The Flight of the Silver Ship: Around the World Aboard a Giant Dirgible

mond and the other officers. Dulcie, dodging her tüchtiger officers, found Red, and had an earnest talk with him. When they parted, Red was shaking with laughter, and Dulcie, looking a

ounted and they rose, accompanied by cheers, waving handkerchiefs, and the furious blasts of a brass band. As the Moonbeam gained altitude she

y, the twentieth of June, was over. David found Dulcie wr

at?" ask

gerie, of

ne," said Du

Gone

farmed every one of 'em out. The crew has the marmoset, the reporters have the canaries, Red is taking care of the k

could stop laughing. "And I'll tell the

reflectively, "I'm n

ill clear night. David, standing the first watch, was alone but not lonely. Guiding his shi

nfidently in this immensity of space. Europe was slipping by beneath them. Somehow David discovered that its civilization and its eager interest in their progress was a comfort, a spiritual safeguard. Now, indeed, they were about to fare into a wild and savage country, where there were

n to the control room, where he f

air conditions remain good, and we continue making seventy-five m

d David, "especially if

eared from nowhere, and without warning drowned the ship in

ess lengths of silk, waving and billowing? And there are little silver ribbons, and all thos

avid. "Perhaps the earth

altitude, sinking gently

commented, as they gazed do

hite collar on. Even the woods. And see those farms. Se

I'll bet they have a telephone, and he's gone to tell the neighbors in

you are right! Look in the square. See

ere torn off and brandished. A fat old man bowled about, waving and bowing with an air of authority easily

you to know how they feel. That is the thrill that comes once in a lifetime for

k out of us. I will sail as low as I can, so they can see us plainly. They'll be watching for us all a

said Dulcie, "an

ble signs of just having eaten a good me

nk black coffee and ate unbuttered toast while he gazed spellbound at the shifting panorama below. Doctor Sims, at a table by himself, drank strong tea and read a treatise filled with unwholesome looking charts and figures. At a table with Dr. Forsythe and the correspondents,

ing, c

, what's our

how ar

umpled hair that never would stay flat, his tall muscular body with its reassuring look of power

feel that the pleasant word was especially his. It was characteristic

ith a baffled air. He never got enough time for research work, and he laid most of his interruptions to Doctor Trigg. Drat the man; he was always close by, ready to chat. Chat-who wanted to chat? What if they h

ot wait. He leape

est discovery this morning? More enthusiasm? More youthful prodigies,

anything profound or of specific value

n, Doctor Sims?" asked the star

"I ransacked the city and miles of its env

explained Doctor T

added Doctor

he reporter,

or Trigg. "Ep-itaphs.

the body of

Day shall unco

ffort on your part," sai

will be willing to wager one of these excellent doughnuts that these

ims' gloomy countenance. "I bet they are interesting. You coul

pushed back his teacup and book. "It's like this: Paleon

you will certainly be obliged to discontinue your discourse before you have voiced a tenth of your thesis. Let me advise you to reserve your dis

t the reporter, who

mind. I'd hate to miss it, and I've got to d

l right, and I will get my recent additions trans

?" asked Doctor Trigg, hast

ching the border of Russia, now," h

ter. "It is growing much wilder and more rugged. E

it, while the populace surged out of buildings in black masses. They had been heralded by telegram and radio, and cheers went up, and flags were waved. When they hung ov

ere gradually making up some of the time lost in the storm over the Atlantic. All conditions seemed so kindly t

n came

engers were enjoying the passing vi

w crossing the Soviet frontier." He stood watching un

head, but our course lies between them. Viatka is directly in

ped on an overall, and went up the ladder leading into the hull. He gained the catwalk, a

, which entered there. Everything was in perfect shape. He went back, and looked into t

n. Red was writing postcards, a

a pup at that age might turn into anything between a dachshund and a Great Dane. Those seem to be the most popular breeds in th

onkey, but she said she wouldn't 'trust to his finer feelings'. She didn't make it clear whose she meant; just twinkled those devastatin' eyes at me, and walked off, leavin' me with this bit of fur. I've named him Trouble. He cries in a loud

ound here some fine day, and then

she does, and she will say, 'Why, they are mine, daddy, and these nice

aid David, laughing. "Do y

ery little while. Gosh, Davie, the truth is I'm tryin' to keep

d," said David. "You sound as though

things. Well, I won't hit him unless he harms you, David, really tries to do you dirt. It's the nasty way he has of sayin' things that makes him dangerous. Not so much the

face l

w, I feel as though I had stumbled on something darned good. Gee, I hope

've a sense for engines, and everything that concerns t

to have much interest in them, though they worked. You know, they are using a couple of them back at the plant, right now. But this is diffe

the average speed of a dirigib

" hedged Davi

on this trip you could have tried

y of time. It could be made in twenty-

en to the plans, and keep them

. "Do you know that w

eers is bugs on geography, and he spouted enough facts about Russia to fill a book. I'll say they

h that this is Central Park to what's ahead. Can you

loringly under his pillow.

e to steal condensed cre

rode so evenly that there was scarcely any discomfort on the ship. The instruments, however, as well as ra

clearer, the mountains emerged from their enveloping fogs and reared their bleak monstrous crests as though reaching for the passing ship. The panorama

Their speed was reduced for safety's sake here, for the winds were more and more uncertain. The mountains covered a vast space, but the general trend of the range was northeast, the direction that the Moonbeam was g

their huts, looked, and one and all took refuge in the surrounding woods. With the glasses it was easy to see their terr

!" said Wal

ppose in their place you would know all about us by

o a higher altitude, but at three thousand feet above the mountains the wind still tore with a velocity against which they could make no headway. He dropped back and tried a southerly direction, but met with heavy squalls. Resuming their first course, he held the Moonbeam steady, her nose to the blas

atively smooth sailing. Working his way, he steered the Moonbeam at an angle which brought her into the

es, some vast in size, others tiny pools. It was bitterly cold. They were well north of sixty degree