Frank Reade Library No. 73: Six Weeks in the Clouds — page 11: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

SIX WEEKS IN THE CLOUDS. 11 @ “ At least,” he said, ‘is there any harm in attempting it?” ‘¢ Why, we can try a few explosions,” agreed Frank. ‘Iam a lit- tle curious myself to see how it would act.” With this, the young inventor went into the gun-room. An explo- sive shell, carefully timed, was fired into a cloud near. The explosion waa exactly like a clap of thunder. Electric flashes leaped from the cloud, and instantly there were in- dications of a storm. Several of the bombs were exploded in this manner in various parts of tne cloud bank. Rain fell heavily. The clouds were precipitated in a perfect deluge, For a time this continued. Then. Warden cried triumphantly: ‘See! The clouds are scattering. This was true. Directly beneath them the aerial voyagers saw the earth. The clouds had fallen in that immediate vicinity. But Frank cried: ‘* Look! The supply is inexhaustible!” Almost immediately the heavy clouds closed in like a solid wall, and the earth was again concealed. If anything the clouds looked thicker and blacker than before. ‘* Well, I never!” muttered Warden, ‘* Where do they all come from?” . ‘* My friend!]’ said Frank, iinpressively, ‘‘ thatis one of the myster- ies of nature. The supply will never cease. All the explosives we could find would not change the present situation in the teast!” Sylvester Warden nodded his head. ‘‘You are right,” he said, ‘‘ then the old way of a random search in the clouds is our only method for finding the lost balloon?” ‘“‘ Tt seems to be now!” replied Frank. ‘* Yet nature may work some great change and all in a few tours.” So the matter was droppeil. The other voyagers especially Prof. Digby Denham had been deeply interested in the attempt. The latter now came to Frank, saying: “ Upon my word, Mr. Reade, you have solved the secret vf aerial navigation.” ‘Ah!’ cried Frank, casually, ‘is that your opinion?” ‘“It is emphatically. I shall ouild no more balloons.” ‘ No?” ‘‘When I get home [ shall at once proceed to build me an air-ship.’ Frank smiled at this, ‘¢ Ab, do you reckon that easy?” he asked. ‘You seem tu have found it so. Why should not I?” “Very true,” replied Frank ironically. ‘‘[t is easy enough to build air-ships.” ‘© Yes,” ‘¢ But not so easy to make them fly.” The Rev. Schuyler Wall stood near and now ventured to remark: ‘You will find Mr. Reade is right, Digby. The secret of flight is very inportant, That must be learned.” ‘Ig it a secret?” asked Denhum contemptuously, gazing at the ro- tascopes. ‘* Why, you simply have to make those revolving wheels and furnish the lightest of motive power.” . ‘‘ Well, my good friend,” put in Warden, who had been listening with interest, ‘‘just you go ahead. Wher you build an air-ship that will fly ll make you a handsome gift.” Denham looked rather offended. ‘<Tf I live to reach home [ shall try,” be declared. The subject dropped; but 4 little while later, iz another part of the ship, Warden and Frank had a good laugh. ‘TIT don’t wish to deny the possibility of the man’s constructing a successful flying machine,” said Frank, ‘‘ but he must first learn the secret to build one after the type of this one.” ‘I believe you,” agreed Warden. ‘‘ You see, the trouble with the professor is a very large case of swelled head.” Still the discouraging quest for the lost balloon was kept up. Days passed into unother week. Five weexs had passed since leav- ing Readestown; but the next and sixth week was to bring forth some thrilling incidents, One morning all in the party tumbled out of their bunks to discover a new and pleasant state of affairs. The clouds in part had lifted, and the sun was shining brightly upon the earth. . ; The air-ship rode high in the clear, bracing atmosphere. as well as the air was exhilarating. Instantly the one thought was of the lost balloon. Glasses were brought out and the sky was minutely scanned. the slightest speck was visible as yet. Bat to the westward and the north banks of clouds hung high above the horizon. It was possible that the balloon wags somewhere beyond them. So the course was set in that direction. nearer. And now it became a question as to whether it was best to enter the clouds again or rot. The balloon certainly was not in the open sky. Where else could it be then but in the clouds? It was possible that the clouds micht lift entirely ina few hours or that the balloon might drift out of them and again into view. If the air-ship was in the clouds at the time, of course this oppor- tunity was lost. It wos a hard question to decide. Frank considered it from all sides. You can see the earth.” The sight Not The clouds rapidly drew mrs rr rr - He was a great believer in action. He disliked the thought of wait- ing around for such an uncertainty. ‘* Mercy!” he exclaimed. ‘‘ The ciouds may settle in again even while we are waiting. I believe it best to go ahead.” So he gave the order to Pom) to drive into the clouds. In a short whi! the air-ship was once more drifting through the mighty walls of mist. Every one now was on the keen lookout for the balloon. It seemed as if it ought to be found the easier, now that the zenith was at last free from the clouds. But there was yet left a mighty cloud covered apace. However, the quest in tte clouds was near its end. Suddenly a mighty wall of mist just in front lifted, and a great cry went up from all. ‘* Hurrah, the balloon!” Yes; there it was beyond a doubt. The huge sphere was drifting rapidly through the fleecy mass. The air-ship was instantly in pursuit. Then it was within hailing distence. To the amazement of all, it was seen that there was but one tnan in the basket. This was Charlie Allen. Barney was gone. What did it mean? A swift, sudden chill struck Frank Reade, Jr. that his trusted servant’s fate was sealed forever. At once he harled the balloon. “Hello!” he shouted. ‘¢ Hello!” came back. ‘Are you well?” “ Yes,” ‘¢ Where is Barney?” «He ig not with me. I will tell you when I get up there where you are.” A line was now thrown over the air-ship’s rail. It was gently swung back and forth until it was within the reach of young Allen. He grasped it, and then swung clear of the balloon. The huge sphere shot upward and vanished again. This time the skies might claim it forever. No further pursuit would be made. Charlie Allen was drawn swiftly up and aboard the Thunderbolt. As he struck the deck Hattie was the first to be clasped in his arms, Then Warden and the others gathered joyfully about him. But Charlie saw the anxious look upon Frank Reade, Jr.’s, face and said: ‘‘Mr. Reade, now I will tell you about your man, Barney.” ‘‘ Tg he dead?” ‘¢T do not know.” Frank drew a breath of relief. ** Ah! then there is a chance tbat he is alive,” he said, eagerly. ‘¢ Oh, yes,” declared young Allan. ‘In fact, I am quite sure that he is. I'll tell you how it was: ‘* You see, after losing the air-ship we drifted about for days in the clouds. We did everything we could to gignal you, but in vain. ‘¢Then one day, owing Lo some peculiar depression of the atmos: phere, che balloon began to sink. We thought sure we were going to the earth. ‘t But it was no auch good luck. The balloon went down, though, until within a few hundred feet of the surface of a lake. ‘* [2 was right in the heart of the woods. We thought the balloon might fall into the water, and counted the chances of getting ashore. ‘* Barney did not think that it would be much of a swim, and said that he had a mind to leap overboard. Then an idea occurred to us. “ And it was our attempt to carry out that idea which separated us.’ It was a deadly fear CHAPTER X, TO BARNEY'S RESCUE. » YounG Allen paused a2 moment for breath and presently continued: ‘‘ Our scheme was to Simply lower a line to the water and slide down it, then swim ashore. It locked dead eagy. ‘* We were bound totry it. Barney was the tirst to go. The line was not strong enough to hold two, 80 he was to go down first, then steady the line for me. ‘‘ So Barney went over the edge of the basket and slid down the rope, which was fully four hundred feet long. But just as he got near the end of the rope a queer thing happened. ‘(From the shore a canoe with six savage Klamath Indians in it shot out into the lake. ‘‘T shouted to Barney, but it was too late. him before he coald even try to climb up again. ‘“They yanked him off that rope in ahurry. The lessening of bal- last caused the balloon to shoot upward like a rocket. In a few sec- onds I was again in the clouds. That was the last I saw of Barney.” As young Allen finisheé his narrative a troubled expression settled down upon Frank Reade, Jr.’s brow. ‘‘Inthe hands of the Klamaths,” he exclaimed, ‘‘that is hard enough, for they are very cruel to their prisoners.” ‘ But is there not a good chance to rescue him?” asked Allen. ‘*T ghall try,” declared Frank. ‘‘ Of course you would know this locality if you were to see it again?” ‘‘QOh, yes!” ““Then we will look for itt” Frank let the Thunderbolt descend rapidly. Soon it was far below the clouds. The earta was just below. . The Indians reached GOnnlGaoo Cc S$ oCO