And in such a position the nerves of a novice were subject at any time to a jerk.

They might be assailed by another treacherous machine, the dangers, in truth, were uncountable, but he was upborne by a tremendous desire to carry the word and to save Lannes and himself.
In the face of intense resolve all obstacles became as nothing and his hand steadied on the rudder.

He knew that when it came to the air he was no Lannes and never could be.

The solid earth, no matter how much it rolled around the sun or around itself, was his favorite field of action, but he felt that he must make one flight, when he carried with him perhaps the fate of a nation.
The _Arrow_ was still rocking from side to side and dipping and jumping.
Slowly he steadied it, handling the rudder as if it were a loaded weapon, and gradually his heart began to pound with triumph.

It was no such flying as the hand of Lannes drew from the _Arrow_, but to John it seemed splendid for a first trial.