Then he turned a tap and let the stored gas, compressed in an aluminum cylinder, flow into the balloon, and restored the whole machine to its former buoyancy.

Moving more and more slowly the higher it rose, the flying-machine once more gained the height of 3000 feet, and once more swooped down from it.

At the beginning of the upward sweep, Tinker said, "Another swoop like that will bring us to Paris." The financier, who had spent the time qualifying for a place among the invertebrates, only groaned.

Tinker was disgusted; but he said, "Cheer up! You're the first man who has ever crossed the Channel in a flying-machine.

You'll be in the History books!" The car rose and rose: Tinker had just resolved to swoop from 3500 feet this time, when of a sudden she rose out of the windless area into a stiff breeze, icily chill.