For it was not the wing itself but the force of the
eddying currents of air that had sent him whirling away from the
monster. With the indicator at zero the magnetic currents and the
opposing powers of attraction and repulsion were so evenly balanced
that any violent atmospheric disturbance affected him in the same way
that thistledown is affected by a summer breeze. He had noticed
something of this before, but whenever a strong wind was blowing he
was accustomed to rise to a position above the air currents. This was
the first time he had slept with the indicator at zero.
The huge birds at once renewed their attack, but Rob had now recovered
his wits sufficiently to draw the electric tube from his pocket. The
first one to dart towards him received the powerful electric current
direct from the tube, and fell stunned and fluttering to the surface
of the sea, where it floated motionless. Its mate, perhaps warned by
this sudden disaster, renewed its circling flight, moving so swiftly
that Rob could scarcely follow it, and drawing nearer and nearer every
moment to its intended victim.
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