rocket over the towns and villages so numerous in northern France.

She was flying straight on to Paris, and after Dunkirk came Doullens, Amiens, Creil, Saint Denis.

She never left the line; and about midnight she was over the "city of light," which merits its name even when its inhabitants are asleep or ought to be.
By what strange whim was it that she was stopped over the city of Paris?
We do not know; but down she came till she was within a few hundred feet of the ground.

Robur then came out of his cabin, and the crew came on to the deck to breathe the ambient air.
Uncle Prudent and Phil Evans took care not to miss such an excellent opportunity.

They left their deck-house and walked off away from the others so as to be ready at the propitious moment.