The Secret of the Earth

  *IX.*

  With the rising of the sun the fog cleared, and the great city of Londonwas spread out away beneath us. It was a sight I can never forget, and asensation unequalled by any previous experience. Patches of smokeblocked out large areas of the metropolis, but there was promise of aday of rare, Spring-like beauty. As we floated aloft, above the smokeand grime, through an atmosphere of translucent purity, we watched withinterest the shifting masses beneath, and drank in with delight themarvelous scene. On and on we flew, at one moment unscreened from thestreets and houses of the city, at, the next catching only occasionalglimpses of a tower or steeple piercing an earthward cloud, like thefinger of a submarine monster pointing heavenward. But far to the norththe smoke had vanished, and the green fields of Spring would soon beunder us. It was a dream of bliss, transcending the power of words topicture, or the imagination of man to conceive.

  "It makes me shudder," said Torrence, "to think of what a narrow escapewe had just now. A few feet more to the left and we would have bangedinto St. Paul's cross!"

  I admitted that it would have been an ugly collision.

  "The truth is," he continued, "I miscalculated our height; and in thefog and darkness, we may have had some other close shaves, for all Iknow."

  "Hardly," I answered; "the houses in London are not high, as a rule."

  "There are the Queen Anne flats at Victoria station," observed Torrence.

  "True; but surely we did not go as far to the west as that?"

  "Indeed we did. I ran considerably out of our course intentionally.You see I wanted to take in London by daylight; and wouldn't have missedthe sight for a barrel of money. I ran slow, as well as indirectly, orwe would have been well out of Middlesex by now. But I really thoughtwe were higher, and should have consulted the barometer; but in gettingaway from those hounds I never thought of it. But thank God we're allright now. How do you like the air ship?"

  "It's the grandest thing on the earth or off of it!" I answered; "butyou haven't told me why those fellows wanted us; and why we had to sneakout of the hotel like thieves."

  "There's lots of time for that," he answered; "but let us not miss thissight while we have it."

  And I did not want to miss it myself, but before we had quite passed thesuburbs Torrence explained as follows:

  "You remember Hart?" he began.

  "Perfectly; you mean Wetherbee's partner; the fellow we had our firstinterview with."

  "Yes. Well, do you know that when the scoundrel discovered that we werebuilding the machine without his aid, and that we were becoming the talkof London for our wealth, and manner of living, he was consumed withenvy, and fearing that he had lost a good thing, got out an injunctionagainst our moving the vessel, on the ground of being Wetherbee'spartner? Of course he totally misrepresented the facts, and----"

  "Then you did violate the law after all!" I exclaimed, feeling that Ihad been deceived.

  "Not in the least!" he answered; "the paper was never served; I tookcare that it shouldn't be. But there were men in waiting at theentrance to the Mustapha, who confidently expected to catch me as Ipassed in or out, and if I had not come by a private entrance and leftas we did, we should be down there now, and perhaps for a year to come,waiting the settlement of a legal investigation. Now, I knew if Istopped to explain matters to you, we might not get off. You wouldnaturally argue the point, and the precious time be lost. I was warnedof this pending injunction by one of the gentlemen I introduced you toin the billiard room, who certainly did me a very decent turn in returnfor my favors in the money line. The fellow found it out quiteaccidentally, but he didn't forget me."

  I was amazed, and greatly relieved to find so simple an explanation ofwhat, but a few hours before had a painfully criminal aspect. IfTorrence could explain the mystery of his sudden wealth assatisfactorily I should be more than gratified; and this I suggested tohim.

  "My dear boy," he answered, "every penny I have spent will be assatisfactorily accounted for as being my own legitimate money as what Ihave just told you. I have never committed an illegal or dishonorableact in its acquirement, and when the time comes to explain, I will doit; but not yet."

  He touched a button on his left, and I was conscious of slightlyincreased speed.

  The green fields were now beneath us, and the few clouds that hoveredabove only kept the sun from being too warm. The motion of the mostperfect boat, gliding before an imperceptible breeze, would be barbarouscompared with ours.

  Our vessel was loaded with every luxury, including such clothing as weshould need in the latitudes we proposed to visit. And not only werethere suits for cold weather but for warm as well, we having left ourtrunks at the Mustapha. Furs and eider-downs were here galore, besideevery contrivance for Arctic comfort. Beyond these, we had abundance offire-arms, and ammunition. Our sleeping apartments were luxurious.They were situated forward, with a comfortable bed in each, andseparated by a curtain with rings which slid upon a brass rod, runningparallel with the length. Our cooking arrangements were astern, andimmediately before them our dining room or saloon--a cosy littleapartment with sliding windows, which could be opened to admit thepurest air in the world. Indeed the ventilation had been admirablyplanned, and nowhere, or in any kind of weather need we suffer from afetid atmosphere. In the center, but below the main deck, was themotive power, controlled from a small table above, where Torrencemanipulated screws, levers, and springs, utterly beyond mycomprehension. The machinery was entirely out of the way, and the spaceutilized to admirable advantage. Cushioned seats surrounded the wall ofthe saloon, and above was an open deck which ran the entire length ofthe boat. This was surrounded by an aluminum rail, filled in with a finenet of the same material. It required more nerve than I possessed atfirst to mount the ladder and look out over the taffrail, although thesense of security below was perfect, so that I could inspect the countryfrom the saloon windows with as much indifference as though I were onthe deck of an ocean steamer. It was not long, however, before I couldgo above and lean over the bulwarks with equal intrepidity. Through thehatch the sky was always visible, even in the saloon, which was neverclosed except in cold or stormy weather.

  In order to make the construction of our air ship perfectly clear, letthe reader imagine a gigantic cartridge or cigar, tapering at each end.Now flatten the top of your cigar, and put a railing around it and itwould represent our upper deck. Now, divide your cigar longitudinallyhalfway between the upper deck and the bottom, and from end to end; andyou have our main deck; in the center of which is the saloon or diningroom, or general living room, to the rear of which is the kitchen, andforward, our beds. Beneath this deck is the machinery, entirely out ofsight, and operated from either the saloon or the upper deck.

  Our larder was more than ample; comprising an endless variety of tinnedgoods, as well as quantities of such vegetables as would keep in theopen. We had large supplies of both fresh and salt meats, and allarranged to handle conveniently. In short, it was a camping outfit uponan extended scale, including wines, fruits, medicines and implementswhich might become necessary during the voyage. Having to do our ownwork, the equipment had been planned upon the most judicious and laborsaving lines, so that it was astonishing how little effort was requiredto prepare a meal; and having no back yard to keep tidy, it was onlynecessary to throw the scraps and refuse overboard.

  At times when we hovered nearer the surface of the earth it was amusingto see what excitement we caused the populace. In passing over avillage the entire population would turn out into the streets, and shoutthemselves hoarse before leaving them out of sight, and being unlike theordinary balloon, we were naturally looked upon with greaterastonishment. Torrence having set his controlling apparatus, it nolonger required attention, until some change in speed, elevation, ordirection was desired; so that he was as free to move about the vesselas I was. The landscape was passing beneath us, with a steady flowingmotion, giving the impression that a conside
rable distance would becovered during the day, although the rate of speed was deceptive. Itwas interesting to trace our course over the charts, with which we wereamply provided. Maps of each of the counties were spread out upon thetable, and we were singularly well situated to test their accuracy.

  I was wondering how fast we were going and inquired.

  "About twenty-five miles an hour," said Torrence; "she is capable ofmuch greater speed; but there's no hurry, and I don't want to strain heron her maiden trip."

  "And how high are we?"

  "About five hundred feet."

  I was reflecting that it was no very great height, or extraordinaryspeed, when I heard the sharp swinging sound of a bullet, and lookeddown. I saw a man passing through a field with a gun in his hand andlooking up. Evidently he had fired at us, not knowing what we were;possibly with the intention of finding out.

  "He's going to shoot again!" I called to Torrence; but at that minute mybrother pressed a button and we were swung aloft with great velocity, asif seized by some gigantic hand.

  "I shan't give him a chance," he answered, as we plunged into a cloud,and then darted forward with increased speed. Again we were envelopedin a dense wet blanket, but as there was no fear of a collision, did notslacken our rate, but swept on like a hurricane unable to see a thing inany direction beyond the vessel.

  "Now," said Torrence, looking at a small instrument on the governingboard, "we are whirling along at the rate of fifty miles an hour. Riskybusiness on land in a cloud like this, but here--thank Heaven--there isnothing on the track! When we lower ourselves out of the fog, and comein view of the earth again, our sporting friend will be lost to sight."

  In about ten minutes we dropped to our former level, and reduced ourspeed. Of course there was no reason why we should not remain above,except that it was more interesting to have the earth for a companion.

  "Suppose he had hit us?" I observed.

  "There's not one chance in a hundred that he would hurt us if he had. Iprepared for such enterprising fools by protecting her critical partswith asbestos and rubber; but it isn't pleasant to be fired at, and whenone can move out of range so easily it seems the right thing to do."

  Later in the day I went above and found it the pleasantest part of theboat, and was surprised to find how all fear had left me. I askedTorrence if he intended to land anywhere in England; to which he gave anegative answer, saying that it might not be safe, from the danger ofhaving papers served upon him.

  "There is no necessity to halt," he added; "our course is probablywatched, and the news of our landing will be telegraphed to London, andthey might make it difficult for us to get away again. We are safe outof their reach now, and it would be better to lot well enough alone.When I land it will be upon some uninhabited coast where they can't findus."

  "How long can you keep afloat?" I inquired.

  Torrence laughed.

  "Forever, if I want to. There's no limit to our capacity in that line.When the chemicals are exhausted, or have formed new combinations, Ihave only to supply the proper proportions of air and water, and theoriginal conditions are restored. So if for any reason it should proveinconvenient to land, all we have to do is to drop a line with a bucketover any river or sea, and pull up a pail of water, run the compressorinto the generator with the chemicals--and presto--all the power isrestored. It is perpetual motion, with the very minimum of attention.Rather it is gravitation neutralized; and so simple, it is a marvel mennever thought of it before."

  I had made no inquiry about the North Pole, supposing it was only ajest; not doubting, however, that he really meant to make an extendedtrip northward; but now, on alluding to the subject, Torrence declaredthat it was his serious intention to penetrate into the mysteries of thePolar regions, farther than any navigator had ever gone.

  "We may find it worth our while," he said, "and there is no reason whywe should not."

  I told him that while I felt some doubt about the ice barriers, I wasready to follow him anywhere; to which he answered with a good deal offorce that so long as the vessel depended only on the atmosphere for hersupport, he could see no reason why we could not ride over icebergs,frozen mountains and continents, to the ends of the earth. All we hadto do was to keep above all obstructions, and to prevent ourselves fromfreezing, against which possibility we were amply provided. He showedme how our saloon could be made perfectly snug, and heated to anytemperature desired; and that the motive apparatus was entirelyprotected, and could likewise be kept warm.

  "Should our upper deck become loaded with snow," he added, "we shall beobliged to put on our extra feathers and go above to clean it off; notsuch a very difficult matter when you consider that we are well providedwith the appliances."

  Indeed, it seemed to me that nothing had been overlooked, and asTorrence had all his life had a hankering for Arctic exploration, I wasnot greatly astonished at his decision. I reflected that the pole couldnever be reached except by balloon, and that the difficulty of ordinaryballooning was the impossibility of advancing against air currents, andthat since our ship had overcome that point, it did really appear as ifwe might be in a fair way to accomplish something more than otherexplorers. I became greatly interested, and began to look for marvelousresults.

  At noon I went into the galley and prepared dinner, while Torrence keptwatch above on the upper deck, where there was also a duplicatecontrolling board. We had eaten nothing since the previous night; theexcitement of getting off having kept the thought of food from enteringour heads, but now we were hungry. It was undoubtedly the first timesince the creation that a meal had been cooked and eaten at thatelevation over Northhampton, but it was none the worse for that, and twohungrier men could not have honored the occasion. From our seats in thesaloon we had a good outlook upon every side. Forward we lookeddirectly ahead through the cuddy ports--aft--through our stern lights inthe galley, and upon either side were great sliding windows. The watchwas, of course, only to guard against any unexpected elevation in theland, such as a hill, otherwise--or even had we been a little higher--wemight have drawn the blinds and run on with impunity. After dinner wethrew the scraps overboard, and went on deck for a smoke, and watchedthe country steadily slipping away beneath us. We were fanned by agentle breeze, which might have been stiffer, but such wind as therewas, was blowing dead aft.

  "This," said Torrence, looking about him with pride, "is what I call theclimax of living. Above your enemies; above your friends; and out ofreach of all the petty annoyances of earth!"

  I was as jubilant as he, and found it quite as difficult to conceal myemotions, which were altogether natural; for has not flight been alwaysregarded as a prerogative of angels? and has not man aspired to it asthe most perfect form of migration? The exhilaration was beyonddescription; and as we swept on through that long summer day, there wasa sense of power and freedom which no other form of locomotion couldimpart.

  "I could never be content to live down there again!" I said, flippingthe ashes from my cigar overboard.

  "Nor I," said Torrence; "not after this experience. The sky is goodenough for me!"

  Toward evening we could hear the tinkling of bells and lowing of herds,and catch an occasional shout of surprise from a frightened farmer, aswe dipped a little nearer earthward, and then skurried aloft and away,before he had time to recover his equanimity. At a small village in thesouthern part of Lincolnshire we pounced suddenly upon a travelingcircus, and stampeded the entire crowd, not one of which will everforget us. It was the grandest game imaginable; to come swooping down towithin fifty or seventy-five feet of the ground, over an unsuspectingcongregation of countrymen, and then dart onward and upward amid theirshouts of consternation. However, we did not indulge in this sort ofthing often, not wishing to incur the risk of being fired at. Itshowed, nevertheless, the absolute control we had over the machine, andwas interesting from a scientific, as well as a humorous point of view.

  Toward sundown I smelled salt air, and knew we were ap
proaching the sea.Then we ran into a bank of mist, and the earth was lost to view. Iasked Torrence where we were heading for, and he said:

  "I am going to run around the city of Hull; leaving it a few miles uponour right, so as not to attract attention, and then cross over toNorway."

  "You surely don't intend to try the North Sea to-night!" I exclaimed insurprise.

  "Why not? There is no danger," he answered.

  I did not argue the matter, feeling safe in his hands. The fog bankcontinued for some minutes, and when we suddenly ran out of it, imaginemy astonishment to find ourselves hovering directly over a large city,with the sea beyond.