will ye? Oh, if we could only climb up like that!"

Professor Featherwit was keenly watching and closely studying
that very phenomena through all, and now he gave a queer little
chuckle, as he nodded his head with vigour, before dryly
speaking.

"Well, it might be done; yes, it might be done, and that with no
very serious difficulty, my lad."

"How? Why not try it on, then?"

"To meet with instant death outside?" sharply queried Bruno. "It
would be suicidal to make the attempt, even if we could; which I
doubt."

Waldo gave a sudden cry, pointing upward where, far above that
destructive storm, could be seen a brace of buzzards floating on
motionless wings, wholly undisturbed by the tumult below.

"If we were only like that!" the lad cried, longingly. "If a
flying-machine could be built like those turkey-buzzards! I
wish--well, I do suppose they're about the nastiest varmints ever
hatched, but just now I'd be willing to swap, and wouldn't ask
any boot, either!"

Apparently the professor paid no attention to this boyish plaint,
for he was fumbling in the locker, then withdrew his hand and
uncoiled an ordinary fish-line, with painted float attached.