“Go to it then!” called out the other, who was plainly “on edge” with excitement over the wonderful fact that they were at last on their way.

“Drop that formality from this time on,” said Beverly earnestly.  “Forget that I happen to rank you, for I’m sure your commissions are only delayed in the coming.  From now on let it be either plain Colin, or if you prefer, Beverly.  We’re three chums in a boat—­a ship of the air, to be exact—­and all ranking on a level.  You’ll agree to that, won’t you, Jack?”

“You bet I will, Colin, and it’s just like you to propose it!” cried the pleased Jack.

After that they fell silent again, though now and then Jack, who was making good use of the night-glasses, announced that they seemed to be passing over some city.

Tom had studied their intended course so thoroughly that he was able to tell with more or less accuracy what some of those places were.  In so doing he always kept in mind the probable speed at which the big plane was traveling.

They had veered a little, and would not come anywhere near Liverpool or Dublin, as Jack had suspected might be the case until he looked over the chart Tom had marked.  On the contrary, their new course would carry them over the south of England, and just cut across the lower part of Ireland; indeed, the latter might have been skipped entirely with profit to themselves in miles gained, only it seemed natural they should want to keep in touch with land just as long as possible.

How steadily the giant plane moved majestically through the realms of space several miles above the earth!  Tom found himself fascinated by the working of the motors from the very minute he first heard them take up their steady labor.  Surely, if the feat were at all within the bounds of possibilities, they had, as Lieutenant Beverly said, “a fighting chance.”

Of course there was always impending danger.  Any one of a score of accidents was liable to happen, especially after the engines had been constantly working hour after hour.

Such things may bother an aviator when over the enemy’s country, because if a landing seems necessary in order to avoid a fatal drop, there must always arise the risk of capture.  How much more serious would even the smallest engine trouble become, once they were far out over the ocean with nothing in sight as far as the eye could reach save an endless vastness of rolling waters beneath, and passing clouds overhead?

Tom, however, would not allow himself to brood upon these possibilities, and when they flashed across his mind he persistently banished them.  Sufficient to the day was the evil thereof; and if difficulties arose they must meet them bravely, doing the best they could, and accepting the results in the spirit of Columbus, who was the pioneer in spanning the Atlantic.

Jack now made a discovery that caused him to call out again.

“I believe we’ve left the land again, and it’s water down under us right now, fellows!” he called shrilly, his voice sounding above the clamor by which they were continually surrounded.