CHAPTER XI
Some Facts and Figures
How strange to be upon the transparent galleries of the great airshipagain, to tread those flimsy-looking but undoubtedly stout floors, andto look upward at the giant framework, all transparent, faintly outlinedfor the most part, appearing to be filled with emptiness, and yetenclosing the life of this enormous vessel! Yes, it was strange indeed!The relief was so great that it positively set the gallant Majordancing, while the Colonel, though he had stepped from the lift fifteenminutes earlier, still mopped his brow and blew heavily, as ifrecovering from some extraordinary sensation.
"'Pon my word," he spluttered time and again. "'Pon my word, thatexperience was really terrifying. I felt positively scared, frightened,almost paralysed by the enormity of the danger."
Once more he mopped his forehead, while the genial Andrew regarded himwith friendly interest.
"Quite so, quite so, Colonel," he ventured. "Narrow shave; very. I'dhave been scared, too, dreadfully, I do assure you. How many of therascals were there?"
"Rascals! What! You don't think?" began the gallant officer, stillmopping his forehead, and regarding Andrew with every sign ofindignation. And then he smiled, the first time since he had set foot onthe airship. "Really, Mr. Provost, I think? Yes, Mr. Provost, you do notthink that I was referring to those rascals from whom we so recentlyescaped? I, er--don't you know--I am not in the habit of being scaredwhen in the execution of my duty, and escape from those Turkish ruffianswas distinctly a duty. I was referring to the manner in which I wasplucked from the terrace of that minaret and whisked upward. 'Pon myword, my scalp feels sore after such an experience. Forgive me if I sayit, but wonderful though that experience was, it was also terrifying."
It well might be, and indeed Dick and those fine tars, Hawkins andHurst, and the others had felt the same sort of terror. For think of thenerve-racking journey which the Colonel had taken. Alec's franticwaving, and Mr. Midshipman Hamshaw's equally mad behaviour had heraldedthe advent of Joe Gresson's marvellous airship. As that forlorn littleparty stood upon the gallery of the minaret attached to that greatmosque in Adrianople, with those fanatical Turks howling within but afew feet of them, and kept at bay merely by the thickness of a door, ahuge, transparent shape had dropped towards them. At one moment, whenAlec first sighted it, it presented but a speck in the sky. And then ithad positively fallen towards the minaret till one could see the figureson her main gallery. Instantly that familiar lift had swung downward,turning and twisting giddily upon its single strand of steel wire, tillthe dangling platform was actually resting on the gallery whichsupported Dick and his friends.
"All aboard!" that worthy called out cheerfully.
"First lift the Commander in. Now, Colonel."
"Get on that frail craft! Be whisked aloft!"
Who can wonder if the gallant Colonel did demur for the moment? For afresh breeze caught that thin steel rope and swayed it from side toside, causing it to drag and pluck at the platform.
"After you. Now, I'm ready."
It was characteristic of the Colonel that he hesitated no longer. Butstill one cannot blame him if he clutched one of the four steel ropeswhich ran from the corners of this flimsy, transparent platform to thering above, to which the single cable was attached, and clenched histeeth tightly. Indeed, we will think none the worse of this gallant manfor the fact that he actually blanched as the lift started upward, Dickhaving spoken into the telephone. As for that incorrigible young fellow,he was now not entirely a novice in matters appertaining to the airship,and, satisfied of the security of the strange lift upon which he stood,he leaned over the edge as the motor above whisked them upward and wavedhis cap at the Turks from whom they had so fortunately escaped. Indeed,hardly had the lift started upward when the door at the top of thatlong, curling stairway was broken open, and a crew of furious ruffianslaunched themselves on to the gallery.
"_Au revoir!_" called Dick. "Sorry not to be able to stop to entertainyou. Call on us aloft; do, there's good fellows!"
A bullet whizzing past his head put a summary end to his taunts, whilethe buzzing motor whisked the rescued party out of sight of the maddenedand astounded Turks within a minute. And here they were on board, safeand secure.
"And as hungry as hunters," cried Alec.
At that very moment a gong sounded, while Sergeant Evans put in anappearance.
"Luncheon ready, gentlemen," he said with the utmost suavity, as ifthere had been no such thing as an exciting rescue, and as if he had hadnothing else to think about. "Commander Jackson's compliments, and hefeels wonderfully better."
"Then we will go to the saloon," said Andrew. "Joe seems as clever witha patient as with airships. Come, Colonel, we can leave the Commander tomy nephew while we eat. Welcome aboard the airship!"
"And now tell us how it happened that you turned up at such a fortunateand exciting moment," asked the Major, when lunch was finished and thefriends were seated smoking about the table. "Remember, you were toreturn during the night. Adrianople is hardly a safe place for anairship at this moment. Think of the result of a shell bursting close tothis vessel."
"Precisely! Think also of the members of our party stranded in thecity," smiled Andrew. "Joe and I discussed the matter."
"And decided that we would risk everything," said that latter. "Afterall, it gave one the opportunity of conducting a valuable test. Thisship is supposed to be transparent."
"Extraordinary!" declared the Colonel. "Why, 'pon my word! but really,one can see right through her. There's a man patrolling the deck highoverhead, a sailor by the look of him. Surely he's yards aboveus--almost, it seems, suspended on air. And yet one sees that there arebeams and girders all about us. You mean to tell me, sir," and headdressed his question to Joe in particular, "you mean to say that thosegirders are of solid, strong material, and enclose a space filled withhydrogen? In fact, a space which supports this huge vessel?"
"Yes and no. For the most part, certainly yes," declared the younginventor, blushing with pride. "But the gas happens to be merely coalgas. You see, I chose it with an object. On a long trip such as this,that is to say a voyage which is to circle the globe, one must expect tolose gas from the compartments which go to fill the bulk of this hugevessel. In the case of Zeppelins and allied vessels the loss isappreciable. Here, thanks to celludine, which happens not to be porous,the loss is, in fact, negligible. Still, accident may give rise toleakage. It may become necessary to refill the whole vessel."
"Then you descend?" asked the Colonel, obviously interested in thisexplanation.
"We should already have been forced to descend," Joe corrected him.
"Precisely; and call at some gasworks?" the Colonel interjected.
"No; we carry a gas producer. We have coal in abundance; the rest iseasy."
It might or might not be. To the Colonel it was wonderful; in fact, sointeresting that, what with the excellent meal of which he had partakenand this discussion, he quite forgot that experience when being swungupward to safety. Indeed, he must needs go off at once with Joe on atour of investigation, while Andrew chatted with the Major.
"And so you determined to risk it," said the latter.
"Certainly! You couldn't expect us to leave the greater part of ournumber in the heart of that city!"
Andrew sauntered across to one of the wide-open windows of the saloonand pointed downward. Yes, there was Adrianople, a mere blotch beneaththem, its outline dim and blurred, its streets and houses merged intoone another; its trenches, its forts, its struggling defenders utterlyobliterated. A black line, with dark clumps here and there, showedmerely the presence of the attackers, while tiny and ridiculously dimpoints of fire betrayed the guns which even then were speaking.
"Listen! Yes," reflected Andrew, "we heard the guns from a distance,and, risking all, made our way back towards the city. And there we lay,almost at this elevation, while the sun slowly rose and flooded theplace. Then we gradually dropped nearer and nearer to the houses."
r /> "And no one saw you?" asked the Major.
"None, I believe. All were too engaged with the fighting. It was Alec, Isuppose, who first caught sight of us, and Hawkins who saw his signal.After that, you know what happened. And now, Major, what becomes of'Charlie'? You have been lucky enough to discover him, and one presumesthat he has come aboard with his secret. Bear in mind that I hold thisvessel at your disposal. If necessary we will return to England. Or wecan set the Colonel down wherever he may think most convenient. But iftime is of importance, and his destination is England, then I suggestthat we make use of the aeroplane which we carry. Come and inspect it."
They tossed their cigar stumps out of the window, took one more lookdownward at the forlorn city, and then ascended to the wide deck carriedon the top of the airship. Overhead, as they trudged along it, flutteredthe long aerials suspended to the thin masts erected for wirelesstelegraphic purposes, while far down below, almost in the centre of themain gangway, a man could be seen bending over transmitter and receiver.
"You see, we are well equipped," said Andrew. "Of course, if it sohappened that the Colonel could send his information by wireless, thenit would be a great pleasure to have him with us. In any case, let usinspect Joe's aeroplane. Here it is; now, take close stock of it."
That was a privilege which Dick also enjoyed, for his inspection so soonafter his first arrival on board had been hurried. Now he approached themachine in question burning with curiosity. For Dick was one of theadventurous fellows who are so frequently to be found in the twoservices.
"Flying or submarine work's in my line," he had told his fellow middies."But flying in particular."
And here was something upon which, for all he knew, he might learn hisfirst lessons. In the sunk hangar located on the wide upper deck of theairship lay a machine which might well have attracted the attention ofsome of our expert flyers. For Joe Gresson was no ordinary inventor. Aswe have endeavoured to convey to the reader, the silent Joe was indeed agenius, a young man thoroughly well trained in the principles ofengineering, and gifted with a brain of unusual capacity. Hence hisgreat airship. Hence also this adjunct to it. Dick and his friendslooked upon a machine differing only in form and size and engine fromthose common at the moment. The principle was precisely the same, andyet the perfection of engineering and design incorporated in the machinein question made of it an article of astonishing efficiency.
"Same as many others at first sight, but different," observed the Major,while Dick had his head thrust almost into the very heart of themachinery. "Why, there's the Colonel. Well, Steven, what do you think ofthe vessel which brought us out to Adrianople just in time to snatch youfrom that extremely uncomfortable city?"
There was a glow on the bronzed, if somewhat pinched, face of the oneaddressed; for, as we have said, Colonel Steven was an enthusiast wheremodern advancement was in question, while the science and art of theflyer was as attractive to him as to any.
"Think, my dear Major!" he observed. "What can one think? One isabsolutely and positively astounded. I can now scarcely believe that Iam really on the top of an enormous airship, bigger even than aZeppelin, and suspended some hundreds of feet in the air."
"Pardon--thousands, Colonel," said Joe's quiet voice. "Here is the exactreading--ten thousand two hundred and eighty-five feet." He steppedacross to one of the posts that supported the rail running round thedeck and consulted an instrument affixed to it.
"Ten thousand feet! But----" gasped the Colonel, "you'll explode."
"Bust, in other words," Dick whispered to Alec. "Call a spade a spade,my boy. That's the worst of getting senior in any service, for you haveto choose and pick your words, which is a bit of a nuisance. 'Bust' hereis the correct and proper description."
"A Zeppelin would," added the Colonel, failing to hear Dick's grinningaside.
"Pardon once more: a Zeppelin would be incapable of ascending much abovesix thousand feet. At least, that is their record so far, and it is forthat reason that, though a menace to all nations who have none,supposing Germany were to declare war, and such nations were within thesix hundred miles radius, the Zeppelin is still not entirely mistress ofthe air. There is always the speedy, powerful aeroplane, capable withease of ascending infinitely higher, far out of range of her deck guns,for Zeppelins carry weapons above just as you see here, and from thatpoint dropping bombs upon her."
"Ugh! Disagreeable sort of game that," laughed the Major, shrugging hisshoulders and staring upward. "Nasty thing to receive a bomb when slungeven six thousand feet in the air. You'd come an awful crasher."
"As to exploding," continued Joe serenely, "of course one no longerexperiences at these high altitudes the normal fourteen pounds persquare inch one is accustomed to on terra firma. The atmosphere israrer, it weighs considerably less, and exerts decidedly less pressure.Hence, as you rightly assume, the envelope of a Zeppelin tends to tear.But, my dear sir, permit me to hand you a sample of sheet celludine.See, it is transparent, flexible, and extremely light. Please tear it,using as much force as you wish, and thereby prove that it is neithertough nor unstretchable."
The inventor held out a single sheet of his wonderful yet simplematerial, while Dick craned his neck forward to get a closer view. Asfor Alec and Andrew, they were already versed in the characteristics ofthe stuff, but none the less interested. At once the Major complied withJoe's wishes.
"Light, transparent, flexible," he said. "Yes, admitted. You agree,Colonel. Now tough and non-extensible; that is, won't stretch."
"Like rubber," interjected Dick.
"Quite so. Hang on--no, you're too light yet. Who ever heard of amidshipman having weight? The Colonel will suit my purpose. Now, Steven,pull with all your might."
As was only to be expected the experiment proved the value of celludineconclusively.
"I've been through the same sort of game," laughed Andrew. "I've tuggedand pulled and stamped on the stuff till I was hot. Then, gentlemen, Iput my money into this ship. I had had a practical demonstration."
"But we were talking of exploding," said Joe. "Of course, each one ofthe gas compartments has a safety valve, so that if at any time thepressure from without should lessen to a dangerous degree, then thevalves open and gas escapes. But you were looking at the aeroplane. Ipropose to make use of it presently; for our friend, the French airmanwhom Dick was sent to rescue, is now recovered and wishes to be landed."
A close inspection of the heavier-than-air machine designed by JoeGresson proved of absorbing interest, for here again celludine enteredinto the greater part of its construction. Possessed of two planes,these were supported by girders passing to right and left, and bracedtogether in a manner which made them peculiarly rigid, while the lowerand upper planes were supported on the girders holding those positionsrespectively, some three feet only separating them. Immediately beneath,forming, in fact, the foundation for the girders, was a long,boat-shaped body, with sharpened prow, no visible keel, and a flatbottom tapering from stem to stern. The latter extended a considerabledistance, and supported at its end two small elevating planes and a bigvertical rudder. Finally, two struts on either side had spring wheelsattached to them, while the steel stampings, to which they were boltedthemselves, had a form of spring attachment which one could realizewould provide against severe shocks when landing.
"Then she can come down on water or on land?" asked the Colonel,adjusting an eyeglass which he had just produced. "Most interesting. Andhow, pray, does she return to her parent ship, this gigantic airvessel?"
"How? By merely circling above and dropping on this deck. I will showyou," said Joe, his face flushed with pride. "But first allow me todescribe the method by which the pilot controls the machine, and howlateral and fore-and-aft stability are assured. See, there are the samemovements as on other machines for controlling height, for turning, or'banking', to use the technical expression. One merely sits in the cabplaced towards the stem of the boat body where the levers are located.Come, Colonel, and you too, Major, and Dick. T
ry a spin. I can assureyou that there is no risk in the matter."
"But--but set off when ten thousand feet from the land, when one candistinguish no single object," cried the former, aghast at such asuggestion. "Yes, I'll come," he said a moment later, deliberatelyscrewing his monocle a little tighter into position and looking at theinventor. "You tell me there is no great risk, and hearing that, Iaccept the invitation. After all, you must not blame me if I show somelittle trepidation. My dear sir, I am not a bird, and this is the firstoccasion on which I have ever ascended from native earth."
As for the Major, he too nodded his willingness, though he also felt nota little trepidation. As for Dick, one may say that the happy-go-luckyfellow hardly ever counted risks, such is the record of midshipmen. Buteven so, a glance through the transparent material beneath him towardsthe brown blur far, far below caused him an undoubted tremor. But he hadgrit. He had proved it, and now leaped into the boat without furtherhesitation. The Colonel and his brother officer were already there,while Joe stepped in behind them.
"Take your seats, gentlemen," he said, with a smile which went far toreassure them. "Now, we are ready, save for the fact that our engine isnot yet running, while the doors of this sunken hangar are not open. ButI pull this cord hanging overhead. See! An electric motor raises thewhole shed and opens it. Then we press this little pedal--moreelectricity, my friends--a six-volt battery feeds a small motor aboardhere and turns the engine round. Now air is forced through my paraffincarburettor and the vapour resulting is fed to that gasometer in thebows of the boat. Yes, it's a gasometer, just as you see on land, thoughmuch smaller. Thence the gas passes to the engine, where it receivesmore air and--ah! she's off. Listen to her humming, and for one momentnotice the position of the engine. It is centrally placed, immediatelybeneath the planes, and is suspended from a single point. Thus it isfree to swing both backward and forward and from side to side. Therelies the secret of automatic stability. Say we are coasting along and agust cants us to the right. The heavy engine still keeps in the samevertical position, while this whole machine turns as it were on thatsingle point. You can readily follow that certain levers attached toengine and machine will be altered in position, and as a direct resultthe wing tips are warped in a prearranged manner, the back planes rotateupward or downward, or the rudder itself is operated. That is forcoasting, for use when on a long, straight flight, when one wishes totake note of one's surroundings, to eat, or even to sleep."
"Sleep!" gasped the Major.
"Why not?" came Joe's cool answer.
"But up in the air, thousands of feet up!"
"As well there as within a hundred feet. The action I have beendescribing is automatic. There is no question of human error in itsbehaviour. So long as the planes have room for manoeuvring, and theengine does not stop, there is no need to interfere in the slightest.Set your course, lock your tiller, and go to sleep. But you shall see;for the moment I will trust to my own skill in manoeuvring. In fact,by pulling this small lever I secure the engine. In effect it is nowsuspended not only from a single point, but fixed rigidly to theframework of the whole machine. Then if I wish to bank, no automaticaction can disturb my calculations. We are ready, I think. Look!flexible tubes above the engine carry the water from the force pumps tothe motors on the hubs of the two propellers. There you see preciselythe same hydraulic system of conveying power as is used elsewhere inthis airship. No need, therefore, to have a dozen men holding themachine down, for the propellers are motionless, the bypass being fullopen. But I close it now--watch them twirl. I shut it almostcompletely----"
"Hi! Hold on!" shouted Dick at that instant, while the Colonel grippedthe sides of the cab and actually dropped his monocle.
"We're off!" bellowed the Major, jamming his hat down on his head andclenching his teeth tightly.
"Away she goes!" called Joe, his face set, his eyes glued on the deckbefore him.
Those two propellers hissed and roared as they rotated, the biplaneresting so tranquilly a moment earlier beneath the transparent roof ofher shed leaped into the open, her wheels already engaged with the railsplaced there to guide them. In a moment or two she was speeding alongthem at forty miles an hour, so fast, indeed, that Dick could feel herlifting already. He sat down hard, bit his lip, and tried to look as ifthe trip before him was of little moment. But the gallant Dick's heartwas fluttering in the most uncomfortable manner. Indeed, we must reportthe fact that Mr. Midshipman Hamshaw was almost reduced to the conditionof abject funk. For the machine lifted of a sudden. The deck of theairship, that deck which only a few hours before had seemed to themidshipman so insecure, so frail, so wanting in stability, and now--socurious is the change of opinion brought by altered circumstances--whichoffered such a firm standing, that deck flashed from beneath thebiplane. One second there was the familiar, transparent mass of theairship beneath them; the next they were perhaps a hundred feet fromher, out in the open, suspended on thin air, supported by the atmosphereupon a machine which relied on no gas to sustain it, but merely upon theupward push of the ether into which she had rushed. No wonder that theusually dashing Dick clutched firmly to the side of the cab and uttereda breathless "Jingo!"