Frank Reade Library No. 73: Six Weeks in the Clouds — page 3: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

, - SIX WEEKS ‘¢T should say not!” agreed Frank. ‘‘ Indeed, Mr. Warden, I am very much interested in this case, and I will surely help you all I can.” A cry of joy escaped Warden’s lips. ‘¢ Bless you for that!” hecried. ‘I knew that you would do it! Oh, if you will only find and rescue them I will, give oan all 1 have in the world!” “Tt will try,” replied Frank. vi You have just completed your new air-ship, I hear?” ‘Tie Thunderbolt of the Skies? Yes, and I feel proud of it.” ‘¢T wish that I might take a look at it.” ‘© You shall!” Frank touched a bell. After a moment the door opened, and a short, diminutive darky as black as a coal appeared. ‘* Pomp,” said Frank, ‘‘you and Barney may open the store-liouse doors and roll the Thunderbolt out under the glass roof, 1 wish to show her to this gentleman.” “ A’right, sab!” replied the darky, bobbing his head in a comical fashion. ‘ Tse jes’ gwine to do as yo’ say, sal.’ And Pomp vanished. Mr. Warden could not restrain a smile. ‘¢ What a comical darky!” he said. ‘ Ole of your servants, I sup- ose?” ‘‘Pomp and Barney are my two most devoted friends,” replied Frank, warmly. ‘‘ Barney is equally as faithful and valuable a man as Pomp. He is an Irishman of the purest kind. These two men are inevitably my traveling companions wherever I go.’ ‘« And you are fortunate, “indeed, in having them,” said Mr, Warden. ‘*T presume you will take them upon this trip?” ‘¢ Certainly.” But they now left the office and crossed the broad yard, The doors of the storehouse had been opened as directed, and there in full view was the new air-ship. Warden gazed at it in supreme astonishment. “ Weil, I never!’ he exclaimed, ‘‘ Truly this is worth coming far to see.” One glance at the Pair-ship was sufficient to establish its feasibility. And at “the same time one wondered why these simple plans had not been attempted by some previous inventor. ‘‘Then the air-ship is at last a settled fact!’ exclaimed Warden, ‘‘for all time this has been regarded ag the supreme of problems.” “ And it would have been ‘mastered long before, if inventors had only went at it with confidence and the same application that they have put into other triumphs.” ‘‘T believe you are right,” agreed Warden. problem might still remain unsolved.” “Possibly,” said Frank, “but now let me explain to you, the method by which I gain ascent!” ‘* Pray do so!” ‘*You as a school boy probably were familiar with the principle of the paper rotascope?” ‘¢T have made many of them and sent them sailing about the room,” replied Warden. ‘¢Very good! My principle of overcoming gravitation is exactly the same. Five large rotuscopes are the instiuments with which I elevate my ship. ‘¢ And they are driven by——” a Electrica! engines, made as light and portable as possible. show you.’ And Frank proceeded to describe in detail, the Thunderbolt of the Skies. ‘* Yet, but for you the I will ——_—_—— = ” CHAPTER IL. THE AIR-SHIP—THE START. In shape the Thunderbolt resembled a long canoe at the bow and a cylinder at the stern. The hull was made of thin but highly-tempered sheets of lightest platinum and steel. These were secured by cleverly made joints. At intervals windows with gratiny,s were placed in the hull. Above the hull rose five light masts, to which were attached swiftly revolving rotascopes. These were the means of causing the air-ship to ascend. rear was a huge six bladed propeller made of thinnest steel. At the rear end of the long cylindrical hull was a platform which extended two-thirds of the way along the hull on either side and was provided with a guard rail. From this platform a swinging ladderhung for descent to the ground. The entrance was in the rear by means of a broad door. Forward was a p.lot-house{in which were the steering gear and the electrical keyboard for the running of the engines. Plate vlass win- dows were in front. This is rather a meager description of the outside of the air-ship. With this brief inspection Frank led his visitor into the interior. Here the most wonderful sights were revealed. First of all was the long cabin, richly furnished, with neat fittings of stuffed leather, satin and raw silk. Bookcases were set in the wall, containing valuable works of science and books of reference. Next to the main cabin was the dinjng room, then the state-rooms, half a dozen in number. Beyond these was the armory and magazine. Here were stored in racks rifles of the latest approved pattern, small arms, and two light dynamite gung, one on each side of tlie alr- ship. In the é htantinsetthcnretn THE CLOUDS, | 3 =a = Their muzzles were thrust through ports in the side. Warden look- ed at them in amazement. ‘¢ How ig that?” he exclaimed. an air-ship?” Frank laaghed. “Look!” he said. He put a hand upon the barrel of one of the guns and lifted it easily. Warden was astonished. ‘‘How in the mischief Go you do that?’ he asked. dummies?” ‘*Not a bit of it,” reptied Frank; ‘‘but the barrel is of thinnest steel. You can see that the bore is quite small.” ‘‘True, but I should think that a common rifle cartridge would blow them up. How do they resist the charge?” ‘*Kasily enough. The charge does not explode i inthe gun. Not until the projectile strikes the target does it explode.” Warden was mystified. ‘‘How do you get the propulsory power, then?” he asked. ‘¢‘ Pneumatic pressure.” ‘“*Wonderful!” ‘‘My projectiles are of dynamite. Compressed air throws them easily a mile. This makes the most deadly gun on record.” ‘‘T should say so. But where will you ever need such a gun?” Frank laughed at this. ‘‘There are parts of the world where I can assure you it will be needed to maintain one’s rights.” ‘“‘T dare say. Well, there is a fortune in tha! patent. ment no doubt would. pay you well for it.” ‘‘ Perhaps so, but I ani not after such pay. secret of the invention.” ‘¢ Well, you are wise.” ‘¢ Now, let me show you the electric engines.” Frank led the way forward, and they entered the engine-room of the air-skip. ‘*¢ How can you carry guns aboard ‘* Are they The govern- I prefer to retain the fore. The intricate and delicate machinery was a revelation. He inspected it curiously. Every little detail was explained by Frank. drew a deep breath and said: ‘“ This is indeed a rare treat. I shall not soon forget it.” ‘‘Now,” said Frank, leading the way to the main cabin, ‘ST will as- sign this state-room to you. Within twenty-four hours I shall make the start. I hope you will be ready.” ‘© T shall,” declared Warden, emphatically, ‘‘and I can never fully express iny gratitude lo you for your great kindness.” ‘Do not speak of that,” said Frank. With this, Warden took hia leave. Of course the newspapers got hold of the affair. It was altogether a very romantic affair, the wedding in the balloon, the mysterious fate of the aeronauts, and the proposal of Frank Reade, Jr., to go in quest of them with his famous air-ship. Thousands of people became so deeply interested in the affair, that all manner of communications began to pour in upon Frank Reade, Jr. Some were letters of inquiry, others had various requests and not a few begged the privilege of accompanying the young inventor upon his aerial voyage. Frank treated them with silence. The waste basket caught most of them. Indeed to have answered all would have required the aid of an army of clerks for many weeks. So this was out of the question as well as bad taste. Preparations were quickly made for the aerial voyage. Barney and Pomp were obliged to hustle for all they were worth. They were, however, overjoyed at the prospect of a voyuge in the air. While the warmest of friends they were both lively as crickets and fond of playing pranks each upon the other. It was even up between them as to which got the best of this. Sometimes Barney came out ahead and sometimes Pomp. ‘¢T jes’ tell yo’ one fing, ish,” said Pomp, in a bantering tone. ‘It yo’ ever shows yo’ head above de rail de people on de earth will done fink dere am a new sun come out ob de sky, or mebbe dar am a ball ob red fire hanging ober ’em.’ Barney dropped the article he was lugging, and turned upon his defamer. ‘“ Arrah, an’ don’t yez be afther reflectin’ on the color av me hair! Shure it’s a black cloud as will darken the earth, when yez get up aloft.” This was hitting Pomp back with his own weapons. The darky wag silent a moment, then he resumed: ‘“* Huh! clouds kain’t dono harm. But if de world got on fiah, what den? But I ‘say, honey, wha’ am yo’ gwine to do for the ‘crather’ when yo’ gits up dar?” ‘‘ Never yez moind!” retorted Barney, with a twinkle in his keen eyes, ‘I niver was left yet for a bit av whisky wheniver me stomach felt the need av it.” ‘¢ Yah, but dere ain’ none up in de clouds. Nuffin’ but water.” “© Whist now, an’ do yez think I’ll be afther lavin’ Readestown: an’ not carry a bit av consolation wid me?” ‘¢ But Marse Frank done say dat we kin hab no whisky on bo’d!” ‘‘ Begorra, that’s fer the loikes av such as ye. But I’m the gintle- man as knows how to use it. See?” And Barney snapping his ugeeten in the darky’s face, puffed away a When all was over, he Here Warden beheld work which he had never seen the like of be- JOO (CCOMNMUC SS (GO)