Frank Reade Library No. 73: Six Weeks in the Clouds — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4 SIX WEEKS IN THE CLOUDS. ——— CC eeerrwwwwweeee eer EE moment at his dudeen and then picking up his load went on his way. Pomp looked after him a moment and then scratching his head, mut- tered: ‘*T done fink dat chap hab some place on bo’d dat he hide dat stuff away. Hum! well if dis chile doan’ find it den he am one po’ [ool fo’ a fac’!” And with this resolution Pomp went about his work. But Barney on his way into the cabin chuckled and blinked and muttered under his breath: ‘*T reckon that. naygur will thry his best ter foind where I hide the crather. Shure I’ll have some fun wid him now an’ payhim back fer an ould score. That I will!” , And chuckling and laughing to himself Barney formulated mentally the plan by which he would victimize Pomp. Exciting events were in store, Promptly Sylvester Warden appeared ready for the ascension. He was overjoyed at the prospect of a quest being made for the lost aeronauts, and had perfect confidence that it would be successful. *‘It cannot be otherwise!” he muttered. ‘‘I will pray for it!’ At the appointed hour, the Thunderbolt was ready for its aerial flight. Frank caused it to be rolled out into the yard. Every stay waa knocked away, the anchors stowed aboard, and Frank sprung into the pilot-house. Outside the gates a monster crowd waited to view the ascension. There were loud cheers. The bells of the town were ringing in honor of the event. Frank was in the pilot-house. Barney and Pomp were at the rail, and Sylvester Warden the same, a few feet nearer the door. Frank pressed the electric key. There was a whirring as of a mighty flock of birds rising, as the roiascopes began to revolve. Then like a monster eagle, the Thunderbolt rose into the air. up she soared as light as a feather. The din below was deafening. Frank lashed the wheel and set the propeller key at a certain speed. Then he sprang into the gun room. | He puta projectile witha time fuse into‘one of the pneumatic guns. The fuse was calculated so that the projectile would burst in mid- air. Then Frauk pressed the button, and the pneumatic gun was dis- charged. The projectile rushed a mile up into tie clouds and burst. I¢ was like the roar of a thunderbolt, and deeply impressed the Bpectators. Up three thousand feet went the air-ship. Then Frank sluckened the speed of the rotascopes and set theship’s course. This was directly to the north. Mr. Warden believed that the balloon had been carried in that di- rection. Frank expressed his opinion: ‘*] think we shall find your people,” he said, ‘‘ far up in British Co- lumbia. I have no doubt they are safe there, but have found no rapid means of transit home.” ‘‘ Heaven pray that you are right,” said Mr. Warden. ‘“‘ Tf the balloon is as strongly built as you describe, certainly it will Keep afloat for a good while.” “* Yes.” ‘* Then the air currents will carry them a great distance.” “‘ That is logical.” ‘* Moreover, if they had descended in a region ‘ear to civilization, you would have heard from them long ere this.” ‘« You are right.” So Mr. Warden took heart with this reassuring statement cf the young inventor. The Thunderbolt bore away to the northward. The great quest for the loat aeronauts had begun. The party were in the clouds. Exciting and wonderful adventures were near at hand. All were prepared for them, however, and as the Thunderbolt sped en through the sky, the spirits of all were light and their hearts cheer- ul. Up, CHAPTER III. A FEARFUL STORM. THE sky had been dark with cloads at the time of the ascent of the Thunderbolt. It was evident that a storm was near at hand. The air-ship therefore was in sight but a very’ brief while. clouds opened and received her almost at once. And the earth at the same time was lost to the view of those on board the air-ship. Truly it was a wonderful sight now spread before their gaze. They were in a dense mist at first. Then all made a rush for the cabin. The passage of the air-ship in- to the cloud had induced precipitation, and the rain celuged the deck. Frank increased the speed of the rotascopes. His plan was to rise above the rain as quickly as possible. Up, up shot the air-ship. The rain lasted but 1 few moments. The the mist, there was a rumbling, jolting shock as the thunder passed on. They were in close proximity to the works of Jove, and the sensa- tion was a novel one. ~ Mr. Warden was for a moment in fear that the lightning would strike the air-ship. But Frank quieted his fears. a There ig not the slightest danger,” he said. now.” They now floated in a vast body of fleecy clouds. It was a literally grand sight to see them piled about on every hand like huge white glaciers. And still upward shot the air-ship. Then suddenly the Thunderbolt. shot out into clear atmosphere. They were above the atorm. But yet they misaed the friendly glare of the sunlight. Looking ap, the reason for this was plainly seen. Fully half a mile above was a dense black wall of cloude. It was an upper cloud stratum, and the air-ship was right between the two storms, The one beneath was raging, evidently having burst upon the earth. But the storm above was in reserve. Frank appeared on deck with a barometer. ‘* Four thousand feet higher,” he said, ‘‘and we would likely be in sunlight. But I fear to make it.” ‘* And why?” asked Mr. Warden. ; fa The best of reasons. Do you not notice a change in the atmos- ere?” ‘¢ Tt is cold!” All were looking blue around the nose and lips and were biting their fiuger tips. It was frigid. ‘‘ Exactly! ‘he air grows rarer every foot we go upward now. Above that black cloud it may be so extremely rare that human life cannot be supported.” Nobody disputed this. But Mr. Warden said: ‘‘ Well, in that case what ought we to do?” ‘‘ We can only try to beat the storm,” declared Frank. “(Qutrun it?” ‘* Well, run through it. It comes evidently from the northeast. Now we will take a northern course, and I have no doubt we can soon leave it behind.” With this decision Frank went into the pilot house and started the Thunderbolt rapidly tu the north. Thus far the storm had been accompanied by little of agitation in the atmosphere. Now, however, an exciting and fearful phenomenon was witnessed. As the Thunderbolt sped on Frank saw that the upper stratum of clouds was begiuning to shut down. At che same time he heard what seemed like the roar of a flume in his rear. Turning his head he beheld an alarming spectacle. There were mighty mountains of clouds coming piling after the air- ship with frightful rapidity. It seemed as if the ship must be crushed if they should strike it. Frank saw the danger. The tempest had come and the air-ship was to be in the very midst of it. It was too laie to ascend higher. All that could be done was to put on speed and run before the tornado. Frank feared that every rotascope would be dismantled if the tor- nado caught the air-ship, so he relaxed no effort to outstrip it. He shouted to those on deck: : ‘“*Come in, every one of you. you!” The warning was at once heeded. All came rushing in from the platform, and Barney hastily closed and secured the rear doors. He was 1ot & moment too soon. In an instant darkness of the densest sort shut down, and what fol- lowed seemed ever after like a horrible nightmare. It seemed as if the air-ship was picked up and hurled like a football through space. Giant hands apparently had it in their grasp, and it at times seemed revolving over and over like a top. There came a falling sensation, and all believed themselves about to be precipitated to the earth. Those in the cabin were not able to control their motion. They were hurled about like puppets in a corn popper, and many were the bruises and hard knocks they sustained. As for Frank in the pilot house, he hung to the wheel like grim death. He knew that the only hope of salvation lay in keeping the rota- scopes buzzing, so he kept his hand on the switch whenever he could. And on through space the air-ship was whirled. How it ever survived the fearful shock was a mystery. At length the storm began to wax less strong, and soon the air-ship righted it- self and went steady oncé more. | The darkness was dispelled as if by magic, and sunlight streamed into the cabin. The voyagers picked themselves up and took a view of the situa- tion. The Thunderbolt was riding clear and steady in the upper at- ‘¢We are above it If you don’t, it will be the end of Then a vivid glare penetrated mosphere. an) (C JOO KS (C(O) (C(O)