CHAPTER VIII
THE CRADLE OF THE ZEPPELIN
He watched the retreating back of the young captain under discussionwith the wise eyes of a man who can read men.
"Yess, he looks goot," he added.
They were driven to a hotel, and escorted to luxurious rooms.
The lobby was full of young officers, strutting and clanking around. Mr.Hammond and David looked distinguished in their plain, close-fittingblue with black braid and small gold insignia which had been chosen asthe ship's uniform. They were both very tall men, well over six feet,the muscles of the younger man making up for the middle-age weight ofthe older. The Germans regarded them with interest and respect.Certainly they were not to be looked down on, at least! Dulcie, watchingthem, thought with fury of her own fairylike proportions. How she pinedto be a Brunhilde, stalking firmly among all these arrogant-lookingyoung men!
Having changed her frock, Dulcie went to find her father. She found himin his room struggling with a tie, while at the same time he regarded along, official-looking document on the chiffonier.
"Just look at this, Dulcie." He handed her the paper. "A state luncheonat one-thirty, for a starter, and from then on not a minute that isn'ttaken up. It's a little better for you, but I bet every last one ofthese officials has a nice husky wife who will look after you."
"I'll let 'em look for a while, but sometime I am going to play truant.I want to see Friedrichshafen my own way. Isn't it beautiful? And it washere that Count Zeppelin lived, and worked out his plans. I want tolearn all about him."
"Yes, you ought to learn all you can about him, Dulcie. Of course,Santos-Dumont was the first one seriously to struggle with the problemof the rigid dirigible, but Count Zeppelin went far ahead of him. Comein!" he added in a roar, as a knock sounded at the door. A bell boy,apple-cheeked and rosy, presented a large tray piled with envelopes.
Mr. Hammond groaned.
"Look 'em over, will you, Dulcie; we only have fifteen minutes, but youare all ready."
Dulcie gave a little laugh. "Why, a lot of them are for me," she cried,beginning to tear them open. "You were right; they are from the wives.And oh, such high-sounding titles!" She shuffled her notes into a pile."I'll read them later."
The troublesome tie finally in place, Mr. Hammond put on his coat,smacked down his thick white hair, and they descended to the lounge,where a delegation awaited them.
The burgomaster met them with a long address of welcome, to which allthe Germans present listened attentively, as though to show that theyapproved thoroughly. Dulcie studied their heavy, intelligent faces.Across the weatherbeaten cheeks of a number of the older men ran jaggedscars. Newer, livid seams puckered the faces of a couple of the youngerofficers, brands from Heidelberg duels. Young and old alike stoodstraight, feet firmly planted, heads proudly poised on their thicknecks.
"They are glad they are men, and Germans, and want everybody to knowit," thought Dulcie.
The luncheon was a heavy meal, punctuated by heavy speeches and encoredby heavy voices barking "_Hoch, hoch!_" appreciatively. Mr. Hammondenjoyed every moment of it. The utterances of those clear, keen, lucidminds were well worth listening to, especially as he spoke Germanfluently. Dulcie, also easily conversant with the language, was greatlyinterested; but David was lost. His French was fairly good, although ofthe prep-school type, but the guttural polysyllables of the Germans lefthim gasping.
After the luncheon came a drive, which was in reality a parade designedto show the visitors to the inhabitants of the city. Hundreds of peoplehad come from Berlin and elsewhere to see the great American dirigible,her officers, her crew and her passengers. Every hotel and boardinghouse was filled to capacity. To the German mind their advent was aneducational opportunity which must be followed up.
The procession wound up at the landing field where the visitors wereshown all the latest improvements on the German dirigibles. Newmaterials for frame construction, covering, and so forth, all undersevere tests of every possible sort.
This airport was the home of the first Zeppelin. It was here that CountZeppelin spent his time and energy; a wonderful old man, who defied ageand went gallantly on, working, planning and constructing, until at lasthe had the great happiness of tasting success.
They were taken to Count Zeppelin's office, left as he had used it. Thewalls were covered with pictures of dirigibles and photographs ofengines. Otherwise the room was bare and severe, the room of a man whosewhole heart was so entirely in his great work that he found no space fornon-essentials. His name is justly revered and honored by every German,and never while a dirigible flies will any country fail to pay homage tohis illustrious memory.
That night, after a formal dinner given at the airport in a greatbanqueting hall, they listened to the Friedrichshafen Choral Society.
Next morning, Dulcie slipped away and explored the city. She was atireless walker, and her pleasant wanderings took her over miles ofclean and charming streets. The business part of the town was lavishlydecorated with flags and bunting in their honor. Everyone seemed to movewith a snap. There were no loiterers. Robust people did robust work, asthough they enjoyed it.
In the outlying parts, an exquisite neatness prevailed. Small, evenhumble homes, had their patches of lawn and tiny vegetable plots thatwere as lovely as rose gardens, so beautifully were they laid out andcared for. Every building seemed fresh with paint.
"Even the skies look awfully blue," Dulcie told herself. "Just like thebabies' eyes."
Her wanderings were delightful; the people were so friendly. They seemedto know, down to the least little toddler, that the pretty fraulein hadcome in the beautiful airship, for there were pleasant greetings for herwherever she went. A cheery "_Guten Morgen, Fraulein_," and as likely asnot a posy offered over a fence. When they found that she spoke theirown tongue, they would scarcely let her go.
She reached the hotel just in time to prepare for a luncheon given forher by the Friedrichshafen Association of Housewives. She found numbersof stiff and crackly ladies, from bright-eyed old grandmothers proudlywearing the fashions of forty years ago, to demure brides with soft eyesand pleasant voices that almost made the German gutturals pleasing.Dulcie had a good time, and when she took leave of her cordial hostesseswas presented with a souvenir. She thought it was a small feather bed,but it was an eiderdown quilt! It was a lusty quilt, fully six inchesthick, and covered with intricate patchwork, the handiwork of theenergetic grandmothers. Dulcie was completely overcome.
All that afternoon Mr. Hammond and his staff spent at the landing field,where the Moonbeam was being looked over, inch by inch, by her own crewand the German experts as well.
To the surprise of all, two small holes, not larger than lead pencils,were found piercing the very tip of her nose. Inside, the metal wasfused! She had been struck by lightning during the storm. The injury wassoon repaired. Oil and gas were shipped, every bag looked over, andevery instrument tested for the long flight over the Siberian wastes.
David thrilled at the thought of this part of the flight. It was largelyunknown territory, where there was no aid to be had in case of accident.With Red, he himself went over and over the ship, until they knew thatshe was tuned up to concert pitch.
At five, the party started for Berlin. The city is only forty miles fromFriedrichshafen. After a fine dinner with the city officials and anumber of officers, they went to the opera, where boxes were reservedfor them. David stood in the back of the commander's box, admiringDulcie from afar. She was completely surrounded by a group of dashingyoung lieutenants, who were utterly captivated by her beauty and charm.
It was twelve o'clock before the last strains of Wagner's immortal themedied away, and they were escorted to a supper, after which they droveback to Friedrichshafen, Mr. Hammond and the older of the Germanofficers sleeping quite openly.
Friday was their last day in Friedrichshafen, and Mr. Hammond washimself host at a luncheon. There was great good fellows
hip, and a loudchorus of German songs. The crew of the Moonbeam had gone to the landingfield, where they were eating much food as the guests of the Germancrews. Directly after Mr. Hammond's luncheon had come to an end, hefound a chance to speak to David.
"How much gas did you put on?" he asked.
"Ten thousand feet," said David promptly.
"Did they varnish the propellers?"
"Yes, sir. Everything is in order. We could start in ten minutes ifnecessary."
"I think we will go shortly after ten. Most of these people whom weknow, with a million or so more, want to meet us at the field and say_Auf Wiedersehen_, so we must not go ahead of time."
"We have had a great reception, haven't we?" said David. "To a shylittle country boy like me, it has been rather overwhelming."
"Huh!" said Mr. Hammond, "I'm reeling in my tracks. By the way, whenhave you seen Florsheim?"
"I was up at the hospital early this morning, and once yesterday. I willgo say good-bye before I leave for the field. What rotten luck that was,wasn't it?"
"A mean break," agreed Mr. Hammond.
"I think poor Florsheim feels pretty low over it. He is enough betternow to think a little."
"Have you seen Fraine?" asked the commander. "They just let me look inon him after the operation."
"No, I haven't seen him, but it really doesn't matter, because it willbe days before he knows anyone. Poor old Fraine! I certainly hope thenext time I am captain, there won't have to be a war staged to get methe job."
"I'm sorry about Fraine, and Florsheim, too," said Mr. Hammond, "but itwas an accident that might have occurred wherever Fraine had happened tobe. And as far as you go, David, well, boy, I am well satisfied withyou." He patted David's shoulder in a way that added value to his briefpraise.
"Wonder where Dulcie and the professors are," he continued. "I hope theyhaven't gone off on some jaunt of their own. I clean forgot to tell themthat we are going out in a powerboat to see the lagoons and the coastline. See if you can find them, will you?"
David ran the quarry to earth in the lounge. Doctor Sims had just heardof another very old graveyard some distance from the city, but theothers succeeded in persuading him to postpone indefinitely hiscontemplated pilgrimage thereto, for the lesser pleasure of an afternoonon the water.
The launch was a gorgeous thing, with mahogany planking and silverfittings. It was a calm day, and the water was scarcely broken by aripple. The launch shot through the water at furious speed, and theyoung naval officer, whose guest they were, asked Mr. Hammond if hecared to go faster.
"No, I don't think so, thanks. I am rather timid, you see."
A general laugh went up.
"How cruelly the commander must suffer, six thousand feet in the air,"laughed the host.
"That's different," said Mr. Hammond, laughing at himself. "There issomething so upsetting about this."
They went slower after that, and were able to see the beauties of thesea and shore line.
"This actually makes me want to be a poet," mused Doctor Trigg.
"You are one, dang it!" said Doctor Sims, violently.
"Me? Why, I never wrote a line of poetry in my life!"
"You do worse; you think it. I can feel it stewing around inside of you.If it wasn't for me, Martin, you would just be another nuisance tohumanity. But I choke you off--I choke you off!"
"Now that's kind of you, Nicholas, but this scene ought to be excuseenough for anyone. Even you, Nicholas. How does it make you feel? Behonest!"
Doctor Sims reflected.
"Like a normal human being," he said. "Nice day, nice boat, nicescenery, much obliged to our host. Doesn't that cover everything?"
Doctor Trigg laughed heartily. "Sims," he said, "you are a 'gem ofpurest ray serene'."
"There--you--go!" said Doctor Sims.
"Well," said Dulcie, "it seems to me that you each say the right thing,always."
"Thank you, my dear," said Doctor Trigg.
"Har!" said Doctor Sims.
Long shadows spent themselves across the lagoon as they returned toFriedrichshafen. Mr. Hammond and David, accompanied by their host of theafternoon, were driven at once to the hospital, where Mr. Hammond gavelast instructions for the care of his two officers. Back to the hotel,then, and at seven dinner was served.
The many bells in the city had struck nine before the company rose.Dulcie and David wandered out into the lobby.
"Gold lace," remarked Dulcie, glancing about. "Did you ever see so muchof it?"
"Someone told me that there is much less than in the days of theEmpire," said David.
"Well, it must have been sewed all over them," sighed Dulcie. "It mustbe heavy stuff to wear."
"What do those huskies care for a little weight more or less?" demandedDavid. "Gosh, they are big fellows!"
"They are no larger than you," said Dulcie. "And very little larger thanRed, and daddy is taller than a lot of them, but not so thick. OnlyWally looks small." She giggled wickedly. "Really, doesn't he lookfunny? The way he scowls, and stares up at them! But then," she went ongloomily, "look at me! I'm shorter than Wally. See how I have to look upat 'em."
"Yeah; they love it. But at that Wally isn't so short; he's just about ascant average. The rest of us are all so big. Why, when I was a kid, Iused to worry for fear I would be too big to fly."
"Children are funny, aren't they?" agreed Dulcie. "Here's our car; let'sgo out to the field. I'll tell daddy we have gone."
She leaned back in the car, with a sigh of relaxation.
"It has been wonderful, hasn't it? Surely they won't be half as glad tosee us in Tokio. Here, of course, they feel a great interest on accountof the Graf Zeppelin. And of course she did blaze the way; we are justbeating her time."
"If we can," hedged David. "We mustn't crow. We are three hours behindher time, now."
"We will make it up," said Dulcie, easily. "Oh, David, I have so manycares. I have shipped home all the lovely presents people here havegiven me, but I can't express the live stock."
"Koko?" asked David.
"Koko! Heavens, no! I wish it was Koko. David, I have two love birds,four German Roller canaries, a kitten, and a marmoset."
"A marmoset!" repeated David. "Why, that's a monkey, isn't it?"
"A very little bit of a one," said Dulcie, groaning. "One of thoseaviators gave it to me. He brought it over from Africa one day."
David howled. He laughed so hard that people looked around at _dergrosse Amerikaner_, who was making so much noise.
"Oh, won't it be fun when your father sees that menagerie? The air willbe just full of love birds, and monkeys, and rolly-canaries, andkittens."
"You are showing a cloven foot," she said. "Don't you like pets?"
David sobered down.
"Truly, I do, and I could be happy forever if I could have a couple oflove birds, and some canaries, and a kitten, and you--your marmoset," headded quickly, warned by Dulcie's prim mouth.
"That's better, big boy, and when we get home perhaps I will give yousome of them. The marmoset, and maybe my best love--bird! But now," sheadded, all too briskly, "we'll soon be back on the Moonbeam. I've a lotto do, and there will no doubt be thousands of _tuechtiger_ officers,waiting to say _Auf Wiedersehen_."