*CHAPTER XVII.*
*LESSONS IN FLYING.*
'It bain't no sort o' use; I shall never l'arn t' fly!' grumbled BobReid, as he stood rubbing his bruises. He had just come 'a nastycropper,' and seemed, as he expressed it, to have 'hurt meself all overat wanst.' One hand was rubbing a leg, while the other was busy with ashoulder. 'If I 'ad 'alf a dozen more 'ands I could find plenty for 'emt' do!' he continued ruefully. 'I seem t' be bruised everywhere. Let'sgive it up, Tom, afore we suicides ourselves unintentional.'
'Not I!' cried Tom Clinch, who was balancing himself on a ladder. Heflung his arms--to which two great wings were attached--about wildly,and leaped into the air, gasping as he came floundering down. 'You see,Bob, I 'll master it yet!'
The two sailors had had some 'flying-dresses' lent them, and had beenpractising and striving for all they were worth to learn the mystic art;but somehow they could not, as Tom put it, 'fall into the knack.'
'It be like swimmin',' Tom went on, between leaps and jumps which wouldhave done credit to a Spring-heeled Jack. 'It takes a long time t' fallinter the knack'----
'Ye'll fall inter the ditch d'reckly,' Bob tittered, as Tom rolled overon the ground. 'It's no use, Tom! Let's be sensible, an' give it up.It ain't dignerfied like fur us two chaps at our time o' life!'
'I be goin' t' try another jump from that there ladder,' returned Tomobstinately. 'You needn't try no more if ye funks it! But when Istarts out to do a thing I don't like t' be beat! Other people 'eredoes it, so why shouldn't we?'
'Ay, but they l'arns it in their young days,' said Bob.
'Theer 's Mr Gerald--he's gettin' on fine! An' Mr Jack, too, ain'tdoin' bad at it! He be a-practisin' now just out yonder--t'other sidethat fence! There he goes now--a-soarin' up in grand style! I 'd give'alf me month's wages t' be able t' go like that!'
'It's that puff o' wind's took 'old o' 'im,' Bob declared, as he watchedJack perform some rather curious aerial evolutions. 'Strikes me thewind's got 'old of 'im, an 'e can't 'elp 'isself! Yes! Look out fur 'imt' stop 'im, Tom!'
Tom had just succeeded, at the moment this urgent warning was uttered,in again climbing laboriously up the ladder on to a narrow platformwhich had been erected as a 'jumping-off place' for fliers.
There were several of these platforms, of various heights, placed atintervals in some spacious fields laid out specially near the city ofIvenia, for the use of those who were learning to fly, or experimentingwith small flying-machines. They might be likened to thediving-platforms, with ladders leading up to them, which are to be seenat some bathing-places. They were open to all, and were freely used byold and young--especially the latter. It was no uncommon sight to seenumbers of boys and girls--some almost babies--fluttering about like somany large butterflies.
This particular morning the two sailors were practising on their ownaccount in one part, while Gerald and Jack were similarly engaged, notfar away, under Alondra's tuition.
It was a windy day, with violent squalls at intervals, and lullsbetween. Just at the time Tom climbed to the platform there had arisena very violent gust, which came sweeping across, bearing with it thefigure of Jack, with large wings whirling about like the sails of awindmill. Whether he was purposely heading for the platform as a refugeto which he could cling, or whether the unexpected violence of the windcarried him there, it would be difficult to say. All that is certainabout it is that he cannoned against Tom Clinch, and a moment later thetwo were gyrating and spinning in the air like a couple of giganticbluebottles. Then, as though poor Bob Reid had not already enoughbruises to attend to, the two descended like an avalanche plump on topof him. Finally, Gerald, who had followed Jack in his involuntaryflight, sailed straight into the struggling group. Fortunately, at thispoint Alondra arrived. He had come after the two chums to render themhis assistance, and was now able to help to disentangle them.
'One o' my wings is broke!' cried Tom, as he sat up and surveyed thewreck.
'I'm afraid both mine are,' said Jack.
'You 've broke my back atween ye!' Bob spluttered, as he rolled over.'This settles it! No more flyin' fur me!'
'I've had enough for to-day too!' Jack laughingly owned, as he proceededto divest himself of his flying outfit. 'It's a mistake for beginnersto practise on a windy day.'
'I doan't practise no more--wind or no wind,' Bob declared in a tone ofconviction. 'All I wants now be some limbrokation--an' plenty on it!'
'I think you only require a little more practice,' Alondra afterwardsassured the two chums, as they were walking home towards his yacht,leaving their outfits to be brought after them by the two sailors.
'I don't know,' said Jack doubtfully. 'We've been trying it for a goodwhile now, and we don't seem to make much progress. I begin to doubt ifwe ever shall. It's different with you, you see. Your people havelearnt it more or less for generations, and it's in the blood, I fancy.I think we shall have to be content with motor-wings.'
Jack referred to the smallest form of flying-machine in use. Itconsisted merely of a pair of wings worked by a small motor, a balancingtail, and a saddle-seat on which the aeronaut perched himself. In manyrespects it might be described as the aerial counterpart of ourmotor-bicycle.
From the incidents just related it will be gathered that the visitorshad not made much progress in learning the use of artificial wings.Whether there was something different in their physical constitution, orwhether it was, as Jack was inclined to think, that the knack of flyingwas becoming hereditary amongst the Martians, it is certain that neitherthe youthful aspirants nor the two elderly sailors had so far been ableto master the tantalising secret of soaring into the air at will withartificial wings alone. They could come down--from a height; but then,as Tom Clinch remarked, 'Most people can do that wi'out any l'arnin'.'
When, an hour or two later, Alondra's yacht landed them again atKarendia, as the king's palace was called (the name meant literally 'thepalace in the clouds'), they found Monck awaiting them.
'I have some news for you young people,' said he. 'Our royal master hashonoured me by entrusting me with a special mission to Sedenia (KingAgrando's country); and he will let you accompany me, so that you maysee something of another part of our world.'
'I 'm willing, if you others are going, of course,' Gerald answeredreadily, but without enthusiasm. He glanced at Alondra as he spoke.
'I shall like very much to go with you,' said Alondra. 'It is a countrywell worth visiting. There are many curious natural wonders to be seenthere. Moreover, we shall be able to visit other countries on our way.'
That night, as the two chums were retiring to rest, Gerald said, with ashiver, 'Do you know, Jack, I would give a good deal if we could get outof this trip. I've got a feeling--a sort of presentiment'----
'Nerves again!' murmured Jack sleepily. 'We shall be all right! We goas the king's guests or ambassadors, or whatever it is; and not even theOgre will dare to harm us. Ivanta has a long arm, it strikes me.'
'Maybe he has, and maybe it will, as you say, be all right,' wasGerald's reply. 'All the same, something tells me we're in for troublein some way or another.'