As the "Albatross" drifted off from Pitt Island she rose obliquely to nearly three thousand feet.
It was necessary to increase the ascensional power to prevent her falling into the sea.
When the look-out man had got clear of his gag and shouted, Robur and Tom Turner had rushed up to him and torn off his bandage.
The mate had then run back to the stern cabin. It was empty!
Tapage had searched Frycollin's cabin, and that also was empty.
When he saw that the prisoners had escaped, Robur was seized with a paroxysm of anger.
The escape meant the revelation of his secret to the world.
He had not been much concerned at the document thrown overboard while they were crossing Europe, for there were so many chances that it would be lost in its fall; but now!
As he grew calm,
"They have escaped," said he. "Be it so!
But they cannot get away from Pitt Island, and in a day or so I will go back!
I will recapture them!
And then --"
In fact, the safety of the three fugitives was by no means assured.
The "Albatross" would be repaired, and return well in hand.
Before the day was out they might again be in the power of the engineer.
Before the day was out!
But in two hours the
"Albatross" would be annihilated!
The dynamite cartridge was like a torpedo fastened to her hull, and would accomplish her destruction in mid-air.
The breeze freshened, and the aeronef was carried to the northeast.
Although her speed was but moderate, she would be out of sight of the Chatham Islands before sunrise.
To return against the wind she must have her propellers going, particularly the one in the bow.
"Tom," said the engineer, "Turn the lights full on."
"Yes, Sir."
"And all hands to work."
"Yes, Sir."
There was no longer any idea of putting off the work till tomorrow.
There was now no thought of fatigue.
Not one of the men of the "Albatross" failed to share in the feelings of his chief.
Not one but was ready to do anything to recapture the fugitives!
As soon as the screw was in place they would return to the island and drop another anchor, and give chase to the fugitives.
Then only would they begin repairing the stern-screw; and then the aeronef could resume her voyage across the Pacific to X Island.
It was important, above all things, that the
"Albatross" should not be carried too far to the northeast, but unfortunately the breeze grew stronger, and she could not head against it, or even remain stationary.
Deprived of her propellers she was an unguidable balloon.
The fugitives on the shore knew that she would have disappeared before the explosion blew her to pieces.
Robur felt much disappointment at seeing his plans so interfered with.
Would it not take him much longer than he thought to get back to his old anchorage?
While the work at the screw was actively pushed on, he resolved to descend to the surface of the sea, in the hope that the wind would there be lighter.
Perhaps the
"Albatross" would be able to remain in the neighborhood until she was again fit to work to windward.
The maneuver was instantly executed.
If a passing ship had sighted the aerial machine as she gunk through the air, with her electric lights in full blaze, with what terror would she have been seized!
When the "Albatross" was a few hundred feet from the waves she stopped.
Unfortunately Robur found that the breeze was stronger here than above, and the aeronef drifted off more rapidly.
He risked being blown a long, way off to the northeast, and that would delay his return to Pitt Island.
In short, after several experiments, he found it better to keep his ship well up in the air, and the "Albatross" went aloft to about ten thousand feet.
There, if she did not remain stationary, the drifting was very slight.
The engineer could thus hope that by sunrise at such an altitude he would still be in sight of the island.