place, and then, satisfied that all was well, the young inventor
gave the word, and the craft raced over the ground, to soar aloft
a little later.

Tom, Ned and Mr. Damon could look down to the meadow where the
bonfire was blazing. A crowd had collected, but the heat of the
blaze kept them at a good distance. Then, as many of the throng
caught sight of the airship overhead, there was a new interest
for them.

Tom had told Ned and Mr. Damon, before the trio had entered the
machine, what he wanted them to do. This was to toss the
chemicals overboard at the proper time. Of course in his
perfected apparatus Tom hoped to have a device by which he could
drop the fire extinguishing elements by a mere pressure of his
finger or foot, as bombs were released from aircraft during the
war. But this would serve for the time being.

Nearer and nearer the blaze the airship approached until it was
almost above it. Tom had had some experience in bomb-dropping,
and knew when to give the signal.

At last the signal came. Mr. Damon and Ned heaved over the side
the metal containers of the powerful chemicals.

Down they went, unerring as an arrow, though on a slant, caused
by the impetus given them by the speed of the airship.

Tom and his friends leaned over the side of the machine to
watch the effect. They could see the chemicals strike the blaze,