CHAPTER III.
Mrs. Jones Offers Some Objections.
But Dr. Jones met great opposition in a quarter that was not so easilydisposed of. He had a wife. Mrs. Jones was a very intelligent and lovelywoman, younger by some fifteen years than the Doctor. She must beconsulted. He broached the subject very cautiously, now and thenexpatiating upon the extreme ease and comfort with which the trip to theNorth Pole might be made. He bought histories of the many Arcticexplorations, and read them aloud to her. At first she listenedindifferently, not dreaming for a moment that the Doctor was burningwith a desire to become an Arctic explorer. Day after day he enlargedand dilated upon his plan. Denison often dropped in of an evening, andthe conversation invariably drifted into the old topic, the aluminumglobe and the trip to the North Pole.
One evening the architect, Mr. Marsh, with a large paper roll in hishand, came with Denison to the Doctor's residence. After the usualgreetings the Doctor said, "Mrs. Jones, I think we will take possessionof the dining-room, as we wish to use the table. Come in with us, for Iam sure that you are greatly interested in the business we have on handto-night."
Mrs. Jones good-naturedly complied, and sat engaged with some knitting,while the roll brought by the architect was spread upon the table, andweights laid upon its corners. The two schemers gave a cry of delight asa truly magnificent sketch of the globe unfolded before their eyes.Floating in the firmament, thousands of feet above the earth, with apanoramic view of forests, lakes, rivers, mountains and hill elevations,fruitful valleys thickly dotted with towns, villages, farms, littlespecks that represented houses, green fields, etc., fading away intoindistinctness in the far distances of the horizon, all done with suchpatient and faithful regard for detail and artistic appreciation ofcolor and perspective, that Mrs. Jones joined in the chorus ofexpressions of unqualified admiration. It was done in water colors, andthe enraptured Doctor seized one end of it and cried: "Take hold of oneend, Denison, and help me hold it up against the wall. There, Maggie!Denison! Did you ever see anything so absolutely beautiful?"
They declared that they never had. The artist, meantime, stood withflushed cheek, his arms folded across his breast, modest and quiet.
"Get tacks and a hammer, Maggie, and we'll fasten it to the wall; thenwe can all sit and enjoy this glorious panorama."
The painting was quickly tacked up in a position for inspection, and allsat admiringly before it.
"By the way, Mr. Marsh, you must have done something in the line ofaeronautism, or you never could have made that painting," observed theDoctor.
"No, Doctor, I have never made any balloon ascensions, but I haveclimbed many mountains, both in Europe and America, and have madenumerous sketches from vast elevations. I have simply drawn upon thesefor my material, and in this painting you have a blending of several ofthem. Of course, I have taxed my imagination to some extent. The centralobject, the globe, air-ship, or whatever you may be pleased to call it,is your own conception, or my conception of your idea."
"Well, I am more than pleased with your work. Your execution has so fartranscended my idea that I take no credit at all in this instance. Butnow we must never rest until we have materialized this splendidconception."
So they sat admiring and chatting over the painting some little time.
"Well, Marsh, have you anything more to show us to-night?" askedDenison.
"Yes," he replied, "I have some figures and data that I received fromthe city a day or two since."
Drawing their chairs about the table, Mr. Marsh read from a smallmemorandum-book estimate prices of materials, amount and weight of same,cost of labor, and finally what he deemed to be the approximate cost ofthe globe complete, furnished and equipped for a one year's voyage.
"I have some suggestions to offer, Doctor. You spoke of having threeskins or envelopes of aluminum, with air chambers between them thatwould prevent the radiation of heat. Now, I think that we can do betterthan that, though without doubt your idea is practical and would answerthe purpose; yet I have a plan to offer that will dispense with oneenvelope, and will more effectually conserve heat. Zinc is the bestnonconductor of heat that I know of. One thin layer of this metal withina few inches of the external covering of aluminum will serve you a muchbetter purpose and will greatly reduce the cost of construction."
This suggestion met with the immediate approval of the Doctor andDenison. They talked and planned until quite a late hour. After thedeparture of the two men Mrs. Jones said:
"Are you seriously thinking of going into this wild scheme, Doctor?"
"Well, Maggie, what do you think of it? Don't you see how perfectlyfeasible and beautiful it is?"
"Why, so far as I know, it may do well enough. But how can you doanything with it, and what good would it do you if you could?"
"My dear Maggie! How can you ask such a question! Think of the glory ofaccomplishing that which has defeated some of the best and bravest menthat the world has ever produced. And think of the importance thisaccomplishment might be to science. Is the undying fame that wouldattach to such a deed to be lightly esteemed? Oh, my dear wife! you knowhow steadily and conscientiously I have labored all these years. Morethan a quarter of a century have I devoted to the care of the sick, withscarcely a moment's recreation. The time has come when I feel that Imust take a vacation. Further than this, I feel that I can do the worldgreater service with my idea of reaching the North Pole, besidessettling a question as to the possibility of aerial navigation for longdistances. How can I better spend a year or so than in the promotion ofthis idea? Be a good, brave little wife, as you always have been, anddon't oppose me in this thing upon which my heart is set."
"And who is to sail this great balloon, or air-ship?"
"Well, as the Dutch captain said when the harbor inspector asked 'Who isthe captain of this ship?' 'I ish de feller!'"
With these words he assumed a melodramatic attitude. But Mrs. Jones wasnot to be won by any facetiae, and walked up to him, placing her handsupon his shoulders, said: "Do you think for one moment that I will everconsent to your going off on so fearfully perilous an expedition asthis? How I should feel to see you sail off into the blue sky, with analmost absolute certainty of never seeing you again! I should go insane.What would my days and nights be, even though you went and returned inall the safety you anticipate? I should go insane in less than a weekwith anxiety. Do as you please so far as promoting the construction ofthe globe is concerned, but never will I consent to your going in it."
"Maggie, Maggie, don't be so foolish. I do not intend going until I haveperfectly satisfied you that I am not more safe in our home than Ishould be in our great ship."
"All right!" she cried. "You are not to go, then, until I freelyconsent."
"O, hold on!" he answered. "Don't construe me so ungenerously. I onlysaid that I would first convince you of my safety."
"That you can never do, and you may as well give it up. It cannot be asafe undertaking. It makes me faint to even think of it. Just imagineyourself in that cabin now," pointing to Marsh's painting that stillhung upon the wall.
"I wish to heaven I was," growled the Doctor.
"I just won't hear another word of it!" and she flounced out of the roomto bed.