CHAPTER XI
A SURPRISE
"Toss over that monkey wrench; will you?"
"Say, who had the saw last?"
"I know I laid a hammer down here, but it's gone now!"
"Look out there! Low bridge! Gangway! One side!"
These, and many other cries and calls, came from the big barn-likeshed, where Dick Hamilton's airship was being constructed. Dickhimself, and his two chums, Innis Beeby and Paul Drew, had joinedforces with Mr. Vardon in helping on the completion of the Abaris.
"We've got to get a move on!" Dick had said, after he had sent in hisapplication to compete for the twenty thousand dollar government prize."We don't want to be held back at the last minute. Boys, we've got towork on this airship ourselves."
"We're with you!" cried Innis and Paul, eagerly.
And so, after some preliminary instructions from Mr. Vardon, the cadetshad taken the tools and started to work.
It did not come so unhandily to them as might have been imagined. Atthe Kentfield Military Academy they had been called upon to do muchmanual labor, in preparation for a military life.
There had been pontoon bridges to build across streams, by means offloats and boats. There had been other bridges to throw across defilesand chasms. There were artillery and baggage wagons to transport alongpoor roads. And all this, done for practice, now stood Dick and hischums in good stead.
They knew how to employ their hands, which is the best training in theworld for a young man, and they could also use tools to advantage.
So now we find Dick, Paul and Innis laboring over the new airship, inwhich the young millionaire hoped to make a flight across the UnitedStates, from ocean to ocean.
"That's what I like to see!" exclaimed Uncle Ezra, as he came out tothe shed just before he started back for Dankville. "It does young mengood to work. Pity more of 'em don't do it. Hard work and plain foodis what the rising generation wants. I don't approve of airships--thatis as a rule," the crabbed old miser hastily added, "but, of course,twenty thousand dollars is a nice prize to win. I only hope you getit. Nephew Richard. I like to see you work. I'm going back now.I'll tell your Aunt Samantha that you've at last learned how to dosomething, even if it is only building an airship."
"Don't you call my studies at Kentfield something, Uncle Ezra?" askedDick.
"No sir! No, sir-ee!" cried the elderly man. "That's time and moneythrown away. But I see that you can do manual labor, Nephew Richard,and if you really want to do useful work, and earn money, I'd be gladto have you in my woolen mill. I could start you on three dollars anda half a week, and you could soon earn more. Will you come?"
"No, thank you," said Dick. "Thank you just the same."
He had a vivid idea of what it might mean to work for his Uncle Ezra.Besides, Dick's fortune was such that he did not have to work. But hefully intended to, and he was getting a training that would enable himto work to the best advantage. Just because he was a millionaire hedid not despise work. In fact he liked it, and he had made up his mindthat he would not be an idler.
Just now aviation attracted him, and he put in as many hours workingover his airship--hard work, too,--as many a mechanic might have done.
"Well, I'll say good-bye, Nephew Richard," spoke Uncle Ezra, afterwalking about the big airship, and looking at it more closely thanwould seem natural, after he had characterized it as a "foolish pieceof business."
"I'm sorry you won't stay until my father gets back," spoke Dick. "Iexpect him tomorrow, or next day."
"Well, if I stayed I know my hired man would waste a lot of feed on thehorses," said Uncle Ezra. "And every time I go away he sits up andburns his kerosene lamp until almost ten o'clock at night. And oil hasgone up something terrible of late."
"Well, I hope you'll come and see us again," invited Dick, as his unclestarted to go. "But won't you let me send you to the station in theauto? It isn't being used."
"No, Nephew Richard. Not for me!" exclaimed Uncle Ezra. "You mightbust a tire, and then you'd expect me to pay for it."
"Oh, no, I wouldn't!"
"Well, then, there might be some accident, and I might get my clothestorn. That would mean I'd have to have a new suit. I've worn this onefive years, and it's good for three more, if I'm careful of it!" heboasted, as he looked down at his shiny, black garments.
"Then you're going to walk?" asked Dick.
"Yes, Nephew Richard. There's grass almost all the way to the station,and I can keep on that. It will save my shoes."
"But people don't like you to walk on their grass," objected Dick.
"Huh! Think I'm going to tramp on the hard sidewalks and wear out myshoe leather?" cried Uncle Ezra. "I guess not!"
He started off, trudging along with his cane, but paused long enough tocall back:
"Oh, Nephew Richard, I got the cook to put me up some sandwiches. I caneat them on the train, and save buying. The idea of charging ten centsin the railroad restaurant! It's robbery! I had her use stale bread,so that won't be wasted."
Dick hopelessly shook his head. He really could say nothing.
His chums knew Uncle Ezra's character, and sympathized with theirfriend.
The cadets resumed work on the big airship. The framework of the wingshad been completed, and all that was necessary was to stretch on thespecially made canvas. The cabin was nearing completion, and the placefor the engine had been built. The big propellers had been constructedof several layers of mahogany, and tested at a speed to which theywould never be subjected in a flight. The bicycle wheels on which thebig airship would run along the ground, until it had acquired momentumfor a rise, were put in place.
"I didn't just like those hydroplanes, though," said Dick, who hadadded them as an after thought. "I think they should be made larger."
"And I agree with you," said Mr. Vardon. "The only use you will havefor the hydroplanes, or wheel-pontoons, will be in case you arecompelled to make a landing on the water. But they should be larger,or you will not float sufficiently high. Make them larger. But it willcost more money."
"I don't mind that," returned Dick. "Of course I am not anxious tothrow money away, but I want to make a success of this, and win theprize, not so much because of the cash, as to show how yourequilibrizer works, and to prove that it is possible to make an airshipflight across the continent.
"So, if bigger hydroplanes are going to make it more certain for us tosurvive an accident, put them on."
"I will," promised the aviator.
Pontoons, or hydroplanes, in this case, I might state, were hollow,water-tight, wooden boxes, so fitted near the wheels of the airship,that they could be lowered by levers in case the craft had to descendon water. They were designed to support her on the waves.
Several days of hard work passed. The aircraft was nearing completion.The cabin was finished, and had been fitted up with most of theapparatus and the conveniences for the trip. There were instruments totell how fast the Abaris was traveling, how far she was above theearth, the speed and direction of the wind and machinery, and others,to predict, as nearly as possible, future weather conditions.
In the front of the cabin was a small pilothouse, in which the operatorwould have his place. From there he could guide the craft, and controlit in every possible way.
There was a sleeping cabin, fitted with bunks, a combined kitchen anddining-room, a small living-room, and the motor-room. Of course thelatter took up the most space, being the most important.
In addition there was an outside platform, built in the rear of theenclosed cabin, where one could stand and look above the clouds, or atthe earth below.
Gasolene and storage batteries furnished the power, and there wasplenty in reserve. Dick wanted to take no chances in his prize flight.
The second day after Uncle Ezra's departure the motor for the airshiparrived.
"Now for a test!" cried Dick, when the machine had been uncrated andset up on the temporary base. The attachments were
made, an extra pairof trial propellers connected, and the power turned on.
With a roar and a throb, the motor started, and as Mr. Vardon glancedat the test gages with anxious eyes he cried:
"She does better than we expected, Dick! We can cross the continentwith that engine, and not have to make more than two stops."
"Are you sure?" asked the young millionaire.
"Positive," was the answer.
Further tests confirmed this opinion, and preparations were made toinstall the motor in the airship.
It was while this was being done that a servant brought Dick a message.
"Someone has called to see you," said the man.
"Who is it?"
"He says his name is Lieutenant Larson, formerly of the United StatesArmy, and he has important information for you."
"Larson!" exclaimed Dick in surprise. "I wonder what he wants of me?"
"Will you see him?" asked Paul.
"I suppose I had better," said Dick, slowly. "I wonder what he wants?"