seats. Then Perry glanced at the thermometer.

"Gad!" he cried, "it cannot be possible--quick! What does the

distance meter read?"

That and the speedometer were both on my side of the cabin, and as I

turned to take a reading from the former I could see Perry muttering.

"Ten degrees rise--it cannot be possible!" and then I saw him tug

frantically upon the steering wheel.

As I finally found the tiny needle in the dim light I translated

Perry's evident excitement, and my heart sank within me. But when I

spoke I hid the fear which haunted me. "It will be seven hundred

feet, Perry," I said, "by the time you can turn her into the

horizontal."

"You'd better lend me a hand then, my boy," he replied, "for I cannot

budge her out of the vertical alone. God give that our combined

strength may be equal to the task, for else we are lost."

I wormed my way to the old man's side with never a doubt but that

the great wheel would yield on the instant to the power of my young

and vigorous muscles. Nor was my belief mere vanity, for always

had my physique been the envy and despair of my fellows. And for

that very reason it had waxed even greater than nature had intended,

since my natural pride in my great strength had led me to care for

and develop my body and my muscles by every means within my power.

What with boxing, football, and baseball, I had been in training

since childhood.

And so it was with the utmost confidence that I laid hold of the

huge iron rim; but though I threw every ounce of my strength into

it, my best effort was as unavailing as Perry's had been--the

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