The Cairo bulletin., 1909-02-18
CRUISE 0FTnE
''ALICE WALL

| ly on her manmade wings for her
initial fight from Snohomish to Ho-
| boken bearing the mails, a mighty
| cheer assembled with her. There were
| no passengers except two super
| numeraries shipped to fill the places
| of any sailors who should inadvert-
emily desert while leaning over the
rail Kabhau, the noted aeronaut, was
| in command. but Prof Thayer had
been commissioned by western uni
yersity to observe in the interest of
science, the psychological effect of
high attitudes upon sea urchins-or
the glass vessel containing them.
As the ship rapidly gained elevation,
though II seemed not to make much
horizontal progress, the crew became
alarmed at a rumor that Kabhau had
forgotten which way to turn the things
that kept her from going too high She
was said to be unmanageable. and in
that case would go up, up. intermin.
ably; nothing would induce her to turn
her nose toward the now-distant meth
erness. Utter panic alone. deferred
the crew from instant mutiny.
Ten hours ont the barometer turned
upside down and tried to work that
way, The mercury fell, and summer
clothing became mere mosquito net
ting. became spider web. cut decollete
cut peek-a-boo. dwindled into puerile
inadequacy.
The two substitute sailors, SILVER
ing at the taffratl. passed downward
through the rent in the C,Ju'3 L ade
by the ships passage, and nnbled.
The colossal mistake wa diuiy Wig
ible, though diminished ly Us auCe to
a petty faux pas.
TITS a pitiful cinder from the devils
own furnace" Tim remarked; but
there's nothing ! want so much as to
be upon that cinder.%
True for ye." Mike reioined Otis
no more than three ions of rarefieG
radioactivity theoretically diluted wild
a pint of rectified ether; but I'd give
quarter for IT, Why didn't they tie
stirring to It. so whin We wanted 1t We
could trawl II up?'
II was thinking Of me Preside" said |
Tim, land want to go home I've got !
cold feet a condition superinduced be |
the state of the atmosphere with ref I!
erince TO its relative temperature. All |
me life I've wanted a sled that would |
slide up hill, but It's glad | am niver
had wan. What is life, anyhow? A |
mere misstcp into trap-shooting ma
phR e., "a,
Zero Sure, this trip makes me wish
Id met wild a fatal illness when me
grandmother was baby"
"Yis," walled Tim; Il don't expect
to live to tell the folks at home of me
sad death in mid-air on the ship that
niver returned. and I'm thinking III
write farewell letther."
All" said the professor, speaking
Of letters reminds me that we must
drop the mails, to be forwarded by
rail to Iloboken. as We are not making
any progress in that direction"
rs Hobokon in Mars" Mike IN
quired.
mo. it's 5000 miles out, from Sno
homish. York state, they call It, or
Jersey; but the mails are important"
The professor procured a cork and
dropped it overheard. 1t fioated slowly,
downward.
Gravity is still working" he OBJ
served
"Bedad, thin. It's working back.
ward % said Mike; we're falling up"
kabhau and the mail clerk brought
out the pouches, and the former
looked downward through a pair of
binoculars. The clerk held a pouch
over the rail, prepared TO drop it at al
word Tim gazed wistfully at the
'cinder.' far. far below.
'"Tis foine shot if they hit IT," he
murmured.
Before you drop the mails" sug-
gested Prof Thayer, II should like to
look through the glass, Mr.. Kabhau.
Ny technical training may enable me
TO tell you exactly or approximately
where HOboken should be. with rela.
ton to our own position, If we are
straight up from Hoboken."
Certainly" said the aeronaut, i'm.
pressed, take II, and look in at the
little end"
All" said the professor. after a
scrutinizing glance; 1T is as | antici
pated Owing to the rotation of the
earth we have passed Hoboken back
ward. We shall have to wait till she
turns over again. when we can deliver
the mail as well at its original desti
nation"
At that moment Kabhau placed his
hand TO his forehead. while a beatifc
expression stole over his countenance {
Il have Just thought of a little ex
pedient. he said. We have been IN I
able to control our elevation because I
we have forgotten which way to turn
the little lever that pulls altitude uu ,
OF down: but as the lever is SO devised
as TO move in only one direction ID
nom orca4rS to me tn try thar x.saw, g.