Through the Air to the North Pole / Or, The Wonderful Cruise of the Electric Monarch

ofessor, anxiously, as he came for

ed Jack. "But what has

ll these w

easant laugh. "One question at a time. For t

d Jack, slowly. "We t

same time. As for your second question, you are here in my shop. As to the third, those wheels are parts of my great inventi

', Per

lored man, seemingly as strong as an ox, coming toward them with two

oned itself into yo' vicinity!" he exclaimed,

tioned the old man. "N

erfessor," wa

like eating?" aske

ugh, when I thought I'd never get a chance t

d I happened to be near by and brought you here. Fortunately I am somethin

uch obliged to yo

suggested the old man. "I can trust Washington t

nd Mark, sitting up on the bed, for they were still weak and s

walk," suggest

on the floor. They bot

lame from the shakin

nge rescuer. "I have some liniment that will soon t

ght out some liniment. Under his direction Jack and Mark rubbed themselves well, and experienced almost immediate relief. It was now getti

self a meal. When the dishes were cleared away the old man, who had noted with sm

would like to ask

at all this machiner

oor," Mark went on, indica

t! Now if I tell you will you promise to keep

e boys promi

ow to take a look inside?" the invento

exclai

and trousers and I'll

ghted by a single big lamp, but in the glare of it the boys caught sight of a strange, weird object. It looked like an immense cigar, and swayed slowly back

world is it

enderson. "The only successful airship e

it for?"

moon!" cried the old man. "With that I

light of the lamp. Jack and Mark thought they might have been brought to the abode of a madman. They shr

ngton, more light! We will show them what we have done, hidden away fro

de orb ob day shinin' heah!" exclaimed the n

losed?" asked Mr. H

drum-head,"

med the inventor,

ey saw. They had no idea that the rough s

ed silk. It was shaped like a cigar, big in the middle and tapering at both ends. The b

nly much lighter in weight. It had a sharp bow, and a blunt stern. From the ster

t long, ten feet wide, and extending five feet above the gunwale of the ship. The cabin had four windows on each side, a companion

" he said, pointing to the big rudder that was hung aft, a

w the machinery worked, and they thought no more of their knocks and bruises than as if a mosquito ha

he Monarch," he said

ingt

of the airship was flooded with a

ding the way. The boys followed, mar

rt of this was a passage leading to the conning tower, or the place for the steersman. Behind the parlor came the sleeping quarters and dining room combined.

from giving cheers of delight. It was almost filled with machinery, and occupie

s similar to those used in automobiles, pumps, large and small tanks, instruments for measuring the electric current, for telling the temperature, the amount of

ose to the wall and along the floor held supplies and materials. Everything was new and shining, and the prof

out on the s

ompanion steps and emerged on a small

asked the professor, touchin

a gun," re

a minute, and it can be turned in any direction, as it works on a swivel. I

the engine room out through the stern, and showed how the rudder

ked. All I have to do is to fill the big bag of oiled silk with a new gas I have discovered and up we go. This is r

The gas has enormous lifting power, and if it was not for that I would not dare make such a large and comfortable air

two tubes. When we have arisen to a sufficient height I start the electric engine, the propeller whirls around, and

ried Jack with

nly is," a

under the direct control of the steersman. A lever turned one way would send the ship ahead. Turned in the opposite direction it would reverse the course. A wheel like that o

, leading the way back into the middle room. "We will take along capsules that will

pping down to earth whenever it is necessary.

nts. There were big coats, caps and boots, everythin

nto some cold country, professor," sa

to find the north pole!"

h pole?"

t to go along in the Monarch to a pl

here came a loud