The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-08-20


er, with his eye on the compass. Car
son looking at every working part, OIL
Ing, feeling for hot bearings. watching
for the slightest CULVER or jar. greedy
Of every mile. Finally they were
speeding along over the great national
Appalachian forest when he relieved
Craighead.
In the little locker were found the
elements from which Craighend pre-
pared the luncheon Of bacon. eggs and
coffee. cooked on the methanose stove
1--WE shall get into the upper Allan
tic regions" said Carson. "just In time
to hit tue area of local storms to-
night"
He looked from the tiller to the COM
pass and hesitated about leaving it to
eat. He had never tried letting the
Virginia follow her nose with the tiler
dashed.
''Of COURSE" said he. shell fall off,
But If she turns can put her back
on her course. l believe I'll try her"
Whereupon Craighead recited a
poem:
Il go away this blessed day
To sail across the state. Matilda.
My airship starts for various parts
At twenty after eight. Matilda.
do not know where we may go
Or whether near or far. Matilda.
For Captain Carson don't make a paYson
or any foremost tar. Matilda.
That mystic man beneath my ban
Shall suffer. coute quil coute. Matilda.
What right has he to keep from me
The airy. scary route. Matilda?
Although. In sooth. | am youth
OF common sailor lot, Matilda,
Am l q man on human plan
Devised. or am not. Matilda?
"And echo, II there were any place
to echo from. would answer. Not Ma
tilda" Have some Of the milk while
the Virginia chuses her tail above Mr..
Pinchot's forest"
'She doesn't chase her tail much"
replied Carson. 80 far. at least"
She did not. The horoscopes held
her on an even keel. and the nltimetcr
statoscope delivered the verdict that
the Virginia was following Il course us
level as Il battleship's. Carson ate.
watched the triumphant test and for
got to frown. and he little knew to.
ward what danger he was hurting him.
self.
Peak after penS. village after village
and occasionally a big smokeless town
about the national power plants of the
Leighton reservoirs came hurrying to-
ward them. passed beneath like vi
sions and fell behind
See that big stratus cIoudY" asked
Carson. "ShaIl we so over or under
IT."
personally" replied Craighead. I've
been under a cloud long enough"
The stratus was an immense vapOr
sheet half mile above the earth. On.
derneath were the gloom and dullness
of cloudy weather. but above it the
sun shone with brightness augment.
ed by the brlliancy reflected from the
upper surface of the cloud as from a
great glittering plain of snow. The
sun was past the meridian and shining
warm. but on the wing over that
great expanse of pearl the air felt. not
cold. but caller" and they put on
their topcoats. The shadow of the
Virginia ran with her across the cloud
like a black bat haloed in the un.
spcakable glory IF a triple rainbow
which hinged the scudding shadow
about in concentric circles. so bright.
so refulgent in dye. 80 glorious In their
mingling lines. that the voyagers.
glancing from radiance to radiance.
lowered their voices to the thrill Of
beauty too Intense for speech.
The immense engines were moving
more regularly than clockwork. keep.
ing the pledge Of their makers that IL
supplied with fuel and oil they would
run without single stop until worn
out - the perfection of the internal
combustion engine. once so untrust.
worthy.
II want to see where we are" finally
said Carson. "rhis Is like an open
ocenn. want to compare the map
with the landscape"
Obedient to the tilted rudders. the
Virginia pointed her prov downward
Her propeller blades hurled her swift.
ly forward and toward the earth. and
she plunged into the cold stream Of
the stratus cloud into mist and white
scarfs of lacy fog and the snowy OBJ.
security Of an aerial blizzard. Craig
head gasped at the chill and the blind
ness
Ring tor a guide" said he. "T1E
lost"
He was not lost for long. for the Vir.
ginia Glove the feecy hoodwink and
emerged through its lower levels into
the clenr shadows OF the nt<licr air.
They could feel the warmth radiated
from the ground. ballny with earthly
scents. Far to the northeast lay a
shining river. widening Mt the limit Of
vision into broad estuary. and JUS,
within sight could be discerned the
clustered spires and towers OF city
Cnrson looked the landscape over and
studied his map
"Craighead," cried Carson. we've
made Richmond three hours quicker
than thought 1t possible. stork or
Canada goose couldn't have covered
the distance. and both sometimes 20
IN