noon
Constantio had recognized Ben Stubbs as soon as he set eyes on him , and laughed with apparent good nature at the recollection of their meeting in Boston . He had recovered the watch the little gamin got away with , he told them , and had never mentioned to Luther Barr the fact that Ben had inspected the air-ship and then escaped , for fear of the grim old millionaire 's wrath . `` When he is mad he is like one volcano , '' he declared volubly . Breakfast over , they skimmed along through the air till noon , when Frank took an observation with the ill-fated Malvoise 's instruments . `` We ought to be falling in soon with one of the Bahama group of islands , '' he announced . `` We were not driven so far as I thought , and if we can make a landing we ought to be able to effect repairs and then fly for land . We certainly can not go much further on the supply of gas we now have , the ship is getting lower all the time . ''