The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-24
"A Da5hto the Pole. @
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By Herbert D.Mard.


York through the water In four days IL =
greater achievement thar to 90 from Chi
cago to the north pole through the air in
twenty hours. This ingenuity Of the me-
chanic must be proportional to the power
Of the resisting medium. Which IL harder
water plus that Of the air? OF, only to over
cQrne this atmosphere itself, which, ~ it
bec0nnes conquered, changes from foe to
friend, and even ct it, fisrosst mood aids
rather than retards the traveller?
80 the speed OF ne AeEopole is not 9
u thing to wonder about if she did NO,
travel at chat rate!
Though thero is no elixir invented to
prevent or to ours ssa-sicknoss. yet each
one carries about him 4 powerful antidota
the CAPACITY Of physical rssdjustmsat.
its function BY the motion Of the waves,
just ne you set your watch BY the fall OF
q ball. But in the air it 10 different. Like
the plague, the terrible rack seizes its vic
tim: but like q tornado, il il soon by, and
the healthy body can sxpel it, foe after a
soon get used to the sense Of height Joined
to that OF velocity, even though, at the first
experience, it almost robg a man OF hia
life.
The sergeant first awoks from his stupor.
He opened his oyes slowly and looked
0kOAu0 AAL0s LIZ tAO u1hA Oh RCtlOQ AUQ OF
familiarity with the extremity of danger,
the reeovery to consciousness is instanta-
Rssus. The leader knew his situation and
wondered II the disease would attack him
again. About him his three companions
lay like Logo. BY the peculiar whistlins of
thu air 10 Easw that the vessel was travel
Ing Ct = tremendous speed. It did not oc-
cur to him to be troubled about il. He CON
graduated himself that the MAI ut the
throttle and tho hem had escaped this ter
rible attack. He lay looking toward the
stern of the airship, and did not think it
necessary to turn around. Indeed, he did
not think it we'll TO raise his head at
all. for fear tho symptoms would imms-
diately return. The smooth. unfair
ring sSroke of the machinery lulled him
to rest. lie felt very drowsy. Yet he
thought that he ought to inquire about the
professor before he slept. He had no con-
Germ about the three torpid men about him.
for he knew il he could pull through that
they would in due time.
wilder! Say, Wilder!" he feebly cried,
in a voice still loud enough to carry to the
front engine compartment.
He listened and hoard no answer. He
imagined that 70 had not called loud
enough and tried again, then listened. Tho
heavy breathing Of his stricken friends was
the only sound which replied to him.
Wilder! Professor! Answerp
1t was the commander Of the expedition
who spoke now with an instinct of fear.
Sergeant Willtwig lifted himself upon
his elbow and turned around. The sight
made him CRY aloud with horror and with
terror. Before him, upon the floor, lay
tho designer of the airship, his head per-
ilously near q revolving wheel. But be-
You'd, through the window in the airship's
bow, he saw a black mass looming before
them.
With a bound he dashed into the engine
room. In Wow of some horrible emer-
gency. he had learned the use of the differ
emit parts of the complicated machinery.
Indeed, its important features We're
marked. Before the airship lowered noun
rain crags. They were not more than two
miles away-that is, n seconds journey as
the Aeropole sped. The Rocky mountains
were thousands Of feet high, while the
airship had barely attained an altitude OF
three thousand feet. Trappers must
have often asked of themselves why
that mountain range had over been thrown
up. But now its use was made manifest.
1t was in Ubiquitous league with the witch
of the north pole. For ten thousand GEN.
turtles it had been ordained that here should
be the barrier to this profane expedition.
These rocks were cast up to grind to dust
these sacrileRious explorers. who, mutiny-
ing against the earth. dared the transit Of
tho heavens.
This was Sergeant Willtwig's bitterest
moment of all. The stalwart mar who had
shaken his fist at death q hundred times
had no fear.
In that fraction Of q second, facing an
imminent and terrible doom, the sergeant
had agonizing thoughts. He was glad that
his companions were mercifully spared