Frank Reade Library No. 73: Six Weeks in the Clouds — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

SIX WEEKS IN THE CLOUDS. Below, the storm was still thundering and bellowing. Frank lashed the wheel and sprung down into the cabin. ‘* ffello!” he shouted. ‘‘ Are you all alive down there?” ‘‘ Berorra, much as ever!” cried Barney. ‘* Shurely me back is broke in two!” * Golly, 1 done fink mah shins am busted!” declared Pomp, with a wail. Mr. Warden was badly used up himself, but he said, cheerily: ‘¢Tam thankful that it was no worse. IJ thought it was the end of us, Frank!” ‘‘ Well, I was in great fear myself for a while,” said Frank. ‘¢ Then the air-ship is all right?” ‘¢T believe 80. She may be somewhat wrenched, but not seriously injured I hope. An examinativn will show.” And this Frank hastily proceeded to make. found the vessel intact. There was really reasor for mutual congratulation, for the escape had been a narrow one. ‘One thing is sure,” declared Frank. ‘* Weshall take great care to keep out of the way of storms hereafter.” ' All were surprised at the long duration of the storm. The ascent had been made at three o’clock in the afternoon and now it was fast growing dark. Night was at hand. Soon darknegs settled down everywhere. The blue firmament over- head with its myriad stars seemed fully as far off as if viewed from the earth. All was blackness below. But Frank trained the search-light to bear upon the earth and the result was wonderful. The ray of light sent down through all that space was reflected back aa if from a mirror. Frank Reade, Jr., understood this. ‘It is water!” he exclaimed. ‘* We are above one of the big lakes; probably Lake Michigan.” ‘¢ Indeed!” exclaimed Mr. Warden. reach British North America.” ‘¢ Oh, yes,” replied Frank. 5 Then he touched the rotascope lever and the air-ship began to settle own. ‘Tam going to make sure if it is a large lake or not,” he said. ‘‘ Mercy only Knows where that storm might have blown us.” Down the air-ship rapidly settled. And as it did the surface of the water became enlarged and plainer under the search-light’s glare. From a height of two miles the air-ship descended to within a thousand feet of the lake’s surface. Then twinkling lights were seen near by. The search-light being turned in that direction showed a large steamer plowing its way ulong, The pecple even could be seen upon her decks, dently astonished at sight of the air-ship. The sleamer’s siren whistle sounded a repeated salute. Frank answered by tiring an electric projectile ahead some distance into the water. The effect was grand to witness. The full glare of the search-light was turned upon the miniature cat- aract which arose from the lake. The steamer had slackened her engines and laid to. Frank saw her oflicers on the bridge and that the captain had a speaking trumpet. ‘* Ahoy, up there!” came the stentorian bail from the steamer. ‘¢ Ahoy the steamer!” replied Frank. ‘s What kind of a balloon do you call that?” ‘“« This is not a balloon!” ‘‘ What the devil is it then?” ‘Frank Reade, Jr.’s air-ship, the Thunderbolt of the Skies!” ‘“The deuce you say! We have heard of that invention, but sup- posed it only a newspaper story. So you are Frank Reade, Jr.?” ‘* Yes,” ‘‘ Well, come down on deck and see us!” ‘‘T can’t do that,” replied Frank, ‘‘ but now please to answer my questions.” * All right!” ‘What steamer is that?” ‘‘The Lake City, excursion steamer boand for Chicago. Ernest Brand.” ‘Well, Captain Brand, I wish y6u good-night and a fair voyage!” shouted Frank. Then he touched the rotascope lever, and up shot the air-ship. Up a mile into the sky it rose. Then Frank set the lever and the wheel. cabin and said: ‘¢T know you must all be very tired. we have some sleep.” ‘Good! cried Warden. ‘‘I am more than willing:” ‘‘Now, Barney!” said the young inventor. ‘‘ You are to watch until two o’clock. Pomp will relieve you then. Call me at five!” Then Frank retired to rest. Routine had begun on board the air- ship. | To his great joy he ‘’ At this rate we shall soon They were evi- Captain Us came down 1nto the Iam myself and propose that CHAPTER IV. BARNEY VICTIMIZES POMP. ALL that night the air-ship sailed on through space. The pace was a moderate one, and yet in the morning it was seen by the register that she had sailed ninety miles. ee er 0 er _— Lake Michigan had teen crossed and left to the eastward. Frank now set the course toward Manitoba. Little could be seen of the country below from their dizzy height. But Mr. Warden did not seem specially interested in what was be- low. He watched the sky incessantly with a powernl pair of glasses. For his belief was firm that his friends would yet be drifting around in space in their unmanageable balloon. All that day the air-ship kept on at full speed. But not a speck ap- peared in the sky. So far no trace of the lost balloon had been seen. ing for a needl¢ in a haystack. But Mr. Warden would not relinquish bis sanguine hopes. ‘* We shall find her yet,” he said. “Yet think of the slender chances!” said Frank. may have taken the balloon across the Pacific.” ‘¢T do not think that is possible!” Why?’ ‘Storms do not travel os far without spending their force. More- over, there are certain air currents about the northwest which I be- lieve would keep the ballon for an indefinite period sailing about within a certain radius,” ‘* Your theory is logical!” declared Frank. way to study out those air currents!” ‘Our meteorological maps might enable us to do it in a measure!” “That ig true. We will consult them. But—here is another problem!” What?” ‘¢The danger of the balloon ascending into the rarified atmosphere. Perbaps this has happened.” ‘* Which would be fatal to all in the car?” ‘¢ Yes!” ‘‘T do not believe it!” said Warden, knitting his brows. “Why not?” ‘¢ The ballon would rot carrysufficient gas to carry it Lo such an ele- vation. I believe it would maintain a stationary position so far as elevation goes.” ‘¢ Well, you may be right,” agreed Frank. do all we can to find the party.” For daya the air-ship kept on. The days passed into a week. The plans of the aeornauts had resolved themselves into merely ful- lowing the various air currents and keeping watch of the sky. This wes all done by Warden’s direction, who would not listen to a theory that the party had made a descent. ‘Tf we can only sight them before their supplies give out, we will gave them!” he said, with a deep sigh. One week had passed. Tired of unsatisfactory cruising about in a certain radius, Frank ha@ taken a new course to the northward. This brought them almost to the land of snow and ice. And here, the first thrilling incident to support Warden’s theories occurred. Dark clouds hung in the zenith. It was near the close of day, and darkness was at hand. had been out on deck. He was watching intently a distant ragged cloud. Suddenly from it a huge object seemed to glide. stood like one in a daze, Then a great wild cry escaped his lips. ‘‘Itis! Ibis!” he yelled. ‘* Hooray! come all! It is the balloon!” But when the others excited bevond measure reached the spot there was no bailoon in sight. It had been visible but a moment drifting from one cloud into aa- other. ; It might have been un illusion for all the proof there was, but Warden would not relinquish his claim. ‘‘Tt is the balloon!” he said. ‘I tell you I saw it. cloud!” Of course the air-ship was sent forward at a rapid rate of speed. The cloud was reached and penetrated. Electric signals were made, guns were fired, the search-light employed to pierce the cloud, bat all in vain. The aeronauts if in the vicinity did not make reply. beside himself. ‘‘It is too bad,” he cried, with grief and dismay, ‘‘ they were right in our reach. I tell you I saw them. And now to think that we should lose them.” ‘¢ But for the clouds we could very soon tell whether your eyesight was good or not,” said Frank. ‘* We will wait until morning. They may disperse then.” “‘T don’t know about that,” said Warden with a shake of his head. ‘¢We are in a cloudy part of the world. The sun sometimes does not show itself here for weeks.” ‘*Keep up your heart!” cried Frank. here we shall be sure to find it.” ‘¢ Ah, but the clouds?” ‘‘ Never mind, they shall not prevent it.” ‘* We shall see.” Darkness now shut Gown rapidly. It was nou darkness of the ordinary kind, either. The searchlight would not penetrate it, as it was partly composed of the material of the clouds. Frank’s plan would have been to descend to the earth and trust to getting a better view from there 1n the morning. It was like look- “Some storm ‘¢T wish I knew some ‘At any rate, we will Warden For a moment he Make for that Warden was ‘“‘Jf the balloon is really 5 COMICMHOoks G (CO)