As she spun the "Albatross" was carried along by the spout, which pirouetted along the waves with a speed enough to make the helices jealous.

And if she escaped from the spout she might be caught by another, and jerked to pieces with the shock.
"Get the gun ready!" said Robur.
The order was given to Tom Turner, who was crouching behind the swivel amidships where the effect of the centrifugal force was least felt.

He understood.

In a moment he had opened the breech and slipped a cartridge from the ammunition-box at hand.

The gun went off, and the waterspouts collapsed, and with them vanished the platform of cloud they seemed to bear above them.
"Nothing broken on board ?" asked Robur.
"No," answered Tom Turner.