Through the Air to the North Pole / Or, The Wonderful Cruise of the Electric Monarch

s close to the buzzing dynamo which he had started to oil. His hands

way from there!" c

fast!" yelled the neg

n the jump to assist

t by electricity! If you attempt to pull him away with you

t a pair of rubber gloves. Putting these on he hurried t

shington yelled.

c current. Washington fell in a limp heap on the floor of the engine room. He was freed from the grip of the electricity that

s better. He sat up, opened his eyes

ty close call f

ned you several times never to put both hands on a copper switch at

Perfessor," said

any electrical machinery, don't do it with both hands at the same time, if there is danger of forming a conn

de next obstreperous occa

erson with a laugh. "Now," he continued, "I was about to give a few g

an at the shed whom I did not want to meet. But if you want to go back to your homes I will let the airship down to the earth

to you two farm hands I can promise such sights as you never saw before. Do you w

e said t

t to be obeyed in every particular. Washington will be the engineer, with the two boys to help him. Tom Smith and Bill Jones will be in charge of the kitchen, and I will show t

is lifted above the earth by the power of a very strong gas I discovered. It is much lighter than hydrogen, or th

ship is brought about by means of the propeller at the stern. This propeller works by electricity. The electricity comes from storage batteries which are kept charged from the dynamo run by one of the gasolene engines. I also have an electric moto

"is where the lifting gas is generated. A gasolene engine runs

or steering, and told the boys and men how to read the instrument that gave the heights, the force of the wind, the temperature, and much other informa

he sure is a bang-up affair," observ

ou a gun in exchange for

son. "Wait

returned with a fine rifle, at the sigh

!" he exclaimed.

he professor. "It fires sixteen sho

or sixteen whales!" exclaimed Andy with delight.

"in case we should meet with enemies. But we may not n

re of the condensed type. A small capsule made a plate of soup. There were other pills or capsules that held meat extracts, condensed c

here was an abundance of gasolene for the engines and for heating the ship. In short, Professor

, and everyone was hungry. Rather awkwardly at first, Bill and Tom started in. They soon got the knack of things, however, and once they had found out how

wanted to give the machinery a chance to warm up. After the meal the inventor took the

forward at a faster pace. The air, as it came in the opened

a little higher,"

as if they were in a rapidly ascending elevator. Up and up they went,

ll map in a big geography, faded out of sight. At the same instant there was a sudd

Mark. "What

nse was the vapor that the boys, though within five feet of

way. The boys could see clearly, but as they glanced

Be careful not to exert yourselves, as it is har

iculty, but by avoiding any ex

he ship had whizzed along for several miles above the

tes the ship was again surrounded with a white cloud

d forward. He seemed to be g

He took down a telescope and adjusted

Then he dropped the glass and fran

ourselves!" he cried,