The Flight of the Silver Ship: Around the World Aboard a Giant Dirgible

round at her father's expense, she became, as Doctor Trigg said, "the child of the

side-upside now, whate

to Doctor Sims, "More youthful enthusiasm, my boy; mor

" replied Docto

nclined to leave the windows, and ate their excellent luncheon without interest. By the time afternoon tea was served, however, they apparently

received. They were eagerly expected, but Mr. Hammond d

passenger gondola was opened. The passengers, warned that they must be on board again at eleven o'clock, stepped down, not sorry to find terra firma actually under their feet again. A group of officials and leading citizens welcomed Mr. Hammond and his officers, and the ship was rapidly propelled into

egrams; Doctors Trigg and Sims came with their arms full of papers and magazines; a car whirled up, and the driver hurriedly approached Dulcie just as

aine?" inquired David of Mr. Ham

young officers accompanied him. He held a bloodstained ha

looks, commander

ed?" demande

ng had loosened the supports of a platform where some boards were lying. A two-by-four slipped off, and

s Dr. Forsythe puts a bit of pl

he doctor at once," advised Mr

broken. He stopped the bleeding, and plastered it up. Captain Fraine declared that he felt

Walter Cram here at L

plied. "He has just five

e with a jolt, and an agitated figure leaped out and hurried across the field, a suitcase in

waiting long, commander,

the Moonbeam took off, and soon after the passengers retired, leaving o

Lakehurst roses gave the salon a gala appearance. Below them the Atlan

hem, and saluted with puffs of fleecy smoke. In return the

them and broke like foam on the prow. The air was clear, the sun blinding. The passengers accepted

Lieutenant Florsheim as second pilot, David had actually no more to do than an observer, except for his turn at the wheel. Mr. Hammond came in

ing you, Fraine

old wound. The place has always been a little troublesome. Worse in stormy weather, I notice. There's a

lect it," advis

speak of, but that board would have given

es. Make these youngsters take that whe

. He lifted a hand toward his head again, but hastil

sm, his silly pride, his preposterous vanity ran over his narrative like an ugly stain, and through it all a slimy envy of David t

er stop?"

eauty, you can just depend on Red, who loves you like a sweetheart, to keep you trim and true.' And all m

Dulcie warmly. "Tell me, do

said Red, lo

made th

does Mr. Cram

dropping a wrench, "how

, and he didn't say a word about David that yo

said Red admiringly, "

ou know

got more brains and better, than anyone I know, but no

s the answer?"

you known him

nces and whatnot. That's where I first heard of David. The three men

Brown, and Len

ee, he was a wet smack! And he wouldn't take hints. I was bored to tears, and the boys all o

oesn't just shun you, Miss Hammond. That wouldn'

vid had passed his entrance exams to the pilots' school, while Cra

ut even as a boy Wally always magnified every slight or i

cried Dulcie. "It makes

see what we see," said Red as he went o

are who he was, or whence he came. He was so true, so merry, and so unassuming that he could

r. She proved a joy unspeakable to the young reporters, the professors regarded her with apparent curiosity, and even Mr. Hamilton induced her to talk to him a

bined to make everyone sleepy. Mr. Hammond was in the best of spirits. Tail winds had helped them on,

heavy clouds. The sun shone brightly, and the air was even, but there was a low humming in the

hen it comes, it's going to be a wow. I think I'll take a lo

, were always worn by anyone moving about in the hull. They were designed to

ient fellas, but this trip has gone to their heads. As soon as they saw themselves crossin' big w

'writing it up for the papers at home'! Tryin' to be a bunch of Lindys, and Byrds,

and asked, "Go

Red threw him, and togethe

making their way over the bags, along the catwalk, and among the taut wires and spanners. Occasionally they stood listening to

wire just in front of us sag a bit?" He wormed his way over to the wi

ngines," he said, as he sta

this isn't your jo

e first time David saw pin points of flame in the bl

ng into wind. I have seen too many 'northers' in Oklahoma to make any mistake. What I want t

said David briefly. "That's why th

ed Red. "Well, let's shove along. I w

rt of the enormous throbbing engines, each controlled by two earnest and keen-eyed eng

ything looks okay," he said, "but I wish Miss Hammond was at home in her own house, instead of

Honest, Red, she is the nices

crack in the wind. Yep, Miss Hammond is the real thing, all right. She is

l the ship again rode on an even keel. A little tremor ran through the Moonbeam; she rolled a little. Several of the passengers who were in the salon hurried to their ca

the sound of breaking dishes, followed by a yell of anguish from the cook. Flung into each other's arms, David and Red e

he back of his head where i

like that so we

weather chart, and then look at the r

I put on another sweater. I'm cold." He turned

untered toward the control room. As he approached it a yell broke through the monotonous sounds of the gondola. A hoarse scream

nt Florsheim. Just beyond him lay Van Arden, a crumpled heap face down. Captain Fraine, his face contorted in an expression of insane

which would have cracked Red's head like an eggshell. Then ensued an actual life-and-death struggle. David tried des

on Red, who gurgled as Fraine's sinewy hands closed for the second time on his windpipe. Lights flashed before his eyes. He choked, sagged, and then all at once it was over. David

as trying to sit up. Captain Fraine groaned. Florsheim lay like dead, blood from a gaping wound on his head

hoarsely. "When I got here Florsheim was

their bunks," th

he jaw. All he wanted was peace and silence, and a chance for his head to stop whirli

usness, evinced such symptoms of acute delirium

from the still shaky David. "I will take the first watch,"

wn, as Dulcie, followed by the sputtering

"Drink it," she said. "It will fix your throat, Red, and set you

quit kicking Van Arden and grabbed me. David was a welcome sight. Fact is," he suddenly sobered, "he would have done for me, Davie. I never saw

lcie shuddered. "An

ked up," said David, and

said, as David came again into the control room. He patted the b

moothly but very swiftly. They were making nearly ninety miles an hour. He hoped the wind would hold behind them, but he felt little cross currents already. As he watched,

mond re

ece of bone pressing on that head wound of the captain's or a tiny splinter working around inside, and that blow he got at

y. He will be all right again in a couple of days. You will have to take charge of the ship, David. It's a chance for you to

ained on the bla

am going to cut down now to a lower altitude, and find be

not try going down. Heavens, no! Don't you know that Captain

be safe

e have got to go by precede

Mr. Hammond was his commander. "I have done it on trial flights, and it wor

nd without waiting for a reply walked away, leaving David to stare a

n one, and in full charge!" said David to h