The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1915-02-11
fAH nAH1rowoo PILo1.


perceptible jar and Immediately rise
again, covering fully a mile at each
jump.
We passed over four towns In as
many seconds, and all In one jump.
Things were beginning to get interest
Ing
And just then we hit something 1t
might have been a tree or church.
we were going too fast to see-but,
whatever it was, we went right
through it like bullet through a pine
board
II gave us a terrific jar though, and
! Smith, Bag and | went down all in a
heap In the nose of the grasshopper,
while the professor slammed into the
table and over that went.
We all jumped up and righted the
table as soon as we could, but the
controlling apparatus was all in a
tangle and we seemed to be going
faster than ever.
Stop it," yelled Smith. Il want to
get out"
But we couldn't stop. When the
shock came the professor had his hand
on the speed switch and had damned
it over to full speed and broken the
lever off short.
About ten minutes passed, during
which Bag and the professor worked
frantically, trying to stop the machin-
cry. Then came a tremendous splash
a tnfn lak NJ a.
thing.
We came quickly to the surface
again, and then how that grasshopper
did swim! 1t went through the water
like an express train. throwing up a
spray in front of it so we couldn't see
minutes we were on dry land again.
| jumping along as fast as ever.
Cant you stop it," yelled Smith.
Il want to get out tell you
stop 1t yourself them yelled pack
the professor, seeming a little exas-
perated.
Smith took him at his word, and,
grabbing a crowbar, he smashed 1t
into the machinery. This proved eff
fectual, for with one more bound the
| grasshopper stopped
"Phew!" says |, little excited my
self, heres where walk"
Same here" says Smith. Where
are WEI"
! Before | could answer, someone
, started shooting from the outside, and
we all made jump for the door and
looked out cautiously.
There were six men, dressed from
! head to feet in furs. and standing knee
deep in snow! And this, mind you,
happened on the oath of July.
Who're you shooting at?" yelled
Bag.
The men looked surprised and came
up alongside.
Il beg your pardon says one Of
them. II thought this thing was alive
and indigenous to this region
We'll, 1t couldn't act any worse If
it was" says Smith, who are you?"
I'm Stellman" says he, and 1
want you to understand that | got
| here first"
THAT so?" said Smith. Well, that
amt any sign that we didn't hurry
along as fast as we could Hope we
haven't kept you waiting"
Seeing that wasn't expecting you,
can't say that you have" answered
Stelman. Did you get here IN that
thing"
| 'XVa did
"Where'd you start FROM"
kansas"
Kansas How did you ever get
across the Arctic ocean,
Il wasn't aware that we had
crossed it. Have WEI"
why, you must have. Don't you
know where you are?"
II wish | did," says Smith wistfully.
would you mind telling u.s."
This is the north POLE says Stell.
man.
| looked at my watch. Just so min.
utes had elapsed since we left Kan
| sas.
Gosh" says l. Gosh" And now
] wonder that | was able to express
myself that much.
Then we all got together and ex-
planned things.
Mr.. Stellman who represented the
Chicago Boomerang, had discovered
the north pole in an airship Having
discovered 1t, he was preparing to re-
turn, and as the machinery in the
grasshopper was hopelessly ruined, ne
kindly offered to give US lift as far
as Spitzbergen.
It almost broke Bags heart because
he had to leave his grasshopper be-
hind He wanted Stellman to take 1t
along in the airship, which he
wouldn't do.
We had had enough Of grasshoppers.
At Spitzbergen we caught trading
vessel bound for Halifax, from which
port we finally arrived home, none tho
worse for the racket.
Bag mentioned something about
building another grasshopper one day,
but he only mentioned it once, for
Smith and | opened up and made re-
marks that caused him to abandon the
idea.
There's limit to all things, you
know.
| - -
| AZ ri