The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-07-07
CHAPTER VII.

|
Johnston followed his guide to fly
| ing machine outside He hesitated an
instant as the officer was holding the
door open and looked back toward the
conservatory. but he could not see
Thorndyke.
! "Where are you taking me?' he asked
desperately. But the officer did not seem
| to hear the question. He was motionlng
to tall man of athletic build who wore
dark blue uniform and who came has
tily forward and pushed the American
into the machine Through the open
| door Johnston saw 'Thorndyke's anxious
face as the Englishman emerged from
the conservatory and strobe toward
them. The two officers entered and
closed the glass door.
Then the machine rose, and John
ston's spirits sank as they shot upward
and floated easily over the humming
! crowd into the free white light above
! the smokeless city. The poor captive
leaned on the window sill and looked
out. There was no breeze and no cur
rent of air except that caused by their
rapid passage through the atmosphere.
Up, up, they went till the city
seemed blur of mingled white and
gray, and then the color below changed
to vague blue as they flew over the
fields of the open country.
The first officer took glass and a
decanter from a receptacle under seat,
and, pouring a little red fluid into the
glass, offered it to the American.
"Drink it," he said. ''It will put
you to sleep for time"
81 don't want to be drugged."
''The journey will try your nerves.
It is harmless.
II don't want it. If take it, you
will have to pour it down my throat. -
The officer smiled as he put the glass
and decanter away. Faster and faster
flew the, machine. They had to put
the window down, for the current of air
had become too strong and cool to be
pleasant. The color of the sunlight
changed to green, and then at noon
from the zenith a glorious red light
shimmered down and yelled the earth
with such beautiful, translucent haze
that the poor American for moment
almost forgot his trouble.
The afternoon came on. The sunlight
became successfully green, white, blue,
lavender, rose and gray, The sun was
no longer i'll sight, and the gray in the
west was darkening into purple, the
last hour Of the day. Night was at
hand. Johnston's limbs were growing
stiff from inaction, and he had strong
desire to speak or to hear one of the Of
ficers say something, but they were
doing in their respective corners. The
moon had risen and hung far out in
space overhead, but they seemed to be
leaving it behind. Later he felt sure Of
this, for its light gradually became
DINNER and DINNER till at last they
were in total darkness-darkness pierced
only by the powerful searchlight which
threw it's dazzling, trumpet shaped rays
far ahead. But search as he would in
the direction they were going the un-
fortunate American could see nothing
but the ever receding wall of blackness.
Suddenly they began to descend. The
officers awoke and stretched themselves
and yawned. One of them opened the
window, and Johnston heard farof,
roaring sound like that of multitude
of skaters on vast sheet of ice.
Down, down they dropped. John.
ston's heart was in his mouth.
/ The machine suddenly slackened in
it's speed, and then hung poised in mid.
air. The rays OF the searchlight were
directed downward, and slowly SHIFTED
from point to point Looking down, the
American caught glimpses of rugged
rocks, sharp cliffs and yawning chasms
+ How is it?' asked the first officer
through speaking tube Of the driver.
! A good landing" was the reply.
! Well, 60 down" And mOmen
later the machine settled on the uneven
ground
/ The same officer opened the door ans
1 gently pushed Johnston out. Johnston
expected them to follow him, but th.
door of the machine closed behind him
ttStand out Of the way" cried on
! the officer through the window. Yo,
may etsstruck as we rise. =
lnyoluntarlly johnston Obeyed. Their
was a sound of escaping air from be
/ meath the machine, a fierce commotioi
in the atmosphere which sucked him to
/ ward the machine, and then the daz
cling searchlight blinded him as th,
airship bounded upward and sailed bacl
over the course it had come.
Johnston Stood paralyzed with fear
my God his is awfull' be exclaimed
in terror, and his knees gave way be
meath him, and he sank to the rock
They have left me here to starvc il
this hellish darkness. He remainet
there for q moment, his face ooveret
with his hands, then he sprang sp dss
! perately and started to grope thfeugl
the darkness. be knew not gAitkax. .;