The Argosy for May — page 125: what you’re looking at

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

312 panion would essay some especial hazard ; but he was ashamed not to venture where the other so daringly led, and by pure miracle, so it seemed to him, he escaped unseathed. Now, however, they had passed beyond the fortifications, the limits of the old town, and were on freer, less encumbered streets, where the risks were less constant and the going easier than on the slippery asphalt. Caxton ranged up beside his comrade and, by the active use of spur and whip, managed to keep his sweating beast upon more even terms with Solferino, who, for all his charging rush, had not yet turned a hair. It was hard work, though, at the best his mount could do; for ever at more and more frequent in- tervals Laszlo would give his sharp, im- patient cry of Vorwaerts/” and the chest- nut would answer with a new and more surprising burst of speed. At last, however, the end—at least, the end of their first stage—was in sight. Up a little ascent they tore, and down in the hollow beneath them they could see the dark mass of buildings which form the square of the Arsenal. Usually, at night the place was gloomy and deserted; but this evening, to their surprise, it presented a scene of the great- est activity. The wide yard, with its row of sheds for the housing of Von Altdorff’s ballrooms, was all alight with the glow of arc-lamps, and a crowd of workmen could be seen in the center about the huge gas-bag of the largest one, which, fully inflated, swayed un- steadily and tugged hard at its moorings. And then, as Caxton and Chegnay stared with uncomprehending eyes, they saw the crowd scatter back, and in the broad illumination beheld Von Altdorff and Muriel advance and take their places in the basket. A murmur of voices was borne to their ears, the bark of a sharp, authoritative order; then the men scattered still far- ther back, and the restraining ropes were let go. Up into the air shot the big, cigar- shaped bag, with its dangling cordage and human freight. The staccato cough of its motor hummed out upon the air, the propeller began slowly to revolve. They were off! THE ARGOSY. A passionate cry of remonstrance burst from Laszlo’s lips, as though it had been torn from his very heart. The hand which held the whip he never used upon Solferino rose in a quick gesture, and came down in a sharp, stinging cut across the mettlesome creature’s flank. Resenting the unaccustomed punish- ment, the horse sprang forward like an arrow shot from a bow. Down the little declivity he fairly bolted, his head swinging wide at every leap—a blind, plunging whirlwind of wrath and protest and speed. It was useless for Caxton to attempt to follow. He could but sit his horse at the top of the hill, and gaze in stupefied wonder at the swift unfolding of events: What Chegnay intended to do he could not divine; indeed, it is doubtful if the Austrian had any distinct idea himself. His lover’s heart simply realized that its idol was being carried away from him, and he acted upon the impulse of one who feels that he must do something. Something, no matter how hopeless the outcome! The air-ship, Caxton saw, had not yet answered to its power, but, carried by the wind, drifted low over the squat buildings of the Arsenal, and out toward the road, its drag-rope trailing behind it like a serpent held in the talons of some gigantic bird of prey. Out over the road the vessel drifted, then started to lift, just as Chegnay and Solferino whirled toward it, with a clat- ter of charging hoofs. Like a flash, Laszlo saw his opportu- nity. Every instant the balloon was mounting higher; the. end of the drag- rope now dangled aQove the height of a man’s head. “ Springe!” The lieutenant’s hands, gathering up the reins, gripped down like a vise on either side of his horse’s neck. Solferino, almost running away, yet knew the fa- miliar signal too well to disobey. He caught himself at the very begin- ning of another leap and, bunching his mighty muscles, shot upward. Up, as he had done before*the assem- bled thousands upon that never-to-be- forgotten Field Day. Up, like the un- coiling of a watch-spring. Up, and still up, in one magnificent spectacular effort! DOO mn S (C@