*VII.*
At the expiration of the six weeks the air ship was still far fromfinished. Contractors had disappointed; orders for material had failedto be filled, and only two courses of the hull were laid. As Torrencetook everything good-naturedly, he was not seriously disturbed, althoughhe considered it a duty to push the work forward as fast as possible,hoping to make his trial trip early in the Spring. The plans weredifficult of execution, the more delicate parts of the mechanismrequiring the labor of the most skillful workmen and my brother'sconstant supervision. He spent the whole of every day at Gravesend, andsometimes the night; meanwhile our expenses at the Mustapha continued atthe same extravagant rate. The apartments had been retakenindefinitely, and the proprietor would have regretted losing us, as weprobably spent twice as much money as a score of his best guests. Ofcourse, I was the principal beneficiary of all this luxury, Torrencebeing at home so little, but this fact did not disturb him in the least.
At the end of two months there was no prospect of completing the vesselfor a considerable time to come, as new complications and freshdisappointments had arisen; nevertheless, things were getting well inhand, and the first warm Spring days would probably see her ready for astart.
It is not my purpose to recount our life during this Winter and thefollowing Spring in the great metropolis. It is sufficient for thepurposes hereinbefore named to say that it was a period of extravagancebeyond reason, and of somewhat equivocal pleasures when I considered thevast sums these pleasures cost. Wherever we went we were looked upon asthe great American millionaires; the men whose pockets had no bottom,and whose bank accounts were exhaustless. My efforts to discover thegoose that laid our golden eggs continued fruitless, and if I stilldoubted the regularity of the methods, so far as I could see, no oneelse did. As the time wore on, Torrence would occasionally show someirritability at the unavoidable delays; though what he intended to dowith the vessel when finished was a myth. The time was when I hadlooked upon it as a means of wealth, if not fame; but now with a vastfortune at our command, he seemed even more anxious about the machinethan ever. More than once I thought seriously of leaving him, fearingsome dreadful climax to our affairs in which I might be implicated; butwhen I alluded to the separation he seemed hurt, and so I remained.
During all this time we were in the swim of fashionable life, bothentertaining and being entertained constantly. If Torrence gambled itwas never extensively, so that he never either won or lost anyconsiderable amount. Every effort had been made to keep the intentionof the air ship a secret, and so thoroughly had the workmen beenmystified, that when Spring came it was exceedingly doubtful if any ofthem knew what it was, and fortunately old Mr. Wetherbee was so laid upwith rheumatism that he never left the house. I think the generalimpression was that it was a new kind of torpedo boat, although somebelieved it to be a submarine passenger craft. The barn was keptclosely shut during working hours, and the outer world had little chanceof guessing what it contained.
By the middle of May the thing was nearly completed, and I saw by mybrother's increased anxiety that his hopes were soon to be eitherrealized or dashed to the ground. It was an unfortunate remark when Iinquired, innocently enough, if he were sure the vessel would rise. Heanswered with an oath in the affirmative, but became moody and out ofsorts immediately after. Upon several different occasions I felt surethat I heard him conversing with the sailor at a late hour, although Inever again looked through the keyhole. Once when the conversation wasparticularly lively, I confess to listening, though only for a fewminutes, and with poor result, as I could understand but little that wassaid. It was in reply to some remark of my brother's that the mananswered:
"Don't bother about me. My pay comes in satisfaction! Revenge! Sabe?Now if you'll do as you're told, you'll do more for me than the fivecontinents full o' men, women, and children ever would do. No, pardner,I'm alone in this world, and that stuff's no good to me, as I done toldyou; couldn't use it nohow; but I'll damn the society, and every one of'em as turned a cold shoulder on me, through you. Now, I don't expectto live to see it, but I'll die happy, and that's worth more'n money canbuy. Now, don't ever let your nerve give out; in fact there ain't nooccasion for it, seein' how much better you 'uns is fixed than I was.Promise you won't never turn your back on it."
"I'll do my best; no man can do more!" answered Torrence.
"And you'll never regret it!"
"I've no doubt about my part of the contract," he added, "and can feelbut little doubt of all you've told me, after the proofs."
"That's right, you're my man--God bless you, and if ever you----"
Here there was a shuffling of feet, and fearing they might be cominginto the _salon_, I beat a hasty retreat to my own room. Of course Icould form no conception of what they were talking about, and went tobed trying to put meaning into the maze of words.
Some days after this, while brooding over our absurd and unfetteredprodigality, I resolved to ask Torrence for another and larger check.My object was, as before, to save something out of the whirlwind of ourextravagances, fearing my brother's improvidence. I pretended thatthere was an investment which I was anxious to make, that would takequite a large sum. Without a word of inquiry he turned with alacrityand said:
"Why, certainly! How much?"
I began an explanation which partook of the nature of a sermon on theexpediency of putting by something for a rainy day, but he cut me short:
"Now, my dear fellow, I can't really stop for the lecture to-day; keepthat for to-morrow; but as to the money, why it's yours anyhow, and youmight as well take it now as at any other time. How much did you say?"
"Well, I didn't say exactly, but a good deal would be necessary to dowhat I thought of doing," I replied.
"Since you don't seem to know exactly how much, take this," he said,"and if it isn't enough, let me know!"
Without another word he sat down and dashed off a check for twentythousand pounds, and handed it to me.
"Here, take it," he said, "it's only a small payment on account at best.Let me know if you want more."
He was off in a second, and left me standing like one petrified with thepaper in my hand. I placed the amount to my credit with Whitehouse,Morse & Plunket, and got a friend to identify me as Gurthrie, instead ofTorrence, Attlebridge.
Shortly after this my brother came to me one day with a despatch box inhis hand. Opening the box he showed me that it contained a canvas bag,in which was a smaller one of oil silk. These he opened and emptied thecontents upon the table. To my amazement I saw that it was a batch ofconveyances, or deeds for houses and lands, real estate of great valuein America, all in my name. By the values here mentioned alone I wasworth more than a million dollars. According to the vouchers before me,this property had all been paid for by myself within the past fewmonths. I felt as if I must unknowingly have come into the possessionof Aladdin's lamp. I was dumfounded, but before I could utter a wordTorrence went on to say:
"There now, all this is yours!--now, not a word--I have only a moment inwhich to speak, and wish to say this. Of course all this stuff isproperly registered, recorded, and witnessed, and all that sort of thingas you can see; but for your future convenience and perhaps for mine, Imust remind you of the importance of keeping this packet in yourpossession. There are other papers in it which we have not time toexamine now, but if ever you should be hurried to move anywhere, don'tforget to throw away the box, and shove this wallet in your pocket. Itis of the utmost importance!"
I promised without asking a question; and when he was gone I went to atailor's and had the packet, minus the canvas bag, securely sewed insidethe coat I was wearing; seeing to it myself that the job was well done.
As the time wore on Torrence grew more impatient at the delay infinishing the work. Evidently there was something he was dreading;which I thought might be the possible failure of the machine to rise.
"Suppose she fails," I said one day, "we have ple
nty to live on, andwhat does it matter?"
He looked at me with an expression of horror, and walked away without aword.
One day I walked suddenly into his room without knocking, thinking hewas away. To my surprise I found him and the sailor, Merrick, talkingtogether. As before they were sitting on opposite sides of the table,upon which was spread a packet of papers; some of them I recognized ashaving seen before. Torrence immediately got up, and asked if I wouldmind coming a little later, as he was just going over some importantbusiness, and of course I went out immediately. Although only in theroom a minute, the strange motley of papers was distinctly seen. Thesame extraordinary attempts at drawing and chirograph?--and among theseI observed what I had not seen before--a crude representation of a humanface, but with so peculiar an expression that I could not forget it.There was also a lengthy, and very illiterate looking document, whichappeared as if the signatures at the bottom had been done by children.
I went immediately into the _salon_, where although not really intendingto listen, I overheard quite accidentally a remark of the sailor's,which, as nearly as I can remember, was as follows:
"You'll find him thar, jest as I'se told ye, pard, without he's diedsince; and you'll find the box, and them docyments inside of it, Ireckon, if you hunts for 'em whar I tell you. There ain't nothin' to beafeard of in him; he's just plumb gone, don't know nothin'. You needn'ttry to catch him, because you can't do it. Now, I must be goin'.Reckon I'd better be fixin' to die anyway!"
This was really all; at least all I could understand; and a few minuteslater the door was shut and the man evidently gone.
On the 25th of May Torrence came home rather later than usual, and themoment he entered the room I saw that something had happened. The lookupon his face was one of unequivocal delight. Striking an attitude inthe middle of the floor, he shouted:
"Hooray!"
"Not so loud!" I cried, "you'll disturb people in the house."
"Let them be disturbed. It's time they were disturbed," he replied,pouring himself out a glass of wine at the sideboard. Then holding thebumper aloft, exclaimed:
"Here's to the air ship; God bless her. But where's your glass?"
I joined him in the toast. "Well, what's happened?" I inquired,touching my glass to his.
"She rises; she floats; she steers. She advances and reverses, just asI please. She cuts the teeth of the wind. I tell you, Gurt, it is thetriumph of the century--of the ages. A child can handle her. We shallbe off in a couple of days!"
"The devil, you say! Have you had a trial trip?"
"Well, rather! but no one knows it. The truth is I took her out in thedark, before day, all alone, and had her back in the barn before any oneguessed it. Arranged it all beforehand. Sent all the hands off. Sheresponds like a leaf in a gale. We can sit in her, solid as a rock, onefoot above the ground, or ten thousand, just as we please. We can floatalong four miles an hour, or a mile a minute. We can stand before thewind, or we can run in the teeth of a hurricane. We can right aboutface, or maneuver her with more ease than you could a wheelbarrow. Herpower is exhaustless, and is evolved without steam, electricity or--butwhat's the use of going into that? You couldn't understand if I did.It would take a course of mathematics to get into the first principles;but some day, when you and I are floating away in the blue sky, abovethe fogs of London town, I'll take time and explain it all to you."
"At all events she's a success," I answered, finishing my wine.
"She's more than that; she's perfect!" and Torrence drained his glass.Then lighting a cigarette, he added:
"We'll be off in a couple of clays, old man, or near about it, as I justnow told you."
"And for where?" I asked.
Torrence pulled down the corner of his left eye.
"That's my secret!" he said.
I congratulated him on his success, and told him I was ready to goanywhere away from the fog and gloom of the city. We embraced eachother, and despite my warning, sent up three cheers for the air ship. Ihad never seen Torrence so elated about anything in my life; indeed itwas contagious, for I was almost as happy as he was.
"And you are sure there will be no hitch?" I said, fearing the news wasalmost too good.
"Sure! Haven't I tried her? We have taken out the end of oldWetherbee's barn, and I sailed out over the fields alone. I ran hermyself the other night, through the darkness and fog when no one couldsee. There were then a few slight changes to make for absolute controlwhich have since been completed. Last night I had her out again throughthe river fogs when every one was asleep below, and, as I have just toldyou, she is simply perfect! Oh, Gurt, you don't know what it is tofloat aloft out of reach of everyone. Fortunately the fields weredeserted, and the air too thick for a man to see more than fifty yards,even had it been day, otherwise I should have frightened some of thoseGravesender's to death. And I had a nice time, too, in finding my wayback to the barn, despite the red and green lights I had hung out forsignals!"
Torrence danced around the room.
"Suppose she should drop with all aboard!" I suggested.
"Drop! She can't. The thing's impossible so long as the currentis--but what's the use of my explaining to you? She can no more dropthan you can fly."
"But suppose she did," I persisted.
"Well, such a thing can't possibly happen, unless the current is turnedoff too suddenly, and if it did, nobody would be hurt, because thepneumatic buffers on her bottom would make the contact with earthscarcely more than perceptible. No, my dear fellow, she can't go up, orshe can't come down until I want her to, but when I do, up or down shegoes. In short she is under absolute control. When the current is atthe neutralizing point it is as natural for the air ship to float in theupper atmosphere as for you to walk on dry land, or a fish to swim.Don't be uneasy. I tell you I have mastered the secret of aerialnavigation."
I had to be satisfied, and was really full of confidence in Terry'sability.
"Do you propose to make a long journey to begin with?" I inquired.
"Yes," said Torrence, "a very extended one, as you will see foryourself. I have had her stocked with enough provisions to run thishotel, figuratively speaking, for a year, and all manner of othernecessaries; in fact, we shall be supplied with all the luxuries oflife. You won't mind going with me, old man, will you, and letting meact as your pilot?"
"To be sure not; but when shall we be off?"
"Very soon. But you must not say a word to any one. Remember ourmovements are not to be known. Have I your word?"
I promised; but why he demanded this I was at a loss to guess.
Before going to bed that night Torrence told me that he should probablybe absent a couple of days attending to the final equipment of themachine; and when I bid him good-night it was with the understandingthat we should not meet for a day or two. He would certainly returnbefore the end of the week; and I was to have everything ready forleaving at a moment's notice, as he was anxious there should be nodelay. That was on Tuesday. Imagine, therefore, my surprise uponseeing him enter my bedroom at a late hour Wednesday night. I had beenin bed long enough to fall asleep, and was aroused by a light shining inmy eyes. There was a strange look in Torry's face, and I started upalarmed.
"Hello!" I cried, jumping up. "What's the matter? Has any thinghappened?"
Torrence put his finger to his lips and said:
"Hush! Be quiet! Don't be scared, but get up at once and do as I tellyou without losing a moment's time!"
I did as I was bid; and dressed as hurriedly as possible, not doubtingbut the climax I had so long dreaded had come at last.
"We must be off immediately," said he, as I was putting the finishingtouches to my toilet. There was something too dead earnest in his lookand manner to permit of a single question.
"The trunks are quite ready," I observed; my teeth chattering withexcitement.
"Damn the trunks! We must leave them behind. Have you the package?"
&
nbsp; I showed it to him, sewed in my pocket.
Torrence looked at his watch.
"What o'clock is it?" I inquired.
"Nearly one," he answered reflectively, and then turning to me, he addedwith a look I shall never forget.
"Now, Gurt, if you have any nerve, I shall expect you to show it, Noflunking or crawling, mind! Do exactly as I say, and without questionor hesitation."
I nodded assent, for I could not speak. I saw something bulky under hiscoat, and wondered what it could be; but it was no time for such aninquiry.
Torrence then opened the door into the hall softly, and put out thelight.
"Follow me; but walk quietly and don't speak a word," he said, leadingthe way.
We walked along the passage until reaching the grand stairway, when,instead of descending, as we had been in the habit of doing, Torrenceled the way above. We climbed several stories until we stood at thefoot of a narrow flight of steps, which ended in a scuttle above. Fromtime to time he looked around to see if we were observed, and thenstalked ahead, apparently satisfied. Reaching the scuttle, which wasbolted upon the inside, he slipped the iron tongue noiselessly back,pushed open the hatch, and told me to follow. I found myself upon theroof of the hotel with my brother, who quietly closed the heavy doorbehind us. At that moment an awful thought flashed upon me. Had thefellow become in anyway connected with a gang of burglars? Had all thisvast wealth come by theft? I stood still, petrified. It was not toolate to retreat. I would not be led thus blindly as an accomplice to acrime never even suspected by me! It was too horrible. I was paralyzedwith terror at the thought. Seeing that I had stopped, Torrence turnedsuddenly and exclaimed in a low excited tone:
"For God's sake! what's the matter?"
"I will not go another step," I answered; "I believe you are bent onsome damnable crime!"
Torrence positively laughed. Nothing he could have done or said wouldhave been more reassuring.
"Why, you old fool, Gurt! Have you taken leave of your senses?"
"Swear to me that there is nothing of the kind," I replied, stillwithout moving.
"Swear! Why, of course, I'll swear. Do you suppose with the money I'vealready accumulated it would be necessary to risk my neck inhousebreaking, for the sake of a few paltry dollars more? Really youhave less common sense than I imagined."
Something in the tone of his voice convinced me that I was mistaken.
"Torry," I answered, "I will believe you. We have lived together allour lives, and I have never yet found you doing a dishonorable act."
"And you never will!" he exclaimed with feeling. "You will soon knoweverything. Now don't make a fool of yourself, but follow me and lookwhere you step, too, for we are at least a hundred and fifty feet abovethe pavement, and I don't want to be responsible for your scatteredremains!"
We approached the edge of the roof, and looked out over the city ofLondon. It was a grand picture with great masses of shadow, and smallflickering lights through a sea of mist below. Torrence stooped andwalked along the cornice as if looking for something. Presently he stoodstill and looked down. What was he about? Did he intend committingsuicide? I entreated him not to go so near the edge of the roof.
"We've got to go over it in a minute," he answered, without even lookingback at me. Then he struck a match and examined his surroundings morecarefully. I was completely unnerved and called:
"I'll be damned if I'll follow you another step. I believe you've lostyour mind!" at the same minute I turned to go back. Torrence ran afterme.
"You'll regret it all your life if you don't come with me now!" heexclaimed excitedly. "I swear to you that neither of us shall be hurt,if you will only do as I say."
I hesitated and allowed myself to be persuaded. Again he approached theedge of the roof, and when I reached him I saw that we were standingabove another building at the back of our own, but which seemed abouttwo stories lower. Torrence did not now stop long, but reaching underhis coat, drew out a coil of stout rope, with an iron hook fastened atone end of it. It was the bulky thing I had observed when he entered myroom.