The Helena independent., 1892-04-10
CHA PTER III.
THE START.

zach end and one in the Hoor. II wa
heated BY petroleum apparatus especial,
devised BY Professor Wilder. Ii was al
vided into three rooms. There WAS tho dy.
namo or engine room. whence the ship wa
to b propelled and started. This was il
the bow, SO to speak. There was the middle
Or sleeping room, fifteen feet long, ano
there was the provision room.
No dogs were to be taken on. The party
did not expect to have to travel on foot in
the inaccessible regions to which they were
to 90. Indeed, according to Melville
above the eighty-ffth latitude, dogg will b
found q nuisance rather than halp.
Tho oar was designed to carry five men
and their personal luggage. This footed
up 1,175 pounds; sir months food for the
men. 8,168 pounds; weapons and tools, 684
pounds scientific instruments in charge 81
the tutor. s, 1l7 pounds; patent car-boat,
Melville sledge. powder, fireworks. etc,
1922 pounds two rops ladders, 1928
pounds; water and alcohol. 1858 pounds;
with.a total Of 81, 4l5 bounds.
As the carrying capacity Of the sirship
wes more than twice as great, there was
added q further ballast Of wator, alcohol,
etc, that brought the grand total np to
$4,000 pounds.
The 'Aeropole,' . for such was she chris
tened. was now able to keep for two months
On the wing, with provisions for at leas
six months for five men on liberal ,rAtions.
Above the car was platform Of observa-
tlon railed of and reached from tho inte-
rior. Here the sladgs and tho boat were
lashad. The car itself was built to float,
10 that in case Of accident she could BE-
easily detached and used as . miniature
NoAl's ark.
On the night whose morning broke the
1st OF July every man Of the Ave adven-
turers had slept within the three-acre en-
closure. while several mon guarded the ves-
sel OF ths air. Ugly rumors had got about,
and yet. up TO this morning Prof. Wilder
had not besn very anxious. Two days be-
fore, the board covering that protected tho
huge airship from sight had been taken
down, and the enemies Of tho plucky in
ventor, ever lowering about the place. try
ing to spy out his doings and to serve writs,
made up their minds, as we have seen. that
final trial must be made or their bird
would soon fly. For three months Henne-
pin had vainly sndsavored to serve that in
junction. and In the meanwhile he had
been Fastening the construction of an
airship from the same lines and
design, in order to prove bis title
lyn, Professor Wilder had gained some hot
preliminary judicial skirmishss, and things
looked hopeful up to the time of this forci-
ble, illegal attack. The early train had
brought twenty special offioers. whose in
struotiona were to stop the work undertaken
by Profeaaor Wilder, if not to destroy the
completed wonder.
Open in the name of the law of Till
noisv' shouted the leader of the gang again
rs he battered at the bolted. oaken gate
that protected the polar expedition. Five
minutes left! Il was eight O'clock IN the
morning. The five held an immediate CON
sultation with the foreman Of the machine
shop. Through minute peep holes they
sould see that the crowd was determined.
A hundred roughs and siRht-ssers had COL
lected. Any act Of violence seemed possi-
BILE.
"Why on earth can't we cast off and let
her go?'' asked Jack Hardy. He seemed in
nowise troubled, and had already en-
sconeed himself in the car by the window
and was putting away at q Reealia. as much
at his ease as if he were contemplating a
tour TO Mexico.
Nonsense" said Royal in a blast of
anything! I'll be hanged if we'll be put
to flight BY pack Of cursp' As he spoke
the sound OF axes against the high fence
resounded ominously within the enclosure.
Only as last resort Z SAID sergt. Wilt
wig coolly to the terrified inventor. "We
And he may bring relief. At any rate he
brings $4,000 in gold in case Of need. We
must wait for hin. He is due at TO-,
Professor Wilder tried to look calm.
His life's work, nay. his life's glory might
at any moment be shattered. The huge
alrship rested on her six stills as uncon-
sclously as if there were no hoodlums un-
der the guise OF. law seeking its annihiln-
tiop. The air was still and clear; not
loaf stirred. Sounds dropped orystallized
from the tongue, so pure the atmosphere.
Oaths clicked from without upon the
tvs ,Op rf Il
sudden shocks Of Ralvanio current.
Open III the name of the law, or we'll
batter your blank wall down!''
Have you got an extra wire?" asked the
sergeant turning sharply upon the be-
Wildsrea foreman.
Then let's have them quick! Have your
men tack them up two and four feet ro-
spootively from the ground upon that fence
and turn on the current. rll wager they
won't come in.'
There wore twelve, men under the fore
man in the workshop whence the airghip
had originated. The shop contained =
powerful dynamo, which had filled the air.
ships storage batteries. At the serpennt,a
command the inclosurs was enciroled with
this all-powerful protector. Men huya
cause to fear dead wiro more than an
armed desperate. The axes resounded.
There was crash, and an opening large
enough to admit man yawned in upon tie
airship suddenly. Az suddenly there oame
a Shrek, dull thud. The wires carrying
800 alternate volts az an experimental
charge had done their bidding. Surprised,
another man from without touched the Of
Tending wire with his fore-finger aud
dropped in conyulsions. The crowd fell
back with horror and e1eorntion. They be-
Ran to growl like wild beasts foilad. 1t
would go hard il they got within. They
fell back and consulted. The beHieoed ,
waited and drew breath.
How goes the fun?n asked Jack Hardy
leisurely descending from the car TO the
scene, in his spotleaB dress. The sergeant
was inclined to sneer at him. but instinot-
lively felt the difference between supreme
and cowardiGe.
5, But how is yanderlyn going TO get in
through this mobF" asked Jack, critically
looking about him. 33s
Mr. Frederick .I,all. tho astronomical
tutor. pale as tho under side of beech lsaf,
took up thu word.
He can't get in. Let us 90 now while
we may. Think of my precious instru- !
MentS Even slight jar might spoil their
Professor Wilder WAS abous heartily 10 |