CHAPTER XXIV
GOAL!
“It’s too bad,” said Hiram, and the young aviator’s assistant was verynearly at the point of tears.
“We can only make the best of it,” returned Dave, trying to bephilosophical. “At any rate, we made a grand run.”
“Yes, it’s something to beat the world’s record, even half the way,”agreed Hiram. “But think of it—only for that awful break of Davidsonwe’d have won the day!”
The two young airmen sat outside of a wretched little hotel, a part of aremote fishing town on the island that had been “the forlorn hope” ofthe _Albatross_. The giant airship had succeeded in reaching it.
As Dave sat rather gloomily reviewing experience and prospects, he couldnot help but think of the past two nights and a day with a thrill. Thathad been a desperate, hair-breadth dash of the crippled airship. Withoutknowing all the technical details of their situation, Dave had read fromthe tireless, feverish actions of Professor Leblance, that he wasrushing the _Albatross_ under a fearful strain of risk and suspense,momentarily dreading a new and final disaster.
Before daylight, with a flabby gas bag and with the reserve enginebarely able to work the propellers, the _Albatross_ had settled down ona desolate stretch of beach, practically a wreck.
“The mechanism has played out completely,” Leblance had asserted.“According to the regulations of the international society, the flightmust end on the French or English mainland. We are two hundred milesshort. We might as well be two thousand.”
“Is there no possible chance of getting new machinery, of makingtemporary repairs that will tide us over?” suggested Mr. King.
“Impossible, under days, even weeks,” replied the Frenchman. “On therule schedule a stay at any point over twelve hours cancels the right ofentry.”
It was, indeed, too bad—so near to success, so very close to goal! Aprofound gloom had spread over every member of the airship crowd. Theislanders had viewed the strange craft with excited curiosity at first,and had then gone back to their fishing. Davidson had been removed to aroom at the little hotel, young Brackett in charge as his nurse, and allthe others had taken up their quarters as well.
The young aviator and his comrade had been discussing the situationseated on an overturned boat. Hiram at length arose with a dreary kindof sigh and strolled aimlessly back towards the hotel. Dave sat thinkingdeeply. He started up, however, as he saw Brackett coming towards him.
“Dashaway,” he said quite excitedly, “I’ve got to get back to my charge,don’t dare to leave him alone, you know but I wanted you to readsomething,” and the speaker extended some folded sheets of paper.
“Why, what is this?” inquired the young aviator.
“You know I understand shorthand—humph! it’s about all I am good for, Ireckon,” added Elmer, in his usual deprecating way. “Well, for the pasthour or two my patient has been saying some strange things.”
“What about?” asked Dave—“the _Dictator_ and Jerry Dawson, I suppose?”
“You’ve guessed it. I’ve written out his ramblings in long hand. I fancyyour quick mind will weave a pretty startling story out of it all.”
“There’s the professor,” said Dave abruptly, “I’ll read your noteslater, Brackett,” and he thrust the sheets into his pocket, and startedtowards the beach as he saw Professor Leblance leave the hotel, bound inthe same direction.
The failure of the ambitious Frenchman had almost crushed him. Dave feltsorry for him as he noted the drooping head and dejected manner of thescientist. He did not approach him closely, but followed him at adistance. As they rounded some rocks the _Albatross_ came into fullview.
Professor Leblance, walking slowly, gazed with sadness upon the inertmonster of the air. Then he looked up at a hail. A fisherman was runningtowards him. Dave noticed the professor brace up magically at the firstwords of the native. The latter pointed to the air and the sea. Hispantomime was expressive and energetic.
There came a sudden blast of wind, and then Dave understood. He noticedthe professor start on a keen run for the _Albatross_. He was up thetrailing rope ladder sprightly as a lad, shouting some orders to thefisherman, who ran towards the guy cable attached to a great tree trunk.
“It can’t be possible,” almost gasped the startled young airman, “thatProfessor Leblance is thinking of trusting to the wind alone to finishthe flight. It’s true! I won’t be left behind!”
Dave caught at the ladder just as the propeller began to whir. By thetime he was in the cabin the earth was fading away. He threaded thecorridors in the direction of the engine room.
“Dashaway!” shouted the professor in amazement, as the young airmanburst in upon him.
“Yes, Professor, I am here,” said Dave. “You are going to make a try toreach the mainland? I am with you.”
There was no time for compliments, explanations or delay. In twominutes’ time the professor had made his assistant aware of what wasrequired of him. Practically only as a balloon could the _Albatross_ nowact, and only provided the strong wind maintained in precisely thedirection it was now set.
“See, my friend,” spoke Leblance, eagerly, “we have no control whateverover the planes. The steering apparatus, too, is useless. The enginewill barely take care of the propellers. If you know how to operatethem, take my seat here. Keep the rudder locked firm. That is all we cando. For the rest—it is a risk, a perilous risk.”
“Anything to get there!” cried Dave; and then the professor left himalone.
The _Albatross_ had risen to a good altitude at her first spurt. Shedrove with the wind at a wonderful rate of speed. At the end of an hour,however, the young aviator noticed a gradual drop. The buoyancy of thegas bag was lessening.
After that Dave heard the professor working with tools below the cabin.He was quite startled as there was a jerk. Then he saw first one andthen the other of the aeroplane attachments go hurtling down to thewater, engulfed by the ocean.
Relieved of such an incubus the airship regained a higher level. Twohours went by, then three. The professor appeared in a great state ofexcitement and hopefulness.
“She’s dropping again, but don’t let up for an instant,” he ordered. “Isee the land ahead—two hours more, and we’ve made it.”
“Will the gas last?” inquired the young aviator, seriously.
“I am about to free our final reserve—one tank. That will do for aspell. Then—if I have to explode the balloonets into the main gaschamber, we must keep aloft till we are over land.”
Up—down—up—down—that was the progress for the next two hours. Once itwas nearly a volplane drift, and the dauntless young pilot of the_Albatross_ fancied they were headed for a dive straight into theocean’s depths.
A final rise, and Dave’s heart cheered as he saw land not two milesdistant. Professor Leblance rushed into the engine room.
“Drift!” he ordered—“let her drop as she likes now—we have arrived!”
The brave old scientist tottered from excitement and exhaustion as hespoke. A great, thrilling cheer seemed to lift from the lips of theyoung aviator, and ten minutes later the _Albatross_, a wobbling,flabby, weather-worn wreck, landed on a great dock in the sight ofwaiting thousands.
“Boy,” spoke Professor Leblance, in a ringing tone and with sparklingeyes, “we have reached goal! The giant airship has crossed theAtlantic!”