Read Dave Dashaway and His Giant Airship; or, A Marvellous Trip Across the Atlantic Page 20
CHAPTER XIX
A MYSTERIOUS FRIEND
In an instant of time the whole complexion of affairs had changed. Theyoung aviator and his two companions crouched, staring at the scenebefore them, which now seemed the stage setting to some intense drama.
“Hello!” gasped the excitable Hiram.
“What does that mean?” echoed Mr. King, in a truly astonished way.
Dave was quite as fully amazed and puzzled. Suddenly and unexpectedly aform had sprung into view just beyond one of the floats of the_Albatross_. It was that of a lithe person, young and energetic. To allappearance he was a negro, for hands and face at that distance were ofseeming ebony hue.
This extraordinary person, a stranger to all who looked upon him, heldleveled a short but heavy rifle. At once the watchers from theunderbrush recognized it as one of several weapons provided for thearsenal of the giant airship before the _Albatross_ had left Croydon.
“It’s the magazine rifle Mr. Dale showed us!” exclaimed Hiram. “Who’sthe fellow holding it, and how did he get it?”
“Who is he, indeed?” murmured the airman, staring hard at the person whohad so startlingly pronounced that mandatory word—“Halt!”
The outlaw leader had come to a dead stop. He dropped the arm of theprofessor, who took in this last strange incident of the moment in avery bewildered way.
“Stand still or I will fire,” rang out now in clear, vibrant tones.
Those of the band guarding the rest of the crew of the _Albatross_ stoodmute and staring, taken aback by the determined and threatening attitudeof the person near the balloon.
“If one of your men so much as raises a weapon, I will shoot,” camefloating distinctly on the still mountain air. “I hold a magazine riflein my hand loaded for one hundred rounds, that will shoot eighty timesin a minute. Order your men to put down their guns.”
The outlaw leader hesitated. Bang! ten times in incredibly rapidsuccession at a light pressure the formidable magazine rifle rang out,aimed, however, at the boughs of a nearby tree, some of the leaves ofwhich fell in scraps and ribbands under the destructive effect of thepowerful fusillade.
“One, two, three—I can pick them off before they can raise a trigger!”shouted the sable champion of the airship crew. “I’ll do it, too, ifthat order is not given double-quick.”
The outlaw leader quailed. Then he turned and made a sign to his men.The last one of them placed his gun on the ground.
“March,” came the inflexible order. “Down that path to the left, so wecan keep you in view. You will find your weapons safe when you returnand we are gone. Go!”
The menace of the powerful magazine rifle cowed the outlaw gang. Thebreathless spectators from the brush saw them join their leader unarmed,take the path as directed, and file away from the plateau.
The person who had so marvellously accomplished all this never loweredhis weapon. Still holding it ready for instant use, he walked over towhere a ledge of rocks rose like a sentinel tower above the level of theplateau. There posting himself, he held the discomfited retreating foein constant sight. He swung his hand towards the stupefied crew of theairship. He spoke some order or suggestion to them that Dave did notoverhear. The party, however, at once possessed themselves of some ofthe abandoned rifles of the outlaws and stood ready for attack anddefence.
Mr. King arose and hurried over to where Professor Leblance stood, andDave and Hiram followed him.
“Professor!” cried the airman. “Here are some strange happenings. Who isthat person—not one of the crew?”
“I never saw him before,” replied the dazed Frenchman. “He has savedus.”
“And the _Albatross_. We have the quicksilver. This is a dangerousruffian-infested district. Let us leave as soon as possible.”
“Yes, yes,” said the Frenchman, in a hurried tone. “After what hashappened we cannot be too quickly nor fast on our way.”
The animated engineer of the _Albatross_ bustled about into immediateaction. He ordered two of his men to join their rescuer on the rocks.All the others were impressed into service in assisting to get the giantairship ready for a new and longer flight.
It did not take fifteen minutes to accomplish this. One by one ProfessorLeblance told off his expert assistants to their duties. Dave and Hiramhad been kept busy, but more than once the young aviator had glanced inthe direction of the heroic figure on the rocks.
He saw the Frenchman say some quick words to Mr. King, and the latterthen approach the stranger. Some conversation took place between them.As a signal for starting was sounded from the engine room, Mr. Kingturned towards the airship. He was accompanied by the person with themagazine rifle.
All hands got quickly aboard. When the young aviator reached the cabinhe found their mysterious friend seated in a shaded corner of the place.Then the activity and excitement of the ascent engrossed all minds.
The magnificent _Albatross_ arose in the air like a bird. It attained ahigh altitude. All the recent troubles of its crew faded away like lightfeather down.
Mr. King came into the cabin inside of half an hour, quickly followed byProfessor Leblance. Both looked intensely curious. The _Albatross_safely started on a steady course, they had evidently hastened toexplore the mystery of the strange friend who had aided them in theirsorest need.
The airman approached the silent, timid-appearing figure in the cornerof the cabin. He extended his hand warmly, grasping that of theshrinking stranger.
“My friend,” he said, “come up to the table. We want to have a talk withyou. You asked to be taken aboard, and said you would then explain yourbeing here.”
The stranger somewhat reluctantly took a chair at the cabin table. Forall his recent heroic attitude, he acted rather embarrassed andfrightened now.
He looked down. Then he trembled visibly. And then he made theremarkable statement: