The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-25

which. when thrust aside, was found 90
conceal ths identical fight Of steps they
bad been Locking for.
Uttsring cries OF 10y. Chick and John
quickly mounted the stairs and found them
selves upon the fat roof.
h flying bird lay As they had left IL.
and they were about 70 crawl inside when
the sound Of footsteps mounting the stairs
was heard.
-Quicki' shouted the child. Jump In,
John Dough-
is IL ssfe.' asked John. who remembered
bow they had bumped upon the ROOF
We'd, it's either air or water for US, my
frend. n Iprefer the air. laughed Chick,
her cheeks red with excitement.
John hesitated no longer and was soon
inside the birds body. Chick scrambled
after, and at once pressed the electric but
ton. while John threw over the silver lever.
The big wings began to iop just a. q
number OF men came upon the roof utter
ing loud cries at the evident attempt Of
their prisoners to escape. But the strong
pinions Of the bird swept them nat like 90
many tsnpins. and before they could get
upon their feet again the flying machine
Was high in the air and well cut Of their
reach.
PITY At AND THE MIrxErs.
This invention works better than I
thought IL would after getting that bump
John remarked. a. they new onward over
the vast expsnse Of rolling waves.
ITS a bic vobbly. though said Chick.
Doesn't il nop q little s~ideways?-
Yes, answered John. -an it seems to
me the bird does not move 81 swiftly as it
did az first"
Guess the lectricity's giving out re-
turned Chick calmly. IF it does. what II
happsn1-,
Wen be drowned, I suppose, said John.
Il don't understand electricity. for the
wisdom I derive from the magic Elixir
dates far back beyond the discovery Of
electric fluid"
Your wisdom's h~aldheaded. I'm afraid
observed the child. smiling at the solemn
countenanoe Of the gingerbread man. But
say! Isn't that another island over there?'
Chick continued. after a ook through one
Of the little windows.
It appears to be an island replied John.
also gazing through the window.
Even as he spoke the bird gave a lurch
and svooped downward toward the sea,
tipping at such an angle that Chick md
the gingerbread man were both tumbled on
their seats. Johns glass eye had q look
Of fear in them. but Chick laughed as merrily
As il there was no danger at all, and began
pushing the electric buttons With great
vigor, one after another.
: The result vas that the flying machine
paused, rightcd Itself. plunged higher into
the air. circled around a few times. and
then sailed rapidly TOW ard the west. Chick
scrambled back to the seat and threw over
he steering wheel in order to make the
machine head directly toward the island
they had seen.
IF We can keep her going till we get to
hat island, don't care what happens after
ward, said the child. But iiwe're dumped
in the sea I'm afraid We cant swim far"
Il can't swim AZ ALL" John returned.
for in three strokes my gingerbread would
become soaked through and fall to pieces.
And the water would dilute the Elixir that
/ am mixed with and destroy all its magic
powers. By the way, what's the thing
doing now?'
It's getting more wabbly. But never
mind. It's lots Of fun. isn't it,
Not exactly fun, : said John. seriously;
but 1 will admit this voyage is rather
exciting"
Just then something snapped, aud they
heard a rapid vhir Of machinery inside
the bird. a squeak that sounded like a vail
Of despair. and then q dull crash. The big
machine trembled. ceased Topping its
wings, and remained poised in the air like
an immense kite.
It's all up" said Chick. The things
busted
what's going to happen'' asked John
~anxiously.
Wait and see returned Chick, with a
laugh.
Its cruel to laugh when ~e are in such
danger aid John reproachfully.
-Shucksl" cried the child. 1t might
be my last laugh. and I'd be foolish TO
miss it,"
The bird was still floating. for its broad
wings were rigidIy spread u to their
fullest extent, bat every moment the ma
chine sailed nearer to the sea and. although
it vas surely nearing the island. neither
John nor Chick could decide whether it
would finally succeed in reaching the shore
o. fall into the water.
Even the careless Cherub paused with
bated breath to watch the final catastrophe.
and John. resigned to whatever fate might
befal him, nevertheless passed the most
anxious moments OF his brief lifetime.
The bird sailed down, rested upon the
water q few feet from the shore and nOated
upon the surface.
Chick and John dared not open the door
for fear Of letting In the ocean and so being
drow ned. Neither could they now see
where they we're, for the green water pressed
close against the little windows. So they
sat silently within the machine until there
came a sudden jar and the bird rolled over
on one side and lay still.
We're savsdl" cried the Cherub.
For now one Of the windows was raised
above the water and enabled them to see
that the bird had drifted to the shore OF the
island and was fast upon the beach.
Chick Unfastened the door and crawled
out, and then the child assisted John to
leap from the machine TO the shore with
out even wetting his feet And &c was in
deed fortunate they acted SO promptly, 40
no sooner were they safely upon the island