Evening star., 1925-01-18
(continued from Yesterdays starr

We liquefied the aithon-at abso-
lutte Zero-and carried a big reserve
in steel containers. Owing to our I'M
mense lifting power we were able to
have spring hoops for keeping our
ballonets rigid, each being fitted with
an automatic pressure valve. By an
elaborate system of pipes, stop-cocks
and valves, all electrically controlled
from either navigating cabin, we were
able to clear these ballonets of gas
or air at will. When we wanted TO
rise quickly. we pumped the air from
the forward ballonets, and forced into
them the aithon expanded to gas by
having been sprayed into slightly
heated chamber. Thus we up
set the balance of the ship, and had
the lifting power forward-helped, OF
course, by the thrust of the propel-
lers. BY turning a graduate dial in
the cabin we We're able gradually to
fill the ballonets one after the other
or empty them, fore to aft or aft to for
ward. as we chose. Thus, when we
wanted a quicl- descent we emptied
the forward bal oIets of gas and fill
ed them with : It, bringing the nose
down.
BY reason Of .hese improvements,
all made possible by the discovery
of the aithon, We were capable of
and the structure permitted-quick
rnaneuver which would have buckled
the ordinary di : yible at once.
It was my task now to set out
working drawings OF the improved
airship. This was matter of enor-
nous labor for one pair of hands,
Involving as it did a mass of draw
n rin le
from 1 nm. to l en-, and full-size
for certain details. Owing to the
shortage of material, which could not
be remedied until the drawings of
the airship were ready to pass into
the hands of Travers Lippencott at
New Orleans, the crew had time on
its hands, so l enlisted the services
of Dave Lippeucott and FitZaland,
who, J found, in addition to being
capable engineers, had some idea of
mechanical drawing. They acted as
tracers for me. They improved as
[hey WHnt TGn ofose 1 ans imapeetion e of th@iT
efforts by the chief, Thetford, and
myself could find no errors either
in drawing or figuring.
While this work was in hand the
remainder of the crew began to try
drilling for the oil with an cleo
trically driven rotary drill. They
succeeded in striking oil at a depth
of 1873 meters, and, as with the gas
on the opposite side of the main
cavern, found an enormous pressure.
1t was a good quality of oil, pale
sherry brown in color. and not at
all the tar-colored, viscous stuff one
expected to see. 1t had a parafnn
basis and readily ignited as IT was,
fresh from the earth.
The voyage to the outer world
could no longer be postponed. The
drawings of the airship were ready,
and we needed the piping for gas and
OIL and had to bring up the refinery
plant.
OF the company. only the chief.
Thetford. Devonridge and Haynes
which last two were promising them
selves some hunting in the slack
time-and Grumstock were to remain
behind Grumstock came with US for
the first part of the journey.
We found Sleepy Sam Smithers as
placid and contented as ever, TO the
great glee of Higgins and Grum-
stock, who found much amusement
in chatting their old shipmate. In
the months that Smithers had been
solitary not single white man had
he seen. He had captured and tanned
n toucan. and the bird was his sole
companion.
had been rather anxious about
Smithers, whether his resolution and
phlegm would indeed be capable of
sustaining that dreadful isolation,
but | honestly believe even now that
the stout shipwright really enjoyed
his own company. His health was
excellent, remarkable thing IN d
man so short-necked. He had I'M
proved the storehouse greatly INSIDE
but had carefully neglected all out
ward appearances The place was
desolate and overgrown to forlorn-
ness that might have made the heart
sink and even the Clutha was hidden
nv creepers But if Smithers had
allowed her to hide herself naturally
he had looked after her, waslnG
hitter war on the ants which might
have eaten into her timbers. and
keeping her enGineroom picture OF
tidiness.
When the Clutha was ready for her
trip downstream Grumstock offered
to bear Smithers company ior daS
or two before returning to the pla-
teau. ,..
you likes to muck in wi Norsey
IN me for a day or two, good an
yvell-you're welcome. But we ain
no debattn' sassiety, i'm an me, 1
can tell you that
Nosey, of course, was the toucan.
Wen, what do ye do with yourself
all the timer" Grumstock demanded,
with an irritated scratch OF mis-
head.
"Nosey an' me-" said Smithers,
so,emnIy: we've brort thinkin' ter
wot ther papers calls a fine art.
THAT bird" he went on, with an
irnnre ssfve wave of his slim pipe
that birds a wonder. I'm an nell
sit fer hours lookin' at each other
thinl,in'. dye see?-an I've seen
Nosey that pensive as'd make you
say e 'ad brains in is beak. T. II
git there, thinkin' an thlnkln I'LL
ye begin ter wonder wot TREMENDOUS
idea 'e's got. You can see 1t Swellin
up in is cad, then, sudden-like, ell
give 'isself a dust under ther wing.
An ANYBODY can see 'e's got that
point settled all right. All, Nosey's
got me beat for thinkin' any day o
ther week.
I'd say a monkey'd be more com
psny," Higgins asserted.
"Ah, Tom, ah!-fer you! BIRDS Ht
a feather make good company
Smithers said pointedly. mon
KEYS got no brains an 'u'd suit you
splendid. Nosey's my mark. 'E's got
plenty"
"Oh, all right, Sam" said the
abashed Higgins. IF you fancy old
solomon Levi as much as that, good
an we'll But a bird like thatd give
me the creeps."
Possibly, Tom. possibly" Smithers
said with solemn pride. "A bird like
Nosey wants some livin' UP to-"
I'll stay for a day or two" Grum-
stosl announced, If only for some
thing to laugh at"
That's right, Jack" Smithers said
plaCjdIv STAY an advertise YOUR