CHAPTER XVII
AN INTERRUPTED FLIGHT
And so it was arranged. The young aeronauts thus had all afternoonto store provisions, water, gasoline and the instruments. Thealtitude barometer, the recording thermometer, the statoscope andrecording hygrometer, together with the telescopic camera were eachgiven a place on the bridge and lashed to the netting. Thetwenty-five-foot rope-ladder, strong but light, that was to hangbelow the car, and the anchor and drag rope, were attached, the namepennant of white with the word "Cibola" resplendent in blue, "turquoiseblue," explained Ned--was unfurled on its little staff just abaft thebig propeller, and a new silk American flag was laid out it the sternof the car to be run up on its halyards as soon as the bag was attached.
Then came the careful transfer of the liquid hydrogen. One at atime the cast iron eases were carried from the building, hoistedaboard the car and lashed in place. Before supper Ned had time togo to the depot and send a telegram to Major Honeywell, who was yetin Chicago. It read:
"Ready for inflation. All O. K. Sail at 2 P. M. to-morrow, August11."
He then visited "Saloon Row" and arranged for twenty men to reportat four o'clock the next morning. No chances were to be taken thatnight. Dividing the hours up to four A. M. into two watches, thetwo boys had supper and Ned was soon fast asleep on the floor of thecar "trying it out."
At the first blush of dawn the corral gates were thrown open and ina short time all the men engaged reported. Some of them were put towork dumping the heavy iron filings into the big oak gas generatorsand Ned and Alan began the delicate work of laying out the bag,bottom side up the thin silken folds of the golden shell were slowlylifted and laid on the ground. When the bottom filling valve hadbeen attached to the wooden gas conduits the mammoth sections of thelong gas receptacle were stretched out on top and then carefullysmoothed until an even inflation was assured.
This done, the rigging trunk was opened and the seine-like mass ofdelicate hemp cords laid over the bag. No "greasers" were permittedto assist in this. Ned and Alan, in bare feet, laboriously butcarefully drew the silk folds of the bag into the net. When thiswas completed the suspension cords reached out in all directionslike skeleton fingers. In a quarter of an hour these had beenattached to the retaining bags with slip knots and then the boyswere surprised to find that it was already after six o'clock. Attheir best they could not now hope to reach the relief camp beforenine o'clock and after dark.
Mrs. Buck came with a huge pot of coffee for all, and then followedthe last step. One by one, borne on the shoulders of the curiousworkmen, the dangerous carboys of sulphuric acid were emptied intothe generating tanks. The boys guided each step of the men,explaining the danger, and the work was finally completed withouthitch or accident.
At the first bubble of gas the boys felt like doing another wardance. But they were "business men" now and had to put on dignityin the face of their employees. In two hours the reaction of thebubbling acid had sent enough hydrogen through the purifier to raisethe bag shoulder-high and everything was going splendidly. The boyshad removed their working clothes and were now in the light but warmcanvas suits and caps they meant to wear in their flight.
Ned stole away a few minutes and at the bank secured bills to payoff the men. On his way back he stopped to invite Mayor Bradley tolunch with them on the Cibola and to be present at the "let go." Bynoon the men had been paid and the articles of baggage and toolsthat were to be left behind had been packed, tagged with shippingdirections and turned over to Buck's wife.
The cigar-like bag, 98.4 feet long and 17.4 feet in diameter, whichwas to hold over 65,000 feet of gas, was now so far inflated that itwas nearly off the ground. Then Mayor Bradley came. With pride theboys bade him climb into the cabin of the Cibola.
"You won't find anything hot in a balloon, Mr. Mayor," laughed Ned,"except the reception. Make yourself at home."
On the bridge of the craft the two boys and their guest hadluncheon. Cold potted chicken and baked beans served on woodenplates with hardtack and water, and sweet chocolate for dessert, wasthe simple meal, but it tasted like a feast.
"Have you christened the craft yet?" finally asked the Mayor who hadabsorbed some of the enthusiasm of the young aeronauts.
"That's for you to do," politely answered Ned.
The luncheon was hurried to a finish, for the boys could see thatthe bag needed final attention. It had risen higher and higher andwas now swaying and tugging at the suspension ropes. Both boysalighted and at once began straightening the extension ropes. Hereand there where the cordage net was out of place they pulled downthe bag and adjusted the rigging. Finally a little after threeo'clock, the great case had filled out until its smooth glisteningsides resembled the skin of a fat sausage.
"All ready!" ordered Ned as he shut of the valve of the cooling andpurifying box. "Now, every man bear a hand."
One at a time the extension cords were untied from the retainingbags, and each of the workmen was given four of the light but stronglines. The Mayor himself passed among the men with sterninjunctions to hold fast. As the last cord was loosed the greattugging bag was held wholly by the scared men. Then, with slow andmeasured steps, the double line of assistants advanced to the carand along each side of it.
"All steady," commanded Ned when each man had been placed; "now hangonto her."
Then he and Alan, springing into the car, began the work of makingit fast to the bag. There was a place marked for each of theextension ropes, and the air ship builders, beginning at each end ofthe car, carefully adjusted and tied the end of each rope to theframe of the ship. As the cords were taken from the attendants themen took hold of the lower framework of the car, and to make doublysure each man was cautioned to throw his entire weight into thework.
At last the final rope was made fast, and three thousand pounds ofhuman flesh and muscle were holding the tugging balloon. Ned,covered with perspiration, and nervous but happy, was hastilyconnecting the compensating balloon tube with the hand blower on thebridge, and Alan had run astern to tie the new national colors tothe halyards swinging from the end of the bag.
"Hold on," cried Ned seeing that Alan was ready to run up the starsand stripes. "Just a moment. Are you all ready, Mr. Mayor?"
"All ready," came the answer from the town official, as he stood ona box, his hat off and a revolver in his hand.
"With a western salute I christen this balloon the 'Cibola,'" heexclaimed, and a shot punctuated his speech. "Good luck andgoodbye!"
As the shot sounded Alan's flag ran fluttering upwards. Ned's eyestook one final look fore and aft and then he leaned over the car forthe last words for which all were waiting.
They were on his lips and the eyes of twenty straining men werefixed on him to hear the command, "Let go." One nervous attendant,apparently thinking the order had been given, threw up his arms witha shout.
At that instant there was a second sharp pistol shot, and a quickcry from the street outside the corral.
"Hold on there, all of you!" shouted Ned. His dream had rushed backto him with a sickening chill. Had some one shot at the toweringbag? "Hold on!" he yelled.
At that moment there was another shout and Bob Russell, his face redwith the sun and his shirt wet with perspiration, walked into thecorral. In his right hand was gripped a revolver and in his left arepeating rifle. In front of him, and prodded on by Bob's pistol,was the Mexican, Domingo, Jack Jellup's tool and fellow thief.