Frank Reade Library No. 73: Six Weeks in the Clouds — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

9 «se 8 SIX WEEKS IN THE CLOUDS. that any Yankee encroachin’ on her majesty’s huntin’ grounds, which is patented to ther Hudson Bay Fur Company, is guilty, an’ should be arrested.” ‘‘ Nonsense!” replied Frank, ‘‘ that applies to hunters. such!” ‘‘How in tarnation do we know that? Howsundever, ye’re our prisoners, an’ this air-ship will make us a nice littlhe gocart. Eh, pards? An’ when I’m dune with it, I’m goin’ tew send it to Queen Victoria tew ride in from Windsor down to London!” And the ruffian laughed fiendishly, in which he was joined by his companions. They had all risen, and were holding cocked revolvers in their hands. Frank saw that for the moment the air-ship was at the mercy of ths wretches. But he did not lose courage. This would have been fatal. It was his province to now find a way out of the scrape. quite equal to the emergency. But he realized that it was best. for a time to humor the whims of his foe. So he said quietly: ‘““Then we are your prisoners?” “ Yas!” replied the villain, emphatically. ‘* But [ had no idea of receiving such treatment as this when I janded here!” ‘Then ye’re disappointed, ain’t ye?” ‘Yes, but I can’t see what you are going to gain.” “Why not?” ‘You cannot make the air-ship fly!” The villain looked nonplused. ‘*T can make you show me!” he said, finally. “Tf I will!” ‘* You will,” said the villain, fiendishly. ‘‘ Or I'll blow yer brains out. Yew won’t dare to refuse!” ‘* Tf you insist upon it!” said Frank, warily, ‘‘ but the ship cannot fly with sc many on board!” Wimans’ was thoughtful a moment. Then a gleam of compretension flashed from his eyes. ‘* How many will she carry up?” he asked. “ Perhaps a dozen!” Wimans turaed to his companions. * All get off but a dozen of ye!” he ordered, ‘‘ I’m goin’ tew take a leetle ride On this masneen. ‘‘It’ll be a dandy thing tew hunt eagles with.” The majority of the trappers left the air-ship. his revolver upon Frank and said: ‘* Show me how ter make her fly, or I’ll make a copper sieve of ye!” Frank led the way to the pilot-house. He managed to wink at his companions as he passed. In the pilot-house he proceeded to show Wimans the mechanism. But he took pains to show him the wrong thing. ‘‘ Now pat both hands on this bar,” he said. and see the air-ship rise.” . Wimans immediately obeyed. As he stepped forward, he placed his feet upon an iron plate in the floor of the pilot-house. Connected with this was a wire, which Frank had skillfully arranged, ee the latter was held in connection with the dynamos by a push ulton. As the villain put his feet upon the steel plate, Frank instantly pushed the button in. The result was thrilling. Like a flash, Wimang threw up his arms and fell without a groan. He had been instantly shocked into insensibility. This had not been seen by his companions on deck. Had it, the re- sult would have been different. Frank now Knew that he had the dozen villains on deck to settle accounts with. But how was he to do it? “Suddenly he ran out to the guard rail and twisted a small wire around it. It was of steel, Just forward where the villains were, a long seat extended, the rail forming its back. In sitting upon it one was obliged to come in contact with the rail. Frank returned to the pilot house. It was an inatant’s work to connect the wire to a lever, which on being turned would throw the current into the railing. This done, Frank now considered how he was to get his birds into the trap. In order to make a success of it he must induce his foes to sit down upon the long seat. Fortunately a happy idea came to him. He was a clever mimic in the matter of voice. Simulating Wimans’ voice to perfection, he shouted: ‘‘ Hey there, pards! All sit down by ther rail. tew start an’ yew must balance her.” Unsuspectingly the twelve villains obeyed. Frank Reade, Jr. Withont a moment’s delay he switched on the current. The effect was wonderful. Twelve men were hurled from the settee as from a Catapult. Not one but was shocked into insensibility. They lay in a heap on the deck. At the same moment Frank pressed the rotascope lever. Up shot the air-ship six hundred feet. We are not He was Then Wimans held ‘¢Press hard on it Ther ship is goin’ It was success for i Then Barney and Pomp and Warden, wild with joy, came rushing into the pilot-house. They surrounded Frank. ‘‘ Whurroo, but didn’t yez give it to ’em, Misther Frank!” yelled Barney, exuberantly. ‘‘T done fought we was gone chickens dat time sure!” ‘¢ You circumvented them in a wonderful manner, Frank4” cried Warden, joyfully. ‘* But what will you do with them? Throw them overboard?” ‘‘ Not yet,” replied Frank. The young inventer sent the air-ship across the lake, clearing he allowed it to descend. The villains had begun to show signs of returning consciousness. Frank with the help of the others rolled the bodies of the rascals out upon the ground. Wimans was the last, and he staggered Lo his feet just as the air-ship rose. But he was too dazed to do any harm. The air-ship rose a hundred feet and then Frank went to the rail. ‘‘ Farewell, friend Wimans!” he cried; ‘‘ the next time you want to arrest me and confiscate my air-ship come down into the United States and do it!” A volley of curses escaped the wretch’s lips. episode, Up into the air rose the Thunderbolt! It had been a narrow escape for the voyagers. But they had gained the purpose for which they descended. It was now known for a fact thai the lost balloon was still floating around in the air-currents above British Columbia. It was now in order to find it. This Frank was resolved to do. And when the famous young inventor set out to accomplish an end he generally succeeded. ‘““T don’t exactly want to kill them.” Then in a This terminated the CHAPTER VII. THE BALLOON AT NIGHT. THE Sky was still overhung with dark clouds. There seemed no in- dication of the sun’s breaking through. Soon the Thunderbolt was deep among tkese clouds, and pursuing a westerly course. frank had hopes that they might hit upon the same air current as that which carried the balloon along with it. in that case they would be sure to very soon overtake the more slowly moving body. Yet it was necessary to proceed with great. caution. But little distance could be seen ahead, and if the balloon happened to be in the path of the air-ship a fatal collision would be the result. For two days the air-ship kept en its course. Then Frank said: ‘¢ We have come six hundred miles, The balloon could not have drifted or been driven so far in two days.” ‘‘ Perhaps we have passed it,” suggested Warden. ‘‘It is possible. Yet I have a belief that it is still in the locality of Fort Moose, the place we have just left.” ‘* Let us go back then.” ‘*T think it’ best.” “*So do 1.” The air-ship accordingly was turned about. recretted. This was that the clouds hung so low in the sky. Had the sky been clear without doubt the balloon would have been sighted long before this. Two days had elapsed of the third week. The return to the vicinity of Fort Moose was made more slowly. Five days elapsed. Two more were spent in the vicinity of the slarting point, cruising aimlessly about. Three weeks had been spent in the seemingly futile attempt to res- cue the lost aeronauts. Certainly the situation was growing very tedious. Unless there should come a change soon tke patience o/ a)l would be sorely tried. This was the general sentiment. But Warden was the only one who had even caught a glimpse of the balloon. A new course was now made to the north. Still the sky hung cloudy. For two days the Thunderbolt cruised about in the same aimless way, but without any tangible result. ‘¢ There ig one thing about it!” declared Frank, confidently. ‘‘ Un- less they have got down to terra firma their provisions must be nearly exhausted!” ‘‘ They will probably economize on those,” said Mr. Warden. “‘T certainly hope they will. It will be serious for them if they do not!” ‘* What a horrible fate!” said Warden, with a shiver. ‘* Starvation in the car of a balloon. Ah, that will not be heir fate, for I fear that in hunger’s madness some of them may be tempted to jump over- board.” But reflections of this kind were by no means pleasant, and Frank Reade, Jr., dispelled them. ‘‘ Let us look upon the bright side,” he said. are apt to run across them.” ‘* Pray Heaven we may!” But developments were close at hand. One thing was to be “At apy moment we CoOMmicaao (C <SHIGO