“One good thing,” Jack told them; “very little danger of a collision, such as vessels are likely to encounter in so dense a fog.”

“No, the air passage across the Atlantic hasn’t become so popular yet that we have to keep blowing a fog horn while sailing,” laughed Colin.

All of them were feeling considerably brighter, now that their wonderful venture seemed to be drawing close to a successful termination.  If only their luck held good and allowed them to make a safe landing, they felt they would have good reason for gratitude.

“What makes it feel so queer at times?” Jack asked later on.  “Why, I seem to have the blood going to my head, just as happened when looping the loop, and hanging too long in stays.”

“I’ve noticed the same thing myself,” added Colin briskly, “and tried to figure out the cause.  Tom, what do you say about it?”

“A queer situation has arisen, according to my calculation,” the pilot told them.  “Fact is, without being able to see a solitary thing anywhere about us, above or below, it’s often impossible to know when we’re sailing on a level keel, or flying upside down!”

“That’s a fact,” admitted Lieutenant Beverly.  “When you haven’t the slightest thing to guide you, stars, sun, or earth, how can you tell which is up or which is down?  We go forward because of the compass; but part of the time I do believe, just as you say, Tom, we’ve been flying upside-down!”

“I don’t fancy this way of flying,” Tom announced.  “I think it would be better for us to climb in order to see if we can get out of this pea-soup.”

“Ditto here!” echoed Jack.  “I’m getting dizzy, with it all, and my head feels twice as heavy as ordinary.  You can’t mount any too soon to please me, Tom.”

Lieutenant Beverly was not averse, it seemed, so the call became unanimous.

“All we want is to sight land,” the Lieutenant remarked.  “Then we can start for the interior, and try to pick a nice soft spot for landing without getting all smashed up.”

Later on he was reminded of that wish by Jack, for they certainly found such a spot, as future events proved.

By climbing to a considerable height it was found that they could avoid the uncomfortable experiences that had befallen them closer to the surface of the ocean.  Here the sun was shining, and while clouds floated around them there was no longer a chance of the plane being inverted.

Jack could make out land at times, though still faintly seen, and lying low on the uncertain horizon.

“I wonder if that can be Virginia I see?” he sometimes said; but talking more to himself than trying to make the others hear.

“It isn’t far away at most, Jack,” Beverly assured him; for he sympathized with Jack and the reason the other had for longing to get to the home town ahead of his scheming cousin.

“Show me the chart and just about where we ought to be right now, Tom,” said Jack.  “That is, if it’s no trouble.”