Dick Hamilton's Airship; Or, A Young Millionaire in the Clouds

eir seats. The big propellers, from which the power had been cut off, as the birdmen started to volp

ut spick-and-span soldiers of Uncle Sam. But dress in the army has undergone a radical change. The "fuss and feathers" are

e of the officers, evidently in command.

up. "I am in charge here," and he introduced himself. The army

in the other machine. With him is Lieutenant McBride, and m

he shook hands with the visitors. "

sant men-that is all but one. The first sight he had of the face of Lieutenant Larson,

watching! I don't lik

ul or Innis. He made up his mind he

ble them again, would take too much time," went on Captain Grantly. "Though we expect, later, to give your students a

n grounds, and had a most successful flig

, is at your disposal," said Colonel

ion," said Captain Grantly with a smile. "We are going on th

ere were a state of war. We shall communi

head of the military school. "We are installing a wirele

n, if you and Lieutenant McBride will get the balloon ready, Captain

went on to explain, "and it takes a

" said Colonel Masterly. "I don't se

p wireless," went on Captain Grantly, as he directed the lieutenants to get out the rest of the apparatus. "We carry with us a deflated balloon, which w

weigh about twenty pounds, I might say. Then we carry a light sending instrument. It has a considerable range, though

on interestedly. The drill had been abandoned, and officers and s

inder into the deflated balloon. The silken sides puffed out, losin

wires?" asked

nd did not like his voice. There are some persons who make a bad impression on you at the f

ng and sending apparatus. These wires were on a reel, and would he uncoiled as the balloon arose. The earth-end would be attached to the telephone receivers and to the apparatus, consisting of a spark-gap whee

ything. His assistants signified

e balloon, was released the spherical bag of gas shot into the air

dred feet, and, when it had been a

at made and broke the electrical current. The current itself came from a small, but powerful, storage battery, and it had been switched on. The current al

ctricity would shoot out with a vicious snap; that is if the connection

lete description save to say that it is just like a telegraph system, in fundamentals.

set is suspended at the other station. The electrical current jumps through the air from one group of wires

ough the air, without any directly connecting wires. And the

ts clicking. You can hold your table knife blade between two tines

f you move it more slowly, holding it down for a moment, that would be a dash. A spa

the letters of the alphabet may be made and words

ak that it would not operate the sounder. So a delicate telephone receiver is used. This is connected to the receiving wires, and as the sender at his station, perhaps a thousand mil

very high tension current is needed, as most of it is wasted, leaping through the air as it does. So that though the clicks may sound very loud a

round. This was kept up for some little time, after the receiving operator at the army headquarters had signified that he was at attention. Then

e cipher code, and so

lonel Masterly, "and they have informed me that we are to remain here un

ied the commandant of Kentfield. "If you will

nes, and haul down our wireless o

ted the colonel, and this offer being accepted, Dick, to hi

ain Grantly, with the junior captain, accompanied Co

sted Lieutenant Larson, in surly tones to his companion. "

y wires. They are loose and need attention. They might

m not," was the growling retort. "I'm sick of this

as the good-natured answ

now," said Dick, as he recalled Mr.

ing down the suspended balloon. "I only know I'm sick of

nce. He smilingly told them what to do, and the boys helped to push the machines to a shed that had been set

Mr. Vardon and the latter's helper, Jack, came acros

of the work, and was on his way to get a brief leave of absence from his capt

aviator they spoke of," said L

Vardon, quietly. "I did not e

ut your failure. I suppose now, you will quit fooling w

vinced that I am right,

lish," was

red in the ear of his employer, so t

!" were the tense wo