diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36443-0.txt | 6796 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36443-0.zip | bin | 0 -> 128880 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36443-8.txt | 6796 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36443-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 127999 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36443-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 530616 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36443-h/36443-h.htm | 10556 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36443-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 53422 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36443-h/images/illus004.jpg | bin | 0 -> 85363 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36443-h/images/illus005.jpg | bin | 0 -> 18185 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36443-h/images/illus133.jpg | bin | 0 -> 74452 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36443-h/images/illus187.jpg | bin | 0 -> 84018 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36443-h/images/illus229.jpg | bin | 0 -> 83888 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36443.txt | 6796 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 36443.zip | bin | 0 -> 127958 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
17 files changed, 30960 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/36443-0.txt b/36443-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8e91426 --- /dev/null +++ b/36443-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6796 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of King of the Air, by Herbert Strang + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: King of the Air + Or, To Morocco on an Aeroplane + +Author: Herbert Strang + +Illustrator: W. E. Webster + +Release Date: June 16, 2011 [EBook #36443] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KING OF THE AIR *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank, Juliet Sutherland and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + Complete List of Stories for Boys by + HERBERT STRANG + + ADVENTURES OF DICK TREVANION, THE + ADVENTURES OF HARRY ROCHESTER, THE + A GENTLEMAN-AT-ARMS + A HERO OF LIÉGE + A THOUSAND MILES AN HOUR + AIR PATROL, THE + AIR SCOUT, THE + BARCLAY OF THE GUIDES + BLUE RAIDER, THE + BOYS OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE + BRIGHT IDEAS + BURTON OF THE FLYING CORPS + CARRY ON + CRUISE OF THE GYRO-CAR, THE + DAN BOLTON’S DISCOVERY + FIGHTING WITH FRENCH + FLYING BOAT, THE + FRANK FORESTER + HEIR OF A HUNDRED KINGS, THE + HUMPHREY BOLD + JACK BROWN IN CHINA + JACK HARDY + KING OF THE AIR + KOBO + LONG TRAIL, THE + LORD OF THE SEAS + MARTIN OF OLD LONDON + MOTOR SCOUT, THE + NO MAN’S ISLAND + OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN, THE + ONE OF CLIVE’S HEROES + PALM TREE ISLAND + RIDERS, THE + RIVER PIRATES, THE + ROB THE RANGER + ROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS + SAMBA + SETTLERS AND SCOUTS + SULTAN JIM + SWIFT AND SURE + THROUGH THE ENEMY’S LINES + TOM BURNABY + TOM WILLOUGHBY’S SCOUTS + TRUE AS STEEL + WINNING HIS NAME + WITH DRAKE ON THE SPANISH MAIN + WITH HAIG ON THE SOMME + YOUNG JACK + + + + +[Illustration: HE CLUTCHED AT THE GRAPNEL, LET GO HIS HOLD OF THE MAST, +AND SWUNG CLEAR. Frontispiece—see page 79] + + + + + KING OF THE AIR + + Or, To Morocco on an Aeroplane + + By + + HERBERT STRANG + + ILLUSTRATED IN COLOUR BY W. E. WEBSTER + + + HUMPHREY MILFORD + OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS + + LONDON, EDINBURGH, GLASGOW + TORONTO, MELBOURNE, CAPE TOWN, BOMBAY + + + + + Copyright 1907 by the Bobbs-Merrill Company + in the United States of America. + + Published 1907. + + Reprinted 1908, 1909, 1911, 1913 (twice), 1915 (twice), + 1917, 1918, 1919 (twice), 1920, 1923, 1929 + + Printed in Great Britain by Richard Clay & Sons, Limited, + Bungay, Suffolk. + + + + + CONTENTS + + CHAPTER PAGE + I. Mr. Greatorex is Astonished 9 + II. Herr Schwab 20 + III. Tom makes Experiments 34 + IV. A Prisoner in Zemmur 51 + V. Off the Barbary Coast 63 + VI. Salathiel ben Ezra 81 + VII. The Hills of Zemmur 98 + VIII. The Swordsmith of Ain Afroo 116 + IX. A Bolt from the Blue 133 + X. The Kasbah 148 + XI. Prison Breakers 167 + XII. A Hitch 182 + XIII. Diplomacy 196 + XIV. The Troglodytes 218 + XV. View Halloo! 233 + XVI. Icarus 248 + XVII. Compliments and Thanks 262 + + + + + LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + “He clutched at the grapnel, let go his hold + of the mast, and swung clear” 79 + + “His sword flew from his grasp, and he reeled + dizzily to the ground.” 130 + + “Tom, seizing a big stone, threw it with all his + force into the black room beneath” 187 + + “Abdul bent over the brink and smartly rapped his + knuckles with the butt of Tom’s revolver” 222 + + + + +KING OF THE AIR + + + + +CHAPTER I—MR. GREATOREX IS ASTONISHED + + +Mr. John Greatorex was very wealthy, and very obstinate. He had made a +large fortune as a manufacturer of chemicals, but disclaimed any +knowledge of chemistry. He had dabbled a little in mechanics, and was +convinced that he possessed an accurate practical knowledge of its +applications. Consequently, when his new motor-car arrived, he saw no +necessity to take a chauffeur with him on its trial spin. He was like a +child with a new toy, jealous of participation. + +“My dear,” said Mrs. Greatorex, as she handed him his motor goggles, +“are you sure you will not take Timothy? What if it breaks down?” + +“My _love_,” said Mr. Greatorex in his emphatic way, “I do not _want_ +Timothy. It will not break down. If it _does_, I flatter myself I am +_competent_ to make any _necessary_ repairs. I shall be back at +seven-thirty—in good time for dinner; and I _hope and trust_ the soup +will _not_ be cold.” + +He gave a preliminary _honk! honk!_ looking round with a smile that +plainly said, “There! you see that _everything_ is in order!” Then he +steered the car accurately down the drive to the road. + +His house lying in the heart of the country, Mr. Greatorex did not fear +to meet milestones in the shape of policemen with stop-watches, who +would take his number and afterwards confront him in court. In a minute +or two the car was whirling along the road at a rate which, it is to be +feared, gravely exceeded the speed limit. All went merry as a +marriage-bell, and Mr. Greatorex was at the height of exhilaration and +satisfaction, when, just as he was mounting the acclivity of Five Oaks +Bridge, without even a click in warning, the machine came to a dead +stop. Mr. Greatorex put the engine out of gear, then tried to start it +by turning the starting handle; but finding this of no avail he clapped +on the brake, skipped out of the car, removed his goggles and his +gloves, and set about making an examination. + +On the other side of the bridge, sitting on the bank of the stream, was +a boy, gazing with round eyes at a float that hung from a line attached +to a long home-made rod of yew. He had heard the clatter of the +motor-car as it came along the road; he was aware that the noise had +suddenly ceased; but, being a lad of great concentration, he did not +give a thought to what was happening out of sight at the further end of +the bridge. He had come out for an afternoon’s fishing; two or three fat +carp lay beside him on the bank; and noticing at this moment a slight +movement of the float, he was soon oblivious of everything except the +fish on his hook. + +Half an hour passed. Three more fish had rewarded his patience; then, +satisfied with his catch, the boy rose, methodically wound up his line, +and, leaving reel, rod and basket on the bank, walked up on to the +bridge, to investigate the meaning of sundry strange noises he had +heard, vaguely, in the intervals between the bites. + +As he gained the foot of the bridge, where a motor-car stood somewhat +askew across the road, he caught sight of a pair of brown boots +projecting from beneath the machine. Nothing but the boots was visible; +but they moved, and it was clear that they shod the feet of some living +person, for there came puffs and grunts and explosive monosyllables +resembling those he had sometimes heard on the golf-links near his home. + +The boy leant against the parapet, stuck his hands into his pockets, and +watched. By and by there was an ejaculation of peculiar vehemence; the +boots moved out into the road, followed by a pair of grey-trousered +legs, a soiled and rumpled motor-coat, and a very red and dirty face; +the boy took especial note of a black patch in the very centre of a +shiny skull. + +Puffing and blowing, Mr. Greatorex crawled from under his new car, and +stood upon his feet—a rather disreputable-looking object—staring +wrathfully at the offending car. He had not perceived the small +spectator. + +“Wish I _had_ brought Timothy!” he muttered. “_Confound_ the brute!” + +He looked at his grimy hands, at his mud-stained clothes, up the road, +down the road, and finally at the boy, who had at last made an +impression on his retina. + +“Hi, boy!” he said. + +The boy approached with a shy smile. Mr. Greatorex scowled, conscious of +his plight. + +“Boy, tell me, and don’t _grin_, is there a smith anywhere in this +neighbourhood?” + +“In the village, sure, measter.” + +“Where is the village?” + +“About three miles away, over yonder.” + +“God bless me! Three miles! Well, look here, boy, I’ll give you +_sixpence_ to run there and send the smith back—behind a horse, on a +bicycle, _anyhow_—to mend this confounded machine. I’m twenty miles away +from _home_, you understand, and I shall be _late_ for dinner. I’ll make +it a _shilling_ if the smith is here within an hour.” + +The boy looked up into the wrathful face and smiled again. + +“Would ’ee like me to mend un for ’ee? ’Twould maybe save time.” + +Mr. Greatorex stared. + +“_You_ mend it! ’Pon my word!” + +And then he burst into a roar of laughter which carried away his +ill-humour, for Mr. Greatorex was normally a very good-tempered person. + +The situation was, in truth, amusing. The boy was a little fellow under +four feet high. He had a round chubby face, not free from stains. He +wore corduroy breeches much too large for him, big clumping boots, and a +flannel shirt open at the neck. His blue eyes peeped up from beneath a +large, soft, much-discoloured straw hat. And this little urchin had +actually offered to mend a motor-car with which Mr. Greatorex, with all +his knowledge of mechanism, had been struggling for half an hour in +vain! + +Mr. Greatorex laughed again. + +“Come, cut along, youngster,” he said genially. “Let me see how _fast_ +you can run.” + +“I’ll mend un if you give me leave. ’Twill save time,” persisted the +boy. + +Mr. Greatorex pulled out his watch. What a joke, he thought—this sprat +of a boy offering to tackle his huge motor-car! It was only a little +after five; there might still be time to fetch the smith, get the +repairs made, and yet reach home by half-past seven. A little rest would +not come amiss after his exertions. Why not let the youngster try his +hand—for the fun of it? + +“Well then, _fire_ away, my young engineer. I’ve been at it half an +hour, _confound_ the thing!” + +“What have ’ee done, measter?” + +“Done? Everything! Examined the sparking plugs: _they’re_ all right. +Wires from battery: _they’re_ all right. Battery itself, _that’s_ all +right. Plenty of petrol in the tank. _Every_thing’s all right, hang it, +and yet the thing _won’t_ go!” + +“Don’t you worrit, measter. Give me a lend of your tools.” + +The boy’s cocksureness again amused Mr. Greatorex, who seated himself on +the parapet of the bridge, and mopped his perspiring face, smiling +pleasantly. Though past fifty he was still young at heart, and very +ready to be amused. He took out a pipe, filled and lit it, and puffed +away, with an expression of serene contentment on his rubicund dirty +face. + +The boy flung off his hat and disappeared. Metallic sounds came from the +interior of the car. + +“How are you getting on, boy?” asked Mr. Greatorex after some ten +minutes. + +There was no answer. + +Five minutes passed. + +“Find it rather too _much_ for you, eh?” said Mr. Greatorex, looking +more amused than ever. + +Still there was no answer. + +“Got everything you want?” he asked again. + +But the boy made no reply; only the sound of knocking and screwing +continued. + +Mr. Greatorex laughed aloud. + +“Come,” he said, getting up and standing with legs astraddle a foot or +two from the car, “you mustn’t make _too_ long a _job_ of it, you know.” +Then he chuckled. + +Five minutes afterwards the boy crawled out. Mr. Greatorex laughed again +as he surveyed the grimy little fellow. A great patch of black +surrounded one eye, where he had rubbed his knuckles. + +“All right now, measter,” said the boy. + +“What! Come, my lad, you’ve _had your_ turn; now run along and fetch the +smith.” + +“Bean’t no need. She’ll go now.” + +Mr. Greatorex looked impressed, stepped to the front of the car, and +turned the handle; to his amazement the engines started. He sprang into +the car, threw the engines into gear, and was still more amazed when, +releasing the clutch pedal, he found that the car moved. + +“Better take off the brake, measter,” said the boy. + +“Why, yes, certainly,” said Mr. Greatorex, with a preoccupied air, and +the car mounted the incline, spun across the bridge, and ran easily down +the road. Then Mr. Greatorex stopped it and turned round. + +“Hi, boy!” he shouted. The boy picked up his hat, stuck it on his head, +and approached. + +“Look here, youngster,” said Mr. Greatorex, “the car is all _right_!” + +“Told ’ee so, measter.” + +Mr. Greatorex roared. + +“You’re a wonderful little chap. Bless my soul, how did you _do_ it?” + +“I’ll show ’ee if you’ll get out.” + +“No thank ’ee. I’ve already had half an hour at it, and I’m as black as +a nigger. What was wrong?” + +“A bit of grit was stuck in the petrol spray nozzle, so you couldn’t get +no petrol into the carburetter.” + +“Oh!” said Mr. Greatorex blankly. “What’s your name?” + +“Tom Dorrell.” + +“You don’t happen to be manager of a motor-works, I suppose?” + +“No,” said the boy, unconscious of the genial sarcasm. + +“Where d’you live?” + +“In the village yonder,” said Tom, pointing ahead. + +“Oh! Ah! Look _here_, my lad, why aren’t you at school?” + +“Why, ‘cos ’tis holidays,” he replied with a grin. “Feyther didn’t want +me, so I came out to fish.” + +“Oh, indeed. And who’s your father?” + +“He be the smith you wanted me to fetch; but there warn’t no need.” + +“So it appears! I say, my lad, how _old_ are you?” + +“Twelve, and I’m in the sixth standard.” + +“You are, are you? And how long have you been mending motor-cars?” + +“Not so very long. I help feyther now and again; motor-cars are always +breaking down, and he has mended a rare lot of ’em.” + +“Ah! And how much would he have charged for mending this one?” + +“About two shillings, I reckon; it wasn’t a very hard job.” + +“Oh! Well, here’s two shillings for you. Don’t spend it _all_ on +sweets.” + +“Not me,” said the boy with a grin. “I’m saving up, I am.” + +“Indeed! What for?” + +“Why, for heaps of things. I want a model of a four-coupled bogie tank +engine, and a model of a turbine steamer, and a motor bicycle——” + +“Steady, youngster. That’s rather a _large_ order, isn’t it? You’ve got +a fancy for mechanics, eh!” + +“Mechanics! Not me! That’s what they teach in the seventh standard. I +like engines, I do—machines that’ll go. I’m going to be an engineer some +day—if I can; feyther says it costs a mint of money, and he hasn’t got +much, and he says he don’t hold with flying too high, and I’d much +better be a smith. But there’s nothing new in smith’s work: you just go +on shoeing horses, and sticking fellies on wheels, and mending prams and +motor-cars now and then. I want to do something new, I do.” + +“Ah! What’s your father’s name?” + +“Dorrell, same as mine.” + +“Naturally. And what do you call your village?” + +“Barton Abbas.” + +“Well, Tom, here’s your two shillings. You’ve got a bank-book, I +suppose.” + +“Rather. I’ve got three pounds fourteen and ninepence; this makes +sixteen and ninepence. I shall have another sixpence on Saturday for +cleaning pa’son’s bicycle; that’ll make seventeen and threepence. Pa’son +gives me sixpence a week.” + +“You’re getting quite rich, you know. Well, Tom, thanks to you I _shall_ +get home in time for dinner.” + +“I’m pretty hungry,” said Tom. “I guess it’s past my tea-time.” + +“No doubt it is. _Strawberry_ jam, eh?” + +“No. Mother says that’s too dear. We have rhubarb and marrow, growed in +the garden.” + +“And very good stuff, too. _By George!_ I haven’t had marrow jam for +forty years.” + +“You be pretty old then: older than feyther.” + +“Well, d’you know, Tom, I am _several years_ younger than I was two +hours ago. Good-bye!” + + + + +CHAPTER II—HERR SCHWAB + + +One spring day, rather more than six years after the meeting of Mr. +Greatorex and Tom Dorrell by Five Oaks Bridge, a shabby pony cart was +jogging along the road that led from the little railway station of +Midfont, through the sleepy village of the same name, to Midfont House, +the rural retreat to which Mr. Greatorex betook himself from his +business in the great manufacturing town of Burlingham some dozen miles +away. The sole occupant of the cart was a large florid man of about +forty-five, who eyed the surroundings curiously through heavy +gold-rimmed spectacles, the sluggish pony he drove requiring little +attention. + +His costume, no less than his spectacles, was strangely out of keeping +with the cart. That would have been a fit setting for a farm-hand, or a +carrier, or some other wearer of fustian. But its present occupant was +attired in a well-cut grey frock-coat, silk lined, a glossy silk hat, a +lilac-coloured necktie in which flashed a diamond pin, and trousers of +large check pattern. His hands were gloved in brown kid; between his +teeth he held a long cigar. + +He looked about him with intention. Unfenced fields stretched on either +side of the road. Every now and again the driver would pull up, stand on +the seat, and throw a searching glance around. Then, muttering under his +breath words that were certainly strange to that part of the English +midlands, he would drive on again, looking to right and left as before. + +By and by he came to a part of the road where a long wooden fence on the +right-hand side indicated an enclosure. To this the driver gave his +whole attention, and when the fence was broken by a wide wooden gate, +within which a carriage drive ran past a little lodge and between hedges +of evergreen, he pulled up, alighted from the cart, and, leading the +pony by the nose, went to the gate and gave the bell-pull a vigorous +tug. It might have been noticed that he walked a little lame. + +In response to his summons a man came to the gate—a young man, thin, +clean-shaven, with a slight cast in one eye. He was bareheaded, wore a +red waistcoat over a flannel shirt, and brown corduroy breeches, +supported by a leather belt and somewhat creased above brown leggings. + +“So!” said the driver of the pony cart, as the lodgekeeper rested his +arms on the second bar of the gate and looked at him. “Zis, my goot +friend, is Midfont House?” + +“You’ve got it right, guv’nor.” + +“So! Zen I ask, is Mr. Thomas Dorrell at home?” + +“Nice day, guv’nor.” + +“I zank you, yes, it is not bad. Mr. Thomas Dorrell——” + +“No; my name’s Timothy Ball—T. B. on my collars.” + +“I zank you. Mr. Thomas Dorrell——” + +“This ’ere place belongs to Mr. John Greatorex, Esquire, J.P., and he +ain’t at home, bein’ engaged in trying a bad case of stealin’ lamb and +mint-sauce not a many miles from ’ere.” + +“My goot friend, I do not mind; I like it. I come not to see Mr. +Greatorex, I come to see Mr. Thomas Dorrell——” + +“Now, look ’ere, guv’nor, we’ve had chaps ’ere before with cheap watches +and dear books and thingummies of all sorts, and I tell you straight, we +don’t encourage ’em; in fact, I’ve got strict orders from Mr. Greatorex, +J.P., to set the dog on any such that won’t take no for an answer.” + +“My goot friend, you mistake. Vizout doubt I carry, some days, books, +editions de luxe, and vatches and ozer zinks, but to-day—no, no. Look, +here is my carte——” + +“And a rum-lookin’ ramshackle turn-out it is,” quoth Timothy, ignoring +the piece of pasteboard and eyeing the vehicle disdainfully. “I wonder +you ain’t ashamed to come out in a ‘at like that, togged up to the +nines, quite a torf, and your pony as looks as if he ain’t had a +currycomb on his hide for a month o’ Sundays.” + +“Ah, you mistake me all ze time. Ze bony, he is not mine; I hire him to +bring me to Midfont House. Here is my carte, my friend. Take it to Mr. +Thomas Dorrell, viz gompliments. He do not know my name, so! But he know +ze name of ze firma I rebresent, and he vill like to see me, I know zat, +because he place large orders, vair large, viz our gompany; he is vat +you call a gustomer, you understand.” + +Timothy Ball looked doubtfully at the visitor, and at the card he +offered to him. + +“There’s customers, and rum customers,” he said. + +“Rum!” interrupted the stranger. “If Mr. Dorrell like rum, we can subbly +any quantity, in cask or bottle, at rock-bottom price.” + +Timothy sniggered and rubbed his mouth with the back of his hand. + +“Rum ain’t the word for it,” he said. “’Tis downright bloomin’ funny, +that’s what it is. Well, guv’nor, hold hard a bit; I’ll just ’phone +through to Mr. Dorrell and tell him you’re here. _’Ow_ do you say your +name?” + +“Schwab! Hildebrand Schwab, rebresentative of ze Schlagintwert Gombany +of Düsseldorf.” + +“Can’t say all that; telephone won’t stand it. Wait a bit while I try +Swob.” + +He rang up and put his ear to the receiver. + +“Are you there? That you, Mr. Dorrell?... There’s a man here ... a man +... a gentleman to see you, name Swib ... Swob! So he _said_, sir.... +Travels for rum, by what I can make out——” + +“No! no!” cried Schwab; but Timothy glared him into silence. + +“Said you wouldn’t know him, sir, but you’re a customer of his firm.... +No, sir, _not_ rum.... Can’t say it, sir.... Very well, sir (glancing at +the card): S C H L A G I N T W.... You’ve got it, sir.... He didn’t say, +sir.... Very well, sir.” + +“Mr. Dorrell wants to know what you’ve come for.” + +“Vill you be so kind as permit me to speak to him myself?” + +“No; your trotter might run away.... Yes, sir, one minute.... Now, out +with it, Mr. Swob; Mr. Dorrell’s busy.” + +“Zen tell him I come from Düsseldorf on behalf of my firma to pay zeir +respects and gompliments to zeir valued gustomer and to zay zat ve shall +be alvays most pleased to subbly anyzink vatefer zat Mr. Dorrell vants +in quickest possible tempo egzept our Number Six Photographic Sensitizer +vich require fortnight notice——” + +“Arf a mo!... Yes, sir, but there’s such a lot of it I can’t get hold of +it all.... No, sir, not walk; the gentleman’s rather lame, sir; came in +a pony cart.... Very well, sir.” + +“Mr. Dorrell says he’ll be here in a few minutes if you’ll wait.” + +“Vy certainly. I can get no train for two hour. I vait in ze house?” + +“No, Mr. Dorrell ain’t in the house. He’ll come here. We always +interview rum customers at the gate.” + +“No, no, no; not rum, my friend; and Mr. Dorrell is ze gustomer. He buy +of _us_; at least, he order; Mr. Greatorex pay.” + +“Well, it don’t matter to you, I s’pose, so long as you get your money? +Mr. Greatorex’s money is good enough for me, anyway. Paid for that +topping cigar of yours, didn’t it?” + +“I have not ze honour to know Mr. Greatorex; but I have here a price +list of cigars, and if——” + +“Here’s Mr. Dorrell.” + +“Vere? I see him not.” + +“Well, he’s big enough, though he ain’t as broad as he’s long: that +gentleman in the blue clothes comin’ down the path.” + +“Zat Mr. Dorrell! Vy—he is a boy! Himmel!” + +“Rum, ain’t it? S’pose you never _was_ a boy, Mr. Swob.” + +A tall loose-limbed young fellow had come into the drive from a side +path, and was walking with great strides towards the gate. He was +bareheaded; his black hair tumbled over a brow unusually high and broad. +No other feature was noticeable except his eyes, which were large, deep +blue in colour, and shot with a strange glow. He was dressed in a loose +suit of what appeared to be blue alpaca, which was plentifully +bestained. + +By this time Timothy had opened the gate and given admittance to the +visitor. Tom Dorrell came up, held out his hand, and said in quick +decisive tones— + +“How d’you do, Mr.——?” + +“Schwab, sir—Hildebrand Schwab, rebresentative of ze firma +Schlagintwert, all orders punctually eggzecuted.” + +“Sorry to keep you waiting. Very busy, you know; if you had given me +notice——” + +“Ach! I come on ze hop, sir.” + +Tom smiled. + +“Well, glad to see you, anyway. Is there anything I can do for you?” + +“Sir, zat is vat I ask you. You give orders, first class, for our +Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number Six; but my firma zink you do +not know, perhaps, zat zey do many ozer zinks beside Photographic +Sensitizer Preparation Number Six. Vy, zere is nozink vat ve do not do, +nozink at all. Ve can supply anyzink—soft goots, musical boxes, hair +oil——” + +“I know, I know,” said Tom. “I have your price list.” + +“But not ze new vun—revise and correck carte,” returned Schwab, pulling +from his pocket a bulky volume in red paper cover. “Viz gompliments!” + +“Thanks! Now, I am very busy——” + +“Shust so! Business are business! Not for ze vorld vould I stand in ze +light. Only bermit me shust vun vord. Ze orders you give for +Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number Six, vy, zey are immense, +colossal; and you pay on ze nail. My firma get no such orders novere, +and zey are surprise, because Number Six is new zink; it is not long zat +it is on ze market. Vy zen come so large orders from so little place? +Zey zink zere are business to be done; zerefore am I here.” + +“Well, you can’t expect the merits of the stuff to be known all at +once.” + +“Shust so. Zerefore I come! Schlagintwert say: ‘Mr. Dorrell use a great +lot of P.S.P. No. 6; zerefore muss it be vair goot; go and see Mr. +Dorrell; perhaps he be so kind to give testimonial—zat vill be goot +business.’” + +“Afraid I can’t do that. You see, I don’t use it in photography, and +that is what you advertise it for.” + +“But ve vill advertise it for anyzink you please!” + +“My use of it is secret at present.” + +“Zen ve vill buy ze secret! Ve are vair rich firma.” + +“But it wouldn’t be a secret then.” + +“Zat is true, but it vould be business. Zere vill be patent rights, +perhaps; vell, ve buy zem; ve buy anyzink zat is goot business.” + +“No, I haven’t taken out a patent. It is very good of you, Mr. Schwab, +if at any time——” + +“Ach! Vat you call any time!—zat is no time. Now, now is ze time. I am +in zis country only few days. I go soon to Morocco for business. I +suffer egstremely from sea-illness, but for business I go anyvere. Zink +how it vould console me in ze Bay of Biscay to know zat I had done goot +business for Schlagintwert—and for you, Mr. Dorrell.” + +“Sorry. Really I can’t say any more, Mr. Schwab. I _must_ go; look me up +again, if you like, when you get back from Morocco.” + +Recognizing that Tom was not to be drawn, the German swallowed his +disappointment, took leave in most expansive terms, and was soon jogging +back in the direction from which he had come. But finding, on arriving +at the station, that he had an hour to wait for his train, he introduced +himself to the station-master and tactfully led the conversation to +Midfont House and its owner, Mr. Greatorex. What he learnt in the course +of it was something to the following effect. + +Some years before, Mr. Greatorex had discovered a taste for mechanics in +the son of the village smith at Barton Abbas, twenty miles away. He had +put the boy to a good school, often had him at Midfont House in the +holidays, and paid his fees at the university in the neighbouring town, +where the boy took honours in mechanics and engineering at a very early +age. Then, about a year before this time, Mr. Greatorex had fenced in a +large piece of waste ground on his estate, erected a workshop in the +middle of it, and given it up entirely to young Dorrell, who was now +apparently a permanent inmate of his house. What went on in the workshop +the station-master did not know. The enclosure was kept strictly +private; nobody outside the family was ever allowed to pass its borders. +The station-master believed that young Dorrell was inventing a +motor-car; it was said that Mr. Greatorex’s interest in him dated from +the day when the boy had repaired some trifling mishap which had +befallen his car on the road. + +The effect of this information on Herr Schwab was greater than the +station-master ever knew. When the train came in, the German got into +it; but he alighted at the next station two miles off, and trudged back +over the road until he once more stood at the gate of Midfont House. It +was now dark. Schwab did not this time pull the bell. He walked on past +the gate for a good quarter of a mile, then halted at a large heap of +stones collected for mending the road. + +There were no wayfarers at this late hour; nobody saw how this big +figure in the frock-coat employed himself. He filled his glossy hat with +flints from the heap, carried it to the foot of the fence, and emptied +it there, returning for another hatful. After an hour’s patient work a +pile of stones stood some three feet high against the fence. Mopping his +damp brow, dusting the inside of his hat, and replacing it on his head, +Schwab mounted the pile, clambered over the fence, and dropped down +somewhat heavily on the other side. Not till that moment had he given a +thought to the means of getting back; and looking up at the fence, the +top of which was quite beyond his reach, he uttered a low guttural +exclamation of dismay. But the die was cast! Consumed by his curiosity +to learn more about this mysterious workshop, in the way of business, he +had come thus far, and as there was apparently no going back he decided +to make his way forward. + +He found himself in an extensive meadow, bordered by trees. No +habitation was in sight. The moon threw a little light on the scene, +and, after walking for some minutes over the grass, he perceived a long +low oblong building which, as he drew nearer, he saw was built of wood, +with no windows in the walls, but having fanlights in the sloping roof. +There was but one door. + +“Ich hoffe dass die Thur nicht verriegelt ist!” he muttered as, glancing +apprehensively round, he approached to try the handle. He was not +conscious of anything improper in this nocturnal enterprise: was it not +all in the way of business? + +He came to the door, and grasped the handle.... + +When he recovered consciousness he found himself on his back on the +grass. In his right hand there was a feeling as if it had been burnt to +the bone. With many sighs and groans he rose, sought for his hat, and, +turning his back on the workshop, limped sadly towards the fence. His +whole body tingled with the electric shock. Bitterly he lamented his +unhappy zeal for business. What an abominable device for protecting the +premises! And there was that terrible fence to be climbed, or he would +have to remain all night in the field, assuredly to be discovered in the +morning and suspected of felonious intent. He remembered that Timothy +Ball had spoken of his master as a magistrate, and saw himself already, +frock-coat, silk hat and all, in a felon’s cell. + +Shaken to the core he came to the fence, and spent a weary hour in +groping up and down, trying to find an outlet. At length, when he had +almost given up hope, and was trying to steel his soul against the +exposure of the morrow, he reached a tree whose branches overhung the +fence. It was more than thirty years since, as a boy, he had climbed a +tree in sport; who could have foreseen that now, a man of bulk, he would +be forced to attempt the feat in the interests of business? And his +right hand was so desperately painful! Luckily the trunk was gnarled and +a branch hung low. He tried to heave himself up, and his hat fell off. +He picked it up and shied it impatiently over the fence. Then he tried +again, and felt in the extremity of despair when he heard the _oosh_ of +tearing silk. Alas! for his new frock-coat! But he was at least safely +on the bough. He worked himself along it, dreading lest it should snap, +and conscious of the inconvenience of fourteen stone. Happily he was now +on the right side of the fence. He dropped, and alighted in a bed of +nettles. He got up, found his hat, mechanically brushed it with his +sleeve, and set it on his head. + +“Ach! Ich unglücklicher!” he sighed as he set off up the road. + + + + +CHAPTER III—TOM MAKES EXPERIMENTS + + +The information given to Herr Schwab by the Midfont station-master was +accurate up to a certain point. Mr. Greatorex had indeed constituted +himself the beneficent patron of Tom Dorrell, educated him, entertained +him at Midfont House, and built for him a workshop in the grounds. So +far the station-master was right. But when he added that Tom was working +at a new motor-car, he stated a hypothesis, not a fact. + +About a year before this time, when Tom came to Midfont House to spend a +month’s holiday, he brought with him a small model of an aerial machine +on which he had been quietly working in leisure moments. He showed it to +Mr. Greatorex. + +“Very pretty,” said the worthy merchant, examining the toy; “but it +won’t _go_.” + +“Oh yes it will,” said Tom. “See!” + +They were in Mr. Greatorex’s study at the time. Tom poised the model on +his left hand, released a spring, and the little aeroplane, with a whizz +and a hum, soared across the room, and, before it could be stopped, +dashed against the glass door of a bookcase and shivered it to atoms. + +“I’m awfully sorry,” said Tom contritely, picking up the machine and +silencing it. + +“What _are_ you doing, John?” said Mrs. Greatorex, opening the door. +“What a terrible mess!” she added, surveying the litter on the floor. + +“It shall be swept up, my dear,” said Mr. Greatorex. “You can’t make +omelets without breaking _eggs_, my love.” + +Mrs. Greatorex looked a little puzzled. + +“Of course not, my dear,” she said after a moment. Then with a +deprecating smile she went away. Mr. Greatorex locked the door. + +“Now, Tom,” he said, “just _explain_, will you? Begin at the beginning; +I want to _know_, you know.” + +“Well, I’ve been thinking a lot at odd times about airships and things, +and reading up what they’ve been doing in France and Germany. There’s +little prospect of making a really serviceable machine out of the old +gas balloon; it’s far too clumsy; can’t make headway against a strong +wind; but I didn’t see why something shouldn’t be done on the lines of +the aeroplane. You see, it’s easy enough to set the thing going, and +even to steer it, when you’ve got it up in the air; but there are three +difficulties: to get it up, to let it down without smashing it to bits, +and to keep it from turning somersaults. You can overcome the force of +gravity by an arrangement of planes when you keep up a good speed; but +if you slacken speed, down you come. And all the aeroplanes that have +been invented yet can’t rise in the air at any given spot. They either +have to be thrown off from some elevated position, or they have to get +up a momentum along the ground, running like a motor-car. Then again, +the motor machinery has been too heavy; engines haven’t been able to +exert sufficient horse-power in proportion to their own weight. I’ve +worked it out, and I calculate that no good can be done till you get an +engine that’ll give you one horse-power to every two and a half pounds +of its weight.” + +“Yes. Well?” + +“Well, this model is the result of no end of experiments. It goes, as +you see; but besides sailing horizontally, it will lift itself. Look!” + +He took up the little machine, released another spring, and the +miniature airship went flying to the ceiling, where it remained until +the spring ran down. + +“All very well,” said Mr. Greatorex, unwilling to admit that he was +impressed; “but the thing is only a _toy_. There’s all the difference in +the world between a model and the _real thing_, you know. You could +never get a spring strong enough to lift a real machine. I’m not +satisfied that you could even get the horizontal motion you’re so +cocksure of, with a machine that would carry _men_.” + +“No spring would do it, it is true; but I’ve worked out an application +of the principle. It’s well known that a propeller rotating at +sufficient speed can be made to lift a weight into the air. Of course we +couldn’t set a real airship rotating bodily; no aeronaut’s head would +stand it if we could. But, as you saw, my model doesn’t rotate itself. +I’ve only made use of the principle—pretty successfully, don’t you +think?” + +“Just explain to me _thoroughly_, will you? I want a little more _light_ +on the subject.” + +Tom took his model, and patiently expounded the mechanical principles on +which he had worked. The upshot of this and other conversations was that +Mr. Greatorex became first interested, then enthusiastic, and finally +determined. He had a workshop erected on a large piece of waste ground +nearly a mile and a half square on his estate, and gave Tom carte +blanche to get what assistance and spend what money he pleased. +Resolving to keep the matter a close secret until the experiments were +concluded, he fenced in the enclosure, and gave strict orders that no +one was to be admitted to it without Tom’s consent. Tom himself devised +a simple means of defending the workshop from prying visitors. Whenever +he left it, he set going a strong electric current through the door +handle, which was a more effective protection than locks and bolts. + +Tom found, as soon as he came to enlarge his model into a practical +working size, that none of the motors then on the market was +sufficiently powerful in proportion to its weight to give him the +necessary lifting force. The electric motor was out of the question, and +an adaptation of the latest petrol engine as applied to motor-cars and +launches seemed to offer the most likely solution. Even here, however, +the march of invention had not gone far enough. The latest petrol motor, +it is true, enabled Tom to keep the machine at a constant altitude when +once it was in flight; but it failed to raise it from a position of +rest. Some other method must be found, and he set his wits to work to +discover it. + +The first condition of success was, he felt, the discovery of an +explosive mixture far more powerful than that offered by petrol, and yet +capable of being harnessed and controlled. He had the run of Mr. +Greatorex’s chemical laboratories, and the benefit of the practical +advice and assistance of the heads of the experimental staff. Scores of +preparations were tried, and, for one reason or another, rejected. Where +sufficient power was obtained, it was almost invariably found that the +mixture was not stable or uniform in its effects. Several explosive +mixtures were discovered quite powerful enough for the purpose; but, as +Mr. Greatorex’s chief chemist pointed out, all of them were likely to +blow the airship to smithereens in the event of any accident to the +machinery. + +It was some months after the beginning of the experiments when one of +the junior chemists came to Tom with the announcement that he had +discovered what he thought might be the very substance required. A +German firm, Schlagintwert & Co. of Düsseldorf, had placed on the market +a few months earlier a powder which, used as a solution, was highly +valuable in preparing photographic plates. The exact ingredients of the +powder were unknown, although by analysis it had been found to consist +of nitrate compounds; but the buyer was warned by a label that it should +not be exposed to great heat owing to the danger of explosion. It had +occurred to the chemist to mix a little of this powder with petrol. The +result was a paste which dried hard, but gave off almost infinitesimal +particles of a highly explosive nature, when floating in an air chamber, +though the paste itself was not explosive either under heat or shock. + +Tom was delighted with the discovery, and at once proceeded to construct +an engine suitable to the peculiar properties of the composition. In +building the motor he adapted the principle of the turbine to airship +navigation. A powerful fan drove the current of air through a number of +perforated aluminium plates covered with the paste. The resultant +mixture of air and explosive particles passed into the explosion +chamber, the intake being controlled by automatic valves connected with +the turbine. The explosion of the mixture was brought about by a +sparking plug connected with a small electric battery, the sparking +being controlled by a cam on the shaft. At each explosion, the gas +generated was forced at an enormous pressure through the turbine to the +right of the explosion chamber, thus driving the propeller fixed on the +shaft. + +Tom made his fan serve a double purpose, not only to drive air through +the aluminium plates, but to send a current round a jacket on the +outside of the turbine and thus keep the latter cool. This was a highly +necessary arrangement owing to the enormous heat generated. From the +first, indeed, the difficulty of cooling the turbine was the most +serious with which he had to grapple. It required months of experiment +before the engine could be worked for more than two or three minutes at +a time. Gradually, however, by increasing the power of the fan, and +constructing the turbine casing and blades of an alloy specially adapted +to resist the effects of intense heat, this difficulty was to a great +extent overcome. + +The airship when completed was not unlike a huge bird with wings +outstretched. The body of the bird consisted of the car and engine. The +wings were planes of lath strengthened with aluminium, and capable of +being inclined at any desired angle by the simple movement of a switch +in the car. A large rectangular plane projecting from the rear of the +car acted as a rudder, principally for lateral movement, motion upwards +and downwards being provided for either by the inclination of the larger +planes or by the special screws actuated by the engine. The latter drove +two sets of propellers: one fore and aft, giving a horizontal movement, +the other below and above the car, giving a vertical movement. Either +set of propellers could be thrown out of gear when desired. Tom would +have been glad to dispense with the vertical propellers if he could have +done so, but he found that the whole force of his engine was necessary +to raise the airship from a position of rest. He had not sufficient +motive power to enable him to use such an adjustment of oblique +propellers as would have ensured simultaneous horizontal and vertical +movement. + +Mr. Greatorex at once promoted the fortunate young chemist who had +discovered the virtues of the Schlagintwert powder, and swore him to +secrecy. The parts of Tom’s machine were made to his order by various +firms, the work being distributed so that no one firm should be in +possession of the complete apparatus; and a few weeks before Herr +Schwab’s visit, an aeroplane capable of sustaining the weight of several +men was finished, and in it Tom made daily trips about the field. He +tested it so frequently that he used considerable quantities of the +powder, and it was not surprising that the curiosity of Schlagintwerts +was aroused by the large orders that came from one small place for an +article that cost a good deal more than its weight in gold. + +Tom was, however, not yet satisfied with his machine. For one thing he +had found it impossible as yet to return to earth with any exactitude at +a fixed spot. It was a matter of the nice adjustment of the horizontal +with the vertical motion, and after repeated failures Tom comforted +himself with the thought that it must be only after long practice that +an engine driver could pull his locomotive up to a nicety. Obviously +much more practice must be required when the task was infinitely more +difficult. + +Further, in spite of the jacket around the turbine, the heat generated +was still too great to allow of travelling any great distance in safety, +and the prospective usefulness of the aeroplane was discounted +accordingly. + +It was Mr. Greatorex who suggested a possible way out of the difficulty. + +“Why not have two engines instead of one?” he said. “If one breaks +down—why, there’s the other.” + +“It means more weight,” said Tom ruefully, “and therefore less speed and +less carrying capacity.” + +“Well, there’s no _hurry_, is there? And as for carrying capacity—_I_ +don’t intend to tempt the fates, or run the risk of a smash-up like—who +was it? Icarus? Thought so.” + +Tom adopted the suggestion. He replaced his first engine by two somewhat +smaller, so that if one became overheated there was the other in +reserve. The lifting capacity and the speed of the airship were +consequently diminished, but scarcely so much as Tom expected. + +So far the experiments had been carried on with perfect secrecy. The +enclosure was surrounded by trees, and Tom was always careful not to +drive his machine above the level of their tops. But one day, a few +months after Schwab’s visit, he was careering round, to the mingled +admiration and terror of Timothy Ball watching him from the ground, when +he was startled by an exclamation that certainly did not spring from the +lips of that worthy. Timothy was a good quarter-mile away; the voice +appeared to come from a spot almost vertically below the aeroplane. + +“By George! Look there, Mops!” + +Tom took a hurried peep over. There, below him, in a gap between the +trees just beyond the inner fence, stood a tall young fellow in tennis +flannels, with light blue cap and tie. + +“What is it, Pops?” answered a silvery voice; and a second figure joined +the first—a girl in white. + +“Why, look! Hanged if it isn’t an aeroplane, going like one o’clock, +too.” + +“Oh, how dreadful!” cried the girl, looking up. “I am sure it will fall, +and there will be a horrid accident. Oh, do come away, Raymond!” + +“Not I! This is hot stuff, Mopsy. By Jove, the fellow can steer the +thing. He’s making for that shanty over there—and coming down like a +lark. I say, Mops, give me a leg-up; I want to have a nearer squint at +the machine.” + +“But, Raymond, it’s no business of yours—it’s—it’s trespassing!” + +“Trespassing be hanged! We’re next-door neighbours. Come, give me a +shove up.” + +He clutched the top of the fence; his sister, still feebly +expostulating, gave him a most workmanlike hoist, and in a few seconds +he disappeared on the other side. The girl waited a little; then turned +and walked away. + +Her brother meanwhile was hastening across the field towards the +workshop, near which the aeroplane had by this time alighted. Halfway he +was met by Timothy Ball, who touched his cap and said— + +“Beg pardon, sir, but these are private grounds and you’re a +trespasser.” + +“That’s all right. My name’s Oliphant; we’re neighbours of yours, you +know.” + +“Now, that’s a good un. Hold hard, sir”—as the intruder made to walk +round him—“my orders is to allow no one on the premises! Your name’s +Oliphant, you said? Well, you can’t be a neighbour, ’cos the only +neighbour I knows of is Lord Langside.” + +“He’s my father.” + +“But—Oliphant——” + +“Exactly! Now, come along, my good fellow—I want to see your master.” + +“He don’t want to see you, though. No you don’t; keep off, sir; my +orders is to allow no one on the premises.” + +Then began a little game of dodging, Timothy stepping in front of the +intruder and stretching his arms like a cattle driver. In half a minute +Raymond Oliphant gave it up. + +“Really, this is too absurd,” he said good-temperedly. “I say, I’ll give +you my word to stay here while you go and tell your master that I’d like +to introduce myself to him.” + +“Then you’ll stay a long time, ‘cos master’s in town and won’t be home +till seven o’clock.” + +“Well then, the driver of that aeroplane, whoever he is. Ah! here he +comes, thank goodness!” + +Tom was hastening across the field. He wore his usual working suit of +blue alpaca; face and hands were much begrimed. + +“Your watch-dog here won’t let me pass,” said Oliphant with a smile as +Tom came up. “I told him I was a neighbour, but he thinks I’m a bad lot. +We’ve only just come to the place; my father has taken it, you know; +he’s coming down for shooting as soon as Parliament’s up. I saw your +aeroplane skylarking round, and couldn’t resist the temptation to come +over for a nearer look. You don’t mind?” + +“Well—no.” Tom’s tone was dubious. + +“Oh, if you’d rather not, of course!” + +“No, I don’t mind really. But Mr. Greatorex is rather particular about +keeping the matter quiet——” + +“I’ll be mum as the dead, I assure you. I don’t know anything about +machinery; it isn’t in our line at Eton; you needn’t be afraid of my +giving the secret away.” + +“It isn’t that, exactly. I’m not afraid of your discovering the secret +of the machine; but it’s rather important that the fact of its existence +shouldn’t leak out just yet.” + +“Well, you’ll have to make friends with my sister then. She has seen it +too. It’s lucky Mother is in town, or the secret would be out by this +time.” + +They were walking now side by side to the shed. + +“You’re not Mr. Greatorex’s son, then?” + +“No; my name’s Dorrell. I’m no relation of his.” + +“My name’s Raymond Oliphant. I’m just home from Eton; long holidays, you +know. That’s a clinking machine of yours. Never seen anything like it +before. Did Mr. Greatorex invent it? I understood he was a chemical +manufacturer.” + +“No. I did.” + +“Really! I say—d’you mind?—how old are you?” + +“Eighteen.” + +“Just my age! And I’m rotting about at Eton while you——I say, you ought +to make a good thing of this.” + +“It’s only experimental at present. We haven’t tried a long flight.” + +“Will you get the Government to take it up? I’ll put in a word with the +pater, you know.” + +“That’s altogether premature,” said Tom with a smile. + +“Why, it seemed to me to go all right. Will it take two?” + +“Two of our weight, I think. Would you like to try?” + +“Rather! And I say, just keep out of sight from our grounds, will you? +If Margaret were to catch sight of me she’d have a fit or something. By +Jove! it won’t be so slow here as I feared.” + +Oliphant spent a quarter of an hour in the air, and when he descended +was overflowing with enthusiasm. + +“It’s simply ripping, Mr. Dorrell,” he cried. “I may come again, mayn’t +I?” + +“Certainly,” said Tom, adding with a smile: “On one condition.” + +“Trust me, I won’t say a word. And I’ll shut Margaret’s mouth too—if I +can. Look here, it seems to me you’d be the best man for that job. I’ll +bring Margaret to-morrow—may I?—and when she knows you’re the inventor, +and you impress on her that your life’s at stake or something, she’ll be +more likely to hold her tongue than if _I_ jaw. Good-bye.” + +Tom thought it necessary to inform Mr. Greatorex, in the drawing-room +before dinner, of what had happened. + +“Hm!” he grunted. “Eton boy, is he? Got any _sense_?” + +“I didn’t examine him,” said Tom with a laugh. “I thought him quite a +decent fellow. He was very good-tempered with Tim, who was a trifle +taken aback when he learnt that he had ordered off the son of the Prime +Minister.” + +“And a precious Prime Minister he _is_! Mark my words, Tom, the +Country’s going to the dogs. To the _dogs_! We’re dropping _behind_, +Tom, and Langside hasn’t the grit to prevent it.” + +“Mr. Oliphant suggested that a word to his father might induce him to +buy the aeroplane for the Country.” + +“God bless my soul, you mustn’t _dream_ of it! Langside will be turned +out at the next election; John Brooks will go in, and he’s the man to +steer this old country through. No, no! and if young Oliphant blabs a +word of it to his father, I’ll—I’ll——Yes, my love”—as Mrs. Greatorex +entered—“we were talking about our new neighbour, Lord Langside. It +appears that his son and daughter have come down.” + +“Oh, John, do you think I should call?” + +“On _no account_, my dear. I _hate_ Langside’s politics, and we’ll _have +nothing to do with them_. Now, Tom, give Mrs. Greatorex your arm.” + + + + +CHAPTER IV—A PRISONER IN ZEMMUR + + +A few mornings after the meeting with Raymond Oliphant, Tom, coming down +to breakfast, found Mr. Greatorex in a state of high excitability, with +the _Times_ outspread before him. + +“What did I say, Tom!” he shouted. “Didn’t I _tell_ you the Country was +going to the dogs! What do you think of _this_, now?” + +He read out a short paragraph— + + “Information has just reached the Foreign Office that Sir Mark + Ingleton, who recently left London on a diplomatic mission to Morocco, + has been captured by tribesmen and carried off to the hills. Strong + pressure is being brought to bear on the Sultan to take steps against + the offenders; but if, as is feared, Sir Mark Ingleton’s captor is the + notorious rebel whose headquarters are at Zemmur, there is little hope + of the Sultan in his present state of impotence being able to make his + authority felt.” + +“That’s what has happened to a servant of the British Crown under +Langside’s administration;” said Mr. Greatorex hotly. “Strong +_pressure_, indeed! It wants a fleet, an expedition, a few quick-firers +and Long Toms.” + +“But wouldn’t that make a blaze?” said Tom quietly. “In the present +state of affairs it might give rise to no end of complications in +Europe, too.” + +“Don’t tell _me_!” cried Mr. Greatorex, banging his fist on the paper. +“We’re sinking into a state of jelly-fish; any one can poke us and smack +us and we simply _go in_. This’ll smash the Government: that’s one good +thing; and we’ll see what John Brooks can do when _he’s_ at the helm.” + +Later in the day Raymond Oliphant, who was now a privileged visitor to +the shed, adverted to the subject. + +“Thank your stars you are not Prime Minister, Dorrell,” he said. “The +pater came down for the week-end, and he’s nearly off his chump, poor +old chap! He knew about this kidnapping three days ago, before it got +into the papers, and he went back to town this morning prepared for +squalls in the House.” + +“Can’t he do anything?” + +“He says not. One of the Opposition rags was screaming about an +expedition on Saturday, but of course that can’t be risked. And it might +fail after all—just as the Gordon expedition did. That Moorish brigand +might kill Ingleton if hard pressed.” + +“But what would he gain by that? He’s playing for a ransom, I suppose.” + +“No, there’s more in it than that. We’ve already offered an enormous +ransom through the Sultan; but the rebel wants to get certain +concessions out of the Sultan, and thinks he’ll manage it by getting the +Sultan into hot water with us. I say, what a pity your aeroplane isn’t +fit for the job. What a grand idea it would be to snap up the prisoner +under the very noses of his captors! I suppose it _isn’t_ up to it, eh?” + +Tom shook his head. + +“I couldn’t trust it to go so far. You see, here the workshop is at +hand, and if anything goes wrong it can be easily repaired. It would be +rather a poor lookout if the thing came to grief in the Bay of Biscay, +say, and I came souse into the sea.” + +“It _would_ be rather rotten. Well, let’s have a spin now.” + +The two mounted the car, and spent an hour in wheeling about the +enclosure. Tom ventured to set the motors at a higher speed than he had +before tried, and put the aeroplane through a score of evolutions, which +demonstrated that he had it perfectly under control. Oliphant in his +enthusiasm returned again to the matter of the captured envoy. + +“I say, is it quite out of the question, d’you think?” + +“Afraid so. Perhaps in a few months——” + +“That’s no good,” interrupted his companion. “The occasion will be +passed. Ingleton will be either released or dead, and, in any case, +there’ll be such a terrific agitation against the pater that he’ll be +forced to resign. He wouldn’t mind personally; but there’s the Country, +you see. Can’t you risk it?” + +“I might if only myself were concerned; but there’s Mr. Greatorex to +reckon with. The whole thing’s only experimental. I’m sure he wouldn’t +hear of it.” + +“Politics is a rotten game! Wish we were back in the times before Whigs +and Tories were invented.” + +“And unpopular ministers lost their heads!—Now I’m going to let her +down. See how near she falls to the perpendicular.” + +He dropped a hammer out of the car, stopped the horizontal motion and +started the vertical, adjusted the planes, and descended gently to the +ground. + +“That’s better,” he cried, when he had measured the distance between the +aeroplane and the hammer; “it’s only a dozen yards. We’re getting on. +Really, I wish I could try your suggestion.” + +“Shall I mention it to the pater?” said Oliphant eagerly. + +“Not on any account,” said Tom aghast. “Even if I could do it, he of all +men must not know.” + +“I don’t see why.” + +“Supposing I tried it and came a cropper, there’d be a double outcry +against him; the first for not rescuing Sir Mark Ingleton, the second +for allowing a crack-brained engineer to make a fool of himself and a +corpse in the bargain. No, give it up; I don’t see any help for it.” + +But when left to himself Tom could not keep his thoughts from Oliphant’s +suggestion. The adventurous idea captivated his imagination; he began to +consider it in earnest; he spent several hours of the afternoon in +further experimenting with the aeroplane, and after dinner, when Mr. +Greatorex and he went out into the grounds for their customary stroll +and cigarettes, he broached the subject, in a casual way, and in much +the same terms as Oliphant had used. + +“Pity we couldn’t take a trip to Morocco and get Ingleton away,” he said +cautiously. + +“Eh! Pull Langside’s chestnuts out of the fire! He was a fool to send +the man to Morocco. I wouldn’t if I could, and of _course_ it’s +impossible.” + +“I’m not sure of that. And it isn’t a party matter, really.” + +“Not party! It’s _all_ party.” + +“Sir Mark Ingleton is an agent of the Crown, sir, and the Crown is above +party. I think in these matters we might sink our differences.” + +“Yes, and sink our aeroplane, and _drown_ ourselves, and serve us +_right_.” + +But opposition was only a stimulus to Tom. He began to argue the matter +strenuously. Mr. Greatorex, to do him justice, was no bigot. His +politics were at bottom a particularly intense form of patriotism; and +when Tom showed him that there were at any rate possibilities in the +suggestion, he gradually changed his view, forgot his reluctance to help +a political opponent, and became indeed quite enthusiastic. + +“By _George_, Tom!” he exclaimed; “what a grand send-off it would be to +your invention if the first use of it were the rescue of this +unfortunate diplomatist! And what a magnificent thing for the Country! +Come and let’s talk it out over a cup of coffee. Not a _word_ before +Mrs. Greatorex, mind.” + +“Well, John, are you pleased with your toy?” said that good lady when +they re-entered the house. + +“Quite, my dear, _quite_.” + +“It will be quite a feature of our garden party. But I hope Tom will +make sure that it is absolutely safe before he takes anybody up at half +a crown a ride. I shall be glad of the half-crowns for my Nursing +Association, but I should never forgive you if any one was hurt.” + +“Why, my dear, the half-crowns would go to pay the _nurses_.” + +Mr. Greatorex and Tom had a long talk in the study that night. Up to the +present the longest journey the aeroplane had taken without descending +was, as Tom estimated, about forty miles. Then something had always +occurred to make a descent necessary. The principal stumbling-block had +been the overheating of the motors. But Tom suggested that if he were +content with a speed of about twenty-five miles an hour, a greater +distance might be covered without this risk. + +The practical question was, could the machine be brought so near the +place of the envoy’s captivity as to make a dash upon it practicable? +From the latest report, in the evening paper, it appeared that the +prisoner was held in a mountain fastness some eighty miles from the +Atlantic seaboard. Tom got out a map and pointed out the spot. It did +not seem impossible to reach it by means of the airship from some +convenient place on the coast. + +“D’you know what occurs to me?” said Tom. “You were talking of a +yachting cruise in the _Dandy Dinmont_ in September. Why not make it a +little earlier? I could then go in the airship and you in the yacht; and +we could make that a kind of floating base, taking in it all materials +necessary for repairs.” + +“But you couldn’t repair the thing without letting it down on the deck.” + +“I could do that, I think. To-day I came down within a few feet of the +spot I aimed at, and I could let the machine down on deck if the yacht +were not rolling or pitching too much.” + +“But _hang_ it all, Tom, the deck _wasn’t made_ for such a purpose.” + +“No; but it wouldn’t take long to rig up a temporary wooden platform and +framework over the after-part of the vessel to serve as a +landing-stage.” + +“You appear to have thought it all out,” said Mr. Greatorex. “D’you want +to rush me off my _feet_?” + +“Not a bit,” replied Tom smiling. “You’ll be safe on deck.” + +“Well, how long will it take to get everything ready?” + +“A week.” + +“Very well. I’ll write off to Bodgers to-night to trim the yacht. The +rest I leave to you. And mind, not a _word_ to a soul.” + +“I think I shall have to tell Oliphant. In fact, it was he who put it +into my head.” + +“That’s a nuisance! Well, we’ll have him to dinner to-morrow. I want to +take stock of him. Not a _word_ till I have sized him up.” + +Oliphant came to dinner with his sister and was approved. Mrs. Greatorex +afterwards pronounced him to be “quite a nice boy.” Mr. Greatorex used +different terms. + +“He’s no _fool_, and don’t _talk_ too much,” he said. + +The three had a very animated discussion as they walked in the cool of +the evening. Mr. Greatorex was very emphatic on the point of secrecy. + +“We don’t want any newspaper fellow to get wind of the airship until +we’ve _proved_ it,” he said. “A pretty fool I should look if they gassed +about it for a column or two and then the whole thing went _pop_ like a +paper balloon. And that Morocco fellow will have plenty of spies, of +course; _I_ know their Eastern ways; and if he got a hint of what we’re +up to, he’d be on his guard and then there’d be fizzle.” + +“How many passengers will the machine carry?” asked Oliphant. + +“Three or four light-weights, I should think,” Tom replied. + +“You’ll have room for me, then?” + +“Good heavens, no!” cried Mr. Greatorex. “Couldn’t _hear_ of it!” + +“But it was my idea, you know, Mr. Greatorex. I was only longing for +something to fill these holidays.” + +“Absurd! Preposterous! You’re under age; you couldn’t go without your +father’s permission; you couldn’t ask that without giving the whole +thing away: and I couldn’t be responsible for you.” + +“Well, I tell you what it is, Mr. Greatorex. You invite me to go a +cruise in your yacht. The mater’s got a notion that my lungs are weak, +and was saying only the other day that a sea trip would do me good. I’d +see some of the fun, then.” + +“_There_ you are, Mr. Oliphant! _Fun! I_ regard it as most _serious_, I +assure you. Now, in _my_ young days——” + +“I bet you liked fun as well as any of us, Mr. Greatorex,” said Oliphant +quickly. “If the truth were known, I dare say you really beat us all.” + +Mr. Greatorex’s eyes twinkled. + +“Well, now I come to think of it, I _was_ a wild young rip. So they all +said. I remember—— But come now, I mustn’t tell you _that_. _Never_ do! +Your father would never let you go; he doesn’t know me and doesn’t want +to, and I’m doing my level best to kick him out at the next election.” + +“And he’ll probably be jolly glad if you succeed! Mayn’t I come, Mr. +Greatorex?” + +“Sorry to disoblige you, Mr. Oliphant, but it would _never do_. No. In +fact, I think we’ll give it up altogether. Too risky! We’ll give it +_up_, Tom.” + +Oliphant went home in a very bad temper. + +“Mrs. Greatorex is a dear old thing,” said his sister. + +“And Mr. Greatorex is an old rotter,” retorted Raymond in a tone of +disgust. + +Margaret Oliphant obtained very unsatisfactory answers to the questions +to which this remark gave rise, and concluded that in some way Raymond +had not hit it with his host. + +Mr. Greatorex would doubtless have been much surprised had he seen the +letter which Lord Langside wrote to his son a few days later. + +“My dear Ray,” wrote the Prime Minister,— + + “Are you conspiring against me, like Absalom? Mr. Greatorex can’t do + me much harm on a yacht. He won’t see a newspaper for a month! Hope + you’ll enjoy yourself. + + “Your affectionate + “Dad.” + +Oliphant showed this letter to no one. But the day he received it, he +went a long and tedious journey by train across country to the little +port of Horleston. He reached home very late, but in much better spirits +than might have been expected after such a tiresome experience of slow +trains. + + + + +CHAPTER V—OFF THE BARBARY COAST + + +The week was filled with the bustle of preparation. The airship was +divided into sections, the motors and the framework taken to pieces, and +the whole packed into large light crates and conveyed to the coast on +country carts, their arrival at Horleston being so timed that everything +could be put on board very early in the morning. Besides the crew, the +company consisted only of Mr. Greatorex, Tom Dorrell, and Timothy Ball. + +Before the vessel put off, a custom house officer came aboard, and +showed himself somewhat inquisitive as to the meaning of the strange +platform newly rigged on the after deck, and as to the nature of the +bulky packages. Mr. Greatorex explained that they contained a cooling +apparatus which he was taking out to Morocco on behalf of an +acquaintance, adding that by all accounts the country was pretty hot in +all respects. With this explanation the officer had to be content. +Clearly the parts of the airship did not come within the description of +explosives, firearms or other articles on which he might exercise his +powers of detention. Still, being by training suspicious, he was +evidently by no means satisfied, and left the yacht somewhat +unwillingly. + +Steam was already up and the officer had barely left the vessel before +she put to sea. + +“Just as well to be clear away before he gets his second wind,” said Mr. +Greatorex with a chuckle. In his spotless white ducks and blue cap he +was enjoying himself already. “Did that uncommonly well, didn’t I, Tom?” +he said. “What could be more useful than cooling apparatus when there’s +a chance of getting into very hot water, eh?” + +He took a run over the vessel as soon as she had made an offing. His +yacht was a hobby, and whenever he went for a cruise he liked to examine +her in the company of his officers, with whom, as with the crew, whom he +knew individually, he was very popular. In the course of his inspection +he came to the engine room. + +“How do, Mr. Mumford!” he said genially to the engineer. “All in good +order, eh?” + +“Tip-top, sir. This is the neatest bit of machinery I’ve ever had to do +with.” + +“Glad to hear that. I _say_, is that a new stoker I see there? What’s +become of Byles?” + +“His mother is very ill, sir, and he had to cry off at the last moment. +I was very lucky to get a man to fill the place.” + +“Ha! Looks rather _young_, doesn’t he? Overgrown, perhaps. Any _good_?” + +“Can’t tell yet, sir. I’ll let you know later on. He shapes very well. +He’s a fine well-made young fellow; very willing, too. Byles said he’d +go bail for him to any amount.” + +“That’s all right. What’s his name?” + +“M’Cracken, sir; Scotch, by the name. Would you like to speak to him, +sir?” + +“Just a word. Like to _know_ the men, you know. Gives ’em a personal +interest in their job, I always think.” + +The engineer called up the new stoker, a tall young fellow in the +flannel shirt open at the neck, the loose reach-me-down, and the +black-lead coated trousers affected by his kind. His face and arms were +begrimed with black grease, and his mouth received an extra smudge as he +drew the back of his hand across it, apparently in sheepish confusion. + +“You’re a new man, M’Cracken,” said the merchant pleasantly. “Hope +you’ll get on well. Mr. Mumford won’t _over-work_ you, I can answer for +that. Have you been long at this job?” + +“No that lang, sir; just a wee while,” the stoker replied in a somewhat +husky voice. + +“Exactly. Ah! well! Good morning.” + +“Good mornin’, sir.” + +And Mr. Greatorex went on deck, satisfied that he had established +excellent relations with the newest hand. + +The first part of the voyage was rather stormy. The yacht, by no means a +large vessel, shipped one or two fairly heavy seas, to the no small +alarm of Tom, who was anxious lest the crates containing his machine +should be washed overboard or otherwise injured. But halfway through the +Bay the weather moderated, and by the time the yacht reached the +latitude of Lisbon both wind and sea were calm enough, he thought, for +his first experiment. It had been decided that the dusk of the evening +would be the best time for the attempt, for it was just as necessary on +sea as on land to avoid observation. If the airship were descried from +the deck of a homeward-bound vessel, the fact, and the name of the +yacht, might be marconigraphed to England, and then, as Mr. Greatorex +said, all Fleet Street would be in a buzz. + +Early one morning the crates were broken open. It took the best part of +the day to piece the machine together, and Tom went over it bit by bit +several times to assure himself that everything was in order. The +airship was so placed that it could take flight over the stern of the +yacht. When dusk was falling, the vessel’s engines were reversed, Tom +arranging that as soon as the airship rose from the deck the yacht +should be sent full speed ahead, to make sure that the apparatus cleared +the vessel and ran no risk of fouling the funnel. + +Mr. Greatorex had shown some nervousness as the critical moment +approached. He insisted on lowering a boat in case the airship came to +grief and Tom were thrown into the sea. Timothy Ball, too, looked on +with a most woful countenance as the final preparations were made. He +had unslung a life belt, ready to slip into it and fling himself +overboard if the airship broke down. + +“I feel sure in my inside it won’t work,” he said anxiously to Tom, as +he stepped to the car. “It’ll be worse than suicide, sir.” + +“Why worse, Tim?” asked Mr. Greatorex. + +“‘Cos we’re lookin’ on, sir,” said Tim solemnly, and felt much hurt by +the burst of laughter with which his explanation was received. + +But his anxiety was a vain expenditure of energy. With the vertical +screws at full speed, and the horizontal screws half speed, the machine +rose like a huge bird from the deck, with a noise like the clattering of +hundreds of bats and the humming of innumerable bees. At the height of +sixty feet or so Tom stopped the vertical screws, and turned the full +power of his engines on to the horizontal propellers, giving to the +planes just sufficient inclination to counteract the force of gravity. + +“Capital!” exclaimed Mr. Greatorex, as he watched the easy flight. +“First-rate! There’s a _fortune_ in that, skipper,” he said to Captain +Bodgers at his side. + +“Maybe,” said the Captain reflectively. He was a man of few words. + +“Rather stay on deck, eh?” + +“Well, you can swim in water, sir.” + +“Exactly. But how far is the fellow going? It’s getting dark, and he’ll +be out of sight directly. By the way, Bodgers, there’s no law about +showing lamps on an airship. But there will be—there _will_ be. Ah! here +he comes—at a spanking pace, too. He’ll overtake us in no time, going +dead slow as we are.” + +In less than a minute the airship had come within a little distance +astern of the yacht. + +“Hallo!” came a voice from the air. + +“Are you there?” answered Mr. Greatorex, from force of habit at the +telephone. + +“Who are you?” came the response. “I say, Mr. Greatorex, pick up that +boat and go full speed ahead. She’s going beautifully; the oiling she’s +had has done her no end of good.” + +“All right. Aren’t you coming _down_? It’s getting _dark_; I can hardly +_see_ you.” + +“Not just yet. She goes smoother than the yacht, and it’s beautifully +fresh up here. I can tell your whereabouts by your lights.” + +“All right. _Don’t get lost!_” + +Tom laughed. He laughed again when, from his elevated position, he saw +that though the boat had been hoisted on board, four men had been told +off to stand by the davits in order to lower it again at the first sign +of mishap. + +The yacht was sent full speed ahead. She could easily do her eighteen +knots, but was no match in speed for the airship, which circled round +and round her. + +“She beats us hollow,” said Mr. Mumford to M’Cracken, as they watched +the flight from the foot of the companion. + +“Ou ay, sir. Yon’s a grand invention. It’s wonderful.” + +After about an hour Tom called down that he was going to descend. + +“He’d much better stay up now he’s there,” said Timothy, gloomily. +“He’ll smash himself or us—I know he will.” + +Tom knew that to descend was a delicate operation, to be performed with +all caution. As his control over the airship was to a great extent +proportionate to its speed, he shouted instructions to keep the yacht +going under full steam. Coming up astern, he so adjusted his own speed +as to overtake the yacht very slowly. When the airship was level with +the stern, two men on board caught a cable hanging loose from the car. +Then Tom gradually reduced the speed of the horizontal propellers, and +started the vertical screws at half speed, keeping one hand all the time +on the lever that adjusted the angles of the planes. He handled his +appliances so dexterously that the airship, guided by the rope, sank +steadily and accurately to the deck. Buffers of india rubber were +slipped under her bottom to break the slight jar that must be inevitable +when she touched the platform. Then Tom stepped out. + +“Capital!” cried Mr. Greatorex, slapping him on the back. “This is going +to turn out _all right_, my boy. What does it _feel_ like, being up +there?” + +“Like a fish out of water, I should think,” said Tom, laughing. “But I +thought what a helpless thing a man-of-war would be if she had to tackle +an airship. I could choose my own altitude, and drop explosives on her +deck and blow her to smithereens, and there’s no gun that I know of that +could make an effective reply. They’d have to invent a rocket apparatus +for shying melinite shells aloft.” + +“Well, let’s hope that it’ll never come to that. Ours is a _cooling_ +apparatus—don’t you forget it!” + +Tom was so well pleased with his first sea trial that day had scarcely +dawned before he was again aloft. This time he took Timothy with him. He +needed some assistance in attending to the mechanism, and now that a +first ascent had been made without mishap, the man was no longer so +nervous about it. + +The airship had not been up more than half an hour, however, when Tom +signalled to the yacht that he saw a vessel on the horizon. + +“Come down _at once_!” roared Mr. Greatorex through a megaphone. + +Tom descended, somewhat unwillingly. Nothing would have pleased him +better than to steer directly for the vessel, and see what effect was +produced on board by the sight of this strange bird of passage hovering +above the tops. But clearly Mr. Greatorex was right, and Tom lowered the +machine deftly to the deck. As the ship was heading straight for the +yacht, the aeroplane was covered with tarpaulin. + +The vessel turned out to be a cruiser flying the French colours. The +captain spoke the yacht, and asked whether anything had been seen from +its deck of an extraordinary object that appeared to have been moving +through the air. + +“Answer him, Tom. I’m no good at French.” + +“We did see something, monsieur le capitaine,” he said, “Do you know +whether Monsieur Santos-Dumont is trying his thirty-third airship?” + +“I am not aware, monsieur. It may be. I saw the object very +indistinctly. It suddenly disappeared.” + +“Ah! I was always afraid that Monsieur Santos-Dumont would meet his +death. You French, monsieur, are such adventurous spirits! When you +reach Brest perhaps you will inquire whether he has recently made an +ascent.” + +“I will certainly do so, monsieur.” + +The vessels were now out of speaking distance. Tom explained to Mr. +Greatorex what he had said. + +“Bravo! What with my cooling apparatus and your cool cheek I think we +are keeping our secret pretty well, Tom.” + +In order to escape further observation from passing vessels Mr. +Greatorex had the yacht’s course set considerably westward of the usual +track. It was consequently another couple of days before she came into +the latitude of Rabat, the port for which she was making. Her head was +turned eastward in the direction of the coast of Morocco, and, there +being no vessels in sight, Tom again made an ascent, Timothy +accompanying him. + +The coastline gradually came into view. From an altitude of more than a +hundred feet Tom saw, between him and the coast, a number of rocky +islets. Here and there the varying tints of the water indicated shoals +of sunken rocks. + +“Know the coast?” he called down to Captain Bodgers. + +“Ay, ay, sir,” said the captain. + +“There are no end of shoals.” + +“Know ’em all, sir; have a care you don’t strike one.” + +Captain Bodgers laughed uproariously at his little joke, and Tom, +circling round the yacht, set the aeroplane at full speed towards the +coast. He was a considerable distance ahead when Timothy suddenly called +his attention to an object projecting above the sea-level, close to one +of the rocky islets that dotted the intervening space. It might have +escaped their attention altogether but for a certain movement Tim +fancied he discerned in it. As they drew nearer, they discovered that +what Tim had thought to be a single object was in reality two, which +appeared to be the broken-off stumps of two masts. Taking his +field-glasses in one hand—the other always grasping the steering +wheel—Tom lifted them to his eyes, got the focus, and made out that the +objects were not stumps after all, but the tops of masts, and that two +figures were clinging to them, one to each. + +Tom had no doubt that the airship was approaching the scene of a wreck, +and that the two men were in distress and danger. Steering immediately +for the yacht, he came within hailing distance and through his megaphone +announced his discovery. + +“We’ll go to the rescue, _of course_,” shouted Mr. Greatorex in reply. + +The wreck was as yet invisible from the deck, but it was arranged that +the yacht should stand in as close as possible, and then send a boat to +bring off the survivors. Meanwhile Tom, setting his engine at full +speed, dashed on in the direction of the submerged vessel. + +He noticed that even during the few seconds in which he had been in +communication with the yacht the situation had changed. One of the masts +was now tenantless. Presumably its occupant had been washed off or +through fatigue had dropped into the sea. But as the airship drew +rapidly nearer, it was noticed that the figure on the other mast was +bending low as if to raise something from the water. Then a head and +shoulders appeared above the surface. Clearly the man Tom had supposed +to be lost was trying to make his way to the mast to which his companion +clung. + +The airship was now less than half a mile distant, and from the altitude +to which they had risen—some three hundred feet above the surface—the +occupants could see every detail in the strange drama that was being +enacted beneath them. Assisted by the figure above, the swimmer was +gradually making his way on to the mast, when suddenly a black fin +appeared above the surface a few yards off. With a convulsive movement, +the lowermost man had just succeeded in swinging himself a foot or two +up the mast when the gaping jaws of a shark passed immediately beneath +him. Tom shuddered involuntarily. The man had escaped by a few inches at +the most. + +In a second the shark turned and glided beneath the clinging figure. The +terror-stricken wretch clutched wildly at the man above him, and began +to haul himself up hand over hand, clinging to his companion’s body. But +the latter, unable to bear the double weight on the smooth mast, slipped +slowly downwards. He was the slighter of the two, and no match, +apparently, for the man who had usurped his place. + +“What a beast!” ejaculated Tom, wondering at this strange want of +fellow-feeling in a man who was evidently older and stronger than his +companion in distress. Slowing down, he fixed his eyes on the +extraordinary spectacle. The position was now reversed. The younger and +slighter man was very manifestly the under dog. With every attempt on +his part to swarm up the mast the man above him kicked savagely, while +the shark circled below. The fact that the second mast had become +untenable seemed to indicate that the tide was rising. Neither of the +men, their whole attention fixed on the sea beneath, had noticed the +airship that was now hovering just above their heads. + +When, however, Tom gradually allowed the airship to sink towards the +sea, the shark seemed to take fright, just as smaller fish are scared by +signs of movement in the air above. It left the immediate neighbourhood +of the mast, and its black fin could be seen describing a much larger +circle some two or three hundred yards away. Clearly it had not given up +hope. When the shark moved away and the strain of terror was relaxed, +the two men became suddenly aware of the presence of the airship. The +topmost man was almost as much scared by the sight of the airship as he +had been by the presence of the shark. Tom had already noticed that both +of the men were dark skinned. The larger and stronger—the brute, as Tom +mentally called him—appeared to be middle-aged; the other was a +stripling. + +Tom was struck by the difference in their demeanour when they caught +sight of the airship; neither he nor Timothy was at present visible to +them. The elder man was aghast with fright, his eyes dilated, his mouth +gaped between black moustache and beard. The younger, however, seemed to +pull himself together as with renewed hope. Tom fancied that he heard a +cry from his lips. + +Looking round, Tom saw that the yacht had now hove to, and the boat was +leaving her side. But his attention was again called to the wreck by a +piercing shriek. The shark, regaining confidence, had made another dash +at the mast. This time it seemed to come within an inch of the terrified +youth; indeed, from the cry that had reached his ears, Tom thought that +the poor wretch had actually been seized. But next moment he saw that +the shark had again drawn off, scared, possibly, by the cry. + +There was now less of the masts above the surface. The tide was +evidently rising, and with its rise the shark would have another +opportunity of coming within snapping distance. Tom felt that it would +not again fail. It would be at least ten minutes before the boat reached +the spot; by that time the hapless lad would probably have fallen a +victim. Tom had noticed that when the shark was all but upon him, and he +made a convulsive movement upwards, he was met by a storm of kicks from +the man above, threatening to dislodge him completely from the mast and +hurl him into the very jaws of the monster. + +In a moment Tom made up his mind. He ordered Timothy to let down from +the car a light grapnel carried for use in emergencies, and also for +raising anything that might be needed, without having to bring the +airship to rest on the ground. Then he allowed the machine to sink +gently until the grapnel dangled within reach of the man at the top. Tom +had no intention of helping him first; by his conduct he deserved to be +left to drown or to make a meal for the shark. But the man seemed indeed +quite incapable of movement, except when scared to frenzy by the efforts +of the youth below to regain the position from which he had been forced. +He made no attempt to clutch the grapnel dangling at his very hand. Tom +let the machine fall lower, until the grapnel came within reach of the +younger man. He showed no such hesitation. Looking along the cable, he +saw Timothy gazing down at him from the car. The sight of a human face +gave him confidence. He clutched at the grapnel, let go his hold of the +mast, and swung clear, Timothy attempting to steady the rope. + +His sudden movement threatened a catastrophe. The airship was now only +about sixty feet above the sea, and before Tom, his attention partly +engaged by the efforts of the boy, could increase the speed of the +ascensional screw, the light vessel was pulled swiftly downwards. For a +moment he felt that it must inevitably be dragged into the water. The +young fellow below, still clutching desperately at the grapnel, had +actually begun to sink beneath the surface. But as soon as his weight +was supported by the water, the ascensional screw, now set by Tom +whirling at full speed, checked the downward movement, and in another +couple of seconds the airship began to rise, dragging the youth upwards. + +In his excitement Tom had momentarily forgotten the shark. That +persistent creature, however, having overcome its fear of the monster of +the air, made a dash for the youth as he entered the sea. The poor +wretch had the narrowest escape of all when the shark passed just +beneath him, as, whirling round on the grapnel, he was swung clear of +the water. + +Now that he was safe from the cruel jaws, the lad showed himself to be +possessed of no little agility. Hand over hand he swarmed up the cable +until he reached the lower rail of the car, which he clutched, and by +Timothy’s aid he clambered over. Meanwhile Tom had steered the airship +towards the approaching boat. + +“Give way with a will, men!” he shouted. “There’s no time to be lost. +We’ve got one; the other man will be nabbed by a shark if you aren’t +there pretty soon. I can see the brute’s fin above the water just by the +mast.” + +The men spurted. As the boat approached the submerged vessel, the shark +took fright and glided swiftly away. In another half-minute the man was +taken from his precarious perch, and lifted, in a state of complete +collapse, into the boat. + + + + +CHAPTER VI—SALATHIEL BEN EZRA + + +“Bismillah!” ejaculated the young Moor when he stood in the car. + +“Just saved your bacon, if that’s what you mean,” said Timothy. “And a +nice sloppy mess you’re making! I s’pose _I_‘ll have to clean up.” + +Timothy scowled and growled, but that was only his way. Tom knew well +enough that Timothy would clean up with great cheerfulness. + +“We’ll get back to the yacht,” he said, “and find some dry things for +him there.” + +The airship was now so well under control that Tom had no difficulty in +letting her down safely on deck, though the yacht was at anchor. + +“Uncommonly well done!” exclaimed Mr. Greatorex as Tom stepped out of +the car. + +“Yes; I thought she came down pretty neatly,” said Tom. + +“Didn’t mean _that_, you egoist. I meant you saved this young fellow +uncommonly well; saw it _all_ through my binocular. Dangerous things, +sharks. Who _is_ the boy?” + +“I haven’t asked him yet. I thought we might give him a dry change and +then see if we can make out anything. He probably can’t speak English.” + +“Very well. Bodgers, find some toggery and take him into the cabin. +Who’s the _other_ fellow?” + +“We shall find out presently. Shall we go into the cabin? I’d like to +put a few questions before the other man comes aboard.” + +They found that Captain Bodgers had rigged up the boy in a sailor’s suit +much too large for him. + +“Capital!” cried Mr. Greatorex. “_Much_ more respectable! Can you speak +English, boy?” + +“Me speak English little bit, and Spanish little bit,” replied the boy +with a frank smile. + +“That’s capital! Not the _Spanish_, you know; but the English.” + +“I tank very much for the gentleman’s goodness——” + +“Yes, yes, _that’s_ all right. But come now, how did you get into that +pretty pickle?” + +The boy looked puzzled. + +“Tell us how the ship came to be wrecked,” said Tom, translating. + +“Aiyeh! She caught in fog last night, struck rock. Quick it was all +over; no one live, only me and Salathiel ben Ezra.” + +“That is your friend’s name, is it? A Jew?” + +“Yes, excellency, a Jew. A dog of a Jew!” + +“And you are not a Jew? What is your name?” + +“Abdul, most merciful—Abdul ben Cassim, of Ain Afroo in Zemmur.” + +“Zemmur!” ejaculated Mr. Greatorex. “Isn’t that the neighbourhood where +Ingleton is said to be?” + +“Yes,” replied Tom. “We may find the lad useful. Tell us, Abdul, how you +came to be at sea with a Jew.” + +Abdul explained that, some five or six years before, his father, a +well-to-do saddlemaker of Ain Afroo, had contrived to quarrel with the +sheikh of his district, refusing, in fact, to pay the sheikh a very +extortionate levy. It was, Abdul admitted, a foolish thing to do, for +soon afterwards the saddlemaker died mysteriously. His family took +instant flight with what possessions they could get together, and found +refuge in Casa Blanca, where the boy had a distant relative, the owner +of a small coasting vessel. Since that time he had been engaged in +trading up and down the coast, and in his journeyings had picked up a +smattering of English and Spanish. + +The small capital which the family had brought with them had been +considerably increased by profitable investments in trading ventures of +the lad’s kinsman. A share in the business was owned by Salathiel ben +Ezra, the Jew who was now being brought from the wreck in the yacht’s +boat. It was very unlucky; Abdul could not but think that the wreck must +have been caused by an evil spell cast on the boat by the Jew; for +Salathiel had never voyaged on the vessel before. The loss of the ship +meant the loss of almost the whole of his family’s little fortune, and +Abdul feared they would be placed in the power of Salathiel, who already +had some claim on them which Abdul himself did not understand. But +everything happened by the will of Allah; it was written, and what is +written must be. + +Abdul’s story was hardly finished when the Jew was hauled on board. He +appeared to have quite regained his self-possession during the short +passage of the boat. He made a deep obeisance when Mr. Greatorex met him +on deck. + +“I pay a thousand dutiful civilities,” he said in a low smooth voice. +“The honourable sir overwhelms me with kindness in saving me and my +humble companion from the jaws of the monster, and my thanks are even as +the sand of the shore. May I beg the little loan of a dry garment or +two?” + +“Take Mr. Salathiel below, Captain Bodgers,” said Mr. Greatorex, “and +see what you can do for him.” + +With a deep salaam and a fawning smile the Jew departed. + +“Um!” grunted Mr. Greatorex. “Don’t like his _looks_, Tom.” + +“He’s not prepossessing, certainly; a little too glib, don’t you think?” + +“A _rascal_, Tom; mark my words.” + +“I wouldn’t go so far as that. But we may get something out of this, Mr. +Greatorex. This young Moor comes from the very country where Ingleton is +said to be. Don’t you think we may profit by that?” + +“How do you mean?” + +“Why, instead of making for Rabat, as we intended, why not find some +quieter harbour where we shall not be such public characters, and get +the youngster to act as guide into the hills? No doubt he bears a grudge +against the sheikh who disposed of his father. If he has anything of the +usual oriental thirst for revenge he will be very willing to help us.” + +“Well, sound him; go at it _cautiously_, you know; _tact_—that’s the +thing.” + +Meanwhile Salathiel ben Ezra had been clothed by Captain Bodgers in blue +serge trousers, a nankeen waistcoat, and an oilskin, the only other +garment available. The Jew cut a strange figure in this unfamiliar +attire. He was short, fat, thick-necked; the lower part of his face was +hidden by dense black moustache and beard; his eyes were unequal in size +and different in colour, and had a trick of roaming all around as he +talked. + +“This is very elegant yacht,” he said to Captain Bodgers as the garments +were laid before him. The captain, always a silent man, made no reply. +“That is most marvellous creature, the thing that flies in the air,” the +Jew continued; “I have never seen anything like it. It is without doubt +a new sport—the English love sport. They spend much money in sport. And +where is the yacht bound for, good captain?” + +“Goin’ a cruise,” said the captain shortly. + +“Without doubt. And perhaps the kind governor will permit to call at a +port—at Rabat, say; for I am not a man of the sea, and I have business +there.” + +“Better ask him.” + +“I will do so. I will say also how I fill myself with wonder of the +thing that flies. I myself am a sport!” + +Salathiel not merely expressed his wonderment to Mr. Greatorex, but +displayed a very active curiosity as to the construction of the machine +and the choice of those waters for the practice of the new sport. Mr. +Greatorex gave him no satisfaction, and was indeed somewhat curt in his +replies to the man’s leading questions; but Salathiel smiled at each +rebuff, thereby confirming Mr. Greatorex’s conviction that he was a +rascal. + +The yacht lay to for several hours, getting under way again in the +afternoon. It was very hot; everybody was more or less sleepy, and Tom +thought it a good time to sound the Moor as to his willingness to assist +in the expedition. They had a long conversation in the cabin, the result +of which was entirely satisfactory to Tom. Abdul’s one object in life +was to wreak vengeance on the sheikh for the wrongs his family had +suffered, and it was to be a thorough vengeance. He would not be +satisfied merely with the death of his enemy; that might have been +achieved already. But he was determined to ruin the sheikh’s family, +just as his own had been ruined. He had hoped to save enough money in +course of time to gather about him a band of trusty Riffians who would +raid the oppressor’s stronghold. The loss of the vessel had swept away +the savings of five years; but he was resolved to begin again and even +if fifty years were to pass before he was in a position to accomplish +his aim, he would never relinquish it. The sheikh himself might die +before then; in that case the weight of the avenging hand would fall on +his descendants. + +When Tom reported to Mr. Greatorex the result of this conversation the +worthy merchant was shocked. + +“Terrible, terrible!” he said. “Most unchristian! The Moors are no +better than _heathen_, Tom.” + +“Well, we don’t know what it’s like. I don’t think you would be very +sweetly disposed towards any one who had served you as he has been +served.” + +“Me! I’d bring an _action_ against the villain, you may be sure of +that.” + +“I don’t suppose they have actions at law in Morocco. But it’s quite +clear that he will be willing to help us.” + +“True. I’ll go down with you, and we’ll come to an understanding with +him.” + +At this second interview Tom explained to Abdul the object he had in +view, and invited his assistance, Mr. Greatorex promising that if he +would guide Tom to the spot where the British diplomatist was held +captive he should be rewarded with a sum equal to what he had lost +through the wreck. Further, if Sir Mark Ingleton should actually be got +away safely, the sum should be doubled. Abdul jumped at the offer, and +listened respectfully enough when Mr. Greatorex went on to say that he +hoped the money would not be put to bad uses. + +“Everything happens by the will of Allah,” he said; “what is to be, must +be.” + +It was dusk when the little party broke up. Nobody noticed a figure +wriggle away from a ventilating grating over the skylight of the cabin. +Salathiel ben Ezra had watched these conferences between the Moor and +the Christians with much curiosity and suspicion, and without attracting +the attention of any one on deck he had contrived to steal to a spot +where he overheard a considerable part of the conversation. + +Before he turned in, Tom had a long talk with Mr. Greatorex, which took +an unexpected trend. The two were alone in the cabin. Tom was in the +highest spirits, for the greatest difficulty he had foreseen—the +difficulty of finding his way about the hill village when he should +arrive at it—seemed to have been removed now that he had secured a guide +in Abdul. + +“You see, it’s just about there,” he said, putting his finger down on +the map he had unrolled and spread on the table. “It is barely a hundred +miles inland, and without putting any strain on the engines I can do it +comfortably in four hours. Of course, we must arrive after dark; so +to-morrow night I think we’ll make a start—Timothy and I and the Moor.” + +Then it was that the unexpected happened. Mr. Greatorex had been staring +gravely at the map. Suddenly he brought his fist down on it with a bang. + +“Look here, Tom,” he said, “we’ll _drop_ it.” + +Tom was taken too much aback for words. + +“Yes, we’ll drop it. I won’t _allow_ it. Suppose anything goes wrong +with the machine, where _are_ you? tell me that! In those hills—wild +country, wild men—_fanatics_, you know: hate all Christians, no sense of +law and order, won’t pay their taxes, don’t care tuppence for their +rulers—oh! I’ve _read_ all about ’em, you know, and ‘pon my soul I don’t +know what I was thinking of to come out here at all. We’ve had a +pleasant run, we’ve tested the airship; it’ll _do_, Tom: but now we’ll +go _back_, my boy, to our land of peace and settled government.” + +“But what about Sir Mark Ingleton?” + +“Hang Ingleton! Ingleton never invented anything! If those Moors get +hold of you, England loses an inventor and I lose my man. No, no; we +mustn’t meddle with state affairs.” + +And then Tom spent an hour in patiently combatting Mr. Greatorex’s +objections, and in the end had for his meagre reward the indecisive +remark— + +“Well, we’ll see, Tom, we’ll _see_.” + +Next morning Mr. Greatorex made no allusion to this conversation, but +was observed in close colloquy with Captain Bodgers. The result of this +removed the weight from Tom’s mind. The yacht coasted up and down, the +captain scanning the desolate shore narrowly through his glass. At last +he found what he had been searching for, and steered the yacht into a +snug little bay. The country was well wooded, the trees coming down +almost to the edge of the narrow sandy beach. + +“Can’t better this, sir,” said the captain. “The anchorage is none too +good, and if a storm comes up we may have to put out to sea; but it’s a +quiet place, as you see; can’t do no better.” + +“Very well. Now, Tom, I’m going to risk it. There’s the _Country_ to +consider, you see. But you’ll make me a promise not to run into danger; +I know you won’t run away from it!” + +“With all my heart,” replied Tom. “We’ll start to-night.” + +He spent the hours of daylight in making preparations. The machine was +overhauled; provisions and arms were stowed in the car; and Tom eagerly +awaited the moment for setting forth on his adventure. + +In the afternoon, while the preparations were still in progress, a crowd +of natives appeared on the cliffs south of the bay—wild-looking men clad +in djellabas and kaftans and yellow shoes, and all armed with long guns. +They made no attempt to open communication with the yacht, but encamped +on the cliff as though to keep an eye on her movements. + +Some little time afterwards, a small native craft was observed entering +the cove. Her appearance was hailed with shouts from the cliff, where +there were signs of excitement among the throng of spectators. + +“Barbary pirates, eh, Bodgers!” said Mr. Greatorex, taking a look at the +felucca through his glass. + +“Maybe, sir; they’ve plied that trade hereabouts for hundreds of years.” + +“They’re making for the yacht.” + +“Yes. We’ll serve out arms, sir; it’s as well to be on the safe side.” + +“Tom, cover up the airship. I don’t suppose they’ll know what it is, +but, as Bodgers says, it’s as well to be on the safe side.” + +As the vessel drew near, it was seen that she carried some thirty +fierce-looking fellows, tall and finely made. One of them hailed the +yacht. Mr. Greatorex called Abdul to his side and bade him interpret. + +“Say they want to come on ship, sir—see the captain—do trade for guns +and powder.” + +“What do you say, Bodgers? Shall we let a few of them come aboard?” + +“I would, sir. A few won’t do no harm, and if we can make friends of +them, so much the better.” + +Accordingly, half a dozen Moors were allowed to mount to the yacht’s +deck. They appeared to be much disappointed when Mr. Greatorex politely +explained through Abdul that he had no commercial object; his ostensible +purpose, to see the country, scarcely satisfied them. But they recovered +their spirits when he offered to show them over the vessel; and +afterwards when, at the suggestion of Captain Bodgers, who knew +something of the Moorish habits, they were each given a cup of weak tea +and unlimited sugar, they smacked their lips and declared themselves +well pleased with their reception. + +While they were still sipping their tea, squatting on the deck, +Salathiel ben Ezra, who had hitherto kept in the background, came to Mr. +Greatorex and begged the favour of a few minutes’ conversation. + +“I ask you, excellency, to be so kind, as let me go with the men, when +they leave this ship. I have business on land; and thank you for your +kindness, and take leave respectfully.” + +“Hm! Moors _friends_ of yours, eh?” + +“No, no; the Moors do not love the men of my nation; they oppress us; +they call us dogs and sons of swine.” + +“Well then, you’d better stay aboard, you know. You wouldn’t be _safe_ +among them in a wild spot like this. We can land you at Rabat in a day +or two; you’ll be safer in a port.” + +“Ah, excellency, but I do not love the sea. It has wrecked my vessel; I +have much fear of the sharks. I am not at ease until I set foot again on +dry land.” + +Mr. Greatorex was perplexed. He had no reasonable excuse for detaining +the Jew: yet, remembering that the man had seen the airship at work, he +recognized that it would be in the highest degree impolitic to allow him +to go ashore and spread the news. He beckoned Tom forward and told him +of the Jew’s request. Tom instantly grasped the situation. + +“Mr. Salathiel forgets,” he said, “that we have a claim for salvage on +his effects. (Whether we have such a claim legally I don’t know,” he +said to Mr. Greatorex afterwards, “but it was the first thing that came +into my head.”) + +“That is most true,” said the Jew, with a smile; “but alas! I lost +everything in the wreck; and have only my clothes, and they——” + +He shrugged expressively. + +“Sorry for you,” said Tom. “Still, it would not be fair to your +companion Abdul to leave him to meet our claim alone.” + +“But he can come with me,” said Salathiel eagerly. “He will be with his +countrymen.” + +“You were not so anxious for his company when I first saw you,” replied +Tom drily. “No, Mr. Salathiel; it will be better for you both to come +with us to Rabat: there we can lay this little matter of salvage before +the authorities.” + +The Jew heaved a sigh as of weariness, and acquiesced with a smile. +Neither Tom nor Mr. Greatorex was aware that while the Moors were being +shown over the vessel, Salathiel had had a few moments’ conversation +with one of them. The only man on board who had observed this—and he had +not given a second thought to it—was M’Cracken, the new stoker. + +The Moors left the yacht; the felucca sailed away; not shorewards, as +Tom had expected, but out to sea. The crowd on the cliff dispersed and +disappeared, and Tom’s final preparations were made unobserved. + +Night fell, and the little bay, hemmed in by the surrounding cliffs, was +enveloped in pitchy darkness. Ten o’clock had been fixed as the time for +the ascent of the airship, and up to the last moment Tom employed +himself in seeing that all was right. Mr. Greatorex was fidgety, asking +the same questions, repeating the same warnings, over and over again, +until Tom began to fear that even now he would change his mind and +prohibit the expedition. His excitement infected every member of the +crew. The men had eyes only for the wonderful machine and for the +figures that moved to and fro about it in the light of the yacht’s +electric lamps. Even the men of the watch were diverted from their +duties when they perceived that the lashings holding the airship to the +deck were being cast loose. Thus it was that no one had observed a small +craft gliding into the bay; no one had noticed that a rope hung over the +side of the yacht from the main deck forward; no one was on the look-out +when a dusky form clambered silently up and helped to lower Salathiel +ben Ezra into the boat riding alongside. + +But it happened that Timothy Ball, going forward at that moment to fetch +his reefer, which he had left in the fore cabin, noticed what was afoot +just as he reached the companion way. With a shout he dashed forward to +lay hands on the intruder. But, quick as thought, the Moor whipped out a +knife and struck at Timothy; and when the sailors came running to the +spot they found the poor fellow groaning on the deck, and caught a +glimpse of a felucca speeding away into the gloom. + + + + +CHAPTER VII—THE HILLS OF ZEMMUR + + +For the moment the airship was forgotten. The whole ship’s company +flocked to the foredeck and formed a group around the prostrate form of +Timothy Ball. Tom was already on his knees beside the man, putting in +practice the principles of first aid, and receiving unexpected +assistance from M’Cracken, who showed remarkable adeptness. + +“How did it _happen_?” cried Mr. Greatorex, supposing that his man’s +plight was due to some accident. + +“The Jew!” said Timothy, faintly. + +“The villain! Bring him _here_, some one.” + +“He ain’t here, sir; went over the side. It wasn’t him that stabbed me; +it was a Moor that came up out of a boat and helped the Jew to get away. +Never mind me, sir; I’m all right.” + +Mr. Greatorex fumed. + +“This puts a _stop_ to it, Tom. It’s a villainous business, and we’ll go +straight back home.” + +Tom made no reply. He was completing the adjustment of a tourniquet. + +“And we’ve no doctor on board!” Mr. Greatorex went on. “We’ll run back +to Gibraltar and get assistance. Can’t let the poor fellow bleed to +_death_, you know.” + +“He’ll no bleed to death,” said M’Cracken huskily. “It’s just a wee +flesh wound. He’ll be a’ richt in a twa-three days.” + +“Glad to hear it.” + +“The question is, who shall I take with me now?” said Tom, rising to his +feet and ignoring Mr. Greatorex’s expressed determination to go home. +“The sooner I’m off the better, for that rascally Jew will tell all he +knows about the airship, and the Moors will be on their guard.” + +“But we’re going _home_, Tom.” + +“Surely you won’t let our enterprise be ruined by a rogue!” replied Tom. +“There’s all the more reason for going on with it.” + +“Gad, you’re right,” cried Mr. Greatorex, veering round again. “We’ll do +it in the _teeth_ of them. But you’ll want some one with you in place of +Tim. If I were twenty years younger I’d go myself. You want a man who +knows _something_ about engines. Can’t spare _you_, Mumford, I’m +afraid.” + +“No, sir,” replied the engineer, “and I’m rather heavy. But there’s +young M’Cracken; he’s a light weight; an uncommonly handy fellow too, +and judging from some remarks of his when we’ve been watching the +airship, he knows something about ’em; seems to have read a good deal. I +can do without him for a day or two, especially if we lie at anchor +here.” + +“Ah! Yes! Where _is_ he? He was here a few seconds ago.” + +M’Cracken was haled from below. He appeared even more grimy than ever. + +“Look here, M’Cracken,” said Mr. Greatorex. “Mr. Dorrell wants some one +to _help_ him, and Mr. Mumford suggests you: speaks _well_ of you, you +know. You’ve never been on an airship, of course; but all you’ve to do +is to keep _calm_, and do _exactly_ as you are told. You’re not +_afraid_—no _nerves_, oh?” + +“No, sir.” + +“You’re very hoarse still. It will do you _good_, you know, to be away +from that furnace for a day or two. Well, you’d better get a wash.” + +“No time for that,” said Tom quickly. “It’s past ten o’clock, and we +ought to have started long ago.” + +“Very well. You’re not going _visiting_, to be sure. Well, M’Cracken, go +and put on your reefer; the night’s cold, and will be colder.” + +“Ay, ay, sir,” returned M’Cracken, and dived with alacrity below. He was +back in less than a minute. Then Tom entered the car of the airship, +followed by Abdul and the stoker. With one hand on the steering wheel +and the other on the lever controlling the engines, he called to the men +to cast loose the ropes securing the car to the deck. Then he started +the ascensional screw, and with a whirr like that of a gigantic +humming-top the airship rose slowly from the yacht’s deck. + +“Good-bye, Tom,” shouted Mr. Greatorex. “Be _careful_, my boy; run no +risks.” + +“Good-bye! Good-bye!” + +“This is ripping,” said the stoker, as the machine rose higher and +higher into the air. + +Tom started so violently that he unconsciously jerked back the lever and +stopped the motion of the machine. + +“Pull that lever, quick!” he called. + +“Done it already,” said the stoker, with his hand on the lever that +adjusted the planes. “Lucky I’ve been up before, Dorrell.” + +“Good heavens, you’re—yes, you’re Oliphant. Whew! won’t the old man be +in a tantrum. How in the world did you disguise yourself?” + +“Sammy Byles’ clothes, a little lampblack, and my native brogue do make +a difference, don’t they! I’m afraid Mr. Greatorex _will_ be a trifle +fizzy; but that won’t matter, afterwards.” + +“I’m not sure I oughtn’t to go back and drop you.” + +“Nonsense. I’m in for it now, and when you come to think of it you +couldn’t have a better man. Bar Timothy, nobody knows so much about the +machine as I do; and I warrant I’m a better hand in a scrimmage, whether +with fists or revolvers. I’ve brought my Colt.” + +It was some time before Tom recovered from his surprise; but for the +moment his attention was occupied by the airship. At last he said— + +“Well, Oliphant, I’m glad enough to have you with me. I hope we shall +come through all right.” + +While speaking, he had stopped the ascensional screws and set the +horizontal going. A small aneroid hung just above his head, lit by a +carefully screened electric lamp. The reading indicated that the airship +had risen to a height of five hundred metres. Maintaining the ascent +solely by the inclination of the planes, Tom brought the whole force of +the engines to bear on the horizontal screws, and the machine glided +onwards at a speed of some twenty miles an hour, gradually rising as she +went. Then, at the altitude of a thousand metres, when Tom judged that +he was high enough to clear the tops of the hills that fringed the +coast, Oliphant reduced the angle of the planes so that it was just +sufficient to maintain a constant height at the increased speed of +twenty-five miles. + +“By Jove, this _is_ ripping!” cried Oliphant again. + +It was a bright starlit night, without a breath of wind. At this +altitude the air was crisp and keen, producing a sense of exhilaration +in the occupants of the car. Even Abdul, who had quaked inwardly and +clutched the rail when the machine rose to such a giddy height, had now +lost his tremors, and looked around him with wonderment and delight. The +ship was soaring over the land, which lay outstretched like a vast black +floor three-quarters of a mile beneath. Behind, the lights of the yacht +could be faintly distinguished; before, there was not a glimmer over the +whole country. The airship crossed a peak or two, then sailed over a +rolling plain; by and by more hills loomed black in front. The aneroid, +an extremely delicate instrument, now indicated that the machine was +slowly sinking. Oliphant again adjusted the planes; the airship passed +clear of the hills, and Tom steered as directly as he could guess for +the spot he had marked on his map. + +When the voyage had lasted for about an hour the rising moon threw more +light on the scene, lending a weird beauty to the variegated +landscape—bare rugged hills alternating with wooded slopes and dark +valleys. But it was impossible, at the height at which they were +sailing, to distinguish any landmarks; Abdul knew the country +thoroughly, but was quite at a loss in this unfamiliar situation. He had +told Tom that the fastness where the diplomatist was probably held +captive stood on the top of an extremely steep hill, and explained that +the most convenient spot from which to approach it was a small tableland +about a sixth of a day’s journey from it. This was Tom’s objective; but +as it was impossible to make sure of reaching it unless Abdul could +obtain some guidance from prominent natural features, Tom more than once +allowed the airship to sink almost to the ground, so that the Moor might +scan the country. + +On one of these occasions, about four hours after they had left the +yacht, Abdul said that he recognized a hill stream whose source was +within a short distance of the sheikh’s stronghold. From the directions +he was now able to give, Tom managed to steer fairly straight for the +tableland, and after once more descending so that Abdul might assure +himself that he had not been mistaken, he finally brought the airship to +rest at the desired spot. It was past three o’clock in the morning; the +sky was already lightening with what Abdul called subhi kázib—the false +dawn which often in these latitudes illumines the sky an hour or so +before the real dawn. The three adventurers were all very tired, and on +Abdul explaining that the tableland was but rarely visited, and that so +far as he knew there were no wild beasts in the neighbourhood, Tom +thought that they might all safely take a few hours’ sleep before +considering the next move. The tableland was not entirely flat; it had +many depressions, and jagged rocks stood up on all sides around the +comparatively clear space on which the airship rested. Only one hill, +and that apparently four or five miles distant, stood higher, and even +the hawk-like vision of the mountaineers was not likely to discover the +airship from so remote a spot. + +The real dawn—subhi sadik—was some little while past when the Moor +awoke, first of the three. He had just completed his morning devotions +and ablutions at a little spring when the others roused themselves. +Among the contents of the car were a spirit lamp, a tin of condensed +milk, and materials for making tea; and while they ate their breakfast +Tom discussed with Oliphant the programme for the day. + +“The first thing is to find out exactly where Ingleton is imprisoned,” +said Tom, “and what chance there is of getting into communication with +him. That’s a job for Abdul; obviously we can’t help him; we can’t do +better than lie snug here while he goes and gets what information he +can.” + +“A pretty dangerous job for him if he’s caught, isn’t it?” + +“Well, it’s a good many years since he left these parts, and he must +have altered. I doubt whether he’ll be recognized. Luckily the hills are +covered with mist, too; if he starts soon he’ll be able to get a good +way before he’s likely to run across any of his countrymen.” + +“Or lose himself?” + +“No, master,” said Abdul, “I don’t not lose myself. I go all right.” + +“The sooner the better, then,” said Tom. “We’ll wait for you here.” + +The Moor, who had resumed his native dress, at once girt his djellab +about him and prepared to descend the hillside. Tom and Oliphant watched +him breathlessly until the mist hid him from view. He went over the brow +of the hill and began to clamber down its steep side with the agility +and sure-footedness of a mountain goat. When he was out of sight the +others returned to their half-finished breakfast, ready to endure with +what patience they might the long waiting until the Moor should have +completed his errand. + +“What if he doesn’t come back?” said Oliphant. + +“We shall have to risk it ourselves. I’m certainly not going back +without making the attempt now that we have come so far. It’s pretty +cold up here; I shall be glad when the sun sucks up this mist.” + +When the mist at last cleared away, a magnificent view spread out before +the two watchers on the hill-top. They themselves were perched on the +top of a practically bare rock, but a hundred feet below them the hill +side was covered with forest, broken, however, with huge patches of +rocky ground, on which apparently not even the hardiest tree could find +a lodgment. For miles around, the country showed a succession of +tree-clad hills, with here and there a waterfall, and here and there a +bare summit, not, however, truncated like the hill on which they had +landed. Far away to the north-west they could descry, through their +field-glasses, a considerable walled village perched on the shoulder of +a hill, with one or two large buildings, one presumably a mosque, and a +second evidently the stronghold of the sheikh. This no doubt was the +place in which they were interested. It lay in the direction generally +indicated by the Moor, although when he started it was hidden by the +mists. + +The hours dragged all too slowly by. They talked over the situation, +occasionally getting up to stretch their limbs, but not venturing to +move about much, lest they should be seen by any chance shepherd or +hunter. On the plain below they caught sight of animals moving, and +longed to take a shot at them—now a gazelle, now a wild hog. But to fire +a shot was out of the question, and they had to content themselves with +exchanging reminiscences of sport at home. + +Darkness fell again. Abdul had not returned. Each spent a restless +night, and rose with the dawn, eagerly scanning the country, as soon as +the mist was dispersed, for a sign of their emissary, but in vain. + +“I hope he hasn’t been collared,” said Tom. + +“Or turned traitor!” + +“He wouldn’t do that, I’m sure. I like the fellow. Of course you read a +lot about oriental duplicity, but I don’t believe Abdul is a rogue. +Anyway, we should have time to get away in the airship before any one +could molest us here, and he knows that. For the life of me I don’t know +what we can do if he _has_ been collared. We can’t do a thing until we +know where Ingleton is; we certainly can’t go inquiring ourselves. All +we can do is to go back to the yacht and try and pick up some +English-speaking native who can tell us what we want to know, and that +means loss of time.” + +“And more than that; it would mean that I’d have to turn into M’Cracken +again, and I don’t believe I could keep up the disguise any longer. I +say, what’s that moving down there?” + +They seized their field-glasses and turned them towards a patch moving +along the outskirts of a wood some miles away. + +“Moors, by Jove!” exclaimed Oliphant. “And mounted. And coming this way. +It looks as though Abdul had betrayed us, after all.” + +“Don’t be in a hurry. They’re making no attempt to mask their approach. +I don’t believe they’re coming here at all. No; see, they are wheeling +off to the right, in the direction of the hill village yonder. We +needn’t worry ourselves. But I’m getting sick of this, and it’ll be +serious soon. I only brought three days’ grub in the car, and I’m afraid +we ate more than we ought yesterday. That’s the worst of having nothing +to do.” + +“It’s so plaguy hot, too, when the sun’s up. For two pins I’d go down +and have a shot at something in the woods. No doubt it’s cooler down +there, and there’s no fun in lying about up here to frizzle.” + +“There’d certainly be no fun in being pitched into a Moorish dungeon. By +all accounts they’re rather horrible. I think I’d rather frizzle here +than stew there. In any case, even supposing the Moors didn’t find out +who was firing, the shots would put them on their guard and perhaps +spoil our game. I say, Oliphant, reel off some of your stories.” + +But even Oliphant’s stories in the Doric palled, and by and by Tom got +up and said that he was going for a stroll. He was away for nearly an +hour, and Oliphant began to feel uneasy at his prolonged absence. +Oliphant dared not call, for fear of being overheard by an enemy; nor +did he care to explore. But he was making up his mind to follow Tom down +the steep path when the wanderer at last returned. + +“Rather interesting spot, this,” he said. “Round the corner below there +I came upon some caves.” + +“I wondered what had become of you. Did you get lost?” + +“No. The odd thing is that these caves are up about twenty feet from a +ridge of rock, and can’t be got at without a ladder. I tried to mount, +but the wall is almost flat.” + +“I’ll go and have a look. How do you get there?” + +“Down the hill a little way, turn to the right, go along the ridge, and +look up. The caves are about halfway between the ridge and the top of +the hill.” + +Oliphant followed these directions, and by and by returned, with his +trousers cut in several places. + +“I tried to climb up,” he explained, “but couldn’t manage it. I think it +could be done, though, with practice.” + +“Which we haven’t time for.” + +The discovery of the caves had occupied some little time, and furnished +material for speculation and talk that helped to relieve the tedium of +waiting. But their patience had well nigh given out when night once more +descended and still Abdul had not returned. The two were eating their +supper in moody silence when they heard suddenly the sound of a stone +rattling down the hillside. They seized their revolvers and sprang up, +waiting for another sound. Clearly some one, man or animal, was climbing +the hill. All was again silent; then, from some point beyond them, came +the sound of a high-pitched voice. + +“It’s Abdul. Thank goodness!” cried Oliphant, with a laugh. “Come on, +you laggard, and give an account of yourself.” + +“You have been a long time, Abdul,” said Tom, as that young Moor came +through the darkness. + +“True, master; but it is with us a saying, ‘Every delay is good.’” + +“Well, come and have something to eat. You’re pretty tired and hungry, +no doubt. Then you can tell us what you have done.” + +But Abdul declined the food offered him, and producing a wallet from +beneath his djellab, displayed a heap of dates. He related that he had +made his way safely into the village, but as he went through the street +towards the house of Hamet Ali—a friend on whose discretion he could +rely—he fancied from the manner of an old water-carrier that the man had +recognized him. He contrived to slip away among a company of muleteers +that happened to be passing, and reached his friend’s house unmolested; +but shortly afterwards he learnt from this friend that the water-carrier +had mentioned his suspicions, and that inquiries were being diligently +made for him through the village. Every exit was watched; and his friend +was in some anxiety lest an emissary of the sheikh should come and +search the house. Hamet, however, was an old enemy of the sheikh, +though, with true oriental dissimulation, he had hitherto managed to +hide the fact. He agreed to give Abdul shelter so long as it was safe to +do so, but impressed upon him that he must not venture to show himself +out of doors. + +He then inquired what had brought Abdul to the village, and the boy +thought it advisable to confide in him, taking care to heighten the +mystery of the wonderful ship that sailed through the air, and to +promise, on the Englishmen’s behalf, liberal bakshish to Hamet if he +lent all possible assistance to the enterprise. He wished his friend to +send a messenger to Tom, but this Hamet refused to do, for the results +to himself, if the messenger were followed and caught, might be +disastrous. + +On the morning of the same day, when Hamet returned from his usual visit +to the sôk, he reported that a camel-driver had arrived, bearing a +message from a Jew of Rabat, Salathiel ben Ezra by name, who proposed to +come in person to see the sheikh, and had sent a swift rider in advance +to request a safe-conduct. The Jews are tolerated, scorned, made to do +menial work, in the ports; in remote districts of Morocco they carry +their lives in their hands. But the message conveyed to the sheikh had +been such that Salathiel’s request was granted, and a dozen men had been +sent on horseback towards the coast as an escort. Hearing this, Abdul +decided that at all costs he must return to his employer. Under cover of +the night he had contrived to slip away from the village, and had come +back by a circuitous route so as to make sure of not being intercepted. + +“But what of the prisoner?” asked Tom. “Did you learn anything of him?” + +“Yes, master. He is in the sheikh’s kasbah.” + +“What is kasbah?” + +“Strong place, master; thick walls; a very bad prison.” + +“We are on the right track, Oliphant,” said Tom. + +“It looks bad, though. Ingleton will be pretty well guarded, you may be +sure; and I don’t for the life of me see how we can break into a strong +place and get him out.” + +“Unless we bribe his jailers. Could we get him away with bakshish, +Abdul?” + +“No, master. The sheikh would cut hands and feet off, put eyes out, and +more.” + +“Evidently we’ve got our work cut out, Oliphant. And you may depend upon +it our friend Salathiel has somehow found out our errand and is coming +to warn the sheikh. I remember now that I saw him talking to one of the +Moors who came aboard the yacht.” + +“That explains it.” + +“How long will it take him to get here, Abdul?” + +“Two three days, master.” + +“We must be beforehand with him, then. Are you prepared for short +rations, Oliphant? Our grub won’t last more than another day.” + +“Plenty dates and figs in woods, master,” said Abdul. + +“We shan’t starve, then. Let’s have a good sleep, Oliphant. We shall +want all our strength for this job.” + +“We shall indeed. Poor old pater! Wouldn’t he have the blues if he knew +where I am!” + + + + +CHAPTER VIII—THE SWORDSMITH OF AIN AFROO + + +The approaching advent of the Jew had introduced a new element of danger +into the enterprise. If he should reach the village before Ingleton was +released, clearly the game was up. Instead of getting a good sleep, Tom +lay awake, talking over the situation with Oliphant. He got Abdul to +describe the kasbah, but the description was so vague—the Moor when he +lived in the village having taken the stronghold for granted—that he +felt incapable of making any plans without seeing the place for himself. +When he made this suggestion Oliphant scouted it. + +“For one thing,” he said, “it’s too dangerous; for another, where do I +come in?” + +“Of course I should have to take Abdul—or rather he would have to take +me; and however dangerous it would be for two, it would be still more +dangerous for three. If you’ll stay and keep an eye on the airship, I’ll +take advantage of the moonlight and go and have a look round. Your turn +will come, you may be sure of that. If I don’t come back, you know how +to set the machine going. Scoot back to the yacht, and get Mr. Greatorex +to make straight for Tangier.” + +“There’ll be a pretty row about this before we’ve done with it! All +right!—if you _will_ go. But I say, they’ll spot you for a foreigner if +any one catches sight of you—in those clothes.” + +“Yes; I forgot that. I wish I’d provided myself with a rig-out in the +Moorish style.” + +Here Abdul produced from the folds of his djellab a small bundle, which, +being unrolled, proved to be a long grey garment with a pair of yellow +shoes wrapped in it. + +“You’re a brick, Abdul!” cried Tom. “You guessed I’d want something of +this sort, eh?” + +“Yes, master. I could only get one.” + +“So you’re out of it for the present, anyhow, Oliphant. Well, good-bye. +If we’re lucky we’ll be back by the morning; if not—you know what to +do.” + +Five minutes later Tom, swathed in the djellab, disappeared over the +brow of the hill with Abdul. He carried his revolver; the Moor had only +a knife. In his unfamiliar garment Tom found it by no means easy to make +the descent down the rough precipitous path; but Abdul went first, +picking the easiest course, and both arrived safely at the bottom. + +Then they began their march to the village. It was a toilsome journey, +and Tom found the Moorish slippers a very inconvenient footgear. A long +tramp, and another steep climb, brought them to the wall of the village, +which was built on the slope of the hill. The gates had been shut at +sunset, Abdul explained: that was the Moorish fashion. Tom perceived +that the wall was utterly dilapidated: in that respect Ain Afroo was +typically Moorish. In many parts the parapet had fallen to pieces, and, +for any protection it afforded, the wall might as well not have been +there. It gave easy foothold to a climber, and Tom indulged a hope that +the kasbah might prove to be in equally bad preservation. + +From what Abdul had told him, Tom guessed that the stronghold lay at the +upper extremity of the village, about eighty or ninety yards from the +wall. The Moor’s knowledge of the place enabled him to lead Tom to a +spot where it would clearly be an easy matter to climb the battlements. +Secure in their remoteness, and in the fact that no hostile force could +come within many miles of the village without being instantly announced, +the inhabitants kept only a perfunctory watch. A few men, Abdul said, +were regularly on guard at the north-east and south-west corners; but no +attempt was made to watch the walls in general. Knowing the state of the +defences, this fact gave Tom some amusement. With walls so ruinous the +gates were the last places at which unauthorized ingress or egress would +be made. The whole place was still sleeping, and would sleep until the +muezzin from the mosque gave the call to prayer. Abdul declared it was +quite safe to enter the village so far as its human inhabitants were +concerned, though there was a risk that some pariah dog might be +wakeful. Taking his courage in both hands, Tom climbed up the wall after +Abdul, and descended on the other side; then, keeping in the black +shadows cast by the moon, the two made their way through round archways +and narrow alleys to the outer wall of the kasbah. + +The village was very silent. It might almost have been an abode of the +dead. Only the screech of night-birds beyond the walls broke the +stillness. Tom held his breath—and his nose, for sanitary authorities +are unknown in Morocco, and heaps of refuse here and there spoke +forcibly in the night air. The two intruders crept stealthily round the +walls of the kasbah, against which small shops and outbuildings that +Abdul called _inzella_ were built, except before the principal +entrance—a large gateway through which two or three men could ride +abreast. In front of this gateway was a wide, open square, with low +shops under a colonnade on the other side. + +The gateway was shut. It had massive iron doors. Stealing to the further +side of it, Abdul touched Tom’s arm, and pointed to a small dark window, +unglazed, scarcely more than a slit in the wall, some twenty-five feet +above their heads, and a yard or two back from the parapet, which, as +the Moor had already explained, extended right round the kasbah, +enclosing a kind of terrace. It was the window of the guest-chamber, and +there, Abdul had suggested, the captured envoy was confined. + +The entrance to the guest-chamber would be from the terrace within the +parapet. The floor above was occupied by the sheikh and his family; the +floor below was devoted to the servants and the guard. Even as Tom +looked, a figure passed slowly along the terrace, and the moonlight +glinted on a steel musket barrel. It was clear that the guest-chamber +was carefully guarded—a proof, it seemed, that Abdul’s suggestion was +correct. Drawing Tom out of earshot, Abdul said that special orders must +have been given, or the sentry would certainly not tramp up and down at +this hour of night. Tom learnt afterwards that the Moorish soldier’s +idea of sentry-go is a long nap in the nearest doorway. + +“Is there no entrance to the guest-chamber from within?” asked Tom. + +Abdul confessed that he did not know. He had never set foot within the +walls. But he had once taken refuge for the night, on one of his +journeys through the country, in a ruined kasbah of somewhat similar +appearance, and there a door led from the guest-chamber into a small +vestibule, which gave access to the upper floor and the roof above. + +Flitting silently across the square, Tom and the Moor took post under +the shadow of the colonnade on the farther side, which ran at right +angles to the wall of the kasbah. Within it was a row of shops, now shut +and barred. There, leaning against one of the stout columns, within the +black darkness of the Moorish arch, Tom scanned the kasbah, looming +white in the moonlight, and meditated. + +To get into communication with the prisoner seemed absolutely hopeless. +No one could force an entrance into the sheikh’s strong place. Was it +possible to gain the assistance of some one within? Might not Hamet Ali, +Abdul’s friend, act as intermediary between Tom and some servant of the +sheikh’s? The cynical saying, “Every man has his price,” was literal +truth in Morocco: such was the impression Tom had gained from his +reading. But he knew enough of oriental ways to be sure that the fixing +of the price would be a long and tedious affair. If the Moor were asked +to name it, he would suggest a sum far in excess of what he would +ultimately accept; while however large a sum were offered, it would +prove only the starting place for long haggling. Indeed, the larger the +bribe, the more likely it would be to excite the cupidity of the agent, +and to encourage him to stand out for yet higher terms. + +In spite of the difficulties, Tom would have been inclined to attempt +this means if it had not involved serious delay, and still more serious +risk to both Abdul and himself. Hamet Ali lived on the far side of the +town. Abdul would have to make his way there, waken his friend, explain +the circumstances, overcome a probable reluctance to meddle, fix a price +with Hamet Ali, and another for the sheikh’s servant. Every move would +be attended with danger. A Moor’s house is a castle in miniature. Any +attempt to rouse the inmates at this dead hour of night would +necessitate so much noise and clatter as to disturb the neighbourhood. +The night was wearing on, and before Abdul could, with reasonable regard +to secrecy, obtain access to his friend’s house, daylight might be upon +them. The Moors are early risers, and even if all went well, and Tom and +the others stole forth from the village before dawn, they would almost +certainly be seen and ridden down as they crossed the wide rocky spaces +that surrounded the place. But the most serious consideration of all was +that of time: it would not be possible to get into treaty with any one +inside the kasbah before Salathiel ben Ezra appeared on the scene. Then +the enterprise was doomed to failure. + +Tom was anxiously discussing with himself the pros and cons when Abdul +plucked him by the arm. + +“Day is near, master,” he whispered. “We must go by the way we came.” + +Tom was reluctant to own himself beaten; but there was clearly no hope +for it. Gathering his djellab about him, and pulling the hood over his +head, he followed Abdul with quick, noiseless footsteps across the +square. + + * * * * * + +Ahmed Hûk, apprentice to Hamadi ben Ibn, the swordsmith of Ain Afroo, +had spent a restless night. His head throbbed; he could not sleep; he +wished he had not smoked so much hashish when his work was done for the +day. The air of the little shop was close and oppressive; and after +hours of wakefulness, turning from side to side in the vain effort to +find sleep, Ahmed got up and quietly unbarred the little wicket in the +door, careful not to disturb his master, who was snoring loudly within a +few feet of him. Perhaps a little fresh air from the outside would cool +his heated brow. + +He had not stood more than a few minutes at the wicket, and was already +thinking of returning to his charpoy, when he noticed, in the moonlight +on the other side of the square, two figures turn the corner by the +kasbah opposite, coming from the direction of the village wall. They at +once disappeared into the shadow thrown by the great wall of the +building, but something in their movements aroused the curiosity of +Ahmed. Why were two wayfarers abroad at so late an hour? The matter was +not his concern; still, he would remain at the wicket a little longer, +to see if the two night-walkers reappeared. + +His view was somewhat broken by the rows of pillars supporting the +colonnade in front of the shops of which his master’s establishment was +one; but through the interval between two of them he did at last see the +two forms moving with rather suspicious quickness across the illumined +square, and, what was more interesting to him, they were seemingly +coming in his direction. Were they thieves, he wondered? He could hardly +believe it, for the village was small; they could scarcely escape +detection; and the sheikh’s ingenuity in punishments was notorious even +in Morocco, where torture is a fine art. + +With instinctive caution Ahmed closed the wicket, leaving only a slit +just wide enough for him to peep through. In a few moments he heard the +slight rustle of the strangers’ garments, and saw their dark forms +clearly outlined against the moonlight. They had come under the +colonnade and halted within two or three yards of him, behind one of the +pillars. They whispered a little together, then were silent for a space, +then whispered again: and now Ahmed was interested indeed, for, low as +their tones were, he overheard a word or two, and they made him jump; +they were certainly not in the Moorish tongue. His master’s business had +taken him more than once to Dár al Beida, and he had heard such words +used by the N’zrani—the unbelievers who were suffered to pollute the +city by their presence. How came it that here, in Ain Afroo, a village +where no unbeliever ever set foot save a dog of a Jew now and then +(though truly there were one or two infidel wretches now safely confined +in the kasbah)—how came it that two men, good Moors and followers of the +Prophet, to all appearance, were speaking in the tongue of the infidel? +It was perplexing, to say the least, and undoubtedly worthy of the +attention of Hamadi his master. + +Leaving the wicket, Ahmed silently groped his way to the charpoy on +which the swordsmith was sleeping, and gently awakened him. In a low +whisper he conveyed the news of his discovery. Hamadi at once rose, and, +trusting to the pitch darkness of the colonnade, opened the wicket +fully, and listened with all his ears. + + * * * * * + +Tom and Abdul had no sooner crossed the square than the bolts of the +shop door opposite which they had been standing were softly drawn back, +and Hamadi, followed by his apprentice, glided barefoot after them. Each +bore a sword—good weapons, as Hamadi, who had made them, well knew. +Hamadi saw a vision of great prosperity and high favour with the sheikh. +He would follow up the strangers, if strangers they indeed were, to the +house where they harboured. There he would leave Ahmed to keep watch, +while he himself sped to the kasbah and told what he had seen. Without +doubt the sheikh would reward him handsomely. + +By the time Hamadi and his boy had left the shelter of the colonnade, +the strangers had turned the corner of the far side of the square; but +the pursuers ran quickly across the open space and gained the corner +while their quarry was still in sight. + +Tom and his companion, picking their way with all caution through the +dark, uneven, dirty passages that led from the kasbah to the outer wall, +went out slowly. Every now and again they stumbled over a loose cobble +or a heap of refuse; then there was a little noise that might betray +their presence to any one who happened to be within a few yards of them. +At such times Abdul would throw a hurried glance back; well he knew what +their fate would be if they were captured. + +Suddenly he edged a little closer to Tom and whispered— + +“Men follow us!” + +By this time they were almost within reach of the wall. Tom was alive to +the danger in which the pursuit had placed them. Descending the wall, +they would have to grope for foothold. Before they could get clear, the +pursuers would have come up behind, and might either topple down upon +them loose boulders from the wall, or, if they bore firearms, have them +at their mercy. The two hurried their steps. + +“They are close behind—two men!” whispered Abdul. + +Tom glanced to each side along the wall. There was no convenient place +in which they might take refuge with any prospect of eluding their +pursuers. They were now hasting along at a half run beneath a long wall +that possibly enclosed some gardens of houses backing on the ramparts. +Here and there this wall was broken by a doorway; but the gates, when +Tom tested them by a push, were always closed. Abdul was making for the +spot at which they had entered the village; it was the nearest, indeed +the only practicable, place of descent. But to descend, with the +pursuers upon them, would be dangerous, perhaps fatal. To leave this +place of exit, and move farther along the ramparts or back into the +village, would be almost equally dangerous and would lose precious time. +The only other course open to them was to tackle the problem of +disposing of the pursuers. Tom nervously fingered his revolver; but a +shot would rouse the whole village and multiply the pursuers perhaps +fiftyfold. + +While Tom was feverishly attempting to hit on some means of dealing with +the two men, these, unaware that they had been seen, were already +reckoning up the profits of a successful coup. As soon as Hamadi the +swordsmith saw that the men in front were making for the ramparts, he +guessed at once that they were intruders from the outside, and he also +guessed the point at which the exit was to be made. This was not the +first time that the place had been used as a means of getting in and out +of the village by night. More than once it had happened that the +villagers, at feud with neighbouring mountaineers, had crept out at +night to settle their scores, returning safely within the walls before +daybreak. The fact that the gates were closed and no one could pass +during the night was prima facie evidence of their innocence. It was +even said that the sheikh had settled accounts with a hostile neighbour +in the same way. The swordsmith therefore was quite justified in shaping +his course on the assumption that the two men in front of him would +climb down the ruined part of the wall, and he would be in ample time to +deal with them when they were clinging precariously to the face of the +stonework. + +The only fault in his calculation was that he did not reckon with the +sharp eyes of Tom’s companion. Thus it was that, passing incautiously +one of the recessed doorways leading on to the gardens, he suddenly saw +a thousand brilliant lights flash before his eyes, his sword flew from +his grasp, and he reeled dizzily to the ground. Tom’s muscles were +hardened by much exercise in engineering workshops, and Hamadi, though a +big man and strong, as befitted one of his trade, was not prepared for +so surprising an attack. Before he could recover his wits Tom was upon +him, pressing the cold barrel of his revolver to his ear. The man, +although dizzy, had still enough intelligence left to know what this +meant, and he lay quite still while Tom pondered how he could at the +same time secure his vanquished foe and lend assistance to his +companion, who was now hotly engaged with the apprentice. Abdul, +however, needed no help. Before Tom had time to decide upon his own +course, the young Moor, taking full advantage of the darkness that +neutralized the effect of his enemy’s longer weapon, dodged in beneath +the latter’s guard, and got home a shrewd thrust in the forearm. Ahmed, +yelling lustily, dropped his sword, spun round, and set off down the +ramparts at full speed before Abdul could repeat his stroke. + +[Illustration: HIS SWORD FLEW FROM HIS GRASP, AND HE REELED DIZZILY TO +THE GROUND.] + +Tom breathed more freely. He had at any rate, he thought, gained a few +minutes. The yells of the Moor were not likely to bring help +immediately. While a shot would undoubtedly have raised the guard at the +kasbah, and brought a party in hot haste to the spot, the cries of a man +yelling would probably only cause a certain sleepy curiosity. A Moor +never puts himself to unnecessary trouble, and it would certainly not be +worth while to pay much attention to a brawl between men who had smoked +too much hashish. But there was still need for haste, so with Abdul’s +assistance Tom trussed up the fallen swordsmith with workmanlike bonds +made of his own garments, and in another minute was beginning the +descent of the wall. + +They were only halfway down when they heard an uproar in the village. +The apprentice had lost no time in gathering a band to continue the +pursuit. Yet Tom could not hurry his flight, for a false step would mean +at least a broken arm, and in all probability a broken neck. With Abdul +close behind he picked his way down the broken masonry, the shouts +growing ever nearer and more menacing. At last they reached the bottom. +Then, Abdul leading the way, they hurried along the foot of the wall. +They durst not yet leave its shelter, for the moon, though now sinking +in the sky, still threw sufficient light to betray them if they +attempted to cross the open space towards the hillside. + +Crouching low as they went, they heard the pursuers halt at the place +where they had descended. But now they had reached a welcome patch of +stunted bush which promised needful cover. Plunging into this, still +keeping low so that their heads should not show above the scrub, they +strode away at right angles to the wall. Abdul’s knowledge of the +country served him well. Descending the hill, they were soon out of +danger. Then up and down little eminences, over brooks, through patches +of wood, they pressed on, always bearing slightly to the right until +they struck the true course. Almost in a bee-line, they made for the +hill where Oliphant was anxiously awaiting them, and arrived there just +after dawn, tired out, and not a little disappointed with the barren +result of their night’s work. + + + + +CHAPTER IX—A BOLT FROM THE BLUE + + +“Thank Heaven you are back!” said Oliphant when Tom appeared over the +brow of the hill. “I don’t think I ever spent a more miserable night.” + +“Anything happened?” + +“No. It wouldn’t have been so bad if anything had. If I’d had something +to do—somebody to fight, or something!” + +“Well, you could have gone to sleep.” + +“So I did, and woke in a fright. I dreamt that wretched Jew fellow was +coming at me with outstretched hands, and his fingernails were like some +horrid bird’s claws, and he grew bigger and bigger as he came until he +seemed as huge as a mountain. But what luck did you have?” + +“None, or next to none. The kasbah’s as strong as Newgate. And the worst +of it is, we were spotted and followed, had to truss up one fellow; +another alarmed the village. We escaped just by the skin of our teeth.” + +He related in detail the incidents of the night. + +“It looks as if we’ll have to back out after all,” said Oliphant +gloomily when the story was finished. + +“I’ll be hanged if we will. I’ve been thinking it over, and talking it +over with Abdul, on the way back. The only chance, it seems to me, is to +face all the risks and make a dash for it.” + +“What do you mean?” + +“Come down in the airship on the terraced roof of the kasbah under cover +of night, and trust to luck to find our way to the prisoners’ quarters.” + +“But that would be confoundedly risky, especially after you have once +given the alarm in the village.” + +“I admit that’s a nuisance, but it’s perhaps not so bad as you think. +You see, the Moors know nothing—I hope they don’t, at any rate—about the +airship, and they won’t look for intruders from the sky. The botheration +is that we’ve lost a lot of time, and our chance is utterly dished if +the Jew gets in first. Abdul says he can’t be more than a day’s march +from the place now. That’s about thirty miles, as near as I can make +out. Luckily it’s very rough country, so that he can’t come fast. He’s +probably starting this very morning for his last stage; it’s possible +that we’ve already lost our chance, for he’s sure to hurry, and if he +gets the ear of the sheikh before nightfall, they’ll be on the watch for +us.” + +“But even without the Jew I don’t see how your scheme’s possible. There +are sure to be extra guards at the wall, and if the night were as bright +as this they couldn’t help seeing the machine, and we couldn’t alight +without their knowledge.” + +“Yes; but you must allow for their ignorance and superstition. If they +do see the airship swooping down on them they’ll be scared out of their +wits; they’ll think it some monstrous evil bird straight from Gehenna——” + +“Which is down below, not up aloft.” + +“They won’t be in a state to draw distinctions of that sort. Abdul +assures me that these ignorant mountaineers—he was one himself once, but +travel has widened his mind!—will be in such a state of terror that +they’ll be for a time pretty well paralysed: and time’s all we want.” + +“Well, he ought to know his countrymen. But there’s the Jew: suppose he +_does_ get there first?” + +“We’ve got to prevent him.” + +“What!” + +“As I say, we must go and intercept him.” + +“But he won’t come alone.” + +“Of course not. Abdul says he will come on horseback with a band of +armed and mounted men. He wouldn’t trust himself in this country without +an escort. But that’s where the airship comes in. I rather fancy that if +we swoop down from the sky among a lot of Moors they’ll think more of +their own safety than of the Jew’s.” + +“Still, we couldn’t prevent them from going on to the village.” + +“I think we could.” + +“What! shoot ’em down?” + +“No. I don’t want to hurt a hair of their heads if I can help it. I +think we can manage to chase them back along the way they came, and do +something to frighten them into the bargain. Do you know how to make +throw-downs?” + +“Never heard of ’em. What are they?” + +“I forgot; you Eton fellows never use such things, I suppose. Well, I’ll +make some, and you’ll confess they’re excellent little harmless bombs. +Then we’ll be off.” + +Carefully opening two or three cartridge cases, he extracted the powder, +and screwing it up with some tiny pebbles in tissue paper from his +pocket-book, he manufactured a dozen or so of the little bombs. Then he +inspected the machinery of the airship, thoroughly oiled the parts, and +went aboard with Oliphant and Abdul. He allowed the machine to rise only +a few feet from the top of the hill, so as to avoid if possible +observation from the village; then he set off in a south-easterly +direction, keeping the hill between him and the kasbah. Fetching a long +circuit, he gradually bore south-west, then slightly north, until, in +the course of about three-quarters of an hour, he struck the narrow +winding track which would be followed by parties travelling between the +village and the coast. + +From their elevated position they could trace the path for a +considerable distance through the country, but as yet they had seen no +sign of a party approaching the village. In broad daylight the airship +must have been sighted by many people over whose heads it had passed; +but from what Abdul had said it was unlikely that any one would have the +least idea of the real nature of the apparition. They would regard it as +a supernatural creature, and if within the next few hours a rumour of +its appearance should be carried to the sheikh of Ain Afroo he would +probably be none the wiser from any description that might be attempted. + +It was now little more than nine o’clock in the morning, and the Jew +could scarcely have passed. Tom therefore headed the airship westward, +keeping it at a low speed so that he might carefully scan the country +and not let the Jew and his party escape him. He knew that, unless +accident signally befriended him, the airship must be seen by them long +before they came into sight. Although the country was spread out like a +map, the machine in the open sky must be a much more conspicuous object +to people below than they would be to observers above. Salathiel would, +of course, recognize the airship; but Tom hoped that before the man +could explain clearly to his escort what it was, the immediate object of +the aerial flight would have been achieved. + +The morning wore away, and Tom began to feel anxious. To keep the +airship so long in motion involved the expenditure of a large amount of +his propulsive paste, and he had brought only as much of it as would +last the voyage to and from the hill fortress, with a little margin for +accidents. Yet he did not care to bring the machine to rest, for he +might then miss the party of which he was in search. Moreover, all the +provisions were gone except a few biscuits and some tea. With no food +for themselves and no fuel for the machine their plight would be +desperate. Tom spoke of his anxieties to Oliphant, and they were still +talking somewhat disconsolately, when Abdul, who had never ceased to +keep a sharp lookout, suddenly cried “Horses!” and pointed to sundry +small specks ahead. + +Tom instantly started up and looked through his binocular in the +direction of the Moor’s forefinger. + +“There are about a score, I fancy,” he said, handing the glass to +Oliphant. “Can you spot the Jew?” + +“No, they are too much mixed up. I shouldn’t know him again, either.” + +“We shall know him very soon, though. Abdul told me that Jews in this +country mostly wear blue clothes and black skullcaps. We’ll make +straight for them.” + +The engines had lately been reduced to something less than half speed. +Realizing that every second was now of value, Tom put them at full +speed, steering the vessel direct for the party of horsemen, who had +just emerged from a clump of timber. At the same time Oliphant altered +the inclination of the planes, so that the airship began to drop rapidly +earthwards. Thus it swooped down upon the party like a huge falcon. To +manipulate the engines, the steering gear, and the lever affecting the +planes, kept the hands of Tom and his friend pretty fully occupied; but +Abdul was to make himself useful, and Tom instructed him to take a +handful of the little bombs, in readiness to use them when the moment +came. Tom hoped that the mere appearance of the sky monster would +startle the horses and put the cavalcade to fright. As an additional +means of scaring them he relied on the throwdowns. + +The airship had come within about two miles of the horsemen when it was +seen that they had halted. No doubt the strange apparition had been +observed, and Salathiel ben Ezra was doing his best to explain its +nature. They remained stationary until the distance of the airship from +them was less than a mile: then two of them wheeled suddenly in their +tracks and set off in a mad gallop westward. The others, however, held +their ground; either they had stronger nerves, or the Jew had managed to +convince them that the strange object was not an instrument of the Evil +One, but simply a new invention of the accursed people who had invented +warships and alarm clocks. + +Tom had just distinguished the figure of Salathiel, on a mule in the +midst of the party, when there came a slight puff of smoke from the +centre of the group, followed by a second and a third. Oliphant laughed. + +“They’re firing at us,” he exclaimed, “which argues a pretty state of +fright.” + +“All very much in our favour. Look, there are three more of them off as +hard as they can go.” + +“But there are still ten or a dozen of them. If they have nerve enough +to hold their fire till we come within range they may do us some +damage—if their guns are any good.” + +“There’s not much doubt about that. They get hold of good rifles +somehow. But we’re in for it now. A bullet or two in the machinery would +bring us to the ground; we must simply take our chance.” + +The airship was now approaching the party at the speed of a fast train. +Moment by moment others of the horsemen detached themselves from the +group and galloped after their comrades, and Tom gave a cry when he saw +that the Jew was among the fugitives. Still several remained. + +“It won’t do to allow them to get between us and the kasbah,” said Tom. +“We must drive the whole lot of them back towards the coast.” + +The airship was now only some three hundred feet above the ground. +Suddenly Tom shut off the horizontal propellers and brought the vertical +engines into play. The airship swept onward at the same level by virtue +of its momentum. The horses of the Moors began to rear and plunge. They +had probably heard the whirr of the machinery, for not being +long-sighted beasts it was possible that they had not yet seen the +vessel above them. + +“By George! aren’t they magnificent horsemen!” said Oliphant, as he saw +the Moors striving to hold their terrified animals in. One or two puffs, +followed immediately by the reports of the rifles, came from the group; +but with their horses rearing and plunging beneath them it was not +surprising that the Moors missed the airship, though it now offered a +considerable mark. It was immediately above them. + +“Now, Abdul!” said Tom. + +The Moor flung one of the little bombs earthward with all his force. It +exploded at the very feet of one of the horses, which, frenzied with +fear, took the bit between its teeth and bolted. Abdul threw half a +dozen more, one after another, laughing with glee at the astonishing +effect of the little bombs. There was no holding the horses any longer, +and the whole party dashed away at a mad gallop along the road they had +come. + +It was not Tom’s object to overtake them yet awhile. He put the +horizontal engines at half speed, and the airship began to follow the +fugitives like a sheepdog at the heels of a frantic flock. The little +group which had stood to the last were evidently the best mounted of the +party, for they gradually closed in upon those who had started earlier. +Tom could not forbear chuckling as he came upon the rotund black-capped +figure of Salathiel ben Ezra striving to urge his steady-going mule to a +brisker pace. + +“Is it safe to leave him behind?” asked Oliphant, as the Jew was +outstripped and passed. + +“Oh yes! We’ll come back for him presently. We could easily catch him +up. If the mule is like most of his kind he won’t hurry himself.” + +The airship sped on after the rest of the party. Mile after mile was +covered: the horses showed signs of fatigue, but one or two that were +dropping behind were galvanized into further desperate efforts by the +dreaded whirr of the propellers just in their rear. + +The chase had continued for about half an hour when Abdul suddenly +noticed that the number of the fugitives was one less than it had been +when the flight began. None of the three occupants of the airship had +seen a rider diverge from the track: to do so would indeed have been +difficult, for it ran through uneven and rocky ground which offered +little footway for a horse. Yet it was clear that one of the Moors had +at some point or other left his comrades and ridden off to right or +left. + +“Never mind,” said Tom. “If he tries to get to the village, I’ve no +doubt we can overtake him. His horse will be no match for us.” + +“Don’t you think we’ve chased them far enough!” asked Oliphant. “We’re +using up a great deal of your paste.” + +“Yes. I think we’ve pretty well disposed of them now. We’ll swing round +and go back for Master Salathiel.” + +“What are you going to do with him—not bring him up here?” + +“Not a bit of it. We don’t want him—not for long, at least. I’ve got an +idea. But we must get hold of him first.” + +Bringing the airship about in a wide circle, Tom steered it back along +the track in search of the Jew. + +“The donkey!” cried Oliphant, as presently the man came in sight, making +desperate efforts to gain the village. “He might have hidden himself +among the rocks or the trees, and given us no end of trouble.” + +“I don’t know. He has chosen probably the lesser of two evils. He’d have +a bad time of it if he were found alone by any wandering Moors; his best +chance was certainly to try to get to the village and tell the sheikh +all he knows.” + +The Jew could be seen every now and again glancing anxiously back along +the track. When he caught side of the airship returning, and realized +that he was bound to be overtaken, he pulled up his mule, tumbled off +the saddle, and dived into the cover of some rocks, hoping no doubt that +they would afford him concealment. + +“Too late!” said Tom with a chuckle. “He might escape us if we were on +his level, but he forgets we can look right down upon him.” + +“It’s like a field-mouse trying to escape from a hawk,” said Oliphant. + +“Rather worse, for a field-mouse has its colour to help it, while +Salathiel’s blue coat makes him a little too conspicuous.” + +For a few moments the Jew, indeed, disappeared from view; but Tom +steered the airship exactly above the spot where he was last seen, and +there was Salathiel crouching in a cleft much too narrow for him. + +There was no convenient landing-place among the rocks where the airship +could be brought safely to rest, and the Jew, apparently recognizing +this, did not attempt to stir from his position. But the vessel came to +rest in the air, hovering like a monstrous humming-bird above the +trembling man, no more than twenty feet from the ground. + +“How shall we get at him?” asked Oliphant. + +“We can leave that to Abdul, I think,” replied Tom. “He is used to +ship-board, and he has been on the end of our rope before.” + +Abdul understood what was required of him. Letting down the rope with +the grapnel at the end, he swarmed nimbly down, armed only with his +knife. The two in the car smiled to see what ensued. Salathiel was +unarmed. He broke forth in a torrent of mingled threats and entreaties +as the Moor approached him, then lay on his back and tried to repel the +lad with his feet. But Abdul got behind him, and by discreet employment +of the point of his knife at length persuaded the Jew into the open. + +Then Tom let the airship gently down. When it stood upon terra firma, he +and Oliphant leapt out of the car, bundled Salathiel into it, and in +another minute were soaring through the air towards their former +resting-place on the hill. With Salathiel’s added weight the airship +travelled somewhat slowly, and for some time, when a breeze rose from +the eastward, it had considerable difficulty in making headway at all. +But at last the flat-topped hill was opened up on the horizon, Tom +estimating that the return journey had taken more than twice as long as +the outward trip in the morning. + + + + +CHAPTER X—THE KASBAH + + +Instead of alighting on the former spot on the top of the hill, Tom this +time let the airship down at the foot. + +“We haven’t darkness to cover us this time,” he said, “and we don’t want +to be spied from the village.” + +“What are you going to do with our fat friend?” asked Oliphant. + +“Well, I thought of taking him some miles into the wilder parts of the +hills and leaving him; but I don’t want to use any more of our fuel than +I can help. Besides, I don’t want to have the fellow murdered, though +his Moor friend might have done for poor Timothy. What do you say to +giving him a lodging in one of the caves?” + +“But how in the world could we get him up there?” + +“Abdul says it can be done. I forgot to tell you that on our way to Ain +Afroo that night I told Abdul of our discovery, and he said he knew the +caves well, and had often climbed into them. The tradition of the +country is that they were actually cut in the rocks ages ago as a refuge +when the people were pressed by their enemies.” + +“Well, it’s a capital idea if it can be managed. The Jew would be out of +harm’s way, at any rate.” + +“Yes. And if we succeed in releasing Ingleton, we can come back for him, +perhaps, and take him into Rabat or Casa Blanca, and make him disgorge +some of Abdul’s property, which I’ve no doubt he has appropriated.” + +“But won’t he starve? We can’t spare him any food.” + +“A day’s fasting won’t hurt him. We’re on uncommonly short rations +ourselves, and there’s no reason why he should fare better than we.” + +“But can we get him up? He’s a big fellow,” + +“We’ll do our best with Abdul’s help. One of the caves is more easy to +get at than the others, Abdul says.” + +“By Jove, we’ve forgotten that fellow who got away!” + +“Hang it, so we have. It can’t be helped. We clearly can’t catch him now +without showing ourselves to the people of Ain Afroo. Perhaps he didn’t +make for the village after all. We must dispose of Salathiel, at any +rate.” + +Tom and Oliphant had been talking apart, while Abdul kept watch over the +Jew. The former now went up to the man. + +“Mr. Salathiel,” he said. “I don’t exactly know what your game is, but +we think it’s advisable you should have a little rest after your arduous +work with the mule. There’s a very comfortable cave some eighty feet +above your head. The way to it is rather steep, but with our assistance +you can mount there, and remain in perfect safety until we can fetch you +and restore you to your friends.” + +“I protest you treat me badly,” said Salathiel, his mien expressing +mingled fear and indignation. “I am a peaceable merchant, and was on my +way to treat with the sheikh of Ain Afroo for a supply of carpets from +Rabat, when——” + +“Still, you must be fatigued,” said Tom. “We also have business with the +sheikh, and I fear that until ours is completed yours must wait. Ours is +a prior engagement, Mr. Salathiel. Now if you will please climb the +hillside. The first steps are easy; we will help you when you find +further ascent difficult.” + +For some moments the Jew tried entreaty, cajolery, even bribery—in vain. +With a very bad grace he began to clamber up the rocks, reaching at +length a ledge some twenty-five feet below the cave. The hill was here +almost perpendicular, and when Salathiel looked at the wall of rock +above him he pleaded again with great volubility to be allowed to go his +way. But Abdul was already swarming up with a rope between his teeth. +The Englishmen watched him with admiration. Sticking fingers and toes +into the slightest crevice, taking advantage of every little +irregularity in the surface, he accomplished what had seemed from below +an impossible feat. When he reached the cave, he tied one end of the +rope to a spur of rock at the entrance, and let down the other to +Oliphant, who by its assistance managed to follow. Salathiel for a time +absolutely refused to mount; but when Tom pointed out that in the cave +he would at least be safe, while no one could answer for what might +happen if he wandered about the country alone, he at length allowed the +rope to be wound about him, and was hauled up by the two above. He was +supplied with a pot of water from the hill stream and a half-dozen +biscuits, then Oliphant descended, followed by Abdul with the rope. + +“I don’t think he’ll attempt the descent,” said Tom. “It requires more +nerve than I fancy he’s got.” + +“It doesn’t matter much if he does, does it? He won’t try it while we +are hereabout. He’ll hardly try it in the dark when we are gone; and if +he does, and gets safely to the bottom, he’ll take so long finding his +way to the village that we shall have done our business there—if we’re +going to do it at all.” + +“Still, I think we’ll make sure. There are one or two bits of rock +sticking out that give a slight foothold; Abdul may as well knock them +off. He won’t want them himself when we come back to release the Jew.” + +“Suppose we don’t come back!” + +“You mean, suppose we come to grief ourselves! Well, he’ll be able to +signal for help from the mouth of the cave to-morrow; some of his +cronies are sure to wonder what’s become of him and be prowling about. +It won’t matter to us then, for we shall have either succeeded or +failed.” + +“Suppose we can’t come back, and nobody sees his signals!” + +“That’s his lookout! Didn’t we rescue him from the shark, which would +have snapped him up when the tide rose another few inches? How has he +repaid us? By trying to do for us. And it isn’t as if he were a Moor, +serving his country. He hasn’t an ounce of patriotism in his +composition. He’s simply on the make. He wanted to get a good haul out +of the sheikh for giving us away, and upon my word, considering all +things, I think he gets off pretty easily. If he’d treated Moors as he +has treated us, he’d be dying a particularly slow death by this time. I +don’t think we need distress ourselves about Salathiel ben Ezra.” + +Leaving the Jew to his solitary reflections, the two made their way back +to the airship and began to overhaul the machinery. Meanwhile Abdul had +gone to the summit of the hill to bring down one or two things which had +been left there. He returned with the news that he had seen in the far +distance a single horseman slowly climbing the steep hill-path to the +village. + +“That’s our man, depend upon it,” said Oliphant. “He’ll give us away, +Dorrell, as sure as fate.” + +“What can’t be cured must be endured. We could catch him, I dare say; +but we haven’t any too much fodder for the engine, and we should +certainly be seen. He must tell the sheikh all he knows, and, upon my +word, I should like to hear his account of us. It would probably be very +funny.” + +“But it will put the sheikh on his guard.” + +“My dear fellow, you haven’t enough faith in the terrors of the unknown, +or the misknown. The Moor’s story will be such a mass of exaggeration, +ignorance, and superstition, that they’ll be in a state of jumps, and +dread the apparition ten times more even than if it came upon them +without preparation.” + +“Then why go to the trouble of preventing the Jew from getting into the +village?” + +“Just because he _knows_ the thing, you see, and would stick to the bare +truth. His story would lay more stress on the object of our visit; the +Moor’s will be mainly about the airship. Really, he may help us in the +end.” + +They spent the afternoon in a thorough cleaning of the engines. Once or +twice Salathiel showed himself at the mouth of the cave, and Tom fancied +he saw him attempt to signal with his hands. But when Oliphant made a +movement towards his carbine, the Jew retreated hastily into the +interior and appeared no more. + +At last all was ready for the voyage. But several hours must yet pass +before the ascent could be made. Tom had decided that it would be unwise +to arrive at the kasbah until the Moors were either in their first +sleep, or, if on their guard, were somewhat tired and nervous with +watching. Learning this, Abdul, who had been making observations during +the afternoon, left the two Englishmen and was not seen for a time. When +he returned, he carried a couple of hares, explaining that he had snared +them in the wood that lay half a mile beyond their resting-place. He +produced also from the folds of his garment a number of figs and dates +which he had plucked from the trees. + +“Here’s a tuck-in!” cried Tom. “I’m as hungry as a hunter. Oatmeal +biscuits are all very well, but they’re a trifle too chippy for my +taste. I suppose you, as a Scotsman, think ’em quite succulent, +Oliphant?” + +“Do I, by George? You Englishmen make a good many mistakes about us +Scots, and that’s one of them. Besides, I’m only Scotch when I want a +stoker’s place—or when I let off some of my stories on the fellows in +Booker’s. I was rather had once, though. When I first went to Tabor’s as +a little chap, on my first day I dropped my cap somewhere, and asked one +of the masters if he’d seen it. I’d just come from our village school up +north—a whim of the governor’s, you know—and I suppose I’d a touch of +the brogue, for when I said, ‘Please, sir, have you seen my cap?’ he +said quite pat, ‘Are _you_ MacFarlane?’ And he called me MacFarlane +until I left.” + +Abdul had chosen a sheltered hollow, and built a rough canopy of +branches and leaves. Beneath this he kindled a fire, and cooked one of +the hares The table appointments were not exactly those that either of +the lads was accustomed to, but, as Oliphant remarked, they were in a +primitive country, and it was not unfitting that they should resort to +the manners of their ancestors. Both confessed that they had never +enjoyed a meal so much as this, and felt all the more ready for the +adventures of the night. + +The moon was shedding a cold radiance around, in strange contrast with +the hot and sultry air, when the airship with its three passengers rose +from the foot of the hill and started on its voyage for the kasbah of +Ain Afroo. To lessen the chances of premature discovery, Tom ascended to +a considerable altitude, with the intention of dropping obliquely upon +the kasbah. He was thus able to dispense in great part with the action +of the propellers as the airship drew near to its destination, which was +very desirable, seeing that they made a loud whirring which must +otherwise have attracted attention. But by ascending to a height of +nearly 3,000 feet, and then adjusting the planes so that the airship +fell at a sharp angle, he could make use of the force of gravity to +carry him in the right direction without employing the horizontal +screws. Finding, however, when half the distance had been covered, that +the airship was coming too near the ground, he set the vertical screws +in motion rose a few hundred feet, and again dropped obliquely towards +his objective. + +The whole country was bathed in the moon’s pale light, and lay in +perfect silence save for the faint barking of dogs here and there. The +three adventurers said never a word; neither Tom nor Oliphant was in a +mood for talking now that the real business of the expedition was so +near at hand. It was not until the airship was hovering exactly over the +flat roof of the kasbah that they knew, from shouts below, that the +strange visitant had been observed. But some moments must elapse, +presumably, before the alarm could penetrate to the sheikh’s apartments; +and, aware that everything depended on his coolness and caution, Tom +brought the airship to rest with as much deliberation as if he were +landing from a practice voyage. + +A shot from a musket struck one of the planes. + +“The sentry on the terrace has caught sight of us,” said Tom, as he was +stepping out of the car. “Let us hope that after having done his duty +he’ll be sufficiently scared to bolt for the town, instead of coming up +to warn the sheikh.” + +The programme had been settled before they started. Oliphant was to +remain in charge of the airship, while Tom and the Moor attempted to get +into the house and release the prisoner. + +“Remain in the car,” said Tom, “and have everything ready to ascend at a +moment’s notice.” + +“Wish you good luck, old fellow,” returned Oliphant. “You’ve got your +revolver?” + +“Yes. _Au revoir!_” + +He glanced anxiously round for the opening that led from the roof into +the house. In the ordinary way it would not be closed; indeed, during +the summer months, except when rain threatened, such openings were +seldom covered. Unless the fugitive had the gift of second sight, it was +improbable that he would ever have imagined that the airship would +descend on the very roof of the sheikh’s own dwelling. Thus the inmates +would have no reason to guard against intrusion from above. Things might +have been different in a populous town, where access could be had from +one roof to another. But the kasbah stood quite solitary, and the +nearest buildings were inaccessible. + +The opening, in point of fact, lay within a few feet of the spot upon +which the airship had descended. + +Carrying an electric torch in one hand and his revolver in the other, +Tom stepped gingerly down the staircase, followed by the Moor, who held +his knife ready for instant use. They came across a small vestibule, lit +at the far end by the moonlight streaming through a narrow aperture in +the wall. To the right and left was a door; one led no doubt to the +sheikh’s harem, the other probably to the apartments of the male members +of the family; but Abdul was unable to say which was which. There were +no bolts on the outside of these doors, which were fast shut, but each +had a very large keyhole. + +Inasmuch as the entry to this part of the house was no doubt barred +beneath by a door on the staircase, it was quite possible that the +inhabitants felt themselves secure enough to dispense with locking these +doors. Certainly a Moor will never take any trouble if he can avoid it. + +Choosing the right-hand door, Tom gently turned the handle; the door +opened to his push, and, inserting his hand, he discovered, as he had +ventured to hope, a heavy key in the lock. He silently withdrew it, +closed the door, and turned the key on the outside; Abdul at the same +time, taking the cue, did the same with the other door on the left. Both +locks squeaked somewhat, and Tom thought he heard voices within. Without +waiting, however, to assure himself on this point—feeling that he had +the inmates secure, at least for a time—he pushed on down the stairway, +followed by Abdul, and they came, as they had expected, upon a strong +door bolted on their side. Tom gently slid the bolts, opened the door, +and found himself in a small vestibule. On the far side of this was +another door, which the Moor thought was the inner door of the +guest-chamber. This Tom expected would be locked on the outside, but +when he flashed his torch at it he saw that the bolts were not shot. He +turned the handle of the door, which opened outwards. No doubt, he +thought, the Moors considered their prisoner quite safe without the +necessity of locking him in from this side. Access to the lower quarters +being barred, they would not object to his going up to the roof, +perhaps, for fresh air. The other door to the right of the guest-chamber +leading on to the terrace was securely locked, as Abdul proved by +pushing it gently so as to avoid noise. + +Tom tiptoed through the door, and cautiously lowering his torch in order +to avoid flashing it on any window openings on the far side, swept it +round the room. He gave a start of keen disappointment when he found +that the place was untenanted. It bore traces of recent occupation, but +the occupant, whoever he was, had been removed. There were a couple of +bright oriental rugs on the floor, a dish such as the Moors are +accustomed to serve sweetmeats on, and one or two other native articles; +but on one of the rugs lay a well-browned brier pipe, which was clearly +of European origin, and indeed Tom was conscious of the familiar odour +of tobacco—a very different smell from that made by the kief or hashish +smoked by the Moors. And, strangest contrast of all, a somewhat tattered +newspaper, and a bulky volume in a red paper cover, showed that the +sheikh’s prisoner had certainly inhabited this room, and had found some +means of lightening his captivity. + +Tom took in these details in a moment. Anxious to further his errand, he +did not pause to look at the contents of the room minutely, but hurried +across to a door on the farther side, leading, he suspected, to the +terrace. This was bolted, but from the inside. + +He halted in perplexity. What had become of the prisoner? + +“Have they taken him to the upper apartments?” he asked Abdul in a +whisper. + +“No, master,” replied the lad. “No Moor would think of it.” + +“Do you think he has been released? But no: that is unlikely. Salathiel +would certainly not have come so far in that case, would he?” + +“No. The mouse does not put his head in the jaws of the lion.” + +“And the smell of tobacco is quite fresh. I believe the prisoner has +only lately been removed. Where would they take him if they feared an +attempt at rescue?” + +With a significant look Abdul pointed downwards. + +“The dungeons, eh? Where are they?” + +“Under the ground, master.” + +“Well, we must get down there if we can. Do you know the way?” + +The Moor hesitated. He knew too well the fate of unhappy people who had +offended the sheikh, and upon whom the sheikh exercised the power of +life and death. Once, in Tangier, he had accompanied a friend to such a +dungeon, where his friend’s father was confined for denying that he +possessed hidden treasure. The man’s eyes had been put out, one of his +hands had been cut off, and he had languished for years in this +loathsome place, where he would have starved but for the food brought +him daily by his son, and handed to him through a grating. Abdul had no +wish to see the inside of the kasbah’s dungeon. + +But his hesitation was only momentary. Tom was clearly determined to +pursue his object, and the Moor reflected that, whatever he did, he was +in parlous danger. Besides, did not everything happen by the will of +Allah? If it was decreed that he should die, he would die; if he was +doomed to a living death in prison, nothing that he could do would avert +his fate. So, with a Moor’s habitual fatalism, he told his employer all +he knew. + +There was doubtless one entrance to the dungeon from the patio beneath, +where the jailer occupied a room near the great gateway. But there must +also be an entrance from within the house. Below the vestibule in which +they then stood was probably another vestibule, dividing the rooms of +the servants’ apartments. Whether there was any communication between +the two vestibules he did not know; perhaps it was from the terrace +outside. In all probability the inner entrance to the dungeon was from +the vestibule below. + +This gave Tom pause. So far he had been unmolested; indeed, it was only +a couple of minutes since he had left the roof. But the thought of +having to pass the servants’ apartments was decidedly unpleasant. The +sentry’s shot must have been heard; he wondered why the servants had not +already come up to warn or to take orders from the sheikh. Luckily the +sheikh himself and all his family were securely locked in their +apartments. The menials might at any rate be expected to prove less +formidable. + +There was no time to be lost. It suddenly occurred to Tom that the floor +of the vestibule might have a kind of trapdoor. He pulled aside one of +the rugs that covered the stones; there was indeed a trapdoor, not +secured in any way. Down he went on hands and knees. Releasing the +button of the electric torch so that the room was in darkness, he lifted +the door half an inch, and guessed from the absence of light that the +vestibule below was unoccupied. He cautiously raised the covering still +farther and listened. There was no sound. He set his foot on a ladder +beneath, and, moving so slowly and gently as to make not so much as a +rustle, he went down step by step, pausing once or twice to strain his +ears. Still there was no sound. When he reached the floor he ventured to +flash a light around him. He saw he was in a stone-flagged chamber of +equal size with the vestibule above. In the middle of the floor was a +circular stone slab with an iron ring on it, and a thick iron bolt was +shut into a socket. There was one door to the room, and, hurrying to it, +Tom found that it was fastened on the outside. + +So far all was well. He softly summoned Abdul to descend. Then, drawing +back the bolt and lifting the slab, he discovered a large opening +leading to a spiral stone stairway. + +Again he hesitated. What lay below? The disappointment of finding the +guest-chamber empty, the prolongation of the search, were beginning to +tell upon him. But, crushing down his nervous excitement, he +extinguished his torch again, and groped his way round and round until +he came once more to level ground. All was still as death. A flash of +the torch showed him that he was in a large vaulted corridor, paved with +brick. Somewhere in this, he doubted not, was the door into the +dungeons. + +In order to secure his line of retreat in case of emergency, he felt it +was absolutely necessary first to secure the other entrance, wherever it +might be, that was ordinarily used by the jailer. He soon discovered it +by the aid of his torch. Here, as he feared, the bolts were on the +outside, and the door was securely fastened. Was it possible to +barricade the door from the inside? The whole place was empty with the +exception of a number of manacles and like effects, and a long hammer, +which Abdul said, in a whisper, was used by the Moorish jailers in +fastening the chains round their victims’ ankles. But there was nothing +that promised to be of service as a barricade. + +At any moment the jailer, if he had not taken panic from the discharge +of the sentry’s musket, might enter to assure himself of the security of +his prisoners. Could anything be done to delay him? For Tom felt that it +was not only a question of the jailer, but of others who would no doubt +hasten to his assistance. + +Flashing his torch round, Tom noticed that the flooring had been worn +and chipped away, no doubt in the process of manacling, and scattered +about there was a large quantity of loose particles of brick. An idea +struck him. He collected a big handful of these fragments and pushed +them into the keyhole. Then, leaving Abdul to complete the work, which +would, he hoped, cause the lock to stick, he hastened down the vaulted +passage. + + + + +CHAPTER XI—PRISON BREAKERS + + +Tom found himself in a long broad alley-way, flanked by arches. There +was no sign of the dungeons, apparently no means of exit. The air was +damp and heavy, and the first indication that he was approaching the +neighbourhood of the dungeons was afforded by his nose. Coming at length +to a narrow flight of steps leading downwards, the fact that he was +nearing the object of his quest was borne in upon his sense with +ever-increasing pungency. + +“Surely,” he thought, “the sheikh is not such a beast as to herd +Ingleton with the ordinary criminals!” + +Another alley-way, apparently underneath the one from which he had come, +was disclosed by his electric torch when he reached the bottom of the +staircase; but in this case there were doors at his right, and in the +thickness of the wall, Moorish fashion, little peep-holes, through which +no doubt the warder could spy upon the movements of the captives within. + +Which was the door leading to the place of the envoy’s confinement? Tom +wondered. Was he indeed imprisoned here at all? Tom gave no thought to +the predicament in which Abdul and he would be placed if it should prove +that they had gone astray; his whole mind was centred on the plight of +the English prisoner and the terrible misfortune it would be if he were +elsewhere, and deep within him burned a fierce indignation that any +countryman of his should be even within hailing distance of so noisome a +place as this kasbah dungeon. + +So anxious was he to know whether he was on the right track that, +scarcely giving a thought to possible consequences, he lifted up his +voice and shouted the name of the man for whom he was seeking. The loud +tones went rolling beneath the arches, answered by a hundred echoes. But +there was a nearer and more material answer. By the light of his torch, +which he kept constantly in use, Tom saw a big, bearded, spectacled face +appear at the aperture nearest to him on the right. + +“Ach! Gott in Himmel! Vas zat English voice?” + +Tom himself was in shadow, but his light fell full on the face of the +speaker, and with a gasp of amazement he recognized Herr Hildebrand +Schwab, the representative of the Schlagintwerts, who had called on him +at Midfont months before and showed such a consuming curiosity to know +the use to which he put the Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number +Six. And with a sudden flash of recollection he remembered that Schwab +had spoken of proceeding to Morocco on business. Coming out from beneath +the arch in which he stood, and holding his torch before him, he +approached the aperture. His appearance was hailed by a groan. Schwab +did not recognize him in his Moorish dress. Deeply he groaned again, +muttering— + +“Ach, Ich Unglücklicher!” + +His face, utterly woebegone in expression, was just disappearing within +the cell when Tom, almost frantic with despair at the thought that the +white prisoner was not the man he had come to seek after all, shouted +again— + +“Ingleton! Sir Mark Ingleton! Are you there?” + +Schwab’s face reappeared instantly. It was aglow with excitement and +hope. + +“Gott sei Dank! Ingleton! You zay Ingleton! Zough ze dress be Mohr, ze +voice is English. You are indeed English? Answer me for ze love of ze +heavens!” + +“Yes, I am English,” cried Tom impatiently; “I want Sir Mark Ingleton.” + +“He is here, vizin, inside, viz me, Hildebrand Schwab. Let me out +double-quick; I stifle, I suffocate, I do not breaze. Gott sei dank!” + +“He is there? Where is he? Tell him I want to speak to him—an +Englishman.” + +“He sleep sound, he is indispose; but I am ze vorst. I am here ze +longest. Open ze door, please, be good enough, have ze kindness——” + +Without more ado, Tom drew back the bolts with a bang and pulled at the +door. It was locked. Schwab groaned again; but Tom, handing his torch to +Abdul, who was pale with apprehension, called to Schwab to stand away +from the door, and blew the lock in with a shot from his revolver. He +flung open the door, and burst into the cell. The shot had awakened the +envoy, who looked up in a dazed fashion, and asked, in the low voice of +a man thoroughly tired, what the disturbance was about. + +“God be praise, we are save! Do not notice ze dress; it is nozink; ze +man is English. Ach! it is no good; ze door is open, but ve are in +chains. Ach! Zum Teufel! It is kaput—all up!” + +Tom pushed past him impatiently. + +“Quick, Abdul,” he said, “the hammer!” + +Hastening to Sir Mark, who had risen from the floor, with half a dozen +sturdy blows Tom snapped the chains that fixed his ankle bands to +staples in the wall, then performed the like service for Schwab. He made +no attempt to release their ankles from the fetters: there was no time +for this, and he feared also to do them an injury. The sounds had caused +commotion in the further dungeon, where the sheikh’s other prisoners +were confined. Chains were clanking, men were shouting, the uproar was +so great that it must reach the ears of the jailer if he were anywhere +in the neighbourhood, and though he was shut off from the vaults, he +might burst the locks and bring a host of armed men to the rescue. + +“We have no time to lose,” said Tom. “Come with me.” + +“But, pardon me——” said Sir Mark. + +“I can’t explain now,” Tom interrupted. “Come along; it is all right, +only we must get away at once.” + +“At vunce, Sir Ingleton,” said Schwab. “You hear zat! For ze sake of +anyzink, be a man!” + +“My good sir——” began Sir Mark: but Tom again cut him short. + +“Can you walk?” he asked, noticing that the Englishman tottered as he +stood. + +“With assistance, perhaps.” + +At once Tom caught him by an arm, bidding Abdul take the other. +Supporting him, they led him along the passage, up the stairway to the +upper corridor, Schwab panting and ejaculating behind them. Even before +they reached the corridor they heard a tremendous battering at the door +whose lock had been filled with fragments of brick. + +It was so stout a barrier that Tom had no fear that it would be broken +down by anything short of a battering ram, and it was not likely that +the Moors had at hand an instrument ready for this purpose. His +confidence was, however, soon shaken, for, before the party, encumbered +with the enfeebled envoy, had begun to ascend the winding stairway +leading from the arched corridor to the vestibule above, there was the +sound of a very heavy body striking the door, followed by an ominous +creak. Leaving the others to precede him, Tom stationed himself on the +narrow stair, the hammer in one hand, his revolver in the other. He was +determined not to use the revolver except in the last extremity, but he +had no such compunctions about using the hammer. + +Suddenly in the midst of the crashing blows upon the door there was the +report of a rifle. The Moors were adopting his own device of blowing in +the lock. The door gave way, and by the flash of his torch, Tom saw a +crowd of swarthy Riffians swarming through the opening. The door at the +foot of the winding stair leading to the corridor was somewhat ruinous; +it was apparently seldom used, the sheikh depending for his security +upon the heavy trapdoor above. Tom, however, succeeded in pulling it to +before the Moors were upon him, and shot the single crazy bolt that +still held. Then he darted up the stairs after the rest. They were just +lifting the envoy through the trap. Schwab was waiting his turn, and +when he heard Tom rushing up, he sprang through the opening with +extraordinary agility. The trapdoor was let down and bolted; they +hastened up the stairway to the upper vestibule adjoining the +guest-chamber, thence up to the sheikh’s quarters on the floor above, +bolting every door behind them. + +Even through the thick walls of the kasbah they had heard sounds of +great excitement in the town. Evidently the whole place was now alive. +And there was danger to be anticipated within, for as they groped their +way up the last flight of stairs leading to the roof, their steps +momentarily guided by the flashes of Tom’s torches, the sounds of a +tremendous battering near at hand struck upon their ears. Evidently the +sheikh himself was now trying to make his way out. They hastened their +steps as much as Sir Mark’s enfeebled state permitted; Tom indeed was in +such desperate anxiety, for pursuit could not be long delayed, that he +forced the pace in a way that drew a protest from the Englishman—even in +this extremity a diplomatist. + +They came to the last flight of stairs leading to the roof. + +“Is that you, Dorrell?” came the voice of Oliphant from above. Nervously +restless, first on account of Tom’s long absence, and then at the +violent sounds within and without the building, he had left the airship +and stationed himself with his revolver at the top of the staircase +leading to the roof, to cover Tom’s retreat if he proved to be hard +pressed. + +“All well!” shouted Tom in reply. + +In another minute all four emerged upon the roof, and Oliphant gave a +whistle of amazement and consternation when he saw an unexpected +addition to the party. + +“Two of them?” he ejaculated. + +“Yes; the sheikh had a German gentleman—” + +“Hildebrand Schwab, representative of ze excellent firma of +Schlagintwert and——” + +“Hang it, we can’t stop for introductions now,” said Tom. “Abdul, run +down to the door of the sheikh’s room and persuade him that he risks his +life if he comes out. We shall want a minute or two to get ready.” + +The Moor obeyed, not without a look of nervousness. At first he could +scarcely make his voice heard above the uproar within the sheikh’s room; +but succeeding at last, he began a conversation which might have shocked +and would certainly have amused Tom if he could have understood it. + +“Is the most excellent lord the sheikh within?” shouted Abdul at the top +of his voice. + +The noise ceased. + +“Certainly he is, thou misbegotten son of a pig!” said the frenzied +sheikh. “Open this door, or by the beard of the Prophet I will flay thee +alive, thou rat.” + +“Peace, O sheikh! Dost thou value thy life so little, foolish one?” +Abdul was gaining courage; his enemy was on the other side of the door. +“Peace, thou kaffir; I spit upon thee. Dost thou think to pass through +till it be the good pleasure of those who have captured thy kasbah to +permit thee? Know it is I, Abdul ben Cassim, and verily I and the good +men with me will cut thee in pieces, first plucking out one by one the +hairs of thy beard, if thou showest thy pig’s snout beyond this door.” + +This seemed to stagger the sheikh, for his next words were uttered in a +milder tone. + +“What is thy purpose, O Abdul?” + +“Know, thou dog of a dog, that a great sultan, the King of England, hath +sent his most trusty wazeer to wrest from thee his servant, whom thou +didst treacherously seize and shut in thy stinking dungeon. There now +lies at this very door a monstrous bomb which will go off—Allah is +great!—the instant this door is opened. Dost thou believe, dog? Verily +thou wilt be shattered into as many pieces as there are lies in thy +heart if thou dost but move the door the tenth part of an inch. But the +King of England is merciful; he will not do you or your folk harm: he +knows other ways of avenging the injury his servant has suffered at thy +hands. Verily thou art in bad case, thou two-faced dog. Before the +growing of a fingernail thou wilt be haled to Marrakesh, and then thou +wilt suffer the pangs of Tophet.” + +And Abdul went on to revile the sheikh in terms that cannot be rendered +in our modest English. His inventiveness was very creditable to his +presence of mind, for though the noise in the sheikh’s apartments had +ceased, the uproar below was growing moment by moment in intensity. The +great gate had been thrown open, the patio was thronged with fierce +Moors enraged at the indignity put upon their chief, and it was scarcely +possible that the doors below, stout as they were, could long withstand +the furious blows with which they were assailed. + +Meanwhile Tom had assured himself that his machinery was in order. Sir +Mark had already entered the car. Tom was beside him, ready to start the +propellers; Schwab was ensconced in the corner furthest from danger. + +“Call Abdul, Oliphant,” said Tom. + +Oliphant went to the head of the stairs and called; Abdul came bounding +up, and in half a minute all five were packed into the car. It was a +very tight fit, and Tom felt a tremor of apprehension as he pressed the +lever. The vertical propellers answered instantly to his touch, but they +beat the air ineffectually: the airship absolutely refused to rise. + +“It won’t lift us!” he said, aghast. “We’re too heavy. Some one must be +left behind.” + +“I’ll stay,” said Oliphant at once. “Take the others to the hill and +come back for me. I can manage for half an hour or so with my revolver.” + +“Not a bit of it. I want your help with the machinery. What on earth can +we do?” + +“Leave Abdul?” + +“Can’t hear of it: he couldn’t defend himself long, and he’d be +frightfully tortured if they got him. We can’t all get away at once, +that’s certain; and, as we certainly can’t leave Sir Mark, we must leave +the one we didn’t reckon on. Herr Schwab——” + +“No. I refuse. I vill not stay. I am here.” + +“I’m afraid you must. We shan’t be long. I’ll drop the others a mile or +two away, and come back for you at once.” + +“Never in ze vorld. I protest. I am Jarman sobjeck: is not ze life of +Jarman sobjeck of more vorth zan ze life of a Mohr? Our Kaiser, who is +in Berlin——” + +“We can’t stop to argue it. They won’t kill you, at any rate; they know +enough of your Kaiser perhaps to refrain from that: whereas they’d kill +the Moor to a certainty. We can’t all lose our lives for you. In short, +you must get out, and be quick about it, or, by Jove! we’ll have to +throw you out.” + +“It is terrible; it is unkind. I cannot stay alone; no longer am I as I +vas; I lose pounds in ze prison. I am not made for zis. Some vun muss +remain viz me; I care not who: some vun to give me courage.” + +Here Abdul stepped into the breach and volunteered to stay with the +German. + +“I have it!” cried Oliphant. “The trapdoor that covers the opening is at +the other end of the roof, by the parapet there. We can shut that down +and bolt it. And, by George! the stones of the parapet are pretty loose. +Abdul and Mr. Schwab can pile some of them on the trap; we’ll leave them +our revolvers, and with a little pluck they can keep the blackguards at +bay until we get back.” + +“That’s it. You’ll be as safe as the Bank of England, Mr. Schwab. Quick! +Out with you! Here’s my revolver!” + +“Ach! I am man of peace; vunce I vas var gorresbondent, and——” + +“For goodness’ sake get out, man. Don’t you see you’re endangering the +whole lot of us, yourself included. Oliphant, we shall have to fling him +out.” + +But at this threat Schwab rose and stepped on to the roof, his face a +very picture of woe. Oliphant assisted Abdul to place the trapdoor over +the opening, and of course made the discovery that the bolts were on the +inside. + +“But the stones will do,” said Oliphant. “Buck up, Mr. Schwab; you’re +not absolutely helpless, are you?” + +“It is true, I have carried stones, but zey vere small,” said Schwab +lugubriously, remembering the means by which he had mounted the fence at +Midfont in pursuit of business. Leaving him to it, Oliphant got back +into the car. Tom pressed the lever, and the airship, relieved of near +two hundredweight of German subject and the lesser bulk of the Moor, +soared into the air. Tom’s last view, as the vessel rose clear of the +kasbah, was Schwab limping across the roof under the burden of a large +stone from the coping. + +“A most singular proceeding!” murmured Sir Mark, as the airship whirred +over the hills. “I wonder how I stand—diplomatically considered. The +vessel goes with consummate ease. There is positively no roll—nothing to +cause seasickness.” + +Tom laughed. The matter-of-fact at this moment was very refreshing. + +“I hope you will redeem your promise to rescue Mr. Schwab,” the envoy +continued. “He has been a great joy to me in my captivity.” + +“Oh yes, we’ll get him. We shall drop you in a few minutes. You will not +mind being left for a little while?” + +“Not at all, not at all. I find the air and the motion most +invigorating. I have lately been very conscious of the inconvenience of +having a nose.” + +Tom did not know, though Oliphant suspected, that Sir Mark’s cool manner +was adopted intentionally—to ease the strain on their nerves. A man is +not trained to diplomacy for nothing. He kept up a quiet flow of +nothings until the hill was reached. + +“A very airy situation,” he remarked, as he was set down on the +hill-top. + +“Yes. You’ll find it cold,” said Tom. “Here’s my coat.” + +“Thanks. Having escaped asphyxia, it would certainly be a pity to +contract pneumonia. You look quite comfortable yourself: the Moorish +djellab is a very warm garment, I should think.” + +He put on Tom’s reefer, which had lain in a corner of the car. Then Tom +sent the airship aloft again, and hurried back to the kasbah. + + + + +CHAPTER XII—A HITCH + + +Short as the time seemed, it was in reality nearly an hour before the +airship once more rested on the roof of the kasbah. While it was still +hovering above, Tom manœuvring for a landing, there came the muffled +sound of shots and the rending of wood. + +“They’ve broken in,” cried Oliphant. + +The Moors had indeed burst through the lower doors, released the +infuriated sheikh, and, finding themselves unable to lift the trapdoor, +were firing upwards through it. Schwab, who had been sitting on the pile +of stones which he and Abdul had heaped on the covering, to reinforce +their weight with his own, slipped off with amazing alacrity just as the +airship came to rest. + +“Gott sei Dank!” he exclaimed, as Tom joined him. + +[Illustration: “TOM, SEIZING A BIG STONE, THREW IT WITH ALL HIS FORCE +INTO THE BLACK ROOM BENEATH.”] + +He needed no invitation to hurry into the car. As soon as Abdul was +aboard Tom started the engines. To his consternation the airship again +refused to rise. + +“Good heavens! what a weight you must be!” he exclaimed. + +“Colossal! But I lose pounds in ze——” + +“Oh, shut up!” cried Oliphant impatiently. “We can’t make another +journey, Dorrell. The cover won’t support the stones much longer with +those ruffians smashing the wood as they’re doing.” + +He had scarcely spoken when the woodwork gave way, the stones crashed +down the staircase, and there were cries of pain and alarm from the men +beneath. But it was impossible to suppose that they were all hurt, and +the passage was now clear for the rest. Something must be done at once +to gain a little time until the problem of removing Schwab’s colossal +weight could be solved. + +Stopping his engines, which were working furiously, but with no effect, +Tom, followed by Oliphant and the Moor, jumped from the car and hurried +towards the opening. They were greeted by a musket shot; but Tom, +seizing a big stone, threw it with all his force into the black room +beneath. There were more cries from below, repeated when Oliphant and +the Moor followed suit, each with missiles of the same character. Then +there was silence for a time. The Moors were apparently nonplussed. + +“You can find your way to the hill if I land you below?” asked Tom of +Abdul. + +“Yes, master.” + +“Hold the roof, Oliphant. I won’t be ten minutes. Don’t shoot ’em unless +you’re very hard pressed.” + +Tom and the Moor sprang into the car, the airship again ascended, and +came down about a quarter of a mile from the village walls. There was +nobody in sight; without doubt the whole population of the place was +congregated about the kasbah. Once more Tom ascended, alighting on the +roof just as Oliphant, using the wooden shaft of Abdul’s hammer, was +driving back one man, more venturesome than the rest, who had attempted +to make his way up. There was no time to carry more stones from the +coping to serve as missiles, so Tom and Oliphant at last fired their +revolvers, two shots each, taking care, however, to avoid the opening. +Tom hoped that the sound of the shots would give pause to the men below, +most of whom must have hitherto been unaware that the intruders carried +firearms. + +Immediately after they had fired, the two made a dash for the car, +scrambled aboard, and set the engines in motion. + +“Gott sei Dank!” cried Schwab again, as the airship rose steadily above +the roof. + +As if they had known by some intuition what was happening, the Moors at +this moment made a rush, and before the airship had sailed a hundred +yards from the kasbah, figures appeared on the roof. A moment afterwards +one or two shots were fired, but they were without effect; the airship +sailed on, pursued by yells of baffled rage. + +In order to draw away pursuit from his real direction, Tom headed the +airship north-east, and it was not until he was well out of sight of the +kasbah that he put the helm up and steered straight for the hill-top. + +“We’ve come out of this uncommonly well,” said Oliphant. “I was on +thorns all the time you and Abdul were absent.” + +“We’re not out of it yet,” rejoined Tom. “The fuel’s nearly done. These +comings and goings have used a terrible lot of the paste, and I doubt +whether there’s enough to make one journey to the yacht—let alone two. I +didn’t reckon on another passenger besides Ingleton.” + +“Who is this freak? You seem to know him?” Oliphant spoke quietly: Herr +Schwab was lying against the rail of the car only a few feet away. + +“Met him once. His name’s Schwab; he’s an agent for the company I get my +powder from. Haven’t had time yet to ask him how he got into this mess. +I say, it looks as if a storm is coming up.” + +“Yes, the wind’s rising, and the clouds are scudding along at a great +pace. How will she behave in a storm?” + +“Don’t know, and don’t want to know just now. We should be in a pretty +hobble if the machine were to get smashed up altogether.” + +While Tom and Oliphant were thus talking in low tones, Herr Schwab was +deeply ruminating. He had been struck, on the roof of the kasbah, by +something familiar in the speech of this Englishman who was masquerading +as a Moor, but in the agitation of the moment he could not sift his +recollections. Now, however, safe in the car of an aeroplane, sailing +with almost imperceptible motion through the air, he was taking the +opportunity to search his memory. Just as the airship arrived above the +hill-top where Sir Mark Ingleton was waiting, and Tom was preparing to +descend, he was startled by a loud exclamation from the German. + +“What’s the matter?” he asked. + +“Nozink, nozink at all. I know you vat you are. Mr. Thomas Dorrell! And +ze Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number Six. I know all about him; +jawohl! Zere are business for Schlagintwert: I do not mind ze +captivities now: business are business.” + +Oliphant looked inquiringly at Tom; but the moment was not propitious +for explanations. Tom’s whole attention was engaged by the machinery. +The airship alighted without mishap, and Tom as he stepped out of the +car was greeted by Sir Mark Ingleton. + +“I have a new conception of the music of the spheres,” he said. “Your +approach was heralded by an immense humming, which, I take it, will +discount the usefulness of the airship in time of war.” + +“Zat vill be chance for Schlagintwert,” interposed Schwab: “to invent +somezink vat stop ze row.” + +“Precisely,” said Sir Mark, with a faint smile. + +“How do you feel now, sir?” asked Tom. + +“Greatly invigorated by the fresh air. I am glad of your coat. May I +know to whom I am indebted for this surprising change in my fortunes?” + +“My name’s Dorrell,” said Tom. “I happened to be rather lucky in getting +my airship to go just when it could be made useful.” + +“Viz Schlagintwert’s Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number Six,” +added Schwab. + +“This is Mr. Oliphant, Lord Langside’s son,” Tom went on. + +“Indeed!” With fine courtesy Sir Mark perfectly concealed his amazement. +Oliphant still wore his stoker’s clothes, and the black smudges on his +face had given him a striking resemblance to a coal-heaver. “I am +grateful to the Prime Minister for this novel and adventurous +expedition,” added the envoy. + +“My father knows nothing about it, sir,” said Oliphant. “We were afraid +he wouldn’t allow it if we told him.” + +“I see. Nothing succeeds like success. Did you come all the way from +England in this admirable machine?” + +“No, sir. We were brought out on Mr. Greatorex’s yacht, which is now +waiting for us at the shore.” + +“That is good news, for in truth, seeing the limited carrying capacity +of your airship, I had wondered how we were all to get away.” + +“That’s our difficulty, sir. Our fuel is almost gone, and I’m very much +afraid there isn’t enough left to make even one journey back to the +yacht. There’s plenty on board, if we _can_ manage to reach it.” + +“In that case perhaps you and Mr. Oliphant had better return without us. +If you reach the yacht safely, you can come back and fetch us; if you do +not—well, things will be no worse than they were.” + +“I don’t care about doing that, sir. We came out to rescue you. I think +you had better come with us. Our fuel may last out; the sooner you are +safe aboard the yacht the better; and if we only get within sight of her +it will be all right, for Mr. Greatorex will certainly send a boat’s +crew to fetch us off.” + +“Had you not better take Mr. Schwab first? He has been in captivity +longer than I.” + +“And I have vair important business,” said Schwab eagerly. + +“I think my arrangement is best, sir. You see, your position is a matter +of state importance—international importance, I might say; all Europe is +more or less interested in your fate, whereas——” + +“Ach!” interrupted Schwab, “zey insult me, ze Mohrs; me, a Jarman +sobjeck; zerefore zey insult also our Kaiser, who is in Berlin. Zat is +important.” + +“With all respect to your Kaiser, Mr. Schwab,” said Tom, “we are three +to one here, and I think the interests of the majority must prevail.” + +“But ze population of Jarmany is grosser zan ze population of Great +Britain. Ve grow vair fast.” + +“Therefore your Kaiser can spare one individual better than our King. We +must settle it so, Mr. Schwab. We’ll take Sir Mark to the yacht and then +come back for you—as we have already done.” + +“But if you forget—vere am I zen? Mr. Greatorex is business man, perhaps +he vant to make haste for home. Besides, you try to keep ze secret of ze +Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number Six. I discover ze secret. +You vant to keep me out, so zat I shall not take out patent for +Schlagintwert. Zat is business!” + +“You may take my word for it that we’ll come back for you,” said Tom +patiently. Oliphant was fuming: Sir Mark Ingleton was quietly enjoying +the situation. “And here’s Abdul.” The young Moor at this moment came +over the brow of the hill. “Perhaps he will stay and keep you company.” + +“I have enough gombany of ze Mohrs,” said Schwab dismally. “Give notice, +I shall have big claim for damage. Ze loss of business is colossal.” + +“You’ll make it up when you put your Photographic Sensitizer Preparation +Number Six on the market under a new name. Abdul, you will stay with Mr. +Schwab until we get back?” + +Abdul agreed at once. In the event of a party coming from Ain Afroo to +capture him he could retreat to the caves, which were so difficult of +access that he might hope to defy attack for a time, even if his +hiding-place were discovered. The chief difficulty would be food and +water; but he could slip down into the woods before daybreak and gather +a quantity of fruit; perhaps also snare one or two wild animals; and if +Tom would leave behind the now almost empty canister in which he kept +the fuel for the engines, he could fill that with water from the hill +springs. + +Schwab’s countenance, as he heard these arrangements discussed, was that +of a man very ill at ease. But he had apparently come to the conclusion +that further protest would be unavailing, and he held his peace, summing +up in his mind, possibly, the amount of his future claim for damages. +Tom handed Abdul his revolver, for use in the last resort; then followed +Oliphant and the envoy into the car. + +“You keep your vord!” cried Schwab, as the airship rose into the now +overclouded sky. + +Tom set the engines at half speed, partly to husband his fuel, partly +because, moon and stars being now obscured, he felt the same kind of +reluctance to go fast that a driver would feel in going through a dark +country lane. It was a little before three in the morning. He hoped to +reach the yacht about dawn, though, having in the darkness no means of +guiding his course, he foresaw the possibility of going out of the way. +But a strong wind had blown up from the east, and with this at his back +he knew that he must in due time reach the sea. Rain began to fall, at +first in large scattered drops, finally in a steady downpour, and when +the grey dawn at last broke through the sky, all three occupants of the +car were thoroughly drenched and miserable. + +Tom had anxiously watched his fuel supply. When the rain ceased and the +sky became clearer, and he caught sight of the sea afar off, he saw that +there was not the smallest chance of reaching the shore. + +“How far is it, do you think?” asked Oliphant. + +“More than ten miles, I fancy. I’ve scraped up the last ounces of paste; +we shall be lucky if it carries us another five miles.” + +“And what then?” + +“Goodness knows! I don’t know what part of the shore we are heading for. +We may be miles north or south of the yacht for all I can tell.” + +“Will they see us on board?” + +“Don’t think so. You see, the yacht, when we left her, was moored pretty +close inshore, and, unless she runs out a good way, the cliffs will +intercept the view. By Jove! we haven’t come far wrong, though. You see +those two islands? I noticed them from the deck. They’re a few miles +south of where we lay to. Here goes the last of the fuel, Oliphant; we +can’t keep up more than five minutes. The only thing to be done is to +let her down at a suitable spot, and then gain the shore on foot, and +attract the attention of some one on board. No doubt they’re keeping a +pretty keen lookout.” + +They were now passing over a considerable stretch of wooded country. But +as Tom was looking about for a place convenient for landing, he saw to +his consternation that they were within sight of a village of some size. +The airship was no more than six hundred feet from the ground: Tom had +not dared to keep it at any greater altitude, and he could scarcely hope +that it had escaped observation. To descend at once was absolutely +imperative: yet a descent in full sight of the village would certainly +bring unwelcome and hostile visitors. In order to stave off, even for a +time, the inevitable, he selected a spot that seemed to be about a +couple of miles from the village—a large clearing in the midst of the +wood, about halfway up a gently rising hill. There he dropped gently to +earth. + +The airship had scarcely come to rest before he saw, from the village +below, a party of horsemen issuing at full speed from the gate. Tom +counted more than a dozen men, and within a minute these were followed +by another dozen. + +“We’re in for it now,” he said. “They’ll be on us in a few minutes.” + +“We can’t fight ’em with only one revolver and a carbine,” said Oliphant +ruefully. “They’ll collar us and hold us to ransom—perhaps we’ll all +find ourselves before long in the kasbah of Ain Afroo.” + +“May I make a suggestion?” said Sir Mark Ingleton. “The airship has +failed us; we are, it appears, about to be surrounded by horsemen who +are doubtless well armed; flight is therefore impossible. It is equally +impossible, as Mr. Oliphant says, to fight. Before now, in similar +circumstances, diplomacy has been of some avail; and it is but right +that I, in whose behalf you gentlemen have been brought to your present +plight, should exercise my poor abilities in disentangling the knot.” + +“What do you propose, sir?” asked Tom, inwardly remarking that diplomacy +seemed to make a man tolerably long-winded. + +“It is that Mr. Oliphant and myself should go forth to meet these +children of nature, waving a white handkerchief as if to welcome them. I +will explain to them, in terms they will comprehend, and with a +sufficient regard for the truth, what our situation is. They will +doubtless convey us to their village, whether they believe me or not. In +the meantime you, Mr. Dorrell, will have hidden yourself in a tree—no +difficult feat to a man of your years; and when you see a fitting +opportunity, you will steal your way to the shore, rejoin your friends +on the yacht, and take such steps as may suggest themselves in +consultation with them to effect our release.” + +“A capital idea!” said Tom. + +“But can we do it? Can you speak to the Moors in their own tongue?” +asked Oliphant. + +“My dear fellow, your father selected me for this mission precisely on +account of my knowledge of Arabic,” said Sir Mark. “If these Riffians do +not understand me, it will be because my speech is so much purer than +theirs.” + +“Well, good luck to you!” cried Tom. “I’m off before they see me.” + +And donning his djellab, which he had spread on the ground to dry, he +disappeared among the trees. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII—DIPLOMACY + + +Before the band of horsemen had approached the edge of the little +plateau where the airship lay, the two men stepped forward through the +trees at its lower edge and waved to the oncomers with every sign of +welcome. + +“I hope none of them will recognize me,” said Sir Mark in a low tone to +Oliphant. “Probably few in this wild district have ever been in Tangier, +where my features are tolerably well known; and having been for some +time unable to shave—these followers of the Prophet are forbidden the +use of the razor, and Mr. Schwab does not carry one—I look perhaps a +little unlike myself.” + +The horsemen came up at a gallop, bringing their horses to a halt when +it seemed to Oliphant that he and his companion must be trampled to the +ground. + +“Peace be with you!” said Sir Mark in Arabic, making a slight +inclination. + +“And with thee, peace!” returned the leader of the party, looking not a +little surprised at this orthodox salutation from a N’zrani. + +“In the name of the most Merciful!” Sir Mark continued. “Thou dost +behold us in sore straits, O Son of the Mountain. We are brothers under +our skin, thou and I, and I crave thy help.” + +“Bismillah! I am thy host, and all that I have is thine.” + +“Thou sayest well. Behold this strange monster that lieth on the ground +beyond us. It was made by a countryman of mine, to simulate the flying +of birds in the air—a most wondrous thing, and worthy to be seen by his +Shereefian Majesty the Sultan himself. I was indeed on my way to visit +the Sultan, but was prevented by a most untoward happening. (That is +strictly true, though the fact is somewhat post-dated,” he added in an +aside.) “Even a bird tires with overmuch flying; and, as thou seest, +this thing that imitates the flying of a bird tires also, so much so, +indeed, that we saw that its wings would not carry us the full extent of +our journey, and we were on our way back to the coast in order to repair +its strength, when it failed us utterly. Wherefore, friend, we ask thee +to lend us the assistance of some sturdy men from your village to carry +our poor bird to Casa Blanca, or to any ship that may chance to be off +your shore. (They may have seen the yacht.) For this service we will +reward them liberally.” + +“Bismillah!” ejaculated the Moor. Oliphant, watching his face during Sir +Mark’s address, had caught a fleeting expression of perplexity and +disappointment. Expecting to make an out-and-out capture, he was no +doubt somewhat nonplussed at this request for assistance. But he had the +Moor’s ready adaptability to circumstances. His speech gave no sign of +his thoughts. + +“Bismillah!” he repeated. “We are all in God’s hands. Let my brother +give thanks to Allah the most Merciful that he came to a man so friendly +disposed as Salaam son of Absalaam. It shall be even as thou wishest, +Sidi. But first thou and thy son must come to my village, for your bird +yonder is too heavy to be carried without much preparation. It will need +the shoulders of a great number of men. But while the men are making +ready, enter my house, all too unworthy to shelter you: yet we will +comfort you with food, and do all that is in our power to please our +guests.” + +“We thank thee, O Salaam, for thy proffered hospitality, which we will +accept, knowing that all things will be provided for our comfort.” + +“So be it, Sidi. But within the walls of my village, when I first looked +heavenwards and saw this strange flying thing, did I not see three men +borne along in it, and one of them in djellab something like my own?” + +Sir Mark smiled and, pointing to a part of the apparatus that was +coloured grey, said— + +“No doubt in the distance my brother mistook that for a person. We are +two, as thou seest.” + +The Moor still looked somewhat mistrustfully around. Then, with an +appearance of being convinced, he dismounted, and ordered his followers +to dismount also, asking his guest to choose whichever of the horses he +pleased for himself and his son. At this imputation of kinship, Sir Mark +elevated his eyebrows; the young man was certainly a +disreputable-looking object. Thinking it policy to accept the offer, Sir +Mark mounted the head-man’s own steed, Oliphant following his example +with the horse of one of his party. Then, bidding a score of the men +lift the airship on their shoulders, the head-man and the rest +remounted, and led the way to the village. Both Sir Mark and Oliphant +were glad that the distance was not great, for the high Moorish saddles +were a sore trial to their unaccustomed limbs. The envoy, at any rate, +was under no delusion as to the nature of the hospitality promised. From +the manner in which the tribesmen escorted the two Englishmen to the +village, there could be little doubt that they were prisoners. + +From his perch in the tree Tom noticed that although the majority of the +horsemen accompanied his friends towards the walls, four or five +detached themselves from the party and returned to the plantation, which +they proceeded to search pretty thoroughly. He made himself as small as +he could among the foliage when they passed beneath him, but they did +not look up; apparently it did not occur to them that any one should +have mounted into a tree. When they had finished their fruitless search, +they went, not in the direction their fellow-villagers had taken, but +towards the coast. Tom saw them spread out as they rode from the +plantation, and watched them until they were mere specks in the +distance. Then, when they were, he supposed, perfectly satisfied that +the suspected third member of the English party could not have escaped +them, they wheeled round and returned one by one again passing not far +from his hiding-place. Clearly, if they were so suspicious, it would be +expedient for him to remain for some time in the tree—an unpleasant +prospect, for he was becoming very stiff and cramped, and suffering +rather severely from hunger and thirst. + +It was some hours before he ventured to slip to the ground. Even then he +did not dare to leave the shelter of the wood, knowing that in the open +he would inevitably be observed. But he stretched his limbs and found a +few blackberries, which somewhat appeased his hunger. Every now and then +he again climbed the tree to find out whether any one was approaching, +or whether a watch was still being kept. Late in the afternoon he +descried, on the further side of the village, a horseman approaching +from the direction of the hills. He came at full gallop, and rode +straight into the village, disappearing there from Tom’s view. + +“Hope to goodness he isn’t a messenger from the sheikh!” thought Tom. + +At last, when the sun had set, and the sky was darkening, he deemed it +safe to leave his hiding-place. If the yacht had remained where he had +last seen her—and it was scarcely likely that Mr. Greatorex would shift +his anchorage—he conjectured that a five mile walk would bring him to +the nearest point of the shore. Fortunately it was a beautiful night, +clear and starlit, though the moon had not yet risen. Taking his +bearings very carefully by the stars, in anticipation of a return +journey, he started, going very slowly and cautiously, watching every +shadow lest it should indicate the presence of a Moor. Ignorant of their +language, he knew well that he had no chance whatever of slipping past +if he were once accosted. In such a case he could trust only to his +lightness of foot. But nothing happened to cause him uneasiness, and +after trudging along for nearly two hours he was beyond measure +delighted to see what was evidently a masthead light some distance out +at sea. No native craft would show a light; he could hardly doubt that +the _Dandy Dinmont_ and his friends were before him. + +He was quickening his step in the pleasure of this discovery, when +suddenly, without warning, he found himself at the edge of an encampment +lying in a slight hollow at the summit of the cliffs. He started back, +but it was too late. A Moor, swathed in his hooded djellab, came out of +the darkness and spoke to him. Tom saw that it might be fatal to run +now; he walked on, hoping that he might pass without replying. But the +Moor spoke again, more sharply, in a more questioning tone. Tom, whose +head was covered with the hood, mumbled something beneath his breath; +but his unpractised tongue could not achieve the hard guttural accent of +the Moorish speech, and the sentinel took a hasty step towards him. + +There was now nothing for it but to take to his heels. Disguise was no +longer possible, and, to free his limbs, he cast the djellab from him, +and dashed at full speed across the grass to the edge of the cliff. The +slope was steep, but he scarcely gave a thought to the risks he ran. +Scrambling over, he lay down and rolled from top to bottom, with many a +gash and bruise from sharp edges of the rock. + +Loud shouts pursued him. The camp was aroused. Picking himself up, +feeling breathless and dazed, he sped across the sandy stretch of beach +and sent a sounding hail in the direction of the yacht; perchance his +voice might carry above the rustle of the surf and the cries of his +pursuers. He heard men scurrying down a path in the cliff somewhere +behind him; then their footsteps on the light shingle that lay above the +sand. Even if his cry had been heard on the yacht, it was impossible +that a boat should reach him before he was overtaken. There was only one +way to safety. He plunged into the surf, and struck out towards the +vessel. A shot followed him, but he cared nothing for that; in the +darkness it would puzzle an expert marksman to hit him, when nothing of +him could be seen but a head bobbing up and down. Not till he had swum +well out of the reach of his pursuers, who had not followed him into the +sea, did the thought of sharks cross his mind. Then he trod water for a +little, and, making a bell of his hands, sent another prolonged cry +across the water. + +Is that an answering hail? He shouts once more; yes, a cry comes back to +him: “Ahoy-o!” But at the same moment he hears also the sound of +paddles, to his right, apparently from a bend of the shore. The Moors +have not given him up, then. Again he presses on, putting all his force +into a strong side-stroke. Now another sound falls upon his ear; the +welcome sound of oars plied sturdily in rowlocks. The yacht’s boat is +coming to meet him. But the pursuers are the nearer—will his friends +arrive in time? His long exertions since he left the yacht, his want of +food and sleep, have robbed him of his strength. His pace becomes slower +and slower. The pursuers’ boat is coming up behind, while yet the beat +of oars before him sounds terribly distant. But he is still swimming; +every yard he makes is a yard added to the speed of the friendly boat. +He struggled on; and the Moors were still some distance behind when, +gasping and spent, he was helped by Timothy and another into his ark of +safety. + +But the boat did not head at once for the yacht. + +“Give way, men!” cried Captain Bodgers himself, at the tiller. + +He pointed the nose of the boat straight for the Moors’ light craft. +Eight sturdy British sailors pulled with a will. There was a crash, a +cry, and a dozen Moors were in the water, struggling to right their +capsized boat. + +“That’s all right. Now we’ll get back, my men,” said Captain Bodgers, +and some few minutes thereafter Tom was assisted up the side of the +yacht, and into the arms of Mr. Greatorex. + +“God bless my soul, what has happened?” said the worthy merchant. + +“We’ve got him—Ingleton,” murmured Tom faintly. “He’s with Oliphant, +captured again. Schwab’s in the cave with Abdul.” + +“He’s light-headed, poor fellow!” said Mr. Greatorex. “Here, some one, +blankets, and brandy—look _alive_ now.” + +Tom was soon stripped, dried, swathed in warm blankets, and dosed with +brandy till his blood tingled. Mr. Greatorex fussed round him, waiving +his proffered explanations until he was thoroughly recovered. Then Tom +gave him an account of all that had happened since he left the yacht, +Mr. Greatorex breaking in every now and then with “Dear, dear!” “You +don’t _say_ so!” “The villains!” “What a _mercy_!” and such like +exclamations. Early in the narrative he interrupted with a question: + +“You say Oliphant! Who’s Oliphant? Am I on my _head_ or my _heels_?” + +“Oh, I forgot you didn’t know,” said Tom with a smile. “Your new stoker +was Oliphant in disguise. You see, Byles, your late stoker, had to +remain at home and attend to his sick mother.” + +“No more sick than I am!” declared Mr. Greatorex. “Don’t believe he +_had_ a mother! M’Cracken, indeed! I’ll M’Cracken him! I hope his father +will get him well _thrashed_ when he goes back to school.” + +“He’s rather big for that, don’t you think?” + +“The bigger the better! I never _heard_ of such a thing! The impudence +of it! And taking us all _in_ so! What things are coming to I don’t +know. No obedience, no respect for age—pretending to be Scotch, too——” + +“Well, he is Scotch, you know.” + +“Don’t tell _me_! He’s only Scotch when it suits him. There are others +like him in the Lords. He was never Scotch in _my_ house—where he shall +never show his face again, _never_!” + +Tom was not deceived by this explosion of wrath. He knew very well that +Mr. Greatorex was only relieving the tension of his feelings, and +working off his nervous excitability on the most convenient object. “Les +absents ont toujours tort,” he remembered. Mr. Greatorex presently +calmed down, and heard the rest of the story in comparative quietude. + +“And what are we to _do_?” he said at the close. “Swob doesn’t matter; +we’re not bound to lift a finger for _him_; but we can’t leave Ingleton +and M’C—— and Oliphant in the hands of those wretches. They’ll break up +our machine, too, and play the very deuce with _my property_. What are +we to _do_?” + +What Tom answered is shown by subsequent events. Two or three hours +after his return to the yacht, when he had had a thorough rest and a +good meal, a well-armed party, consisting of the whole ship’s company +except the cook and one seaman, left the yacht, on which all lights had +been extinguished, and rowed with muffled oars to a sheltered cove on +the south side of the bay—that furthest removed from the Arab +encampment. Mr. Greatorex had insisted on joining the party. In vain Tom +pointed out that a hard march was before them, suggesting delicately +that Mr. Greatorex was not so light as he once was. The merchant puffed +the objection away. They disembarked in dead silence, and, leaving two +of their number to take the boat back to the yacht, made their way +cautiously up the cliff. + +Led by Tom, the party, ten in all, struck off in the direction of the +village. Thanks to the light of the moon, which now lay a little above +the horizon, Tom was able to make a fairly straight course for the +plantation in which he had hidden during the previous day. Once or twice +he strayed from the proper track, and ultimately found that he was +nearly a mile from his objective; but this was not bad, considering that +there was no beaten road, and they had to tramp across rough country. +When he reached the plantation he was no longer in doubt as to the true +direction; during his long stay among the trees he had had time to take +his bearings pretty thoroughly. + +Mr. Greatorex was blown by the time they came to the clearing in which +the airship had descended, and Tom begged him to remain hidden in the +plantation while the rest went on to the village. + +“Pff!” panted the perspiring old gentleman. “Never gave up _anything_ +yet; on you go!” + +But a slight halt was made while Tom completed arrangements for his +night raid. The village was walled; the gates would no doubt be shut, as +at Ain Afroo; the wall must be scaled. Captain Bodgers selected the +biggest men to give their more active comrades a “leg-up.” These latter +were provided with ropes, by which they might haul up the others when +they had themselves gained a footing on the wall. Tom impressed on them +all the necessity of maintaining dead silence. He estimated that the +village contained about a hundred fighting men, and if the approach of +the raiders were discovered in time for the walls to be manned, the +chance of a successful coup would be small indeed. + +All carried firearms except Mr. Greatorex. He had a knobbed stick, +capable of dealing a very damaging blow. + +“There’s bound to be a _fight_, I suppose?” he had said when Tom was +discussing his plans on the yacht. “I don’t like _that_, you know. I’d +punch a man’s nose and knock him down without scruple, of course; but +that needn’t _kill_ him, you know. Besides, how do I _stand_? This is +uncommonly like a piratical raid—like Jameson’s, and he might have been +_hanged_. However!” + +Tom assured him that no blood should be shed if it could possibly be +avoided; but he had small hopes that the night would end without a +fight, and a very brisk one. + +The party set off for the village, stealing along under what cover was +afforded by bushes and inequalities in the ground. When about three +hundred yards from the wall all such protection ceased; the ground was +level and apparently open. Tom’s heart was in his mouth lest their +footsteps should be heard as they crossed this. He dared not set them at +a run, for the soil all around was stony, and the sound of near a dozen +men rushing at speed could not fail to be heard in the village. So he +kept up the same stealthy approach, and his caution was justified, for +level as the space had appeared at a distance, it proved to have patches +of loose stones, and some yards of boggy land, through which ran a +narrow and evil-smelling creek; to rush would have ended in disaster. + +They arrived beneath the wall without having heard any alarm raised +within. In a trice the men began to clamber up. It was made of mud and +rubble, and was not in so ruinous a condition as the wall of Ain Afroo. +The first man reached the top. Immediately there was a shout and the +sound of hurrying feet, and Tom sprang up to the sailor’s side in time +to see a Moor in long djellab dashing from the nearest house towards the +wall. Suddenly he halted, and fired. The young sailor winced as the +bullet struck him; but he was not badly hurt, and letting down his rope, +calmly proceeded to haul up one of his comrades. After firing, the Moor +made a rush along the wall. Tom grappled with him; both fell, dropping +their weapons, and Tom felt in an instant that he was no match for the +sinewy figure that had him in his arms. The Moor forced him down; his +hands were already at Tom’s throat, when Timothy Ball, who had +accompanied the party in spite of his half-healed wound, threw himself +upon the enemy from behind, dragged him backwards, and left him +half-strangled, but yet alive. + +When Tom rose dizzily to his feet, all his party were within the wall. +One or two shouts were heard from the village, but apparently the Moors +were not yet quite awake to what was happening. Tom pulled himself +together, and led the way straight for the kasbah, which, from his lofty +perch in the tree during the day, he had seen slightly to the right of +the place at which the entry into the village had been made. When they +dashed up to the main gate, this was being opened to give exit to a +couple of men who were apparently about to inquire into the cause of the +slight commotion and the rifle shot that had been heard. The two were +instantly bowled over by the onrush of British seamen, the party swarmed +through into the kasbah, the gate was shut, and they came face to face +with the head-man. + +“What have you—got to—_say_ for yourself?” + +The Moor had naturally nothing to say for himself. He saw himself +confronted by an elderly whiskered foreigner, in a yachting cap and blue +serge suit, brandishing a formidable stick. Mr. Greatorex was in a +passion. The exertions of the march, the pains of being hauled up a +wall, not without bumps, the scamper at the rear of his men into the +Moor’s kasbah, had deprived him equally of breath and of self-control. +Determined not to be left ignominiously out of the hurly-burly, he +forced himself to the front, and thrust his stick under the very nose of +the Moor—who stood a foot above him—calling him to account in the +spluttering sentence recorded above. + +For a few moments there was a deadlock, and Tom felt the need of an +interpreter. Eventually he persuaded Mr. Greatorex to give way, and +managed to make the Moor understand that if he valued his life he must +at once bring out the Firangi whom he had recently introduced to his +house. Finding himself shut off by the gate of his own kasbah from the +support of his men, the Moor recognized that he had no choice but to +comply, and at a command from him one of his servants brought Sir Mark +Ingleton and Oliphant from the upper floor into the patio, looking none +the worse for their brief incarceration. + +“_Delighted_ to see you,” said Mr. Greatorex, stepping forward and +wringing the diplomatist’s hand; Oliphant he studiously ignored. + +“Mr. Greatorex, I presume,” returned Sir Mark. “I hope to make your +better acquaintance, sir. Meanwhile, if I may be allowed——” + +His quick eye had taken in the situation at a glance. + +“Peace be with thee!” he said in Arabic, turning with a bland smile to +the scowling Moor, “You perceive, O Salaam, that my friends also, being +alarmed at my absence, have availed themselves of your generous +hospitality. They are distressed at the unceremonious manner of their +entry, but you will assuredly deign to pardon it, for have you not +professed yourself my devoted servant? You will be the first to forgive +an intrusion due solely to the too great zeal of my friends.” + +The Moor, chagrined and bewildered, had no option but to acquiesce in +this polite fiction, though it is to be feared his reply lacked +something of the diplomatist’s ease and suavity. + +“But we are a large company,” Sir Mark went on, “and should be loth to +trespass on your hospitality. You will be relieved, I am sure, if we +betake ourselves to the vessel that awaits us off your coast. You will, +of course, honour us by giving us your company so far. Indeed, if you +will do us the favour to accompany us on board our vessel, we shall +endeavour to return in some slight measure the gracious hospitality that +has been vouchsafed to myself and—my son. If you add to your favours by +assisting us in the march—by showing us the easiest road and defending +us from the perils that may beset us, such as are known to you, O +Salaam—you may be assured that we shall show our gratitude in very +tangible form. There are, as you know, even in Morocco, evil +counsellors, men of violence, some who would even dare to lift their +hands against the Sultan himself. If there be any such in this village, +which truly I am loth to believe, I advise you, as brother advises +brother, to exhort them to mildness of demeanour. These friends of mine +who now enjoy your hospitality are men of war; they have arms, you +perceive, in the use of which they are well skilled; and since, in our +progress to the shore, you will of course occupy the place of honour at +my right hand, in all likelihood you would suffer hurt if there are +among your followers any men of Belial whose hearts incline towards +bloodshed; that would be a great grief to us. And now, O Salaam, as the +night draws towards dawn, it will be well if you perform your morning +ablutions and devotions and prepare to lead us forth. Bismillah!” + +Sir Mark, as he laughingly informed Mr. Greatorex afterwards, had +purposely made his address somewhat lengthy, so as to give Salaam plenty +of time to regain his self-possession and to weigh the pros and cons. +The upshot was that, shortly after dawn, the whole party, with Salaam +son of Absalaam in their midst, set off towards the coast, the airship +being carried on the shoulders of a troop of the villagers who had been +promised liberal bakshish in return for their services. + +On arriving at the shore, Captain Bodgers signalled to his men on the +yacht to send a boat, and with it a fresh supply of fuel for the +airship, which had been deposited just above high-water mark. While this +was being done, Mr. Greatorex emptied his pockets of small coin, to +redeem the promise to the carriers, and Sir Mark kept up an even flow of +amicable talk, apparently quite oblivious of the throng of Arabs who had +observed the proceedings from their encampment on the cliff, and by and +by came down to the shore and stood around, listening with looks of +amazement to this fluent Nazarene who discoursed so pleasantly of things +intimate to them. + +The men soon arrived with a large tin of the fuel-paste. It was placed +in the car; Tom made an inspection of the machinery to assure himself +that it had suffered no hurt while in the charge of Salaam; then +Oliphant joined him. A few moments later, with a mighty whirring sound, +the airship rose gallantly into the air, to the great wonderment of the +Moors. While they were intently watching the manœuvres of the airship, +filling the air with their cries of “Mashallah!” Sir Mark and the rest +of the party embarked and pulled out into the bay, two of the men +sitting in the stern of the boat with their faces to the shore and their +rifles held conspicuously ready. Salaam indulged in a burst of fury at +the manner in which he had been outwitted. His followers gathered around +him and held excited consultation, some being apparently inclined to +fire on the departing boat, others to pursue the airship. But they had +made up their minds to neither course by the time the party reached the +yacht; and when Captain Bodgers trained on them the two brass guns she +carried, they hurriedly broke up and disappeared over the cliffs. + +“You were just in time, Mr. Greatorex,” said Sir Mark Ingleton as they +sat together in the boat. “A messenger came in from the sheikh yesterday +afternoon, and I shrewdly suspect that arrangements had been made to +transfer us to our old quarters in the kasbah. I say ‘our old quarters,’ +forgetting that Mr. Oliphant——” + +“Oliphant!” interrupted Mr. Greatorex. “_There_ now! What do you think +of _this_, Sir Mark?” + +And he proceeded to delight his guest with a vigorous indictment of +M’Cracken, and Byles, and Byles’ sick mother, and Lord Langside for +having sent an English gentleman on a mission to such an abominable +country, and for having such an outrageously impudent son. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV—THE TROGLODYTES + + +Meanwhile, how had things been faring with Herr Hildebrand Schwab, the +unlucky representative of the Schlagintwert Company of Düsseldorf and +the partner of Sir Mark’s captivity? + +When Abdul pointed out the cave in which it was advisable that they +should take shelter, and the means of access to it, Schwab groaned +deeply, and declared that nothing on earth should induce a German +subject of his weight to attempt so perilous a climb. But on reflection +he came to look upon it as the lesser of two evils, and with much +travailing of spirit and discomfiture of body he allowed himself to be +assisted up the incline so long as progress on foot was possible, and +then to be hoisted at the end of the rope. Abdul’s strength alone would +not have sufficed to haul so great a mass into safety; but Salathiel ben +Ezra, who was by this time thoroughly weary of solitude, and had come to +the end of his stock of provisions, lent willing help, with a view, as +it proved, of turning the situation to account. + +He used every means of persuasion and cajolery which his ingenuity could +devise to persuade Abdul to release him. One of his propositions was +that they should convey the German to the sheikh of Ain Afroo and claim +a sufficient reward. Abdul ridiculed the idea. Both he and the Jew would +get short shrift from the sheikh now that the more valuable of his +captives was snatched from his grasp. Salathiel then proposed that they +should try to gain the nearest town where they might find Europeans, and +tell a moving story of the sufferings and perils they had endured in +rescuing the German from the hands of his captors. But to this, as to +his other suggestions, Abdul turned a deaf ear. + +They were a strangely assorted trio. Schwab only half trusted the Moor; +the Moor despised Schwab; both disliked the Jew. It was not long before +Schwab declared that he was hungry, and illustrated the privations he +had already suffered by exhibiting the unwonted gap between his +waistcoat and his person: “And I have ze straps of my vaistcoat drawn +_so_ tight!” he added. Salathiel’s scanty stock of provisions having +been exhausted, Abdul descended to forage, and returned with a supply of +dates and olives, and the tin filled with water at the spring. + +“Ach! My pipe! It is in ze room vere first I vas laid up. Mein Gott! And +ze list of Schlagintwert; ze last edition, revise and enlarge. Ze Moors +zey vill now order vizout me, and I lose colossal sum in commission!” + +All this was Greek to Abdul, but a little more comprehensible to the +Jew, with whom, however, Schwab refused to discuss business. He +preferred to ply Abdul diligently with questions about the airship: +where it came from; how it was driven; what was the composition of the +fuel. + +“Already is it partly known to me,” he said. “It contain large quantity +Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number Six. But zat is not all. I +know it! Vy? Because my Jarman intellex tell me so. But vizout doubt I +discover it; zen zere shall be business for Schlagintwert. You do not +know vat ze ozer zink is?” + +Abdul shook his head. + +“Zen you vas never made for business. Vun cannot learn it; it is born. +So vas I born!” + +He discoursed on business and other things, despising his audience for +their want of appreciation; then fell to bemoaning his fate. Thus the +hours passed away. + +At last the monotony of the situation was broken. Abdul, like a good +Mohammedan, was engaged in his devotions when the Jew, at the mouth of +the cave, caught sight of a party of Moors far below, and signalled to +them before he could be prevented. Springing up, Abdul was on the point +of killing him with his knife when Schwab hastily interposed. + +“No, I vill not have it,” he said. “You kill him; zen am I accomplice; +and vat is zat for a kind of business, I say?” + +But he did not decline to assist Abdul to truss up the Jew and render +him incapable of further mischief. No more than Abdul himself did he +wish to attract visitors. + +The mischief, however, was already done. The Moors, a search party +despatched by the sheikh, had observed the Jew’s signals, and at once +spurred their horses across the country until they reached the foot of +the precipitous ascent. They dismounted: one of them began to climb up. +For a time Abdul watched his progress; then, when he thought the man had +mounted far enough, he threatened to hurl him from the face of the cliff +if he advanced another step upwards. It was so obviously in Abdul’s +power to make good his threat that the Moor hesitated; then, in response +to an encouraging shout from below, he again began to climb. He may have +reflected that his comrades could afford to shout; they were not +clinging like a fly to the face of an almost perpendicular wall of rock; +but he may have reflected also that great would be his praise and reward +if he succeeded in bringing to account the insolent strangers who had +done such despite to his sheikh. No doubt also he reckoned on support +from the member of the party who had signalled. + +Up he came, slowly feeling his way. Abdul bent over the brink, and, just +as the man ascended within reach, smartly rapped his knuckles with the +butt of Tom’s revolver. At the same moment a shot from below struck the +rock within an inch of his head. Abdul at once darted back within the +shelter of the cave; but the climber, taught by the sharp blow he had +received, ventured no farther, and shortly afterwards began to descend. +When he reached the party below, it was clear that he met with a +reprimand from the leader for his want of courage; but he sullenly +refused to make another attempt, and seemed by his gesticulations to +invite each of his comrades in turn to take his place. But nobody came +forward, and after an excited discussion—portions of which were in tones +so loud that Abdul was able to interpret to Schwab, nervously eager to +learn what was to be done—a messenger was sent off in the direction of +Ain Afroo, while the five or six who remained settled down to keep watch +at the foot of the precipice. + +[Illustration: “ABDUL BENT OVER THE BRINK AND SMARTLY RAPPED HIS +KNUCKLES WITH THE BUTT OF TOM’S REVOLVER.”] + +Rather more than an hour passed. Schwab became more and more anxious. At +last a much larger party rode down at a gallop, among them the sheikh +himself. Raising his voice when he came below the cave, he called on the +occupants to surrender, threatening them with the most fearful tortures +if they persisted in defying him. It was evident from the terms he used +that he was under the impression that his escaped prisoners and their +rescuers were all in the cave together, and thus that he had them fairly +trapped. Abdul made the most of this mistake. He warned the sheikh +against braving the power of the white man. He had already had one +example of it; the Firangi had shown him more mercy than he deserved; +the second example would entail dire consequences on himself and his +village. But this reply only fanned the flames of the sheikh’s wrath; he +was not to be intimidated by words: and, hurling more threats, he began +to consult with his followers as to some means of enforcing his summons. + +It was clearly a hazardous if not indeed an impossible task to approach +the cave from below. One man in the cave, so long as he kept himself out +of range of rifle fire, could hold any number at bay. How much more, +then, would it be disastrous to make the attempt against, as the sheikh +supposed, five or six well-armed men? But, as Abdul well knew, it was +just possible to gain the plateau above the cave, from which access to +it could be obtained, by climbers acting in concert on the eastern face +of the hill. That this longer but easier ascent would be known to the +enemy there was no doubt, for Abdul had just recognized, among the +horsemen who had accompanied the sheikh, a young man who had been his +companion in former days, and with whom as a boy he had actually +performed the feat. + +Anxiously he watched the colloquy below. Behind, Schwab was imploring +him to explain what the sheikh had said. It turned out as he had feared. +His former companion with a few others left the sheikh and disappeared; +the rest made themselves comfortable within a few yards of the foot of +the hill. Abdul had little doubt that he would soon have to reckon with +an attack from above; not an easy matter, in truth, but far more likely +to succeed than any attempt from below. + +There was a long interval. Under stress of fear and hunger, Schwab was +nearly demented. He walked about the cave, with his hands pressed hard +upon the neighbourhood of the lowest button of his waistcoat, uttering +guttural groans, making lugubrious appeals to the Homeland, and to a +lady whom he called at one time Mrs. Bottle, at another “mein briddy +Chain,” and ever and anon anathematizing Thomas Dorrell, “vat do nozink +for me—for me, vat do so much for him viz Photographic Sensitizer +Preparation Number Six.” Abdul paid no heed to the German’s fumings and +frettings, nor to the entreaties of Salathiel ben Ezra, who, stretched +on his back, tied hand and foot, added to his prayers the most lavish +promises if the Moor would only release him and help him to return to +his own place. + +At last, Abdul, squatting silent and watchful just within the opening of +the cave, saw a pair of legs dangling in front of him. Some of the enemy +had, as he had foreseen, made their way to the top of the hill, and were +about to attempt to reach the cave from above. It was a foolhardy +proceeding, for they could only come singly, and the occupants of the +cave could easily dispose of them. Indeed, Abdul surmised that the +sheikh was trying an experiment, sending one of his men to draw the +badger. However that may have been, the application of the point of +Abdul’s knife to the calf of one of the dangling legs caused the owner +of them to draw them hastily up and to swarm up the rope to which he was +clinging, as a spider runs up his filmy thread when threatened by an +enemy. + +Apparently the sheikh was satisfied that a direct assault, whether from +above or below, was hopeless, for thenceforth the cave party were left +in peace. But it was peace only externally. Even Abdul himself, who had +hitherto preserved extraordinary composure, now showed signs of +perturbation. What was the enemy doing? He dared not attempt to see, for +he knew that if he showed his head it would be the target for a dozen +bullets. Did the sheikh intend to starve them out? Their food was all +gone; the tin of water was almost empty; it was impossible to get a +fresh supply of either. Voices were heard from below; once Abdul heard +an answering call from above; it appeared indeed as if the sheikh had +resolved on an investment, knowing that sooner or later the occupants of +the cave must yield or die. + +The day passed. Schwab fell into a sleep of exhaustion. Abdul remained +sleepless, wondering why the Englishman had not reappeared with the +airship, as he had said he would do. Had some mishap befallen him? +Surely he had not wilfully deserted them! This Abdul refused to believe. +When morning broke he ventured to go to the mouth of the cave and look +out. The Moors were still below; apparently they had camped all night on +the ground. They caught sight of Abdul, and mockingly invited him to +share their cous-cousoo. He made no reply, and again withdrew into the +shadow. + +Schwab was by this time a wreck. He lay silent. From the back of the +cave came piteous moans from Salathiel, begging to be relieved of his +bonds. But Abdul was obdurate; he had enough to do to keep watch on the +enemy in front, without having to reckon with the Jew besides, for he +knew that Salathiel would stick at no treachery. + +Impassive as Abdul appeared, he was in reality on the verge of despair. +The time was fast approaching when he must choose between starvation and +surrender. The choice did not trouble him; he would never surrender to +the sheikh of Ain Afroo. What troubled him was the thought that his old +enemy would once more triumph; that the vengeance on which he had set +his whole mind for years was to be snatched from him. + +He was bitterly thinking on these things when Schwab rose feebly to his +feet. + +“I can no more,” he said; “I go to yield myself. I muss have somezink to +eat. Still am I Jarman sobjeck; zey vill respeck our Kaiser who is in +Berlin.” + +Abdul expostulated, striving in his imperfect English to warn the German +of the risk he ran. He knew the sheikh; he was a terrible enemy; he +would care nothing who or what his prisoner was. Who in Europe would be +any the wiser if in this remote mountainous region a man were slowly +done to death in the dungeons of a kasbah? But Schwab would not listen; +he craved for food; “Let us eat, for to-morrow we die,” exactly +expresses his state of mind. He moved towards the entrance to the cave, +shaking off, with a sudden access of rage, Abdul’s detaining hand. The +Moor followed him, and stood behind him when Schwab, at the brink of the +precipice, waved his hand and shouted— + +“I give myself opp. But you muss come and fetch me.” + +But before the echo of his voice had died away, Abdul suddenly pulled +him back by main force into the cave. + +“See! see!” he cried. + +“Tausend Teufel! Vat shall I see?” returned Schwab. + +At the point where Abdul now stood the country immediately beneath the +cave was invisible, and both the men were screened from the Moors. But +the sky was open, and far away in the clear blue to the north-west Abdul +had descried a speck which moment by moment was growing larger. + +“Vat shall I see?” repeated Schwab, vainly looking in the direction of +Abdul’s stretched forefinger. + +“The flying ship!” cried Abdul. “It comes!” + +“You say zat! Lemme see, lemme see, lemme see!” + +He roofed his eyes with his hands, and peered into the distance. + +“Ach! zey veep!” he said, rubbing away the tears that had gathered. “It +is for vant of food, nozink else.” + +He looked again. + +“Boy, you are right!” he exclaimed, “truly it is ze airship. Zey come +for me! Ach! you dirty Moors, now you may go choke! I vizdraw vat I said +about give myself opp. I vas not myself; I vas—I vas—anozer man. Ach, +boy, so am I indeed hungry!” + +The two watched the airship drawing nearer. For a moment Abdul wondered +whether it would come into any danger from the rifles of the Moors +either below or on the hilltop above. But remembering how clearly +everything on the ground could be seen from the car of the airship, he +was reassured, guessing that Tom would descry the besiegers in plenty of +time to avoid their shots. + +To gain the hilltop the airship had approached at a considerable +altitude, but was now dropping. About half a mile from the cave it +suddenly made an upward sweep, and Abdul knew that the enemy had been +seen. Before it sailed out of sight over the hill, Abdul plucked off his +djellab, and waved it in the mouth of the cave. The signal provoked two +or three shots from those of the Moors below whose attention was not +engrossed by the machine, which some of them had seen before and of +which all had heard most marvellous accounts. Abdul was unhurt, and his +signal was answered by a shot from the car of the airship, which then +passed out of sight. + +“Famos! Zey know ve are still alive! Mein Gott! truly mein hunger is +colossal.” + +Tom had in point of fact discovered the enemy at the moment when Abdul +noticed the change in the direction of the airship. The discovery was by +no means a welcome one. + +“I didn’t reckon on their hiding-place being found out,” he said to +Oliphant. “It makes things rather awkward.” + +“They must be in a pretty bad state in the cave if the Moors have been +here long.” + +“And we can’t get at them; we daren’t go too near, for at close quarters +the Moors would riddle the planes with their shot and very likely smash +the engines. And we certainly can’t let the airship down and go for +them. The worst of it is, they know pretty well by this time what the +airship really is, and we couldn’t throw them into a panic as we did +before.” + +“Confound this German!” said Oliphant. “I shouldn’t mind if we could +have a really good scrimmage and some fun for our money, but there’s +nothing in it.” + +“There’s Abdul, you see,” replied Tom. “We’ll have to think it out. +They’re in the cave, safe enough, and can evidently hold on there. Let +us make for that hill yonder, and think the matter out.” + +As the airship crossed the hill of the cave, Tom steering for the +loftier hill some five miles to the east, a dozen Moors sprang to their +saddles and set off in pursuit. But the ground was very rough; they had +to follow a tortuous route; and when, a few minutes later, the airship +reached the hill, Tom calculated that he had probably half-an-hour to +spare before the horsemen would arrive. + +“We’d better ground, and economize fuel,” he said. “’Pon my word, +Oliphant, it seems as if this is going to be as tough a job as it was at +the kasbah.” + +Choosing a fairly open space almost at the top of the hill, Tom brought +the machine to earth. Then, while Oliphant watched for signs of the +pursuing horsemen, Tom stretched himself on his back, with his hands +under his head and his cap tilted over his eyes, and settled down to a +good hard think. + +“Don’t go to sleep,” said Oliphant. + +Tom replied with a grunt. + + + + +CHAPTER XV—VIEW HALLOO! + + +Oliphant sat with his knees up, looking at his friend, thinking what a +cool hand he was. No one could have guessed from Tom’s easy attitude +that he was thinking out a problem on which lives depended. As the +minutes passed, even Oliphant was deceived. + +“Not asleep, Dorrell?” + +Tom grunted, but did not stir. Another minute or two, then he suddenly +jumped up. + +“Well, I think I’ve got it,” he said, and he chuckled. + +“What is it?” + +“Come along. I’ll explain as we go.” + +The two mounted the car; Tom started the ascensional screws; and the +airship rose slowly from the hill. When they had left the ground some +three hundred feet beneath them they saw, a mile or more distant, the +body of horsemen who had set off in pursuit from the Moors’ encampment. +The airship was headed in the direction from which they had come, and +when they saw it they halted, and waited until it had soared past them; +then, having no doubt that it was returning to the hill with the +intention of again attempting to rescue the blockaded men, they wheeled +round, and galloped in pursuit. + +The airship was going at only a moderate speed, so that the horsemen +were able to keep pace with it. Tom chuckled again, and Oliphant, to +whom he had by this time imparted his notion, seemed to find great +amusement in the sight. + +“The beggars little imagine they’re playing our game,” he said. + +“No, indeed. I wonder what they really are thinking. Probably they fancy +something has gone wrong with our works and we can’t go any faster.” + +“D’you think they’ve got wind of our former breakdown?” + +“It’s not unlikely. News travels very fast in these countries that +haven’t got the telegraph!” + +When they arrived at the hill of the caves, there appeared to be no +change in the situation. A small group of four or five men were +squatting on the summit; more than a score were congregated below. All +eyes were directed upwards as the airship again came into view, and the +men laughed, recognizing how fruitless would be any renewed attempt to +rescue the prisoners. They all carried rifles, and evidently intended to +use them when the vessel came within range. But it passed too high above +their heads, still going very slowly, and, so far from descending +towards the cave, sailed on towards the sea. It crossed one of the +adjacent hills, then sank a little, so that it was only visible then to +the few men who kept watch above. + +But a minute or two afterwards the occupants of the car, looking round, +saw that these men were on their feet, gesticulating with great +excitement. + +“They’ve taken the bait!” cried Oliphant, laughing outright. + +The men had noticed that the airship, instead of continuing its +north-westerly course, had suddenly taken a turn to the left, and was +making at tremendous speed straight for the village of Ain Afroo. Rising +higher into the air, so that he could get a view over the shoulder of +the hill, Tom saw that the whole body of horsemen, now joined by the +sheikh and his party, were riding at a mad gallop for the village. By +this time the airship was a mile ahead of them, and the two Englishmen +laughed heartily as they watched the frantic efforts of the Moors to +reduce the gap. They were left hopelessly behind, and were still more +than a mile from the walls when the airship, hovering directly over the +roof of the kasbah, began very slowly to drop earthwards as if a descent +were going to be made on the spot where it had formerly rested. + +The descent took a considerable time. Who was there to tell the frenzied +horsemen that the accursed Firangi was playing with them? They urged +their foaming steeds up the hill at a furious rate, making light of all +obstacles, and extorting a tribute of admiration from the Englishmen for +horses and riders alike. They clattered into the village, dashed through +the street, pulled the horses up on their haunches at the door of the +kasbah, flung themselves from the saddles, and poured into the patio and +up the stairs. + +The sheikh himself, by far the best mounted of the troop, was the first +to arrive; and within a few seconds he sprang out of the opening on the +roof, followed closely by several members of his household. But what was +this? The airship, instead of resting on the flagged roof, was hundreds +of feet above them, and, horror of horrors! sailing with terrific speed +back towards the hill of the caves. For a few moments the Moors stood +gazing in bewilderment, being joined by more men from below. Then, with +hearty Moslem curses, they rushed back to the opening, toppling over one +another, stumbling down the stairs in their haste. Down into the patio, +out of the gate, on to their horses’ backs once more, and off they set, +pell-mell after the airship. + +But the horses were badly blown. There were four miles of heavy country +to cover. And by the time they were again clear of the walls the airship +was halfway to the hill. + +Tom and his friend were hugely delighted with the success of their +simple bit of strategy. They could see the horsemen like ants in the +distance beneath, urging their poor panting horses to the utmost of +their capacity. + +“We ought to have plenty of time to get them away,” said Tom. + +“Yes, but hang it all! we’ve clean forgotten that we can’t lift both +Schwab and the Moor.” + +“Great Scott!” Tom ejaculated, in consternation. But in a moment his +face cleared. “We’ll manage that,” he said cheerfully. But then he +received another shock. He saw that the four or five men who had held +their watch on the plateau were still there: they had not followed the +rest. Their horses could be seen tethered in the grove beneath, and the +men were gathered in a knot, watching the rapid approach of the machine, +which probably they had expected to see no more. + +“There’s only one thing for it,” said Tom. “We must go slap at them, and +trust to luck. If they shoot, they may do so before we are within range, +and at this speed they may easily miss us. They are sure to be a bit +nervous, too.” + +Tom had already begun the descent, obliquely upon the hill. When the +airship was, as nearly as he could calculate, on a level with the +summit, he again put the engines to their utmost speed, and dashed +straight at the little group. There were three or four reports almost +simultaneously, and above the whirr of the screws Tom thought he heard a +sound of rending, as if one of the planes had been struck by a bullet. +The vessel, indeed, dipped slightly, and for a moment he feared that it +would be dashed against the face of the hill. But he jerked up the lever +controlling the planes, the airship rose the few feet necessary to clear +the summit, and once more sped on its course. + +By this time, however, the group on the hilltop had taken fright. They +could not know that if the airship dashed into them, they would be as +formidable to it as it could be to them. Even if they had known this, +they would probably not have been willing to sell their lives, even +though in doing so they should break up the machine and hurl its +occupants to destruction. With one consent they broke and fled. + +Tom instantly reversed the engines, and the airship glided slowly to +rest on the plateau. But the path by which the fugitives were attempting +to make good their flight was only wide enough to accommodate one man at +a time, and that with difficulty. Only three of the men had begun to +descend when Tom sprang out of the car. The other two, fearing to be +attacked from behind, turned instinctively to meet the supposed danger. +Then, seeing that they had only two men to deal with, and feeling no +doubt that they would be completely at the mercy of these men when once +they had begun the descent, they hesitated for a second at the brink. + +If they had used this second to draw their formidable knives, Tom’s +adventure might have ended there and then, for in his eagerness he had +forgotten to snatch up his revolver. But their halt was due rather to +nervousness than to courage, and Tom was never lacking in promptitude at +the critical moment. He dashed straight at them. One of them swung round +at once and slithered down the path. The other, somewhat more +mettlesome, made a grab at his knife. But he had only half drawn it from +his belt when Tom’s fist shot out and tumbled him headlong after his +comrade. The result would have been amusing if Tom had had time to +observe it. From top to bottom of that rocky declivity there was an +avalanche of Moors. The impetus with which the topmost man had been shot +over the edge sent him smack into the man next below. The two then +rolled, or rather pitched, on top of those who had preceded them, and +were making their way quickly yet laboriously down the steep tracks, and +it is to be feared that there were bruised and broken limbs at the +bottom. + +But Tom had neither eyes nor ears for the discomfiture of his enemies. +There was still much to be done before he could be sure that his friends +and his airship were out of harm’s way. One of his friends was already +taking things into his own hands. At the first hint of what was +happening Abdul had left the mouth of the cave, and was now swarming up +the perilous face of the hillside. Breathless he came over the brink, on +the opposite side from that where the Moors had disappeared, almost +before Tom could turn round. + +“All well below?” asked Tom. + +“Yes, master.” + +“Can you bring up the big man?” + +“With a rope, master.” + +“Quick, then: we have no time to spare.” + +“And the Hudi, master?” + +“What of him?” + +“He made them come. We tied him, feet and hands.” + +“Untie him, but leave him. He can make them come again!” + +A rope was quickly unshipped from the car and strongly looped. Abdul +descended, the rope being held by both Oliphant and Tom above, who, +doubtful whether their strength would stand the strain of the ponderous +German’s weight, hitched it round a rocky prominence at the brink of the +hill. But fear lent Schwab extraordinary agility—as once before in the +enclosure of Midfont House. With the rope looped about him, he hauled +himself up by it, assisting his progress with his feet against the hill. +He was in a bath of perspiration, his fat face was pale as death, when +he reached the top and sank exhausted at Tom’s feet. Oliphant and Tom +together hoisted him into the car, and by the time he was settled, Abdul +had cut the Jew’s bonds and again clambered up, pursued by entreaties, +wild threats, execrations, from the luckless Salathiel ben Ezra. + +Glancing in the direction of Ain Afroo, Tom rejoiced to see that he had +still about ten minutes to spare before the pursuing horsemen could +arrive at the spot. He knew from experience that with Schwab as a +passenger the ascensional screws did not exert sufficient power to lift +three other men; but when Oliphant had reminded him of this, a way out +of the difficulty suggested itself. If once the airship could be raised +from the ground and the horizontal screws set in motion, it was likely +that, with the speed thus obtained, they might suffice (the planes being +inclined at the proper angle) to overcome the downward pull of gravity. + +Tom rapidly explained to Abdul the plan he had formed. Then, entering +the car in which Schwab and Oliphant already were, he set the +ascensional screws in motion. The vessel slowly rose. Meanwhile Abdul +had looped about his body the rope by which Schwab had been hauled up, +the upper end of which had again been securely attached to the car. When +the airship had risen a few feet from the hill-top, Tom set the +horizontal engines at full speed, and the vessel sailed beyond the +plateau, Abdul dangling from it at the end of the rope, as he had done +once before when rescued from the shark. He showed no fear; in the loop +he was perfectly safe, for even if the vessel sank with his weight, it +would be so slowly that he would run no risk of being brought too +violently into contact with the ground. + +As Tom had expected, the vessel did not sink. But, the horizontal screws +being partly engaged in counteracting the force of gravity, the speed of +the airship was reduced to only five or six miles an hour, and at that +rate it was evident that the fuel would not hold out until they reached +the coast. A second breakdown must be averted at all costs; it was +unlikely that they would be able to escape the clutches of predatory +Moors a second time. No doubt the story of what had happened before had +spread for many miles through the country, and short shrift would be +given to the aeronauts if again they were brought to earth. + +There was now only a minute or two to spare before the sheikh would +arrive. Whatever could be done must be done at once. Glancing down, Tom +saw below him the horses belonging to the men who had just been tumbled +from the plateau. The men themselves were lying at the foot of the hill, +not dead, as Tom was glad to see—the rugged declivity had broken their +fall—but evidently completely disabled. Without hesitation Tom reduced +the speed of the engines and descended, shouting to Abdul, who at the +end of the rope would of course reach the ground first, to secure two of +the best horses, and follow as fast as he could in the track of the +airship. + +Owing to the delay that had occurred, Abdul had only just leapt into the +saddle when the horsemen came into sight scarcely half a mile away. The +sheikh was far ahead of his men, and the pace even of his splendid Arab +showed that there was little fear of Abdul being overtaken. The young +Moor set off at a gallop, a second horse at his side. There was a shout +behind him; the sheikh called upon his followers to spur their flagging +steeds: clearly he intended gamely to continue the pursuit. + +But the fugitives were now well away. Tom accommodated the speed of the +airship to the pace of the horses below, keeping at a height of no more +than a hundred feet from the ground so as to be able to drop down and +stand by Abdul in case of need. For a few minutes it seemed as though +the lad was to be close pressed, in spite of the hard galloping the +horses of the pursuers had already done. But gradually they dropped +farther and farther behind; Abdul’s horses were fresh; he himself was a +light weight; and Tom began to breathe more freely. + +Another danger, however, occurred to him. The country was at present +wild and desolate, with no signs of habitation. But as he neared the +coast, he would undoubtedly pass scattered villages and towns, and it +was possible that Abdul might be checked at one of these. He therefore +felt it desirable to rise to a greater height, so that he might obtain a +more extensive outlook over the country and indicate to Abdul a course +which would prevent him from running into danger. + +He soon saw that his precaution was justified. The pursuers were still +sticking doggedly to the trail, and Tom noticed that from time to time +they were joined by fresh horsemen from the hamlets through which they +passed. He could not distinguish figures in the distance, but he had no +doubt that the sheikh had already obtained a fresh horse, and was among +a group which had far outstripped the rest of the troop and was +gradually diminishing the distance between them and their quarry. Abdul +was riding gallantly on, changing from horse to horse with admirable +dexterity; but it was clear that the pursuers, with many opportunities +of obtaining remounts, must in course of time run him down. The airship +would always indicate the direction in which they should ride. + +Again Tom had to devise a means of overcoming a new difficulty. The +chase had now lasted some hours, and the matter was becoming urgent. By +good luck, the sight of a high conical hill, well wooded, somewhat to +the right of the course they had been following, suggested a plan. +Lowering the airship to within easy speaking distance of the Moor—a +manœuvre which caused some uneasiness to his horses, tired as they +were—Tom directed him to make for this hill, and remain in hiding among +the trees until rejoined. At the moment he thought of making all speed +to the yacht, dropping Schwab, replenishing his can of fuel, and +returning for Abdul. But a little consideration caused him to change his +mind. It might prove a very difficult matter to find the hill again when +returning. It must be, he guessed, at least sixty miles from the sea, +and he could not remember the landmarks exactly enough to be able to +retrace his course. + +In rapid consultation with Oliphant he decided on another plan. Altering +the course of the airship several points to the southward, and keeping a +sharp lookout upon the pursuers, he found that they were still following +him as a guide. No longer having to consider the powers of endurance of +Abdul’s horses, he quickened the speed of the airship, and saw in a +little while that this had had its effect, several of the horsemen +beginning to straggle, though they all continued in the same direction. +Having thus taken the enemy some five or six miles out of their course, +he suddenly swung round and made off at full speed towards the hill +where he had left Abdul, of which he had been careful not to lose sight. + +“They are a game lot,” remarked Oliphant, as the horsemen again followed +the track. They were soon left mere specks on the horizon, and at last +dropped entirely out of sight. Approaching the hill from another side, +some time elapsed before the airship was seen by Abdul from his +concealment in the wood. Then he again mounted; his horses had profited +by the short rest: and the fugitives, having gained several miles by +Tom’s manœuvre, were able to take matters comparatively easy until late +in the afternoon. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI—ICARUS + + +Meanwhile Schwab had awoke to the facts of existence, and the manner in +which he announced his awakening was characteristic. + +“Himmel! how I am hungry!” + +“Hullo, Mr. Schwab! Feel better?” said Tom, throwing a hasty glance at +the German lying against the rail. + +“Vorse! vorse! Tousand times vorse!” + +Oliphant laughed at his hollow tones. + +“It is nozink for to laugh,” returned Schwab with a flicker of +animation. “I am vizout food, I know not how many hours. It is not viz +me custom to go so long vizout food; it give me rude pain—zere!” + +He laid his hand on the lowest button of his waistcoat. + +“No longer am I as I vas. Vunce I swell, not too moch, but all ober; +now, I fade, I shrink, I have to get ze tailor to take me in.” + +“Awful, for a business man,” said Oliphant—“to be taken in, you know.” + +“So! But it muss be done. Ach! I am hungry as a—as a—as a——” + +“Hunter!” suggested Oliphant. + +“No; hungry as a rhinoceros. I could eat—I could eat—I could eat a——” + +“Whale!” + +“No; I could eat a steak, underdone, from ze grill, viz chip bodadoes, +gabbage viz vinegar, and Voosder sauce, viz a long glass—ach! two long +glasses, of lager from München. Ach! ze zought of it make my mous cry.” + +“For goodness’ sake, Oliphant, give him some grub and shut his mouth,” +cried Tom. + +“Shut my mous? How zen can I eat? For ze sake of anyzink give me +somezink to eat; zen my mous vill shut and open of itself; vun needs not +to zink ven one eats.” + +Bubbling with amusement, Oliphant handed the German some biscuits from +the stock they had brought with them. But his mirth evaporated when he +caught sight of Tom’s face. He had wondered a little at the tetchy tone +in which Tom had last addressed him, and from his anxious expression he +could not but guess that something was seriously wrong. + +“What’s the matter, Dorrell?” + +“The engines—don’t you smell ’em?” + +“I do,” replied Oliphant, sniffing. “What’s it mean?” + +“It means that the turbine casing is becoming overheated. I altered the +inlet valve so as to let more of the explosive mixture into the +turbine—and this is the result.” + +“What can we do?” + +“Simply reduce speed and hope that we can weather through.” + +“Any idea how much farther we have to go?” + +“About fifty miles, I should think. We must have done forty at least. I +shut off one of the engines just now, but the second one can’t keep us +afloat. I wish Schwab would fade and shrink into nothing.” + +Schwab had heard nothing of this. He was otherwise occupied. But noting +now the anxious looks of his two companions he said, with his mouth +full—“Do I eat too many?” + +Tom was too much concerned to reply, but Oliphant laughed again. + +“We can’t go on,” said Tom. “I shall have to drop her somewhere and see +if I can put matters right. We were five or six miles ahead of the Moors +when I caught sight of them last, and we’ve a few minutes’ grace at any +rate. They won’t know exactly where we are.” + +Choosing a secluded spot, he descended and brought the airship to rest. +Abdul had halted; Tom explained to him the cause of his descent, and set +him to keep watch on the enemy while he examined the machinery. The Moor +looked thoroughly done up, and it struck Oliphant that he was even more +in need of food than Schwab, so he gave him the remainder of the stock +of biscuits—not a large quantity now. As for Schwab, he had fallen +asleep. + +It took Tom but a few minutes to adjust the valve, but he knew that the +result of this adjustment must be a serious reduction of speed. He was +greatly perturbed. It was clearly impossible for Abdul to ride much +farther: the horses were in a terrible state of exhaustion. They were +cropping the scanty herbage at the side of the track—poor refreshment +after the fatigue they had undergone. + +“The Moors’ horses must be equally played out, that’s one comfort,” said +Tom;—“at least, those that have pursued us all the way, if any have. +That’s doubtful: the Moors have probably drawn on every village they +have come through.” + +“I say, did you hear that?” asked Oliphant. + +It was a shout—apparently from a spur of forest some distance to the +right of the line which they had expected the enemy to take. + +“They’re spreading out! Who’d have thought they’d have kept it up so +long?” + +“Well, you see, they know that one of us is on horseback: that means +that the machine won’t carry us all; and in the nature of things they +can overtake a rider.” + +“I can see nothing for it but that Abdul must push on alone,” said Tom. +“We can manage to get along slowly, and as long as the machine can keep +us afloat at all they can’t catch us. But if they catch sight of Abdul +he’s bound to be run down. Abdul, you must go on by yourself. Get to the +coast if you can, and swim out to the yacht—can you swim?” + +“Yes, master.” + +“Swim to the yacht, then, and tell Mr. Greatorex what has happened. +He’ll do all he can to help us if we can only get near enough.” + +Abdul showed some reluctance to leave the others in difficulties, but he +obeyed. He mounted the less exhausted of the horses and set off. + +“He’ll have a chance,” remarked Tom, as he disappeared. “When the Moors +see us in the air again they will suppose that Abdul is keeping pace +with us as before.” + +“It’s nearly six o’clock; it’ll be dark soon.” + +“Yes, that gives him another chance—if they don’t sight him.” + +At this moment he observed a score of horsemen emerging at a rapid pace +from the forest whence the shout had come. They were about half a mile +away. Catching sight of the airship, they gave utterance to loud cries +of triumph, and somewhat changed their direction. Tom at once caused the +airship to rise, and by the time the Moors arrived at the spot where it +had rested it was high above their heads and out of harm’s way. + +The Moors immediately began to scour the neighbourhood for signs of +Abdul. Tom steered slightly to the left of the direction in which the +lad had gone, in order still further to delude the pursuers. Not long +afterwards a much larger band of riders galloped up from the direction +in which the airship had come, and when they joined the former party, it +was seen that they numbered at least sixty in all. + +“We’re rousing the whole country,” said Tom with a return to his wonted +cheerful manner. “If it goes on like this there’ll be thousands by the +time we reach the coast.” + +“Shall we reach it, d’you think?” + +“I can’t tell. The engines are good for a few miles; how many I don’t +know.” + +“Vere am I?” said Schwab, awaking. “Ach! I remember. Do ve soon arrive +at ze yacht?” + +“We probably shan’t arrive at all,” replied Tom. “One of the engines is +failing.” + +“But it muss not—it muss not! Surely ze Photographic Sensitizer +Preparation Number Six vill not fail? Schlagintwert’s preparations never +fail; zat is ze foundation of zair business.” + +“No; the preparation is all right; it’s the engine.” + +“Ach! it should have been made in Jarmany! But, tell me true, Mr. +Dorrell, are ve in danger?” + +“The truth is, Mr. Schwab, that I can’t guarantee the machine for +another ten miles.” + +“Ach! Vat vill I become? Vat vill Schlagintwert’s become! Vy did you +bring me in zis bad-made airship from my captivity? If you zere had left +me, our Kaiser who is in Berlin vould have sent a telegram to ze Sultan +of Marokko, and zen ve should see somezink. Zere had I at least enough +to eat.” + +“Confound it!” cried Tom, thoroughly exasperated. “We came to fetch Sir +Mark Ingleton, not you. But for you we should have been halfway home to +England by this time; and but for your weight, we shouldn’t have been in +this pretty mess at all.” + +Schwab’s jaw fell. This was an aspect of the matter that had not +occurred to him. Lifting his waistcoat, and looking down, he said +slowly— + +“Truly I vish I had not eaten so much biscuit!” + +It was now getting dark. Tom steered towards a bit of rough country to +the north, again some points out of his course, his object being to +worry the pursuers as much as possible and to draw them away from the +line of Abdul’s flight. With great satisfaction he saw them follow. +After scattering over a wide area in search of the fugitive whose +disappearance had so much puzzled them, they had again formed a compact +body, and pursued the airship in the belief that their quarry must still +be within touch of it. In a few more minutes they were obliterated by +the darkness; but the sky was starry, and while on the ground they were +invisible from above, it was probable that the airship was still visible +to them. + +Tom had noticed for some time past that the wind, which had been slight +and for the most part in his favour during the day, was shifting, and +blowing with greater force. In the circumstances the airship was making +very little headway, and Tom’s anxieties were further increased when his +sense of smell apprised him that the engines were again becoming +overheated. Even if the airship were out of sight, the pursuers would +probably still hear the whirring of the propellers, and it was +advisable, both for the sake of cooling the machinery and of depriving +the enemy of a clue, that the airship should once more be brought to the +ground. But it was with some trepidation that Tom allowed it to sink. He +chose a spot just beyond a stretch of woodland from which it was +scarcely possible that the vessel could have been seen. He could only +hope that the sound had not been heard. + +“I vish——” began Schwab, as they came to rest. + +“Shut up!” said Tom in a vehement whisper. “Everything depends on our +keeping perfect silence now.” + +In a few minutes the horsemen could be heard approaching. They dashed +past the trees behind which the airship stood, and Tom’s heart beat fast +as he realized how very near the danger was. But the riders did not +pause, and the sound of the horses’ hoofs gradually faded away. + +“We’d better lie snug for a time,” said Tom. “Perhaps the wind will +moderate. I’m afraid the exertion of overcoming it would do for the +engines altogether.” + +While Oliphant held the electric torch, carefully shaded, Tom again +overhauled the engines. + +“The valve is sticking,” he said in a whisper. “There is some grit +between the stem and the sleeve. It must have got in at our last stop. I +shall have to take off the cover and file the stem smooth.” + +This was an operation of some difficulty; but as it turned out there was +time to spare, for as the night wore on the force of the wind rather +increased than diminished. Schwab bemoaned the lack of a pipe and beer; +the others were so tired and famished that they were not provoked to +either merriment or anger by his complaints. He by and by again fell +asleep. Tom and Oliphant kept watch and watch throughout the night. When +Tom awoke from an uneasy nap shortly before dawn, he was relieved to +find that the wind had dropped, though its direction was still +unfavourable. At daybreak a start was made, and for a short time the +valve worked satisfactorily, thanks to the large amount of oil used to +counteract the overheating. Then, however, the oil began again to give +off an unmistakable odour. The airship was brought to ground, and Tom +found that the injured stem had become bent. With infinite care, to +avoid breaking it altogether, Tom straightened it with a small hammer, +and again filed it smooth. + +Once more the airship resumed its flight. Fortunately there was no sign +of the pursuers, and Tom hoped that Abdul had managed to evade their +clutches. + +The country was very wild and deserted, and Tom purposely steered some +miles out of what he thought was the true course, in order to avoid the +cultivated district that lay in the direct line to the yacht. Suddenly, +however, skirting the shoulder of a hill, he came into full view of a +village, with the sea a few miles beyond. + +“Thank Heaven!” ejaculated Oliphant, “we may do it yet.” + +“Surely that’s the very village you were taken to with Ingleton,” said +Tom, scanning the place through his binocular. “Have a look.” + +“By George! I believe you’re right. There’s a whole host of Moors round +it, too. They’ve sighted us. They’re off!” + +Taking the glass from him, Tom saw a body of at least a hundred and +fifty men galloping off in a direction which would bring them between +him and the coast. + +“Smother them!” he cried. “I wouldn’t mind if we hadn’t to drop so often +to cool.” + +“Can’t we make one good dash for it? We’ve only eight or nine miles to +go, have we?” + +“My dear fellow, we can’t do five miles at a stretch—unless we drop Mr. +Schwab.” + +“Donnerwetter!” cried the German, starting up in fright. “Vat you say? +Vould you do zat? Vould you desert? Vould you leave me, a Jarman +sobjeck, to be tore in piece by tousand vile Mohrs, ven ze sea, ze sea +vat sails ze Jarman fleet, is so near, so near? But yes—I know it! I +alvays say so. Never trust an Englishman—egzept in business!” + +Tom treated this outburst with silent contempt. + +“I can’t go at a higher speed than fifteen miles an hour,” he said to +Oliphant. “We’re perhaps a mile nearer the sea than the Moors, but they +can equal our pace for a short distance, and I know we’ll have to come +down before we get to the sea. If we do, we’ll be collared.” + +“Risk a dash! It seems our only chance.” + +Tom hesitated for a few moments. Then he said, setting his teeth— + +“All right. It’s the only thing to do.” + +He put both engines at full speed, and Schwab shouted with delight when +he saw that the airship was gradually drawing away from the galloping +Moors. But in ten minutes all three were aware of the ominous smell. Was +it possible to reach the yacht, now clearly in view? Tom, alert to catch +the slightest indication of failure on the part of the engines, hoped, +doubted, hoped again, but was resolved to hold on to the last. + +Another five minutes passed. + +Then all were startled by a strange grinding sound in the defective +engine. + +“What is it?” asked Oliphant. + +“It’s all up,” said Tom quietly. “The heat has loosened the turbine +blades, and they are smashing to pieces.” Even as he spoke sheets of +flame shot from the exhaust pipe, accompanied by a series of deafening +reports. + +Tom at once reduced speed, shouting to Oliphant to adjust the planes for +descent. + +“Zink! Zink vat you do!” cried Schwab, now almost frantic. “Zey vill +have us! Ze Mohrs vill cut our zroats! Vy—vy—vy——” + +Tom paid no heed; Oliphant muttered under his breath. They were sinking +towards a ravine through which a watercourse ran to the sea. The engine, +its parts grinding and tearing with a hideous scrunching sound, was +shooting out flames, to the accompaniment of detonations like those of a +Maxim gun. Another minute or two would witness a cataclysm; but Tom +thought that if the farther side of the ravine could be reached, they +might gain a little grace. The enemy would have some difficulty in +crossing at speed. + +The engines were failing; the airship was falling more and more rapidly. + +“Can’t screw the planes any further!” cried Tom. + +Oliphant wrenched at the lever; Tom put the whole force of the second +engine upon the ascensional screws; and the rapidity of descent was +somewhat checked. The ravine was directly beneath; Tom succeeded in +giving the vessel a last forward motion; then it came with a violent +bump to the ground, just on the further edge. + +“Out! Quick!” cried Tom to Schwab, who was bemoaning the shock he had +suffered. + +When all three stood safe on the ground, Tom caught hold of the rails of +the car. + +“I made it; I’ll break it; _they_ shan’t,” he said, and he toppled the +airship over into the gulf, where it was smashed to atoms. + +Then, with Oliphant at his side, and Schwab labouring behind, with +piteous entreaties that they would not desert him, he dashed towards the +cliff, a mile away, beyond which was the sea. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII—COMPLIMENTS AND THANKS + + +While yet in the air, Tom had seen a boat putting off from the yacht. +The vessel itself was no longer visible, concealed by the intervening +cliff; but the top of its mast, with Mr. Greatorex’s ensign flying, +could just be seen. Towards this Tom led the way at full speed. To go +very fast was impossible over the rough ground, but moderate as the pace +was it soon began to tell upon Schwab, who plunged heavily along, +tripping over tussocks of coarse grass that grew here and there on the +sandy soil. Fierce pants could be heard by the two running side by side +in front of him, though, in spite of his breathlessness, he managed to +give utterance every now and again to agonizing entreaties that the +others would not desert him. Moved by these, and remembering the +German’s game leg, the others waited for him, and catching each an arm, +hurried him along between them. + +Terror lent him strength and speed when the foremost of the pursuers, +arriving at the brink of the ravine, which at that point they were +unable to cross, began to fire upon the fugitives. Bullets whistled +past, alarmingly near, and Tom and Oliphant instinctively released +Schwab’s arms and moved apart, so as to present a smaller target to the +enemy. Meanwhile some of the Moors had galloped up the bank of the +ravine in search of a crossing. Glancing round, Tom was concerned to see +that these horsemen had disappeared; presumably they had found a +suitable crossing-place, and would soon again be on his tracks. In a few +moments they reappeared on the nearer bank, and set off at a gallop. + +The Englishmen were now about a quarter of a mile from the shore, Schwab +having dropped nearly a hundred yards behind, with another quarter-mile +between him and the horsemen. There could be little doubt that the +fugitives would be overtaken before they reached the edge of the cliff. +Even if they contrived to scramble down they might be snapped up under +the eyes of the yacht’s crew, should not the boat have arrived. And what +of the Moors who a day or two ago, when Tom left the place, had been +encamped in the hollow of the cliff? Were they still there? + +The question was answered almost as it occurred. Tom suddenly noticed a +horseman making towards him from the left, followed closely by a dozen +others. It was with a gasp of amazement that he recognized in the +foremost rider no other than Abdul. He came up at a breakneck pace, +sprang from his horse, and joined himself to the fugitives. Immediately +afterwards the Moors were upon the little party. Leaping from their +horses while still in full career, they threw themselves upon the four, +and though Tom and Oliphant each with a blow from his fist felled a man, +and Schwab threatened the vengeance of the Kaiser, they were overwhelmed +and flung to the ground. + +The Moors shouted with exultation, their cries being answered jubilantly +by the horsemen coming up from the ravine. They were beginning to bind +their captives; but before a single knot could be tied there came other +shouts from the direction of the sea. + +“At them, men; bowl ’em over!” + +Surely this was the voice of Mr. Greatorex! A lusty British cheer +answered him. With a great effort Tom threw off the Moor who was pinning +him down, and sprang to his feet in time to see a dozen sturdy seamen +rushing from the edge of the cliff. The Moors turned at bay, but nothing +could withstand the charge of the British tars, wielding their clubbed +rifles like flails. In a few seconds half of the Moors were on the +ground with more or less broken heads; the rest were in full flight. + +But the other troop of horsemen was now not more than a few hundred +yards distant. At a word from Captain Bodgers the sailors flung +themselves face downwards, ready to deal with the second band. + +“Aim at the horses!” cried Mr. Greatorex, as he came panting up in the +rear of his men, and flopped down beside them. + +A scattered volley brought half a dozen of the advancing horsemen to the +dust. The rest, unable, owing to the rugged uneven ground, to see with +what force they had to contend, reined up and hesitated. Another volley +caused them to draw off to some little distance, where they formed a +group and began to discuss how to retrieve this unexpected check. + +“Now for the boat, my lads!” cried Mr. Greatorex. + +Up sprang the men, and the whole body made a dash down the cliff. Before +the Moors had agreed upon their course, the fugitives were half-way +down. Seeing now by how few men they had been checked, the Moors came +after them at full speed. But by the time they reached the edge of the +cliff and dismounted the fugitives were at the bottom. + +At that moment there was a report and a puff of smoke out at sea, and a +shot, purposely aimed high, flew over the cliff, and fell a little to +the rear of the Moors. That was the finishing stroke. Their horses +stampeded and dashed straight for the ravine, the riders in wild pursuit +behind them. Three minutes afterwards Mr. Greatorex had his whole party +in the boat, and the sailors, with a final rousing cheer, pulled for the +yacht. + +Tom saw everything in a mist as he went aboard. Worn out with the +exertions and excitements of the past few days, he was only vaguely +conscious of being fussed over, and treated, as he said afterwards, more +or less as a baby. He was put to bed, slept heavily for several hours, +and awoke with a most exigent hunger. The yacht was in motion. He rose, +bathed, put on some clean things, and, feeling himself again, thankfully +obeyed Mr. Greatorex’s hearty call to dinner. + +Around the well-spread table he found the rest of the party already +seated. At the head was Mr. Greatorex, with Sir Mark Ingleton at his +right; at the foot, Captain Bodgers with Herr Schwab. The German had +tucked his napkin between his shirt and his waistcoat, and was gazing +with ecstatic anticipation through his glasses at the covered entrée +dishes just brought in by Timothy. + +Tom was taken aback, and not a little moved, when Sir Mark Ingleton rose +from his seat, and, grasping his hand, said— + +“Thank you, Mr. Dorrell. I have heard the whole story from Mr. Greatorex +and your Moorish follower. It is not for me to speak of the public +service you have rendered; personally, I owe you more than I can say, +and I shall never forget it.” + +“So!” chimed in Schwab, rising stiffly from his chair. His left hand +gripped his fork; his right enveloped Tom’s. “I zank you, for myself +personaliter, and for ze Kaiser, for Schlagintwert, and for Business. +Fill my glass, if you please,” he added to Timothy, whose smile +instantly changed to a frown—“I vish to cry ‘Hoch!’ No, no, not too +full, for ze ship moves, and ze champagne vould slop over.” + +Schwab’s intervention came in the nick of time to relieve Tom’s +embarrassment. + +“Come, Tom, my _dear_ fellow,” cried Mr. Greatorex, “_sit_ down. We were +only waiting for you.” + +“Where’s Oliphant?” asked Tom. + +“Hm! _M’Cracken_ is at the furnace,” replied Mr. Greatorex. + +“I say! That’s rough luck!” said Tom. + +“It is by his own wish. I did violence to my sense of what is _right_ +and _proper_, and invited him to a place at our board. He showed, I must +say, a commendable sense of his _duty_ in the matter. ‘I’m M’Cracken and +your stoker, sir,’ he said, ’till we get back to England.’” + +“May I suggest,” said Sir Mark Ingleton, “that a sense of the unfitness +of his attire also weighed with him?” + +“We can soon alter that,” said Tom. “He’s about my build; I’ll go and +rig him out in one of my suits.” + +“Ve shall not vait to begin?” said Schwab anxiously, holding knife and +fork upright on the table. + +“Mr. Oliphant will doubtless pardon us,” replied Sir Mark blandly. + +In a quarter of an hour Tom returned with Oliphant in white ducks and +blue serge. + +“Still is zere somezink left,” said Schwab. “I feel moch better, zough I +vish ze table vould not move. Do not fill your glass quite full, sir; it +vould slop over, and zat vould be pity.” + +“Where’s Abdul?” asked Tom, as he sat down. + +“With the men, forward,” said Mr. Greatorex. + +“That’s all right. I’m jolly glad he got off safely.” + +“A most intelligent youth,” said Sir Mark. “It appears that he rode +straight into the village of Salaam son of Absalaam with an urgent +demand for assistance from the sheikh of Ain Afroo. He was leading a +party of Moors in that direction when unluckily a genuine messenger from +the sheikh arrived. Abdul wheeled about and galloped for the shore, with +the rest at his heels, as you saw.” + +“Shust in time,” said Schwab. “Vun moment after, and I am no more.” + +“I haven’t heard your story yet, sir,” said Tom to the envoy. + +“Story, bless you, I have none to tell. I was on my way to Marrakesh, +where the Sultan was at the time, and was indiscreet enough one evening +to leave my camp for a stroll with only one attendant. I was snapped up, +enveloped in a djellab, and conveyed on horseback—to my great +discomfort—to the sheikh’s kasbah. There I had the good fortune to meet +Mr. Schwab, whose conversation, together with a Schlagintwert price list +and a copy of the _Daily Mail_, helped to lighten the tedium of my +captivity.” + +“I zank you, Sir Ingleton,” said Schwab. “Alvays do I vish to be useful. +_Utile et dulce._ You vill not forget vat I say about extra-special +discount to ze nobility and gentry? And I hear viz surprise, sir,” he +added to Oliphant, “zat you are son of a lord. Viz gompliments!” + +He handed Oliphant a card from his case. + +“Much obliged,” said Oliphant, kicking Tom under the table. “How did +they get hold of _you_?” + +“Vy, I tell you. I come to Rabat to buy great lot of carpets for +Schlagintwert. Zere I hear zat ze Sultan is at Marrakesh, and I zink I +shall visit him. I egzpect big order for alarm clocks and bianola. Zat +vill be good business. Ach! vat know ze Mohrs of business? Zey seize me; +zey care nozink ven I say I am Jarman sobjeck; zey understand nozink ven +I speak of our Kaiser who is in Berlin; and so am I shut opp. I smoke +all my tobacco; zere is no more. I read ze _Daily Mail_, and zink ven I +gontemblate ze advertisement vat colossal business is literature in +England. I read Schlagintwert’s price list, and make notes for new +edition; alas! zat muss all be done again. Zen I do nozink but zink +profound, until Sir Ingleton come and ve study ze list togezer.” + +“An experience I shall always cherish, believe me, Mr. Schwab,” said Sir +Mark. + +“I zank you, sir. Ze pleasure vas mutual; ze profit shall be +Schlagintwert’s.” + +“But how was it you were put in the dungeons?” asked Tom. + +“Vy, I tell you. Vun day come ze sheikh viz his men. Zink I, now has +arrive ze Kaiser’s telegram. But no; zey carry us down to ze deps, and +zere are ve shut opp vorse zan before!” + +“That was when they got the message from Salathiel ben Ezra, no doubt,” +said Tom,“—the Jew you found in the cave, Mr. Schwab.” + +“Ven I vas so hungry!” + +“I wonder what has become of him?” said Oliphant. “It’s to him I owe the +keenest sport I’ve ever had.” + +“The less said about that the _better_, M’C—I beg your pardon—Mr. +Oliphant. The man was a _villain_. I _said_ so, Tom. Timothy will have a +_scar_ for the rest of his days. And but for the Jew we shouldn’t have +lost our airship. Not that that matters. We’ve _proved_ it, you know; +we’ll build a larger one now.” + +“And Schlagintwerts shall buy it cost price!” + +“No, sir, Schlagintwerts shall _not_ buy it,” said Mr. Greatorex, +frowning severely on the German. “We will offer it to the Government. I +shall invite Colonel Capper to examine it, and Lord Langside, I trust, +will show himself sufficiently sensible of his obligation to us to make +no difficulties about the _price_.” + +“Vell, Schlagintwert shall have colossal order for Photographic +Sensitizer Preparation Number Six—at least until ze var come.” + +“_What_ war?” + +“Vy, ze var ven ze Kaiser shall zink it is time to teach ze vorld zat——” + +“Stay, Mr. Schwab,” interrupted Sir Mark, “we must not be indiscreet. As +a diplomatist it is my duty to avert war; as a business man you, I am +sure, would deplore it.” + +“So. Zat is shust vat I alvays say: zat is vat I go to say ven you +interrup me; ven ze Kaiser shall zink it is time to teach ze vorld zat +Business are Business!” + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of King of the Air, by Herbert Strang + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KING OF THE AIR *** + +***** This file should be named 36443-0.txt or 36443-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/4/4/36443/ + +Produced by Roger Frank, Juliet Sutherland and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/36443-0.zip b/36443-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..af82bf9 --- /dev/null +++ b/36443-0.zip diff --git a/36443-8.txt b/36443-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a4dc57a --- /dev/null +++ b/36443-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6796 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of King of the Air, by Herbert Strang + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: King of the Air + Or, To Morocco on an Aeroplane + +Author: Herbert Strang + +Illustrator: W. E. Webster + +Release Date: June 16, 2011 [EBook #36443] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KING OF THE AIR *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank, Juliet Sutherland and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + Complete List of Stories for Boys by + HERBERT STRANG + + ADVENTURES OF DICK TREVANION, THE + ADVENTURES OF HARRY ROCHESTER, THE + A GENTLEMAN-AT-ARMS + A HERO OF LIGE + A THOUSAND MILES AN HOUR + AIR PATROL, THE + AIR SCOUT, THE + BARCLAY OF THE GUIDES + BLUE RAIDER, THE + BOYS OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE + BRIGHT IDEAS + BURTON OF THE FLYING CORPS + CARRY ON + CRUISE OF THE GYRO-CAR, THE + DAN BOLTON'S DISCOVERY + FIGHTING WITH FRENCH + FLYING BOAT, THE + FRANK FORESTER + HEIR OF A HUNDRED KINGS, THE + HUMPHREY BOLD + JACK BROWN IN CHINA + JACK HARDY + KING OF THE AIR + KOBO + LONG TRAIL, THE + LORD OF THE SEAS + MARTIN OF OLD LONDON + MOTOR SCOUT, THE + NO MAN'S ISLAND + OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN, THE + ONE OF CLIVE'S HEROES + PALM TREE ISLAND + RIDERS, THE + RIVER PIRATES, THE + ROB THE RANGER + ROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS + SAMBA + SETTLERS AND SCOUTS + SULTAN JIM + SWIFT AND SURE + THROUGH THE ENEMY'S LINES + TOM BURNABY + TOM WILLOUGHBY'S SCOUTS + TRUE AS STEEL + WINNING HIS NAME + WITH DRAKE ON THE SPANISH MAIN + WITH HAIG ON THE SOMME + YOUNG JACK + + + + +[Illustration: HE CLUTCHED AT THE GRAPNEL, LET GO HIS HOLD OF THE MAST, +AND SWUNG CLEAR. Frontispiece--see page 79] + + + + + KING OF THE AIR + + Or, To Morocco on an Aeroplane + + By + + HERBERT STRANG + + ILLUSTRATED IN COLOUR BY W. E. WEBSTER + + + HUMPHREY MILFORD + OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS + + LONDON, EDINBURGH, GLASGOW + TORONTO, MELBOURNE, CAPE TOWN, BOMBAY + + + + + Copyright 1907 by the Bobbs-Merrill Company + in the United States of America. + + Published 1907. + + Reprinted 1908, 1909, 1911, 1913 (twice), 1915 (twice), + 1917, 1918, 1919 (twice), 1920, 1923, 1929 + + Printed in Great Britain by Richard Clay & Sons, Limited, + Bungay, Suffolk. + + + + + CONTENTS + + CHAPTER PAGE + I. Mr. Greatorex is Astonished 9 + II. Herr Schwab 20 + III. Tom makes Experiments 34 + IV. A Prisoner in Zemmur 51 + V. Off the Barbary Coast 63 + VI. Salathiel ben Ezra 81 + VII. The Hills of Zemmur 98 + VIII. The Swordsmith of Ain Afroo 116 + IX. A Bolt from the Blue 133 + X. The Kasbah 148 + XI. Prison Breakers 167 + XII. A Hitch 182 + XIII. Diplomacy 196 + XIV. The Troglodytes 218 + XV. View Halloo! 233 + XVI. Icarus 248 + XVII. Compliments and Thanks 262 + + + + + LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + "He clutched at the grapnel, let go his hold + of the mast, and swung clear" 79 + + "His sword flew from his grasp, and he reeled + dizzily to the ground." 130 + + "Tom, seizing a big stone, threw it with all his + force into the black room beneath" 187 + + "Abdul bent over the brink and smartly rapped his + knuckles with the butt of Tom's revolver" 222 + + + + +KING OF THE AIR + + + + +CHAPTER I--MR. GREATOREX IS ASTONISHED + + +Mr. John Greatorex was very wealthy, and very obstinate. He had made a +large fortune as a manufacturer of chemicals, but disclaimed any +knowledge of chemistry. He had dabbled a little in mechanics, and was +convinced that he possessed an accurate practical knowledge of its +applications. Consequently, when his new motor-car arrived, he saw no +necessity to take a chauffeur with him on its trial spin. He was like a +child with a new toy, jealous of participation. + +"My dear," said Mrs. Greatorex, as she handed him his motor goggles, +"are you sure you will not take Timothy? What if it breaks down?" + +"My _love_," said Mr. Greatorex in his emphatic way, "I do not _want_ +Timothy. It will not break down. If it _does_, I flatter myself I am +_competent_ to make any _necessary_ repairs. I shall be back at +seven-thirty--in good time for dinner; and I _hope and trust_ the soup +will _not_ be cold." + +He gave a preliminary _honk! honk!_ looking round with a smile that +plainly said, "There! you see that _everything_ is in order!" Then he +steered the car accurately down the drive to the road. + +His house lying in the heart of the country, Mr. Greatorex did not fear +to meet milestones in the shape of policemen with stop-watches, who +would take his number and afterwards confront him in court. In a minute +or two the car was whirling along the road at a rate which, it is to be +feared, gravely exceeded the speed limit. All went merry as a +marriage-bell, and Mr. Greatorex was at the height of exhilaration and +satisfaction, when, just as he was mounting the acclivity of Five Oaks +Bridge, without even a click in warning, the machine came to a dead +stop. Mr. Greatorex put the engine out of gear, then tried to start it +by turning the starting handle; but finding this of no avail he clapped +on the brake, skipped out of the car, removed his goggles and his +gloves, and set about making an examination. + +On the other side of the bridge, sitting on the bank of the stream, was +a boy, gazing with round eyes at a float that hung from a line attached +to a long home-made rod of yew. He had heard the clatter of the +motor-car as it came along the road; he was aware that the noise had +suddenly ceased; but, being a lad of great concentration, he did not +give a thought to what was happening out of sight at the further end of +the bridge. He had come out for an afternoon's fishing; two or three fat +carp lay beside him on the bank; and noticing at this moment a slight +movement of the float, he was soon oblivious of everything except the +fish on his hook. + +Half an hour passed. Three more fish had rewarded his patience; then, +satisfied with his catch, the boy rose, methodically wound up his line, +and, leaving reel, rod and basket on the bank, walked up on to the +bridge, to investigate the meaning of sundry strange noises he had +heard, vaguely, in the intervals between the bites. + +As he gained the foot of the bridge, where a motor-car stood somewhat +askew across the road, he caught sight of a pair of brown boots +projecting from beneath the machine. Nothing but the boots was visible; +but they moved, and it was clear that they shod the feet of some living +person, for there came puffs and grunts and explosive monosyllables +resembling those he had sometimes heard on the golf-links near his home. + +The boy leant against the parapet, stuck his hands into his pockets, and +watched. By and by there was an ejaculation of peculiar vehemence; the +boots moved out into the road, followed by a pair of grey-trousered +legs, a soiled and rumpled motor-coat, and a very red and dirty face; +the boy took especial note of a black patch in the very centre of a +shiny skull. + +Puffing and blowing, Mr. Greatorex crawled from under his new car, and +stood upon his feet--a rather disreputable-looking object--staring +wrathfully at the offending car. He had not perceived the small +spectator. + +"Wish I _had_ brought Timothy!" he muttered. "_Confound_ the brute!" + +He looked at his grimy hands, at his mud-stained clothes, up the road, +down the road, and finally at the boy, who had at last made an +impression on his retina. + +"Hi, boy!" he said. + +The boy approached with a shy smile. Mr. Greatorex scowled, conscious of +his plight. + +"Boy, tell me, and don't _grin_, is there a smith anywhere in this +neighbourhood?" + +"In the village, sure, measter." + +"Where is the village?" + +"About three miles away, over yonder." + +"God bless me! Three miles! Well, look here, boy, I'll give you +_sixpence_ to run there and send the smith back--behind a horse, on a +bicycle, _anyhow_--to mend this confounded machine. I'm twenty miles away +from _home_, you understand, and I shall be _late_ for dinner. I'll make +it a _shilling_ if the smith is here within an hour." + +The boy looked up into the wrathful face and smiled again. + +"Would 'ee like me to mend un for 'ee? 'Twould maybe save time." + +Mr. Greatorex stared. + +"_You_ mend it! 'Pon my word!" + +And then he burst into a roar of laughter which carried away his +ill-humour, for Mr. Greatorex was normally a very good-tempered person. + +The situation was, in truth, amusing. The boy was a little fellow under +four feet high. He had a round chubby face, not free from stains. He +wore corduroy breeches much too large for him, big clumping boots, and a +flannel shirt open at the neck. His blue eyes peeped up from beneath a +large, soft, much-discoloured straw hat. And this little urchin had +actually offered to mend a motor-car with which Mr. Greatorex, with all +his knowledge of mechanism, had been struggling for half an hour in +vain! + +Mr. Greatorex laughed again. + +"Come, cut along, youngster," he said genially. "Let me see how _fast_ +you can run." + +"I'll mend un if you give me leave. 'Twill save time," persisted the +boy. + +Mr. Greatorex pulled out his watch. What a joke, he thought--this sprat +of a boy offering to tackle his huge motor-car! It was only a little +after five; there might still be time to fetch the smith, get the +repairs made, and yet reach home by half-past seven. A little rest would +not come amiss after his exertions. Why not let the youngster try his +hand--for the fun of it? + +"Well then, _fire_ away, my young engineer. I've been at it half an +hour, _confound_ the thing!" + +"What have 'ee done, measter?" + +"Done? Everything! Examined the sparking plugs: _they're_ all right. +Wires from battery: _they're_ all right. Battery itself, _that's_ all +right. Plenty of petrol in the tank. _Every_thing's all right, hang it, +and yet the thing _won't_ go!" + +"Don't you worrit, measter. Give me a lend of your tools." + +The boy's cocksureness again amused Mr. Greatorex, who seated himself on +the parapet of the bridge, and mopped his perspiring face, smiling +pleasantly. Though past fifty he was still young at heart, and very +ready to be amused. He took out a pipe, filled and lit it, and puffed +away, with an expression of serene contentment on his rubicund dirty +face. + +The boy flung off his hat and disappeared. Metallic sounds came from the +interior of the car. + +"How are you getting on, boy?" asked Mr. Greatorex after some ten +minutes. + +There was no answer. + +Five minutes passed. + +"Find it rather too _much_ for you, eh?" said Mr. Greatorex, looking +more amused than ever. + +Still there was no answer. + +"Got everything you want?" he asked again. + +But the boy made no reply; only the sound of knocking and screwing +continued. + +Mr. Greatorex laughed aloud. + +"Come," he said, getting up and standing with legs astraddle a foot or +two from the car, "you mustn't make _too_ long a _job_ of it, you know." +Then he chuckled. + +Five minutes afterwards the boy crawled out. Mr. Greatorex laughed again +as he surveyed the grimy little fellow. A great patch of black +surrounded one eye, where he had rubbed his knuckles. + +"All right now, measter," said the boy. + +"What! Come, my lad, you've _had your_ turn; now run along and fetch the +smith." + +"Bean't no need. She'll go now." + +Mr. Greatorex looked impressed, stepped to the front of the car, and +turned the handle; to his amazement the engines started. He sprang into +the car, threw the engines into gear, and was still more amazed when, +releasing the clutch pedal, he found that the car moved. + +"Better take off the brake, measter," said the boy. + +"Why, yes, certainly," said Mr. Greatorex, with a preoccupied air, and +the car mounted the incline, spun across the bridge, and ran easily down +the road. Then Mr. Greatorex stopped it and turned round. + +"Hi, boy!" he shouted. The boy picked up his hat, stuck it on his head, +and approached. + +"Look here, youngster," said Mr. Greatorex, "the car is all _right_!" + +"Told 'ee so, measter." + +Mr. Greatorex roared. + +"You're a wonderful little chap. Bless my soul, how did you _do_ it?" + +"I'll show 'ee if you'll get out." + +"No thank 'ee. I've already had half an hour at it, and I'm as black as +a nigger. What was wrong?" + +"A bit of grit was stuck in the petrol spray nozzle, so you couldn't get +no petrol into the carburetter." + +"Oh!" said Mr. Greatorex blankly. "What's your name?" + +"Tom Dorrell." + +"You don't happen to be manager of a motor-works, I suppose?" + +"No," said the boy, unconscious of the genial sarcasm. + +"Where d'you live?" + +"In the village yonder," said Tom, pointing ahead. + +"Oh! Ah! Look _here_, my lad, why aren't you at school?" + +"Why, 'cos 'tis holidays," he replied with a grin. "Feyther didn't want +me, so I came out to fish." + +"Oh, indeed. And who's your father?" + +"He be the smith you wanted me to fetch; but there warn't no need." + +"So it appears! I say, my lad, how _old_ are you?" + +"Twelve, and I'm in the sixth standard." + +"You are, are you? And how long have you been mending motor-cars?" + +"Not so very long. I help feyther now and again; motor-cars are always +breaking down, and he has mended a rare lot of 'em." + +"Ah! And how much would he have charged for mending this one?" + +"About two shillings, I reckon; it wasn't a very hard job." + +"Oh! Well, here's two shillings for you. Don't spend it _all_ on +sweets." + +"Not me," said the boy with a grin. "I'm saving up, I am." + +"Indeed! What for?" + +"Why, for heaps of things. I want a model of a four-coupled bogie tank +engine, and a model of a turbine steamer, and a motor bicycle----" + +"Steady, youngster. That's rather a _large_ order, isn't it? You've got +a fancy for mechanics, eh!" + +"Mechanics! Not me! That's what they teach in the seventh standard. I +like engines, I do--machines that'll go. I'm going to be an engineer some +day--if I can; feyther says it costs a mint of money, and he hasn't got +much, and he says he don't hold with flying too high, and I'd much +better be a smith. But there's nothing new in smith's work: you just go +on shoeing horses, and sticking fellies on wheels, and mending prams and +motor-cars now and then. I want to do something new, I do." + +"Ah! What's your father's name?" + +"Dorrell, same as mine." + +"Naturally. And what do you call your village?" + +"Barton Abbas." + +"Well, Tom, here's your two shillings. You've got a bank-book, I +suppose." + +"Rather. I've got three pounds fourteen and ninepence; this makes +sixteen and ninepence. I shall have another sixpence on Saturday for +cleaning pa'son's bicycle; that'll make seventeen and threepence. Pa'son +gives me sixpence a week." + +"You're getting quite rich, you know. Well, Tom, thanks to you I _shall_ +get home in time for dinner." + +"I'm pretty hungry," said Tom. "I guess it's past my tea-time." + +"No doubt it is. _Strawberry_ jam, eh?" + +"No. Mother says that's too dear. We have rhubarb and marrow, growed in +the garden." + +"And very good stuff, too. _By George!_ I haven't had marrow jam for +forty years." + +"You be pretty old then: older than feyther." + +"Well, d'you know, Tom, I am _several years_ younger than I was two +hours ago. Good-bye!" + + + + +CHAPTER II--HERR SCHWAB + + +One spring day, rather more than six years after the meeting of Mr. +Greatorex and Tom Dorrell by Five Oaks Bridge, a shabby pony cart was +jogging along the road that led from the little railway station of +Midfont, through the sleepy village of the same name, to Midfont House, +the rural retreat to which Mr. Greatorex betook himself from his +business in the great manufacturing town of Burlingham some dozen miles +away. The sole occupant of the cart was a large florid man of about +forty-five, who eyed the surroundings curiously through heavy +gold-rimmed spectacles, the sluggish pony he drove requiring little +attention. + +His costume, no less than his spectacles, was strangely out of keeping +with the cart. That would have been a fit setting for a farm-hand, or a +carrier, or some other wearer of fustian. But its present occupant was +attired in a well-cut grey frock-coat, silk lined, a glossy silk hat, a +lilac-coloured necktie in which flashed a diamond pin, and trousers of +large check pattern. His hands were gloved in brown kid; between his +teeth he held a long cigar. + +He looked about him with intention. Unfenced fields stretched on either +side of the road. Every now and again the driver would pull up, stand on +the seat, and throw a searching glance around. Then, muttering under his +breath words that were certainly strange to that part of the English +midlands, he would drive on again, looking to right and left as before. + +By and by he came to a part of the road where a long wooden fence on the +right-hand side indicated an enclosure. To this the driver gave his +whole attention, and when the fence was broken by a wide wooden gate, +within which a carriage drive ran past a little lodge and between hedges +of evergreen, he pulled up, alighted from the cart, and, leading the +pony by the nose, went to the gate and gave the bell-pull a vigorous +tug. It might have been noticed that he walked a little lame. + +In response to his summons a man came to the gate--a young man, thin, +clean-shaven, with a slight cast in one eye. He was bareheaded, wore a +red waistcoat over a flannel shirt, and brown corduroy breeches, +supported by a leather belt and somewhat creased above brown leggings. + +"So!" said the driver of the pony cart, as the lodgekeeper rested his +arms on the second bar of the gate and looked at him. "Zis, my goot +friend, is Midfont House?" + +"You've got it right, guv'nor." + +"So! Zen I ask, is Mr. Thomas Dorrell at home?" + +"Nice day, guv'nor." + +"I zank you, yes, it is not bad. Mr. Thomas Dorrell----" + +"No; my name's Timothy Ball--T. B. on my collars." + +"I zank you. Mr. Thomas Dorrell----" + +"This 'ere place belongs to Mr. John Greatorex, Esquire, J.P., and he +ain't at home, bein' engaged in trying a bad case of stealin' lamb and +mint-sauce not a many miles from 'ere." + +"My goot friend, I do not mind; I like it. I come not to see Mr. +Greatorex, I come to see Mr. Thomas Dorrell----" + +"Now, look 'ere, guv'nor, we've had chaps 'ere before with cheap watches +and dear books and thingummies of all sorts, and I tell you straight, we +don't encourage 'em; in fact, I've got strict orders from Mr. Greatorex, +J.P., to set the dog on any such that won't take no for an answer." + +"My goot friend, you mistake. Vizout doubt I carry, some days, books, +editions de luxe, and vatches and ozer zinks, but to-day--no, no. Look, +here is my carte----" + +"And a rum-lookin' ramshackle turn-out it is," quoth Timothy, ignoring +the piece of pasteboard and eyeing the vehicle disdainfully. "I wonder +you ain't ashamed to come out in a 'at like that, togged up to the +nines, quite a torf, and your pony as looks as if he ain't had a +currycomb on his hide for a month o' Sundays." + +"Ah, you mistake me all ze time. Ze bony, he is not mine; I hire him to +bring me to Midfont House. Here is my carte, my friend. Take it to Mr. +Thomas Dorrell, viz gompliments. He do not know my name, so! But he know +ze name of ze firma I rebresent, and he vill like to see me, I know zat, +because he place large orders, vair large, viz our gompany; he is vat +you call a gustomer, you understand." + +Timothy Ball looked doubtfully at the visitor, and at the card he +offered to him. + +"There's customers, and rum customers," he said. + +"Rum!" interrupted the stranger. "If Mr. Dorrell like rum, we can subbly +any quantity, in cask or bottle, at rock-bottom price." + +Timothy sniggered and rubbed his mouth with the back of his hand. + +"Rum ain't the word for it," he said. "'Tis downright bloomin' funny, +that's what it is. Well, guv'nor, hold hard a bit; I'll just 'phone +through to Mr. Dorrell and tell him you're here. _'Ow_ do you say your +name?" + +"Schwab! Hildebrand Schwab, rebresentative of ze Schlagintwert Gombany +of Dsseldorf." + +"Can't say all that; telephone won't stand it. Wait a bit while I try +Swob." + +He rang up and put his ear to the receiver. + +"Are you there? That you, Mr. Dorrell?... There's a man here ... a man +... a gentleman to see you, name Swib ... Swob! So he _said_, sir.... +Travels for rum, by what I can make out----" + +"No! no!" cried Schwab; but Timothy glared him into silence. + +"Said you wouldn't know him, sir, but you're a customer of his firm.... +No, sir, _not_ rum.... Can't say it, sir.... Very well, sir (glancing at +the card): S C H L A G I N T W.... You've got it, sir.... He didn't say, +sir.... Very well, sir." + +"Mr. Dorrell wants to know what you've come for." + +"Vill you be so kind as permit me to speak to him myself?" + +"No; your trotter might run away.... Yes, sir, one minute.... Now, out +with it, Mr. Swob; Mr. Dorrell's busy." + +"Zen tell him I come from Dsseldorf on behalf of my firma to pay zeir +respects and gompliments to zeir valued gustomer and to zay zat ve shall +be alvays most pleased to subbly anyzink vatefer zat Mr. Dorrell vants +in quickest possible tempo egzept our Number Six Photographic Sensitizer +vich require fortnight notice----" + +"Arf a mo!... Yes, sir, but there's such a lot of it I can't get hold of +it all.... No, sir, not walk; the gentleman's rather lame, sir; came in +a pony cart.... Very well, sir." + +"Mr. Dorrell says he'll be here in a few minutes if you'll wait." + +"Vy certainly. I can get no train for two hour. I vait in ze house?" + +"No, Mr. Dorrell ain't in the house. He'll come here. We always +interview rum customers at the gate." + +"No, no, no; not rum, my friend; and Mr. Dorrell is ze gustomer. He buy +of _us_; at least, he order; Mr. Greatorex pay." + +"Well, it don't matter to you, I s'pose, so long as you get your money? +Mr. Greatorex's money is good enough for me, anyway. Paid for that +topping cigar of yours, didn't it?" + +"I have not ze honour to know Mr. Greatorex; but I have here a price +list of cigars, and if----" + +"Here's Mr. Dorrell." + +"Vere? I see him not." + +"Well, he's big enough, though he ain't as broad as he's long: that +gentleman in the blue clothes comin' down the path." + +"Zat Mr. Dorrell! Vy--he is a boy! Himmel!" + +"Rum, ain't it? S'pose you never _was_ a boy, Mr. Swob." + +A tall loose-limbed young fellow had come into the drive from a side +path, and was walking with great strides towards the gate. He was +bareheaded; his black hair tumbled over a brow unusually high and broad. +No other feature was noticeable except his eyes, which were large, deep +blue in colour, and shot with a strange glow. He was dressed in a loose +suit of what appeared to be blue alpaca, which was plentifully +bestained. + +By this time Timothy had opened the gate and given admittance to the +visitor. Tom Dorrell came up, held out his hand, and said in quick +decisive tones-- + +"How d'you do, Mr.----?" + +"Schwab, sir--Hildebrand Schwab, rebresentative of ze firma +Schlagintwert, all orders punctually eggzecuted." + +"Sorry to keep you waiting. Very busy, you know; if you had given me +notice----" + +"Ach! I come on ze hop, sir." + +Tom smiled. + +"Well, glad to see you, anyway. Is there anything I can do for you?" + +"Sir, zat is vat I ask you. You give orders, first class, for our +Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number Six; but my firma zink you do +not know, perhaps, zat zey do many ozer zinks beside Photographic +Sensitizer Preparation Number Six. Vy, zere is nozink vat ve do not do, +nozink at all. Ve can supply anyzink--soft goots, musical boxes, hair +oil----" + +"I know, I know," said Tom. "I have your price list." + +"But not ze new vun--revise and correck carte," returned Schwab, pulling +from his pocket a bulky volume in red paper cover. "Viz gompliments!" + +"Thanks! Now, I am very busy----" + +"Shust so! Business are business! Not for ze vorld vould I stand in ze +light. Only bermit me shust vun vord. Ze orders you give for +Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number Six, vy, zey are immense, +colossal; and you pay on ze nail. My firma get no such orders novere, +and zey are surprise, because Number Six is new zink; it is not long zat +it is on ze market. Vy zen come so large orders from so little place? +Zey zink zere are business to be done; zerefore am I here." + +"Well, you can't expect the merits of the stuff to be known all at +once." + +"Shust so. Zerefore I come! Schlagintwert say: 'Mr. Dorrell use a great +lot of P.S.P. No. 6; zerefore muss it be vair goot; go and see Mr. +Dorrell; perhaps he be so kind to give testimonial--zat vill be goot +business.'" + +"Afraid I can't do that. You see, I don't use it in photography, and +that is what you advertise it for." + +"But ve vill advertise it for anyzink you please!" + +"My use of it is secret at present." + +"Zen ve vill buy ze secret! Ve are vair rich firma." + +"But it wouldn't be a secret then." + +"Zat is true, but it vould be business. Zere vill be patent rights, +perhaps; vell, ve buy zem; ve buy anyzink zat is goot business." + +"No, I haven't taken out a patent. It is very good of you, Mr. Schwab, +if at any time----" + +"Ach! Vat you call any time!--zat is no time. Now, now is ze time. I am +in zis country only few days. I go soon to Morocco for business. I +suffer egstremely from sea-illness, but for business I go anyvere. Zink +how it vould console me in ze Bay of Biscay to know zat I had done goot +business for Schlagintwert--and for you, Mr. Dorrell." + +"Sorry. Really I can't say any more, Mr. Schwab. I _must_ go; look me up +again, if you like, when you get back from Morocco." + +Recognizing that Tom was not to be drawn, the German swallowed his +disappointment, took leave in most expansive terms, and was soon jogging +back in the direction from which he had come. But finding, on arriving +at the station, that he had an hour to wait for his train, he introduced +himself to the station-master and tactfully led the conversation to +Midfont House and its owner, Mr. Greatorex. What he learnt in the course +of it was something to the following effect. + +Some years before, Mr. Greatorex had discovered a taste for mechanics in +the son of the village smith at Barton Abbas, twenty miles away. He had +put the boy to a good school, often had him at Midfont House in the +holidays, and paid his fees at the university in the neighbouring town, +where the boy took honours in mechanics and engineering at a very early +age. Then, about a year before this time, Mr. Greatorex had fenced in a +large piece of waste ground on his estate, erected a workshop in the +middle of it, and given it up entirely to young Dorrell, who was now +apparently a permanent inmate of his house. What went on in the workshop +the station-master did not know. The enclosure was kept strictly +private; nobody outside the family was ever allowed to pass its borders. +The station-master believed that young Dorrell was inventing a +motor-car; it was said that Mr. Greatorex's interest in him dated from +the day when the boy had repaired some trifling mishap which had +befallen his car on the road. + +The effect of this information on Herr Schwab was greater than the +station-master ever knew. When the train came in, the German got into +it; but he alighted at the next station two miles off, and trudged back +over the road until he once more stood at the gate of Midfont House. It +was now dark. Schwab did not this time pull the bell. He walked on past +the gate for a good quarter of a mile, then halted at a large heap of +stones collected for mending the road. + +There were no wayfarers at this late hour; nobody saw how this big +figure in the frock-coat employed himself. He filled his glossy hat with +flints from the heap, carried it to the foot of the fence, and emptied +it there, returning for another hatful. After an hour's patient work a +pile of stones stood some three feet high against the fence. Mopping his +damp brow, dusting the inside of his hat, and replacing it on his head, +Schwab mounted the pile, clambered over the fence, and dropped down +somewhat heavily on the other side. Not till that moment had he given a +thought to the means of getting back; and looking up at the fence, the +top of which was quite beyond his reach, he uttered a low guttural +exclamation of dismay. But the die was cast! Consumed by his curiosity +to learn more about this mysterious workshop, in the way of business, he +had come thus far, and as there was apparently no going back he decided +to make his way forward. + +He found himself in an extensive meadow, bordered by trees. No +habitation was in sight. The moon threw a little light on the scene, +and, after walking for some minutes over the grass, he perceived a long +low oblong building which, as he drew nearer, he saw was built of wood, +with no windows in the walls, but having fanlights in the sloping roof. +There was but one door. + +"Ich hoffe dass die Thur nicht verriegelt ist!" he muttered as, glancing +apprehensively round, he approached to try the handle. He was not +conscious of anything improper in this nocturnal enterprise: was it not +all in the way of business? + +He came to the door, and grasped the handle.... + +When he recovered consciousness he found himself on his back on the +grass. In his right hand there was a feeling as if it had been burnt to +the bone. With many sighs and groans he rose, sought for his hat, and, +turning his back on the workshop, limped sadly towards the fence. His +whole body tingled with the electric shock. Bitterly he lamented his +unhappy zeal for business. What an abominable device for protecting the +premises! And there was that terrible fence to be climbed, or he would +have to remain all night in the field, assuredly to be discovered in the +morning and suspected of felonious intent. He remembered that Timothy +Ball had spoken of his master as a magistrate, and saw himself already, +frock-coat, silk hat and all, in a felon's cell. + +Shaken to the core he came to the fence, and spent a weary hour in +groping up and down, trying to find an outlet. At length, when he had +almost given up hope, and was trying to steel his soul against the +exposure of the morrow, he reached a tree whose branches overhung the +fence. It was more than thirty years since, as a boy, he had climbed a +tree in sport; who could have foreseen that now, a man of bulk, he would +be forced to attempt the feat in the interests of business? And his +right hand was so desperately painful! Luckily the trunk was gnarled and +a branch hung low. He tried to heave himself up, and his hat fell off. +He picked it up and shied it impatiently over the fence. Then he tried +again, and felt in the extremity of despair when he heard the _oosh_ of +tearing silk. Alas! for his new frock-coat! But he was at least safely +on the bough. He worked himself along it, dreading lest it should snap, +and conscious of the inconvenience of fourteen stone. Happily he was now +on the right side of the fence. He dropped, and alighted in a bed of +nettles. He got up, found his hat, mechanically brushed it with his +sleeve, and set it on his head. + +"Ach! Ich unglcklicher!" he sighed as he set off up the road. + + + + +CHAPTER III--TOM MAKES EXPERIMENTS + + +The information given to Herr Schwab by the Midfont station-master was +accurate up to a certain point. Mr. Greatorex had indeed constituted +himself the beneficent patron of Tom Dorrell, educated him, entertained +him at Midfont House, and built for him a workshop in the grounds. So +far the station-master was right. But when he added that Tom was working +at a new motor-car, he stated a hypothesis, not a fact. + +About a year before this time, when Tom came to Midfont House to spend a +month's holiday, he brought with him a small model of an aerial machine +on which he had been quietly working in leisure moments. He showed it to +Mr. Greatorex. + +"Very pretty," said the worthy merchant, examining the toy; "but it +won't _go_." + +"Oh yes it will," said Tom. "See!" + +They were in Mr. Greatorex's study at the time. Tom poised the model on +his left hand, released a spring, and the little aeroplane, with a whizz +and a hum, soared across the room, and, before it could be stopped, +dashed against the glass door of a bookcase and shivered it to atoms. + +"I'm awfully sorry," said Tom contritely, picking up the machine and +silencing it. + +"What _are_ you doing, John?" said Mrs. Greatorex, opening the door. +"What a terrible mess!" she added, surveying the litter on the floor. + +"It shall be swept up, my dear," said Mr. Greatorex. "You can't make +omelets without breaking _eggs_, my love." + +Mrs. Greatorex looked a little puzzled. + +"Of course not, my dear," she said after a moment. Then with a +deprecating smile she went away. Mr. Greatorex locked the door. + +"Now, Tom," he said, "just _explain_, will you? Begin at the beginning; +I want to _know_, you know." + +"Well, I've been thinking a lot at odd times about airships and things, +and reading up what they've been doing in France and Germany. There's +little prospect of making a really serviceable machine out of the old +gas balloon; it's far too clumsy; can't make headway against a strong +wind; but I didn't see why something shouldn't be done on the lines of +the aeroplane. You see, it's easy enough to set the thing going, and +even to steer it, when you've got it up in the air; but there are three +difficulties: to get it up, to let it down without smashing it to bits, +and to keep it from turning somersaults. You can overcome the force of +gravity by an arrangement of planes when you keep up a good speed; but +if you slacken speed, down you come. And all the aeroplanes that have +been invented yet can't rise in the air at any given spot. They either +have to be thrown off from some elevated position, or they have to get +up a momentum along the ground, running like a motor-car. Then again, +the motor machinery has been too heavy; engines haven't been able to +exert sufficient horse-power in proportion to their own weight. I've +worked it out, and I calculate that no good can be done till you get an +engine that'll give you one horse-power to every two and a half pounds +of its weight." + +"Yes. Well?" + +"Well, this model is the result of no end of experiments. It goes, as +you see; but besides sailing horizontally, it will lift itself. Look!" + +He took up the little machine, released another spring, and the +miniature airship went flying to the ceiling, where it remained until +the spring ran down. + +"All very well," said Mr. Greatorex, unwilling to admit that he was +impressed; "but the thing is only a _toy_. There's all the difference in +the world between a model and the _real thing_, you know. You could +never get a spring strong enough to lift a real machine. I'm not +satisfied that you could even get the horizontal motion you're so +cocksure of, with a machine that would carry _men_." + +"No spring would do it, it is true; but I've worked out an application +of the principle. It's well known that a propeller rotating at +sufficient speed can be made to lift a weight into the air. Of course we +couldn't set a real airship rotating bodily; no aeronaut's head would +stand it if we could. But, as you saw, my model doesn't rotate itself. +I've only made use of the principle--pretty successfully, don't you +think?" + +"Just explain to me _thoroughly_, will you? I want a little more _light_ +on the subject." + +Tom took his model, and patiently expounded the mechanical principles on +which he had worked. The upshot of this and other conversations was that +Mr. Greatorex became first interested, then enthusiastic, and finally +determined. He had a workshop erected on a large piece of waste ground +nearly a mile and a half square on his estate, and gave Tom carte +blanche to get what assistance and spend what money he pleased. +Resolving to keep the matter a close secret until the experiments were +concluded, he fenced in the enclosure, and gave strict orders that no +one was to be admitted to it without Tom's consent. Tom himself devised +a simple means of defending the workshop from prying visitors. Whenever +he left it, he set going a strong electric current through the door +handle, which was a more effective protection than locks and bolts. + +Tom found, as soon as he came to enlarge his model into a practical +working size, that none of the motors then on the market was +sufficiently powerful in proportion to its weight to give him the +necessary lifting force. The electric motor was out of the question, and +an adaptation of the latest petrol engine as applied to motor-cars and +launches seemed to offer the most likely solution. Even here, however, +the march of invention had not gone far enough. The latest petrol motor, +it is true, enabled Tom to keep the machine at a constant altitude when +once it was in flight; but it failed to raise it from a position of +rest. Some other method must be found, and he set his wits to work to +discover it. + +The first condition of success was, he felt, the discovery of an +explosive mixture far more powerful than that offered by petrol, and yet +capable of being harnessed and controlled. He had the run of Mr. +Greatorex's chemical laboratories, and the benefit of the practical +advice and assistance of the heads of the experimental staff. Scores of +preparations were tried, and, for one reason or another, rejected. Where +sufficient power was obtained, it was almost invariably found that the +mixture was not stable or uniform in its effects. Several explosive +mixtures were discovered quite powerful enough for the purpose; but, as +Mr. Greatorex's chief chemist pointed out, all of them were likely to +blow the airship to smithereens in the event of any accident to the +machinery. + +It was some months after the beginning of the experiments when one of +the junior chemists came to Tom with the announcement that he had +discovered what he thought might be the very substance required. A +German firm, Schlagintwert & Co. of Dsseldorf, had placed on the market +a few months earlier a powder which, used as a solution, was highly +valuable in preparing photographic plates. The exact ingredients of the +powder were unknown, although by analysis it had been found to consist +of nitrate compounds; but the buyer was warned by a label that it should +not be exposed to great heat owing to the danger of explosion. It had +occurred to the chemist to mix a little of this powder with petrol. The +result was a paste which dried hard, but gave off almost infinitesimal +particles of a highly explosive nature, when floating in an air chamber, +though the paste itself was not explosive either under heat or shock. + +Tom was delighted with the discovery, and at once proceeded to construct +an engine suitable to the peculiar properties of the composition. In +building the motor he adapted the principle of the turbine to airship +navigation. A powerful fan drove the current of air through a number of +perforated aluminium plates covered with the paste. The resultant +mixture of air and explosive particles passed into the explosion +chamber, the intake being controlled by automatic valves connected with +the turbine. The explosion of the mixture was brought about by a +sparking plug connected with a small electric battery, the sparking +being controlled by a cam on the shaft. At each explosion, the gas +generated was forced at an enormous pressure through the turbine to the +right of the explosion chamber, thus driving the propeller fixed on the +shaft. + +Tom made his fan serve a double purpose, not only to drive air through +the aluminium plates, but to send a current round a jacket on the +outside of the turbine and thus keep the latter cool. This was a highly +necessary arrangement owing to the enormous heat generated. From the +first, indeed, the difficulty of cooling the turbine was the most +serious with which he had to grapple. It required months of experiment +before the engine could be worked for more than two or three minutes at +a time. Gradually, however, by increasing the power of the fan, and +constructing the turbine casing and blades of an alloy specially adapted +to resist the effects of intense heat, this difficulty was to a great +extent overcome. + +The airship when completed was not unlike a huge bird with wings +outstretched. The body of the bird consisted of the car and engine. The +wings were planes of lath strengthened with aluminium, and capable of +being inclined at any desired angle by the simple movement of a switch +in the car. A large rectangular plane projecting from the rear of the +car acted as a rudder, principally for lateral movement, motion upwards +and downwards being provided for either by the inclination of the larger +planes or by the special screws actuated by the engine. The latter drove +two sets of propellers: one fore and aft, giving a horizontal movement, +the other below and above the car, giving a vertical movement. Either +set of propellers could be thrown out of gear when desired. Tom would +have been glad to dispense with the vertical propellers if he could have +done so, but he found that the whole force of his engine was necessary +to raise the airship from a position of rest. He had not sufficient +motive power to enable him to use such an adjustment of oblique +propellers as would have ensured simultaneous horizontal and vertical +movement. + +Mr. Greatorex at once promoted the fortunate young chemist who had +discovered the virtues of the Schlagintwert powder, and swore him to +secrecy. The parts of Tom's machine were made to his order by various +firms, the work being distributed so that no one firm should be in +possession of the complete apparatus; and a few weeks before Herr +Schwab's visit, an aeroplane capable of sustaining the weight of several +men was finished, and in it Tom made daily trips about the field. He +tested it so frequently that he used considerable quantities of the +powder, and it was not surprising that the curiosity of Schlagintwerts +was aroused by the large orders that came from one small place for an +article that cost a good deal more than its weight in gold. + +Tom was, however, not yet satisfied with his machine. For one thing he +had found it impossible as yet to return to earth with any exactitude at +a fixed spot. It was a matter of the nice adjustment of the horizontal +with the vertical motion, and after repeated failures Tom comforted +himself with the thought that it must be only after long practice that +an engine driver could pull his locomotive up to a nicety. Obviously +much more practice must be required when the task was infinitely more +difficult. + +Further, in spite of the jacket around the turbine, the heat generated +was still too great to allow of travelling any great distance in safety, +and the prospective usefulness of the aeroplane was discounted +accordingly. + +It was Mr. Greatorex who suggested a possible way out of the difficulty. + +"Why not have two engines instead of one?" he said. "If one breaks +down--why, there's the other." + +"It means more weight," said Tom ruefully, "and therefore less speed and +less carrying capacity." + +"Well, there's no _hurry_, is there? And as for carrying capacity--_I_ +don't intend to tempt the fates, or run the risk of a smash-up like--who +was it? Icarus? Thought so." + +Tom adopted the suggestion. He replaced his first engine by two somewhat +smaller, so that if one became overheated there was the other in +reserve. The lifting capacity and the speed of the airship were +consequently diminished, but scarcely so much as Tom expected. + +So far the experiments had been carried on with perfect secrecy. The +enclosure was surrounded by trees, and Tom was always careful not to +drive his machine above the level of their tops. But one day, a few +months after Schwab's visit, he was careering round, to the mingled +admiration and terror of Timothy Ball watching him from the ground, when +he was startled by an exclamation that certainly did not spring from the +lips of that worthy. Timothy was a good quarter-mile away; the voice +appeared to come from a spot almost vertically below the aeroplane. + +"By George! Look there, Mops!" + +Tom took a hurried peep over. There, below him, in a gap between the +trees just beyond the inner fence, stood a tall young fellow in tennis +flannels, with light blue cap and tie. + +"What is it, Pops?" answered a silvery voice; and a second figure joined +the first--a girl in white. + +"Why, look! Hanged if it isn't an aeroplane, going like one o'clock, +too." + +"Oh, how dreadful!" cried the girl, looking up. "I am sure it will fall, +and there will be a horrid accident. Oh, do come away, Raymond!" + +"Not I! This is hot stuff, Mopsy. By Jove, the fellow can steer the +thing. He's making for that shanty over there--and coming down like a +lark. I say, Mops, give me a leg-up; I want to have a nearer squint at +the machine." + +"But, Raymond, it's no business of yours--it's--it's trespassing!" + +"Trespassing be hanged! We're next-door neighbours. Come, give me a +shove up." + +He clutched the top of the fence; his sister, still feebly +expostulating, gave him a most workmanlike hoist, and in a few seconds +he disappeared on the other side. The girl waited a little; then turned +and walked away. + +Her brother meanwhile was hastening across the field towards the +workshop, near which the aeroplane had by this time alighted. Halfway he +was met by Timothy Ball, who touched his cap and said-- + +"Beg pardon, sir, but these are private grounds and you're a +trespasser." + +"That's all right. My name's Oliphant; we're neighbours of yours, you +know." + +"Now, that's a good un. Hold hard, sir"--as the intruder made to walk +round him--"my orders is to allow no one on the premises! Your name's +Oliphant, you said? Well, you can't be a neighbour, 'cos the only +neighbour I knows of is Lord Langside." + +"He's my father." + +"But--Oliphant----" + +"Exactly! Now, come along, my good fellow--I want to see your master." + +"He don't want to see you, though. No you don't; keep off, sir; my +orders is to allow no one on the premises." + +Then began a little game of dodging, Timothy stepping in front of the +intruder and stretching his arms like a cattle driver. In half a minute +Raymond Oliphant gave it up. + +"Really, this is too absurd," he said good-temperedly. "I say, I'll give +you my word to stay here while you go and tell your master that I'd like +to introduce myself to him." + +"Then you'll stay a long time, 'cos master's in town and won't be home +till seven o'clock." + +"Well then, the driver of that aeroplane, whoever he is. Ah! here he +comes, thank goodness!" + +Tom was hastening across the field. He wore his usual working suit of +blue alpaca; face and hands were much begrimed. + +"Your watch-dog here won't let me pass," said Oliphant with a smile as +Tom came up. "I told him I was a neighbour, but he thinks I'm a bad lot. +We've only just come to the place; my father has taken it, you know; +he's coming down for shooting as soon as Parliament's up. I saw your +aeroplane skylarking round, and couldn't resist the temptation to come +over for a nearer look. You don't mind?" + +"Well--no." Tom's tone was dubious. + +"Oh, if you'd rather not, of course!" + +"No, I don't mind really. But Mr. Greatorex is rather particular about +keeping the matter quiet----" + +"I'll be mum as the dead, I assure you. I don't know anything about +machinery; it isn't in our line at Eton; you needn't be afraid of my +giving the secret away." + +"It isn't that, exactly. I'm not afraid of your discovering the secret +of the machine; but it's rather important that the fact of its existence +shouldn't leak out just yet." + +"Well, you'll have to make friends with my sister then. She has seen it +too. It's lucky Mother is in town, or the secret would be out by this +time." + +They were walking now side by side to the shed. + +"You're not Mr. Greatorex's son, then?" + +"No; my name's Dorrell. I'm no relation of his." + +"My name's Raymond Oliphant. I'm just home from Eton; long holidays, you +know. That's a clinking machine of yours. Never seen anything like it +before. Did Mr. Greatorex invent it? I understood he was a chemical +manufacturer." + +"No. I did." + +"Really! I say--d'you mind?--how old are you?" + +"Eighteen." + +"Just my age! And I'm rotting about at Eton while you----I say, you ought +to make a good thing of this." + +"It's only experimental at present. We haven't tried a long flight." + +"Will you get the Government to take it up? I'll put in a word with the +pater, you know." + +"That's altogether premature," said Tom with a smile. + +"Why, it seemed to me to go all right. Will it take two?" + +"Two of our weight, I think. Would you like to try?" + +"Rather! And I say, just keep out of sight from our grounds, will you? +If Margaret were to catch sight of me she'd have a fit or something. By +Jove! it won't be so slow here as I feared." + +Oliphant spent a quarter of an hour in the air, and when he descended +was overflowing with enthusiasm. + +"It's simply ripping, Mr. Dorrell," he cried. "I may come again, mayn't +I?" + +"Certainly," said Tom, adding with a smile: "On one condition." + +"Trust me, I won't say a word. And I'll shut Margaret's mouth too--if I +can. Look here, it seems to me you'd be the best man for that job. I'll +bring Margaret to-morrow--may I?--and when she knows you're the inventor, +and you impress on her that your life's at stake or something, she'll be +more likely to hold her tongue than if _I_ jaw. Good-bye." + +Tom thought it necessary to inform Mr. Greatorex, in the drawing-room +before dinner, of what had happened. + +"Hm!" he grunted. "Eton boy, is he? Got any _sense_?" + +"I didn't examine him," said Tom with a laugh. "I thought him quite a +decent fellow. He was very good-tempered with Tim, who was a trifle +taken aback when he learnt that he had ordered off the son of the Prime +Minister." + +"And a precious Prime Minister he _is_! Mark my words, Tom, the +Country's going to the dogs. To the _dogs_! We're dropping _behind_, +Tom, and Langside hasn't the grit to prevent it." + +"Mr. Oliphant suggested that a word to his father might induce him to +buy the aeroplane for the Country." + +"God bless my soul, you mustn't _dream_ of it! Langside will be turned +out at the next election; John Brooks will go in, and he's the man to +steer this old country through. No, no! and if young Oliphant blabs a +word of it to his father, I'll--I'll----Yes, my love"--as Mrs. Greatorex +entered--"we were talking about our new neighbour, Lord Langside. It +appears that his son and daughter have come down." + +"Oh, John, do you think I should call?" + +"On _no account_, my dear. I _hate_ Langside's politics, and we'll _have +nothing to do with them_. Now, Tom, give Mrs. Greatorex your arm." + + + + +CHAPTER IV--A PRISONER IN ZEMMUR + + +A few mornings after the meeting with Raymond Oliphant, Tom, coming down +to breakfast, found Mr. Greatorex in a state of high excitability, with +the _Times_ outspread before him. + +"What did I say, Tom!" he shouted. "Didn't I _tell_ you the Country was +going to the dogs! What do you think of _this_, now?" + +He read out a short paragraph-- + + "Information has just reached the Foreign Office that Sir Mark + Ingleton, who recently left London on a diplomatic mission to Morocco, + has been captured by tribesmen and carried off to the hills. Strong + pressure is being brought to bear on the Sultan to take steps against + the offenders; but if, as is feared, Sir Mark Ingleton's captor is the + notorious rebel whose headquarters are at Zemmur, there is little hope + of the Sultan in his present state of impotence being able to make his + authority felt." + +"That's what has happened to a servant of the British Crown under +Langside's administration;" said Mr. Greatorex hotly. "Strong +_pressure_, indeed! It wants a fleet, an expedition, a few quick-firers +and Long Toms." + +"But wouldn't that make a blaze?" said Tom quietly. "In the present +state of affairs it might give rise to no end of complications in +Europe, too." + +"Don't tell _me_!" cried Mr. Greatorex, banging his fist on the paper. +"We're sinking into a state of jelly-fish; any one can poke us and smack +us and we simply _go in_. This'll smash the Government: that's one good +thing; and we'll see what John Brooks can do when _he's_ at the helm." + +Later in the day Raymond Oliphant, who was now a privileged visitor to +the shed, adverted to the subject. + +"Thank your stars you are not Prime Minister, Dorrell," he said. "The +pater came down for the week-end, and he's nearly off his chump, poor +old chap! He knew about this kidnapping three days ago, before it got +into the papers, and he went back to town this morning prepared for +squalls in the House." + +"Can't he do anything?" + +"He says not. One of the Opposition rags was screaming about an +expedition on Saturday, but of course that can't be risked. And it might +fail after all--just as the Gordon expedition did. That Moorish brigand +might kill Ingleton if hard pressed." + +"But what would he gain by that? He's playing for a ransom, I suppose." + +"No, there's more in it than that. We've already offered an enormous +ransom through the Sultan; but the rebel wants to get certain +concessions out of the Sultan, and thinks he'll manage it by getting the +Sultan into hot water with us. I say, what a pity your aeroplane isn't +fit for the job. What a grand idea it would be to snap up the prisoner +under the very noses of his captors! I suppose it _isn't_ up to it, eh?" + +Tom shook his head. + +"I couldn't trust it to go so far. You see, here the workshop is at +hand, and if anything goes wrong it can be easily repaired. It would be +rather a poor lookout if the thing came to grief in the Bay of Biscay, +say, and I came souse into the sea." + +"It _would_ be rather rotten. Well, let's have a spin now." + +The two mounted the car, and spent an hour in wheeling about the +enclosure. Tom ventured to set the motors at a higher speed than he had +before tried, and put the aeroplane through a score of evolutions, which +demonstrated that he had it perfectly under control. Oliphant in his +enthusiasm returned again to the matter of the captured envoy. + +"I say, is it quite out of the question, d'you think?" + +"Afraid so. Perhaps in a few months----" + +"That's no good," interrupted his companion. "The occasion will be +passed. Ingleton will be either released or dead, and, in any case, +there'll be such a terrific agitation against the pater that he'll be +forced to resign. He wouldn't mind personally; but there's the Country, +you see. Can't you risk it?" + +"I might if only myself were concerned; but there's Mr. Greatorex to +reckon with. The whole thing's only experimental. I'm sure he wouldn't +hear of it." + +"Politics is a rotten game! Wish we were back in the times before Whigs +and Tories were invented." + +"And unpopular ministers lost their heads!--Now I'm going to let her +down. See how near she falls to the perpendicular." + +He dropped a hammer out of the car, stopped the horizontal motion and +started the vertical, adjusted the planes, and descended gently to the +ground. + +"That's better," he cried, when he had measured the distance between the +aeroplane and the hammer; "it's only a dozen yards. We're getting on. +Really, I wish I could try your suggestion." + +"Shall I mention it to the pater?" said Oliphant eagerly. + +"Not on any account," said Tom aghast. "Even if I could do it, he of all +men must not know." + +"I don't see why." + +"Supposing I tried it and came a cropper, there'd be a double outcry +against him; the first for not rescuing Sir Mark Ingleton, the second +for allowing a crack-brained engineer to make a fool of himself and a +corpse in the bargain. No, give it up; I don't see any help for it." + +But when left to himself Tom could not keep his thoughts from Oliphant's +suggestion. The adventurous idea captivated his imagination; he began to +consider it in earnest; he spent several hours of the afternoon in +further experimenting with the aeroplane, and after dinner, when Mr. +Greatorex and he went out into the grounds for their customary stroll +and cigarettes, he broached the subject, in a casual way, and in much +the same terms as Oliphant had used. + +"Pity we couldn't take a trip to Morocco and get Ingleton away," he said +cautiously. + +"Eh! Pull Langside's chestnuts out of the fire! He was a fool to send +the man to Morocco. I wouldn't if I could, and of _course_ it's +impossible." + +"I'm not sure of that. And it isn't a party matter, really." + +"Not party! It's _all_ party." + +"Sir Mark Ingleton is an agent of the Crown, sir, and the Crown is above +party. I think in these matters we might sink our differences." + +"Yes, and sink our aeroplane, and _drown_ ourselves, and serve us +_right_." + +But opposition was only a stimulus to Tom. He began to argue the matter +strenuously. Mr. Greatorex, to do him justice, was no bigot. His +politics were at bottom a particularly intense form of patriotism; and +when Tom showed him that there were at any rate possibilities in the +suggestion, he gradually changed his view, forgot his reluctance to help +a political opponent, and became indeed quite enthusiastic. + +"By _George_, Tom!" he exclaimed; "what a grand send-off it would be to +your invention if the first use of it were the rescue of this +unfortunate diplomatist! And what a magnificent thing for the Country! +Come and let's talk it out over a cup of coffee. Not a _word_ before +Mrs. Greatorex, mind." + +"Well, John, are you pleased with your toy?" said that good lady when +they re-entered the house. + +"Quite, my dear, _quite_." + +"It will be quite a feature of our garden party. But I hope Tom will +make sure that it is absolutely safe before he takes anybody up at half +a crown a ride. I shall be glad of the half-crowns for my Nursing +Association, but I should never forgive you if any one was hurt." + +"Why, my dear, the half-crowns would go to pay the _nurses_." + +Mr. Greatorex and Tom had a long talk in the study that night. Up to the +present the longest journey the aeroplane had taken without descending +was, as Tom estimated, about forty miles. Then something had always +occurred to make a descent necessary. The principal stumbling-block had +been the overheating of the motors. But Tom suggested that if he were +content with a speed of about twenty-five miles an hour, a greater +distance might be covered without this risk. + +The practical question was, could the machine be brought so near the +place of the envoy's captivity as to make a dash upon it practicable? +From the latest report, in the evening paper, it appeared that the +prisoner was held in a mountain fastness some eighty miles from the +Atlantic seaboard. Tom got out a map and pointed out the spot. It did +not seem impossible to reach it by means of the airship from some +convenient place on the coast. + +"D'you know what occurs to me?" said Tom. "You were talking of a +yachting cruise in the _Dandy Dinmont_ in September. Why not make it a +little earlier? I could then go in the airship and you in the yacht; and +we could make that a kind of floating base, taking in it all materials +necessary for repairs." + +"But you couldn't repair the thing without letting it down on the deck." + +"I could do that, I think. To-day I came down within a few feet of the +spot I aimed at, and I could let the machine down on deck if the yacht +were not rolling or pitching too much." + +"But _hang_ it all, Tom, the deck _wasn't made_ for such a purpose." + +"No; but it wouldn't take long to rig up a temporary wooden platform and +framework over the after-part of the vessel to serve as a +landing-stage." + +"You appear to have thought it all out," said Mr. Greatorex. "D'you want +to rush me off my _feet_?" + +"Not a bit," replied Tom smiling. "You'll be safe on deck." + +"Well, how long will it take to get everything ready?" + +"A week." + +"Very well. I'll write off to Bodgers to-night to trim the yacht. The +rest I leave to you. And mind, not a _word_ to a soul." + +"I think I shall have to tell Oliphant. In fact, it was he who put it +into my head." + +"That's a nuisance! Well, we'll have him to dinner to-morrow. I want to +take stock of him. Not a _word_ till I have sized him up." + +Oliphant came to dinner with his sister and was approved. Mrs. Greatorex +afterwards pronounced him to be "quite a nice boy." Mr. Greatorex used +different terms. + +"He's no _fool_, and don't _talk_ too much," he said. + +The three had a very animated discussion as they walked in the cool of +the evening. Mr. Greatorex was very emphatic on the point of secrecy. + +"We don't want any newspaper fellow to get wind of the airship until +we've _proved_ it," he said. "A pretty fool I should look if they gassed +about it for a column or two and then the whole thing went _pop_ like a +paper balloon. And that Morocco fellow will have plenty of spies, of +course; _I_ know their Eastern ways; and if he got a hint of what we're +up to, he'd be on his guard and then there'd be fizzle." + +"How many passengers will the machine carry?" asked Oliphant. + +"Three or four light-weights, I should think," Tom replied. + +"You'll have room for me, then?" + +"Good heavens, no!" cried Mr. Greatorex. "Couldn't _hear_ of it!" + +"But it was my idea, you know, Mr. Greatorex. I was only longing for +something to fill these holidays." + +"Absurd! Preposterous! You're under age; you couldn't go without your +father's permission; you couldn't ask that without giving the whole +thing away: and I couldn't be responsible for you." + +"Well, I tell you what it is, Mr. Greatorex. You invite me to go a +cruise in your yacht. The mater's got a notion that my lungs are weak, +and was saying only the other day that a sea trip would do me good. I'd +see some of the fun, then." + +"_There_ you are, Mr. Oliphant! _Fun! I_ regard it as most _serious_, I +assure you. Now, in _my_ young days----" + +"I bet you liked fun as well as any of us, Mr. Greatorex," said Oliphant +quickly. "If the truth were known, I dare say you really beat us all." + +Mr. Greatorex's eyes twinkled. + +"Well, now I come to think of it, I _was_ a wild young rip. So they all +said. I remember---- But come now, I mustn't tell you _that_. _Never_ do! +Your father would never let you go; he doesn't know me and doesn't want +to, and I'm doing my level best to kick him out at the next election." + +"And he'll probably be jolly glad if you succeed! Mayn't I come, Mr. +Greatorex?" + +"Sorry to disoblige you, Mr. Oliphant, but it would _never do_. No. In +fact, I think we'll give it up altogether. Too risky! We'll give it +_up_, Tom." + +Oliphant went home in a very bad temper. + +"Mrs. Greatorex is a dear old thing," said his sister. + +"And Mr. Greatorex is an old rotter," retorted Raymond in a tone of +disgust. + +Margaret Oliphant obtained very unsatisfactory answers to the questions +to which this remark gave rise, and concluded that in some way Raymond +had not hit it with his host. + +Mr. Greatorex would doubtless have been much surprised had he seen the +letter which Lord Langside wrote to his son a few days later. + +"My dear Ray," wrote the Prime Minister,-- + + "Are you conspiring against me, like Absalom? Mr. Greatorex can't do + me much harm on a yacht. He won't see a newspaper for a month! Hope + you'll enjoy yourself. + + "Your affectionate + "Dad." + +Oliphant showed this letter to no one. But the day he received it, he +went a long and tedious journey by train across country to the little +port of Horleston. He reached home very late, but in much better spirits +than might have been expected after such a tiresome experience of slow +trains. + + + + +CHAPTER V--OFF THE BARBARY COAST + + +The week was filled with the bustle of preparation. The airship was +divided into sections, the motors and the framework taken to pieces, and +the whole packed into large light crates and conveyed to the coast on +country carts, their arrival at Horleston being so timed that everything +could be put on board very early in the morning. Besides the crew, the +company consisted only of Mr. Greatorex, Tom Dorrell, and Timothy Ball. + +Before the vessel put off, a custom house officer came aboard, and +showed himself somewhat inquisitive as to the meaning of the strange +platform newly rigged on the after deck, and as to the nature of the +bulky packages. Mr. Greatorex explained that they contained a cooling +apparatus which he was taking out to Morocco on behalf of an +acquaintance, adding that by all accounts the country was pretty hot in +all respects. With this explanation the officer had to be content. +Clearly the parts of the airship did not come within the description of +explosives, firearms or other articles on which he might exercise his +powers of detention. Still, being by training suspicious, he was +evidently by no means satisfied, and left the yacht somewhat +unwillingly. + +Steam was already up and the officer had barely left the vessel before +she put to sea. + +"Just as well to be clear away before he gets his second wind," said Mr. +Greatorex with a chuckle. In his spotless white ducks and blue cap he +was enjoying himself already. "Did that uncommonly well, didn't I, Tom?" +he said. "What could be more useful than cooling apparatus when there's +a chance of getting into very hot water, eh?" + +He took a run over the vessel as soon as she had made an offing. His +yacht was a hobby, and whenever he went for a cruise he liked to examine +her in the company of his officers, with whom, as with the crew, whom he +knew individually, he was very popular. In the course of his inspection +he came to the engine room. + +"How do, Mr. Mumford!" he said genially to the engineer. "All in good +order, eh?" + +"Tip-top, sir. This is the neatest bit of machinery I've ever had to do +with." + +"Glad to hear that. I _say_, is that a new stoker I see there? What's +become of Byles?" + +"His mother is very ill, sir, and he had to cry off at the last moment. +I was very lucky to get a man to fill the place." + +"Ha! Looks rather _young_, doesn't he? Overgrown, perhaps. Any _good_?" + +"Can't tell yet, sir. I'll let you know later on. He shapes very well. +He's a fine well-made young fellow; very willing, too. Byles said he'd +go bail for him to any amount." + +"That's all right. What's his name?" + +"M'Cracken, sir; Scotch, by the name. Would you like to speak to him, +sir?" + +"Just a word. Like to _know_ the men, you know. Gives 'em a personal +interest in their job, I always think." + +The engineer called up the new stoker, a tall young fellow in the +flannel shirt open at the neck, the loose reach-me-down, and the +black-lead coated trousers affected by his kind. His face and arms were +begrimed with black grease, and his mouth received an extra smudge as he +drew the back of his hand across it, apparently in sheepish confusion. + +"You're a new man, M'Cracken," said the merchant pleasantly. "Hope +you'll get on well. Mr. Mumford won't _over-work_ you, I can answer for +that. Have you been long at this job?" + +"No that lang, sir; just a wee while," the stoker replied in a somewhat +husky voice. + +"Exactly. Ah! well! Good morning." + +"Good mornin', sir." + +And Mr. Greatorex went on deck, satisfied that he had established +excellent relations with the newest hand. + +The first part of the voyage was rather stormy. The yacht, by no means a +large vessel, shipped one or two fairly heavy seas, to the no small +alarm of Tom, who was anxious lest the crates containing his machine +should be washed overboard or otherwise injured. But halfway through the +Bay the weather moderated, and by the time the yacht reached the +latitude of Lisbon both wind and sea were calm enough, he thought, for +his first experiment. It had been decided that the dusk of the evening +would be the best time for the attempt, for it was just as necessary on +sea as on land to avoid observation. If the airship were descried from +the deck of a homeward-bound vessel, the fact, and the name of the +yacht, might be marconigraphed to England, and then, as Mr. Greatorex +said, all Fleet Street would be in a buzz. + +Early one morning the crates were broken open. It took the best part of +the day to piece the machine together, and Tom went over it bit by bit +several times to assure himself that everything was in order. The +airship was so placed that it could take flight over the stern of the +yacht. When dusk was falling, the vessel's engines were reversed, Tom +arranging that as soon as the airship rose from the deck the yacht +should be sent full speed ahead, to make sure that the apparatus cleared +the vessel and ran no risk of fouling the funnel. + +Mr. Greatorex had shown some nervousness as the critical moment +approached. He insisted on lowering a boat in case the airship came to +grief and Tom were thrown into the sea. Timothy Ball, too, looked on +with a most woful countenance as the final preparations were made. He +had unslung a life belt, ready to slip into it and fling himself +overboard if the airship broke down. + +"I feel sure in my inside it won't work," he said anxiously to Tom, as +he stepped to the car. "It'll be worse than suicide, sir." + +"Why worse, Tim?" asked Mr. Greatorex. + +"'Cos we're lookin' on, sir," said Tim solemnly, and felt much hurt by +the burst of laughter with which his explanation was received. + +But his anxiety was a vain expenditure of energy. With the vertical +screws at full speed, and the horizontal screws half speed, the machine +rose like a huge bird from the deck, with a noise like the clattering of +hundreds of bats and the humming of innumerable bees. At the height of +sixty feet or so Tom stopped the vertical screws, and turned the full +power of his engines on to the horizontal propellers, giving to the +planes just sufficient inclination to counteract the force of gravity. + +"Capital!" exclaimed Mr. Greatorex, as he watched the easy flight. +"First-rate! There's a _fortune_ in that, skipper," he said to Captain +Bodgers at his side. + +"Maybe," said the Captain reflectively. He was a man of few words. + +"Rather stay on deck, eh?" + +"Well, you can swim in water, sir." + +"Exactly. But how far is the fellow going? It's getting dark, and he'll +be out of sight directly. By the way, Bodgers, there's no law about +showing lamps on an airship. But there will be--there _will_ be. Ah! here +he comes--at a spanking pace, too. He'll overtake us in no time, going +dead slow as we are." + +In less than a minute the airship had come within a little distance +astern of the yacht. + +"Hallo!" came a voice from the air. + +"Are you there?" answered Mr. Greatorex, from force of habit at the +telephone. + +"Who are you?" came the response. "I say, Mr. Greatorex, pick up that +boat and go full speed ahead. She's going beautifully; the oiling she's +had has done her no end of good." + +"All right. Aren't you coming _down_? It's getting _dark_; I can hardly +_see_ you." + +"Not just yet. She goes smoother than the yacht, and it's beautifully +fresh up here. I can tell your whereabouts by your lights." + +"All right. _Don't get lost!_" + +Tom laughed. He laughed again when, from his elevated position, he saw +that though the boat had been hoisted on board, four men had been told +off to stand by the davits in order to lower it again at the first sign +of mishap. + +The yacht was sent full speed ahead. She could easily do her eighteen +knots, but was no match in speed for the airship, which circled round +and round her. + +"She beats us hollow," said Mr. Mumford to M'Cracken, as they watched +the flight from the foot of the companion. + +"Ou ay, sir. Yon's a grand invention. It's wonderful." + +After about an hour Tom called down that he was going to descend. + +"He'd much better stay up now he's there," said Timothy, gloomily. +"He'll smash himself or us--I know he will." + +Tom knew that to descend was a delicate operation, to be performed with +all caution. As his control over the airship was to a great extent +proportionate to its speed, he shouted instructions to keep the yacht +going under full steam. Coming up astern, he so adjusted his own speed +as to overtake the yacht very slowly. When the airship was level with +the stern, two men on board caught a cable hanging loose from the car. +Then Tom gradually reduced the speed of the horizontal propellers, and +started the vertical screws at half speed, keeping one hand all the time +on the lever that adjusted the angles of the planes. He handled his +appliances so dexterously that the airship, guided by the rope, sank +steadily and accurately to the deck. Buffers of india rubber were +slipped under her bottom to break the slight jar that must be inevitable +when she touched the platform. Then Tom stepped out. + +"Capital!" cried Mr. Greatorex, slapping him on the back. "This is going +to turn out _all right_, my boy. What does it _feel_ like, being up +there?" + +"Like a fish out of water, I should think," said Tom, laughing. "But I +thought what a helpless thing a man-of-war would be if she had to tackle +an airship. I could choose my own altitude, and drop explosives on her +deck and blow her to smithereens, and there's no gun that I know of that +could make an effective reply. They'd have to invent a rocket apparatus +for shying melinite shells aloft." + +"Well, let's hope that it'll never come to that. Ours is a _cooling_ +apparatus--don't you forget it!" + +Tom was so well pleased with his first sea trial that day had scarcely +dawned before he was again aloft. This time he took Timothy with him. He +needed some assistance in attending to the mechanism, and now that a +first ascent had been made without mishap, the man was no longer so +nervous about it. + +The airship had not been up more than half an hour, however, when Tom +signalled to the yacht that he saw a vessel on the horizon. + +"Come down _at once_!" roared Mr. Greatorex through a megaphone. + +Tom descended, somewhat unwillingly. Nothing would have pleased him +better than to steer directly for the vessel, and see what effect was +produced on board by the sight of this strange bird of passage hovering +above the tops. But clearly Mr. Greatorex was right, and Tom lowered the +machine deftly to the deck. As the ship was heading straight for the +yacht, the aeroplane was covered with tarpaulin. + +The vessel turned out to be a cruiser flying the French colours. The +captain spoke the yacht, and asked whether anything had been seen from +its deck of an extraordinary object that appeared to have been moving +through the air. + +"Answer him, Tom. I'm no good at French." + +"We did see something, monsieur le capitaine," he said, "Do you know +whether Monsieur Santos-Dumont is trying his thirty-third airship?" + +"I am not aware, monsieur. It may be. I saw the object very +indistinctly. It suddenly disappeared." + +"Ah! I was always afraid that Monsieur Santos-Dumont would meet his +death. You French, monsieur, are such adventurous spirits! When you +reach Brest perhaps you will inquire whether he has recently made an +ascent." + +"I will certainly do so, monsieur." + +The vessels were now out of speaking distance. Tom explained to Mr. +Greatorex what he had said. + +"Bravo! What with my cooling apparatus and your cool cheek I think we +are keeping our secret pretty well, Tom." + +In order to escape further observation from passing vessels Mr. +Greatorex had the yacht's course set considerably westward of the usual +track. It was consequently another couple of days before she came into +the latitude of Rabat, the port for which she was making. Her head was +turned eastward in the direction of the coast of Morocco, and, there +being no vessels in sight, Tom again made an ascent, Timothy +accompanying him. + +The coastline gradually came into view. From an altitude of more than a +hundred feet Tom saw, between him and the coast, a number of rocky +islets. Here and there the varying tints of the water indicated shoals +of sunken rocks. + +"Know the coast?" he called down to Captain Bodgers. + +"Ay, ay, sir," said the captain. + +"There are no end of shoals." + +"Know 'em all, sir; have a care you don't strike one." + +Captain Bodgers laughed uproariously at his little joke, and Tom, +circling round the yacht, set the aeroplane at full speed towards the +coast. He was a considerable distance ahead when Timothy suddenly called +his attention to an object projecting above the sea-level, close to one +of the rocky islets that dotted the intervening space. It might have +escaped their attention altogether but for a certain movement Tim +fancied he discerned in it. As they drew nearer, they discovered that +what Tim had thought to be a single object was in reality two, which +appeared to be the broken-off stumps of two masts. Taking his +field-glasses in one hand--the other always grasping the steering +wheel--Tom lifted them to his eyes, got the focus, and made out that the +objects were not stumps after all, but the tops of masts, and that two +figures were clinging to them, one to each. + +Tom had no doubt that the airship was approaching the scene of a wreck, +and that the two men were in distress and danger. Steering immediately +for the yacht, he came within hailing distance and through his megaphone +announced his discovery. + +"We'll go to the rescue, _of course_," shouted Mr. Greatorex in reply. + +The wreck was as yet invisible from the deck, but it was arranged that +the yacht should stand in as close as possible, and then send a boat to +bring off the survivors. Meanwhile Tom, setting his engine at full +speed, dashed on in the direction of the submerged vessel. + +He noticed that even during the few seconds in which he had been in +communication with the yacht the situation had changed. One of the masts +was now tenantless. Presumably its occupant had been washed off or +through fatigue had dropped into the sea. But as the airship drew +rapidly nearer, it was noticed that the figure on the other mast was +bending low as if to raise something from the water. Then a head and +shoulders appeared above the surface. Clearly the man Tom had supposed +to be lost was trying to make his way to the mast to which his companion +clung. + +The airship was now less than half a mile distant, and from the altitude +to which they had risen--some three hundred feet above the surface--the +occupants could see every detail in the strange drama that was being +enacted beneath them. Assisted by the figure above, the swimmer was +gradually making his way on to the mast, when suddenly a black fin +appeared above the surface a few yards off. With a convulsive movement, +the lowermost man had just succeeded in swinging himself a foot or two +up the mast when the gaping jaws of a shark passed immediately beneath +him. Tom shuddered involuntarily. The man had escaped by a few inches at +the most. + +In a second the shark turned and glided beneath the clinging figure. The +terror-stricken wretch clutched wildly at the man above him, and began +to haul himself up hand over hand, clinging to his companion's body. But +the latter, unable to bear the double weight on the smooth mast, slipped +slowly downwards. He was the slighter of the two, and no match, +apparently, for the man who had usurped his place. + +"What a beast!" ejaculated Tom, wondering at this strange want of +fellow-feeling in a man who was evidently older and stronger than his +companion in distress. Slowing down, he fixed his eyes on the +extraordinary spectacle. The position was now reversed. The younger and +slighter man was very manifestly the under dog. With every attempt on +his part to swarm up the mast the man above him kicked savagely, while +the shark circled below. The fact that the second mast had become +untenable seemed to indicate that the tide was rising. Neither of the +men, their whole attention fixed on the sea beneath, had noticed the +airship that was now hovering just above their heads. + +When, however, Tom gradually allowed the airship to sink towards the +sea, the shark seemed to take fright, just as smaller fish are scared by +signs of movement in the air above. It left the immediate neighbourhood +of the mast, and its black fin could be seen describing a much larger +circle some two or three hundred yards away. Clearly it had not given up +hope. When the shark moved away and the strain of terror was relaxed, +the two men became suddenly aware of the presence of the airship. The +topmost man was almost as much scared by the sight of the airship as he +had been by the presence of the shark. Tom had already noticed that both +of the men were dark skinned. The larger and stronger--the brute, as Tom +mentally called him--appeared to be middle-aged; the other was a +stripling. + +Tom was struck by the difference in their demeanour when they caught +sight of the airship; neither he nor Timothy was at present visible to +them. The elder man was aghast with fright, his eyes dilated, his mouth +gaped between black moustache and beard. The younger, however, seemed to +pull himself together as with renewed hope. Tom fancied that he heard a +cry from his lips. + +Looking round, Tom saw that the yacht had now hove to, and the boat was +leaving her side. But his attention was again called to the wreck by a +piercing shriek. The shark, regaining confidence, had made another dash +at the mast. This time it seemed to come within an inch of the terrified +youth; indeed, from the cry that had reached his ears, Tom thought that +the poor wretch had actually been seized. But next moment he saw that +the shark had again drawn off, scared, possibly, by the cry. + +There was now less of the masts above the surface. The tide was +evidently rising, and with its rise the shark would have another +opportunity of coming within snapping distance. Tom felt that it would +not again fail. It would be at least ten minutes before the boat reached +the spot; by that time the hapless lad would probably have fallen a +victim. Tom had noticed that when the shark was all but upon him, and he +made a convulsive movement upwards, he was met by a storm of kicks from +the man above, threatening to dislodge him completely from the mast and +hurl him into the very jaws of the monster. + +In a moment Tom made up his mind. He ordered Timothy to let down from +the car a light grapnel carried for use in emergencies, and also for +raising anything that might be needed, without having to bring the +airship to rest on the ground. Then he allowed the machine to sink +gently until the grapnel dangled within reach of the man at the top. Tom +had no intention of helping him first; by his conduct he deserved to be +left to drown or to make a meal for the shark. But the man seemed indeed +quite incapable of movement, except when scared to frenzy by the efforts +of the youth below to regain the position from which he had been forced. +He made no attempt to clutch the grapnel dangling at his very hand. Tom +let the machine fall lower, until the grapnel came within reach of the +younger man. He showed no such hesitation. Looking along the cable, he +saw Timothy gazing down at him from the car. The sight of a human face +gave him confidence. He clutched at the grapnel, let go his hold of the +mast, and swung clear, Timothy attempting to steady the rope. + +His sudden movement threatened a catastrophe. The airship was now only +about sixty feet above the sea, and before Tom, his attention partly +engaged by the efforts of the boy, could increase the speed of the +ascensional screw, the light vessel was pulled swiftly downwards. For a +moment he felt that it must inevitably be dragged into the water. The +young fellow below, still clutching desperately at the grapnel, had +actually begun to sink beneath the surface. But as soon as his weight +was supported by the water, the ascensional screw, now set by Tom +whirling at full speed, checked the downward movement, and in another +couple of seconds the airship began to rise, dragging the youth upwards. + +In his excitement Tom had momentarily forgotten the shark. That +persistent creature, however, having overcome its fear of the monster of +the air, made a dash for the youth as he entered the sea. The poor +wretch had the narrowest escape of all when the shark passed just +beneath him, as, whirling round on the grapnel, he was swung clear of +the water. + +Now that he was safe from the cruel jaws, the lad showed himself to be +possessed of no little agility. Hand over hand he swarmed up the cable +until he reached the lower rail of the car, which he clutched, and by +Timothy's aid he clambered over. Meanwhile Tom had steered the airship +towards the approaching boat. + +"Give way with a will, men!" he shouted. "There's no time to be lost. +We've got one; the other man will be nabbed by a shark if you aren't +there pretty soon. I can see the brute's fin above the water just by the +mast." + +The men spurted. As the boat approached the submerged vessel, the shark +took fright and glided swiftly away. In another half-minute the man was +taken from his precarious perch, and lifted, in a state of complete +collapse, into the boat. + + + + +CHAPTER VI--SALATHIEL BEN EZRA + + +"Bismillah!" ejaculated the young Moor when he stood in the car. + +"Just saved your bacon, if that's what you mean," said Timothy. "And a +nice sloppy mess you're making! I s'pose _I_'ll have to clean up." + +Timothy scowled and growled, but that was only his way. Tom knew well +enough that Timothy would clean up with great cheerfulness. + +"We'll get back to the yacht," he said, "and find some dry things for +him there." + +The airship was now so well under control that Tom had no difficulty in +letting her down safely on deck, though the yacht was at anchor. + +"Uncommonly well done!" exclaimed Mr. Greatorex as Tom stepped out of +the car. + +"Yes; I thought she came down pretty neatly," said Tom. + +"Didn't mean _that_, you egoist. I meant you saved this young fellow +uncommonly well; saw it _all_ through my binocular. Dangerous things, +sharks. Who _is_ the boy?" + +"I haven't asked him yet. I thought we might give him a dry change and +then see if we can make out anything. He probably can't speak English." + +"Very well. Bodgers, find some toggery and take him into the cabin. +Who's the _other_ fellow?" + +"We shall find out presently. Shall we go into the cabin? I'd like to +put a few questions before the other man comes aboard." + +They found that Captain Bodgers had rigged up the boy in a sailor's suit +much too large for him. + +"Capital!" cried Mr. Greatorex. "_Much_ more respectable! Can you speak +English, boy?" + +"Me speak English little bit, and Spanish little bit," replied the boy +with a frank smile. + +"That's capital! Not the _Spanish_, you know; but the English." + +"I tank very much for the gentleman's goodness----" + +"Yes, yes, _that's_ all right. But come now, how did you get into that +pretty pickle?" + +The boy looked puzzled. + +"Tell us how the ship came to be wrecked," said Tom, translating. + +"Aiyeh! She caught in fog last night, struck rock. Quick it was all +over; no one live, only me and Salathiel ben Ezra." + +"That is your friend's name, is it? A Jew?" + +"Yes, excellency, a Jew. A dog of a Jew!" + +"And you are not a Jew? What is your name?" + +"Abdul, most merciful--Abdul ben Cassim, of Ain Afroo in Zemmur." + +"Zemmur!" ejaculated Mr. Greatorex. "Isn't that the neighbourhood where +Ingleton is said to be?" + +"Yes," replied Tom. "We may find the lad useful. Tell us, Abdul, how you +came to be at sea with a Jew." + +Abdul explained that, some five or six years before, his father, a +well-to-do saddlemaker of Ain Afroo, had contrived to quarrel with the +sheikh of his district, refusing, in fact, to pay the sheikh a very +extortionate levy. It was, Abdul admitted, a foolish thing to do, for +soon afterwards the saddlemaker died mysteriously. His family took +instant flight with what possessions they could get together, and found +refuge in Casa Blanca, where the boy had a distant relative, the owner +of a small coasting vessel. Since that time he had been engaged in +trading up and down the coast, and in his journeyings had picked up a +smattering of English and Spanish. + +The small capital which the family had brought with them had been +considerably increased by profitable investments in trading ventures of +the lad's kinsman. A share in the business was owned by Salathiel ben +Ezra, the Jew who was now being brought from the wreck in the yacht's +boat. It was very unlucky; Abdul could not but think that the wreck must +have been caused by an evil spell cast on the boat by the Jew; for +Salathiel had never voyaged on the vessel before. The loss of the ship +meant the loss of almost the whole of his family's little fortune, and +Abdul feared they would be placed in the power of Salathiel, who already +had some claim on them which Abdul himself did not understand. But +everything happened by the will of Allah; it was written, and what is +written must be. + +Abdul's story was hardly finished when the Jew was hauled on board. He +appeared to have quite regained his self-possession during the short +passage of the boat. He made a deep obeisance when Mr. Greatorex met him +on deck. + +"I pay a thousand dutiful civilities," he said in a low smooth voice. +"The honourable sir overwhelms me with kindness in saving me and my +humble companion from the jaws of the monster, and my thanks are even as +the sand of the shore. May I beg the little loan of a dry garment or +two?" + +"Take Mr. Salathiel below, Captain Bodgers," said Mr. Greatorex, "and +see what you can do for him." + +With a deep salaam and a fawning smile the Jew departed. + +"Um!" grunted Mr. Greatorex. "Don't like his _looks_, Tom." + +"He's not prepossessing, certainly; a little too glib, don't you think?" + +"A _rascal_, Tom; mark my words." + +"I wouldn't go so far as that. But we may get something out of this, Mr. +Greatorex. This young Moor comes from the very country where Ingleton is +said to be. Don't you think we may profit by that?" + +"How do you mean?" + +"Why, instead of making for Rabat, as we intended, why not find some +quieter harbour where we shall not be such public characters, and get +the youngster to act as guide into the hills? No doubt he bears a grudge +against the sheikh who disposed of his father. If he has anything of the +usual oriental thirst for revenge he will be very willing to help us." + +"Well, sound him; go at it _cautiously_, you know; _tact_--that's the +thing." + +Meanwhile Salathiel ben Ezra had been clothed by Captain Bodgers in blue +serge trousers, a nankeen waistcoat, and an oilskin, the only other +garment available. The Jew cut a strange figure in this unfamiliar +attire. He was short, fat, thick-necked; the lower part of his face was +hidden by dense black moustache and beard; his eyes were unequal in size +and different in colour, and had a trick of roaming all around as he +talked. + +"This is very elegant yacht," he said to Captain Bodgers as the garments +were laid before him. The captain, always a silent man, made no reply. +"That is most marvellous creature, the thing that flies in the air," the +Jew continued; "I have never seen anything like it. It is without doubt +a new sport--the English love sport. They spend much money in sport. And +where is the yacht bound for, good captain?" + +"Goin' a cruise," said the captain shortly. + +"Without doubt. And perhaps the kind governor will permit to call at a +port--at Rabat, say; for I am not a man of the sea, and I have business +there." + +"Better ask him." + +"I will do so. I will say also how I fill myself with wonder of the +thing that flies. I myself am a sport!" + +Salathiel not merely expressed his wonderment to Mr. Greatorex, but +displayed a very active curiosity as to the construction of the machine +and the choice of those waters for the practice of the new sport. Mr. +Greatorex gave him no satisfaction, and was indeed somewhat curt in his +replies to the man's leading questions; but Salathiel smiled at each +rebuff, thereby confirming Mr. Greatorex's conviction that he was a +rascal. + +The yacht lay to for several hours, getting under way again in the +afternoon. It was very hot; everybody was more or less sleepy, and Tom +thought it a good time to sound the Moor as to his willingness to assist +in the expedition. They had a long conversation in the cabin, the result +of which was entirely satisfactory to Tom. Abdul's one object in life +was to wreak vengeance on the sheikh for the wrongs his family had +suffered, and it was to be a thorough vengeance. He would not be +satisfied merely with the death of his enemy; that might have been +achieved already. But he was determined to ruin the sheikh's family, +just as his own had been ruined. He had hoped to save enough money in +course of time to gather about him a band of trusty Riffians who would +raid the oppressor's stronghold. The loss of the vessel had swept away +the savings of five years; but he was resolved to begin again and even +if fifty years were to pass before he was in a position to accomplish +his aim, he would never relinquish it. The sheikh himself might die +before then; in that case the weight of the avenging hand would fall on +his descendants. + +When Tom reported to Mr. Greatorex the result of this conversation the +worthy merchant was shocked. + +"Terrible, terrible!" he said. "Most unchristian! The Moors are no +better than _heathen_, Tom." + +"Well, we don't know what it's like. I don't think you would be very +sweetly disposed towards any one who had served you as he has been +served." + +"Me! I'd bring an _action_ against the villain, you may be sure of +that." + +"I don't suppose they have actions at law in Morocco. But it's quite +clear that he will be willing to help us." + +"True. I'll go down with you, and we'll come to an understanding with +him." + +At this second interview Tom explained to Abdul the object he had in +view, and invited his assistance, Mr. Greatorex promising that if he +would guide Tom to the spot where the British diplomatist was held +captive he should be rewarded with a sum equal to what he had lost +through the wreck. Further, if Sir Mark Ingleton should actually be got +away safely, the sum should be doubled. Abdul jumped at the offer, and +listened respectfully enough when Mr. Greatorex went on to say that he +hoped the money would not be put to bad uses. + +"Everything happens by the will of Allah," he said; "what is to be, must +be." + +It was dusk when the little party broke up. Nobody noticed a figure +wriggle away from a ventilating grating over the skylight of the cabin. +Salathiel ben Ezra had watched these conferences between the Moor and +the Christians with much curiosity and suspicion, and without attracting +the attention of any one on deck he had contrived to steal to a spot +where he overheard a considerable part of the conversation. + +Before he turned in, Tom had a long talk with Mr. Greatorex, which took +an unexpected trend. The two were alone in the cabin. Tom was in the +highest spirits, for the greatest difficulty he had foreseen--the +difficulty of finding his way about the hill village when he should +arrive at it--seemed to have been removed now that he had secured a guide +in Abdul. + +"You see, it's just about there," he said, putting his finger down on +the map he had unrolled and spread on the table. "It is barely a hundred +miles inland, and without putting any strain on the engines I can do it +comfortably in four hours. Of course, we must arrive after dark; so +to-morrow night I think we'll make a start--Timothy and I and the Moor." + +Then it was that the unexpected happened. Mr. Greatorex had been staring +gravely at the map. Suddenly he brought his fist down on it with a bang. + +"Look here, Tom," he said, "we'll _drop_ it." + +Tom was taken too much aback for words. + +"Yes, we'll drop it. I won't _allow_ it. Suppose anything goes wrong +with the machine, where _are_ you? tell me that! In those hills--wild +country, wild men--_fanatics_, you know: hate all Christians, no sense of +law and order, won't pay their taxes, don't care tuppence for their +rulers--oh! I've _read_ all about 'em, you know, and 'pon my soul I don't +know what I was thinking of to come out here at all. We've had a +pleasant run, we've tested the airship; it'll _do_, Tom: but now we'll +go _back_, my boy, to our land of peace and settled government." + +"But what about Sir Mark Ingleton?" + +"Hang Ingleton! Ingleton never invented anything! If those Moors get +hold of you, England loses an inventor and I lose my man. No, no; we +mustn't meddle with state affairs." + +And then Tom spent an hour in patiently combatting Mr. Greatorex's +objections, and in the end had for his meagre reward the indecisive +remark-- + +"Well, we'll see, Tom, we'll _see_." + +Next morning Mr. Greatorex made no allusion to this conversation, but +was observed in close colloquy with Captain Bodgers. The result of this +removed the weight from Tom's mind. The yacht coasted up and down, the +captain scanning the desolate shore narrowly through his glass. At last +he found what he had been searching for, and steered the yacht into a +snug little bay. The country was well wooded, the trees coming down +almost to the edge of the narrow sandy beach. + +"Can't better this, sir," said the captain. "The anchorage is none too +good, and if a storm comes up we may have to put out to sea; but it's a +quiet place, as you see; can't do no better." + +"Very well. Now, Tom, I'm going to risk it. There's the _Country_ to +consider, you see. But you'll make me a promise not to run into danger; +I know you won't run away from it!" + +"With all my heart," replied Tom. "We'll start to-night." + +He spent the hours of daylight in making preparations. The machine was +overhauled; provisions and arms were stowed in the car; and Tom eagerly +awaited the moment for setting forth on his adventure. + +In the afternoon, while the preparations were still in progress, a crowd +of natives appeared on the cliffs south of the bay--wild-looking men clad +in djellabas and kaftans and yellow shoes, and all armed with long guns. +They made no attempt to open communication with the yacht, but encamped +on the cliff as though to keep an eye on her movements. + +Some little time afterwards, a small native craft was observed entering +the cove. Her appearance was hailed with shouts from the cliff, where +there were signs of excitement among the throng of spectators. + +"Barbary pirates, eh, Bodgers!" said Mr. Greatorex, taking a look at the +felucca through his glass. + +"Maybe, sir; they've plied that trade hereabouts for hundreds of years." + +"They're making for the yacht." + +"Yes. We'll serve out arms, sir; it's as well to be on the safe side." + +"Tom, cover up the airship. I don't suppose they'll know what it is, +but, as Bodgers says, it's as well to be on the safe side." + +As the vessel drew near, it was seen that she carried some thirty +fierce-looking fellows, tall and finely made. One of them hailed the +yacht. Mr. Greatorex called Abdul to his side and bade him interpret. + +"Say they want to come on ship, sir--see the captain--do trade for guns +and powder." + +"What do you say, Bodgers? Shall we let a few of them come aboard?" + +"I would, sir. A few won't do no harm, and if we can make friends of +them, so much the better." + +Accordingly, half a dozen Moors were allowed to mount to the yacht's +deck. They appeared to be much disappointed when Mr. Greatorex politely +explained through Abdul that he had no commercial object; his ostensible +purpose, to see the country, scarcely satisfied them. But they recovered +their spirits when he offered to show them over the vessel; and +afterwards when, at the suggestion of Captain Bodgers, who knew +something of the Moorish habits, they were each given a cup of weak tea +and unlimited sugar, they smacked their lips and declared themselves +well pleased with their reception. + +While they were still sipping their tea, squatting on the deck, +Salathiel ben Ezra, who had hitherto kept in the background, came to Mr. +Greatorex and begged the favour of a few minutes' conversation. + +"I ask you, excellency, to be so kind, as let me go with the men, when +they leave this ship. I have business on land; and thank you for your +kindness, and take leave respectfully." + +"Hm! Moors _friends_ of yours, eh?" + +"No, no; the Moors do not love the men of my nation; they oppress us; +they call us dogs and sons of swine." + +"Well then, you'd better stay aboard, you know. You wouldn't be _safe_ +among them in a wild spot like this. We can land you at Rabat in a day +or two; you'll be safer in a port." + +"Ah, excellency, but I do not love the sea. It has wrecked my vessel; I +have much fear of the sharks. I am not at ease until I set foot again on +dry land." + +Mr. Greatorex was perplexed. He had no reasonable excuse for detaining +the Jew: yet, remembering that the man had seen the airship at work, he +recognized that it would be in the highest degree impolitic to allow him +to go ashore and spread the news. He beckoned Tom forward and told him +of the Jew's request. Tom instantly grasped the situation. + +"Mr. Salathiel forgets," he said, "that we have a claim for salvage on +his effects. (Whether we have such a claim legally I don't know," he +said to Mr. Greatorex afterwards, "but it was the first thing that came +into my head.") + +"That is most true," said the Jew, with a smile; "but alas! I lost +everything in the wreck; and have only my clothes, and they----" + +He shrugged expressively. + +"Sorry for you," said Tom. "Still, it would not be fair to your +companion Abdul to leave him to meet our claim alone." + +"But he can come with me," said Salathiel eagerly. "He will be with his +countrymen." + +"You were not so anxious for his company when I first saw you," replied +Tom drily. "No, Mr. Salathiel; it will be better for you both to come +with us to Rabat: there we can lay this little matter of salvage before +the authorities." + +The Jew heaved a sigh as of weariness, and acquiesced with a smile. +Neither Tom nor Mr. Greatorex was aware that while the Moors were being +shown over the vessel, Salathiel had had a few moments' conversation +with one of them. The only man on board who had observed this--and he had +not given a second thought to it--was M'Cracken, the new stoker. + +The Moors left the yacht; the felucca sailed away; not shorewards, as +Tom had expected, but out to sea. The crowd on the cliff dispersed and +disappeared, and Tom's final preparations were made unobserved. + +Night fell, and the little bay, hemmed in by the surrounding cliffs, was +enveloped in pitchy darkness. Ten o'clock had been fixed as the time for +the ascent of the airship, and up to the last moment Tom employed +himself in seeing that all was right. Mr. Greatorex was fidgety, asking +the same questions, repeating the same warnings, over and over again, +until Tom began to fear that even now he would change his mind and +prohibit the expedition. His excitement infected every member of the +crew. The men had eyes only for the wonderful machine and for the +figures that moved to and fro about it in the light of the yacht's +electric lamps. Even the men of the watch were diverted from their +duties when they perceived that the lashings holding the airship to the +deck were being cast loose. Thus it was that no one had observed a small +craft gliding into the bay; no one had noticed that a rope hung over the +side of the yacht from the main deck forward; no one was on the look-out +when a dusky form clambered silently up and helped to lower Salathiel +ben Ezra into the boat riding alongside. + +But it happened that Timothy Ball, going forward at that moment to fetch +his reefer, which he had left in the fore cabin, noticed what was afoot +just as he reached the companion way. With a shout he dashed forward to +lay hands on the intruder. But, quick as thought, the Moor whipped out a +knife and struck at Timothy; and when the sailors came running to the +spot they found the poor fellow groaning on the deck, and caught a +glimpse of a felucca speeding away into the gloom. + + + + +CHAPTER VII--THE HILLS OF ZEMMUR + + +For the moment the airship was forgotten. The whole ship's company +flocked to the foredeck and formed a group around the prostrate form of +Timothy Ball. Tom was already on his knees beside the man, putting in +practice the principles of first aid, and receiving unexpected +assistance from M'Cracken, who showed remarkable adeptness. + +"How did it _happen_?" cried Mr. Greatorex, supposing that his man's +plight was due to some accident. + +"The Jew!" said Timothy, faintly. + +"The villain! Bring him _here_, some one." + +"He ain't here, sir; went over the side. It wasn't him that stabbed me; +it was a Moor that came up out of a boat and helped the Jew to get away. +Never mind me, sir; I'm all right." + +Mr. Greatorex fumed. + +"This puts a _stop_ to it, Tom. It's a villainous business, and we'll go +straight back home." + +Tom made no reply. He was completing the adjustment of a tourniquet. + +"And we've no doctor on board!" Mr. Greatorex went on. "We'll run back +to Gibraltar and get assistance. Can't let the poor fellow bleed to +_death_, you know." + +"He'll no bleed to death," said M'Cracken huskily. "It's just a wee +flesh wound. He'll be a' richt in a twa-three days." + +"Glad to hear it." + +"The question is, who shall I take with me now?" said Tom, rising to his +feet and ignoring Mr. Greatorex's expressed determination to go home. +"The sooner I'm off the better, for that rascally Jew will tell all he +knows about the airship, and the Moors will be on their guard." + +"But we're going _home_, Tom." + +"Surely you won't let our enterprise be ruined by a rogue!" replied Tom. +"There's all the more reason for going on with it." + +"Gad, you're right," cried Mr. Greatorex, veering round again. "We'll do +it in the _teeth_ of them. But you'll want some one with you in place of +Tim. If I were twenty years younger I'd go myself. You want a man who +knows _something_ about engines. Can't spare _you_, Mumford, I'm +afraid." + +"No, sir," replied the engineer, "and I'm rather heavy. But there's +young M'Cracken; he's a light weight; an uncommonly handy fellow too, +and judging from some remarks of his when we've been watching the +airship, he knows something about 'em; seems to have read a good deal. I +can do without him for a day or two, especially if we lie at anchor +here." + +"Ah! Yes! Where _is_ he? He was here a few seconds ago." + +M'Cracken was haled from below. He appeared even more grimy than ever. + +"Look here, M'Cracken," said Mr. Greatorex. "Mr. Dorrell wants some one +to _help_ him, and Mr. Mumford suggests you: speaks _well_ of you, you +know. You've never been on an airship, of course; but all you've to do +is to keep _calm_, and do _exactly_ as you are told. You're not +_afraid_--no _nerves_, oh?" + +"No, sir." + +"You're very hoarse still. It will do you _good_, you know, to be away +from that furnace for a day or two. Well, you'd better get a wash." + +"No time for that," said Tom quickly. "It's past ten o'clock, and we +ought to have started long ago." + +"Very well. You're not going _visiting_, to be sure. Well, M'Cracken, go +and put on your reefer; the night's cold, and will be colder." + +"Ay, ay, sir," returned M'Cracken, and dived with alacrity below. He was +back in less than a minute. Then Tom entered the car of the airship, +followed by Abdul and the stoker. With one hand on the steering wheel +and the other on the lever controlling the engines, he called to the men +to cast loose the ropes securing the car to the deck. Then he started +the ascensional screw, and with a whirr like that of a gigantic +humming-top the airship rose slowly from the yacht's deck. + +"Good-bye, Tom," shouted Mr. Greatorex. "Be _careful_, my boy; run no +risks." + +"Good-bye! Good-bye!" + +"This is ripping," said the stoker, as the machine rose higher and +higher into the air. + +Tom started so violently that he unconsciously jerked back the lever and +stopped the motion of the machine. + +"Pull that lever, quick!" he called. + +"Done it already," said the stoker, with his hand on the lever that +adjusted the planes. "Lucky I've been up before, Dorrell." + +"Good heavens, you're--yes, you're Oliphant. Whew! won't the old man be +in a tantrum. How in the world did you disguise yourself?" + +"Sammy Byles' clothes, a little lampblack, and my native brogue do make +a difference, don't they! I'm afraid Mr. Greatorex _will_ be a trifle +fizzy; but that won't matter, afterwards." + +"I'm not sure I oughtn't to go back and drop you." + +"Nonsense. I'm in for it now, and when you come to think of it you +couldn't have a better man. Bar Timothy, nobody knows so much about the +machine as I do; and I warrant I'm a better hand in a scrimmage, whether +with fists or revolvers. I've brought my Colt." + +It was some time before Tom recovered from his surprise; but for the +moment his attention was occupied by the airship. At last he said-- + +"Well, Oliphant, I'm glad enough to have you with me. I hope we shall +come through all right." + +While speaking, he had stopped the ascensional screws and set the +horizontal going. A small aneroid hung just above his head, lit by a +carefully screened electric lamp. The reading indicated that the airship +had risen to a height of five hundred metres. Maintaining the ascent +solely by the inclination of the planes, Tom brought the whole force of +the engines to bear on the horizontal screws, and the machine glided +onwards at a speed of some twenty miles an hour, gradually rising as she +went. Then, at the altitude of a thousand metres, when Tom judged that +he was high enough to clear the tops of the hills that fringed the +coast, Oliphant reduced the angle of the planes so that it was just +sufficient to maintain a constant height at the increased speed of +twenty-five miles. + +"By Jove, this _is_ ripping!" cried Oliphant again. + +It was a bright starlit night, without a breath of wind. At this +altitude the air was crisp and keen, producing a sense of exhilaration +in the occupants of the car. Even Abdul, who had quaked inwardly and +clutched the rail when the machine rose to such a giddy height, had now +lost his tremors, and looked around him with wonderment and delight. The +ship was soaring over the land, which lay outstretched like a vast black +floor three-quarters of a mile beneath. Behind, the lights of the yacht +could be faintly distinguished; before, there was not a glimmer over the +whole country. The airship crossed a peak or two, then sailed over a +rolling plain; by and by more hills loomed black in front. The aneroid, +an extremely delicate instrument, now indicated that the machine was +slowly sinking. Oliphant again adjusted the planes; the airship passed +clear of the hills, and Tom steered as directly as he could guess for +the spot he had marked on his map. + +When the voyage had lasted for about an hour the rising moon threw more +light on the scene, lending a weird beauty to the variegated +landscape--bare rugged hills alternating with wooded slopes and dark +valleys. But it was impossible, at the height at which they were +sailing, to distinguish any landmarks; Abdul knew the country +thoroughly, but was quite at a loss in this unfamiliar situation. He had +told Tom that the fastness where the diplomatist was probably held +captive stood on the top of an extremely steep hill, and explained that +the most convenient spot from which to approach it was a small tableland +about a sixth of a day's journey from it. This was Tom's objective; but +as it was impossible to make sure of reaching it unless Abdul could +obtain some guidance from prominent natural features, Tom more than once +allowed the airship to sink almost to the ground, so that the Moor might +scan the country. + +On one of these occasions, about four hours after they had left the +yacht, Abdul said that he recognized a hill stream whose source was +within a short distance of the sheikh's stronghold. From the directions +he was now able to give, Tom managed to steer fairly straight for the +tableland, and after once more descending so that Abdul might assure +himself that he had not been mistaken, he finally brought the airship to +rest at the desired spot. It was past three o'clock in the morning; the +sky was already lightening with what Abdul called subhi kzib--the false +dawn which often in these latitudes illumines the sky an hour or so +before the real dawn. The three adventurers were all very tired, and on +Abdul explaining that the tableland was but rarely visited, and that so +far as he knew there were no wild beasts in the neighbourhood, Tom +thought that they might all safely take a few hours' sleep before +considering the next move. The tableland was not entirely flat; it had +many depressions, and jagged rocks stood up on all sides around the +comparatively clear space on which the airship rested. Only one hill, +and that apparently four or five miles distant, stood higher, and even +the hawk-like vision of the mountaineers was not likely to discover the +airship from so remote a spot. + +The real dawn--subhi sadik--was some little while past when the Moor +awoke, first of the three. He had just completed his morning devotions +and ablutions at a little spring when the others roused themselves. +Among the contents of the car were a spirit lamp, a tin of condensed +milk, and materials for making tea; and while they ate their breakfast +Tom discussed with Oliphant the programme for the day. + +"The first thing is to find out exactly where Ingleton is imprisoned," +said Tom, "and what chance there is of getting into communication with +him. That's a job for Abdul; obviously we can't help him; we can't do +better than lie snug here while he goes and gets what information he +can." + +"A pretty dangerous job for him if he's caught, isn't it?" + +"Well, it's a good many years since he left these parts, and he must +have altered. I doubt whether he'll be recognized. Luckily the hills are +covered with mist, too; if he starts soon he'll be able to get a good +way before he's likely to run across any of his countrymen." + +"Or lose himself?" + +"No, master," said Abdul, "I don't not lose myself. I go all right." + +"The sooner the better, then," said Tom. "We'll wait for you here." + +The Moor, who had resumed his native dress, at once girt his djellab +about him and prepared to descend the hillside. Tom and Oliphant watched +him breathlessly until the mist hid him from view. He went over the brow +of the hill and began to clamber down its steep side with the agility +and sure-footedness of a mountain goat. When he was out of sight the +others returned to their half-finished breakfast, ready to endure with +what patience they might the long waiting until the Moor should have +completed his errand. + +"What if he doesn't come back?" said Oliphant. + +"We shall have to risk it ourselves. I'm certainly not going back +without making the attempt now that we have come so far. It's pretty +cold up here; I shall be glad when the sun sucks up this mist." + +When the mist at last cleared away, a magnificent view spread out before +the two watchers on the hill-top. They themselves were perched on the +top of a practically bare rock, but a hundred feet below them the hill +side was covered with forest, broken, however, with huge patches of +rocky ground, on which apparently not even the hardiest tree could find +a lodgment. For miles around, the country showed a succession of +tree-clad hills, with here and there a waterfall, and here and there a +bare summit, not, however, truncated like the hill on which they had +landed. Far away to the north-west they could descry, through their +field-glasses, a considerable walled village perched on the shoulder of +a hill, with one or two large buildings, one presumably a mosque, and a +second evidently the stronghold of the sheikh. This no doubt was the +place in which they were interested. It lay in the direction generally +indicated by the Moor, although when he started it was hidden by the +mists. + +The hours dragged all too slowly by. They talked over the situation, +occasionally getting up to stretch their limbs, but not venturing to +move about much, lest they should be seen by any chance shepherd or +hunter. On the plain below they caught sight of animals moving, and +longed to take a shot at them--now a gazelle, now a wild hog. But to fire +a shot was out of the question, and they had to content themselves with +exchanging reminiscences of sport at home. + +Darkness fell again. Abdul had not returned. Each spent a restless +night, and rose with the dawn, eagerly scanning the country, as soon as +the mist was dispersed, for a sign of their emissary, but in vain. + +"I hope he hasn't been collared," said Tom. + +"Or turned traitor!" + +"He wouldn't do that, I'm sure. I like the fellow. Of course you read a +lot about oriental duplicity, but I don't believe Abdul is a rogue. +Anyway, we should have time to get away in the airship before any one +could molest us here, and he knows that. For the life of me I don't know +what we can do if he _has_ been collared. We can't do a thing until we +know where Ingleton is; we certainly can't go inquiring ourselves. All +we can do is to go back to the yacht and try and pick up some +English-speaking native who can tell us what we want to know, and that +means loss of time." + +"And more than that; it would mean that I'd have to turn into M'Cracken +again, and I don't believe I could keep up the disguise any longer. I +say, what's that moving down there?" + +They seized their field-glasses and turned them towards a patch moving +along the outskirts of a wood some miles away. + +"Moors, by Jove!" exclaimed Oliphant. "And mounted. And coming this way. +It looks as though Abdul had betrayed us, after all." + +"Don't be in a hurry. They're making no attempt to mask their approach. +I don't believe they're coming here at all. No; see, they are wheeling +off to the right, in the direction of the hill village yonder. We +needn't worry ourselves. But I'm getting sick of this, and it'll be +serious soon. I only brought three days' grub in the car, and I'm afraid +we ate more than we ought yesterday. That's the worst of having nothing +to do." + +"It's so plaguy hot, too, when the sun's up. For two pins I'd go down +and have a shot at something in the woods. No doubt it's cooler down +there, and there's no fun in lying about up here to frizzle." + +"There'd certainly be no fun in being pitched into a Moorish dungeon. By +all accounts they're rather horrible. I think I'd rather frizzle here +than stew there. In any case, even supposing the Moors didn't find out +who was firing, the shots would put them on their guard and perhaps +spoil our game. I say, Oliphant, reel off some of your stories." + +But even Oliphant's stories in the Doric palled, and by and by Tom got +up and said that he was going for a stroll. He was away for nearly an +hour, and Oliphant began to feel uneasy at his prolonged absence. +Oliphant dared not call, for fear of being overheard by an enemy; nor +did he care to explore. But he was making up his mind to follow Tom down +the steep path when the wanderer at last returned. + +"Rather interesting spot, this," he said. "Round the corner below there +I came upon some caves." + +"I wondered what had become of you. Did you get lost?" + +"No. The odd thing is that these caves are up about twenty feet from a +ridge of rock, and can't be got at without a ladder. I tried to mount, +but the wall is almost flat." + +"I'll go and have a look. How do you get there?" + +"Down the hill a little way, turn to the right, go along the ridge, and +look up. The caves are about halfway between the ridge and the top of +the hill." + +Oliphant followed these directions, and by and by returned, with his +trousers cut in several places. + +"I tried to climb up," he explained, "but couldn't manage it. I think it +could be done, though, with practice." + +"Which we haven't time for." + +The discovery of the caves had occupied some little time, and furnished +material for speculation and talk that helped to relieve the tedium of +waiting. But their patience had well nigh given out when night once more +descended and still Abdul had not returned. The two were eating their +supper in moody silence when they heard suddenly the sound of a stone +rattling down the hillside. They seized their revolvers and sprang up, +waiting for another sound. Clearly some one, man or animal, was climbing +the hill. All was again silent; then, from some point beyond them, came +the sound of a high-pitched voice. + +"It's Abdul. Thank goodness!" cried Oliphant, with a laugh. "Come on, +you laggard, and give an account of yourself." + +"You have been a long time, Abdul," said Tom, as that young Moor came +through the darkness. + +"True, master; but it is with us a saying, 'Every delay is good.'" + +"Well, come and have something to eat. You're pretty tired and hungry, +no doubt. Then you can tell us what you have done." + +But Abdul declined the food offered him, and producing a wallet from +beneath his djellab, displayed a heap of dates. He related that he had +made his way safely into the village, but as he went through the street +towards the house of Hamet Ali--a friend on whose discretion he could +rely--he fancied from the manner of an old water-carrier that the man had +recognized him. He contrived to slip away among a company of muleteers +that happened to be passing, and reached his friend's house unmolested; +but shortly afterwards he learnt from this friend that the water-carrier +had mentioned his suspicions, and that inquiries were being diligently +made for him through the village. Every exit was watched; and his friend +was in some anxiety lest an emissary of the sheikh should come and +search the house. Hamet, however, was an old enemy of the sheikh, +though, with true oriental dissimulation, he had hitherto managed to +hide the fact. He agreed to give Abdul shelter so long as it was safe to +do so, but impressed upon him that he must not venture to show himself +out of doors. + +He then inquired what had brought Abdul to the village, and the boy +thought it advisable to confide in him, taking care to heighten the +mystery of the wonderful ship that sailed through the air, and to +promise, on the Englishmen's behalf, liberal bakshish to Hamet if he +lent all possible assistance to the enterprise. He wished his friend to +send a messenger to Tom, but this Hamet refused to do, for the results +to himself, if the messenger were followed and caught, might be +disastrous. + +On the morning of the same day, when Hamet returned from his usual visit +to the sk, he reported that a camel-driver had arrived, bearing a +message from a Jew of Rabat, Salathiel ben Ezra by name, who proposed to +come in person to see the sheikh, and had sent a swift rider in advance +to request a safe-conduct. The Jews are tolerated, scorned, made to do +menial work, in the ports; in remote districts of Morocco they carry +their lives in their hands. But the message conveyed to the sheikh had +been such that Salathiel's request was granted, and a dozen men had been +sent on horseback towards the coast as an escort. Hearing this, Abdul +decided that at all costs he must return to his employer. Under cover of +the night he had contrived to slip away from the village, and had come +back by a circuitous route so as to make sure of not being intercepted. + +"But what of the prisoner?" asked Tom. "Did you learn anything of him?" + +"Yes, master. He is in the sheikh's kasbah." + +"What is kasbah?" + +"Strong place, master; thick walls; a very bad prison." + +"We are on the right track, Oliphant," said Tom. + +"It looks bad, though. Ingleton will be pretty well guarded, you may be +sure; and I don't for the life of me see how we can break into a strong +place and get him out." + +"Unless we bribe his jailers. Could we get him away with bakshish, +Abdul?" + +"No, master. The sheikh would cut hands and feet off, put eyes out, and +more." + +"Evidently we've got our work cut out, Oliphant. And you may depend upon +it our friend Salathiel has somehow found out our errand and is coming +to warn the sheikh. I remember now that I saw him talking to one of the +Moors who came aboard the yacht." + +"That explains it." + +"How long will it take him to get here, Abdul?" + +"Two three days, master." + +"We must be beforehand with him, then. Are you prepared for short +rations, Oliphant? Our grub won't last more than another day." + +"Plenty dates and figs in woods, master," said Abdul. + +"We shan't starve, then. Let's have a good sleep, Oliphant. We shall +want all our strength for this job." + +"We shall indeed. Poor old pater! Wouldn't he have the blues if he knew +where I am!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII--THE SWORDSMITH OF AIN AFROO + + +The approaching advent of the Jew had introduced a new element of danger +into the enterprise. If he should reach the village before Ingleton was +released, clearly the game was up. Instead of getting a good sleep, Tom +lay awake, talking over the situation with Oliphant. He got Abdul to +describe the kasbah, but the description was so vague--the Moor when he +lived in the village having taken the stronghold for granted--that he +felt incapable of making any plans without seeing the place for himself. +When he made this suggestion Oliphant scouted it. + +"For one thing," he said, "it's too dangerous; for another, where do I +come in?" + +"Of course I should have to take Abdul--or rather he would have to take +me; and however dangerous it would be for two, it would be still more +dangerous for three. If you'll stay and keep an eye on the airship, I'll +take advantage of the moonlight and go and have a look round. Your turn +will come, you may be sure of that. If I don't come back, you know how +to set the machine going. Scoot back to the yacht, and get Mr. Greatorex +to make straight for Tangier." + +"There'll be a pretty row about this before we've done with it! All +right!--if you _will_ go. But I say, they'll spot you for a foreigner if +any one catches sight of you--in those clothes." + +"Yes; I forgot that. I wish I'd provided myself with a rig-out in the +Moorish style." + +Here Abdul produced from the folds of his djellab a small bundle, which, +being unrolled, proved to be a long grey garment with a pair of yellow +shoes wrapped in it. + +"You're a brick, Abdul!" cried Tom. "You guessed I'd want something of +this sort, eh?" + +"Yes, master. I could only get one." + +"So you're out of it for the present, anyhow, Oliphant. Well, good-bye. +If we're lucky we'll be back by the morning; if not--you know what to +do." + +Five minutes later Tom, swathed in the djellab, disappeared over the +brow of the hill with Abdul. He carried his revolver; the Moor had only +a knife. In his unfamiliar garment Tom found it by no means easy to make +the descent down the rough precipitous path; but Abdul went first, +picking the easiest course, and both arrived safely at the bottom. + +Then they began their march to the village. It was a toilsome journey, +and Tom found the Moorish slippers a very inconvenient footgear. A long +tramp, and another steep climb, brought them to the wall of the village, +which was built on the slope of the hill. The gates had been shut at +sunset, Abdul explained: that was the Moorish fashion. Tom perceived +that the wall was utterly dilapidated: in that respect Ain Afroo was +typically Moorish. In many parts the parapet had fallen to pieces, and, +for any protection it afforded, the wall might as well not have been +there. It gave easy foothold to a climber, and Tom indulged a hope that +the kasbah might prove to be in equally bad preservation. + +From what Abdul had told him, Tom guessed that the stronghold lay at the +upper extremity of the village, about eighty or ninety yards from the +wall. The Moor's knowledge of the place enabled him to lead Tom to a +spot where it would clearly be an easy matter to climb the battlements. +Secure in their remoteness, and in the fact that no hostile force could +come within many miles of the village without being instantly announced, +the inhabitants kept only a perfunctory watch. A few men, Abdul said, +were regularly on guard at the north-east and south-west corners; but no +attempt was made to watch the walls in general. Knowing the state of the +defences, this fact gave Tom some amusement. With walls so ruinous the +gates were the last places at which unauthorized ingress or egress would +be made. The whole place was still sleeping, and would sleep until the +muezzin from the mosque gave the call to prayer. Abdul declared it was +quite safe to enter the village so far as its human inhabitants were +concerned, though there was a risk that some pariah dog might be +wakeful. Taking his courage in both hands, Tom climbed up the wall after +Abdul, and descended on the other side; then, keeping in the black +shadows cast by the moon, the two made their way through round archways +and narrow alleys to the outer wall of the kasbah. + +The village was very silent. It might almost have been an abode of the +dead. Only the screech of night-birds beyond the walls broke the +stillness. Tom held his breath--and his nose, for sanitary authorities +are unknown in Morocco, and heaps of refuse here and there spoke +forcibly in the night air. The two intruders crept stealthily round the +walls of the kasbah, against which small shops and outbuildings that +Abdul called _inzella_ were built, except before the principal +entrance--a large gateway through which two or three men could ride +abreast. In front of this gateway was a wide, open square, with low +shops under a colonnade on the other side. + +The gateway was shut. It had massive iron doors. Stealing to the further +side of it, Abdul touched Tom's arm, and pointed to a small dark window, +unglazed, scarcely more than a slit in the wall, some twenty-five feet +above their heads, and a yard or two back from the parapet, which, as +the Moor had already explained, extended right round the kasbah, +enclosing a kind of terrace. It was the window of the guest-chamber, and +there, Abdul had suggested, the captured envoy was confined. + +The entrance to the guest-chamber would be from the terrace within the +parapet. The floor above was occupied by the sheikh and his family; the +floor below was devoted to the servants and the guard. Even as Tom +looked, a figure passed slowly along the terrace, and the moonlight +glinted on a steel musket barrel. It was clear that the guest-chamber +was carefully guarded--a proof, it seemed, that Abdul's suggestion was +correct. Drawing Tom out of earshot, Abdul said that special orders must +have been given, or the sentry would certainly not tramp up and down at +this hour of night. Tom learnt afterwards that the Moorish soldier's +idea of sentry-go is a long nap in the nearest doorway. + +"Is there no entrance to the guest-chamber from within?" asked Tom. + +Abdul confessed that he did not know. He had never set foot within the +walls. But he had once taken refuge for the night, on one of his +journeys through the country, in a ruined kasbah of somewhat similar +appearance, and there a door led from the guest-chamber into a small +vestibule, which gave access to the upper floor and the roof above. + +Flitting silently across the square, Tom and the Moor took post under +the shadow of the colonnade on the farther side, which ran at right +angles to the wall of the kasbah. Within it was a row of shops, now shut +and barred. There, leaning against one of the stout columns, within the +black darkness of the Moorish arch, Tom scanned the kasbah, looming +white in the moonlight, and meditated. + +To get into communication with the prisoner seemed absolutely hopeless. +No one could force an entrance into the sheikh's strong place. Was it +possible to gain the assistance of some one within? Might not Hamet Ali, +Abdul's friend, act as intermediary between Tom and some servant of the +sheikh's? The cynical saying, "Every man has his price," was literal +truth in Morocco: such was the impression Tom had gained from his +reading. But he knew enough of oriental ways to be sure that the fixing +of the price would be a long and tedious affair. If the Moor were asked +to name it, he would suggest a sum far in excess of what he would +ultimately accept; while however large a sum were offered, it would +prove only the starting place for long haggling. Indeed, the larger the +bribe, the more likely it would be to excite the cupidity of the agent, +and to encourage him to stand out for yet higher terms. + +In spite of the difficulties, Tom would have been inclined to attempt +this means if it had not involved serious delay, and still more serious +risk to both Abdul and himself. Hamet Ali lived on the far side of the +town. Abdul would have to make his way there, waken his friend, explain +the circumstances, overcome a probable reluctance to meddle, fix a price +with Hamet Ali, and another for the sheikh's servant. Every move would +be attended with danger. A Moor's house is a castle in miniature. Any +attempt to rouse the inmates at this dead hour of night would +necessitate so much noise and clatter as to disturb the neighbourhood. +The night was wearing on, and before Abdul could, with reasonable regard +to secrecy, obtain access to his friend's house, daylight might be upon +them. The Moors are early risers, and even if all went well, and Tom and +the others stole forth from the village before dawn, they would almost +certainly be seen and ridden down as they crossed the wide rocky spaces +that surrounded the place. But the most serious consideration of all was +that of time: it would not be possible to get into treaty with any one +inside the kasbah before Salathiel ben Ezra appeared on the scene. Then +the enterprise was doomed to failure. + +Tom was anxiously discussing with himself the pros and cons when Abdul +plucked him by the arm. + +"Day is near, master," he whispered. "We must go by the way we came." + +Tom was reluctant to own himself beaten; but there was clearly no hope +for it. Gathering his djellab about him, and pulling the hood over his +head, he followed Abdul with quick, noiseless footsteps across the +square. + + * * * * * + +Ahmed Hk, apprentice to Hamadi ben Ibn, the swordsmith of Ain Afroo, +had spent a restless night. His head throbbed; he could not sleep; he +wished he had not smoked so much hashish when his work was done for the +day. The air of the little shop was close and oppressive; and after +hours of wakefulness, turning from side to side in the vain effort to +find sleep, Ahmed got up and quietly unbarred the little wicket in the +door, careful not to disturb his master, who was snoring loudly within a +few feet of him. Perhaps a little fresh air from the outside would cool +his heated brow. + +He had not stood more than a few minutes at the wicket, and was already +thinking of returning to his charpoy, when he noticed, in the moonlight +on the other side of the square, two figures turn the corner by the +kasbah opposite, coming from the direction of the village wall. They at +once disappeared into the shadow thrown by the great wall of the +building, but something in their movements aroused the curiosity of +Ahmed. Why were two wayfarers abroad at so late an hour? The matter was +not his concern; still, he would remain at the wicket a little longer, +to see if the two night-walkers reappeared. + +His view was somewhat broken by the rows of pillars supporting the +colonnade in front of the shops of which his master's establishment was +one; but through the interval between two of them he did at last see the +two forms moving with rather suspicious quickness across the illumined +square, and, what was more interesting to him, they were seemingly +coming in his direction. Were they thieves, he wondered? He could hardly +believe it, for the village was small; they could scarcely escape +detection; and the sheikh's ingenuity in punishments was notorious even +in Morocco, where torture is a fine art. + +With instinctive caution Ahmed closed the wicket, leaving only a slit +just wide enough for him to peep through. In a few moments he heard the +slight rustle of the strangers' garments, and saw their dark forms +clearly outlined against the moonlight. They had come under the +colonnade and halted within two or three yards of him, behind one of the +pillars. They whispered a little together, then were silent for a space, +then whispered again: and now Ahmed was interested indeed, for, low as +their tones were, he overheard a word or two, and they made him jump; +they were certainly not in the Moorish tongue. His master's business had +taken him more than once to Dr al Beida, and he had heard such words +used by the N'zrani--the unbelievers who were suffered to pollute the +city by their presence. How came it that here, in Ain Afroo, a village +where no unbeliever ever set foot save a dog of a Jew now and then +(though truly there were one or two infidel wretches now safely confined +in the kasbah)--how came it that two men, good Moors and followers of the +Prophet, to all appearance, were speaking in the tongue of the infidel? +It was perplexing, to say the least, and undoubtedly worthy of the +attention of Hamadi his master. + +Leaving the wicket, Ahmed silently groped his way to the charpoy on +which the swordsmith was sleeping, and gently awakened him. In a low +whisper he conveyed the news of his discovery. Hamadi at once rose, and, +trusting to the pitch darkness of the colonnade, opened the wicket +fully, and listened with all his ears. + + * * * * * + +Tom and Abdul had no sooner crossed the square than the bolts of the +shop door opposite which they had been standing were softly drawn back, +and Hamadi, followed by his apprentice, glided barefoot after them. Each +bore a sword--good weapons, as Hamadi, who had made them, well knew. +Hamadi saw a vision of great prosperity and high favour with the sheikh. +He would follow up the strangers, if strangers they indeed were, to the +house where they harboured. There he would leave Ahmed to keep watch, +while he himself sped to the kasbah and told what he had seen. Without +doubt the sheikh would reward him handsomely. + +By the time Hamadi and his boy had left the shelter of the colonnade, +the strangers had turned the corner of the far side of the square; but +the pursuers ran quickly across the open space and gained the corner +while their quarry was still in sight. + +Tom and his companion, picking their way with all caution through the +dark, uneven, dirty passages that led from the kasbah to the outer wall, +went out slowly. Every now and again they stumbled over a loose cobble +or a heap of refuse; then there was a little noise that might betray +their presence to any one who happened to be within a few yards of them. +At such times Abdul would throw a hurried glance back; well he knew what +their fate would be if they were captured. + +Suddenly he edged a little closer to Tom and whispered-- + +"Men follow us!" + +By this time they were almost within reach of the wall. Tom was alive to +the danger in which the pursuit had placed them. Descending the wall, +they would have to grope for foothold. Before they could get clear, the +pursuers would have come up behind, and might either topple down upon +them loose boulders from the wall, or, if they bore firearms, have them +at their mercy. The two hurried their steps. + +"They are close behind--two men!" whispered Abdul. + +Tom glanced to each side along the wall. There was no convenient place +in which they might take refuge with any prospect of eluding their +pursuers. They were now hasting along at a half run beneath a long wall +that possibly enclosed some gardens of houses backing on the ramparts. +Here and there this wall was broken by a doorway; but the gates, when +Tom tested them by a push, were always closed. Abdul was making for the +spot at which they had entered the village; it was the nearest, indeed +the only practicable, place of descent. But to descend, with the +pursuers upon them, would be dangerous, perhaps fatal. To leave this +place of exit, and move farther along the ramparts or back into the +village, would be almost equally dangerous and would lose precious time. +The only other course open to them was to tackle the problem of +disposing of the pursuers. Tom nervously fingered his revolver; but a +shot would rouse the whole village and multiply the pursuers perhaps +fiftyfold. + +While Tom was feverishly attempting to hit on some means of dealing with +the two men, these, unaware that they had been seen, were already +reckoning up the profits of a successful coup. As soon as Hamadi the +swordsmith saw that the men in front were making for the ramparts, he +guessed at once that they were intruders from the outside, and he also +guessed the point at which the exit was to be made. This was not the +first time that the place had been used as a means of getting in and out +of the village by night. More than once it had happened that the +villagers, at feud with neighbouring mountaineers, had crept out at +night to settle their scores, returning safely within the walls before +daybreak. The fact that the gates were closed and no one could pass +during the night was prima facie evidence of their innocence. It was +even said that the sheikh had settled accounts with a hostile neighbour +in the same way. The swordsmith therefore was quite justified in shaping +his course on the assumption that the two men in front of him would +climb down the ruined part of the wall, and he would be in ample time to +deal with them when they were clinging precariously to the face of the +stonework. + +The only fault in his calculation was that he did not reckon with the +sharp eyes of Tom's companion. Thus it was that, passing incautiously +one of the recessed doorways leading on to the gardens, he suddenly saw +a thousand brilliant lights flash before his eyes, his sword flew from +his grasp, and he reeled dizzily to the ground. Tom's muscles were +hardened by much exercise in engineering workshops, and Hamadi, though a +big man and strong, as befitted one of his trade, was not prepared for +so surprising an attack. Before he could recover his wits Tom was upon +him, pressing the cold barrel of his revolver to his ear. The man, +although dizzy, had still enough intelligence left to know what this +meant, and he lay quite still while Tom pondered how he could at the +same time secure his vanquished foe and lend assistance to his +companion, who was now hotly engaged with the apprentice. Abdul, +however, needed no help. Before Tom had time to decide upon his own +course, the young Moor, taking full advantage of the darkness that +neutralized the effect of his enemy's longer weapon, dodged in beneath +the latter's guard, and got home a shrewd thrust in the forearm. Ahmed, +yelling lustily, dropped his sword, spun round, and set off down the +ramparts at full speed before Abdul could repeat his stroke. + +[Illustration: HIS SWORD FLEW FROM HIS GRASP, AND HE REELED DIZZILY TO +THE GROUND.] + +Tom breathed more freely. He had at any rate, he thought, gained a few +minutes. The yells of the Moor were not likely to bring help +immediately. While a shot would undoubtedly have raised the guard at the +kasbah, and brought a party in hot haste to the spot, the cries of a man +yelling would probably only cause a certain sleepy curiosity. A Moor +never puts himself to unnecessary trouble, and it would certainly not be +worth while to pay much attention to a brawl between men who had smoked +too much hashish. But there was still need for haste, so with Abdul's +assistance Tom trussed up the fallen swordsmith with workmanlike bonds +made of his own garments, and in another minute was beginning the +descent of the wall. + +They were only halfway down when they heard an uproar in the village. +The apprentice had lost no time in gathering a band to continue the +pursuit. Yet Tom could not hurry his flight, for a false step would mean +at least a broken arm, and in all probability a broken neck. With Abdul +close behind he picked his way down the broken masonry, the shouts +growing ever nearer and more menacing. At last they reached the bottom. +Then, Abdul leading the way, they hurried along the foot of the wall. +They durst not yet leave its shelter, for the moon, though now sinking +in the sky, still threw sufficient light to betray them if they +attempted to cross the open space towards the hillside. + +Crouching low as they went, they heard the pursuers halt at the place +where they had descended. But now they had reached a welcome patch of +stunted bush which promised needful cover. Plunging into this, still +keeping low so that their heads should not show above the scrub, they +strode away at right angles to the wall. Abdul's knowledge of the +country served him well. Descending the hill, they were soon out of +danger. Then up and down little eminences, over brooks, through patches +of wood, they pressed on, always bearing slightly to the right until +they struck the true course. Almost in a bee-line, they made for the +hill where Oliphant was anxiously awaiting them, and arrived there just +after dawn, tired out, and not a little disappointed with the barren +result of their night's work. + + + + +CHAPTER IX--A BOLT FROM THE BLUE + + +"Thank Heaven you are back!" said Oliphant when Tom appeared over the +brow of the hill. "I don't think I ever spent a more miserable night." + +"Anything happened?" + +"No. It wouldn't have been so bad if anything had. If I'd had something +to do--somebody to fight, or something!" + +"Well, you could have gone to sleep." + +"So I did, and woke in a fright. I dreamt that wretched Jew fellow was +coming at me with outstretched hands, and his fingernails were like some +horrid bird's claws, and he grew bigger and bigger as he came until he +seemed as huge as a mountain. But what luck did you have?" + +"None, or next to none. The kasbah's as strong as Newgate. And the worst +of it is, we were spotted and followed, had to truss up one fellow; +another alarmed the village. We escaped just by the skin of our teeth." + +He related in detail the incidents of the night. + +"It looks as if we'll have to back out after all," said Oliphant +gloomily when the story was finished. + +"I'll be hanged if we will. I've been thinking it over, and talking it +over with Abdul, on the way back. The only chance, it seems to me, is to +face all the risks and make a dash for it." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Come down in the airship on the terraced roof of the kasbah under cover +of night, and trust to luck to find our way to the prisoners' quarters." + +"But that would be confoundedly risky, especially after you have once +given the alarm in the village." + +"I admit that's a nuisance, but it's perhaps not so bad as you think. +You see, the Moors know nothing--I hope they don't, at any rate--about the +airship, and they won't look for intruders from the sky. The botheration +is that we've lost a lot of time, and our chance is utterly dished if +the Jew gets in first. Abdul says he can't be more than a day's march +from the place now. That's about thirty miles, as near as I can make +out. Luckily it's very rough country, so that he can't come fast. He's +probably starting this very morning for his last stage; it's possible +that we've already lost our chance, for he's sure to hurry, and if he +gets the ear of the sheikh before nightfall, they'll be on the watch for +us." + +"But even without the Jew I don't see how your scheme's possible. There +are sure to be extra guards at the wall, and if the night were as bright +as this they couldn't help seeing the machine, and we couldn't alight +without their knowledge." + +"Yes; but you must allow for their ignorance and superstition. If they +do see the airship swooping down on them they'll be scared out of their +wits; they'll think it some monstrous evil bird straight from Gehenna----" + +"Which is down below, not up aloft." + +"They won't be in a state to draw distinctions of that sort. Abdul +assures me that these ignorant mountaineers--he was one himself once, but +travel has widened his mind!--will be in such a state of terror that +they'll be for a time pretty well paralysed: and time's all we want." + +"Well, he ought to know his countrymen. But there's the Jew: suppose he +_does_ get there first?" + +"We've got to prevent him." + +"What!" + +"As I say, we must go and intercept him." + +"But he won't come alone." + +"Of course not. Abdul says he will come on horseback with a band of +armed and mounted men. He wouldn't trust himself in this country without +an escort. But that's where the airship comes in. I rather fancy that if +we swoop down from the sky among a lot of Moors they'll think more of +their own safety than of the Jew's." + +"Still, we couldn't prevent them from going on to the village." + +"I think we could." + +"What! shoot 'em down?" + +"No. I don't want to hurt a hair of their heads if I can help it. I +think we can manage to chase them back along the way they came, and do +something to frighten them into the bargain. Do you know how to make +throw-downs?" + +"Never heard of 'em. What are they?" + +"I forgot; you Eton fellows never use such things, I suppose. Well, I'll +make some, and you'll confess they're excellent little harmless bombs. +Then we'll be off." + +Carefully opening two or three cartridge cases, he extracted the powder, +and screwing it up with some tiny pebbles in tissue paper from his +pocket-book, he manufactured a dozen or so of the little bombs. Then he +inspected the machinery of the airship, thoroughly oiled the parts, and +went aboard with Oliphant and Abdul. He allowed the machine to rise only +a few feet from the top of the hill, so as to avoid if possible +observation from the village; then he set off in a south-easterly +direction, keeping the hill between him and the kasbah. Fetching a long +circuit, he gradually bore south-west, then slightly north, until, in +the course of about three-quarters of an hour, he struck the narrow +winding track which would be followed by parties travelling between the +village and the coast. + +From their elevated position they could trace the path for a +considerable distance through the country, but as yet they had seen no +sign of a party approaching the village. In broad daylight the airship +must have been sighted by many people over whose heads it had passed; +but from what Abdul had said it was unlikely that any one would have the +least idea of the real nature of the apparition. They would regard it as +a supernatural creature, and if within the next few hours a rumour of +its appearance should be carried to the sheikh of Ain Afroo he would +probably be none the wiser from any description that might be attempted. + +It was now little more than nine o'clock in the morning, and the Jew +could scarcely have passed. Tom therefore headed the airship westward, +keeping it at a low speed so that he might carefully scan the country +and not let the Jew and his party escape him. He knew that, unless +accident signally befriended him, the airship must be seen by them long +before they came into sight. Although the country was spread out like a +map, the machine in the open sky must be a much more conspicuous object +to people below than they would be to observers above. Salathiel would, +of course, recognize the airship; but Tom hoped that before the man +could explain clearly to his escort what it was, the immediate object of +the aerial flight would have been achieved. + +The morning wore away, and Tom began to feel anxious. To keep the +airship so long in motion involved the expenditure of a large amount of +his propulsive paste, and he had brought only as much of it as would +last the voyage to and from the hill fortress, with a little margin for +accidents. Yet he did not care to bring the machine to rest, for he +might then miss the party of which he was in search. Moreover, all the +provisions were gone except a few biscuits and some tea. With no food +for themselves and no fuel for the machine their plight would be +desperate. Tom spoke of his anxieties to Oliphant, and they were still +talking somewhat disconsolately, when Abdul, who had never ceased to +keep a sharp lookout, suddenly cried "Horses!" and pointed to sundry +small specks ahead. + +Tom instantly started up and looked through his binocular in the +direction of the Moor's forefinger. + +"There are about a score, I fancy," he said, handing the glass to +Oliphant. "Can you spot the Jew?" + +"No, they are too much mixed up. I shouldn't know him again, either." + +"We shall know him very soon, though. Abdul told me that Jews in this +country mostly wear blue clothes and black skullcaps. We'll make +straight for them." + +The engines had lately been reduced to something less than half speed. +Realizing that every second was now of value, Tom put them at full +speed, steering the vessel direct for the party of horsemen, who had +just emerged from a clump of timber. At the same time Oliphant altered +the inclination of the planes, so that the airship began to drop rapidly +earthwards. Thus it swooped down upon the party like a huge falcon. To +manipulate the engines, the steering gear, and the lever affecting the +planes, kept the hands of Tom and his friend pretty fully occupied; but +Abdul was to make himself useful, and Tom instructed him to take a +handful of the little bombs, in readiness to use them when the moment +came. Tom hoped that the mere appearance of the sky monster would +startle the horses and put the cavalcade to fright. As an additional +means of scaring them he relied on the throwdowns. + +The airship had come within about two miles of the horsemen when it was +seen that they had halted. No doubt the strange apparition had been +observed, and Salathiel ben Ezra was doing his best to explain its +nature. They remained stationary until the distance of the airship from +them was less than a mile: then two of them wheeled suddenly in their +tracks and set off in a mad gallop westward. The others, however, held +their ground; either they had stronger nerves, or the Jew had managed to +convince them that the strange object was not an instrument of the Evil +One, but simply a new invention of the accursed people who had invented +warships and alarm clocks. + +Tom had just distinguished the figure of Salathiel, on a mule in the +midst of the party, when there came a slight puff of smoke from the +centre of the group, followed by a second and a third. Oliphant laughed. + +"They're firing at us," he exclaimed, "which argues a pretty state of +fright." + +"All very much in our favour. Look, there are three more of them off as +hard as they can go." + +"But there are still ten or a dozen of them. If they have nerve enough +to hold their fire till we come within range they may do us some +damage--if their guns are any good." + +"There's not much doubt about that. They get hold of good rifles +somehow. But we're in for it now. A bullet or two in the machinery would +bring us to the ground; we must simply take our chance." + +The airship was now approaching the party at the speed of a fast train. +Moment by moment others of the horsemen detached themselves from the +group and galloped after their comrades, and Tom gave a cry when he saw +that the Jew was among the fugitives. Still several remained. + +"It won't do to allow them to get between us and the kasbah," said Tom. +"We must drive the whole lot of them back towards the coast." + +The airship was now only some three hundred feet above the ground. +Suddenly Tom shut off the horizontal propellers and brought the vertical +engines into play. The airship swept onward at the same level by virtue +of its momentum. The horses of the Moors began to rear and plunge. They +had probably heard the whirr of the machinery, for not being +long-sighted beasts it was possible that they had not yet seen the +vessel above them. + +"By George! aren't they magnificent horsemen!" said Oliphant, as he saw +the Moors striving to hold their terrified animals in. One or two puffs, +followed immediately by the reports of the rifles, came from the group; +but with their horses rearing and plunging beneath them it was not +surprising that the Moors missed the airship, though it now offered a +considerable mark. It was immediately above them. + +"Now, Abdul!" said Tom. + +The Moor flung one of the little bombs earthward with all his force. It +exploded at the very feet of one of the horses, which, frenzied with +fear, took the bit between its teeth and bolted. Abdul threw half a +dozen more, one after another, laughing with glee at the astonishing +effect of the little bombs. There was no holding the horses any longer, +and the whole party dashed away at a mad gallop along the road they had +come. + +It was not Tom's object to overtake them yet awhile. He put the +horizontal engines at half speed, and the airship began to follow the +fugitives like a sheepdog at the heels of a frantic flock. The little +group which had stood to the last were evidently the best mounted of the +party, for they gradually closed in upon those who had started earlier. +Tom could not forbear chuckling as he came upon the rotund black-capped +figure of Salathiel ben Ezra striving to urge his steady-going mule to a +brisker pace. + +"Is it safe to leave him behind?" asked Oliphant, as the Jew was +outstripped and passed. + +"Oh yes! We'll come back for him presently. We could easily catch him +up. If the mule is like most of his kind he won't hurry himself." + +The airship sped on after the rest of the party. Mile after mile was +covered: the horses showed signs of fatigue, but one or two that were +dropping behind were galvanized into further desperate efforts by the +dreaded whirr of the propellers just in their rear. + +The chase had continued for about half an hour when Abdul suddenly +noticed that the number of the fugitives was one less than it had been +when the flight began. None of the three occupants of the airship had +seen a rider diverge from the track: to do so would indeed have been +difficult, for it ran through uneven and rocky ground which offered +little footway for a horse. Yet it was clear that one of the Moors had +at some point or other left his comrades and ridden off to right or +left. + +"Never mind," said Tom. "If he tries to get to the village, I've no +doubt we can overtake him. His horse will be no match for us." + +"Don't you think we've chased them far enough!" asked Oliphant. "We're +using up a great deal of your paste." + +"Yes. I think we've pretty well disposed of them now. We'll swing round +and go back for Master Salathiel." + +"What are you going to do with him--not bring him up here?" + +"Not a bit of it. We don't want him--not for long, at least. I've got an +idea. But we must get hold of him first." + +Bringing the airship about in a wide circle, Tom steered it back along +the track in search of the Jew. + +"The donkey!" cried Oliphant, as presently the man came in sight, making +desperate efforts to gain the village. "He might have hidden himself +among the rocks or the trees, and given us no end of trouble." + +"I don't know. He has chosen probably the lesser of two evils. He'd have +a bad time of it if he were found alone by any wandering Moors; his best +chance was certainly to try to get to the village and tell the sheikh +all he knows." + +The Jew could be seen every now and again glancing anxiously back along +the track. When he caught side of the airship returning, and realized +that he was bound to be overtaken, he pulled up his mule, tumbled off +the saddle, and dived into the cover of some rocks, hoping no doubt that +they would afford him concealment. + +"Too late!" said Tom with a chuckle. "He might escape us if we were on +his level, but he forgets we can look right down upon him." + +"It's like a field-mouse trying to escape from a hawk," said Oliphant. + +"Rather worse, for a field-mouse has its colour to help it, while +Salathiel's blue coat makes him a little too conspicuous." + +For a few moments the Jew, indeed, disappeared from view; but Tom +steered the airship exactly above the spot where he was last seen, and +there was Salathiel crouching in a cleft much too narrow for him. + +There was no convenient landing-place among the rocks where the airship +could be brought safely to rest, and the Jew, apparently recognizing +this, did not attempt to stir from his position. But the vessel came to +rest in the air, hovering like a monstrous humming-bird above the +trembling man, no more than twenty feet from the ground. + +"How shall we get at him?" asked Oliphant. + +"We can leave that to Abdul, I think," replied Tom. "He is used to +ship-board, and he has been on the end of our rope before." + +Abdul understood what was required of him. Letting down the rope with +the grapnel at the end, he swarmed nimbly down, armed only with his +knife. The two in the car smiled to see what ensued. Salathiel was +unarmed. He broke forth in a torrent of mingled threats and entreaties +as the Moor approached him, then lay on his back and tried to repel the +lad with his feet. But Abdul got behind him, and by discreet employment +of the point of his knife at length persuaded the Jew into the open. + +Then Tom let the airship gently down. When it stood upon terra firma, he +and Oliphant leapt out of the car, bundled Salathiel into it, and in +another minute were soaring through the air towards their former +resting-place on the hill. With Salathiel's added weight the airship +travelled somewhat slowly, and for some time, when a breeze rose from +the eastward, it had considerable difficulty in making headway at all. +But at last the flat-topped hill was opened up on the horizon, Tom +estimating that the return journey had taken more than twice as long as +the outward trip in the morning. + + + + +CHAPTER X--THE KASBAH + + +Instead of alighting on the former spot on the top of the hill, Tom this +time let the airship down at the foot. + +"We haven't darkness to cover us this time," he said, "and we don't want +to be spied from the village." + +"What are you going to do with our fat friend?" asked Oliphant. + +"Well, I thought of taking him some miles into the wilder parts of the +hills and leaving him; but I don't want to use any more of our fuel than +I can help. Besides, I don't want to have the fellow murdered, though +his Moor friend might have done for poor Timothy. What do you say to +giving him a lodging in one of the caves?" + +"But how in the world could we get him up there?" + +"Abdul says it can be done. I forgot to tell you that on our way to Ain +Afroo that night I told Abdul of our discovery, and he said he knew the +caves well, and had often climbed into them. The tradition of the +country is that they were actually cut in the rocks ages ago as a refuge +when the people were pressed by their enemies." + +"Well, it's a capital idea if it can be managed. The Jew would be out of +harm's way, at any rate." + +"Yes. And if we succeed in releasing Ingleton, we can come back for him, +perhaps, and take him into Rabat or Casa Blanca, and make him disgorge +some of Abdul's property, which I've no doubt he has appropriated." + +"But won't he starve? We can't spare him any food." + +"A day's fasting won't hurt him. We're on uncommonly short rations +ourselves, and there's no reason why he should fare better than we." + +"But can we get him up? He's a big fellow," + +"We'll do our best with Abdul's help. One of the caves is more easy to +get at than the others, Abdul says." + +"By Jove, we've forgotten that fellow who got away!" + +"Hang it, so we have. It can't be helped. We clearly can't catch him now +without showing ourselves to the people of Ain Afroo. Perhaps he didn't +make for the village after all. We must dispose of Salathiel, at any +rate." + +Tom and Oliphant had been talking apart, while Abdul kept watch over the +Jew. The former now went up to the man. + +"Mr. Salathiel," he said. "I don't exactly know what your game is, but +we think it's advisable you should have a little rest after your arduous +work with the mule. There's a very comfortable cave some eighty feet +above your head. The way to it is rather steep, but with our assistance +you can mount there, and remain in perfect safety until we can fetch you +and restore you to your friends." + +"I protest you treat me badly," said Salathiel, his mien expressing +mingled fear and indignation. "I am a peaceable merchant, and was on my +way to treat with the sheikh of Ain Afroo for a supply of carpets from +Rabat, when----" + +"Still, you must be fatigued," said Tom. "We also have business with the +sheikh, and I fear that until ours is completed yours must wait. Ours is +a prior engagement, Mr. Salathiel. Now if you will please climb the +hillside. The first steps are easy; we will help you when you find +further ascent difficult." + +For some moments the Jew tried entreaty, cajolery, even bribery--in vain. +With a very bad grace he began to clamber up the rocks, reaching at +length a ledge some twenty-five feet below the cave. The hill was here +almost perpendicular, and when Salathiel looked at the wall of rock +above him he pleaded again with great volubility to be allowed to go his +way. But Abdul was already swarming up with a rope between his teeth. +The Englishmen watched him with admiration. Sticking fingers and toes +into the slightest crevice, taking advantage of every little +irregularity in the surface, he accomplished what had seemed from below +an impossible feat. When he reached the cave, he tied one end of the +rope to a spur of rock at the entrance, and let down the other to +Oliphant, who by its assistance managed to follow. Salathiel for a time +absolutely refused to mount; but when Tom pointed out that in the cave +he would at least be safe, while no one could answer for what might +happen if he wandered about the country alone, he at length allowed the +rope to be wound about him, and was hauled up by the two above. He was +supplied with a pot of water from the hill stream and a half-dozen +biscuits, then Oliphant descended, followed by Abdul with the rope. + +"I don't think he'll attempt the descent," said Tom. "It requires more +nerve than I fancy he's got." + +"It doesn't matter much if he does, does it? He won't try it while we +are hereabout. He'll hardly try it in the dark when we are gone; and if +he does, and gets safely to the bottom, he'll take so long finding his +way to the village that we shall have done our business there--if we're +going to do it at all." + +"Still, I think we'll make sure. There are one or two bits of rock +sticking out that give a slight foothold; Abdul may as well knock them +off. He won't want them himself when we come back to release the Jew." + +"Suppose we don't come back!" + +"You mean, suppose we come to grief ourselves! Well, he'll be able to +signal for help from the mouth of the cave to-morrow; some of his +cronies are sure to wonder what's become of him and be prowling about. +It won't matter to us then, for we shall have either succeeded or +failed." + +"Suppose we can't come back, and nobody sees his signals!" + +"That's his lookout! Didn't we rescue him from the shark, which would +have snapped him up when the tide rose another few inches? How has he +repaid us? By trying to do for us. And it isn't as if he were a Moor, +serving his country. He hasn't an ounce of patriotism in his +composition. He's simply on the make. He wanted to get a good haul out +of the sheikh for giving us away, and upon my word, considering all +things, I think he gets off pretty easily. If he'd treated Moors as he +has treated us, he'd be dying a particularly slow death by this time. I +don't think we need distress ourselves about Salathiel ben Ezra." + +Leaving the Jew to his solitary reflections, the two made their way back +to the airship and began to overhaul the machinery. Meanwhile Abdul had +gone to the summit of the hill to bring down one or two things which had +been left there. He returned with the news that he had seen in the far +distance a single horseman slowly climbing the steep hill-path to the +village. + +"That's our man, depend upon it," said Oliphant. "He'll give us away, +Dorrell, as sure as fate." + +"What can't be cured must be endured. We could catch him, I dare say; +but we haven't any too much fodder for the engine, and we should +certainly be seen. He must tell the sheikh all he knows, and, upon my +word, I should like to hear his account of us. It would probably be very +funny." + +"But it will put the sheikh on his guard." + +"My dear fellow, you haven't enough faith in the terrors of the unknown, +or the misknown. The Moor's story will be such a mass of exaggeration, +ignorance, and superstition, that they'll be in a state of jumps, and +dread the apparition ten times more even than if it came upon them +without preparation." + +"Then why go to the trouble of preventing the Jew from getting into the +village?" + +"Just because he _knows_ the thing, you see, and would stick to the bare +truth. His story would lay more stress on the object of our visit; the +Moor's will be mainly about the airship. Really, he may help us in the +end." + +They spent the afternoon in a thorough cleaning of the engines. Once or +twice Salathiel showed himself at the mouth of the cave, and Tom fancied +he saw him attempt to signal with his hands. But when Oliphant made a +movement towards his carbine, the Jew retreated hastily into the +interior and appeared no more. + +At last all was ready for the voyage. But several hours must yet pass +before the ascent could be made. Tom had decided that it would be unwise +to arrive at the kasbah until the Moors were either in their first +sleep, or, if on their guard, were somewhat tired and nervous with +watching. Learning this, Abdul, who had been making observations during +the afternoon, left the two Englishmen and was not seen for a time. When +he returned, he carried a couple of hares, explaining that he had snared +them in the wood that lay half a mile beyond their resting-place. He +produced also from the folds of his garment a number of figs and dates +which he had plucked from the trees. + +"Here's a tuck-in!" cried Tom. "I'm as hungry as a hunter. Oatmeal +biscuits are all very well, but they're a trifle too chippy for my +taste. I suppose you, as a Scotsman, think 'em quite succulent, +Oliphant?" + +"Do I, by George? You Englishmen make a good many mistakes about us +Scots, and that's one of them. Besides, I'm only Scotch when I want a +stoker's place--or when I let off some of my stories on the fellows in +Booker's. I was rather had once, though. When I first went to Tabor's as +a little chap, on my first day I dropped my cap somewhere, and asked one +of the masters if he'd seen it. I'd just come from our village school up +north--a whim of the governor's, you know--and I suppose I'd a touch of +the brogue, for when I said, 'Please, sir, have you seen my cap?' he +said quite pat, 'Are _you_ MacFarlane?' And he called me MacFarlane +until I left." + +Abdul had chosen a sheltered hollow, and built a rough canopy of +branches and leaves. Beneath this he kindled a fire, and cooked one of +the hares The table appointments were not exactly those that either of +the lads was accustomed to, but, as Oliphant remarked, they were in a +primitive country, and it was not unfitting that they should resort to +the manners of their ancestors. Both confessed that they had never +enjoyed a meal so much as this, and felt all the more ready for the +adventures of the night. + +The moon was shedding a cold radiance around, in strange contrast with +the hot and sultry air, when the airship with its three passengers rose +from the foot of the hill and started on its voyage for the kasbah of +Ain Afroo. To lessen the chances of premature discovery, Tom ascended to +a considerable altitude, with the intention of dropping obliquely upon +the kasbah. He was thus able to dispense in great part with the action +of the propellers as the airship drew near to its destination, which was +very desirable, seeing that they made a loud whirring which must +otherwise have attracted attention. But by ascending to a height of +nearly 3,000 feet, and then adjusting the planes so that the airship +fell at a sharp angle, he could make use of the force of gravity to +carry him in the right direction without employing the horizontal +screws. Finding, however, when half the distance had been covered, that +the airship was coming too near the ground, he set the vertical screws +in motion rose a few hundred feet, and again dropped obliquely towards +his objective. + +The whole country was bathed in the moon's pale light, and lay in +perfect silence save for the faint barking of dogs here and there. The +three adventurers said never a word; neither Tom nor Oliphant was in a +mood for talking now that the real business of the expedition was so +near at hand. It was not until the airship was hovering exactly over the +flat roof of the kasbah that they knew, from shouts below, that the +strange visitant had been observed. But some moments must elapse, +presumably, before the alarm could penetrate to the sheikh's apartments; +and, aware that everything depended on his coolness and caution, Tom +brought the airship to rest with as much deliberation as if he were +landing from a practice voyage. + +A shot from a musket struck one of the planes. + +"The sentry on the terrace has caught sight of us," said Tom, as he was +stepping out of the car. "Let us hope that after having done his duty +he'll be sufficiently scared to bolt for the town, instead of coming up +to warn the sheikh." + +The programme had been settled before they started. Oliphant was to +remain in charge of the airship, while Tom and the Moor attempted to get +into the house and release the prisoner. + +"Remain in the car," said Tom, "and have everything ready to ascend at a +moment's notice." + +"Wish you good luck, old fellow," returned Oliphant. "You've got your +revolver?" + +"Yes. _Au revoir!_" + +He glanced anxiously round for the opening that led from the roof into +the house. In the ordinary way it would not be closed; indeed, during +the summer months, except when rain threatened, such openings were +seldom covered. Unless the fugitive had the gift of second sight, it was +improbable that he would ever have imagined that the airship would +descend on the very roof of the sheikh's own dwelling. Thus the inmates +would have no reason to guard against intrusion from above. Things might +have been different in a populous town, where access could be had from +one roof to another. But the kasbah stood quite solitary, and the +nearest buildings were inaccessible. + +The opening, in point of fact, lay within a few feet of the spot upon +which the airship had descended. + +Carrying an electric torch in one hand and his revolver in the other, +Tom stepped gingerly down the staircase, followed by the Moor, who held +his knife ready for instant use. They came across a small vestibule, lit +at the far end by the moonlight streaming through a narrow aperture in +the wall. To the right and left was a door; one led no doubt to the +sheikh's harem, the other probably to the apartments of the male members +of the family; but Abdul was unable to say which was which. There were +no bolts on the outside of these doors, which were fast shut, but each +had a very large keyhole. + +Inasmuch as the entry to this part of the house was no doubt barred +beneath by a door on the staircase, it was quite possible that the +inhabitants felt themselves secure enough to dispense with locking these +doors. Certainly a Moor will never take any trouble if he can avoid it. + +Choosing the right-hand door, Tom gently turned the handle; the door +opened to his push, and, inserting his hand, he discovered, as he had +ventured to hope, a heavy key in the lock. He silently withdrew it, +closed the door, and turned the key on the outside; Abdul at the same +time, taking the cue, did the same with the other door on the left. Both +locks squeaked somewhat, and Tom thought he heard voices within. Without +waiting, however, to assure himself on this point--feeling that he had +the inmates secure, at least for a time--he pushed on down the stairway, +followed by Abdul, and they came, as they had expected, upon a strong +door bolted on their side. Tom gently slid the bolts, opened the door, +and found himself in a small vestibule. On the far side of this was +another door, which the Moor thought was the inner door of the +guest-chamber. This Tom expected would be locked on the outside, but +when he flashed his torch at it he saw that the bolts were not shot. He +turned the handle of the door, which opened outwards. No doubt, he +thought, the Moors considered their prisoner quite safe without the +necessity of locking him in from this side. Access to the lower quarters +being barred, they would not object to his going up to the roof, +perhaps, for fresh air. The other door to the right of the guest-chamber +leading on to the terrace was securely locked, as Abdul proved by +pushing it gently so as to avoid noise. + +Tom tiptoed through the door, and cautiously lowering his torch in order +to avoid flashing it on any window openings on the far side, swept it +round the room. He gave a start of keen disappointment when he found +that the place was untenanted. It bore traces of recent occupation, but +the occupant, whoever he was, had been removed. There were a couple of +bright oriental rugs on the floor, a dish such as the Moors are +accustomed to serve sweetmeats on, and one or two other native articles; +but on one of the rugs lay a well-browned brier pipe, which was clearly +of European origin, and indeed Tom was conscious of the familiar odour +of tobacco--a very different smell from that made by the kief or hashish +smoked by the Moors. And, strangest contrast of all, a somewhat tattered +newspaper, and a bulky volume in a red paper cover, showed that the +sheikh's prisoner had certainly inhabited this room, and had found some +means of lightening his captivity. + +Tom took in these details in a moment. Anxious to further his errand, he +did not pause to look at the contents of the room minutely, but hurried +across to a door on the farther side, leading, he suspected, to the +terrace. This was bolted, but from the inside. + +He halted in perplexity. What had become of the prisoner? + +"Have they taken him to the upper apartments?" he asked Abdul in a +whisper. + +"No, master," replied the lad. "No Moor would think of it." + +"Do you think he has been released? But no: that is unlikely. Salathiel +would certainly not have come so far in that case, would he?" + +"No. The mouse does not put his head in the jaws of the lion." + +"And the smell of tobacco is quite fresh. I believe the prisoner has +only lately been removed. Where would they take him if they feared an +attempt at rescue?" + +With a significant look Abdul pointed downwards. + +"The dungeons, eh? Where are they?" + +"Under the ground, master." + +"Well, we must get down there if we can. Do you know the way?" + +The Moor hesitated. He knew too well the fate of unhappy people who had +offended the sheikh, and upon whom the sheikh exercised the power of +life and death. Once, in Tangier, he had accompanied a friend to such a +dungeon, where his friend's father was confined for denying that he +possessed hidden treasure. The man's eyes had been put out, one of his +hands had been cut off, and he had languished for years in this +loathsome place, where he would have starved but for the food brought +him daily by his son, and handed to him through a grating. Abdul had no +wish to see the inside of the kasbah's dungeon. + +But his hesitation was only momentary. Tom was clearly determined to +pursue his object, and the Moor reflected that, whatever he did, he was +in parlous danger. Besides, did not everything happen by the will of +Allah? If it was decreed that he should die, he would die; if he was +doomed to a living death in prison, nothing that he could do would avert +his fate. So, with a Moor's habitual fatalism, he told his employer all +he knew. + +There was doubtless one entrance to the dungeon from the patio beneath, +where the jailer occupied a room near the great gateway. But there must +also be an entrance from within the house. Below the vestibule in which +they then stood was probably another vestibule, dividing the rooms of +the servants' apartments. Whether there was any communication between +the two vestibules he did not know; perhaps it was from the terrace +outside. In all probability the inner entrance to the dungeon was from +the vestibule below. + +This gave Tom pause. So far he had been unmolested; indeed, it was only +a couple of minutes since he had left the roof. But the thought of +having to pass the servants' apartments was decidedly unpleasant. The +sentry's shot must have been heard; he wondered why the servants had not +already come up to warn or to take orders from the sheikh. Luckily the +sheikh himself and all his family were securely locked in their +apartments. The menials might at any rate be expected to prove less +formidable. + +There was no time to be lost. It suddenly occurred to Tom that the floor +of the vestibule might have a kind of trapdoor. He pulled aside one of +the rugs that covered the stones; there was indeed a trapdoor, not +secured in any way. Down he went on hands and knees. Releasing the +button of the electric torch so that the room was in darkness, he lifted +the door half an inch, and guessed from the absence of light that the +vestibule below was unoccupied. He cautiously raised the covering still +farther and listened. There was no sound. He set his foot on a ladder +beneath, and, moving so slowly and gently as to make not so much as a +rustle, he went down step by step, pausing once or twice to strain his +ears. Still there was no sound. When he reached the floor he ventured to +flash a light around him. He saw he was in a stone-flagged chamber of +equal size with the vestibule above. In the middle of the floor was a +circular stone slab with an iron ring on it, and a thick iron bolt was +shut into a socket. There was one door to the room, and, hurrying to it, +Tom found that it was fastened on the outside. + +So far all was well. He softly summoned Abdul to descend. Then, drawing +back the bolt and lifting the slab, he discovered a large opening +leading to a spiral stone stairway. + +Again he hesitated. What lay below? The disappointment of finding the +guest-chamber empty, the prolongation of the search, were beginning to +tell upon him. But, crushing down his nervous excitement, he +extinguished his torch again, and groped his way round and round until +he came once more to level ground. All was still as death. A flash of +the torch showed him that he was in a large vaulted corridor, paved with +brick. Somewhere in this, he doubted not, was the door into the +dungeons. + +In order to secure his line of retreat in case of emergency, he felt it +was absolutely necessary first to secure the other entrance, wherever it +might be, that was ordinarily used by the jailer. He soon discovered it +by the aid of his torch. Here, as he feared, the bolts were on the +outside, and the door was securely fastened. Was it possible to +barricade the door from the inside? The whole place was empty with the +exception of a number of manacles and like effects, and a long hammer, +which Abdul said, in a whisper, was used by the Moorish jailers in +fastening the chains round their victims' ankles. But there was nothing +that promised to be of service as a barricade. + +At any moment the jailer, if he had not taken panic from the discharge +of the sentry's musket, might enter to assure himself of the security of +his prisoners. Could anything be done to delay him? For Tom felt that it +was not only a question of the jailer, but of others who would no doubt +hasten to his assistance. + +Flashing his torch round, Tom noticed that the flooring had been worn +and chipped away, no doubt in the process of manacling, and scattered +about there was a large quantity of loose particles of brick. An idea +struck him. He collected a big handful of these fragments and pushed +them into the keyhole. Then, leaving Abdul to complete the work, which +would, he hoped, cause the lock to stick, he hastened down the vaulted +passage. + + + + +CHAPTER XI--PRISON BREAKERS + + +Tom found himself in a long broad alley-way, flanked by arches. There +was no sign of the dungeons, apparently no means of exit. The air was +damp and heavy, and the first indication that he was approaching the +neighbourhood of the dungeons was afforded by his nose. Coming at length +to a narrow flight of steps leading downwards, the fact that he was +nearing the object of his quest was borne in upon his sense with +ever-increasing pungency. + +"Surely," he thought, "the sheikh is not such a beast as to herd +Ingleton with the ordinary criminals!" + +Another alley-way, apparently underneath the one from which he had come, +was disclosed by his electric torch when he reached the bottom of the +staircase; but in this case there were doors at his right, and in the +thickness of the wall, Moorish fashion, little peep-holes, through which +no doubt the warder could spy upon the movements of the captives within. + +Which was the door leading to the place of the envoy's confinement? Tom +wondered. Was he indeed imprisoned here at all? Tom gave no thought to +the predicament in which Abdul and he would be placed if it should prove +that they had gone astray; his whole mind was centred on the plight of +the English prisoner and the terrible misfortune it would be if he were +elsewhere, and deep within him burned a fierce indignation that any +countryman of his should be even within hailing distance of so noisome a +place as this kasbah dungeon. + +So anxious was he to know whether he was on the right track that, +scarcely giving a thought to possible consequences, he lifted up his +voice and shouted the name of the man for whom he was seeking. The loud +tones went rolling beneath the arches, answered by a hundred echoes. But +there was a nearer and more material answer. By the light of his torch, +which he kept constantly in use, Tom saw a big, bearded, spectacled face +appear at the aperture nearest to him on the right. + +"Ach! Gott in Himmel! Vas zat English voice?" + +Tom himself was in shadow, but his light fell full on the face of the +speaker, and with a gasp of amazement he recognized Herr Hildebrand +Schwab, the representative of the Schlagintwerts, who had called on him +at Midfont months before and showed such a consuming curiosity to know +the use to which he put the Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number +Six. And with a sudden flash of recollection he remembered that Schwab +had spoken of proceeding to Morocco on business. Coming out from beneath +the arch in which he stood, and holding his torch before him, he +approached the aperture. His appearance was hailed by a groan. Schwab +did not recognize him in his Moorish dress. Deeply he groaned again, +muttering-- + +"Ach, Ich Unglcklicher!" + +His face, utterly woebegone in expression, was just disappearing within +the cell when Tom, almost frantic with despair at the thought that the +white prisoner was not the man he had come to seek after all, shouted +again-- + +"Ingleton! Sir Mark Ingleton! Are you there?" + +Schwab's face reappeared instantly. It was aglow with excitement and +hope. + +"Gott sei Dank! Ingleton! You zay Ingleton! Zough ze dress be Mohr, ze +voice is English. You are indeed English? Answer me for ze love of ze +heavens!" + +"Yes, I am English," cried Tom impatiently; "I want Sir Mark Ingleton." + +"He is here, vizin, inside, viz me, Hildebrand Schwab. Let me out +double-quick; I stifle, I suffocate, I do not breaze. Gott sei dank!" + +"He is there? Where is he? Tell him I want to speak to him--an +Englishman." + +"He sleep sound, he is indispose; but I am ze vorst. I am here ze +longest. Open ze door, please, be good enough, have ze kindness----" + +Without more ado, Tom drew back the bolts with a bang and pulled at the +door. It was locked. Schwab groaned again; but Tom, handing his torch to +Abdul, who was pale with apprehension, called to Schwab to stand away +from the door, and blew the lock in with a shot from his revolver. He +flung open the door, and burst into the cell. The shot had awakened the +envoy, who looked up in a dazed fashion, and asked, in the low voice of +a man thoroughly tired, what the disturbance was about. + +"God be praise, we are save! Do not notice ze dress; it is nozink; ze +man is English. Ach! it is no good; ze door is open, but ve are in +chains. Ach! Zum Teufel! It is kaput--all up!" + +Tom pushed past him impatiently. + +"Quick, Abdul," he said, "the hammer!" + +Hastening to Sir Mark, who had risen from the floor, with half a dozen +sturdy blows Tom snapped the chains that fixed his ankle bands to +staples in the wall, then performed the like service for Schwab. He made +no attempt to release their ankles from the fetters: there was no time +for this, and he feared also to do them an injury. The sounds had caused +commotion in the further dungeon, where the sheikh's other prisoners +were confined. Chains were clanking, men were shouting, the uproar was +so great that it must reach the ears of the jailer if he were anywhere +in the neighbourhood, and though he was shut off from the vaults, he +might burst the locks and bring a host of armed men to the rescue. + +"We have no time to lose," said Tom. "Come with me." + +"But, pardon me----" said Sir Mark. + +"I can't explain now," Tom interrupted. "Come along; it is all right, +only we must get away at once." + +"At vunce, Sir Ingleton," said Schwab. "You hear zat! For ze sake of +anyzink, be a man!" + +"My good sir----" began Sir Mark: but Tom again cut him short. + +"Can you walk?" he asked, noticing that the Englishman tottered as he +stood. + +"With assistance, perhaps." + +At once Tom caught him by an arm, bidding Abdul take the other. +Supporting him, they led him along the passage, up the stairway to the +upper corridor, Schwab panting and ejaculating behind them. Even before +they reached the corridor they heard a tremendous battering at the door +whose lock had been filled with fragments of brick. + +It was so stout a barrier that Tom had no fear that it would be broken +down by anything short of a battering ram, and it was not likely that +the Moors had at hand an instrument ready for this purpose. His +confidence was, however, soon shaken, for, before the party, encumbered +with the enfeebled envoy, had begun to ascend the winding stairway +leading from the arched corridor to the vestibule above, there was the +sound of a very heavy body striking the door, followed by an ominous +creak. Leaving the others to precede him, Tom stationed himself on the +narrow stair, the hammer in one hand, his revolver in the other. He was +determined not to use the revolver except in the last extremity, but he +had no such compunctions about using the hammer. + +Suddenly in the midst of the crashing blows upon the door there was the +report of a rifle. The Moors were adopting his own device of blowing in +the lock. The door gave way, and by the flash of his torch, Tom saw a +crowd of swarthy Riffians swarming through the opening. The door at the +foot of the winding stair leading to the corridor was somewhat ruinous; +it was apparently seldom used, the sheikh depending for his security +upon the heavy trapdoor above. Tom, however, succeeded in pulling it to +before the Moors were upon him, and shot the single crazy bolt that +still held. Then he darted up the stairs after the rest. They were just +lifting the envoy through the trap. Schwab was waiting his turn, and +when he heard Tom rushing up, he sprang through the opening with +extraordinary agility. The trapdoor was let down and bolted; they +hastened up the stairway to the upper vestibule adjoining the +guest-chamber, thence up to the sheikh's quarters on the floor above, +bolting every door behind them. + +Even through the thick walls of the kasbah they had heard sounds of +great excitement in the town. Evidently the whole place was now alive. +And there was danger to be anticipated within, for as they groped their +way up the last flight of stairs leading to the roof, their steps +momentarily guided by the flashes of Tom's torches, the sounds of a +tremendous battering near at hand struck upon their ears. Evidently the +sheikh himself was now trying to make his way out. They hastened their +steps as much as Sir Mark's enfeebled state permitted; Tom indeed was in +such desperate anxiety, for pursuit could not be long delayed, that he +forced the pace in a way that drew a protest from the Englishman--even in +this extremity a diplomatist. + +They came to the last flight of stairs leading to the roof. + +"Is that you, Dorrell?" came the voice of Oliphant from above. Nervously +restless, first on account of Tom's long absence, and then at the +violent sounds within and without the building, he had left the airship +and stationed himself with his revolver at the top of the staircase +leading to the roof, to cover Tom's retreat if he proved to be hard +pressed. + +"All well!" shouted Tom in reply. + +In another minute all four emerged upon the roof, and Oliphant gave a +whistle of amazement and consternation when he saw an unexpected +addition to the party. + +"Two of them?" he ejaculated. + +"Yes; the sheikh had a German gentleman--" + +"Hildebrand Schwab, representative of ze excellent firma of +Schlagintwert and----" + +"Hang it, we can't stop for introductions now," said Tom. "Abdul, run +down to the door of the sheikh's room and persuade him that he risks his +life if he comes out. We shall want a minute or two to get ready." + +The Moor obeyed, not without a look of nervousness. At first he could +scarcely make his voice heard above the uproar within the sheikh's room; +but succeeding at last, he began a conversation which might have shocked +and would certainly have amused Tom if he could have understood it. + +"Is the most excellent lord the sheikh within?" shouted Abdul at the top +of his voice. + +The noise ceased. + +"Certainly he is, thou misbegotten son of a pig!" said the frenzied +sheikh. "Open this door, or by the beard of the Prophet I will flay thee +alive, thou rat." + +"Peace, O sheikh! Dost thou value thy life so little, foolish one?" +Abdul was gaining courage; his enemy was on the other side of the door. +"Peace, thou kaffir; I spit upon thee. Dost thou think to pass through +till it be the good pleasure of those who have captured thy kasbah to +permit thee? Know it is I, Abdul ben Cassim, and verily I and the good +men with me will cut thee in pieces, first plucking out one by one the +hairs of thy beard, if thou showest thy pig's snout beyond this door." + +This seemed to stagger the sheikh, for his next words were uttered in a +milder tone. + +"What is thy purpose, O Abdul?" + +"Know, thou dog of a dog, that a great sultan, the King of England, hath +sent his most trusty wazeer to wrest from thee his servant, whom thou +didst treacherously seize and shut in thy stinking dungeon. There now +lies at this very door a monstrous bomb which will go off--Allah is +great!--the instant this door is opened. Dost thou believe, dog? Verily +thou wilt be shattered into as many pieces as there are lies in thy +heart if thou dost but move the door the tenth part of an inch. But the +King of England is merciful; he will not do you or your folk harm: he +knows other ways of avenging the injury his servant has suffered at thy +hands. Verily thou art in bad case, thou two-faced dog. Before the +growing of a fingernail thou wilt be haled to Marrakesh, and then thou +wilt suffer the pangs of Tophet." + +And Abdul went on to revile the sheikh in terms that cannot be rendered +in our modest English. His inventiveness was very creditable to his +presence of mind, for though the noise in the sheikh's apartments had +ceased, the uproar below was growing moment by moment in intensity. The +great gate had been thrown open, the patio was thronged with fierce +Moors enraged at the indignity put upon their chief, and it was scarcely +possible that the doors below, stout as they were, could long withstand +the furious blows with which they were assailed. + +Meanwhile Tom had assured himself that his machinery was in order. Sir +Mark had already entered the car. Tom was beside him, ready to start the +propellers; Schwab was ensconced in the corner furthest from danger. + +"Call Abdul, Oliphant," said Tom. + +Oliphant went to the head of the stairs and called; Abdul came bounding +up, and in half a minute all five were packed into the car. It was a +very tight fit, and Tom felt a tremor of apprehension as he pressed the +lever. The vertical propellers answered instantly to his touch, but they +beat the air ineffectually: the airship absolutely refused to rise. + +"It won't lift us!" he said, aghast. "We're too heavy. Some one must be +left behind." + +"I'll stay," said Oliphant at once. "Take the others to the hill and +come back for me. I can manage for half an hour or so with my revolver." + +"Not a bit of it. I want your help with the machinery. What on earth can +we do?" + +"Leave Abdul?" + +"Can't hear of it: he couldn't defend himself long, and he'd be +frightfully tortured if they got him. We can't all get away at once, +that's certain; and, as we certainly can't leave Sir Mark, we must leave +the one we didn't reckon on. Herr Schwab----" + +"No. I refuse. I vill not stay. I am here." + +"I'm afraid you must. We shan't be long. I'll drop the others a mile or +two away, and come back for you at once." + +"Never in ze vorld. I protest. I am Jarman sobjeck: is not ze life of +Jarman sobjeck of more vorth zan ze life of a Mohr? Our Kaiser, who is +in Berlin----" + +"We can't stop to argue it. They won't kill you, at any rate; they know +enough of your Kaiser perhaps to refrain from that: whereas they'd kill +the Moor to a certainty. We can't all lose our lives for you. In short, +you must get out, and be quick about it, or, by Jove! we'll have to +throw you out." + +"It is terrible; it is unkind. I cannot stay alone; no longer am I as I +vas; I lose pounds in ze prison. I am not made for zis. Some vun muss +remain viz me; I care not who: some vun to give me courage." + +Here Abdul stepped into the breach and volunteered to stay with the +German. + +"I have it!" cried Oliphant. "The trapdoor that covers the opening is at +the other end of the roof, by the parapet there. We can shut that down +and bolt it. And, by George! the stones of the parapet are pretty loose. +Abdul and Mr. Schwab can pile some of them on the trap; we'll leave them +our revolvers, and with a little pluck they can keep the blackguards at +bay until we get back." + +"That's it. You'll be as safe as the Bank of England, Mr. Schwab. Quick! +Out with you! Here's my revolver!" + +"Ach! I am man of peace; vunce I vas var gorresbondent, and----" + +"For goodness' sake get out, man. Don't you see you're endangering the +whole lot of us, yourself included. Oliphant, we shall have to fling him +out." + +But at this threat Schwab rose and stepped on to the roof, his face a +very picture of woe. Oliphant assisted Abdul to place the trapdoor over +the opening, and of course made the discovery that the bolts were on the +inside. + +"But the stones will do," said Oliphant. "Buck up, Mr. Schwab; you're +not absolutely helpless, are you?" + +"It is true, I have carried stones, but zey vere small," said Schwab +lugubriously, remembering the means by which he had mounted the fence at +Midfont in pursuit of business. Leaving him to it, Oliphant got back +into the car. Tom pressed the lever, and the airship, relieved of near +two hundredweight of German subject and the lesser bulk of the Moor, +soared into the air. Tom's last view, as the vessel rose clear of the +kasbah, was Schwab limping across the roof under the burden of a large +stone from the coping. + +"A most singular proceeding!" murmured Sir Mark, as the airship whirred +over the hills. "I wonder how I stand--diplomatically considered. The +vessel goes with consummate ease. There is positively no roll--nothing to +cause seasickness." + +Tom laughed. The matter-of-fact at this moment was very refreshing. + +"I hope you will redeem your promise to rescue Mr. Schwab," the envoy +continued. "He has been a great joy to me in my captivity." + +"Oh yes, we'll get him. We shall drop you in a few minutes. You will not +mind being left for a little while?" + +"Not at all, not at all. I find the air and the motion most +invigorating. I have lately been very conscious of the inconvenience of +having a nose." + +Tom did not know, though Oliphant suspected, that Sir Mark's cool manner +was adopted intentionally--to ease the strain on their nerves. A man is +not trained to diplomacy for nothing. He kept up a quiet flow of +nothings until the hill was reached. + +"A very airy situation," he remarked, as he was set down on the +hill-top. + +"Yes. You'll find it cold," said Tom. "Here's my coat." + +"Thanks. Having escaped asphyxia, it would certainly be a pity to +contract pneumonia. You look quite comfortable yourself: the Moorish +djellab is a very warm garment, I should think." + +He put on Tom's reefer, which had lain in a corner of the car. Then Tom +sent the airship aloft again, and hurried back to the kasbah. + + + + +CHAPTER XII--A HITCH + + +Short as the time seemed, it was in reality nearly an hour before the +airship once more rested on the roof of the kasbah. While it was still +hovering above, Tom manoeuvring for a landing, there came the muffled +sound of shots and the rending of wood. + +"They've broken in," cried Oliphant. + +The Moors had indeed burst through the lower doors, released the +infuriated sheikh, and, finding themselves unable to lift the trapdoor, +were firing upwards through it. Schwab, who had been sitting on the pile +of stones which he and Abdul had heaped on the covering, to reinforce +their weight with his own, slipped off with amazing alacrity just as the +airship came to rest. + +"Gott sei Dank!" he exclaimed, as Tom joined him. + +[Illustration: "TOM, SEIZING A BIG STONE, THREW IT WITH ALL HIS FORCE +INTO THE BLACK ROOM BENEATH."] + +He needed no invitation to hurry into the car. As soon as Abdul was +aboard Tom started the engines. To his consternation the airship again +refused to rise. + +"Good heavens! what a weight you must be!" he exclaimed. + +"Colossal! But I lose pounds in ze----" + +"Oh, shut up!" cried Oliphant impatiently. "We can't make another +journey, Dorrell. The cover won't support the stones much longer with +those ruffians smashing the wood as they're doing." + +He had scarcely spoken when the woodwork gave way, the stones crashed +down the staircase, and there were cries of pain and alarm from the men +beneath. But it was impossible to suppose that they were all hurt, and +the passage was now clear for the rest. Something must be done at once +to gain a little time until the problem of removing Schwab's colossal +weight could be solved. + +Stopping his engines, which were working furiously, but with no effect, +Tom, followed by Oliphant and the Moor, jumped from the car and hurried +towards the opening. They were greeted by a musket shot; but Tom, +seizing a big stone, threw it with all his force into the black room +beneath. There were more cries from below, repeated when Oliphant and +the Moor followed suit, each with missiles of the same character. Then +there was silence for a time. The Moors were apparently nonplussed. + +"You can find your way to the hill if I land you below?" asked Tom of +Abdul. + +"Yes, master." + +"Hold the roof, Oliphant. I won't be ten minutes. Don't shoot 'em unless +you're very hard pressed." + +Tom and the Moor sprang into the car, the airship again ascended, and +came down about a quarter of a mile from the village walls. There was +nobody in sight; without doubt the whole population of the place was +congregated about the kasbah. Once more Tom ascended, alighting on the +roof just as Oliphant, using the wooden shaft of Abdul's hammer, was +driving back one man, more venturesome than the rest, who had attempted +to make his way up. There was no time to carry more stones from the +coping to serve as missiles, so Tom and Oliphant at last fired their +revolvers, two shots each, taking care, however, to avoid the opening. +Tom hoped that the sound of the shots would give pause to the men below, +most of whom must have hitherto been unaware that the intruders carried +firearms. + +Immediately after they had fired, the two made a dash for the car, +scrambled aboard, and set the engines in motion. + +"Gott sei Dank!" cried Schwab again, as the airship rose steadily above +the roof. + +As if they had known by some intuition what was happening, the Moors at +this moment made a rush, and before the airship had sailed a hundred +yards from the kasbah, figures appeared on the roof. A moment afterwards +one or two shots were fired, but they were without effect; the airship +sailed on, pursued by yells of baffled rage. + +In order to draw away pursuit from his real direction, Tom headed the +airship north-east, and it was not until he was well out of sight of the +kasbah that he put the helm up and steered straight for the hill-top. + +"We've come out of this uncommonly well," said Oliphant. "I was on +thorns all the time you and Abdul were absent." + +"We're not out of it yet," rejoined Tom. "The fuel's nearly done. These +comings and goings have used a terrible lot of the paste, and I doubt +whether there's enough to make one journey to the yacht--let alone two. I +didn't reckon on another passenger besides Ingleton." + +"Who is this freak? You seem to know him?" Oliphant spoke quietly: Herr +Schwab was lying against the rail of the car only a few feet away. + +"Met him once. His name's Schwab; he's an agent for the company I get my +powder from. Haven't had time yet to ask him how he got into this mess. +I say, it looks as if a storm is coming up." + +"Yes, the wind's rising, and the clouds are scudding along at a great +pace. How will she behave in a storm?" + +"Don't know, and don't want to know just now. We should be in a pretty +hobble if the machine were to get smashed up altogether." + +While Tom and Oliphant were thus talking in low tones, Herr Schwab was +deeply ruminating. He had been struck, on the roof of the kasbah, by +something familiar in the speech of this Englishman who was masquerading +as a Moor, but in the agitation of the moment he could not sift his +recollections. Now, however, safe in the car of an aeroplane, sailing +with almost imperceptible motion through the air, he was taking the +opportunity to search his memory. Just as the airship arrived above the +hill-top where Sir Mark Ingleton was waiting, and Tom was preparing to +descend, he was startled by a loud exclamation from the German. + +"What's the matter?" he asked. + +"Nozink, nozink at all. I know you vat you are. Mr. Thomas Dorrell! And +ze Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number Six. I know all about him; +jawohl! Zere are business for Schlagintwert: I do not mind ze +captivities now: business are business." + +Oliphant looked inquiringly at Tom; but the moment was not propitious +for explanations. Tom's whole attention was engaged by the machinery. +The airship alighted without mishap, and Tom as he stepped out of the +car was greeted by Sir Mark Ingleton. + +"I have a new conception of the music of the spheres," he said. "Your +approach was heralded by an immense humming, which, I take it, will +discount the usefulness of the airship in time of war." + +"Zat vill be chance for Schlagintwert," interposed Schwab: "to invent +somezink vat stop ze row." + +"Precisely," said Sir Mark, with a faint smile. + +"How do you feel now, sir?" asked Tom. + +"Greatly invigorated by the fresh air. I am glad of your coat. May I +know to whom I am indebted for this surprising change in my fortunes?" + +"My name's Dorrell," said Tom. "I happened to be rather lucky in getting +my airship to go just when it could be made useful." + +"Viz Schlagintwert's Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number Six," +added Schwab. + +"This is Mr. Oliphant, Lord Langside's son," Tom went on. + +"Indeed!" With fine courtesy Sir Mark perfectly concealed his amazement. +Oliphant still wore his stoker's clothes, and the black smudges on his +face had given him a striking resemblance to a coal-heaver. "I am +grateful to the Prime Minister for this novel and adventurous +expedition," added the envoy. + +"My father knows nothing about it, sir," said Oliphant. "We were afraid +he wouldn't allow it if we told him." + +"I see. Nothing succeeds like success. Did you come all the way from +England in this admirable machine?" + +"No, sir. We were brought out on Mr. Greatorex's yacht, which is now +waiting for us at the shore." + +"That is good news, for in truth, seeing the limited carrying capacity +of your airship, I had wondered how we were all to get away." + +"That's our difficulty, sir. Our fuel is almost gone, and I'm very much +afraid there isn't enough left to make even one journey back to the +yacht. There's plenty on board, if we _can_ manage to reach it." + +"In that case perhaps you and Mr. Oliphant had better return without us. +If you reach the yacht safely, you can come back and fetch us; if you do +not--well, things will be no worse than they were." + +"I don't care about doing that, sir. We came out to rescue you. I think +you had better come with us. Our fuel may last out; the sooner you are +safe aboard the yacht the better; and if we only get within sight of her +it will be all right, for Mr. Greatorex will certainly send a boat's +crew to fetch us off." + +"Had you not better take Mr. Schwab first? He has been in captivity +longer than I." + +"And I have vair important business," said Schwab eagerly. + +"I think my arrangement is best, sir. You see, your position is a matter +of state importance--international importance, I might say; all Europe is +more or less interested in your fate, whereas----" + +"Ach!" interrupted Schwab, "zey insult me, ze Mohrs; me, a Jarman +sobjeck; zerefore zey insult also our Kaiser, who is in Berlin. Zat is +important." + +"With all respect to your Kaiser, Mr. Schwab," said Tom, "we are three +to one here, and I think the interests of the majority must prevail." + +"But ze population of Jarmany is grosser zan ze population of Great +Britain. Ve grow vair fast." + +"Therefore your Kaiser can spare one individual better than our King. We +must settle it so, Mr. Schwab. We'll take Sir Mark to the yacht and then +come back for you--as we have already done." + +"But if you forget--vere am I zen? Mr. Greatorex is business man, perhaps +he vant to make haste for home. Besides, you try to keep ze secret of ze +Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number Six. I discover ze secret. +You vant to keep me out, so zat I shall not take out patent for +Schlagintwert. Zat is business!" + +"You may take my word for it that we'll come back for you," said Tom +patiently. Oliphant was fuming: Sir Mark Ingleton was quietly enjoying +the situation. "And here's Abdul." The young Moor at this moment came +over the brow of the hill. "Perhaps he will stay and keep you company." + +"I have enough gombany of ze Mohrs," said Schwab dismally. "Give notice, +I shall have big claim for damage. Ze loss of business is colossal." + +"You'll make it up when you put your Photographic Sensitizer Preparation +Number Six on the market under a new name. Abdul, you will stay with Mr. +Schwab until we get back?" + +Abdul agreed at once. In the event of a party coming from Ain Afroo to +capture him he could retreat to the caves, which were so difficult of +access that he might hope to defy attack for a time, even if his +hiding-place were discovered. The chief difficulty would be food and +water; but he could slip down into the woods before daybreak and gather +a quantity of fruit; perhaps also snare one or two wild animals; and if +Tom would leave behind the now almost empty canister in which he kept +the fuel for the engines, he could fill that with water from the hill +springs. + +Schwab's countenance, as he heard these arrangements discussed, was that +of a man very ill at ease. But he had apparently come to the conclusion +that further protest would be unavailing, and he held his peace, summing +up in his mind, possibly, the amount of his future claim for damages. +Tom handed Abdul his revolver, for use in the last resort; then followed +Oliphant and the envoy into the car. + +"You keep your vord!" cried Schwab, as the airship rose into the now +overclouded sky. + +Tom set the engines at half speed, partly to husband his fuel, partly +because, moon and stars being now obscured, he felt the same kind of +reluctance to go fast that a driver would feel in going through a dark +country lane. It was a little before three in the morning. He hoped to +reach the yacht about dawn, though, having in the darkness no means of +guiding his course, he foresaw the possibility of going out of the way. +But a strong wind had blown up from the east, and with this at his back +he knew that he must in due time reach the sea. Rain began to fall, at +first in large scattered drops, finally in a steady downpour, and when +the grey dawn at last broke through the sky, all three occupants of the +car were thoroughly drenched and miserable. + +Tom had anxiously watched his fuel supply. When the rain ceased and the +sky became clearer, and he caught sight of the sea afar off, he saw that +there was not the smallest chance of reaching the shore. + +"How far is it, do you think?" asked Oliphant. + +"More than ten miles, I fancy. I've scraped up the last ounces of paste; +we shall be lucky if it carries us another five miles." + +"And what then?" + +"Goodness knows! I don't know what part of the shore we are heading for. +We may be miles north or south of the yacht for all I can tell." + +"Will they see us on board?" + +"Don't think so. You see, the yacht, when we left her, was moored pretty +close inshore, and, unless she runs out a good way, the cliffs will +intercept the view. By Jove! we haven't come far wrong, though. You see +those two islands? I noticed them from the deck. They're a few miles +south of where we lay to. Here goes the last of the fuel, Oliphant; we +can't keep up more than five minutes. The only thing to be done is to +let her down at a suitable spot, and then gain the shore on foot, and +attract the attention of some one on board. No doubt they're keeping a +pretty keen lookout." + +They were now passing over a considerable stretch of wooded country. But +as Tom was looking about for a place convenient for landing, he saw to +his consternation that they were within sight of a village of some size. +The airship was no more than six hundred feet from the ground: Tom had +not dared to keep it at any greater altitude, and he could scarcely hope +that it had escaped observation. To descend at once was absolutely +imperative: yet a descent in full sight of the village would certainly +bring unwelcome and hostile visitors. In order to stave off, even for a +time, the inevitable, he selected a spot that seemed to be about a +couple of miles from the village--a large clearing in the midst of the +wood, about halfway up a gently rising hill. There he dropped gently to +earth. + +The airship had scarcely come to rest before he saw, from the village +below, a party of horsemen issuing at full speed from the gate. Tom +counted more than a dozen men, and within a minute these were followed +by another dozen. + +"We're in for it now," he said. "They'll be on us in a few minutes." + +"We can't fight 'em with only one revolver and a carbine," said Oliphant +ruefully. "They'll collar us and hold us to ransom--perhaps we'll all +find ourselves before long in the kasbah of Ain Afroo." + +"May I make a suggestion?" said Sir Mark Ingleton. "The airship has +failed us; we are, it appears, about to be surrounded by horsemen who +are doubtless well armed; flight is therefore impossible. It is equally +impossible, as Mr. Oliphant says, to fight. Before now, in similar +circumstances, diplomacy has been of some avail; and it is but right +that I, in whose behalf you gentlemen have been brought to your present +plight, should exercise my poor abilities in disentangling the knot." + +"What do you propose, sir?" asked Tom, inwardly remarking that diplomacy +seemed to make a man tolerably long-winded. + +"It is that Mr. Oliphant and myself should go forth to meet these +children of nature, waving a white handkerchief as if to welcome them. I +will explain to them, in terms they will comprehend, and with a +sufficient regard for the truth, what our situation is. They will +doubtless convey us to their village, whether they believe me or not. In +the meantime you, Mr. Dorrell, will have hidden yourself in a tree--no +difficult feat to a man of your years; and when you see a fitting +opportunity, you will steal your way to the shore, rejoin your friends +on the yacht, and take such steps as may suggest themselves in +consultation with them to effect our release." + +"A capital idea!" said Tom. + +"But can we do it? Can you speak to the Moors in their own tongue?" +asked Oliphant. + +"My dear fellow, your father selected me for this mission precisely on +account of my knowledge of Arabic," said Sir Mark. "If these Riffians do +not understand me, it will be because my speech is so much purer than +theirs." + +"Well, good luck to you!" cried Tom. "I'm off before they see me." + +And donning his djellab, which he had spread on the ground to dry, he +disappeared among the trees. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII--DIPLOMACY + + +Before the band of horsemen had approached the edge of the little +plateau where the airship lay, the two men stepped forward through the +trees at its lower edge and waved to the oncomers with every sign of +welcome. + +"I hope none of them will recognize me," said Sir Mark in a low tone to +Oliphant. "Probably few in this wild district have ever been in Tangier, +where my features are tolerably well known; and having been for some +time unable to shave--these followers of the Prophet are forbidden the +use of the razor, and Mr. Schwab does not carry one--I look perhaps a +little unlike myself." + +The horsemen came up at a gallop, bringing their horses to a halt when +it seemed to Oliphant that he and his companion must be trampled to the +ground. + +"Peace be with you!" said Sir Mark in Arabic, making a slight +inclination. + +"And with thee, peace!" returned the leader of the party, looking not a +little surprised at this orthodox salutation from a N'zrani. + +"In the name of the most Merciful!" Sir Mark continued. "Thou dost +behold us in sore straits, O Son of the Mountain. We are brothers under +our skin, thou and I, and I crave thy help." + +"Bismillah! I am thy host, and all that I have is thine." + +"Thou sayest well. Behold this strange monster that lieth on the ground +beyond us. It was made by a countryman of mine, to simulate the flying +of birds in the air--a most wondrous thing, and worthy to be seen by his +Shereefian Majesty the Sultan himself. I was indeed on my way to visit +the Sultan, but was prevented by a most untoward happening. (That is +strictly true, though the fact is somewhat post-dated," he added in an +aside.) "Even a bird tires with overmuch flying; and, as thou seest, +this thing that imitates the flying of a bird tires also, so much so, +indeed, that we saw that its wings would not carry us the full extent of +our journey, and we were on our way back to the coast in order to repair +its strength, when it failed us utterly. Wherefore, friend, we ask thee +to lend us the assistance of some sturdy men from your village to carry +our poor bird to Casa Blanca, or to any ship that may chance to be off +your shore. (They may have seen the yacht.) For this service we will +reward them liberally." + +"Bismillah!" ejaculated the Moor. Oliphant, watching his face during Sir +Mark's address, had caught a fleeting expression of perplexity and +disappointment. Expecting to make an out-and-out capture, he was no +doubt somewhat nonplussed at this request for assistance. But he had the +Moor's ready adaptability to circumstances. His speech gave no sign of +his thoughts. + +"Bismillah!" he repeated. "We are all in God's hands. Let my brother +give thanks to Allah the most Merciful that he came to a man so friendly +disposed as Salaam son of Absalaam. It shall be even as thou wishest, +Sidi. But first thou and thy son must come to my village, for your bird +yonder is too heavy to be carried without much preparation. It will need +the shoulders of a great number of men. But while the men are making +ready, enter my house, all too unworthy to shelter you: yet we will +comfort you with food, and do all that is in our power to please our +guests." + +"We thank thee, O Salaam, for thy proffered hospitality, which we will +accept, knowing that all things will be provided for our comfort." + +"So be it, Sidi. But within the walls of my village, when I first looked +heavenwards and saw this strange flying thing, did I not see three men +borne along in it, and one of them in djellab something like my own?" + +Sir Mark smiled and, pointing to a part of the apparatus that was +coloured grey, said-- + +"No doubt in the distance my brother mistook that for a person. We are +two, as thou seest." + +The Moor still looked somewhat mistrustfully around. Then, with an +appearance of being convinced, he dismounted, and ordered his followers +to dismount also, asking his guest to choose whichever of the horses he +pleased for himself and his son. At this imputation of kinship, Sir Mark +elevated his eyebrows; the young man was certainly a +disreputable-looking object. Thinking it policy to accept the offer, Sir +Mark mounted the head-man's own steed, Oliphant following his example +with the horse of one of his party. Then, bidding a score of the men +lift the airship on their shoulders, the head-man and the rest +remounted, and led the way to the village. Both Sir Mark and Oliphant +were glad that the distance was not great, for the high Moorish saddles +were a sore trial to their unaccustomed limbs. The envoy, at any rate, +was under no delusion as to the nature of the hospitality promised. From +the manner in which the tribesmen escorted the two Englishmen to the +village, there could be little doubt that they were prisoners. + +From his perch in the tree Tom noticed that although the majority of the +horsemen accompanied his friends towards the walls, four or five +detached themselves from the party and returned to the plantation, which +they proceeded to search pretty thoroughly. He made himself as small as +he could among the foliage when they passed beneath him, but they did +not look up; apparently it did not occur to them that any one should +have mounted into a tree. When they had finished their fruitless search, +they went, not in the direction their fellow-villagers had taken, but +towards the coast. Tom saw them spread out as they rode from the +plantation, and watched them until they were mere specks in the +distance. Then, when they were, he supposed, perfectly satisfied that +the suspected third member of the English party could not have escaped +them, they wheeled round and returned one by one again passing not far +from his hiding-place. Clearly, if they were so suspicious, it would be +expedient for him to remain for some time in the tree--an unpleasant +prospect, for he was becoming very stiff and cramped, and suffering +rather severely from hunger and thirst. + +It was some hours before he ventured to slip to the ground. Even then he +did not dare to leave the shelter of the wood, knowing that in the open +he would inevitably be observed. But he stretched his limbs and found a +few blackberries, which somewhat appeased his hunger. Every now and then +he again climbed the tree to find out whether any one was approaching, +or whether a watch was still being kept. Late in the afternoon he +descried, on the further side of the village, a horseman approaching +from the direction of the hills. He came at full gallop, and rode +straight into the village, disappearing there from Tom's view. + +"Hope to goodness he isn't a messenger from the sheikh!" thought Tom. + +At last, when the sun had set, and the sky was darkening, he deemed it +safe to leave his hiding-place. If the yacht had remained where he had +last seen her--and it was scarcely likely that Mr. Greatorex would shift +his anchorage--he conjectured that a five mile walk would bring him to +the nearest point of the shore. Fortunately it was a beautiful night, +clear and starlit, though the moon had not yet risen. Taking his +bearings very carefully by the stars, in anticipation of a return +journey, he started, going very slowly and cautiously, watching every +shadow lest it should indicate the presence of a Moor. Ignorant of their +language, he knew well that he had no chance whatever of slipping past +if he were once accosted. In such a case he could trust only to his +lightness of foot. But nothing happened to cause him uneasiness, and +after trudging along for nearly two hours he was beyond measure +delighted to see what was evidently a masthead light some distance out +at sea. No native craft would show a light; he could hardly doubt that +the _Dandy Dinmont_ and his friends were before him. + +He was quickening his step in the pleasure of this discovery, when +suddenly, without warning, he found himself at the edge of an encampment +lying in a slight hollow at the summit of the cliffs. He started back, +but it was too late. A Moor, swathed in his hooded djellab, came out of +the darkness and spoke to him. Tom saw that it might be fatal to run +now; he walked on, hoping that he might pass without replying. But the +Moor spoke again, more sharply, in a more questioning tone. Tom, whose +head was covered with the hood, mumbled something beneath his breath; +but his unpractised tongue could not achieve the hard guttural accent of +the Moorish speech, and the sentinel took a hasty step towards him. + +There was now nothing for it but to take to his heels. Disguise was no +longer possible, and, to free his limbs, he cast the djellab from him, +and dashed at full speed across the grass to the edge of the cliff. The +slope was steep, but he scarcely gave a thought to the risks he ran. +Scrambling over, he lay down and rolled from top to bottom, with many a +gash and bruise from sharp edges of the rock. + +Loud shouts pursued him. The camp was aroused. Picking himself up, +feeling breathless and dazed, he sped across the sandy stretch of beach +and sent a sounding hail in the direction of the yacht; perchance his +voice might carry above the rustle of the surf and the cries of his +pursuers. He heard men scurrying down a path in the cliff somewhere +behind him; then their footsteps on the light shingle that lay above the +sand. Even if his cry had been heard on the yacht, it was impossible +that a boat should reach him before he was overtaken. There was only one +way to safety. He plunged into the surf, and struck out towards the +vessel. A shot followed him, but he cared nothing for that; in the +darkness it would puzzle an expert marksman to hit him, when nothing of +him could be seen but a head bobbing up and down. Not till he had swum +well out of the reach of his pursuers, who had not followed him into the +sea, did the thought of sharks cross his mind. Then he trod water for a +little, and, making a bell of his hands, sent another prolonged cry +across the water. + +Is that an answering hail? He shouts once more; yes, a cry comes back to +him: "Ahoy-o!" But at the same moment he hears also the sound of +paddles, to his right, apparently from a bend of the shore. The Moors +have not given him up, then. Again he presses on, putting all his force +into a strong side-stroke. Now another sound falls upon his ear; the +welcome sound of oars plied sturdily in rowlocks. The yacht's boat is +coming to meet him. But the pursuers are the nearer--will his friends +arrive in time? His long exertions since he left the yacht, his want of +food and sleep, have robbed him of his strength. His pace becomes slower +and slower. The pursuers' boat is coming up behind, while yet the beat +of oars before him sounds terribly distant. But he is still swimming; +every yard he makes is a yard added to the speed of the friendly boat. +He struggled on; and the Moors were still some distance behind when, +gasping and spent, he was helped by Timothy and another into his ark of +safety. + +But the boat did not head at once for the yacht. + +"Give way, men!" cried Captain Bodgers himself, at the tiller. + +He pointed the nose of the boat straight for the Moors' light craft. +Eight sturdy British sailors pulled with a will. There was a crash, a +cry, and a dozen Moors were in the water, struggling to right their +capsized boat. + +"That's all right. Now we'll get back, my men," said Captain Bodgers, +and some few minutes thereafter Tom was assisted up the side of the +yacht, and into the arms of Mr. Greatorex. + +"God bless my soul, what has happened?" said the worthy merchant. + +"We've got him--Ingleton," murmured Tom faintly. "He's with Oliphant, +captured again. Schwab's in the cave with Abdul." + +"He's light-headed, poor fellow!" said Mr. Greatorex. "Here, some one, +blankets, and brandy--look _alive_ now." + +Tom was soon stripped, dried, swathed in warm blankets, and dosed with +brandy till his blood tingled. Mr. Greatorex fussed round him, waiving +his proffered explanations until he was thoroughly recovered. Then Tom +gave him an account of all that had happened since he left the yacht, +Mr. Greatorex breaking in every now and then with "Dear, dear!" "You +don't _say_ so!" "The villains!" "What a _mercy_!" and such like +exclamations. Early in the narrative he interrupted with a question: + +"You say Oliphant! Who's Oliphant? Am I on my _head_ or my _heels_?" + +"Oh, I forgot you didn't know," said Tom with a smile. "Your new stoker +was Oliphant in disguise. You see, Byles, your late stoker, had to +remain at home and attend to his sick mother." + +"No more sick than I am!" declared Mr. Greatorex. "Don't believe he +_had_ a mother! M'Cracken, indeed! I'll M'Cracken him! I hope his father +will get him well _thrashed_ when he goes back to school." + +"He's rather big for that, don't you think?" + +"The bigger the better! I never _heard_ of such a thing! The impudence +of it! And taking us all _in_ so! What things are coming to I don't +know. No obedience, no respect for age--pretending to be Scotch, too----" + +"Well, he is Scotch, you know." + +"Don't tell _me_! He's only Scotch when it suits him. There are others +like him in the Lords. He was never Scotch in _my_ house--where he shall +never show his face again, _never_!" + +Tom was not deceived by this explosion of wrath. He knew very well that +Mr. Greatorex was only relieving the tension of his feelings, and +working off his nervous excitability on the most convenient object. "Les +absents ont toujours tort," he remembered. Mr. Greatorex presently +calmed down, and heard the rest of the story in comparative quietude. + +"And what are we to _do_?" he said at the close. "Swob doesn't matter; +we're not bound to lift a finger for _him_; but we can't leave Ingleton +and M'C---- and Oliphant in the hands of those wretches. They'll break up +our machine, too, and play the very deuce with _my property_. What are +we to _do_?" + +What Tom answered is shown by subsequent events. Two or three hours +after his return to the yacht, when he had had a thorough rest and a +good meal, a well-armed party, consisting of the whole ship's company +except the cook and one seaman, left the yacht, on which all lights had +been extinguished, and rowed with muffled oars to a sheltered cove on +the south side of the bay--that furthest removed from the Arab +encampment. Mr. Greatorex had insisted on joining the party. In vain Tom +pointed out that a hard march was before them, suggesting delicately +that Mr. Greatorex was not so light as he once was. The merchant puffed +the objection away. They disembarked in dead silence, and, leaving two +of their number to take the boat back to the yacht, made their way +cautiously up the cliff. + +Led by Tom, the party, ten in all, struck off in the direction of the +village. Thanks to the light of the moon, which now lay a little above +the horizon, Tom was able to make a fairly straight course for the +plantation in which he had hidden during the previous day. Once or twice +he strayed from the proper track, and ultimately found that he was +nearly a mile from his objective; but this was not bad, considering that +there was no beaten road, and they had to tramp across rough country. +When he reached the plantation he was no longer in doubt as to the true +direction; during his long stay among the trees he had had time to take +his bearings pretty thoroughly. + +Mr. Greatorex was blown by the time they came to the clearing in which +the airship had descended, and Tom begged him to remain hidden in the +plantation while the rest went on to the village. + +"Pff!" panted the perspiring old gentleman. "Never gave up _anything_ +yet; on you go!" + +But a slight halt was made while Tom completed arrangements for his +night raid. The village was walled; the gates would no doubt be shut, as +at Ain Afroo; the wall must be scaled. Captain Bodgers selected the +biggest men to give their more active comrades a "leg-up." These latter +were provided with ropes, by which they might haul up the others when +they had themselves gained a footing on the wall. Tom impressed on them +all the necessity of maintaining dead silence. He estimated that the +village contained about a hundred fighting men, and if the approach of +the raiders were discovered in time for the walls to be manned, the +chance of a successful coup would be small indeed. + +All carried firearms except Mr. Greatorex. He had a knobbed stick, +capable of dealing a very damaging blow. + +"There's bound to be a _fight_, I suppose?" he had said when Tom was +discussing his plans on the yacht. "I don't like _that_, you know. I'd +punch a man's nose and knock him down without scruple, of course; but +that needn't _kill_ him, you know. Besides, how do I _stand_? This is +uncommonly like a piratical raid--like Jameson's, and he might have been +_hanged_. However!" + +Tom assured him that no blood should be shed if it could possibly be +avoided; but he had small hopes that the night would end without a +fight, and a very brisk one. + +The party set off for the village, stealing along under what cover was +afforded by bushes and inequalities in the ground. When about three +hundred yards from the wall all such protection ceased; the ground was +level and apparently open. Tom's heart was in his mouth lest their +footsteps should be heard as they crossed this. He dared not set them at +a run, for the soil all around was stony, and the sound of near a dozen +men rushing at speed could not fail to be heard in the village. So he +kept up the same stealthy approach, and his caution was justified, for +level as the space had appeared at a distance, it proved to have patches +of loose stones, and some yards of boggy land, through which ran a +narrow and evil-smelling creek; to rush would have ended in disaster. + +They arrived beneath the wall without having heard any alarm raised +within. In a trice the men began to clamber up. It was made of mud and +rubble, and was not in so ruinous a condition as the wall of Ain Afroo. +The first man reached the top. Immediately there was a shout and the +sound of hurrying feet, and Tom sprang up to the sailor's side in time +to see a Moor in long djellab dashing from the nearest house towards the +wall. Suddenly he halted, and fired. The young sailor winced as the +bullet struck him; but he was not badly hurt, and letting down his rope, +calmly proceeded to haul up one of his comrades. After firing, the Moor +made a rush along the wall. Tom grappled with him; both fell, dropping +their weapons, and Tom felt in an instant that he was no match for the +sinewy figure that had him in his arms. The Moor forced him down; his +hands were already at Tom's throat, when Timothy Ball, who had +accompanied the party in spite of his half-healed wound, threw himself +upon the enemy from behind, dragged him backwards, and left him +half-strangled, but yet alive. + +When Tom rose dizzily to his feet, all his party were within the wall. +One or two shouts were heard from the village, but apparently the Moors +were not yet quite awake to what was happening. Tom pulled himself +together, and led the way straight for the kasbah, which, from his lofty +perch in the tree during the day, he had seen slightly to the right of +the place at which the entry into the village had been made. When they +dashed up to the main gate, this was being opened to give exit to a +couple of men who were apparently about to inquire into the cause of the +slight commotion and the rifle shot that had been heard. The two were +instantly bowled over by the onrush of British seamen, the party swarmed +through into the kasbah, the gate was shut, and they came face to face +with the head-man. + +"What have you--got to--_say_ for yourself?" + +The Moor had naturally nothing to say for himself. He saw himself +confronted by an elderly whiskered foreigner, in a yachting cap and blue +serge suit, brandishing a formidable stick. Mr. Greatorex was in a +passion. The exertions of the march, the pains of being hauled up a +wall, not without bumps, the scamper at the rear of his men into the +Moor's kasbah, had deprived him equally of breath and of self-control. +Determined not to be left ignominiously out of the hurly-burly, he +forced himself to the front, and thrust his stick under the very nose of +the Moor--who stood a foot above him--calling him to account in the +spluttering sentence recorded above. + +For a few moments there was a deadlock, and Tom felt the need of an +interpreter. Eventually he persuaded Mr. Greatorex to give way, and +managed to make the Moor understand that if he valued his life he must +at once bring out the Firangi whom he had recently introduced to his +house. Finding himself shut off by the gate of his own kasbah from the +support of his men, the Moor recognized that he had no choice but to +comply, and at a command from him one of his servants brought Sir Mark +Ingleton and Oliphant from the upper floor into the patio, looking none +the worse for their brief incarceration. + +"_Delighted_ to see you," said Mr. Greatorex, stepping forward and +wringing the diplomatist's hand; Oliphant he studiously ignored. + +"Mr. Greatorex, I presume," returned Sir Mark. "I hope to make your +better acquaintance, sir. Meanwhile, if I may be allowed----" + +His quick eye had taken in the situation at a glance. + +"Peace be with thee!" he said in Arabic, turning with a bland smile to +the scowling Moor, "You perceive, O Salaam, that my friends also, being +alarmed at my absence, have availed themselves of your generous +hospitality. They are distressed at the unceremonious manner of their +entry, but you will assuredly deign to pardon it, for have you not +professed yourself my devoted servant? You will be the first to forgive +an intrusion due solely to the too great zeal of my friends." + +The Moor, chagrined and bewildered, had no option but to acquiesce in +this polite fiction, though it is to be feared his reply lacked +something of the diplomatist's ease and suavity. + +"But we are a large company," Sir Mark went on, "and should be loth to +trespass on your hospitality. You will be relieved, I am sure, if we +betake ourselves to the vessel that awaits us off your coast. You will, +of course, honour us by giving us your company so far. Indeed, if you +will do us the favour to accompany us on board our vessel, we shall +endeavour to return in some slight measure the gracious hospitality that +has been vouchsafed to myself and--my son. If you add to your favours by +assisting us in the march--by showing us the easiest road and defending +us from the perils that may beset us, such as are known to you, O +Salaam--you may be assured that we shall show our gratitude in very +tangible form. There are, as you know, even in Morocco, evil +counsellors, men of violence, some who would even dare to lift their +hands against the Sultan himself. If there be any such in this village, +which truly I am loth to believe, I advise you, as brother advises +brother, to exhort them to mildness of demeanour. These friends of mine +who now enjoy your hospitality are men of war; they have arms, you +perceive, in the use of which they are well skilled; and since, in our +progress to the shore, you will of course occupy the place of honour at +my right hand, in all likelihood you would suffer hurt if there are +among your followers any men of Belial whose hearts incline towards +bloodshed; that would be a great grief to us. And now, O Salaam, as the +night draws towards dawn, it will be well if you perform your morning +ablutions and devotions and prepare to lead us forth. Bismillah!" + +Sir Mark, as he laughingly informed Mr. Greatorex afterwards, had +purposely made his address somewhat lengthy, so as to give Salaam plenty +of time to regain his self-possession and to weigh the pros and cons. +The upshot was that, shortly after dawn, the whole party, with Salaam +son of Absalaam in their midst, set off towards the coast, the airship +being carried on the shoulders of a troop of the villagers who had been +promised liberal bakshish in return for their services. + +On arriving at the shore, Captain Bodgers signalled to his men on the +yacht to send a boat, and with it a fresh supply of fuel for the +airship, which had been deposited just above high-water mark. While this +was being done, Mr. Greatorex emptied his pockets of small coin, to +redeem the promise to the carriers, and Sir Mark kept up an even flow of +amicable talk, apparently quite oblivious of the throng of Arabs who had +observed the proceedings from their encampment on the cliff, and by and +by came down to the shore and stood around, listening with looks of +amazement to this fluent Nazarene who discoursed so pleasantly of things +intimate to them. + +The men soon arrived with a large tin of the fuel-paste. It was placed +in the car; Tom made an inspection of the machinery to assure himself +that it had suffered no hurt while in the charge of Salaam; then +Oliphant joined him. A few moments later, with a mighty whirring sound, +the airship rose gallantly into the air, to the great wonderment of the +Moors. While they were intently watching the manoeuvres of the airship, +filling the air with their cries of "Mashallah!" Sir Mark and the rest +of the party embarked and pulled out into the bay, two of the men +sitting in the stern of the boat with their faces to the shore and their +rifles held conspicuously ready. Salaam indulged in a burst of fury at +the manner in which he had been outwitted. His followers gathered around +him and held excited consultation, some being apparently inclined to +fire on the departing boat, others to pursue the airship. But they had +made up their minds to neither course by the time the party reached the +yacht; and when Captain Bodgers trained on them the two brass guns she +carried, they hurriedly broke up and disappeared over the cliffs. + +"You were just in time, Mr. Greatorex," said Sir Mark Ingleton as they +sat together in the boat. "A messenger came in from the sheikh yesterday +afternoon, and I shrewdly suspect that arrangements had been made to +transfer us to our old quarters in the kasbah. I say 'our old quarters,' +forgetting that Mr. Oliphant----" + +"Oliphant!" interrupted Mr. Greatorex. "_There_ now! What do you think +of _this_, Sir Mark?" + +And he proceeded to delight his guest with a vigorous indictment of +M'Cracken, and Byles, and Byles' sick mother, and Lord Langside for +having sent an English gentleman on a mission to such an abominable +country, and for having such an outrageously impudent son. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV--THE TROGLODYTES + + +Meanwhile, how had things been faring with Herr Hildebrand Schwab, the +unlucky representative of the Schlagintwert Company of Dsseldorf and +the partner of Sir Mark's captivity? + +When Abdul pointed out the cave in which it was advisable that they +should take shelter, and the means of access to it, Schwab groaned +deeply, and declared that nothing on earth should induce a German +subject of his weight to attempt so perilous a climb. But on reflection +he came to look upon it as the lesser of two evils, and with much +travailing of spirit and discomfiture of body he allowed himself to be +assisted up the incline so long as progress on foot was possible, and +then to be hoisted at the end of the rope. Abdul's strength alone would +not have sufficed to haul so great a mass into safety; but Salathiel ben +Ezra, who was by this time thoroughly weary of solitude, and had come to +the end of his stock of provisions, lent willing help, with a view, as +it proved, of turning the situation to account. + +He used every means of persuasion and cajolery which his ingenuity could +devise to persuade Abdul to release him. One of his propositions was +that they should convey the German to the sheikh of Ain Afroo and claim +a sufficient reward. Abdul ridiculed the idea. Both he and the Jew would +get short shrift from the sheikh now that the more valuable of his +captives was snatched from his grasp. Salathiel then proposed that they +should try to gain the nearest town where they might find Europeans, and +tell a moving story of the sufferings and perils they had endured in +rescuing the German from the hands of his captors. But to this, as to +his other suggestions, Abdul turned a deaf ear. + +They were a strangely assorted trio. Schwab only half trusted the Moor; +the Moor despised Schwab; both disliked the Jew. It was not long before +Schwab declared that he was hungry, and illustrated the privations he +had already suffered by exhibiting the unwonted gap between his +waistcoat and his person: "And I have ze straps of my vaistcoat drawn +_so_ tight!" he added. Salathiel's scanty stock of provisions having +been exhausted, Abdul descended to forage, and returned with a supply of +dates and olives, and the tin filled with water at the spring. + +"Ach! My pipe! It is in ze room vere first I vas laid up. Mein Gott! And +ze list of Schlagintwert; ze last edition, revise and enlarge. Ze Moors +zey vill now order vizout me, and I lose colossal sum in commission!" + +All this was Greek to Abdul, but a little more comprehensible to the +Jew, with whom, however, Schwab refused to discuss business. He +preferred to ply Abdul diligently with questions about the airship: +where it came from; how it was driven; what was the composition of the +fuel. + +"Already is it partly known to me," he said. "It contain large quantity +Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number Six. But zat is not all. I +know it! Vy? Because my Jarman intellex tell me so. But vizout doubt I +discover it; zen zere shall be business for Schlagintwert. You do not +know vat ze ozer zink is?" + +Abdul shook his head. + +"Zen you vas never made for business. Vun cannot learn it; it is born. +So vas I born!" + +He discoursed on business and other things, despising his audience for +their want of appreciation; then fell to bemoaning his fate. Thus the +hours passed away. + +At last the monotony of the situation was broken. Abdul, like a good +Mohammedan, was engaged in his devotions when the Jew, at the mouth of +the cave, caught sight of a party of Moors far below, and signalled to +them before he could be prevented. Springing up, Abdul was on the point +of killing him with his knife when Schwab hastily interposed. + +"No, I vill not have it," he said. "You kill him; zen am I accomplice; +and vat is zat for a kind of business, I say?" + +But he did not decline to assist Abdul to truss up the Jew and render +him incapable of further mischief. No more than Abdul himself did he +wish to attract visitors. + +The mischief, however, was already done. The Moors, a search party +despatched by the sheikh, had observed the Jew's signals, and at once +spurred their horses across the country until they reached the foot of +the precipitous ascent. They dismounted: one of them began to climb up. +For a time Abdul watched his progress; then, when he thought the man had +mounted far enough, he threatened to hurl him from the face of the cliff +if he advanced another step upwards. It was so obviously in Abdul's +power to make good his threat that the Moor hesitated; then, in response +to an encouraging shout from below, he again began to climb. He may have +reflected that his comrades could afford to shout; they were not +clinging like a fly to the face of an almost perpendicular wall of rock; +but he may have reflected also that great would be his praise and reward +if he succeeded in bringing to account the insolent strangers who had +done such despite to his sheikh. No doubt also he reckoned on support +from the member of the party who had signalled. + +Up he came, slowly feeling his way. Abdul bent over the brink, and, just +as the man ascended within reach, smartly rapped his knuckles with the +butt of Tom's revolver. At the same moment a shot from below struck the +rock within an inch of his head. Abdul at once darted back within the +shelter of the cave; but the climber, taught by the sharp blow he had +received, ventured no farther, and shortly afterwards began to descend. +When he reached the party below, it was clear that he met with a +reprimand from the leader for his want of courage; but he sullenly +refused to make another attempt, and seemed by his gesticulations to +invite each of his comrades in turn to take his place. But nobody came +forward, and after an excited discussion--portions of which were in tones +so loud that Abdul was able to interpret to Schwab, nervously eager to +learn what was to be done--a messenger was sent off in the direction of +Ain Afroo, while the five or six who remained settled down to keep watch +at the foot of the precipice. + +[Illustration: "ABDUL BENT OVER THE BRINK AND SMARTLY RAPPED HIS +KNUCKLES WITH THE BUTT OF TOM'S REVOLVER."] + +Rather more than an hour passed. Schwab became more and more anxious. At +last a much larger party rode down at a gallop, among them the sheikh +himself. Raising his voice when he came below the cave, he called on the +occupants to surrender, threatening them with the most fearful tortures +if they persisted in defying him. It was evident from the terms he used +that he was under the impression that his escaped prisoners and their +rescuers were all in the cave together, and thus that he had them fairly +trapped. Abdul made the most of this mistake. He warned the sheikh +against braving the power of the white man. He had already had one +example of it; the Firangi had shown him more mercy than he deserved; +the second example would entail dire consequences on himself and his +village. But this reply only fanned the flames of the sheikh's wrath; he +was not to be intimidated by words: and, hurling more threats, he began +to consult with his followers as to some means of enforcing his summons. + +It was clearly a hazardous if not indeed an impossible task to approach +the cave from below. One man in the cave, so long as he kept himself out +of range of rifle fire, could hold any number at bay. How much more, +then, would it be disastrous to make the attempt against, as the sheikh +supposed, five or six well-armed men? But, as Abdul well knew, it was +just possible to gain the plateau above the cave, from which access to +it could be obtained, by climbers acting in concert on the eastern face +of the hill. That this longer but easier ascent would be known to the +enemy there was no doubt, for Abdul had just recognized, among the +horsemen who had accompanied the sheikh, a young man who had been his +companion in former days, and with whom as a boy he had actually +performed the feat. + +Anxiously he watched the colloquy below. Behind, Schwab was imploring +him to explain what the sheikh had said. It turned out as he had feared. +His former companion with a few others left the sheikh and disappeared; +the rest made themselves comfortable within a few yards of the foot of +the hill. Abdul had little doubt that he would soon have to reckon with +an attack from above; not an easy matter, in truth, but far more likely +to succeed than any attempt from below. + +There was a long interval. Under stress of fear and hunger, Schwab was +nearly demented. He walked about the cave, with his hands pressed hard +upon the neighbourhood of the lowest button of his waistcoat, uttering +guttural groans, making lugubrious appeals to the Homeland, and to a +lady whom he called at one time Mrs. Bottle, at another "mein briddy +Chain," and ever and anon anathematizing Thomas Dorrell, "vat do nozink +for me--for me, vat do so much for him viz Photographic Sensitizer +Preparation Number Six." Abdul paid no heed to the German's fumings and +frettings, nor to the entreaties of Salathiel ben Ezra, who, stretched +on his back, tied hand and foot, added to his prayers the most lavish +promises if the Moor would only release him and help him to return to +his own place. + +At last, Abdul, squatting silent and watchful just within the opening of +the cave, saw a pair of legs dangling in front of him. Some of the enemy +had, as he had foreseen, made their way to the top of the hill, and were +about to attempt to reach the cave from above. It was a foolhardy +proceeding, for they could only come singly, and the occupants of the +cave could easily dispose of them. Indeed, Abdul surmised that the +sheikh was trying an experiment, sending one of his men to draw the +badger. However that may have been, the application of the point of +Abdul's knife to the calf of one of the dangling legs caused the owner +of them to draw them hastily up and to swarm up the rope to which he was +clinging, as a spider runs up his filmy thread when threatened by an +enemy. + +Apparently the sheikh was satisfied that a direct assault, whether from +above or below, was hopeless, for thenceforth the cave party were left +in peace. But it was peace only externally. Even Abdul himself, who had +hitherto preserved extraordinary composure, now showed signs of +perturbation. What was the enemy doing? He dared not attempt to see, for +he knew that if he showed his head it would be the target for a dozen +bullets. Did the sheikh intend to starve them out? Their food was all +gone; the tin of water was almost empty; it was impossible to get a +fresh supply of either. Voices were heard from below; once Abdul heard +an answering call from above; it appeared indeed as if the sheikh had +resolved on an investment, knowing that sooner or later the occupants of +the cave must yield or die. + +The day passed. Schwab fell into a sleep of exhaustion. Abdul remained +sleepless, wondering why the Englishman had not reappeared with the +airship, as he had said he would do. Had some mishap befallen him? +Surely he had not wilfully deserted them! This Abdul refused to believe. +When morning broke he ventured to go to the mouth of the cave and look +out. The Moors were still below; apparently they had camped all night on +the ground. They caught sight of Abdul, and mockingly invited him to +share their cous-cousoo. He made no reply, and again withdrew into the +shadow. + +Schwab was by this time a wreck. He lay silent. From the back of the +cave came piteous moans from Salathiel, begging to be relieved of his +bonds. But Abdul was obdurate; he had enough to do to keep watch on the +enemy in front, without having to reckon with the Jew besides, for he +knew that Salathiel would stick at no treachery. + +Impassive as Abdul appeared, he was in reality on the verge of despair. +The time was fast approaching when he must choose between starvation and +surrender. The choice did not trouble him; he would never surrender to +the sheikh of Ain Afroo. What troubled him was the thought that his old +enemy would once more triumph; that the vengeance on which he had set +his whole mind for years was to be snatched from him. + +He was bitterly thinking on these things when Schwab rose feebly to his +feet. + +"I can no more," he said; "I go to yield myself. I muss have somezink to +eat. Still am I Jarman sobjeck; zey vill respeck our Kaiser who is in +Berlin." + +Abdul expostulated, striving in his imperfect English to warn the German +of the risk he ran. He knew the sheikh; he was a terrible enemy; he +would care nothing who or what his prisoner was. Who in Europe would be +any the wiser if in this remote mountainous region a man were slowly +done to death in the dungeons of a kasbah? But Schwab would not listen; +he craved for food; "Let us eat, for to-morrow we die," exactly +expresses his state of mind. He moved towards the entrance to the cave, +shaking off, with a sudden access of rage, Abdul's detaining hand. The +Moor followed him, and stood behind him when Schwab, at the brink of the +precipice, waved his hand and shouted-- + +"I give myself opp. But you muss come and fetch me." + +But before the echo of his voice had died away, Abdul suddenly pulled +him back by main force into the cave. + +"See! see!" he cried. + +"Tausend Teufel! Vat shall I see?" returned Schwab. + +At the point where Abdul now stood the country immediately beneath the +cave was invisible, and both the men were screened from the Moors. But +the sky was open, and far away in the clear blue to the north-west Abdul +had descried a speck which moment by moment was growing larger. + +"Vat shall I see?" repeated Schwab, vainly looking in the direction of +Abdul's stretched forefinger. + +"The flying ship!" cried Abdul. "It comes!" + +"You say zat! Lemme see, lemme see, lemme see!" + +He roofed his eyes with his hands, and peered into the distance. + +"Ach! zey veep!" he said, rubbing away the tears that had gathered. "It +is for vant of food, nozink else." + +He looked again. + +"Boy, you are right!" he exclaimed, "truly it is ze airship. Zey come +for me! Ach! you dirty Moors, now you may go choke! I vizdraw vat I said +about give myself opp. I vas not myself; I vas--I vas--anozer man. Ach, +boy, so am I indeed hungry!" + +The two watched the airship drawing nearer. For a moment Abdul wondered +whether it would come into any danger from the rifles of the Moors +either below or on the hilltop above. But remembering how clearly +everything on the ground could be seen from the car of the airship, he +was reassured, guessing that Tom would descry the besiegers in plenty of +time to avoid their shots. + +To gain the hilltop the airship had approached at a considerable +altitude, but was now dropping. About half a mile from the cave it +suddenly made an upward sweep, and Abdul knew that the enemy had been +seen. Before it sailed out of sight over the hill, Abdul plucked off his +djellab, and waved it in the mouth of the cave. The signal provoked two +or three shots from those of the Moors below whose attention was not +engrossed by the machine, which some of them had seen before and of +which all had heard most marvellous accounts. Abdul was unhurt, and his +signal was answered by a shot from the car of the airship, which then +passed out of sight. + +"Famos! Zey know ve are still alive! Mein Gott! truly mein hunger is +colossal." + +Tom had in point of fact discovered the enemy at the moment when Abdul +noticed the change in the direction of the airship. The discovery was by +no means a welcome one. + +"I didn't reckon on their hiding-place being found out," he said to +Oliphant. "It makes things rather awkward." + +"They must be in a pretty bad state in the cave if the Moors have been +here long." + +"And we can't get at them; we daren't go too near, for at close quarters +the Moors would riddle the planes with their shot and very likely smash +the engines. And we certainly can't let the airship down and go for +them. The worst of it is, they know pretty well by this time what the +airship really is, and we couldn't throw them into a panic as we did +before." + +"Confound this German!" said Oliphant. "I shouldn't mind if we could +have a really good scrimmage and some fun for our money, but there's +nothing in it." + +"There's Abdul, you see," replied Tom. "We'll have to think it out. +They're in the cave, safe enough, and can evidently hold on there. Let +us make for that hill yonder, and think the matter out." + +As the airship crossed the hill of the cave, Tom steering for the +loftier hill some five miles to the east, a dozen Moors sprang to their +saddles and set off in pursuit. But the ground was very rough; they had +to follow a tortuous route; and when, a few minutes later, the airship +reached the hill, Tom calculated that he had probably half-an-hour to +spare before the horsemen would arrive. + +"We'd better ground, and economize fuel," he said. "'Pon my word, +Oliphant, it seems as if this is going to be as tough a job as it was at +the kasbah." + +Choosing a fairly open space almost at the top of the hill, Tom brought +the machine to earth. Then, while Oliphant watched for signs of the +pursuing horsemen, Tom stretched himself on his back, with his hands +under his head and his cap tilted over his eyes, and settled down to a +good hard think. + +"Don't go to sleep," said Oliphant. + +Tom replied with a grunt. + + + + +CHAPTER XV--VIEW HALLOO! + + +Oliphant sat with his knees up, looking at his friend, thinking what a +cool hand he was. No one could have guessed from Tom's easy attitude +that he was thinking out a problem on which lives depended. As the +minutes passed, even Oliphant was deceived. + +"Not asleep, Dorrell?" + +Tom grunted, but did not stir. Another minute or two, then he suddenly +jumped up. + +"Well, I think I've got it," he said, and he chuckled. + +"What is it?" + +"Come along. I'll explain as we go." + +The two mounted the car; Tom started the ascensional screws; and the +airship rose slowly from the hill. When they had left the ground some +three hundred feet beneath them they saw, a mile or more distant, the +body of horsemen who had set off in pursuit from the Moors' encampment. +The airship was headed in the direction from which they had come, and +when they saw it they halted, and waited until it had soared past them; +then, having no doubt that it was returning to the hill with the +intention of again attempting to rescue the blockaded men, they wheeled +round, and galloped in pursuit. + +The airship was going at only a moderate speed, so that the horsemen +were able to keep pace with it. Tom chuckled again, and Oliphant, to +whom he had by this time imparted his notion, seemed to find great +amusement in the sight. + +"The beggars little imagine they're playing our game," he said. + +"No, indeed. I wonder what they really are thinking. Probably they fancy +something has gone wrong with our works and we can't go any faster." + +"D'you think they've got wind of our former breakdown?" + +"It's not unlikely. News travels very fast in these countries that +haven't got the telegraph!" + +When they arrived at the hill of the caves, there appeared to be no +change in the situation. A small group of four or five men were +squatting on the summit; more than a score were congregated below. All +eyes were directed upwards as the airship again came into view, and the +men laughed, recognizing how fruitless would be any renewed attempt to +rescue the prisoners. They all carried rifles, and evidently intended to +use them when the vessel came within range. But it passed too high above +their heads, still going very slowly, and, so far from descending +towards the cave, sailed on towards the sea. It crossed one of the +adjacent hills, then sank a little, so that it was only visible then to +the few men who kept watch above. + +But a minute or two afterwards the occupants of the car, looking round, +saw that these men were on their feet, gesticulating with great +excitement. + +"They've taken the bait!" cried Oliphant, laughing outright. + +The men had noticed that the airship, instead of continuing its +north-westerly course, had suddenly taken a turn to the left, and was +making at tremendous speed straight for the village of Ain Afroo. Rising +higher into the air, so that he could get a view over the shoulder of +the hill, Tom saw that the whole body of horsemen, now joined by the +sheikh and his party, were riding at a mad gallop for the village. By +this time the airship was a mile ahead of them, and the two Englishmen +laughed heartily as they watched the frantic efforts of the Moors to +reduce the gap. They were left hopelessly behind, and were still more +than a mile from the walls when the airship, hovering directly over the +roof of the kasbah, began very slowly to drop earthwards as if a descent +were going to be made on the spot where it had formerly rested. + +The descent took a considerable time. Who was there to tell the frenzied +horsemen that the accursed Firangi was playing with them? They urged +their foaming steeds up the hill at a furious rate, making light of all +obstacles, and extorting a tribute of admiration from the Englishmen for +horses and riders alike. They clattered into the village, dashed through +the street, pulled the horses up on their haunches at the door of the +kasbah, flung themselves from the saddles, and poured into the patio and +up the stairs. + +The sheikh himself, by far the best mounted of the troop, was the first +to arrive; and within a few seconds he sprang out of the opening on the +roof, followed closely by several members of his household. But what was +this? The airship, instead of resting on the flagged roof, was hundreds +of feet above them, and, horror of horrors! sailing with terrific speed +back towards the hill of the caves. For a few moments the Moors stood +gazing in bewilderment, being joined by more men from below. Then, with +hearty Moslem curses, they rushed back to the opening, toppling over one +another, stumbling down the stairs in their haste. Down into the patio, +out of the gate, on to their horses' backs once more, and off they set, +pell-mell after the airship. + +But the horses were badly blown. There were four miles of heavy country +to cover. And by the time they were again clear of the walls the airship +was halfway to the hill. + +Tom and his friend were hugely delighted with the success of their +simple bit of strategy. They could see the horsemen like ants in the +distance beneath, urging their poor panting horses to the utmost of +their capacity. + +"We ought to have plenty of time to get them away," said Tom. + +"Yes, but hang it all! we've clean forgotten that we can't lift both +Schwab and the Moor." + +"Great Scott!" Tom ejaculated, in consternation. But in a moment his +face cleared. "We'll manage that," he said cheerfully. But then he +received another shock. He saw that the four or five men who had held +their watch on the plateau were still there: they had not followed the +rest. Their horses could be seen tethered in the grove beneath, and the +men were gathered in a knot, watching the rapid approach of the machine, +which probably they had expected to see no more. + +"There's only one thing for it," said Tom. "We must go slap at them, and +trust to luck. If they shoot, they may do so before we are within range, +and at this speed they may easily miss us. They are sure to be a bit +nervous, too." + +Tom had already begun the descent, obliquely upon the hill. When the +airship was, as nearly as he could calculate, on a level with the +summit, he again put the engines to their utmost speed, and dashed +straight at the little group. There were three or four reports almost +simultaneously, and above the whirr of the screws Tom thought he heard a +sound of rending, as if one of the planes had been struck by a bullet. +The vessel, indeed, dipped slightly, and for a moment he feared that it +would be dashed against the face of the hill. But he jerked up the lever +controlling the planes, the airship rose the few feet necessary to clear +the summit, and once more sped on its course. + +By this time, however, the group on the hilltop had taken fright. They +could not know that if the airship dashed into them, they would be as +formidable to it as it could be to them. Even if they had known this, +they would probably not have been willing to sell their lives, even +though in doing so they should break up the machine and hurl its +occupants to destruction. With one consent they broke and fled. + +Tom instantly reversed the engines, and the airship glided slowly to +rest on the plateau. But the path by which the fugitives were attempting +to make good their flight was only wide enough to accommodate one man at +a time, and that with difficulty. Only three of the men had begun to +descend when Tom sprang out of the car. The other two, fearing to be +attacked from behind, turned instinctively to meet the supposed danger. +Then, seeing that they had only two men to deal with, and feeling no +doubt that they would be completely at the mercy of these men when once +they had begun the descent, they hesitated for a second at the brink. + +If they had used this second to draw their formidable knives, Tom's +adventure might have ended there and then, for in his eagerness he had +forgotten to snatch up his revolver. But their halt was due rather to +nervousness than to courage, and Tom was never lacking in promptitude at +the critical moment. He dashed straight at them. One of them swung round +at once and slithered down the path. The other, somewhat more +mettlesome, made a grab at his knife. But he had only half drawn it from +his belt when Tom's fist shot out and tumbled him headlong after his +comrade. The result would have been amusing if Tom had had time to +observe it. From top to bottom of that rocky declivity there was an +avalanche of Moors. The impetus with which the topmost man had been shot +over the edge sent him smack into the man next below. The two then +rolled, or rather pitched, on top of those who had preceded them, and +were making their way quickly yet laboriously down the steep tracks, and +it is to be feared that there were bruised and broken limbs at the +bottom. + +But Tom had neither eyes nor ears for the discomfiture of his enemies. +There was still much to be done before he could be sure that his friends +and his airship were out of harm's way. One of his friends was already +taking things into his own hands. At the first hint of what was +happening Abdul had left the mouth of the cave, and was now swarming up +the perilous face of the hillside. Breathless he came over the brink, on +the opposite side from that where the Moors had disappeared, almost +before Tom could turn round. + +"All well below?" asked Tom. + +"Yes, master." + +"Can you bring up the big man?" + +"With a rope, master." + +"Quick, then: we have no time to spare." + +"And the Hudi, master?" + +"What of him?" + +"He made them come. We tied him, feet and hands." + +"Untie him, but leave him. He can make them come again!" + +A rope was quickly unshipped from the car and strongly looped. Abdul +descended, the rope being held by both Oliphant and Tom above, who, +doubtful whether their strength would stand the strain of the ponderous +German's weight, hitched it round a rocky prominence at the brink of the +hill. But fear lent Schwab extraordinary agility--as once before in the +enclosure of Midfont House. With the rope looped about him, he hauled +himself up by it, assisting his progress with his feet against the hill. +He was in a bath of perspiration, his fat face was pale as death, when +he reached the top and sank exhausted at Tom's feet. Oliphant and Tom +together hoisted him into the car, and by the time he was settled, Abdul +had cut the Jew's bonds and again clambered up, pursued by entreaties, +wild threats, execrations, from the luckless Salathiel ben Ezra. + +Glancing in the direction of Ain Afroo, Tom rejoiced to see that he had +still about ten minutes to spare before the pursuing horsemen could +arrive at the spot. He knew from experience that with Schwab as a +passenger the ascensional screws did not exert sufficient power to lift +three other men; but when Oliphant had reminded him of this, a way out +of the difficulty suggested itself. If once the airship could be raised +from the ground and the horizontal screws set in motion, it was likely +that, with the speed thus obtained, they might suffice (the planes being +inclined at the proper angle) to overcome the downward pull of gravity. + +Tom rapidly explained to Abdul the plan he had formed. Then, entering +the car in which Schwab and Oliphant already were, he set the +ascensional screws in motion. The vessel slowly rose. Meanwhile Abdul +had looped about his body the rope by which Schwab had been hauled up, +the upper end of which had again been securely attached to the car. When +the airship had risen a few feet from the hill-top, Tom set the +horizontal engines at full speed, and the vessel sailed beyond the +plateau, Abdul dangling from it at the end of the rope, as he had done +once before when rescued from the shark. He showed no fear; in the loop +he was perfectly safe, for even if the vessel sank with his weight, it +would be so slowly that he would run no risk of being brought too +violently into contact with the ground. + +As Tom had expected, the vessel did not sink. But, the horizontal screws +being partly engaged in counteracting the force of gravity, the speed of +the airship was reduced to only five or six miles an hour, and at that +rate it was evident that the fuel would not hold out until they reached +the coast. A second breakdown must be averted at all costs; it was +unlikely that they would be able to escape the clutches of predatory +Moors a second time. No doubt the story of what had happened before had +spread for many miles through the country, and short shrift would be +given to the aeronauts if again they were brought to earth. + +There was now only a minute or two to spare before the sheikh would +arrive. Whatever could be done must be done at once. Glancing down, Tom +saw below him the horses belonging to the men who had just been tumbled +from the plateau. The men themselves were lying at the foot of the hill, +not dead, as Tom was glad to see--the rugged declivity had broken their +fall--but evidently completely disabled. Without hesitation Tom reduced +the speed of the engines and descended, shouting to Abdul, who at the +end of the rope would of course reach the ground first, to secure two of +the best horses, and follow as fast as he could in the track of the +airship. + +Owing to the delay that had occurred, Abdul had only just leapt into the +saddle when the horsemen came into sight scarcely half a mile away. The +sheikh was far ahead of his men, and the pace even of his splendid Arab +showed that there was little fear of Abdul being overtaken. The young +Moor set off at a gallop, a second horse at his side. There was a shout +behind him; the sheikh called upon his followers to spur their flagging +steeds: clearly he intended gamely to continue the pursuit. + +But the fugitives were now well away. Tom accommodated the speed of the +airship to the pace of the horses below, keeping at a height of no more +than a hundred feet from the ground so as to be able to drop down and +stand by Abdul in case of need. For a few minutes it seemed as though +the lad was to be close pressed, in spite of the hard galloping the +horses of the pursuers had already done. But gradually they dropped +farther and farther behind; Abdul's horses were fresh; he himself was a +light weight; and Tom began to breathe more freely. + +Another danger, however, occurred to him. The country was at present +wild and desolate, with no signs of habitation. But as he neared the +coast, he would undoubtedly pass scattered villages and towns, and it +was possible that Abdul might be checked at one of these. He therefore +felt it desirable to rise to a greater height, so that he might obtain a +more extensive outlook over the country and indicate to Abdul a course +which would prevent him from running into danger. + +He soon saw that his precaution was justified. The pursuers were still +sticking doggedly to the trail, and Tom noticed that from time to time +they were joined by fresh horsemen from the hamlets through which they +passed. He could not distinguish figures in the distance, but he had no +doubt that the sheikh had already obtained a fresh horse, and was among +a group which had far outstripped the rest of the troop and was +gradually diminishing the distance between them and their quarry. Abdul +was riding gallantly on, changing from horse to horse with admirable +dexterity; but it was clear that the pursuers, with many opportunities +of obtaining remounts, must in course of time run him down. The airship +would always indicate the direction in which they should ride. + +Again Tom had to devise a means of overcoming a new difficulty. The +chase had now lasted some hours, and the matter was becoming urgent. By +good luck, the sight of a high conical hill, well wooded, somewhat to +the right of the course they had been following, suggested a plan. +Lowering the airship to within easy speaking distance of the Moor--a +manoeuvre which caused some uneasiness to his horses, tired as they +were--Tom directed him to make for this hill, and remain in hiding among +the trees until rejoined. At the moment he thought of making all speed +to the yacht, dropping Schwab, replenishing his can of fuel, and +returning for Abdul. But a little consideration caused him to change his +mind. It might prove a very difficult matter to find the hill again when +returning. It must be, he guessed, at least sixty miles from the sea, +and he could not remember the landmarks exactly enough to be able to +retrace his course. + +In rapid consultation with Oliphant he decided on another plan. Altering +the course of the airship several points to the southward, and keeping a +sharp lookout upon the pursuers, he found that they were still following +him as a guide. No longer having to consider the powers of endurance of +Abdul's horses, he quickened the speed of the airship, and saw in a +little while that this had had its effect, several of the horsemen +beginning to straggle, though they all continued in the same direction. +Having thus taken the enemy some five or six miles out of their course, +he suddenly swung round and made off at full speed towards the hill +where he had left Abdul, of which he had been careful not to lose sight. + +"They are a game lot," remarked Oliphant, as the horsemen again followed +the track. They were soon left mere specks on the horizon, and at last +dropped entirely out of sight. Approaching the hill from another side, +some time elapsed before the airship was seen by Abdul from his +concealment in the wood. Then he again mounted; his horses had profited +by the short rest: and the fugitives, having gained several miles by +Tom's manoeuvre, were able to take matters comparatively easy until late +in the afternoon. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI--ICARUS + + +Meanwhile Schwab had awoke to the facts of existence, and the manner in +which he announced his awakening was characteristic. + +"Himmel! how I am hungry!" + +"Hullo, Mr. Schwab! Feel better?" said Tom, throwing a hasty glance at +the German lying against the rail. + +"Vorse! vorse! Tousand times vorse!" + +Oliphant laughed at his hollow tones. + +"It is nozink for to laugh," returned Schwab with a flicker of +animation. "I am vizout food, I know not how many hours. It is not viz +me custom to go so long vizout food; it give me rude pain--zere!" + +He laid his hand on the lowest button of his waistcoat. + +"No longer am I as I vas. Vunce I swell, not too moch, but all ober; +now, I fade, I shrink, I have to get ze tailor to take me in." + +"Awful, for a business man," said Oliphant--"to be taken in, you know." + +"So! But it muss be done. Ach! I am hungry as a--as a--as a----" + +"Hunter!" suggested Oliphant. + +"No; hungry as a rhinoceros. I could eat--I could eat--I could eat a----" + +"Whale!" + +"No; I could eat a steak, underdone, from ze grill, viz chip bodadoes, +gabbage viz vinegar, and Voosder sauce, viz a long glass--ach! two long +glasses, of lager from Mnchen. Ach! ze zought of it make my mous cry." + +"For goodness' sake, Oliphant, give him some grub and shut his mouth," +cried Tom. + +"Shut my mous? How zen can I eat? For ze sake of anyzink give me +somezink to eat; zen my mous vill shut and open of itself; vun needs not +to zink ven one eats." + +Bubbling with amusement, Oliphant handed the German some biscuits from +the stock they had brought with them. But his mirth evaporated when he +caught sight of Tom's face. He had wondered a little at the tetchy tone +in which Tom had last addressed him, and from his anxious expression he +could not but guess that something was seriously wrong. + +"What's the matter, Dorrell?" + +"The engines--don't you smell 'em?" + +"I do," replied Oliphant, sniffing. "What's it mean?" + +"It means that the turbine casing is becoming overheated. I altered the +inlet valve so as to let more of the explosive mixture into the +turbine--and this is the result." + +"What can we do?" + +"Simply reduce speed and hope that we can weather through." + +"Any idea how much farther we have to go?" + +"About fifty miles, I should think. We must have done forty at least. I +shut off one of the engines just now, but the second one can't keep us +afloat. I wish Schwab would fade and shrink into nothing." + +Schwab had heard nothing of this. He was otherwise occupied. But noting +now the anxious looks of his two companions he said, with his mouth +full--"Do I eat too many?" + +Tom was too much concerned to reply, but Oliphant laughed again. + +"We can't go on," said Tom. "I shall have to drop her somewhere and see +if I can put matters right. We were five or six miles ahead of the Moors +when I caught sight of them last, and we've a few minutes' grace at any +rate. They won't know exactly where we are." + +Choosing a secluded spot, he descended and brought the airship to rest. +Abdul had halted; Tom explained to him the cause of his descent, and set +him to keep watch on the enemy while he examined the machinery. The Moor +looked thoroughly done up, and it struck Oliphant that he was even more +in need of food than Schwab, so he gave him the remainder of the stock +of biscuits--not a large quantity now. As for Schwab, he had fallen +asleep. + +It took Tom but a few minutes to adjust the valve, but he knew that the +result of this adjustment must be a serious reduction of speed. He was +greatly perturbed. It was clearly impossible for Abdul to ride much +farther: the horses were in a terrible state of exhaustion. They were +cropping the scanty herbage at the side of the track--poor refreshment +after the fatigue they had undergone. + +"The Moors' horses must be equally played out, that's one comfort," said +Tom;--"at least, those that have pursued us all the way, if any have. +That's doubtful: the Moors have probably drawn on every village they +have come through." + +"I say, did you hear that?" asked Oliphant. + +It was a shout--apparently from a spur of forest some distance to the +right of the line which they had expected the enemy to take. + +"They're spreading out! Who'd have thought they'd have kept it up so +long?" + +"Well, you see, they know that one of us is on horseback: that means +that the machine won't carry us all; and in the nature of things they +can overtake a rider." + +"I can see nothing for it but that Abdul must push on alone," said Tom. +"We can manage to get along slowly, and as long as the machine can keep +us afloat at all they can't catch us. But if they catch sight of Abdul +he's bound to be run down. Abdul, you must go on by yourself. Get to the +coast if you can, and swim out to the yacht--can you swim?" + +"Yes, master." + +"Swim to the yacht, then, and tell Mr. Greatorex what has happened. +He'll do all he can to help us if we can only get near enough." + +Abdul showed some reluctance to leave the others in difficulties, but he +obeyed. He mounted the less exhausted of the horses and set off. + +"He'll have a chance," remarked Tom, as he disappeared. "When the Moors +see us in the air again they will suppose that Abdul is keeping pace +with us as before." + +"It's nearly six o'clock; it'll be dark soon." + +"Yes, that gives him another chance--if they don't sight him." + +At this moment he observed a score of horsemen emerging at a rapid pace +from the forest whence the shout had come. They were about half a mile +away. Catching sight of the airship, they gave utterance to loud cries +of triumph, and somewhat changed their direction. Tom at once caused the +airship to rise, and by the time the Moors arrived at the spot where it +had rested it was high above their heads and out of harm's way. + +The Moors immediately began to scour the neighbourhood for signs of +Abdul. Tom steered slightly to the left of the direction in which the +lad had gone, in order still further to delude the pursuers. Not long +afterwards a much larger band of riders galloped up from the direction +in which the airship had come, and when they joined the former party, it +was seen that they numbered at least sixty in all. + +"We're rousing the whole country," said Tom with a return to his wonted +cheerful manner. "If it goes on like this there'll be thousands by the +time we reach the coast." + +"Shall we reach it, d'you think?" + +"I can't tell. The engines are good for a few miles; how many I don't +know." + +"Vere am I?" said Schwab, awaking. "Ach! I remember. Do ve soon arrive +at ze yacht?" + +"We probably shan't arrive at all," replied Tom. "One of the engines is +failing." + +"But it muss not--it muss not! Surely ze Photographic Sensitizer +Preparation Number Six vill not fail? Schlagintwert's preparations never +fail; zat is ze foundation of zair business." + +"No; the preparation is all right; it's the engine." + +"Ach! it should have been made in Jarmany! But, tell me true, Mr. +Dorrell, are ve in danger?" + +"The truth is, Mr. Schwab, that I can't guarantee the machine for +another ten miles." + +"Ach! Vat vill I become? Vat vill Schlagintwert's become! Vy did you +bring me in zis bad-made airship from my captivity? If you zere had left +me, our Kaiser who is in Berlin vould have sent a telegram to ze Sultan +of Marokko, and zen ve should see somezink. Zere had I at least enough +to eat." + +"Confound it!" cried Tom, thoroughly exasperated. "We came to fetch Sir +Mark Ingleton, not you. But for you we should have been halfway home to +England by this time; and but for your weight, we shouldn't have been in +this pretty mess at all." + +Schwab's jaw fell. This was an aspect of the matter that had not +occurred to him. Lifting his waistcoat, and looking down, he said +slowly-- + +"Truly I vish I had not eaten so much biscuit!" + +It was now getting dark. Tom steered towards a bit of rough country to +the north, again some points out of his course, his object being to +worry the pursuers as much as possible and to draw them away from the +line of Abdul's flight. With great satisfaction he saw them follow. +After scattering over a wide area in search of the fugitive whose +disappearance had so much puzzled them, they had again formed a compact +body, and pursued the airship in the belief that their quarry must still +be within touch of it. In a few more minutes they were obliterated by +the darkness; but the sky was starry, and while on the ground they were +invisible from above, it was probable that the airship was still visible +to them. + +Tom had noticed for some time past that the wind, which had been slight +and for the most part in his favour during the day, was shifting, and +blowing with greater force. In the circumstances the airship was making +very little headway, and Tom's anxieties were further increased when his +sense of smell apprised him that the engines were again becoming +overheated. Even if the airship were out of sight, the pursuers would +probably still hear the whirring of the propellers, and it was +advisable, both for the sake of cooling the machinery and of depriving +the enemy of a clue, that the airship should once more be brought to the +ground. But it was with some trepidation that Tom allowed it to sink. He +chose a spot just beyond a stretch of woodland from which it was +scarcely possible that the vessel could have been seen. He could only +hope that the sound had not been heard. + +"I vish----" began Schwab, as they came to rest. + +"Shut up!" said Tom in a vehement whisper. "Everything depends on our +keeping perfect silence now." + +In a few minutes the horsemen could be heard approaching. They dashed +past the trees behind which the airship stood, and Tom's heart beat fast +as he realized how very near the danger was. But the riders did not +pause, and the sound of the horses' hoofs gradually faded away. + +"We'd better lie snug for a time," said Tom. "Perhaps the wind will +moderate. I'm afraid the exertion of overcoming it would do for the +engines altogether." + +While Oliphant held the electric torch, carefully shaded, Tom again +overhauled the engines. + +"The valve is sticking," he said in a whisper. "There is some grit +between the stem and the sleeve. It must have got in at our last stop. I +shall have to take off the cover and file the stem smooth." + +This was an operation of some difficulty; but as it turned out there was +time to spare, for as the night wore on the force of the wind rather +increased than diminished. Schwab bemoaned the lack of a pipe and beer; +the others were so tired and famished that they were not provoked to +either merriment or anger by his complaints. He by and by again fell +asleep. Tom and Oliphant kept watch and watch throughout the night. When +Tom awoke from an uneasy nap shortly before dawn, he was relieved to +find that the wind had dropped, though its direction was still +unfavourable. At daybreak a start was made, and for a short time the +valve worked satisfactorily, thanks to the large amount of oil used to +counteract the overheating. Then, however, the oil began again to give +off an unmistakable odour. The airship was brought to ground, and Tom +found that the injured stem had become bent. With infinite care, to +avoid breaking it altogether, Tom straightened it with a small hammer, +and again filed it smooth. + +Once more the airship resumed its flight. Fortunately there was no sign +of the pursuers, and Tom hoped that Abdul had managed to evade their +clutches. + +The country was very wild and deserted, and Tom purposely steered some +miles out of what he thought was the true course, in order to avoid the +cultivated district that lay in the direct line to the yacht. Suddenly, +however, skirting the shoulder of a hill, he came into full view of a +village, with the sea a few miles beyond. + +"Thank Heaven!" ejaculated Oliphant, "we may do it yet." + +"Surely that's the very village you were taken to with Ingleton," said +Tom, scanning the place through his binocular. "Have a look." + +"By George! I believe you're right. There's a whole host of Moors round +it, too. They've sighted us. They're off!" + +Taking the glass from him, Tom saw a body of at least a hundred and +fifty men galloping off in a direction which would bring them between +him and the coast. + +"Smother them!" he cried. "I wouldn't mind if we hadn't to drop so often +to cool." + +"Can't we make one good dash for it? We've only eight or nine miles to +go, have we?" + +"My dear fellow, we can't do five miles at a stretch--unless we drop Mr. +Schwab." + +"Donnerwetter!" cried the German, starting up in fright. "Vat you say? +Vould you do zat? Vould you desert? Vould you leave me, a Jarman +sobjeck, to be tore in piece by tousand vile Mohrs, ven ze sea, ze sea +vat sails ze Jarman fleet, is so near, so near? But yes--I know it! I +alvays say so. Never trust an Englishman--egzept in business!" + +Tom treated this outburst with silent contempt. + +"I can't go at a higher speed than fifteen miles an hour," he said to +Oliphant. "We're perhaps a mile nearer the sea than the Moors, but they +can equal our pace for a short distance, and I know we'll have to come +down before we get to the sea. If we do, we'll be collared." + +"Risk a dash! It seems our only chance." + +Tom hesitated for a few moments. Then he said, setting his teeth-- + +"All right. It's the only thing to do." + +He put both engines at full speed, and Schwab shouted with delight when +he saw that the airship was gradually drawing away from the galloping +Moors. But in ten minutes all three were aware of the ominous smell. Was +it possible to reach the yacht, now clearly in view? Tom, alert to catch +the slightest indication of failure on the part of the engines, hoped, +doubted, hoped again, but was resolved to hold on to the last. + +Another five minutes passed. + +Then all were startled by a strange grinding sound in the defective +engine. + +"What is it?" asked Oliphant. + +"It's all up," said Tom quietly. "The heat has loosened the turbine +blades, and they are smashing to pieces." Even as he spoke sheets of +flame shot from the exhaust pipe, accompanied by a series of deafening +reports. + +Tom at once reduced speed, shouting to Oliphant to adjust the planes for +descent. + +"Zink! Zink vat you do!" cried Schwab, now almost frantic. "Zey vill +have us! Ze Mohrs vill cut our zroats! Vy--vy--vy----" + +Tom paid no heed; Oliphant muttered under his breath. They were sinking +towards a ravine through which a watercourse ran to the sea. The engine, +its parts grinding and tearing with a hideous scrunching sound, was +shooting out flames, to the accompaniment of detonations like those of a +Maxim gun. Another minute or two would witness a cataclysm; but Tom +thought that if the farther side of the ravine could be reached, they +might gain a little grace. The enemy would have some difficulty in +crossing at speed. + +The engines were failing; the airship was falling more and more rapidly. + +"Can't screw the planes any further!" cried Tom. + +Oliphant wrenched at the lever; Tom put the whole force of the second +engine upon the ascensional screws; and the rapidity of descent was +somewhat checked. The ravine was directly beneath; Tom succeeded in +giving the vessel a last forward motion; then it came with a violent +bump to the ground, just on the further edge. + +"Out! Quick!" cried Tom to Schwab, who was bemoaning the shock he had +suffered. + +When all three stood safe on the ground, Tom caught hold of the rails of +the car. + +"I made it; I'll break it; _they_ shan't," he said, and he toppled the +airship over into the gulf, where it was smashed to atoms. + +Then, with Oliphant at his side, and Schwab labouring behind, with +piteous entreaties that they would not desert him, he dashed towards the +cliff, a mile away, beyond which was the sea. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII--COMPLIMENTS AND THANKS + + +While yet in the air, Tom had seen a boat putting off from the yacht. +The vessel itself was no longer visible, concealed by the intervening +cliff; but the top of its mast, with Mr. Greatorex's ensign flying, +could just be seen. Towards this Tom led the way at full speed. To go +very fast was impossible over the rough ground, but moderate as the pace +was it soon began to tell upon Schwab, who plunged heavily along, +tripping over tussocks of coarse grass that grew here and there on the +sandy soil. Fierce pants could be heard by the two running side by side +in front of him, though, in spite of his breathlessness, he managed to +give utterance every now and again to agonizing entreaties that the +others would not desert him. Moved by these, and remembering the +German's game leg, the others waited for him, and catching each an arm, +hurried him along between them. + +Terror lent him strength and speed when the foremost of the pursuers, +arriving at the brink of the ravine, which at that point they were +unable to cross, began to fire upon the fugitives. Bullets whistled +past, alarmingly near, and Tom and Oliphant instinctively released +Schwab's arms and moved apart, so as to present a smaller target to the +enemy. Meanwhile some of the Moors had galloped up the bank of the +ravine in search of a crossing. Glancing round, Tom was concerned to see +that these horsemen had disappeared; presumably they had found a +suitable crossing-place, and would soon again be on his tracks. In a few +moments they reappeared on the nearer bank, and set off at a gallop. + +The Englishmen were now about a quarter of a mile from the shore, Schwab +having dropped nearly a hundred yards behind, with another quarter-mile +between him and the horsemen. There could be little doubt that the +fugitives would be overtaken before they reached the edge of the cliff. +Even if they contrived to scramble down they might be snapped up under +the eyes of the yacht's crew, should not the boat have arrived. And what +of the Moors who a day or two ago, when Tom left the place, had been +encamped in the hollow of the cliff? Were they still there? + +The question was answered almost as it occurred. Tom suddenly noticed a +horseman making towards him from the left, followed closely by a dozen +others. It was with a gasp of amazement that he recognized in the +foremost rider no other than Abdul. He came up at a breakneck pace, +sprang from his horse, and joined himself to the fugitives. Immediately +afterwards the Moors were upon the little party. Leaping from their +horses while still in full career, they threw themselves upon the four, +and though Tom and Oliphant each with a blow from his fist felled a man, +and Schwab threatened the vengeance of the Kaiser, they were overwhelmed +and flung to the ground. + +The Moors shouted with exultation, their cries being answered jubilantly +by the horsemen coming up from the ravine. They were beginning to bind +their captives; but before a single knot could be tied there came other +shouts from the direction of the sea. + +"At them, men; bowl 'em over!" + +Surely this was the voice of Mr. Greatorex! A lusty British cheer +answered him. With a great effort Tom threw off the Moor who was pinning +him down, and sprang to his feet in time to see a dozen sturdy seamen +rushing from the edge of the cliff. The Moors turned at bay, but nothing +could withstand the charge of the British tars, wielding their clubbed +rifles like flails. In a few seconds half of the Moors were on the +ground with more or less broken heads; the rest were in full flight. + +But the other troop of horsemen was now not more than a few hundred +yards distant. At a word from Captain Bodgers the sailors flung +themselves face downwards, ready to deal with the second band. + +"Aim at the horses!" cried Mr. Greatorex, as he came panting up in the +rear of his men, and flopped down beside them. + +A scattered volley brought half a dozen of the advancing horsemen to the +dust. The rest, unable, owing to the rugged uneven ground, to see with +what force they had to contend, reined up and hesitated. Another volley +caused them to draw off to some little distance, where they formed a +group and began to discuss how to retrieve this unexpected check. + +"Now for the boat, my lads!" cried Mr. Greatorex. + +Up sprang the men, and the whole body made a dash down the cliff. Before +the Moors had agreed upon their course, the fugitives were half-way +down. Seeing now by how few men they had been checked, the Moors came +after them at full speed. But by the time they reached the edge of the +cliff and dismounted the fugitives were at the bottom. + +At that moment there was a report and a puff of smoke out at sea, and a +shot, purposely aimed high, flew over the cliff, and fell a little to +the rear of the Moors. That was the finishing stroke. Their horses +stampeded and dashed straight for the ravine, the riders in wild pursuit +behind them. Three minutes afterwards Mr. Greatorex had his whole party +in the boat, and the sailors, with a final rousing cheer, pulled for the +yacht. + +Tom saw everything in a mist as he went aboard. Worn out with the +exertions and excitements of the past few days, he was only vaguely +conscious of being fussed over, and treated, as he said afterwards, more +or less as a baby. He was put to bed, slept heavily for several hours, +and awoke with a most exigent hunger. The yacht was in motion. He rose, +bathed, put on some clean things, and, feeling himself again, thankfully +obeyed Mr. Greatorex's hearty call to dinner. + +Around the well-spread table he found the rest of the party already +seated. At the head was Mr. Greatorex, with Sir Mark Ingleton at his +right; at the foot, Captain Bodgers with Herr Schwab. The German had +tucked his napkin between his shirt and his waistcoat, and was gazing +with ecstatic anticipation through his glasses at the covered entre +dishes just brought in by Timothy. + +Tom was taken aback, and not a little moved, when Sir Mark Ingleton rose +from his seat, and, grasping his hand, said-- + +"Thank you, Mr. Dorrell. I have heard the whole story from Mr. Greatorex +and your Moorish follower. It is not for me to speak of the public +service you have rendered; personally, I owe you more than I can say, +and I shall never forget it." + +"So!" chimed in Schwab, rising stiffly from his chair. His left hand +gripped his fork; his right enveloped Tom's. "I zank you, for myself +personaliter, and for ze Kaiser, for Schlagintwert, and for Business. +Fill my glass, if you please," he added to Timothy, whose smile +instantly changed to a frown--"I vish to cry 'Hoch!' No, no, not too +full, for ze ship moves, and ze champagne vould slop over." + +Schwab's intervention came in the nick of time to relieve Tom's +embarrassment. + +"Come, Tom, my _dear_ fellow," cried Mr. Greatorex, "_sit_ down. We were +only waiting for you." + +"Where's Oliphant?" asked Tom. + +"Hm! _M'Cracken_ is at the furnace," replied Mr. Greatorex. + +"I say! That's rough luck!" said Tom. + +"It is by his own wish. I did violence to my sense of what is _right_ +and _proper_, and invited him to a place at our board. He showed, I must +say, a commendable sense of his _duty_ in the matter. 'I'm M'Cracken and +your stoker, sir,' he said, 'till we get back to England.'" + +"May I suggest," said Sir Mark Ingleton, "that a sense of the unfitness +of his attire also weighed with him?" + +"We can soon alter that," said Tom. "He's about my build; I'll go and +rig him out in one of my suits." + +"Ve shall not vait to begin?" said Schwab anxiously, holding knife and +fork upright on the table. + +"Mr. Oliphant will doubtless pardon us," replied Sir Mark blandly. + +In a quarter of an hour Tom returned with Oliphant in white ducks and +blue serge. + +"Still is zere somezink left," said Schwab. "I feel moch better, zough I +vish ze table vould not move. Do not fill your glass quite full, sir; it +vould slop over, and zat vould be pity." + +"Where's Abdul?" asked Tom, as he sat down. + +"With the men, forward," said Mr. Greatorex. + +"That's all right. I'm jolly glad he got off safely." + +"A most intelligent youth," said Sir Mark. "It appears that he rode +straight into the village of Salaam son of Absalaam with an urgent +demand for assistance from the sheikh of Ain Afroo. He was leading a +party of Moors in that direction when unluckily a genuine messenger from +the sheikh arrived. Abdul wheeled about and galloped for the shore, with +the rest at his heels, as you saw." + +"Shust in time," said Schwab. "Vun moment after, and I am no more." + +"I haven't heard your story yet, sir," said Tom to the envoy. + +"Story, bless you, I have none to tell. I was on my way to Marrakesh, +where the Sultan was at the time, and was indiscreet enough one evening +to leave my camp for a stroll with only one attendant. I was snapped up, +enveloped in a djellab, and conveyed on horseback--to my great +discomfort--to the sheikh's kasbah. There I had the good fortune to meet +Mr. Schwab, whose conversation, together with a Schlagintwert price list +and a copy of the _Daily Mail_, helped to lighten the tedium of my +captivity." + +"I zank you, Sir Ingleton," said Schwab. "Alvays do I vish to be useful. +_Utile et dulce._ You vill not forget vat I say about extra-special +discount to ze nobility and gentry? And I hear viz surprise, sir," he +added to Oliphant, "zat you are son of a lord. Viz gompliments!" + +He handed Oliphant a card from his case. + +"Much obliged," said Oliphant, kicking Tom under the table. "How did +they get hold of _you_?" + +"Vy, I tell you. I come to Rabat to buy great lot of carpets for +Schlagintwert. Zere I hear zat ze Sultan is at Marrakesh, and I zink I +shall visit him. I egzpect big order for alarm clocks and bianola. Zat +vill be good business. Ach! vat know ze Mohrs of business? Zey seize me; +zey care nozink ven I say I am Jarman sobjeck; zey understand nozink ven +I speak of our Kaiser who is in Berlin; and so am I shut opp. I smoke +all my tobacco; zere is no more. I read ze _Daily Mail_, and zink ven I +gontemblate ze advertisement vat colossal business is literature in +England. I read Schlagintwert's price list, and make notes for new +edition; alas! zat muss all be done again. Zen I do nozink but zink +profound, until Sir Ingleton come and ve study ze list togezer." + +"An experience I shall always cherish, believe me, Mr. Schwab," said Sir +Mark. + +"I zank you, sir. Ze pleasure vas mutual; ze profit shall be +Schlagintwert's." + +"But how was it you were put in the dungeons?" asked Tom. + +"Vy, I tell you. Vun day come ze sheikh viz his men. Zink I, now has +arrive ze Kaiser's telegram. But no; zey carry us down to ze deps, and +zere are ve shut opp vorse zan before!" + +"That was when they got the message from Salathiel ben Ezra, no doubt," +said Tom,"--the Jew you found in the cave, Mr. Schwab." + +"Ven I vas so hungry!" + +"I wonder what has become of him?" said Oliphant. "It's to him I owe the +keenest sport I've ever had." + +"The less said about that the _better_, M'C--I beg your pardon--Mr. +Oliphant. The man was a _villain_. I _said_ so, Tom. Timothy will have a +_scar_ for the rest of his days. And but for the Jew we shouldn't have +lost our airship. Not that that matters. We've _proved_ it, you know; +we'll build a larger one now." + +"And Schlagintwerts shall buy it cost price!" + +"No, sir, Schlagintwerts shall _not_ buy it," said Mr. Greatorex, +frowning severely on the German. "We will offer it to the Government. I +shall invite Colonel Capper to examine it, and Lord Langside, I trust, +will show himself sufficiently sensible of his obligation to us to make +no difficulties about the _price_." + +"Vell, Schlagintwert shall have colossal order for Photographic +Sensitizer Preparation Number Six--at least until ze var come." + +"_What_ war?" + +"Vy, ze var ven ze Kaiser shall zink it is time to teach ze vorld zat----" + +"Stay, Mr. Schwab," interrupted Sir Mark, "we must not be indiscreet. As +a diplomatist it is my duty to avert war; as a business man you, I am +sure, would deplore it." + +"So. Zat is shust vat I alvays say: zat is vat I go to say ven you +interrup me; ven ze Kaiser shall zink it is time to teach ze vorld zat +Business are Business!" + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of King of the Air, by Herbert Strang + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KING OF THE AIR *** + +***** This file should be named 36443-8.txt or 36443-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/4/4/36443/ + +Produced by Roger Frank, Juliet Sutherland and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/36443-8.zip b/36443-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0aac135 --- /dev/null +++ b/36443-8.zip diff --git a/36443-h.zip b/36443-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4141f8c --- /dev/null +++ b/36443-h.zip diff --git a/36443-h/36443-h.htm b/36443-h/36443-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..448a15c --- /dev/null +++ b/36443-h/36443-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10556 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" > +<head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> + <meta content="King of the Air" name="DC.Title"/> + <meta content="Howard Strang" name="DC.Creator"/> + <meta content="en" name="DC.Language"/> + <meta content="1907" name="DC.Created"/> + <meta name="generator" content="ppgen (1.13) generated Jun 14, 2011 10:03 PM" /> + <title>King of the Air</title> + <style type="text/css"> + body {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%;} + p {margin-top:1ex; margin-bottom:0; text-align:justify;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size:x-small; text-align:right; text-indent:0; + position:absolute; right:2%; padding:1px 3px; font-style:normal; + font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration:none; + background-color:inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + .pncolor {color:silver;} + h1 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal;} + h2 {text-align:left; font-weight:normal;} + h1 {font-size:1.4em; margin-top:4em; margin-bottom:2em;} + h2 {font-size:1.2em; margin-top:4em; margin-bottom:2em;} + hr.pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none; border-top:thin dashed silver; clear:both;} + .sc {font-variant: small-caps;} + .center {margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; text-align:center;} + .larger {font-size:larger;} + .smaller {font-size:smaller;} + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + table.c {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + .caption {font-size: 80%;} + .sc {font-variant:small-caps} + div.center>:first-child {margin: .5em auto 0 auto;text-align:center;} + div.center p {margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;} + hr.tb {border:none; border-bottom: 1px solid black; margin: 20px auto; width:35%} + </style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of King of the Air, by Herbert Strang + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: King of the Air + Or, To Morocco on an Aeroplane + +Author: Herbert Strang + +Illustrator: W. E. Webster + +Release Date: June 16, 2011 [EBook #36443] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KING OF THE AIR *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank, Juliet Sutherland and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i001' id='i001'></a> +<img src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' title=''/><br /> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><i>Complete List of Stories for Boys by</i></p> +<p><span class='sc'>HERBERT STRANG</span></p> +</div> +<table class='c' summary='centered block'><tr><td> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>ADVENTURES OF DICK TREVANION, THE</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>ADVENTURES OF HARRY ROCHESTER, THE</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>A GENTLEMAN-AT-ARMS</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>A HERO OF LIÉGE</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>A THOUSAND MILES AN HOUR</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>AIR PATROL, THE</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>AIR SCOUT, THE</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>BARCLAY OF THE GUIDES</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>BLUE RAIDER, THE</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>BOYS OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>BRIGHT IDEAS</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>BURTON OF THE FLYING CORPS</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>CARRY ON</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>CRUISE OF THE GYRO-CAR, THE</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>DAN BOLTON’S DISCOVERY</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>FIGHTING WITH FRENCH</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>FLYING BOAT, THE</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>FRANK FORESTER</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>HEIR OF A HUNDRED KINGS, THE</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>HUMPHREY BOLD</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>JACK BROWN IN CHINA</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>JACK HARDY</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>KING OF THE AIR</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>KOBO</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>LONG TRAIL, THE</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>LORD OF THE SEAS</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>MARTIN OF OLD LONDON</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>MOTOR SCOUT, THE</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>NO MAN’S ISLAND</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN, THE</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>ONE OF CLIVE’S HEROES</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>PALM TREE ISLAND</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>RIDERS, THE</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>RIVER PIRATES, THE</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>ROB THE RANGER</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>ROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>SAMBA</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>SETTLERS AND SCOUTS</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>SULTAN JIM</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>SWIFT AND SURE</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>THROUGH THE ENEMY’S LINES</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>TOM BURNABY</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>TOM WILLOUGHBY’S SCOUTS</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>TRUE AS STEEL</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>WINNING HIS NAME</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>WITH DRAKE ON THE SPANISH MAIN</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>WITH HAIG ON THE SOMME</p> +<p style='margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>YOUNG JACK</p> +</td></tr></table> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<div><a name='illus004' id='illus004'></a></div> +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i002' id='i002'></a> +<img src="images/illus004.jpg" alt="HE CLUTCHED AT THE GRAPNEL, LET GO HIS HOLD OF THE MAST, AND SWUNG CLEAR. Frontispiece—see page 79" title=""/><br /> +<span class='caption'>HE CLUTCHED AT THE GRAPNEL, LET GO HIS HOLD OF THE MAST,<br/>AND SWUNG CLEAR. <i>Frontispiece</i>—see page 79</span> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;'>KING OF THE AIR</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;'>Or, To Morocco on an Aeroplane</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>By</p> +<p> </p> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;'>HERBERT STRANG</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'>ILLUSTRATED IN COLOUR BY W. E. WEBSTER</span></p> +</div> +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i003' id='i003'></a> +<img src='images/illus005.jpg' alt='' title=''/><br /> +</div> +<div class='center'> +<p>HUMPHREY MILFORD</p> +<p>OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS</p> +<p> </p> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'>LONDON, EDINBURGH, GLASGOW</span></p> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'>TORONTO, MELBOURNE, CAPE TOWN, BOMBAY</span></p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>Copyright 1907 by the <span class='sc'>Bobbs-Merrill Company</span></p> +<p>in the United States of America.</p> +<p> </p> +<p><i>Published 1907.</i></p> +<p> </p> +<p><i>Reprinted 1908, 1909, 1911, 1913 (twice), 1915 (twice),</i></p> +<p><i>1917, 1918, 1919 (twice), 1920, 1923, 1929</i></p> +<p> </p> +<p><span class='sc'>Printed in Great Britain by Richard Clay & Sons, Limited,</span></p> +<p><span class='sc'>Bungay, Suffolk.</span></p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;'>CONTENTS</span></p> +</div> +<table class='c' summary='table of contents'> +<tr><td style='font-size:smaller'>CHAPTER</td><td></td><td style='font-size:smaller'>PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>I.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Mr. Greatorex is Astonished</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chI'>9</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>II.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Herr Schwab</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chII'>20</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>III.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Tom makes Experiments</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chIII'>34</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>IV.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Prisoner in Zemmur</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chIV'>51</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>V.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Off the Barbary Coast</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chV'>63</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>VI.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Salathiel ben Ezra</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chVI'>81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>VII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Hills of Zemmur</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chVII'>98</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>VIII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Swordsmith of Ain Afroo</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chVIII'>116</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>IX.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Bolt from the Blue</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chIX'>133</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>X.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Kasbah</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chX'>148</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XI.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Prison Breakers</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXI'>167</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Hitch</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXII'>182</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XIII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Diplomacy</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXIII'>196</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XIV.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Troglodytes</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXIV'>218</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XV.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>View Halloo!</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXV'>233</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XVI.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Icarus</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXVI'>248</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XVII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Compliments and Thanks</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXVII'>262</a></td></tr> +</table> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;'>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</span></p> +</div> +<table class='c' summary='loi'> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:1em;'>“He clutched at the grapnel, let go his hold of the mast, and swung clear”</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#illus004'>79</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:1em;'>“His sword flew from his grasp, and he reeled dizzily to the ground.”</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#illus133'>130</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:1em;'>“Tom, seizing a big stone, threw it with all his force into the black room beneath”</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#illus187'>187</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:1em;'>“Abdul bent over the brink and smartly rapped his knuckles with the butt of Tom’s revolver”</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#illus229'>222</a></td></tr> +</table> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<h1><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9'></a>9</span>King of the Air</h1> +<h2><a name='chI' id='chI'></a>CHAPTER I—MR. GREATOREX IS ASTONISHED</h2> +<p> +Mr. John Greatorex was very +wealthy, and very obstinate. He had +made a large fortune as a manufacturer of chemicals, +but disclaimed any knowledge of chemistry. +He had dabbled a little in mechanics, and was +convinced that he possessed an accurate practical +knowledge of its applications. Consequently, +when his new motor-car arrived, he saw no necessity +to take a chauffeur with him on its trial spin. +He was like a child with a new toy, jealous of +participation. +</p> +<p> +“My dear,” said Mrs. Greatorex, as she handed +him his motor goggles, “are you sure you will not +take Timothy? What if it breaks down?” +</p> +<p> +“My <em>love</em>,” said Mr. Greatorex in his emphatic +way, “I do not <em>want</em> Timothy. It will not +break down. If it <em>does</em>, I flatter myself I am +<em>competent</em> to make any <em>necessary</em> repairs. I shall +be back at seven-thirty—in good time for dinner; +and I <em>hope and trust</em> the soup will <em>not</em> be cold.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10'></a>10</span> +</p> +<p> +He gave a preliminary <em>honk! honk!</em> looking +round with a smile that plainly said, “There! +you see that <em>everything</em> is in order!” Then he +steered the car accurately down the drive to the +road. +</p> +<p> +His house lying in the heart of the country, +Mr. Greatorex did not fear to meet milestones +in the shape of policemen with stop-watches, +who would take his number and afterwards confront +him in court. In a minute or two the car +was whirling along the road at a rate which, it +is to be feared, gravely exceeded the speed limit. +All went merry as a marriage-bell, and Mr. +Greatorex was at the height of exhilaration and +satisfaction, when, just as he was mounting the +acclivity of Five Oaks Bridge, without even a +click in warning, the machine came to a dead +stop. Mr. Greatorex put the engine out of +gear, then tried to start it by turning the starting +handle; but finding this of no avail he clapped +on the brake, skipped out of the car, removed his +goggles and his gloves, and set about making an +examination. +</p> +<p> +On the other side of the bridge, sitting on +the bank of the stream, was a boy, gazing with +round eyes at a float that hung from a line +attached to a long home-made rod of yew. He +had heard the clatter of the motor-car as it came +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11'></a>11</span> +along the road; he was aware that the noise +had suddenly ceased; but, being a lad of great +concentration, he did not give a thought to what +was happening out of sight at the further end +of the bridge. He had come out for an afternoon’s +fishing; two or three fat carp lay beside +him on the bank; and noticing at this moment +a slight movement of the float, he was soon +oblivious of everything except the fish on his +hook. +</p> +<p> +Half an hour passed. Three more fish had +rewarded his patience; then, satisfied with his +catch, the boy rose, methodically wound up his +line, and, leaving reel, rod and basket on the +bank, walked up on to the bridge, to investigate +the meaning of sundry strange noises he had +heard, vaguely, in the intervals between the +bites. +</p> +<p> +As he gained the foot of the bridge, where a +motor-car stood somewhat askew across the road, +he caught sight of a pair of brown boots projecting +from beneath the machine. Nothing +but the boots was visible; but they moved, and +it was clear that they shod the feet of some living +person, for there came puffs and grunts and +explosive monosyllables resembling those he had +sometimes heard on the golf-links near his home. +</p> +<p> +The boy leant against the parapet, stuck his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12'></a>12</span> +hands into his pockets, and watched. By and +by there was an ejaculation of peculiar vehemence; +the boots moved out into the road, followed +by a pair of grey-trousered legs, a soiled +and rumpled motor-coat, and a very red and +dirty face; the boy took especial note of a black +patch in the very centre of a shiny skull. +</p> +<p> +Puffing and blowing, Mr. Greatorex crawled +from under his new car, and stood upon his feet—a +rather disreputable-looking object—staring +wrathfully at the offending car. He had not +perceived the small spectator. +</p> +<p> +“Wish I <em>had</em> brought Timothy!” he muttered. +“<em>Confound</em> the brute!” +</p> +<p> +He looked at his grimy hands, at his mud-stained +clothes, up the road, down the road, and +finally at the boy, who had at last made an +impression on his retina. +</p> +<p> +“Hi, boy!” he said. +</p> +<p> +The boy approached with a shy smile. Mr. +Greatorex scowled, conscious of his plight. +</p> +<p> +“Boy, tell me, and don’t <em>grin</em>, is there a smith +anywhere in this neighbourhood?” +</p> +<p> +“In the village, sure, measter.” +</p> +<p> +“Where is the village?” +</p> +<p> +“About three miles away, over yonder.” +</p> +<p> +“God bless me! Three miles! Well, look +here, boy, I’ll give you <em>sixpence</em> to run there and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13'></a>13</span> +send the smith back—behind a horse, on a bicycle, +<em>anyhow</em>—to mend this confounded machine. +I’m twenty miles away from <em>home</em>, you understand, +and I shall be <em>late</em> for dinner. I’ll make +it a <em>shilling</em> if the smith is here within an +hour.” +</p> +<p> +The boy looked up into the wrathful face and +smiled again. +</p> +<p> +“Would ’ee like me to mend un for ’ee? +’Twould maybe save time.” +</p> +<p> +Mr. Greatorex stared. +</p> +<p> +“<em>You</em> mend it! ’Pon my word!” +</p> +<p> +And then he burst into a roar of laughter +which carried away his ill-humour, for Mr. +Greatorex was normally a very good-tempered +person. +</p> +<p> +The situation was, in truth, amusing. The +boy was a little fellow under four feet high. He +had a round chubby face, not free from stains. +He wore corduroy breeches much too large for +him, big clumping boots, and a flannel shirt open +at the neck. His blue eyes peeped up from +beneath a large, soft, much-discoloured straw +hat. And this little urchin had actually offered +to mend a motor-car with which Mr. Greatorex, +with all his knowledge of mechanism, had been +struggling for half an hour in vain! +</p> +<p> +Mr. Greatorex laughed again. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14'></a>14</span> +</p> +<p> +“Come, cut along, youngster,” he said genially. +“Let me see how <em>fast</em> you can run.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll mend un if you give me leave. ’Twill +save time,” persisted the boy. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Greatorex pulled out his watch. What +a joke, he thought—this sprat of a boy offering +to tackle his huge motor-car! It was only a +little after five; there might still be time to +fetch the smith, get the repairs made, and yet +reach home by half-past seven. A little rest +would not come amiss after his exertions. Why +not let the youngster try his hand—for the fun +of it? +</p> +<p> +“Well then, <em>fire</em> away, my young engineer. +I’ve been at it half an hour, <em>confound</em> the thing!” +</p> +<p> +“What have ’ee done, measter?” +</p> +<p> +“Done? Everything! Examined the sparking +plugs: <em>they’re</em> all right. Wires from battery: +<em>they’re</em> all right. Battery itself, <em>that’s</em> all right. +Plenty of petrol in the tank. <em>Every</em>thing’s all +right, hang it, and yet the thing <em>won’t</em> go!” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t you worrit, measter. Give me a lend +of your tools.” +</p> +<p> +The boy’s cocksureness again amused Mr. +Greatorex, who seated himself on the parapet of +the bridge, and mopped his perspiring face, smiling +pleasantly. Though past fifty he was still +young at heart, and very ready to be amused. He +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15'></a>15</span> +took out a pipe, filled and lit it, and puffed away, +with an expression of serene contentment on his +rubicund dirty face. +</p> +<p> +The boy flung off his hat and disappeared. +Metallic sounds came from the interior of the car. +</p> +<p> +“How are you getting on, boy?” asked Mr. +Greatorex after some ten minutes. +</p> +<p> +There was no answer. +</p> +<p> +Five minutes passed. +</p> +<p> +“Find it rather too <em>much</em> for you, eh?” said +Mr. Greatorex, looking more amused than ever. +</p> +<p> +Still there was no answer. +</p> +<p> +“Got everything you want?” he asked again. +</p> +<p> +But the boy made no reply; only the sound +of knocking and screwing continued. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Greatorex laughed aloud. +</p> +<p> +“Come,” he said, getting up and standing +with legs astraddle a foot or two from the car, +“you mustn’t make <em>too</em> long a <em>job</em> of it, you +know.” Then he chuckled. +</p> +<p> +Five minutes afterwards the boy crawled out. +Mr. Greatorex laughed again as he surveyed the +grimy little fellow. A great patch of black +surrounded one eye, where he had rubbed his +knuckles. +</p> +<p> +“All right now, measter,” said the boy. +</p> +<p> +“What! Come, my lad, you’ve <em>had your</em> +turn; now run along and fetch the smith.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16'></a>16</span> +</p> +<p> +“Bean’t no need. She’ll go now.” +</p> +<p> +Mr. Greatorex looked impressed, stepped to +the front of the car, and turned the handle; to +his amazement the engines started. He sprang +into the car, threw the engines into gear, and was +still more amazed when, releasing the clutch pedal, +he found that the car moved. +</p> +<p> +“Better take off the brake, measter,” said the boy. +</p> +<p> +“Why, yes, certainly,” said Mr. Greatorex, +with a preoccupied air, and the car mounted +the incline, spun across the bridge, and ran easily +down the road. Then Mr. Greatorex stopped +it and turned round. +</p> +<p> +“Hi, boy!” he shouted. The boy picked up +his hat, stuck it on his head, and approached. +</p> +<p> +“Look here, youngster,” said Mr. Greatorex, +“the car is all <em>right</em>!” +</p> +<p> +“Told ’ee so, measter.” +</p> +<p> +Mr. Greatorex roared. +</p> +<p> +“You’re a wonderful little chap. Bless my +soul, how did you <em>do</em> it?” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll show ’ee if you’ll get out.” +</p> +<p> +“No thank ’ee. I’ve already had half an hour +at it, and I’m as black as a nigger. What was +wrong?” +</p> +<p> +“A bit of grit was stuck in the petrol spray +nozzle, so you couldn’t get no petrol into the +carburetter.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17'></a>17</span> +</p> +<p> +“Oh!” said Mr. Greatorex blankly. “What’s +your name?” +</p> +<p> +“Tom Dorrell.” +</p> +<p> +“You don’t happen to be manager of a motor-works, +I suppose?” +</p> +<p> +“No,” said the boy, unconscious of the genial +sarcasm. +</p> +<p> +“Where d’you live?” +</p> +<p> +“In the village yonder,” said Tom, pointing +ahead. +</p> +<p> +“Oh! Ah! Look <em>here</em>, my lad, why aren’t +you at school?” +</p> +<p> +“Why, ‘cos ’tis holidays,” he replied with a +grin. “Feyther didn’t want me, so I came out +to fish.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, indeed. And who’s your father?” +</p> +<p> +“He be the smith you wanted me to fetch; +but there warn’t no need.” +</p> +<p> +“So it appears! I say, my lad, how <em>old</em> are +you?” +</p> +<p> +“Twelve, and I’m in the sixth standard.” +</p> +<p> +“You are, are you? And how long have +you been mending motor-cars?” +</p> +<p> +“Not so very long. I help feyther now and +again; motor-cars are always breaking down, +and he has mended a rare lot of ’em.” +</p> +<p> +“Ah! And how much would he have charged +for mending this one?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18'></a>18</span> +</p> +<p> +“About two shillings, I reckon; it wasn’t a +very hard job.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh! Well, here’s two shillings for you. +Don’t spend it <em>all</em> on sweets.” +</p> +<p> +“Not me,” said the boy with a grin. “I’m +saving up, I am.” +</p> +<p> +“Indeed! What for?” +</p> +<p> +“Why, for heaps of things. I want a model +of a four-coupled bogie tank engine, and a model +of a turbine steamer, and a motor bicycle——” +</p> +<p> +“Steady, youngster. That’s rather a <em>large</em> +order, isn’t it? You’ve got a fancy for mechanics, +eh!” +</p> +<p> +“Mechanics! Not me! That’s what they +teach in the seventh standard. I like engines, I +do—machines that’ll go. I’m going to be an +engineer some day—if I can; feyther says it +costs a mint of money, and he hasn’t got much, +and he says he don’t hold with flying too high, +and I’d much better be a smith. But there’s +nothing new in smith’s work: you just go on +shoeing horses, and sticking fellies on wheels, and +mending prams and motor-cars now and then. +I want to do something new, I do.” +</p> +<p> +“Ah! What’s your father’s name?” +</p> +<p> +“Dorrell, same as mine.” +</p> +<p> +“Naturally. And what do you call your +village?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19'></a>19</span> +</p> +<p> +“Barton Abbas.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, Tom, here’s your two shillings. You’ve +got a bank-book, I suppose.” +</p> +<p> +“Rather. I’ve got three pounds fourteen +and ninepence; this makes sixteen and ninepence. +I shall have another sixpence on Saturday for +cleaning pa’son’s bicycle; that’ll make seventeen +and threepence. Pa’son gives me sixpence a +week.” +</p> +<p> +“You’re getting quite rich, you know. Well, +Tom, thanks to you I <em>shall</em> get home in time for +dinner.” +</p> +<p> +“I’m pretty hungry,” said Tom. “I guess +it’s past my tea-time.” +</p> +<p> +“No doubt it is. <em>Strawberry</em> jam, eh?” +</p> +<p> +“No. Mother says that’s too dear. We have +rhubarb and marrow, growed in the garden.” +</p> +<p> +“And very good stuff, too. <em>By George!</em> I +haven’t had marrow jam for forty years.” +</p> +<p> +“You be pretty old then: older than feyther.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, d’you know, Tom, I am <em>several years</em> +younger than I was two hours ago. Good-bye!” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20'></a>20</span><a name='chII' id='chII'></a>CHAPTER II—HERR SCHWAB</h2> +<p> +One spring day, rather more than six years +after the meeting of Mr. Greatorex and +Tom Dorrell by Five Oaks Bridge, a shabby pony +cart was jogging along the road that led from +the little railway station of Midfont, through +the sleepy village of the same name, to Midfont +House, the rural retreat to which Mr. Greatorex +betook himself from his business in the great +manufacturing town of Burlingham some dozen +miles away. The sole occupant of the cart was +a large florid man of about forty-five, who eyed +the surroundings curiously through heavy gold-rimmed +spectacles, the sluggish pony he drove +requiring little attention. +</p> +<p> +His costume, no less than his spectacles, was +strangely out of keeping with the cart. That +would have been a fit setting for a farm-hand, or +a carrier, or some other wearer of fustian. But +its present occupant was attired in a well-cut +grey frock-coat, silk lined, a glossy silk hat, a lilac-coloured +necktie in which flashed a diamond +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21'></a>21</span> +pin, and trousers of large check pattern. His +hands were gloved in brown kid; between his +teeth he held a long cigar. +</p> +<p> +He looked about him with intention. Unfenced +fields stretched on either side of the road. +Every now and again the driver would pull up, +stand on the seat, and throw a searching glance +around. Then, muttering under his breath +words that were certainly strange to that part +of the English midlands, he would drive on again, +looking to right and left as before. +</p> +<p> +By and by he came to a part of the road where +a long wooden fence on the right-hand side +indicated an enclosure. To this the driver gave +his whole attention, and when the fence was +broken by a wide wooden gate, within which a +carriage drive ran past a little lodge and between +hedges of evergreen, he pulled up, alighted from +the cart, and, leading the pony by the nose, went +to the gate and gave the bell-pull a vigorous tug. +It might have been noticed that he walked a +little lame. +</p> +<p> +In response to his summons a man came to the +gate—a young man, thin, clean-shaven, with a +slight cast in one eye. He was bareheaded, wore +a red waistcoat over a flannel shirt, and brown +corduroy breeches, supported by a leather belt +and somewhat creased above brown leggings. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22'></a>22</span> +</p> +<p> +“So!” said the driver of the pony cart, as +the lodgekeeper rested his arms on the second +bar of the gate and looked at him. “Zis, my +goot friend, is Midfont House?” +</p> +<p> +“You’ve got it right, guv’nor.” +</p> +<p> +“So! Zen I ask, is Mr. Thomas Dorrell at +home?” +</p> +<p> +“Nice day, guv’nor.” +</p> +<p> +“I zank you, yes, it is not bad. Mr. Thomas +Dorrell——” +</p> +<p> +“No; my name’s Timothy Ball—T. B. on +my collars.” +</p> +<p> +“I zank you. Mr. Thomas Dorrell——” +</p> +<p> +“This ’ere place belongs to Mr. John Greatorex, +Esquire, J.P., and he ain’t at home, bein’ +engaged in trying a bad case of stealin’ lamb +and mint-sauce not a many miles from ’ere.” +</p> +<p> +“My goot friend, I do not mind; I like it. I +come not to see Mr. Greatorex, I come to see +Mr. Thomas Dorrell——” +</p> +<p> +“Now, look ’ere, guv’nor, we’ve had chaps +’ere before with cheap watches and dear books +and thingummies of all sorts, and I tell you +straight, we don’t encourage ’em; in fact, I’ve +got strict orders from Mr. Greatorex, J.P., to +set the dog on any such that won’t take no for +an answer.” +</p> +<p> +“My goot friend, you mistake. Vizout doubt +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23'></a>23</span> +I carry, some days, books, editions de luxe, and +vatches and ozer zinks, but to-day—no, no. +Look, here is my carte——” +</p> +<p> +“And a rum-lookin’ ramshackle turn-out it +is,” quoth Timothy, ignoring the piece of pasteboard +and eyeing the vehicle disdainfully. “I +wonder you ain’t ashamed to come out in a ‘at +like that, togged up to the nines, quite a torf, +and your pony as looks as if he ain’t had a currycomb +on his hide for a month o’ Sundays.” +</p> +<p> +“Ah, you mistake me all ze time. Ze bony, +he is not mine; I hire him to bring me to Midfont +House. Here is my carte, my friend. Take +it to Mr. Thomas Dorrell, viz gompliments. +He do not know my name, so! But he know +ze name of ze firma I rebresent, and he vill like +to see me, I know zat, because he place large +orders, vair large, viz our gompany; he is vat +you call a gustomer, you understand.” +</p> +<p> +Timothy Ball looked doubtfully at the visitor, +and at the card he offered to him. +</p> +<p> +“There’s customers, and rum customers,” he +said. +</p> +<p> +“Rum!” interrupted the stranger. “If Mr. +Dorrell like rum, we can subbly any quantity, +in cask or bottle, at rock-bottom price.” +</p> +<p> +Timothy sniggered and rubbed his mouth +with the back of his hand. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24'></a>24</span> +</p> +<p> +“Rum ain’t the word for it,” he said. “’Tis +downright bloomin’ funny, that’s what it is. +Well, guv’nor, hold hard a bit; I’ll just ’phone +through to Mr. Dorrell and tell him you’re +here. <em>’Ow</em> do you say your name?” +</p> +<p> +“Schwab! Hildebrand Schwab, rebresentative +of ze Schlagintwert Gombany of Düsseldorf.” +</p> +<p> +“Can’t say all that; telephone won’t stand +it. Wait a bit while I try Swob.” +</p> +<p> +He rang up and put his ear to the receiver. +</p> +<p> +“Are you there? That you, Mr. Dorrell?... +There’s a man here ... a man ... a +gentleman to see you, name Swib ... Swob! +So he <em>said</em>, sir.... Travels for rum, by what I +can make out——” +</p> +<p> +“No! no!” cried Schwab; but Timothy +glared him into silence. +</p> +<p> +“Said you wouldn’t know him, sir, but you’re +a customer of his firm.... No, sir, <em>not</em> rum.... +Can’t say it, sir.... Very well, sir +(glancing at the card): S C H L A G I N T W.... +You’ve got it, sir.... He didn’t say, +sir.... Very well, sir.” +</p> +<p> +“Mr. Dorrell wants to know what you’ve +come for.” +</p> +<p> +“Vill you be so kind as permit me to speak +to him myself?” +</p> +<p> +“No; your trotter might run away.... +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25'></a>25</span> +Yes, sir, one minute.... Now, out with it, +Mr. Swob; Mr. Dorrell’s busy.” +</p> +<p> +“Zen tell him I come from Düsseldorf on +behalf of my firma to pay zeir respects and gompliments +to zeir valued gustomer and to zay +zat ve shall be alvays most pleased to subbly +anyzink vatefer zat Mr. Dorrell vants in quickest +possible tempo egzept our Number Six Photographic +Sensitizer vich require fortnight +notice——” +</p> +<p> +“Arf a mo!... Yes, sir, but there’s such +a lot of it I can’t get hold of it all.... No, +sir, not walk; the gentleman’s rather lame, sir; +came in a pony cart.... Very well, sir.” +</p> +<p> +“Mr. Dorrell says he’ll be here in a few +minutes if you’ll wait.” +</p> +<p> +“Vy certainly. I can get no train for two +hour. I vait in ze house?” +</p> +<p> +“No, Mr. Dorrell ain’t in the house. He’ll +come here. We always interview rum customers +at the gate.” +</p> +<p> +“No, no, no; not rum, my friend; and +Mr. Dorrell is ze gustomer. He buy of <em>us</em>; +at least, he order; Mr. Greatorex pay.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, it don’t matter to you, I s’pose, so +long as you get your money? Mr. Greatorex’s +money is good enough for me, anyway. Paid +for that topping cigar of yours, didn’t it?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26'></a>26</span> +</p> +<p> +“I have not ze honour to know Mr. Greatorex; +but I have here a price list of cigars, and if——” +</p> +<p> +“Here’s Mr. Dorrell.” +</p> +<p> +“Vere? I see him not.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, he’s big enough, though he ain’t as +broad as he’s long: that gentleman in the blue +clothes comin’ down the path.” +</p> +<p> +“Zat Mr. Dorrell! Vy—he is a boy! +Himmel!” +</p> +<p> +“Rum, ain’t it? S’pose you never <em>was</em> a boy, +Mr. Swob.” +</p> +<p> +A tall loose-limbed young fellow had come +into the drive from a side path, and was walking +with great strides towards the gate. He was +bareheaded; his black hair tumbled over a brow +unusually high and broad. No other feature +was noticeable except his eyes, which were large, +deep blue in colour, and shot with a strange glow. +He was dressed in a loose suit of what appeared +to be blue alpaca, which was plentifully bestained. +</p> +<p> +By this time Timothy had opened the gate +and given admittance to the visitor. Tom +Dorrell came up, held out his hand, and said in +quick decisive tones— +</p> +<p> +“How d’you do, Mr.——?” +</p> +<p> +“Schwab, sir—Hildebrand Schwab, rebresentative +of ze firma Schlagintwert, all orders +punctually eggzecuted.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27'></a>27</span> +</p> +<p> +“Sorry to keep you waiting. Very busy, you +know; if you had given me notice——” +</p> +<p> +“Ach! I come on ze hop, sir.” +</p> +<p> +Tom smiled. +</p> +<p> +“Well, glad to see you, anyway. Is there +anything I can do for you?” +</p> +<p> +“Sir, zat is vat I ask you. You give orders, +first class, for our Photographic Sensitizer Preparation +Number Six; but my firma zink you +do not know, perhaps, zat zey do many ozer zinks +beside Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number +Six. Vy, zere is nozink vat ve do not do, +nozink at all. Ve can supply anyzink—soft +goots, musical boxes, hair oil——” +</p> +<p> +“I know, I know,” said Tom. “I have your +price list.” +</p> +<p> +“But not ze new vun—revise and correck +carte,” returned Schwab, pulling from his pocket +a bulky volume in red paper cover. “Viz +gompliments!” +</p> +<p> +“Thanks! Now, I am very busy——” +</p> +<p> +“Shust so! Business are business! Not for +ze vorld vould I stand in ze light. Only bermit +me shust vun vord. Ze orders you give for +Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number Six, +vy, zey are immense, colossal; and you pay on +ze nail. My firma get no such orders novere, +and zey are surprise, because Number Six is new +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28'></a>28</span> +zink; it is not long zat it is on ze market. Vy +zen come so large orders from so little place? +Zey zink zere are business to be done; zerefore +am I here.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, you can’t expect the merits of the +stuff to be known all at once.” +</p> +<p> +“Shust so. Zerefore I come! Schlagintwert +say: ‘Mr. Dorrell use a great lot of P.S.P. +No. 6; zerefore muss it be vair goot; go and see +Mr. Dorrell; perhaps he be so kind to give testimonial—zat +vill be goot business.’” +</p> +<p> +“Afraid I can’t do that. You see, I don’t +use it in photography, and that is what you +advertise it for.” +</p> +<p> +“But ve vill advertise it for anyzink you +please!” +</p> +<p> +“My use of it is secret at present.” +</p> +<p> +“Zen ve vill buy ze secret! Ve are vair rich +firma.” +</p> +<p> +“But it wouldn’t be a secret then.” +</p> +<p> +“Zat is true, but it vould be business. Zere +vill be patent rights, perhaps; vell, ve buy zem; +ve buy anyzink zat is goot business.” +</p> +<p> +“No, I haven’t taken out a patent. It is very +good of you, Mr. Schwab, if at any time——” +</p> +<p> +“Ach! Vat you call any time!—zat is no +time. Now, now is ze time. I am in zis country +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29'></a>29</span> +only few days. I go soon to Morocco for business. +I suffer egstremely from sea-illness, but for +business I go anyvere. Zink how it vould console +me in ze Bay of Biscay to know zat I had done +goot business for Schlagintwert—and for you, +Mr. Dorrell.” +</p> +<p> +“Sorry. Really I can’t say any more, Mr. +Schwab. I <em>must</em> go; look me up again, if you +like, when you get back from Morocco.” +</p> +<p> +Recognizing that Tom was not to be drawn, +the German swallowed his disappointment, took +leave in most expansive terms, and was soon jogging +back in the direction from which he had come. +But finding, on arriving at the station, that he +had an hour to wait for his train, he introduced +himself to the station-master and tactfully led +the conversation to Midfont House and its owner, +Mr. Greatorex. What he learnt in the course +of it was something to the following effect. +</p> +<p> +Some years before, Mr. Greatorex had discovered +a taste for mechanics in the son of the +village smith at Barton Abbas, twenty miles +away. He had put the boy to a good school, +often had him at Midfont House in the holidays, +and paid his fees at the university in the neighbouring +town, where the boy took honours in +mechanics and engineering at a very early age. +Then, about a year before this time, Mr. Greatorex +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30'></a>30</span> +had fenced in a large piece of waste ground +on his estate, erected a workshop in the middle +of it, and given it up entirely to young Dorrell, +who was now apparently a permanent inmate +of his house. What went on in the workshop +the station-master did not know. The enclosure +was kept strictly private; nobody outside the +family was ever allowed to pass its borders. The +station-master believed that young Dorrell was +inventing a motor-car; it was said that Mr. +Greatorex’s interest in him dated from the day +when the boy had repaired some trifling mishap +which had befallen his car on the road. +</p> +<p> +The effect of this information on Herr Schwab +was greater than the station-master ever knew. +When the train came in, the German got into +it; but he alighted at the next station two miles +off, and trudged back over the road until he once +more stood at the gate of Midfont House. It +was now dark. Schwab did not this time pull +the bell. He walked on past the gate for a good +quarter of a mile, then halted at a large heap of +stones collected for mending the road. +</p> +<p> +There were no wayfarers at this late hour; +nobody saw how this big figure in the frock-coat +employed himself. He filled his glossy hat with +flints from the heap, carried it to the foot of the +fence, and emptied it there, returning for another +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31'></a>31</span> +hatful. After an hour’s patient work a pile +of stones stood some three feet high against the +fence. Mopping his damp brow, dusting the +inside of his hat, and replacing it on his head, +Schwab mounted the pile, clambered over the +fence, and dropped down somewhat heavily on +the other side. Not till that moment had he +given a thought to the means of getting back; +and looking up at the fence, the top of which +was quite beyond his reach, he uttered a low +guttural exclamation of dismay. But the die +was cast! Consumed by his curiosity to learn +more about this mysterious workshop, in the +way of business, he had come thus far, and as +there was apparently no going back he decided +to make his way forward. +</p> +<p> +He found himself in an extensive meadow, +bordered by trees. No habitation was in sight. +The moon threw a little light on the scene, and, +after walking for some minutes over the grass, he +perceived a long low oblong building which, as +he drew nearer, he saw was built of wood, with +no windows in the walls, but having fanlights in +the sloping roof. There was but one door. +</p> +<p> +“Ich hoffe dass die Thur nicht verriegelt +ist!” he muttered as, glancing apprehensively +round, he approached to try the handle. He +was not conscious of anything improper in this +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32'></a>32</span> +nocturnal enterprise: was it not all in the way +of business? +</p> +<p> +He came to the door, and grasped the +handle.... +</p> +<p> +When he recovered consciousness he found +himself on his back on the grass. In his right +hand there was a feeling as if it had been burnt +to the bone. With many sighs and groans he +rose, sought for his hat, and, turning his back +on the workshop, limped sadly towards the fence. +His whole body tingled with the electric shock. +Bitterly he lamented his unhappy zeal for business. +What an abominable device for protecting the +premises! And there was that terrible fence +to be climbed, or he would have to remain all +night in the field, assuredly to be discovered in +the morning and suspected of felonious intent. +He remembered that Timothy Ball had spoken +of his master as a magistrate, and saw himself +already, frock-coat, silk hat and all, in a felon’s +cell. +</p> +<p> +Shaken to the core he came to the fence, and +spent a weary hour in groping up and down, +trying to find an outlet. At length, when he +had almost given up hope, and was trying to +steel his soul against the exposure of the morrow, +he reached a tree whose branches overhung the +fence. It was more than thirty years since, as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33'></a>33</span> +a boy, he had climbed a tree in sport; who could +have foreseen that now, a man of bulk, he would +be forced to attempt the feat in the interests +of business? And his right hand was so desperately +painful! Luckily the trunk was gnarled +and a branch hung low. He tried to heave +himself up, and his hat fell off. He picked it up +and shied it impatiently over the fence. Then +he tried again, and felt in the extremity of despair +when he heard the <em>oosh</em> of tearing silk. Alas! +for his new frock-coat! But he was at least +safely on the bough. He worked himself along +it, dreading lest it should snap, and conscious +of the inconvenience of fourteen stone. Happily +he was now on the right side of the fence. He +dropped, and alighted in a bed of nettles. He +got up, found his hat, mechanically brushed it +with his sleeve, and set it on his head. +</p> +<p> +“Ach! Ich unglücklicher!” he sighed as he +set off up the road. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34'></a>34</span><a name='chIII' id='chIII'></a>CHAPTER III—TOM MAKES EXPERIMENTS</h2> +<p> +The information given to Herr Schwab by +the Midfont station-master was accurate +up to a certain point. Mr. Greatorex had +indeed constituted himself the beneficent patron +of Tom Dorrell, educated him, entertained him +at Midfont House, and built for him a workshop +in the grounds. So far the station-master was +right. But when he added that Tom was working +at a new motor-car, he stated a hypothesis, +not a fact. +</p> +<p> +About a year before this time, when Tom +came to Midfont House to spend a month’s holiday, +he brought with him a small model of an +aerial machine on which he had been quietly +working in leisure moments. He showed it to +Mr. Greatorex. +</p> +<p> +“Very pretty,” said the worthy merchant, +examining the toy; “but it won’t <em>go</em>.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh yes it will,” said Tom. “See!” +</p> +<p> +They were in Mr. Greatorex’s study at the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35'></a>35</span> +time. Tom poised the model on his left hand, +released a spring, and the little aeroplane, with +a whizz and a hum, soared across the room, and, +before it could be stopped, dashed against the +glass door of a bookcase and shivered it to +atoms. +</p> +<p> +“I’m awfully sorry,” said Tom contritely, +picking up the machine and silencing it. +</p> +<p> +“What <em>are</em> you doing, John?” said Mrs. +Greatorex, opening the door. “What a terrible +mess!” she added, surveying the litter on the +floor. +</p> +<p> +“It shall be swept up, my dear,” said Mr. +Greatorex. “You can’t make omelets without +breaking <em>eggs</em>, my love.” +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Greatorex looked a little puzzled. +</p> +<p> +“Of course not, my dear,” she said after a +moment. Then with a deprecating smile she +went away. Mr. Greatorex locked the door. +</p> +<p> +“Now, Tom,” he said, “just <em>explain</em>, will +you? Begin at the beginning; I want to <em>know</em>, +you know.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, I’ve been thinking a lot at odd times +about airships and things, and reading up what +they’ve been doing in France and Germany. +There’s little prospect of making a really serviceable +machine out of the old gas balloon; it’s +far too clumsy; can’t make headway against a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36'></a>36</span> +strong wind; but I didn’t see why something +shouldn’t be done on the lines of the aeroplane. +You see, it’s easy enough to set the thing going, +and even to steer it, when you’ve got it up in the +air; but there are three difficulties: to get it +up, to let it down without smashing it to bits, +and to keep it from turning somersaults. You +can overcome the force of gravity by an arrangement +of planes when you keep up a good speed; +but if you slacken speed, down you come. And +all the aeroplanes that have been invented yet +can’t rise in the air at any given spot. They +either have to be thrown off from some elevated +position, or they have to get up a momentum +along the ground, running like a motor-car. +Then again, the motor machinery has been too +heavy; engines haven’t been able to exert +sufficient horse-power in proportion to their own +weight. I’ve worked it out, and I calculate +that no good can be done till you get an engine +that’ll give you one horse-power to every two +and a half pounds of its weight.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes. Well?” +</p> +<p> +“Well, this model is the result of no end of +experiments. It goes, as you see; but besides +sailing horizontally, it will lift itself. Look!” +</p> +<p> +He took up the little machine, released another +spring, and the miniature airship went flying to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37'></a>37</span> +the ceiling, where it remained until the spring +ran down. +</p> +<p> +“All very well,” said Mr. Greatorex, unwilling +to admit that he was impressed; “but the thing +is only a <em>toy</em>. There’s all the difference in the +world between a model and the <em>real thing</em>, you +know. You could never get a spring strong +enough to lift a real machine. I’m not satisfied +that you could even get the horizontal motion +you’re so cocksure of, with a machine that would +carry <em>men</em>.” +</p> +<p> +“No spring would do it, it is true; but I’ve +worked out an application of the principle. It’s +well known that a propeller rotating at sufficient +speed can be made to lift a weight into the air. Of +course we couldn’t set a real airship rotating bodily; +no aeronaut’s head would stand it if we could. +But, as you saw, my model doesn’t rotate itself. +I’ve only made use of the principle—pretty +successfully, don’t you think?” +</p> +<p> +“Just explain to me <em>thoroughly</em>, will you? I +want a little more <em>light</em> on the subject.” +</p> +<p> +Tom took his model, and patiently expounded +the mechanical principles on which he had worked. +The upshot of this and other conversations was +that Mr. Greatorex became first interested, then +enthusiastic, and finally determined. He had a +workshop erected on a large piece of waste ground +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38'></a>38</span> +nearly a mile and a half square on his estate, and +gave Tom carte blanche to get what assistance +and spend what money he pleased. Resolving +to keep the matter a close secret until the experiments +were concluded, he fenced in the enclosure, +and gave strict orders that no one was to be +admitted to it without Tom’s consent. Tom +himself devised a simple means of defending the +workshop from prying visitors. Whenever he +left it, he set going a strong electric current +through the door handle, which was a more +effective protection than locks and bolts. +</p> +<p> +Tom found, as soon as he came to enlarge his +model into a practical working size, that none of +the motors then on the market was sufficiently +powerful in proportion to its weight to give him +the necessary lifting force. The electric motor +was out of the question, and an adaptation of the +latest petrol engine as applied to motor-cars and +launches seemed to offer the most likely solution. +Even here, however, the march of invention had +not gone far enough. The latest petrol motor, +it is true, enabled Tom to keep the machine at a +constant altitude when once it was in flight; +but it failed to raise it from a position of rest. +Some other method must be found, and he set +his wits to work to discover it. +</p> +<p> +The first condition of success was, he felt, the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39'></a>39</span> +discovery of an explosive mixture far more powerful +than that offered by petrol, and yet capable +of being harnessed and controlled. He had the +run of Mr. Greatorex’s chemical laboratories, +and the benefit of the practical advice and assistance +of the heads of the experimental staff. +Scores of preparations were tried, and, for one +reason or another, rejected. Where sufficient +power was obtained, it was almost invariably +found that the mixture was not stable or uniform +in its effects. Several explosive mixtures were +discovered quite powerful enough for the purpose; +but, as Mr. Greatorex’s chief chemist +pointed out, all of them were likely to blow the +airship to smithereens in the event of any accident +to the machinery. +</p> +<p> +It was some months after the beginning of +the experiments when one of the junior chemists +came to Tom with the announcement that he +had discovered what he thought might be +the very substance required. A German firm, +Schlagintwert & Co. of Düsseldorf, had placed +on the market a few months earlier a powder +which, used as a solution, was highly valuable in +preparing photographic plates. The exact ingredients +of the powder were unknown, although +by analysis it had been found to consist of nitrate +compounds; but the buyer was warned by a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40'></a>40</span> +label that it should not be exposed to great heat +owing to the danger of explosion. It had occurred +to the chemist to mix a little of this powder with +petrol. The result was a paste which dried hard, +but gave off almost infinitesimal particles of a +highly explosive nature, when floating in an air +chamber, though the paste itself was not explosive +either under heat or shock. +</p> +<p> +Tom was delighted with the discovery, and +at once proceeded to construct an engine suitable +to the peculiar properties of the composition. +In building the motor he adapted the principle +of the turbine to airship navigation. A powerful +fan drove the current of air through a number +of perforated aluminium plates covered with the +paste. The resultant mixture of air and explosive +particles passed into the explosion chamber, the +intake being controlled by automatic valves +connected with the turbine. The explosion of +the mixture was brought about by a sparking +plug connected with a small electric battery, the +sparking being controlled by a cam on the shaft. +At each explosion, the gas generated was forced +at an enormous pressure through the turbine to +the right of the explosion chamber, thus driving +the propeller fixed on the shaft. +</p> +<p> +Tom made his fan serve a double purpose, not +only to drive air through the aluminium plates, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41'></a>41</span> +but to send a current round a jacket on the outside +of the turbine and thus keep the latter cool. +This was a highly necessary arrangement owing +to the enormous heat generated. From the first, +indeed, the difficulty of cooling the turbine was +the most serious with which he had to grapple. +It required months of experiment before the +engine could be worked for more than two or three +minutes at a time. Gradually, however, by +increasing the power of the fan, and constructing +the turbine casing and blades of an alloy specially +adapted to resist the effects of intense heat, this +difficulty was to a great extent overcome. +</p> +<p> +The airship when completed was not unlike +a huge bird with wings outstretched. The body +of the bird consisted of the car and engine. The +wings were planes of lath strengthened with +aluminium, and capable of being inclined at any +desired angle by the simple movement of a +switch in the car. A large rectangular plane +projecting from the rear of the car acted as a +rudder, principally for lateral movement, motion +upwards and downwards being provided for either +by the inclination of the larger planes or by the +special screws actuated by the engine. The latter +drove two sets of propellers: one fore and aft, +giving a horizontal movement, the other below +and above the car, giving a vertical movement. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42'></a>42</span> +Either set of propellers could be thrown out of +gear when desired. Tom would have been glad +to dispense with the vertical propellers if he +could have done so, but he found that the whole +force of his engine was necessary to raise the +airship from a position of rest. He had not +sufficient motive power to enable him to use +such an adjustment of oblique propellers as would +have ensured simultaneous horizontal and vertical +movement. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Greatorex at once promoted the fortunate +young chemist who had discovered the virtues +of the Schlagintwert powder, and swore him +to secrecy. The parts of Tom’s machine were +made to his order by various firms, the work +being distributed so that no one firm should be +in possession of the complete apparatus; and a +few weeks before Herr Schwab’s visit, an aeroplane +capable of sustaining the weight of several men +was finished, and in it Tom made daily trips about +the field. He tested it so frequently that he +used considerable quantities of the powder, and +it was not surprising that the curiosity of Schlagintwerts +was aroused by the large orders that +came from one small place for an article that +cost a good deal more than its weight in gold. +</p> +<p> +Tom was, however, not yet satisfied with his +machine. For one thing he had found it impossible as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43'></a>43</span> +yet to return to earth with any exactitude +at a fixed spot. It was a matter of the nice +adjustment of the horizontal with the vertical +motion, and after repeated failures Tom comforted +himself with the thought that it must be +only after long practice that an engine driver +could pull his locomotive up to a nicety. Obviously +much more practice must be required +when the task was infinitely more difficult. +</p> +<p> +Further, in spite of the jacket around the +turbine, the heat generated was still too great +to allow of travelling any great distance in safety, +and the prospective usefulness of the aeroplane +was discounted accordingly. +</p> +<p> +It was Mr. Greatorex who suggested a possible +way out of the difficulty. +</p> +<p> +“Why not have two engines instead of one?” +he said. “If one breaks down—why, there’s +the other.” +</p> +<p> +“It means more weight,” said Tom ruefully, +“and therefore less speed and less carrying +capacity.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, there’s no <em>hurry</em>, is there? And as for +carrying capacity—<em>I</em> don’t intend to tempt the +fates, or run the risk of a smash-up like—who +was it? Icarus? Thought so.” +</p> +<p> +Tom adopted the suggestion. He replaced +his first engine by two somewhat smaller, so +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44'></a>44</span> +that if one became overheated there was the +other in reserve. The lifting capacity and +the speed of the airship were consequently +diminished, but scarcely so much as Tom expected. +</p> +<p> +So far the experiments had been carried on +with perfect secrecy. The enclosure was surrounded +by trees, and Tom was always careful +not to drive his machine above the level of their +tops. But one day, a few months after Schwab’s +visit, he was careering round, to the mingled +admiration and terror of Timothy Ball watching +him from the ground, when he was startled by +an exclamation that certainly did not spring +from the lips of that worthy. Timothy was a +good quarter-mile away; the voice appeared to +come from a spot almost vertically below the +aeroplane. +</p> +<p> +“By George! Look there, Mops!” +</p> +<p> +Tom took a hurried peep over. There, below +him, in a gap between the trees just beyond the +inner fence, stood a tall young fellow in tennis +flannels, with light blue cap and tie. +</p> +<p> +“What is it, Pops?” answered a silvery voice; +and a second figure joined the first—a girl in +white. +</p> +<p> +“Why, look! Hanged if it isn’t an aeroplane, +going like one o’clock, too.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, how dreadful!” cried the girl, looking +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45'></a>45</span> +up. “I am sure it will fall, and there will be a +horrid accident. Oh, do come away, Raymond!” +</p> +<p> +“Not I! This is hot stuff, Mopsy. By +Jove, the fellow can steer the thing. He’s making +for that shanty over there—and coming down +like a lark. I say, Mops, give me a leg-up; I +want to have a nearer squint at the machine.” +</p> +<p> +“But, Raymond, it’s no business of yours—it’s—it’s +trespassing!” +</p> +<p> +“Trespassing be hanged! We’re next-door +neighbours. Come, give me a shove up.” +</p> +<p> +He clutched the top of the fence; his sister, +still feebly expostulating, gave him a most workmanlike +hoist, and in a few seconds he disappeared +on the other side. The girl waited a +little; then turned and walked away. +</p> +<p> +Her brother meanwhile was hastening across +the field towards the workshop, near which the +aeroplane had by this time alighted. Halfway +he was met by Timothy Ball, who touched his +cap and said— +</p> +<p> +“Beg pardon, sir, but these are private grounds +and you’re a trespasser.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s all right. My name’s Oliphant; +we’re neighbours of yours, you know.” +</p> +<p> +“Now, that’s a good un. Hold hard, sir”—as +the intruder made to walk round him—“my +orders is to allow no one on the premises! Your +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46'></a>46</span> +name’s Oliphant, you said? Well, you can’t +be a neighbour, ’cos the only neighbour I knows +of is Lord Langside.” +</p> +<p> +“He’s my father.” +</p> +<p> +“But—Oliphant——” +</p> +<p> +“Exactly! Now, come along, my good fellow—I +want to see your master.” +</p> +<p> +“He don’t want to see you, though. No you +don’t; keep off, sir; my orders is to allow no +one on the premises.” +</p> +<p> +Then began a little game of dodging, Timothy +stepping in front of the intruder and stretching +his arms like a cattle driver. In half a minute +Raymond Oliphant gave it up. +</p> +<p> +“Really, this is too absurd,” he said good-temperedly. +“I say, I’ll give you my word to +stay here while you go and tell your master that +I’d like to introduce myself to him.” +</p> +<p> +“Then you’ll stay a long time, ‘cos master’s +in town and won’t be home till seven o’clock.” +</p> +<p> +“Well then, the driver of that aeroplane, +whoever he is. Ah! here he comes, thank +goodness!” +</p> +<p> +Tom was hastening across the field. He wore +his usual working suit of blue alpaca; face and +hands were much begrimed. +</p> +<p> +“Your watch-dog here won’t let me pass,” +said Oliphant with a smile as Tom came up. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47'></a>47</span> +“I told him I was a neighbour, but he thinks I’m +a bad lot. We’ve only just come to the place; +my father has taken it, you know; he’s coming +down for shooting as soon as Parliament’s up. +I saw your aeroplane skylarking round, and +couldn’t resist the temptation to come over for +a nearer look. You don’t mind?” +</p> +<p> +“Well—no.” Tom’s tone was dubious. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, if you’d rather not, of course!” +</p> +<p> +“No, I don’t mind really. But Mr. Greatorex +is rather particular about keeping the matter +quiet——” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll be mum as the dead, I assure you. I +don’t know anything about machinery; it isn’t +in our line at Eton; you needn’t be afraid of +my giving the secret away.” +</p> +<p> +“It isn’t that, exactly. I’m not afraid of +your discovering the secret of the machine; +but it’s rather important that the fact of its +existence shouldn’t leak out just yet.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, you’ll have to make friends with my +sister then. She has seen it too. It’s lucky +Mother is in town, or the secret would be out +by this time.” +</p> +<p> +They were walking now side by side to the shed. +</p> +<p> +“You’re not Mr. Greatorex’s son, then?” +</p> +<p> +“No; my name’s Dorrell. I’m no relation +of his.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48'></a>48</span> +</p> +<p> +“My name’s Raymond Oliphant. I’m just +home from Eton; long holidays, you know. +That’s a clinking machine of yours. Never +seen anything like it before. Did Mr. Greatorex +invent it? I understood he was a chemical +manufacturer.” +</p> +<p> +“No. I did.” +</p> +<p> +“Really! I say—d’you mind?—how old are +you?” +</p> +<p> +“Eighteen.” +</p> +<p> +“Just my age! And I’m rotting about at +Eton while you——I say, you ought to make +a good thing of this.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s only experimental at present. We +haven’t tried a long flight.” +</p> +<p> +“Will you get the Government to take it up? +I’ll put in a word with the pater, you know.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s altogether premature,” said Tom +with a smile. +</p> +<p> +“Why, it seemed to me to go all right. Will +it take two?” +</p> +<p> +“Two of our weight, I think. Would you +like to try?” +</p> +<p> +“Rather! And I say, just keep out of sight +from our grounds, will you? If Margaret were +to catch sight of me she’d have a fit or something. +By Jove! it won’t be so slow here as I feared.” +</p> +<p> +Oliphant spent a quarter of an hour in the air, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49'></a>49</span> +and when he descended was overflowing with +enthusiasm. +</p> +<p> +“It’s simply ripping, Mr. Dorrell,” he cried. +“I may come again, mayn’t I?” +</p> +<p> +“Certainly,” said Tom, adding with a smile: +“On one condition.” +</p> +<p> +“Trust me, I won’t say a word. And I’ll +shut Margaret’s mouth too—if I can. Look +here, it seems to me you’d be the best man for +that job. I’ll bring Margaret to-morrow—may +I?—and when she knows you’re the inventor, +and you impress on her that your life’s at stake +or something, she’ll be more likely to hold her +tongue than if <em>I</em> jaw. Good-bye.” +</p> +<p> +Tom thought it necessary to inform Mr. +Greatorex, in the drawing-room before dinner, +of what had happened. +</p> +<p> +“Hm!” he grunted. “Eton boy, is he? +Got any <em>sense</em>?” +</p> +<p> +“I didn’t examine him,” said Tom with a +laugh. “I thought him quite a decent fellow. +He was very good-tempered with Tim, who was +a trifle taken aback when he learnt that he had +ordered off the son of the Prime Minister.” +</p> +<p> +“And a precious Prime Minister he <em>is</em>! Mark +my words, Tom, the Country’s going to the dogs. +To the <em>dogs</em>! We’re dropping <em>behind</em>, Tom, +and Langside hasn’t the grit to prevent it.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50'></a>50</span> +</p> +<p> +“Mr. Oliphant suggested that a word to his +father might induce him to buy the aeroplane +for the Country.” +</p> +<p> +“God bless my soul, you mustn’t <em>dream</em> of +it! Langside will be turned out at the next +election; John Brooks will go in, and he’s the +man to steer this old country through. No, no! +and if young Oliphant blabs a word of it to his +father, I’ll—I’ll——Yes, my love”—as Mrs. Greatorex +entered—“we were talking about our +new neighbour, Lord Langside. It appears that +his son and daughter have come down.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, John, do you think I should call?” +</p> +<p> +“On <em>no account</em>, my dear. I <em>hate</em> Langside’s +politics, and we’ll <em>have nothing to do with them</em>. +Now, Tom, give Mrs. Greatorex your arm.” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51'></a>51</span><a name='chIV' id='chIV'></a>CHAPTER IV—A PRISONER IN ZEMMUR</h2> +<p> +A few mornings after the meeting with +Raymond Oliphant, Tom, coming down +to breakfast, found Mr. Greatorex in a state of +high excitability, with the <em>Times</em> outspread before +him. +</p> +<p> +“What did I say, Tom!” he shouted. “Didn’t +I <em>tell</em> you the Country was going to the dogs! +What do you think of <em>this</em>, now?” +</p> +<p> +He read out a short paragraph— +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +“Information has just reached the Foreign Office +that Sir Mark Ingleton, who recently left London on a +diplomatic mission to Morocco, has been captured by +tribesmen and carried off to the hills. Strong pressure +is being brought to bear on the Sultan to take steps +against the offenders; but if, as is feared, Sir Mark +Ingleton’s captor is the notorious rebel whose headquarters +are at Zemmur, there is little hope of the Sultan +in his present state of impotence being able to make +his authority felt.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s what has happened to a servant of +the British Crown under Langside’s administration;” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52'></a>52</span> +said Mr. Greatorex hotly. “Strong +<em>pressure</em>, indeed! It wants a fleet, an expedition, +a few quick-firers and Long Toms.” +</p> +<p> +“But wouldn’t that make a blaze?” said +Tom quietly. “In the present state of affairs +it might give rise to no end of complications in +Europe, too.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t tell <em>me</em>!” cried Mr. Greatorex, banging +his fist on the paper. “We’re sinking into +a state of jelly-fish; any one can poke us and +smack us and we simply <em>go in</em>. This’ll smash +the Government: that’s one good thing; and +we’ll see what John Brooks can do when <em>he’s</em> at +the helm.” +</p> +<p> +Later in the day Raymond Oliphant, who +was now a privileged visitor to the shed, adverted +to the subject. +</p> +<p> +“Thank your stars you are not Prime Minister, +Dorrell,” he said. “The pater came down for +the week-end, and he’s nearly off his chump, +poor old chap! He knew about this kidnapping +three days ago, before it got into the papers, +and he went back to town this morning prepared +for squalls in the House.” +</p> +<p> +“Can’t he do anything?” +</p> +<p> +“He says not. One of the Opposition rags +was screaming about an expedition on Saturday, +but of course that can’t be risked. And it might +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53'></a>53</span> +fail after all—just as the Gordon expedition did. +That Moorish brigand might kill Ingleton if +hard pressed.” +</p> +<p> +“But what would he gain by that? He’s +playing for a ransom, I suppose.” +</p> +<p> +“No, there’s more in it than that. We’ve +already offered an enormous ransom through the +Sultan; but the rebel wants to get certain +concessions out of the Sultan, and thinks he’ll +manage it by getting the Sultan into hot water +with us. I say, what a pity your aeroplane isn’t +fit for the job. What a grand idea it would be +to snap up the prisoner under the very noses of +his captors! I suppose it <em>isn’t</em> up to it, eh?” +</p> +<p> +Tom shook his head. +</p> +<p> +“I couldn’t trust it to go so far. You see, +here the workshop is at hand, and if anything +goes wrong it can be easily repaired. It would +be rather a poor lookout if the thing came to +grief in the Bay of Biscay, say, and I came souse +into the sea.” +</p> +<p> +“It <em>would</em> be rather rotten. Well, let’s have +a spin now.” +</p> +<p> +The two mounted the car, and spent an hour +in wheeling about the enclosure. Tom ventured +to set the motors at a higher speed than he had +before tried, and put the aeroplane through a +score of evolutions, which demonstrated that he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54'></a>54</span> +had it perfectly under control. Oliphant in his +enthusiasm returned again to the matter of the +captured envoy. +</p> +<p> +“I say, is it quite out of the question, d’you +think?” +</p> +<p> +“Afraid so. Perhaps in a few months——” +</p> +<p> +“That’s no good,” interrupted his companion. +“The occasion will be passed. Ingleton will be +either released or dead, and, in any case, there’ll +be such a terrific agitation against the pater +that he’ll be forced to resign. He wouldn’t mind +personally; but there’s the Country, you see. +Can’t you risk it?” +</p> +<p> +“I might if only myself were concerned; but +there’s Mr. Greatorex to reckon with. The +whole thing’s only experimental. I’m sure he +wouldn’t hear of it.” +</p> +<p> +“Politics is a rotten game! Wish we were +back in the times before Whigs and Tories were +invented.” +</p> +<p> +“And unpopular ministers lost their heads!—Now +I’m going to let her down. See how near +she falls to the perpendicular.” +</p> +<p> +He dropped a hammer out of the car, stopped +the horizontal motion and started the vertical, +adjusted the planes, and descended gently to the +ground. +</p> +<p> +“That’s better,” he cried, when he had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55'></a>55</span> +measured the distance between the aeroplane and +the hammer; “it’s only a dozen yards. We’re +getting on. Really, I wish I could try your +suggestion.” +</p> +<p> +“Shall I mention it to the pater?” said +Oliphant eagerly. +</p> +<p> +“Not on any account,” said Tom aghast. +“Even if I could do it, he of all men must not +know.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t see why.” +</p> +<p> +“Supposing I tried it and came a cropper, +there’d be a double outcry against him; the +first for not rescuing Sir Mark Ingleton, the +second for allowing a crack-brained engineer to +make a fool of himself and a corpse in the bargain. +No, give it up; I don’t see any help for it.” +</p> +<p> +But when left to himself Tom could not keep +his thoughts from Oliphant’s suggestion. The +adventurous idea captivated his imagination; +he began to consider it in earnest; he spent +several hours of the afternoon in further experimenting +with the aeroplane, and after dinner, +when Mr. Greatorex and he went out into the +grounds for their customary stroll and cigarettes, +he broached the subject, in a casual way, and in +much the same terms as Oliphant had used. +</p> +<p> +“Pity we couldn’t take a trip to Morocco +and get Ingleton away,” he said cautiously. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56'></a>56</span> +</p> +<p> +“Eh! Pull Langside’s chestnuts out of the +fire! He was a fool to send the man to Morocco. +I wouldn’t if I could, and of <em>course</em> it’s impossible.” +</p> +<p> +“I’m not sure of that. And it isn’t a party +matter, really.” +</p> +<p> +“Not party! It’s <em>all</em> party.” +</p> +<p> +“Sir Mark Ingleton is an agent of the Crown, +sir, and the Crown is above party. I think in +these matters we might sink our differences.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, and sink our aeroplane, and <em>drown</em> +ourselves, and serve us <em>right</em>.” +</p> +<p> +But opposition was only a stimulus to Tom. +He began to argue the matter strenuously. Mr. +Greatorex, to do him justice, was no bigot. His +politics were at bottom a particularly intense +form of patriotism; and when Tom showed +him that there were at any rate possibilities in +the suggestion, he gradually changed his view, +forgot his reluctance to help a political opponent, +and became indeed quite enthusiastic. +</p> +<p> +“By <em>George</em>, Tom!” he exclaimed; “what +a grand send-off it would be to your invention +if the first use of it were the rescue of this unfortunate +diplomatist! And what a magnificent +thing for the Country! Come and let’s talk it +out over a cup of coffee. Not a <em>word</em> before +Mrs. Greatorex, mind.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, John, are you pleased with your toy?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57'></a>57</span> +said that good lady when they re-entered the +house. +</p> +<p> +“Quite, my dear, <em>quite</em>.” +</p> +<p> +“It will be quite a feature of our garden party. +But I hope Tom will make sure that it is absolutely +safe before he takes anybody up at half a +crown a ride. I shall be glad of the half-crowns +for my Nursing Association, but I should never +forgive you if any one was hurt.” +</p> +<p> +“Why, my dear, the half-crowns would go to +pay the <em>nurses</em>.” +</p> +<p> +Mr. Greatorex and Tom had a long talk in +the study that night. Up to the present the +longest journey the aeroplane had taken without +descending was, as Tom estimated, about forty +miles. Then something had always occurred +to make a descent necessary. The principal +stumbling-block had been the overheating of +the motors. But Tom suggested that if he were +content with a speed of about twenty-five miles +an hour, a greater distance might be covered +without this risk. +</p> +<p> +The practical question was, could the machine +be brought so near the place of the envoy’s +captivity as to make a dash upon it practicable? +From the latest report, in the evening paper, it +appeared that the prisoner was held in a mountain +fastness some eighty miles from the Atlantic seaboard. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58'></a>58</span> +Tom got out a map and pointed out +the spot. It did not seem impossible to reach +it by means of the airship from some convenient +place on the coast. +</p> +<p> +“D’you know what occurs to me?” said Tom. +“You were talking of a yachting cruise in the +<em>Dandy Dinmont</em> in September. Why not make +it a little earlier? I could then go in the airship +and you in the yacht; and we could make +that a kind of floating base, taking in it all +materials necessary for repairs.” +</p> +<p> +“But you couldn’t repair the thing without +letting it down on the deck.” +</p> +<p> +“I could do that, I think. To-day I came +down within a few feet of the spot I aimed at, +and I could let the machine down on deck if the +yacht were not rolling or pitching too much.” +</p> +<p> +“But <em>hang</em> it all, Tom, the deck <em>wasn’t made</em> +for such a purpose.” +</p> +<p> +“No; but it wouldn’t take long to rig up a +temporary wooden platform and framework +over the after-part of the vessel to serve as a +landing-stage.” +</p> +<p> +“You appear to have thought it all out,” +said Mr. Greatorex. “D’you want to rush me +off my <em>feet</em>?” +</p> +<p> +“Not a bit,” replied Tom smiling. “You’ll +be safe on deck.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59'></a>59</span> +</p> +<p> +“Well, how long will it take to get everything +ready?” +</p> +<p> +“A week.” +</p> +<p> +“Very well. I’ll write off to Bodgers to-night +to trim the yacht. The rest I leave to you. +And mind, not a <em>word</em> to a soul.” +</p> +<p> +“I think I shall have to tell Oliphant. In +fact, it was he who put it into my head.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s a nuisance! Well, we’ll have him +to dinner to-morrow. I want to take stock of +him. Not a <em>word</em> till I have sized him up.” +</p> +<p> +Oliphant came to dinner with his sister and +was approved. Mrs. Greatorex afterwards pronounced +him to be “quite a nice boy.” Mr. +Greatorex used different terms. +</p> +<p> +“He’s no <em>fool</em>, and don’t <em>talk</em> too much,” he +said. +</p> +<p> +The three had a very animated discussion as +they walked in the cool of the evening. Mr. +Greatorex was very emphatic on the point of +secrecy. +</p> +<p> +“We don’t want any newspaper fellow to get +wind of the airship until we’ve <em>proved</em> it,” he +said. “A pretty fool I should look if they +gassed about it for a column or two and then +the whole thing went <em>pop</em> like a paper balloon. +And that Morocco fellow will have plenty of +spies, of course; <em>I</em> know their Eastern ways; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60'></a>60</span> +and if he got a hint of what we’re up to, he’d be +on his guard and then there’d be fizzle.” +</p> +<p> +“How many passengers will the machine +carry?” asked Oliphant. +</p> +<p> +“Three or four light-weights, I should think,” +Tom replied. +</p> +<p> +“You’ll have room for me, then?” +</p> +<p> +“Good heavens, no!” cried Mr. Greatorex. +“Couldn’t <em>hear</em> of it!” +</p> +<p> +“But it was my idea, you know, Mr. Greatorex. +I was only longing for something to fill these +holidays.” +</p> +<p> +“Absurd! Preposterous! You’re under +age; you couldn’t go without your father’s +permission; you couldn’t ask that without giving +the whole thing away: and I couldn’t be responsible +for you.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, I tell you what it is, Mr. Greatorex. +You invite me to go a cruise in your yacht. The +mater’s got a notion that my lungs are weak, +and was saying only the other day that a sea trip +would do me good. I’d see some of the fun, +then.” +</p> +<p> +“<em>There</em> you are, Mr. Oliphant! <em>Fun! I</em> +regard it as most <em>serious</em>, I assure you. Now, in +<em>my</em> young days——” +</p> +<p> +“I bet you liked fun as well as any of us, Mr. +Greatorex,” said Oliphant quickly. “If the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61'></a>61</span> +truth were known, I dare say you really beat us +all.” +</p> +<p> +Mr. Greatorex’s eyes twinkled. +</p> +<p> +“Well, now I come to think of it, I <em>was</em> a +wild young rip. So they all said. I remember—— But +come now, I mustn’t tell you <em>that</em>. <em>Never</em> +do! Your father would never let you go; he +doesn’t know me and doesn’t want to, and I’m +doing my level best to kick him out at the next +election.” +</p> +<p> +“And he’ll probably be jolly glad if you +succeed! Mayn’t I come, Mr. Greatorex?” +</p> +<p> +“Sorry to disoblige you, Mr. Oliphant, but +it would <em>never do</em>. No. In fact, I think we’ll +give it up altogether. Too risky! We’ll give +it <em>up</em>, Tom.” +</p> +<p> +Oliphant went home in a very bad temper. +</p> +<p> +“Mrs. Greatorex is a dear old thing,” said +his sister. +</p> +<p> +“And Mr. Greatorex is an old rotter,” retorted +Raymond in a tone of disgust. +</p> +<p> +Margaret Oliphant obtained very unsatisfactory +answers to the questions to which this remark +gave rise, and concluded that in some way +Raymond had not hit it with his host. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Greatorex would doubtless have been +much surprised had he seen the letter which +Lord Langside wrote to his son a few days later. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62'></a>62</span> +</p> +<p> +“<span class='sc'>My dear Ray</span>,” wrote the Prime Minister,— +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +“Are you conspiring against me, like Absalom? Mr. +Greatorex can’t do me much harm on a yacht. He +won’t see a newspaper for a month! Hope you’ll +enjoy yourself. +</p> +<p style='text-align:right; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-right:2em;;'>“Your affectionate</p> +<p style='text-align:right; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; margin-right:2em;;'>“<span class='sc'>Dad</span>.”</p> +<p> +Oliphant showed this letter to no one. But +the day he received it, he went a long and tedious +journey by train across country to the little +port of Horleston. He reached home very late, +but in much better spirits than might have been +expected after such a tiresome experience of +slow trains. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63'></a>63</span><a name='chV' id='chV'></a>CHAPTER V—OFF THE BARBARY COAST</h2> +<p> +The week was filled with the bustle of preparation. +The airship was divided into +sections, the motors and the framework taken +to pieces, and the whole packed into large light +crates and conveyed to the coast on country +carts, their arrival at Horleston being so timed +that everything could be put on board very early +in the morning. Besides the crew, the company +consisted only of Mr. Greatorex, Tom Dorrell, +and Timothy Ball. +</p> +<p> +Before the vessel put off, a custom house officer +came aboard, and showed himself somewhat +inquisitive as to the meaning of the strange platform +newly rigged on the after deck, and as to the +nature of the bulky packages. Mr. Greatorex +explained that they contained a cooling apparatus +which he was taking out to Morocco on behalf of +an acquaintance, adding that by all accounts the +country was pretty hot in all respects. With +this explanation the officer had to be content. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64'></a>64</span> +Clearly the parts of the airship did not come +within the description of explosives, firearms +or other articles on which he might exercise his +powers of detention. Still, being by training +suspicious, he was evidently by no means satisfied, +and left the yacht somewhat unwillingly. +</p> +<p> +Steam was already up and the officer had barely +left the vessel before she put to sea. +</p> +<p> +“Just as well to be clear away before he gets +his second wind,” said Mr. Greatorex with a +chuckle. In his spotless white ducks and blue +cap he was enjoying himself already. “Did that +uncommonly well, didn’t I, Tom?” he said. +“What could be more useful than cooling apparatus +when there’s a chance of getting into very +hot water, eh?” +</p> +<p> +He took a run over the vessel as soon as she +had made an offing. His yacht was a hobby, +and whenever he went for a cruise he liked to +examine her in the company of his officers, with +whom, as with the crew, whom he knew +individually, he was very popular. In the +course of his inspection he came to the engine +room. +</p> +<p> +“How do, Mr. Mumford!” he said genially +to the engineer. “All in good order, eh?” +</p> +<p> +“Tip-top, sir. This is the neatest bit of +machinery I’ve ever had to do with.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65'></a>65</span> +</p> +<p> +“Glad to hear that. I <em>say</em>, is that a new stoker +I see there? What’s become of Byles?” +</p> +<p> +“His mother is very ill, sir, and he had to cry +off at the last moment. I was very lucky to get +a man to fill the place.” +</p> +<p> +“Ha! Looks rather <em>young</em>, doesn’t he? Overgrown, +perhaps. Any <em>good</em>?” +</p> +<p> +“Can’t tell yet, sir. I’ll let you know later +on. He shapes very well. He’s a fine well-made +young fellow; very willing, too. Byles +said he’d go bail for him to any amount.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s all right. What’s his name?” +</p> +<p> +“M’Cracken, sir; Scotch, by the name. +Would you like to speak to him, sir?” +</p> +<p> +“Just a word. Like to <em>know</em> the men, you +know. Gives ’em a personal interest in their +job, I always think.” +</p> +<p> +The engineer called up the new stoker, a tall +young fellow in the flannel shirt open at the neck, +the loose reach-me-down, and the black-lead +coated trousers affected by his kind. His +face and arms were begrimed with black grease, +and his mouth received an extra smudge as he +drew the back of his hand across it, apparently in +sheepish confusion. +</p> +<p> +“You’re a new man, M’Cracken,” said the +merchant pleasantly. “Hope you’ll get on +well. Mr. Mumford won’t <em>over-work</em> you, I can +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66'></a>66</span> +answer for that. Have you been long at this +job?” +</p> +<p> +“No that lang, sir; just a wee while,” the +stoker replied in a somewhat husky voice. +</p> +<p> +“Exactly. Ah! well! Good morning.” +</p> +<p> +“Good mornin’, sir.” +</p> +<p> +And Mr. Greatorex went on deck, satisfied +that he had established excellent relations with +the newest hand. +</p> +<p> +The first part of the voyage was rather stormy. +The yacht, by no means a large vessel, shipped +one or two fairly heavy seas, to the no small alarm +of Tom, who was anxious lest the crates containing +his machine should be washed overboard or +otherwise injured. But halfway through the +Bay the weather moderated, and by the time +the yacht reached the latitude of Lisbon both +wind and sea were calm enough, he thought, +for his first experiment. It had been decided +that the dusk of the evening would be the best +time for the attempt, for it was just as necessary +on sea as on land to avoid observation. If the +airship were descried from the deck of a homeward-bound +vessel, the fact, and the name of the +yacht, might be marconigraphed to England, +and then, as Mr. Greatorex said, all Fleet Street +would be in a buzz. +</p> +<p> +Early one morning the crates were broken +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67'></a>67</span> +open. It took the best part of the day to piece +the machine together, and Tom went over it +bit by bit several times to assure himself that +everything was in order. The airship was so +placed that it could take flight over the stern of +the yacht. When dusk was falling, the vessel’s +engines were reversed, Tom arranging that as soon +as the airship rose from the deck the yacht should +be sent full speed ahead, to make sure that the +apparatus cleared the vessel and ran no risk of +fouling the funnel. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Greatorex had shown some nervousness +as the critical moment approached. He insisted +on lowering a boat in case the airship came +to grief and Tom were thrown into the sea. +Timothy Ball, too, looked on with a most woful +countenance as the final preparations were made. +He had unslung a life belt, ready to slip into it +and fling himself overboard if the airship broke +down. +</p> +<p> +“I feel sure in my inside it won’t work,” he +said anxiously to Tom, as he stepped to the car. +“It’ll be worse than suicide, sir.” +</p> +<p> +“Why worse, Tim?” asked Mr. Greatorex. +</p> +<p> +“‘Cos we’re lookin’ on, sir,” said Tim solemnly, +and felt much hurt by the burst of laughter with +which his explanation was received. +</p> +<p> +But his anxiety was a vain expenditure of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68'></a>68</span> +energy. With the vertical screws at full speed, +and the horizontal screws half speed, the machine +rose like a huge bird from the deck, with a noise +like the clattering of hundreds of bats and the +humming of innumerable bees. At the height +of sixty feet or so Tom stopped the vertical +screws, and turned the full power of his engines +on to the horizontal propellers, giving to the +planes just sufficient inclination to counteract +the force of gravity. +</p> +<p> +“Capital!” exclaimed Mr. Greatorex, as he +watched the easy flight. “First-rate! There’s +a <em>fortune</em> in that, skipper,” he said to Captain +Bodgers at his side. +</p> +<p> +“Maybe,” said the Captain reflectively. He +was a man of few words. +</p> +<p> +“Rather stay on deck, eh?” +</p> +<p> +“Well, you can swim in water, sir.” +</p> +<p> +“Exactly. But how far is the fellow going? +It’s getting dark, and he’ll be out of sight directly. +By the way, Bodgers, there’s no law about showing +lamps on an airship. But there will be—there +<em>will</em> be. Ah! here he comes—at a spanking +pace, too. He’ll overtake us in no time, going +dead slow as we are.” +</p> +<p> +In less than a minute the airship had come +within a little distance astern of the yacht. +</p> +<p> +“Hallo!” came a voice from the air. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69'></a>69</span> +</p> +<p> +“Are you there?” answered Mr. Greatorex, +from force of habit at the telephone. +</p> +<p> +“Who are you?” came the response. “I +say, Mr. Greatorex, pick up that boat and go full +speed ahead. She’s going beautifully; the oiling +she’s had has done her no end of good.” +</p> +<p> +“All right. Aren’t you coming <em>down</em>? It’s +getting <em>dark</em>; I can hardly <em>see</em> you.” +</p> +<p> +“Not just yet. She goes smoother than the +yacht, and it’s beautifully fresh up here. I can +tell your whereabouts by your lights.” +</p> +<p> +“All right. <em>Don’t get lost!</em>” +</p> +<p> +Tom laughed. He laughed again when, from +his elevated position, he saw that though the +boat had been hoisted on board, four men had +been told off to stand by the davits in order to +lower it again at the first sign of mishap. +</p> +<p> +The yacht was sent full speed ahead. She could +easily do her eighteen knots, but was no match +in speed for the airship, which circled round +and round her. +</p> +<p> +“She beats us hollow,” said Mr. Mumford +to M’Cracken, as they watched the flight from +the foot of the companion. +</p> +<p> +“Ou ay, sir. Yon’s a grand invention. It’s +wonderful.” +</p> +<p> +After about an hour Tom called down that +he was going to descend. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70'></a>70</span> +</p> +<p> +“He’d much better stay up now he’s there,” +said Timothy, gloomily. “He’ll smash himself +or us—I know he will.” +</p> +<p> +Tom knew that to descend was a delicate +operation, to be performed with all caution. +As his control over the airship was to a great +extent proportionate to its speed, he shouted +instructions to keep the yacht going under full +steam. Coming up astern, he so adjusted his +own speed as to overtake the yacht very slowly. +When the airship was level with the stern, two +men on board caught a cable hanging loose from +the car. Then Tom gradually reduced the +speed of the horizontal propellers, and started +the vertical screws at half speed, keeping one +hand all the time on the lever that adjusted the +angles of the planes. He handled his appliances so +dexterously that the airship, guided by the rope, +sank steadily and accurately to the deck. Buffers +of india rubber were slipped under her bottom +to break the slight jar that must be inevitable +when she touched the platform. Then Tom +stepped out. +</p> +<p> +“Capital!” cried Mr. Greatorex, slapping +him on the back. “This is going to turn out +<em>all right</em>, my boy. What does it <em>feel</em> like, being +up there?” +</p> +<p> +“Like a fish out of water, I should think,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71'></a>71</span> +said Tom, laughing. “But I thought what a +helpless thing a man-of-war would be if she had +to tackle an airship. I could choose my own altitude, +and drop explosives on her deck and blow +her to smithereens, and there’s no gun that I know +of that could make an effective reply. They’d +have to invent a rocket apparatus for shying +melinite shells aloft.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, let’s hope that it’ll never come to that. +Ours is a <em>cooling</em> apparatus—don’t you forget +it!” +</p> +<p> +Tom was so well pleased with his first sea trial +that day had scarcely dawned before he was again +aloft. This time he took Timothy with him. +He needed some assistance in attending to the +mechanism, and now that a first ascent had been +made without mishap, the man was no longer +so nervous about it. +</p> +<p> +The airship had not been up more than half +an hour, however, when Tom signalled to the +yacht that he saw a vessel on the horizon. +</p> +<p> +“Come down <em>at once</em>!” roared Mr. Greatorex +through a megaphone. +</p> +<p> +Tom descended, somewhat unwillingly. +Nothing would have pleased him better than to +steer directly for the vessel, and see what effect +was produced on board by the sight of this strange +bird of passage hovering above the tops. But +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72'></a>72</span> +clearly Mr. Greatorex was right, and Tom +lowered the machine deftly to the deck. As the +ship was heading straight for the yacht, the +aeroplane was covered with tarpaulin. +</p> +<p> +The vessel turned out to be a cruiser flying +the French colours. The captain spoke the +yacht, and asked whether anything had been +seen from its deck of an extraordinary object +that appeared to have been moving through the +air. +</p> +<p> +“Answer him, Tom. I’m no good at French.” +</p> +<p> +“We did see something, monsieur le capitaine,” +he said, “Do you know whether Monsieur +Santos-Dumont is trying his thirty-third airship?” +</p> +<p> +“I am not aware, monsieur. It may be. I +saw the object very indistinctly. It suddenly +disappeared.” +</p> +<p> +“Ah! I was always afraid that Monsieur +Santos-Dumont would meet his death. You +French, monsieur, are such adventurous spirits! +When you reach Brest perhaps you will inquire +whether he has recently made an ascent.” +</p> +<p> +“I will certainly do so, monsieur.” +</p> +<p> +The vessels were now out of speaking distance. +Tom explained to Mr. Greatorex what he had +said. +</p> +<p> +“Bravo! What with my cooling apparatus +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73'></a>73</span> +and your cool cheek I think we are keeping our +secret pretty well, Tom.” +</p> +<p> +In order to escape further observation from passing +vessels Mr. Greatorex had the yacht’s course +set considerably westward of the usual track. +It was consequently another couple of days before +she came into the latitude of Rabat, the port for +which she was making. Her head was turned +eastward in the direction of the coast of Morocco, +and, there being no vessels in sight, Tom again +made an ascent, Timothy accompanying him. +</p> +<p> +The coastline gradually came into view. From +an altitude of more than a hundred feet Tom +saw, between him and the coast, a number of +rocky islets. Here and there the varying tints +of the water indicated shoals of sunken rocks. +</p> +<p> +“Know the coast?” he called down to Captain +Bodgers. +</p> +<p> +“Ay, ay, sir,” said the captain. +</p> +<p> +“There are no end of shoals.” +</p> +<p> +“Know ’em all, sir; have a care you don’t +strike one.” +</p> +<p> +Captain Bodgers laughed uproariously at his +little joke, and Tom, circling round the yacht, +set the aeroplane at full speed towards the coast. +He was a considerable distance ahead when +Timothy suddenly called his attention to an +object projecting above the sea-level, close to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74'></a>74</span> +one of the rocky islets that dotted the intervening +space. It might have escaped their attention +altogether but for a certain movement Tim +fancied he discerned in it. As they drew nearer, +they discovered that what Tim had thought to +be a single object was in reality two, which +appeared to be the broken-off stumps of two masts. +Taking his field-glasses in one hand—the other +always grasping the steering wheel—Tom lifted +them to his eyes, got the focus, and made out +that the objects were not stumps after all, but +the tops of masts, and that two figures were +clinging to them, one to each. +</p> +<p> +Tom had no doubt that the airship was approaching +the scene of a wreck, and that the two +men were in distress and danger. Steering +immediately for the yacht, he came within +hailing distance and through his megaphone +announced his discovery. +</p> +<p> +“We’ll go to the rescue, <em>of course</em>,” shouted +Mr. Greatorex in reply. +</p> +<p> +The wreck was as yet invisible from the deck, +but it was arranged that the yacht should stand +in as close as possible, and then send a boat to +bring off the survivors. Meanwhile Tom, setting +his engine at full speed, dashed on in the direction +of the submerged vessel. +</p> +<p> +He noticed that even during the few seconds +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75'></a>75</span> +in which he had been in communication with +the yacht the situation had changed. One of +the masts was now tenantless. Presumably its +occupant had been washed off or through fatigue +had dropped into the sea. But as the airship +drew rapidly nearer, it was noticed that the figure +on the other mast was bending low as if to raise +something from the water. Then a head and +shoulders appeared above the surface. Clearly +the man Tom had supposed to be lost was trying +to make his way to the mast to which his +companion clung. +</p> +<p> +The airship was now less than half a mile +distant, and from the altitude to which they +had risen—some three hundred feet above the +surface—the occupants could see every detail +in the strange drama that was being enacted +beneath them. Assisted by the figure above, +the swimmer was gradually making his way on +to the mast, when suddenly a black fin appeared +above the surface a few yards off. With a convulsive +movement, the lowermost man had just +succeeded in swinging himself a foot or two up +the mast when the gaping jaws of a shark passed +immediately beneath him. Tom shuddered involuntarily. +The man had escaped by a few +inches at the most. +</p> +<p> +In a second the shark turned and glided beneath +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76'></a>76</span> +the clinging figure. The terror-stricken wretch +clutched wildly at the man above him, and began +to haul himself up hand over hand, clinging to +his companion’s body. But the latter, unable +to bear the double weight on the smooth mast, +slipped slowly downwards. He was the slighter +of the two, and no match, apparently, for the +man who had usurped his place. +</p> +<p> +“What a beast!” ejaculated Tom, wondering +at this strange want of fellow-feeling in a man +who was evidently older and stronger than his +companion in distress. Slowing down, he fixed +his eyes on the extraordinary spectacle. The +position was now reversed. The younger and +slighter man was very manifestly the under dog. +With every attempt on his part to swarm up +the mast the man above him kicked savagely, +while the shark circled below. The fact that +the second mast had become untenable seemed to +indicate that the tide was rising. Neither of the +men, their whole attention fixed on the sea +beneath, had noticed the airship that was now +hovering just above their heads. +</p> +<p> +When, however, Tom gradually allowed the +airship to sink towards the sea, the shark seemed +to take fright, just as smaller fish are scared by +signs of movement in the air above. It left the +immediate neighbourhood of the mast, and its +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77'></a>77</span> +black fin could be seen describing a much larger +circle some two or three hundred yards away. +Clearly it had not given up hope. When the +shark moved away and the strain of terror was +relaxed, the two men became suddenly aware of +the presence of the airship. The topmost man +was almost as much scared by the sight of the +airship as he had been by the presence of the +shark. Tom had already noticed that both of +the men were dark skinned. The larger and +stronger—the brute, as Tom mentally called +him—appeared to be middle-aged; the other +was a stripling. +</p> +<p> +Tom was struck by the difference in their +demeanour when they caught sight of the airship; +neither he nor Timothy was at present +visible to them. The elder man was aghast with +fright, his eyes dilated, his mouth gaped between +black moustache and beard. The younger, however, +seemed to pull himself together as with +renewed hope. Tom fancied that he heard a +cry from his lips. +</p> +<p> +Looking round, Tom saw that the yacht had +now hove to, and the boat was leaving her side. +But his attention was again called to the wreck +by a piercing shriek. The shark, regaining confidence, +had made another dash at the mast. +This time it seemed to come within an inch of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78'></a>78</span> +the terrified youth; indeed, from the cry that +had reached his ears, Tom thought that the poor +wretch had actually been seized. But next +moment he saw that the shark had again drawn +off, scared, possibly, by the cry. +</p> +<p> +There was now less of the masts above the +surface. The tide was evidently rising, and with +its rise the shark would have another opportunity +of coming within snapping distance. Tom +felt that it would not again fail. It would be +at least ten minutes before the boat reached the +spot; by that time the hapless lad would probably +have fallen a victim. Tom had noticed +that when the shark was all but upon him, and +he made a convulsive movement upwards, he +was met by a storm of kicks from the man above, +threatening to dislodge him completely from +the mast and hurl him into the very jaws of the +monster. +</p> +<p> +In a moment Tom made up his mind. He +ordered Timothy to let down from the car a +light grapnel carried for use in emergencies, and +also for raising anything that might be needed, +without having to bring the airship to rest on +the ground. Then he allowed the machine to +sink gently until the grapnel dangled within +reach of the man at the top. Tom had no +intention of helping him first; by his conduct +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79'></a>79</span> +he deserved to be left to drown or to make a meal +for the shark. But the man seemed indeed +quite incapable of movement, except when +scared to frenzy by the efforts of the youth below to +regain the position from which he had been forced. +He made no attempt to clutch the grapnel +dangling at his very hand. Tom let the machine +fall lower, until the grapnel came within reach +of the younger man. He showed no such hesitation. +Looking along the cable, he saw Timothy +gazing down at him from the car. The sight of +a human face gave him confidence. He clutched +at the grapnel, let go his hold of the mast, and +swung clear, Timothy attempting to steady the +rope. +</p> +<p> +His sudden movement threatened a catastrophe. +The airship was now only about sixty feet above the +sea, and before Tom, his attention partly engaged +by the efforts of the boy, could increase the speed +of the ascensional screw, the light vessel was +pulled swiftly downwards. For a moment he +felt that it must inevitably be dragged into the +water. The young fellow below, still clutching +desperately at the grapnel, had actually begun +to sink beneath the surface. But as soon as his +weight was supported by the water, the ascensional +screw, now set by Tom whirling at full +speed, checked the downward movement, and in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80'></a>80</span> +another couple of seconds the airship began to +rise, dragging the youth upwards. +</p> +<p> +In his excitement Tom had momentarily +forgotten the shark. That persistent creature, +however, having overcome its fear of the monster +of the air, made a dash for the youth as he entered +the sea. The poor wretch had the narrowest +escape of all when the shark passed just beneath +him, as, whirling round on the grapnel, he was +swung clear of the water. +</p> +<p> +Now that he was safe from the cruel jaws, the +lad showed himself to be possessed of no little +agility. Hand over hand he swarmed up the +cable until he reached the lower rail of the car, +which he clutched, and by Timothy’s aid he +clambered over. Meanwhile Tom had steered +the airship towards the approaching boat. +</p> +<p> +“Give way with a will, men!” he shouted. +“There’s no time to be lost. We’ve got +one; the other man will be nabbed by a shark +if you aren’t there pretty soon. I can see the +brute’s fin above the water just by the mast.” +</p> +<p> +The men spurted. As the boat approached +the submerged vessel, the shark took fright and +glided swiftly away. In another half-minute the +man was taken from his precarious perch, and +lifted, in a state of complete collapse, into the +boat. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81'></a>81</span><a name='chVI' id='chVI'></a>CHAPTER VI—SALATHIEL BEN EZRA</h2> +<p> +“Bismillah!” ejaculated the young Moor +when he stood in the car. +</p> +<p> +“Just saved your bacon, if that’s what you +mean,” said Timothy. “And a nice sloppy +mess you’re making! I s’pose <em>I</em>‘ll have to clean +up.” +</p> +<p> +Timothy scowled and growled, but that was +only his way. Tom knew well enough that +Timothy would clean up with great cheerfulness. +</p> +<p> +“We’ll get back to the yacht,” he said, “and +find some dry things for him there.” +</p> +<p> +The airship was now so well under control +that Tom had no difficulty in letting her down +safely on deck, though the yacht was at anchor. +</p> +<p> +“Uncommonly well done!” exclaimed Mr. +Greatorex as Tom stepped out of the car. +</p> +<p> +“Yes; I thought she came down pretty +neatly,” said Tom. +</p> +<p> +“Didn’t mean <em>that</em>, you egoist. I meant you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82'></a>82</span> +saved this young fellow uncommonly well; saw +it <em>all</em> through my binocular. Dangerous things, +sharks. Who <em>is</em> the boy?” +</p> +<p> +“I haven’t asked him yet. I thought we +might give him a dry change and then see if we +can make out anything. He probably can’t +speak English.” +</p> +<p> +“Very well. Bodgers, find some toggery and +take him into the cabin. Who’s the <em>other</em> +fellow?” +</p> +<p> +“We shall find out presently. Shall we go +into the cabin? I’d like to put a few questions +before the other man comes aboard.” +</p> +<p> +They found that Captain Bodgers had rigged +up the boy in a sailor’s suit much too large for +him. +</p> +<p> +“Capital!” cried Mr. Greatorex. “<em>Much</em> +more respectable! Can you speak English, +boy?” +</p> +<p> +“Me speak English little bit, and Spanish +little bit,” replied the boy with a frank smile. +</p> +<p> +“That’s capital! Not the <em>Spanish</em>, you know; +but the English.” +</p> +<p> +“I tank very much for the gentleman’s goodness——” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, yes, <em>that’s</em> all right. But come now, +how did you get into that pretty pickle?” +</p> +<p> +The boy looked puzzled. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83'></a>83</span> +</p> +<p> +“Tell us how the ship came to be wrecked,” +said Tom, translating. +</p> +<p> +“Aiyeh! She caught in fog last night, struck +rock. Quick it was all over; no one live, only +me and Salathiel ben Ezra.” +</p> +<p> +“That is your friend’s name, is it? A Jew?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, excellency, a Jew. A dog of a Jew!” +</p> +<p> +“And you are not a Jew? What is your +name?” +</p> +<p> +“Abdul, most merciful—Abdul ben Cassim, +of Ain Afroo in Zemmur.” +</p> +<p> +“Zemmur!” ejaculated Mr. Greatorex. “Isn’t +that the neighbourhood where Ingleton is said +to be?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” replied Tom. “We may find the lad +useful. Tell us, Abdul, how you came to be at +sea with a Jew.” +</p> +<p> +Abdul explained that, some five or six years +before, his father, a well-to-do saddlemaker of +Ain Afroo, had contrived to quarrel with the +sheikh of his district, refusing, in fact, to pay +the sheikh a very extortionate levy. It was, +Abdul admitted, a foolish thing to do, for soon +afterwards the saddlemaker died mysteriously. +His family took instant flight with what possessions +they could get together, and found refuge +in Casa Blanca, where the boy had a distant +relative, the owner of a small coasting vessel. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84'></a>84</span> +Since that time he had been engaged in trading +up and down the coast, and in his journeyings had +picked up a smattering of English and Spanish. +</p> +<p> +The small capital which the family had brought +with them had been considerably increased by +profitable investments in trading ventures of +the lad’s kinsman. A share in the business was +owned by Salathiel ben Ezra, the Jew who was +now being brought from the wreck in the yacht’s +boat. It was very unlucky; Abdul could not +but think that the wreck must have been caused +by an evil spell cast on the boat by the Jew; +for Salathiel had never voyaged on the vessel +before. The loss of the ship meant the loss of +almost the whole of his family’s little fortune, +and Abdul feared they would be placed in the +power of Salathiel, who already had some claim +on them which Abdul himself did not understand. +But everything happened by the will of Allah; +it was written, and what is written must be. +</p> +<p> +Abdul’s story was hardly finished when the +Jew was hauled on board. He appeared to have +quite regained his self-possession during the +short passage of the boat. He made a deep +obeisance when Mr. Greatorex met him on deck. +</p> +<p> +“I pay a thousand dutiful civilities,” he said +in a low smooth voice. “The honourable sir +overwhelms me with kindness in saving me and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85'></a>85</span> +my humble companion from the jaws of the +monster, and my thanks are even as the sand of +the shore. May I beg the little loan of a dry +garment or two?” +</p> +<p> +“Take Mr. Salathiel below, Captain Bodgers,” +said Mr. Greatorex, “and see what you can do +for him.” +</p> +<p> +With a deep salaam and a fawning smile the +Jew departed. +</p> +<p> +“Um!” grunted Mr. Greatorex. “Don’t +like his <em>looks</em>, Tom.” +</p> +<p> +“He’s not prepossessing, certainly; a little too +glib, don’t you think?” +</p> +<p> +“A <em>rascal</em>, Tom; mark my words.” +</p> +<p> +“I wouldn’t go so far as that. But we may +get something out of this, Mr. Greatorex. This +young Moor comes from the very country where +Ingleton is said to be. Don’t you think we +may profit by that?” +</p> +<p> +“How do you mean?” +</p> +<p> +“Why, instead of making for Rabat, as we +intended, why not find some quieter harbour +where we shall not be such public characters, +and get the youngster to act as guide into the +hills? No doubt he bears a grudge against +the sheikh who disposed of his father. If he +has anything of the usual oriental thirst for +revenge he will be very willing to help us.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86'></a>86</span> +</p> +<p> +“Well, sound him; go at it <em>cautiously</em>, you +know; <em>tact</em>—that’s the thing.” +</p> +<p> +Meanwhile Salathiel ben Ezra had been clothed +by Captain Bodgers in blue serge trousers, a +nankeen waistcoat, and an oilskin, the only other +garment available. The Jew cut a strange +figure in this unfamiliar attire. He was short, +fat, thick-necked; the lower part of his face +was hidden by dense black moustache and beard; +his eyes were unequal in size and different in +colour, and had a trick of roaming all around as +he talked. +</p> +<p> +“This is very elegant yacht,” he said to Captain +Bodgers as the garments were laid before him. +The captain, always a silent man, made no reply. +“That is most marvellous creature, the thing +that flies in the air,” the Jew continued; “I +have never seen anything like it. It is without +doubt a new sport—the English love sport. They +spend much money in sport. And where is +the yacht bound for, good captain?” +</p> +<p> +“Goin’ a cruise,” said the captain shortly. +</p> +<p> +“Without doubt. And perhaps the kind +governor will permit to call at a port—at Rabat, +say; for I am not a man of the sea, and I have +business there.” +</p> +<p> +“Better ask him.” +</p> +<p> +“I will do so. I will say also how I fill myself +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87'></a>87</span> +with wonder of the thing that flies. I myself +am a sport!” +</p> +<p> +Salathiel not merely expressed his wonderment +to Mr. Greatorex, but displayed a very active +curiosity as to the construction of the machine +and the choice of those waters for the practice +of the new sport. Mr. Greatorex gave him no +satisfaction, and was indeed somewhat curt in +his replies to the man’s leading questions; but +Salathiel smiled at each rebuff, thereby confirming +Mr. Greatorex’s conviction that he was +a rascal. +</p> +<p> +The yacht lay to for several hours, getting +under way again in the afternoon. It was very +hot; everybody was more or less sleepy, and +Tom thought it a good time to sound the Moor +as to his willingness to assist in the expedition. +They had a long conversation in the cabin, the +result of which was entirely satisfactory to Tom. +Abdul’s one object in life was to wreak vengeance +on the sheikh for the wrongs his family had +suffered, and it was to be a thorough vengeance. +He would not be satisfied merely with the death +of his enemy; that might have been achieved +already. But he was determined to ruin the +sheikh’s family, just as his own had been ruined. +He had hoped to save enough money in course +of time to gather about him a band of trusty +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88'></a>88</span> +Riffians who would raid the oppressor’s stronghold. +The loss of the vessel had swept away the savings +of five years; but he was resolved to begin again +and even if fifty years were to pass before he +was in a position to accomplish his aim, he would +never relinquish it. The sheikh himself might +die before then; in that case the weight of the +avenging hand would fall on his descendants. +</p> +<p> +When Tom reported to Mr. Greatorex the +result of this conversation the worthy merchant +was shocked. +</p> +<p> +“Terrible, terrible!” he said. “Most unchristian! +The Moors are no better than <em>heathen</em>, +Tom.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, we don’t know what it’s like. I don’t +think you would be very sweetly disposed towards +any one who had served you as he has been +served.” +</p> +<p> +“Me! I’d bring an <em>action</em> against the villain, +you may be sure of that.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t suppose they have actions at law in +Morocco. But it’s quite clear that he will be +willing to help us.” +</p> +<p> +“True. I’ll go down with you, and we’ll +come to an understanding with him.” +</p> +<p> +At this second interview Tom explained to +Abdul the object he had in view, and invited +his assistance, Mr. Greatorex promising that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89'></a>89</span> +if he would guide Tom to the spot where the +British diplomatist was held captive he should +be rewarded with a sum equal to what he had +lost through the wreck. Further, if Sir Mark +Ingleton should actually be got away safely, the +sum should be doubled. Abdul jumped at the +offer, and listened respectfully enough when +Mr. Greatorex went on to say that he hoped +the money would not be put to bad uses. +</p> +<p> +“Everything happens by the will of Allah,” +he said; “what is to be, must be.” +</p> +<p> +It was dusk when the little party broke up. +Nobody noticed a figure wriggle away from a +ventilating grating over the skylight of the cabin. +Salathiel ben Ezra had watched these conferences +between the Moor and the Christians with much +curiosity and suspicion, and without attracting +the attention of any one on deck he had contrived +to steal to a spot where he overheard a considerable +part of the conversation. +</p> +<p> +Before he turned in, Tom had a long talk +with Mr. Greatorex, which took an unexpected +trend. The two were alone in the cabin. Tom +was in the highest spirits, for the greatest difficulty +he had foreseen—the difficulty of finding +his way about the hill village when he should +arrive at it—seemed to have been removed now +that he had secured a guide in Abdul. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90'></a>90</span> +</p> +<p> +“You see, it’s just about there,” he said, putting +his finger down on the map he had unrolled +and spread on the table. “It is barely a hundred +miles inland, and without putting any strain on +the engines I can do it comfortably in four hours. +Of course, we must arrive after dark; so to-morrow +night I think we’ll make a start—Timothy +and I and the Moor.” +</p> +<p> +Then it was that the unexpected happened. +Mr. Greatorex had been staring gravely at the +map. Suddenly he brought his fist down on +it with a bang. +</p> +<p> +“Look here, Tom,” he said, “we’ll <em>drop</em> it.” +</p> +<p> +Tom was taken too much aback for words. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, we’ll drop it. I won’t <em>allow</em> it. Suppose +anything goes wrong with the machine, where +<em>are</em> you? tell me that! In those hills—wild +country, wild men—<em>fanatics</em>, you know: hate +all Christians, no sense of law and order, won’t +pay their taxes, don’t care tuppence for their +rulers—oh! I’ve <em>read</em> all about ’em, you know, +and ‘pon my soul I don’t know what I was thinking +of to come out here at all. We’ve had a pleasant +run, we’ve tested the airship; it’ll <em>do</em>, Tom: +but now we’ll go <em>back</em>, my boy, to our land of +peace and settled government.” +</p> +<p> +“But what about Sir Mark Ingleton?” +</p> +<p> +“Hang Ingleton! Ingleton never invented +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91'></a>91</span> +anything! If those Moors get hold of you, +England loses an inventor and I lose my man. +No, no; we mustn’t meddle with state affairs.” +</p> +<p> +And then Tom spent an hour in patiently +combatting Mr. Greatorex’s objections, and in +the end had for his meagre reward the indecisive +remark— +</p> +<p> +“Well, we’ll see, Tom, we’ll <em>see</em>.” +</p> +<p> +Next morning Mr. Greatorex made no allusion +to this conversation, but was observed in close +colloquy with Captain Bodgers. The result of +this removed the weight from Tom’s mind. +The yacht coasted up and down, the captain +scanning the desolate shore narrowly through +his glass. At last he found what he had been +searching for, and steered the yacht into a snug +little bay. The country was well wooded, the +trees coming down almost to the edge of the +narrow sandy beach. +</p> +<p> +“Can’t better this, sir,” said the captain. +“The anchorage is none too good, and if a storm +comes up we may have to put out to sea; but +it’s a quiet place, as you see; can’t do no +better.” +</p> +<p> +“Very well. Now, Tom, I’m going to risk +it. There’s the <em>Country</em> to consider, you see. +But you’ll make me a promise not to run into +danger; I know you won’t run away from it!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92'></a>92</span> +</p> +<p> +“With all my heart,” replied Tom. “We’ll +start to-night.” +</p> +<p> +He spent the hours of daylight in making +preparations. The machine was overhauled; +provisions and arms were stowed in the car; +and Tom eagerly awaited the moment for setting +forth on his adventure. +</p> +<p> +In the afternoon, while the preparations were +still in progress, a crowd of natives appeared on +the cliffs south of the bay—wild-looking men +clad in djellabas and kaftans and yellow shoes, +and all armed with long guns. They made no +attempt to open communication with the yacht, +but encamped on the cliff as though to keep an +eye on her movements. +</p> +<p> +Some little time afterwards, a small native +craft was observed entering the cove. Her +appearance was hailed with shouts from the cliff, +where there were signs of excitement among the +throng of spectators. +</p> +<p> +“Barbary pirates, eh, Bodgers!” said Mr. +Greatorex, taking a look at the felucca through +his glass. +</p> +<p> +“Maybe, sir; they’ve plied that trade hereabouts +for hundreds of years.” +</p> +<p> +“They’re making for the yacht.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes. We’ll serve out arms, sir; it’s as well +to be on the safe side.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93'></a>93</span> +</p> +<p> +“Tom, cover up the airship. I don’t suppose +they’ll know what it is, but, as Bodgers says, +it’s as well to be on the safe side.” +</p> +<p> +As the vessel drew near, it was seen that she +carried some thirty fierce-looking fellows, tall +and finely made. One of them hailed the yacht. +Mr. Greatorex called Abdul to his side and bade +him interpret. +</p> +<p> +“Say they want to come on ship, sir—see the +captain—do trade for guns and powder.” +</p> +<p> +“What do you say, Bodgers? Shall we let +a few of them come aboard?” +</p> +<p> +“I would, sir. A few won’t do no harm, and +if we can make friends of them, so much the +better.” +</p> +<p> +Accordingly, half a dozen Moors were allowed +to mount to the yacht’s deck. They appeared +to be much disappointed when Mr. Greatorex +politely explained through Abdul that he had +no commercial object; his ostensible purpose, +to see the country, scarcely satisfied them. But +they recovered their spirits when he offered to +show them over the vessel; and afterwards +when, at the suggestion of Captain Bodgers, who +knew something of the Moorish habits, they were +each given a cup of weak tea and unlimited sugar, +they smacked their lips and declared themselves +well pleased with their reception. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94'></a>94</span> +</p> +<p> +While they were still sipping their tea, squatting +on the deck, Salathiel ben Ezra, who had hitherto +kept in the background, came to Mr. Greatorex +and begged the favour of a few minutes’ conversation. +</p> +<p> +“I ask you, excellency, to be so kind, as let +me go with the men, when they leave this ship. +I have business on land; and thank you for your +kindness, and take leave respectfully.” +</p> +<p> +“Hm! Moors <em>friends</em> of yours, eh?” +</p> +<p> +“No, no; the Moors do not love the men +of my nation; they oppress us; they call us dogs +and sons of swine.” +</p> +<p> +“Well then, you’d better stay aboard, you +know. You wouldn’t be <em>safe</em> among them in a +wild spot like this. We can land you at Rabat +in a day or two; you’ll be safer in a port.” +</p> +<p> +“Ah, excellency, but I do not love the sea. +It has wrecked my vessel; I have much fear of +the sharks. I am not at ease until I set foot +again on dry land.” +</p> +<p> +Mr. Greatorex was perplexed. He had no +reasonable excuse for detaining the Jew: yet, +remembering that the man had seen the airship +at work, he recognized that it would be in the +highest degree impolitic to allow him to go ashore +and spread the news. He beckoned Tom forward +and told him of the Jew’s request. Tom instantly +grasped the situation. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95'></a>95</span> +</p> +<p> +“Mr. Salathiel forgets,” he said, “that we +have a claim for salvage on his effects. (Whether +we have such a claim legally I don’t know,” +he said to Mr. Greatorex afterwards, “but it +was the first thing that came into my head.”) +</p> +<p> +“That is most true,” said the Jew, with a +smile; “but alas! I lost everything in the wreck; +and have only my clothes, and they——” +</p> +<p> +He shrugged expressively. +</p> +<p> +“Sorry for you,” said Tom. “Still, it would +not be fair to your companion Abdul to leave +him to meet our claim alone.” +</p> +<p> +“But he can come with me,” said Salathiel +eagerly. “He will be with his countrymen.” +</p> +<p> +“You were not so anxious for his company +when I first saw you,” replied Tom drily. “No, +Mr. Salathiel; it will be better for you both to +come with us to Rabat: there we can lay this +little matter of salvage before the authorities.” +</p> +<p> +The Jew heaved a sigh as of weariness, and +acquiesced with a smile. Neither Tom nor Mr. +Greatorex was aware that while the Moors were +being shown over the vessel, Salathiel had had a +few moments’ conversation with one of them. +The only man on board who had observed this—and +he had not given a second thought to it—was +M’Cracken, the new stoker. +</p> +<p> +The Moors left the yacht; the felucca sailed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96'></a>96</span> +away; not shorewards, as Tom had expected, but +out to sea. The crowd on the cliff dispersed +and disappeared, and Tom’s final preparations +were made unobserved. +</p> +<p> +Night fell, and the little bay, hemmed in by +the surrounding cliffs, was enveloped in pitchy +darkness. Ten o’clock had been fixed as the +time for the ascent of the airship, and up to +the last moment Tom employed himself in seeing +that all was right. Mr. Greatorex was fidgety, +asking the same questions, repeating the same +warnings, over and over again, until Tom began +to fear that even now he would change his mind +and prohibit the expedition. His excitement +infected every member of the crew. The men +had eyes only for the wonderful machine and +for the figures that moved to and fro about it in +the light of the yacht’s electric lamps. Even +the men of the watch were diverted from their +duties when they perceived that the lashings +holding the airship to the deck were being cast +loose. Thus it was that no one had observed a +small craft gliding into the bay; no one had +noticed that a rope hung over the side of the +yacht from the main deck forward; no one was +on the look-out when a dusky form clambered +silently up and helped to lower Salathiel ben +Ezra into the boat riding alongside. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97'></a>97</span> +</p> +<p> +But it happened that Timothy Ball, going +forward at that moment to fetch his reefer, +which he had left in the fore cabin, noticed what +was afoot just as he reached the companion way. +With a shout he dashed forward to lay hands +on the intruder. But, quick as thought, the +Moor whipped out a knife and struck at Timothy; +and when the sailors came running to the spot +they found the poor fellow groaning on the +deck, and caught a glimpse of a felucca speeding +away into the gloom. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98'></a>98</span> +</p> +<h2><a name='chVII' id='chVII'></a>CHAPTER VII—THE HILLS OF ZEMMUR</h2> +<p> +For the moment the airship was forgotten. +The whole ship’s company flocked to the +foredeck and formed a group around the prostrate +form of Timothy Ball. Tom was already on +his knees beside the man, putting in practice +the principles of first aid, and receiving unexpected +assistance from M’Cracken, who showed remarkable +adeptness. +</p> +<p> +“How did it <em>happen</em>?” cried Mr. Greatorex, +supposing that his man’s plight was due to some +accident. +</p> +<p> +“The Jew!” said Timothy, faintly. +</p> +<p> +“The villain! Bring him <em>here</em>, some one.” +</p> +<p> +“He ain’t here, sir; went over the side. It +wasn’t him that stabbed me; it was a Moor that +came up out of a boat and helped the Jew to get +away. Never mind me, sir; I’m all right.” +</p> +<p> +Mr. Greatorex fumed. +</p> +<p> +“This puts a <em>stop</em> to it, Tom. It’s a villainous +business, and we’ll go straight back home.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99'></a>99</span> +</p> +<p> +Tom made no reply. He was completing +the adjustment of a tourniquet. +</p> +<p> +“And we’ve no doctor on board!” Mr. +Greatorex went on. “We’ll run back to Gibraltar +and get assistance. Can’t let the poor +fellow bleed to <em>death</em>, you know.” +</p> +<p> +“He’ll no bleed to death,” said M’Cracken +huskily. “It’s just a wee flesh wound. He’ll +be a’ richt in a twa-three days.” +</p> +<p> +“Glad to hear it.” +</p> +<p> +“The question is, who shall I take with me +now?” said Tom, rising to his feet and ignoring +Mr. Greatorex’s expressed determination to go +home. “The sooner I’m off the better, for that +rascally Jew will tell all he knows about the airship, +and the Moors will be on their guard.” +</p> +<p> +“But we’re going <em>home</em>, Tom.” +</p> +<p> +“Surely you won’t let our enterprise be ruined +by a rogue!” replied Tom. “There’s all the +more reason for going on with it.” +</p> +<p> +“Gad, you’re right,” cried Mr. Greatorex, +veering round again. “We’ll do it in the <em>teeth</em> +of them. But you’ll want some one with you in +place of Tim. If I were twenty years younger +I’d go myself. You want a man who knows +<em>something</em> about engines. Can’t spare <em>you</em>, +Mumford, I’m afraid.” +</p> +<p> +“No, sir,” replied the engineer, “and I’m +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100'></a>100</span> +rather heavy. But there’s young M’Cracken; +he’s a light weight; an uncommonly handy +fellow too, and judging from some remarks of +his when we’ve been watching the airship, +he knows something about ’em; seems to have +read a good deal. I can do without him for a +day or two, especially if we lie at anchor here.” +</p> +<p> +“Ah! Yes! Where <em>is</em> he? He was here a +few seconds ago.” +</p> +<p> +M’Cracken was haled from below. He appeared +even more grimy than ever. +</p> +<p> +“Look here, M’Cracken,” said Mr. Greatorex. +“Mr. Dorrell wants some one to <em>help</em> him, and +Mr. Mumford suggests you: speaks <em>well</em> of you, +you know. You’ve never been on an airship, of +course; but all you’ve to do is to keep <em>calm</em>, and +do <em>exactly</em> as you are told. You’re not <em>afraid</em>—no +<em>nerves</em>, oh?” +</p> +<p> +“No, sir.” +</p> +<p> +“You’re very hoarse still. It will do you +<em>good</em>, you know, to be away from that furnace +for a day or two. Well, you’d better get a wash.” +</p> +<p> +“No time for that,” said Tom quickly. “It’s +past ten o’clock, and we ought to have started +long ago.” +</p> +<p> +“Very well. You’re not going <em>visiting</em>, to be +sure. Well, M’Cracken, go and put on your +reefer; the night’s cold, and will be colder.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101'></a>101</span> +</p> +<p> +“Ay, ay, sir,” returned M’Cracken, and +dived with alacrity below. He was back in less +than a minute. Then Tom entered the car of +the airship, followed by Abdul and the stoker. +With one hand on the steering wheel and the +other on the lever controlling the engines, he +called to the men to cast loose the ropes securing +the car to the deck. Then he started the +ascensional screw, and with a whirr like that of +a gigantic humming-top the airship rose slowly +from the yacht’s deck. +</p> +<p> +“Good-bye, Tom,” shouted Mr. Greatorex. +“Be <em>careful</em>, my boy; run no risks.” +</p> +<p> +“Good-bye! Good-bye!” +</p> +<p> +“This is ripping,” said the stoker, as the +machine rose higher and higher into the air. +</p> +<p> +Tom started so violently that he unconsciously +jerked back the lever and stopped the motion +of the machine. +</p> +<p> +“Pull that lever, quick!” he called. +</p> +<p> +“Done it already,” said the stoker, with his +hand on the lever that adjusted the planes. +“Lucky I’ve been up before, Dorrell.” +</p> +<p> +“Good heavens, you’re—yes, you’re Oliphant. +Whew! won’t the old man be in a tantrum. +How in the world did you disguise yourself?” +</p> +<p> +“Sammy Byles’ clothes, a little lampblack, +and my native brogue do make a difference, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102'></a>102</span> +don’t they! I’m afraid Mr. Greatorex <em>will</em> be +a trifle fizzy; but that won’t matter, afterwards.” +</p> +<p> +“I’m not sure I oughtn’t to go back and +drop you.” +</p> +<p> +“Nonsense. I’m in for it now, and when +you come to think of it you couldn’t have a better +man. Bar Timothy, nobody knows so much +about the machine as I do; and I warrant I’m +a better hand in a scrimmage, whether with fists +or revolvers. I’ve brought my Colt.” +</p> +<p> +It was some time before Tom recovered from +his surprise; but for the moment his attention +was occupied by the airship. At last he said— +</p> +<p> +“Well, Oliphant, I’m glad enough to have +you with me. I hope we shall come through +all right.” +</p> +<p> +While speaking, he had stopped the ascensional +screws and set the horizontal going. A small +aneroid hung just above his head, lit by a carefully +screened electric lamp. The reading indicated +that the airship had risen to a height of +five hundred metres. Maintaining the ascent +solely by the inclination of the planes, Tom +brought the whole force of the engines to bear +on the horizontal screws, and the machine glided +onwards at a speed of some twenty miles an hour, +gradually rising as she went. Then, at the +altitude of a thousand metres, when Tom judged +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103'></a>103</span> +that he was high enough to clear the tops of +the hills that fringed the coast, Oliphant reduced +the angle of the planes so that it was just sufficient +to maintain a constant height at the increased +speed of twenty-five miles. +</p> +<p> +“By Jove, this <em>is</em> ripping!” cried Oliphant +again. +</p> +<p> +It was a bright starlit night, without a breath +of wind. At this altitude the air was crisp and +keen, producing a sense of exhilaration in the +occupants of the car. Even Abdul, who had +quaked inwardly and clutched the rail when +the machine rose to such a giddy height, had now +lost his tremors, and looked around him with +wonderment and delight. The ship was soaring +over the land, which lay outstretched like a vast +black floor three-quarters of a mile beneath. +Behind, the lights of the yacht could be faintly +distinguished; before, there was not a glimmer +over the whole country. The airship crossed +a peak or two, then sailed over a rolling plain; +by and by more hills loomed black in front. +The aneroid, an extremely delicate instrument, +now indicated that the machine was slowly +sinking. Oliphant again adjusted the planes; +the airship passed clear of the hills, and Tom +steered as directly as he could guess for the spot +he had marked on his map. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104'></a>104</span> +</p> +<p> +When the voyage had lasted for about an hour +the rising moon threw more light on the scene, +lending a weird beauty to the variegated landscape—bare +rugged hills alternating with wooded +slopes and dark valleys. But it was impossible, +at the height at which they were sailing, to distinguish +any landmarks; Abdul knew the country +thoroughly, but was quite at a loss in this unfamiliar +situation. He had told Tom that the +fastness where the diplomatist was probably +held captive stood on the top of an extremely +steep hill, and explained that the most convenient +spot from which to approach it was a +small tableland about a sixth of a day’s journey +from it. This was Tom’s objective; but as it +was impossible to make sure of reaching it unless +Abdul could obtain some guidance from prominent +natural features, Tom more than once +allowed the airship to sink almost to the ground, +so that the Moor might scan the country. +</p> +<p> +On one of these occasions, about four hours +after they had left the yacht, Abdul said that +he recognized a hill stream whose source was +within a short distance of the sheikh’s stronghold. +From the directions he was now able to give, +Tom managed to steer fairly straight for the +tableland, and after once more descending so +that Abdul might assure himself that he had not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105'></a>105</span> +been mistaken, he finally brought the airship to +rest at the desired spot. It was past three +o’clock in the morning; the sky was already +lightening with what Abdul called subhi kázib—the +false dawn which often in these latitudes +illumines the sky an hour or so before the real +dawn. The three adventurers were all very +tired, and on Abdul explaining that the tableland +was but rarely visited, and that so far as he knew +there were no wild beasts in the neighbourhood, +Tom thought that they might all safely take +a few hours’ sleep before considering the next +move. The tableland was not entirely flat; +it had many depressions, and jagged rocks stood +up on all sides around the comparatively clear +space on which the airship rested. Only one +hill, and that apparently four or five miles distant, +stood higher, and even the hawk-like vision of +the mountaineers was not likely to discover the +airship from so remote a spot. +</p> +<p> +The real dawn—subhi sadik—was some little +while past when the Moor awoke, first of the +three. He had just completed his morning +devotions and ablutions at a little spring when +the others roused themselves. Among the contents +of the car were a spirit lamp, a tin of +condensed milk, and materials for making tea; +and while they ate their breakfast Tom discussed with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106'></a>106</span> +Oliphant the programme for the +day. +</p> +<p> +“The first thing is to find out exactly where +Ingleton is imprisoned,” said Tom, “and what +chance there is of getting into communication +with him. That’s a job for Abdul; obviously +we can’t help him; we can’t do better than lie +snug here while he goes and gets what information +he can.” +</p> +<p> +“A pretty dangerous job for him if he’s +caught, isn’t it?” +</p> +<p> +“Well, it’s a good many years since he left +these parts, and he must have altered. I doubt +whether he’ll be recognized. Luckily the hills +are covered with mist, too; if he starts soon +he’ll be able to get a good way before he’s likely +to run across any of his countrymen.” +</p> +<p> +“Or lose himself?” +</p> +<p> +“No, master,” said Abdul, “I don’t not +lose myself. I go all right.” +</p> +<p> +“The sooner the better, then,” said Tom. +“We’ll wait for you here.” +</p> +<p> +The Moor, who had resumed his native dress, +at once girt his djellab about him and prepared +to descend the hillside. Tom and Oliphant +watched him breathlessly until the mist hid him +from view. He went over the brow of the hill +and began to clamber down its steep side with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107'></a>107</span> +the agility and sure-footedness of a mountain +goat. When he was out of sight the others +returned to their half-finished breakfast, ready +to endure with what patience they might the +long waiting until the Moor should have completed +his errand. +</p> +<p> +“What if he doesn’t come back?” said +Oliphant. +</p> +<p> +“We shall have to risk it ourselves. I’m +certainly not going back without making the +attempt now that we have come so far. It’s +pretty cold up here; I shall be glad when the +sun sucks up this mist.” +</p> +<p> +When the mist at last cleared away, a magnificent +view spread out before the two watchers +on the hill-top. They themselves were perched +on the top of a practically bare rock, but a hundred +feet below them the hill side was covered +with forest, broken, however, with huge patches of +rocky ground, on which apparently not even the +hardiest tree could find a lodgment. For miles +around, the country showed a succession of tree-clad +hills, with here and there a waterfall, and here +and there a bare summit, not, however, truncated +like the hill on which they had landed. Far +away to the north-west they could descry, through +their field-glasses, a considerable walled village +perched on the shoulder of a hill, with one or +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108'></a>108</span> +two large buildings, one presumably a mosque, +and a second evidently the stronghold of the +sheikh. This no doubt was the place in which +they were interested. It lay in the direction +generally indicated by the Moor, although when +he started it was hidden by the mists. +</p> +<p> +The hours dragged all too slowly by. They +talked over the situation, occasionally getting up +to stretch their limbs, but not venturing to move +about much, lest they should be seen by any +chance shepherd or hunter. On the plain below +they caught sight of animals moving, and longed +to take a shot at them—now a gazelle, now a +wild hog. But to fire a shot was out of the +question, and they had to content themselves +with exchanging reminiscences of sport at home. +</p> +<p> +Darkness fell again. Abdul had not returned. +Each spent a restless night, and rose with the +dawn, eagerly scanning the country, as soon as +the mist was dispersed, for a sign of their emissary, +but in vain. +</p> +<p> +“I hope he hasn’t been collared,” said Tom. +</p> +<p> +“Or turned traitor!” +</p> +<p> +“He wouldn’t do that, I’m sure. I like the +fellow. Of course you read a lot about oriental +duplicity, but I don’t believe Abdul is a rogue. +Anyway, we should have time to get away in +the airship before any one could molest us here, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109'></a>109</span> +and he knows that. For the life of me I don’t +know what we can do if he <em>has</em> been collared. +We can’t do a thing until we know where Ingleton +is; we certainly can’t go inquiring ourselves. +All we can do is to go back to the yacht and +try and pick up some English-speaking native +who can tell us what we want to know, and that +means loss of time.” +</p> +<p> +“And more than that; it would mean that +I’d have to turn into M’Cracken again, and I +don’t believe I could keep up the disguise any +longer. I say, what’s that moving down there?” +</p> +<p> +They seized their field-glasses and turned +them towards a patch moving along the outskirts +of a wood some miles away. +</p> +<p> +“Moors, by Jove!” exclaimed Oliphant. +“And mounted. And coming this way. It looks +as though Abdul had betrayed us, after all.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t be in a hurry. They’re making no +attempt to mask their approach. I don’t believe +they’re coming here at all. No; see, they are +wheeling off to the right, in the direction of the +hill village yonder. We needn’t worry ourselves. +But I’m getting sick of this, and it’ll be serious +soon. I only brought three days’ grub in the +car, and I’m afraid we ate more than we ought +yesterday. That’s the worst of having nothing +to do.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110'></a>110</span> +</p> +<p> +“It’s so plaguy hot, too, when the sun’s up. +For two pins I’d go down and have a shot at +something in the woods. No doubt it’s cooler +down there, and there’s no fun in lying about up +here to frizzle.” +</p> +<p> +“There’d certainly be no fun in being pitched +into a Moorish dungeon. By all accounts they’re +rather horrible. I think I’d rather frizzle here +than stew there. In any case, even supposing +the Moors didn’t find out who was firing, the +shots would put them on their guard and perhaps +spoil our game. I say, Oliphant, reel off some +of your stories.” +</p> +<p> +But even Oliphant’s stories in the Doric +palled, and by and by Tom got up and said +that he was going for a stroll. He was away for +nearly an hour, and Oliphant began to feel uneasy +at his prolonged absence. Oliphant dared not +call, for fear of being overheard by an enemy; +nor did he care to explore. But he was making +up his mind to follow Tom down the steep path +when the wanderer at last returned. +</p> +<p> +“Rather interesting spot, this,” he said. +“Round the corner below there I came upon +some caves.” +</p> +<p> +“I wondered what had become of you. Did +you get lost?” +</p> +<p> +“No. The odd thing is that these caves are +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111'></a>111</span> +up about twenty feet from a ridge of rock, and +can’t be got at without a ladder. I tried to +mount, but the wall is almost flat.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll go and have a look. How do you get +there?” +</p> +<p> +“Down the hill a little way, turn to the right, +go along the ridge, and look up. The caves are +about halfway between the ridge and the top of +the hill.” +</p> +<p> +Oliphant followed these directions, and by and +by returned, with his trousers cut in several +places. +</p> +<p> +“I tried to climb up,” he explained, “but +couldn’t manage it. I think it could be done, +though, with practice.” +</p> +<p> +“Which we haven’t time for.” +</p> +<p> +The discovery of the caves had occupied some +little time, and furnished material for speculation +and talk that helped to relieve the tedium of +waiting. But their patience had well nigh given +out when night once more descended and still +Abdul had not returned. The two were eating +their supper in moody silence when they heard +suddenly the sound of a stone rattling down the +hillside. They seized their revolvers and sprang +up, waiting for another sound. Clearly some +one, man or animal, was climbing the hill. All +was again silent; then, from some point beyond +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112'></a>112</span> +them, came the sound of a high-pitched voice. +</p> +<p> +“It’s Abdul. Thank goodness!” cried +Oliphant, with a laugh. “Come on, you laggard, +and give an account of yourself.” +</p> +<p> +“You have been a long time, Abdul,” said +Tom, as that young Moor came through the +darkness. +</p> +<p> +“True, master; but it is with us a saying, +‘Every delay is good.’” +</p> +<p> +“Well, come and have something to eat. +You’re pretty tired and hungry, no doubt. +Then you can tell us what you have done.” +</p> +<p> +But Abdul declined the food offered him, and +producing a wallet from beneath his djellab, +displayed a heap of dates. He related that he +had made his way safely into the village, but as +he went through the street towards the house +of Hamet Ali—a friend on whose discretion he +could rely—he fancied from the manner of an +old water-carrier that the man had recognized +him. He contrived to slip away among a company +of muleteers that happened to be passing, +and reached his friend’s house unmolested; but +shortly afterwards he learnt from this friend that +the water-carrier had mentioned his suspicions, +and that inquiries were being diligently made +for him through the village. Every exit was +watched; and his friend was in some anxiety +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113'></a>113</span> +lest an emissary of the sheikh should come and +search the house. Hamet, however, was an old +enemy of the sheikh, though, with true oriental +dissimulation, he had hitherto managed to hide +the fact. He agreed to give Abdul shelter so +long as it was safe to do so, but impressed upon +him that he must not venture to show himself out +of doors. +</p> +<p> +He then inquired what had brought Abdul +to the village, and the boy thought it advisable +to confide in him, taking care to heighten the +mystery of the wonderful ship that sailed through +the air, and to promise, on the Englishmen’s +behalf, liberal bakshish to Hamet if he lent all +possible assistance to the enterprise. He wished +his friend to send a messenger to Tom, but this +Hamet refused to do, for the results to himself, +if the messenger were followed and caught, might +be disastrous. +</p> +<p> +On the morning of the same day, when Hamet +returned from his usual visit to the sôk, he +reported that a camel-driver had arrived, bearing +a message from a Jew of Rabat, Salathiel ben +Ezra by name, who proposed to come in person +to see the sheikh, and had sent a swift rider in +advance to request a safe-conduct. The Jews +are tolerated, scorned, made to do menial work, +in the ports; in remote districts of Morocco +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114'></a>114</span> +they carry their lives in their hands. But the +message conveyed to the sheikh had been such +that Salathiel’s request was granted, and a dozen +men had been sent on horseback towards the +coast as an escort. Hearing this, Abdul decided +that at all costs he must return to his employer. +Under cover of the night he had contrived to +slip away from the village, and had come back +by a circuitous route so as to make sure of not +being intercepted. +</p> +<p> +“But what of the prisoner?” asked Tom. +“Did you learn anything of him?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, master. He is in the sheikh’s kasbah.” +</p> +<p> +“What is kasbah?” +</p> +<p> +“Strong place, master; thick walls; a very +bad prison.” +</p> +<p> +“We are on the right track, Oliphant,” said +Tom. +</p> +<p> +“It looks bad, though. Ingleton will be +pretty well guarded, you may be sure; and I +don’t for the life of me see how we can break +into a strong place and get him out.” +</p> +<p> +“Unless we bribe his jailers. Could we get +him away with bakshish, Abdul?” +</p> +<p> +“No, master. The sheikh would cut hands +and feet off, put eyes out, and more.” +</p> +<p> +“Evidently we’ve got our work cut out, +Oliphant. And you may depend upon it our +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115'></a>115</span> +friend Salathiel has somehow found out our +errand and is coming to warn the sheikh. I +remember now that I saw him talking to one +of the Moors who came aboard the yacht.” +</p> +<p> +“That explains it.” +</p> +<p> +“How long will it take him to get here, +Abdul?” +</p> +<p> +“Two three days, master.” +</p> +<p> +“We must be beforehand with him, then. +Are you prepared for short rations, Oliphant? +Our grub won’t last more than another day.” +</p> +<p> +“Plenty dates and figs in woods, master,” said +Abdul. +</p> +<p> +“We shan’t starve, then. Let’s have a good +sleep, Oliphant. We shall want all our strength +for this job.” +</p> +<p> +“We shall indeed. Poor old pater! Wouldn’t +he have the blues if he knew where I am!” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116'></a>116</span><a name='chVIII' id='chVIII'></a>CHAPTER VIII—THE SWORDSMITH OF AIN AFROO</h2> +<p> +The approaching advent of the Jew had +introduced a new element of danger into +the enterprise. If he should reach the village +before Ingleton was released, clearly the game +was up. Instead of getting a good sleep, Tom +lay awake, talking over the situation with Oliphant. +He got Abdul to describe the kasbah, but the +description was so vague—the Moor when he +lived in the village having taken the stronghold +for granted—that he felt incapable of making +any plans without seeing the place for himself. +When he made this suggestion Oliphant scouted +it. +</p> +<p> +“For one thing,” he said, “it’s too dangerous; +for another, where do I come in?” +</p> +<p> +“Of course I should have to take Abdul—or +rather he would have to take me; and however +dangerous it would be for two, it would be still +more dangerous for three. If you’ll stay and +keep an eye on the airship, I’ll take advantage of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117'></a>117</span> +the moonlight and go and have a look round. +Your turn will come, you may be sure of that. +If I don’t come back, you know how to set the +machine going. Scoot back to the yacht, and +get Mr. Greatorex to make straight for Tangier.” +</p> +<p> +“There’ll be a pretty row about this before +we’ve done with it! All right!—if you <em>will</em> go. +But I say, they’ll spot you for a foreigner if +any one catches sight of you—in those clothes.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes; I forgot that. I wish I’d provided +myself with a rig-out in the Moorish style.” +</p> +<p> +Here Abdul produced from the folds of his +djellab a small bundle, which, being unrolled, +proved to be a long grey garment with a pair of +yellow shoes wrapped in it. +</p> +<p> +“You’re a brick, Abdul!” cried Tom. “You +guessed I’d want something of this sort, eh?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, master. I could only get one.” +</p> +<p> +“So you’re out of it for the present, anyhow, +Oliphant. Well, good-bye. If we’re lucky we’ll +be back by the morning; if not—you know what +to do.” +</p> +<p> +Five minutes later Tom, swathed in the +djellab, disappeared over the brow of the hill +with Abdul. He carried his revolver; the Moor +had only a knife. In his unfamiliar garment +Tom found it by no means easy to make the +descent down the rough precipitous path; but +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118'></a>118</span> +Abdul went first, picking the easiest course, and +both arrived safely at the bottom. +</p> +<p> +Then they began their march to the village. +It was a toilsome journey, and Tom found the +Moorish slippers a very inconvenient footgear. +A long tramp, and another steep climb, brought +them to the wall of the village, which was built +on the slope of the hill. The gates had been +shut at sunset, Abdul explained: that was the +Moorish fashion. Tom perceived that the wall +was utterly dilapidated: in that respect Ain +Afroo was typically Moorish. In many parts +the parapet had fallen to pieces, and, for any protection +it afforded, the wall might as well not have +been there. It gave easy foothold to a climber, +and Tom indulged a hope that the kasbah might +prove to be in equally bad preservation. +</p> +<p> +From what Abdul had told him, Tom guessed +that the stronghold lay at the upper extremity +of the village, about eighty or ninety yards from +the wall. The Moor’s knowledge of the place +enabled him to lead Tom to a spot where it would +clearly be an easy matter to climb the battlements. +Secure in their remoteness, and in the fact that +no hostile force could come within many miles +of the village without being instantly announced, +the inhabitants kept only a perfunctory watch. +A few men, Abdul said, were regularly on guard +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119'></a>119</span> +at the north-east and south-west corners; but +no attempt was made to watch the walls in +general. Knowing the state of the defences, +this fact gave Tom some amusement. With +walls so ruinous the gates were the last places +at which unauthorized ingress or egress would be +made. The whole place was still sleeping, and +would sleep until the muezzin from the mosque +gave the call to prayer. Abdul declared it was +quite safe to enter the village so far as its human +inhabitants were concerned, though there was +a risk that some pariah dog might be wakeful. +Taking his courage in both hands, Tom climbed +up the wall after Abdul, and descended on the +other side; then, keeping in the black shadows +cast by the moon, the two made their way through +round archways and narrow alleys to the outer +wall of the kasbah. +</p> +<p> +The village was very silent. It might almost +have been an abode of the dead. Only the +screech of night-birds beyond the walls broke +the stillness. Tom held his breath—and his +nose, for sanitary authorities are unknown in +Morocco, and heaps of refuse here and there +spoke forcibly in the night air. The two intruders +crept stealthily round the walls of the kasbah, +against which small shops and outbuildings that +Abdul called <em>inzella</em> were built, except before +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120'></a>120</span> +the principal entrance—a large gateway through +which two or three men could ride abreast. In +front of this gateway was a wide, open square, +with low shops under a colonnade on the other +side. +</p> +<p> +The gateway was shut. It had massive iron +doors. Stealing to the further side of it, Abdul +touched Tom’s arm, and pointed to a small +dark window, unglazed, scarcely more than a +slit in the wall, some twenty-five feet above their +heads, and a yard or two back from the parapet, +which, as the Moor had already explained, +extended right round the kasbah, enclosing a +kind of terrace. It was the window of the guest-chamber, +and there, Abdul had suggested, the +captured envoy was confined. +</p> +<p> +The entrance to the guest-chamber would be +from the terrace within the parapet. The floor +above was occupied by the sheikh and his family; +the floor below was devoted to the servants and +the guard. Even as Tom looked, a figure passed +slowly along the terrace, and the moonlight +glinted on a steel musket barrel. It was clear +that the guest-chamber was carefully guarded—a +proof, it seemed, that Abdul’s suggestion was +correct. Drawing Tom out of earshot, Abdul +said that special orders must have been given, +or the sentry would certainly not tramp up and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121'></a>121</span> +down at this hour of night. Tom learnt afterwards +that the Moorish soldier’s idea of sentry-go +is a long nap in the nearest doorway. +</p> +<p> +“Is there no entrance to the guest-chamber +from within?” asked Tom. +</p> +<p> +Abdul confessed that he did not know. He +had never set foot within the walls. But he +had once taken refuge for the night, on one of +his journeys through the country, in a ruined +kasbah of somewhat similar appearance, and +there a door led from the guest-chamber into a +small vestibule, which gave access to the upper +floor and the roof above. +</p> +<p> +Flitting silently across the square, Tom and +the Moor took post under the shadow of the +colonnade on the farther side, which ran at right +angles to the wall of the kasbah. Within it was +a row of shops, now shut and barred. There, +leaning against one of the stout columns, within +the black darkness of the Moorish arch, Tom +scanned the kasbah, looming white in the moonlight, +and meditated. +</p> +<p> +To get into communication with the prisoner +seemed absolutely hopeless. No one could force +an entrance into the sheikh’s strong place. Was +it possible to gain the assistance of some one +within? Might not Hamet Ali, Abdul’s friend, +act as intermediary between Tom and some +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122'></a>122</span> +servant of the sheikh’s? The cynical saying, +“Every man has his price,” was literal truth in +Morocco: such was the impression Tom had +gained from his reading. But he knew enough +of oriental ways to be sure that the fixing of the +price would be a long and tedious affair. If the +Moor were asked to name it, he would suggest +a sum far in excess of what he would ultimately +accept; while however large a sum were offered, +it would prove only the starting place for long +haggling. Indeed, the larger the bribe, the +more likely it would be to excite the cupidity +of the agent, and to encourage him to stand out +for yet higher terms. +</p> +<p> +In spite of the difficulties, Tom would have +been inclined to attempt this means if it had not +involved serious delay, and still more serious +risk to both Abdul and himself. Hamet Ali +lived on the far side of the town. Abdul would +have to make his way there, waken his friend, +explain the circumstances, overcome a probable +reluctance to meddle, fix a price with Hamet +Ali, and another for the sheikh’s servant. Every +move would be attended with danger. A Moor’s +house is a castle in miniature. Any attempt to +rouse the inmates at this dead hour of night +would necessitate so much noise and clatter as +to disturb the neighbourhood. The night was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123'></a>123</span> +wearing on, and before Abdul could, with reasonable +regard to secrecy, obtain access to his friend’s +house, daylight might be upon them. The +Moors are early risers, and even if all went well, +and Tom and the others stole forth from the +village before dawn, they would almost certainly +be seen and ridden down as they crossed the +wide rocky spaces that surrounded the place. +But the most serious consideration of all was +that of time: it would not be possible to get +into treaty with any one inside the kasbah before +Salathiel ben Ezra appeared on the scene. Then +the enterprise was doomed to failure. +</p> +<p> +Tom was anxiously discussing with himself +the pros and cons when Abdul plucked him by +the arm. +</p> +<p> +“Day is near, master,” he whispered. “We +must go by the way we came.” +</p> +<p> +Tom was reluctant to own himself beaten; +but there was clearly no hope for it. Gathering +his djellab about him, and pulling the hood over +his head, he followed Abdul with quick, noiseless +footsteps across the square. +</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p> +Ahmed Hûk, apprentice to Hamadi ben Ibn, +the swordsmith of Ain Afroo, had spent a +restless night. His head throbbed; he could not +sleep; he wished he had not smoked so much +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124'></a>124</span> +hashish when his work was done for the day. +The air of the little shop was close and oppressive; +and after hours of wakefulness, turning from side +to side in the vain effort to find sleep, Ahmed +got up and quietly unbarred the little wicket in +the door, careful not to disturb his master, who +was snoring loudly within a few feet of him. +Perhaps a little fresh air from the outside would +cool his heated brow. +</p> +<p> +He had not stood more than a few minutes +at the wicket, and was already thinking of returning +to his charpoy, when he noticed, in the moonlight +on the other side of the square, two figures +turn the corner by the kasbah opposite, coming +from the direction of the village wall. They +at once disappeared into the shadow thrown by +the great wall of the building, but something +in their movements aroused the curiosity of +Ahmed. Why were two wayfarers abroad at so +late an hour? The matter was not his concern; +still, he would remain at the wicket a little longer, +to see if the two night-walkers reappeared. +</p> +<p> +His view was somewhat broken by the rows of +pillars supporting the colonnade in front of the +shops of which his master’s establishment was +one; but through the interval between two of +them he did at last see the two forms moving +with rather suspicious quickness across the illumined +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125'></a>125</span> +square, and, what was more interesting to +him, they were seemingly coming in his direction. +Were they thieves, he wondered? He could +hardly believe it, for the village was small; they +could scarcely escape detection; and the sheikh’s +ingenuity in punishments was notorious even +in Morocco, where torture is a fine art. +</p> +<p> +With instinctive caution Ahmed closed the +wicket, leaving only a slit just wide enough for +him to peep through. In a few moments he +heard the slight rustle of the strangers’ garments, +and saw their dark forms clearly outlined against +the moonlight. They had come under the +colonnade and halted within two or three yards +of him, behind one of the pillars. They whispered +a little together, then were silent for a space, +then whispered again: and now Ahmed was +interested indeed, for, low as their tones were, he +overheard a word or two, and they made him +jump; they were certainly not in the Moorish +tongue. His master’s business had taken him +more than once to Dár al Beida, and he had heard +such words used by the N’zrani—the unbelievers +who were suffered to pollute the city by their +presence. How came it that here, in Ain Afroo, +a village where no unbeliever ever set foot save +a dog of a Jew now and then (though truly +there were one or two infidel wretches now safely +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126'></a>126</span> +confined in the kasbah)—how came it that two +men, good Moors and followers of the Prophet, +to all appearance, were speaking in the tongue of +the infidel? It was perplexing, to say the +least, and undoubtedly worthy of the attention +of Hamadi his master. +</p> +<p> +Leaving the wicket, Ahmed silently groped +his way to the charpoy on which the swordsmith +was sleeping, and gently awakened him. In a low +whisper he conveyed the news of his discovery. +Hamadi at once rose, and, trusting to the pitch +darkness of the colonnade, opened the wicket +fully, and listened with all his ears. +</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p> +Tom and Abdul had no sooner crossed the +square than the bolts of the shop door opposite +which they had been standing were softly drawn +back, and Hamadi, followed by his apprentice, +glided barefoot after them. Each bore a sword—good +weapons, as Hamadi, who had made them, +well knew. Hamadi saw a vision of great prosperity +and high favour with the sheikh. He +would follow up the strangers, if strangers they +indeed were, to the house where they harboured. +There he would leave Ahmed to keep watch, while +he himself sped to the kasbah and told what he +had seen. Without doubt the sheikh would +reward him handsomely. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127'></a>127</span> +</p> +<p> +By the time Hamadi and his boy had left the +shelter of the colonnade, the strangers had turned +the corner of the far side of the square; but the +pursuers ran quickly across the open space and +gained the corner while their quarry was still in +sight. +</p> +<p> +Tom and his companion, picking their way with +all caution through the dark, uneven, dirty +passages that led from the kasbah to the outer +wall, went out slowly. Every now and again +they stumbled over a loose cobble or a heap of +refuse; then there was a little noise that might +betray their presence to any one who happened +to be within a few yards of them. At +such times Abdul would throw a hurried glance +back; well he knew what their fate would be +if they were captured. +</p> +<p> +Suddenly he edged a little closer to Tom and +whispered— +</p> +<p> +“Men follow us!” +</p> +<p> +By this time they were almost within reach +of the wall. Tom was alive to the danger in +which the pursuit had placed them. Descending +the wall, they would have to grope for foothold. +Before they could get clear, the pursuers would +have come up behind, and might either topple +down upon them loose boulders from the wall, +or, if they bore firearms, have them at their +mercy. The two hurried their steps. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128'></a>128</span> +</p> +<p> +“They are close behind—two men!” whispered +Abdul. +</p> +<p> +Tom glanced to each side along the wall. +There was no convenient place in which they +might take refuge with any prospect of eluding +their pursuers. They were now hasting along +at a half run beneath a long wall that possibly +enclosed some gardens of houses backing on the +ramparts. Here and there this wall was broken +by a doorway; but the gates, when Tom tested +them by a push, were always closed. Abdul was +making for the spot at which they had entered +the village; it was the nearest, indeed the only +practicable, place of descent. But to descend, +with the pursuers upon them, would be dangerous, +perhaps fatal. To leave this place of exit, and +move farther along the ramparts or back into the +village, would be almost equally dangerous and +would lose precious time. The only other +course open to them was to tackle the problem +of disposing of the pursuers. Tom nervously +fingered his revolver; but a shot would rouse +the whole village and multiply the pursuers +perhaps fiftyfold. +</p> +<p> +While Tom was feverishly attempting to hit +on some means of dealing with the two men, +these, unaware that they had been seen, were +already reckoning up the profits of a successful +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129'></a>129</span> +coup. As soon as Hamadi the swordsmith +saw that the men in front were making for the +ramparts, he guessed at once that they were +intruders from the outside, and he also guessed +the point at which the exit was to be made. +This was not the first time that the place had +been used as a means of getting in and out of the +village by night. More than once it had happened +that the villagers, at feud with neighbouring +mountaineers, had crept out at night to settle +their scores, returning safely within the walls +before daybreak. The fact that the gates were +closed and no one could pass during the night +was prima facie evidence of their innocence. It +was even said that the sheikh had settled accounts +with a hostile neighbour in the same way. The +swordsmith therefore was quite justified in +shaping his course on the assumption that the +two men in front of him would climb down the +ruined part of the wall, and he would be in +ample time to deal with them when they were +clinging precariously to the face of the stonework. +</p> +<p> +The only fault in his calculation was that he +did not reckon with the sharp eyes of Tom’s +companion. Thus it was that, passing incautiously +one of the recessed doorways leading on +to the gardens, he suddenly saw a thousand +brilliant lights flash before his eyes, his sword +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130'></a>130</span> +flew from his grasp, and he reeled dizzily to the +ground. Tom’s muscles were hardened by much +exercise in engineering workshops, and Hamadi, +though a big man and strong, as befitted one of +his trade, was not prepared for so surprising an +attack. Before he could recover his wits Tom +was upon him, pressing the cold barrel of his +revolver to his ear. The man, although dizzy, +had still enough intelligence left to know what +this meant, and he lay quite still while Tom +pondered how he could at the same time secure +his vanquished foe and lend assistance to his +companion, who was now hotly engaged with +the apprentice. Abdul, however, needed no +help. Before Tom had time to decide upon his +own course, the young Moor, taking full advantage +of the darkness that neutralized the effect of his +enemy’s longer weapon, dodged in beneath the +latter’s guard, and got home a shrewd thrust +in the forearm. Ahmed, yelling lustily, dropped +his sword, spun round, and set off down the +ramparts at full speed before Abdul could repeat +his stroke. +</p> +<div><a name='illus133' id='illus133'></a></div> +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i004' id='i004'></a> +<img src="images/illus133.jpg" alt="HIS SWORD FLEW FROM HIS GRASP, AND HE REELED DIZZILY TO THE GROUND." title=""/><br /> +<span class='caption'>HIS SWORD FLEW FROM HIS GRASP, AND<br/>HE REELED DIZZILY TO THE GROUND.</span> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131'></a>131</span></div> +<p> +Tom breathed more freely. He had at any +rate, he thought, gained a few minutes. The +yells of the Moor were not likely to bring help +immediately. While a shot would undoubtedly +have raised the guard at the kasbah, and brought +a party in hot haste to the spot, the cries of a +man yelling would probably only cause a certain +sleepy curiosity. A Moor never puts himself to +unnecessary trouble, and it would certainly not +be worth while to pay much attention to a brawl +between men who had smoked too much hashish. +But there was still need for haste, so with Abdul’s +assistance Tom trussed up the fallen swordsmith +with workmanlike bonds made of his own garments, +and in another minute was beginning the +descent of the wall. +</p> +<p> +They were only halfway down when they +heard an uproar in the village. The apprentice +had lost no time in gathering a band to continue +the pursuit. Yet Tom could not hurry his +flight, for a false step would mean at least a +broken arm, and in all probability a broken neck. +With Abdul close behind he picked his way down +the broken masonry, the shouts growing ever +nearer and more menacing. At last they reached +the bottom. Then, Abdul leading the way, +they hurried along the foot of the wall. They +durst not yet leave its shelter, for the moon, +though now sinking in the sky, still threw sufficient +light to betray them if they attempted to cross +the open space towards the hillside. +</p> +<p> +Crouching low as they went, they heard the +pursuers halt at the place where they had descended. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132'></a>132</span> +But now they had reached a welcome +patch of stunted bush which promised needful +cover. Plunging into this, still keeping low +so that their heads should not show above the +scrub, they strode away at right angles to the +wall. Abdul’s knowledge of the country served +him well. Descending the hill, they were soon +out of danger. Then up and down little +eminences, over brooks, through patches of wood, +they pressed on, always bearing slightly to +the right until they struck the true course. +Almost in a bee-line, they made for the hill +where Oliphant was anxiously awaiting them, and +arrived there just after dawn, tired out, and not +a little disappointed with the barren result of +their night’s work. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133'></a>133</span><a name='chIX' id='chIX'></a>CHAPTER IX—A BOLT FROM THE BLUE</h2> +<p> +“Thank Heaven you are back!” said +Oliphant when Tom appeared over +the brow of the hill. “I don’t think I ever +spent a more miserable night.” +</p> +<p> +“Anything happened?” +</p> +<p> +“No. It wouldn’t have been so bad if anything +had. If I’d had something to do—somebody +to fight, or something!” +</p> +<p> +“Well, you could have gone to sleep.” +</p> +<p> +“So I did, and woke in a fright. I dreamt +that wretched Jew fellow was coming at me +with outstretched hands, and his fingernails +were like some horrid bird’s claws, and he grew +bigger and bigger as he came until he seemed +as huge as a mountain. But what luck did you +have?” +</p> +<p> +“None, or next to none. The kasbah’s as +strong as Newgate. And the worst of it is, we +were spotted and followed, had to truss up +one fellow; another alarmed the village. We +escaped just by the skin of our teeth.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134'></a>134</span> +</p> +<p> +He related in detail the incidents of the night. +</p> +<p> +“It looks as if we’ll have to back out after all,” +said Oliphant gloomily when the story was +finished. +</p> +<p> +“I’ll be hanged if we will. I’ve been thinking +it over, and talking it over with Abdul, on +the way back. The only chance, it seems to +me, is to face all the risks and make a dash for +it.” +</p> +<p> +“What do you mean?” +</p> +<p> +“Come down in the airship on the terraced +roof of the kasbah under cover of night, and +trust to luck to find our way to the prisoners’ +quarters.” +</p> +<p> +“But that would be confoundedly risky, +especially after you have once given the alarm in +the village.” +</p> +<p> +“I admit that’s a nuisance, but it’s perhaps +not so bad as you think. You see, the Moors +know nothing—I hope they don’t, at any rate—about +the airship, and they won’t look for intruders +from the sky. The botheration is that we’ve +lost a lot of time, and our chance is utterly +dished if the Jew gets in first. Abdul says he +can’t be more than a day’s march from the place +now. That’s about thirty miles, as near as I +can make out. Luckily it’s very rough country, +so that he can’t come fast. He’s probably starting +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135'></a>135</span> +this very morning for his last stage; it’s +possible that we’ve already lost our chance, for +he’s sure to hurry, and if he gets the ear of the +sheikh before nightfall, they’ll be on the watch +for us.” +</p> +<p> +“But even without the Jew I don’t see how +your scheme’s possible. There are sure to be +extra guards at the wall, and if the night were +as bright as this they couldn’t help seeing the +machine, and we couldn’t alight without their +knowledge.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes; but you must allow for their ignorance +and superstition. If they do see the airship +swooping down on them they’ll be scared out of +their wits; they’ll think it some monstrous evil +bird straight from Gehenna——” +</p> +<p> +“Which is down below, not up aloft.” +</p> +<p> +“They won’t be in a state to draw distinctions +of that sort. Abdul assures me that these ignorant +mountaineers—he was one himself once, +but travel has widened his mind!—will be in +such a state of terror that they’ll be for a time +pretty well paralysed: and time’s all we want.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, he ought to know his countrymen. +But there’s the Jew: suppose he <em>does</em> get there +first?” +</p> +<p> +“We’ve got to prevent him.” +</p> +<p> +“What!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136'></a>136</span> +</p> +<p> +“As I say, we must go and intercept him.” +</p> +<p> +“But he won’t come alone.” +</p> +<p> +“Of course not. Abdul says he will come +on horseback with a band of armed and mounted +men. He wouldn’t trust himself in this country +without an escort. But that’s where the airship +comes in. I rather fancy that if we swoop down +from the sky among a lot of Moors they’ll think +more of their own safety than of the Jew’s.” +</p> +<p> +“Still, we couldn’t prevent them from going +on to the village.” +</p> +<p> +“I think we could.” +</p> +<p> +“What! shoot ’em down?” +</p> +<p> +“No. I don’t want to hurt a hair of their +heads if I can help it. I think we can manage +to chase them back along the way they came, +and do something to frighten them into the +bargain. Do you know how to make throw-downs?” +</p> +<p> +“Never heard of ’em. What are they?” +</p> +<p> +“I forgot; you Eton fellows never use such +things, I suppose. Well, I’ll make some, and +you’ll confess they’re excellent little harmless +bombs. Then we’ll be off.” +</p> +<p> +Carefully opening two or three cartridge cases, +he extracted the powder, and screwing it up +with some tiny pebbles in tissue paper from his +pocket-book, he manufactured a dozen or so +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137'></a>137</span> +of the little bombs. Then he inspected the +machinery of the airship, thoroughly oiled the +parts, and went aboard with Oliphant and Abdul. +He allowed the machine to rise only a few feet +from the top of the hill, so as to avoid if possible +observation from the village; then he set off in +a south-easterly direction, keeping the hill between +him and the kasbah. Fetching a long circuit, +he gradually bore south-west, then slightly +north, until, in the course of about three-quarters +of an hour, he struck the narrow winding track +which would be followed by parties travelling +between the village and the coast. +</p> +<p> +From their elevated position they could trace +the path for a considerable distance through +the country, but as yet they had seen no sign +of a party approaching the village. In broad +daylight the airship must have been sighted by +many people over whose heads it had passed; +but from what Abdul had said it was unlikely +that any one would have the least idea of the +real nature of the apparition. They would +regard it as a supernatural creature, and if within +the next few hours a rumour of its appearance +should be carried to the sheikh of Ain Afroo +he would probably be none the wiser from any +description that might be attempted. +</p> +<p> +It was now little more than nine o’clock in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138'></a>138</span> +the morning, and the Jew could scarcely have +passed. Tom therefore headed the airship +westward, keeping it at a low speed so that he +might carefully scan the country and not let the +Jew and his party escape him. He knew that, +unless accident signally befriended him, the +airship must be seen by them long before they +came into sight. Although the country was +spread out like a map, the machine in the +open sky must be a much more conspicuous +object to people below than they would be to +observers above. Salathiel would, of course, +recognize the airship; but Tom hoped that +before the man could explain clearly to his escort +what it was, the immediate object of the aerial +flight would have been achieved. +</p> +<p> +The morning wore away, and Tom began to +feel anxious. To keep the airship so long in +motion involved the expenditure of a large +amount of his propulsive paste, and he had +brought only as much of it as would last +the voyage to and from the hill fortress, with +a little margin for accidents. Yet he did not +care to bring the machine to rest, for he might +then miss the party of which he was in search. +Moreover, all the provisions were gone except +a few biscuits and some tea. With no food for +themselves and no fuel for the machine their +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139'></a>139</span> +plight would be desperate. Tom spoke of his +anxieties to Oliphant, and they were still talking +somewhat disconsolately, when Abdul, who +had never ceased to keep a sharp lookout, +suddenly cried “Horses!” and pointed to sundry +small specks ahead. +</p> +<p> +Tom instantly started up and looked through +his binocular in the direction of the Moor’s +forefinger. +</p> +<p> +“There are about a score, I fancy,” he said, +handing the glass to Oliphant. “Can you spot +the Jew?” +</p> +<p> +“No, they are too much mixed up. I +shouldn’t know him again, either.” +</p> +<p> +“We shall know him very soon, though. +Abdul told me that Jews in this country mostly +wear blue clothes and black skullcaps. We’ll +make straight for them.” +</p> +<p> +The engines had lately been reduced to something +less than half speed. Realizing that every +second was now of value, Tom put them at +full speed, steering the vessel direct for the +party of horsemen, who had just emerged from +a clump of timber. At the same time Oliphant +altered the inclination of the planes, so that +the airship began to drop rapidly earthwards. +Thus it swooped down upon the party like a huge +falcon. To manipulate the engines, the steering +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140'></a>140</span> +gear, and the lever affecting the planes, kept the +hands of Tom and his friend pretty fully occupied; +but Abdul was to make himself useful, and Tom +instructed him to take a handful of the little +bombs, in readiness to use them when the moment +came. Tom hoped that the mere appearance of +the sky monster would startle the horses and +put the cavalcade to fright. As an additional +means of scaring them he relied on the throwdowns. +</p> +<p> +The airship had come within about two miles +of the horsemen when it was seen that they had +halted. No doubt the strange apparition had +been observed, and Salathiel ben Ezra was doing +his best to explain its nature. They remained +stationary until the distance of the airship from +them was less than a mile: then two of them +wheeled suddenly in their tracks and set off in a +mad gallop westward. The others, however, held +their ground; either they had stronger nerves, +or the Jew had managed to convince them that +the strange object was not an instrument of the +Evil One, but simply a new invention of the +accursed people who had invented warships +and alarm clocks. +</p> +<p> +Tom had just distinguished the figure of +Salathiel, on a mule in the midst of the party, +when there came a slight puff of smoke from the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141'></a>141</span> +centre of the group, followed by a second and +a third. Oliphant laughed. +</p> +<p> +“They’re firing at us,” he exclaimed, “which +argues a pretty state of fright.” +</p> +<p> +“All very much in our favour. Look, there +are three more of them off as hard as they +can go.” +</p> +<p> +“But there are still ten or a dozen of them. +If they have nerve enough to hold their fire till +we come within range they may do us some damage—if +their guns are any good.” +</p> +<p> +“There’s not much doubt about that. They +get hold of good rifles somehow. But we’re in +for it now. A bullet or two in the machinery +would bring us to the ground; we must simply +take our chance.” +</p> +<p> +The airship was now approaching the party +at the speed of a fast train. Moment by moment +others of the horsemen detached themselves +from the group and galloped after their comrades, +and Tom gave a cry when he saw that the Jew +was among the fugitives. Still several remained. +</p> +<p> +“It won’t do to allow them to get between +us and the kasbah,” said Tom. “We must +drive the whole lot of them back towards the +coast.” +</p> +<p> +The airship was now only some three hundred +feet above the ground. Suddenly Tom shut +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142'></a>142</span> +off the horizontal propellers and brought the +vertical engines into play. The airship swept +onward at the same level by virtue of its +momentum. The horses of the Moors began to +rear and plunge. They had probably heard +the whirr of the machinery, for not being long-sighted +beasts it was possible that they had not +yet seen the vessel above them. +</p> +<p> +“By George! aren’t they magnificent horsemen!” +said Oliphant, as he saw the Moors +striving to hold their terrified animals in. One +or two puffs, followed immediately by the +reports of the rifles, came from the group; but +with their horses rearing and plunging beneath +them it was not surprising that the Moors +missed the airship, though it now offered a considerable +mark. It was immediately above them. +</p> +<p> +“Now, Abdul!” said Tom. +</p> +<p> +The Moor flung one of the little bombs earthward +with all his force. It exploded at the very +feet of one of the horses, which, frenzied with +fear, took the bit between its teeth and bolted. +Abdul threw half a dozen more, one after +another, laughing with glee at the astonishing +effect of the little bombs. There was no +holding the horses any longer, and the whole +party dashed away at a mad gallop along the +road they had come. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143'></a>143</span> +</p> +<p> +It was not Tom’s object to overtake them +yet awhile. He put the horizontal engines at +half speed, and the airship began to follow the +fugitives like a sheepdog at the heels of a frantic +flock. The little group which had stood to the +last were evidently the best mounted of the party, +for they gradually closed in upon those who had +started earlier. Tom could not forbear chuckling +as he came upon the rotund black-capped figure +of Salathiel ben Ezra striving to urge his steady-going +mule to a brisker pace. +</p> +<p> +“Is it safe to leave him behind?” asked +Oliphant, as the Jew was outstripped and +passed. +</p> +<p> +“Oh yes! We’ll come back for him presently. +We could easily catch him up. If the mule is +like most of his kind he won’t hurry himself.” +</p> +<p> +The airship sped on after the rest of the party. +Mile after mile was covered: the horses showed +signs of fatigue, but one or two that were dropping +behind were galvanized into further desperate +efforts by the dreaded whirr of the propellers +just in their rear. +</p> +<p> +The chase had continued for about half an +hour when Abdul suddenly noticed that the +number of the fugitives was one less than it had +been when the flight began. None of the three +occupants of the airship had seen a rider diverge +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144'></a>144</span> +from the track: to do so would indeed have +been difficult, for it ran through uneven and +rocky ground which offered little footway for a +horse. Yet it was clear that one of the Moors +had at some point or other left his comrades +and ridden off to right or left. +</p> +<p> +“Never mind,” said Tom. “If he tries to +get to the village, I’ve no doubt we can overtake +him. His horse will be no match for us.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t you think we’ve chased them far +enough!” asked Oliphant. “We’re using up a +great deal of your paste.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes. I think we’ve pretty well disposed +of them now. We’ll swing round and go back +for Master Salathiel.” +</p> +<p> +“What are you going to do with him—not +bring him up here?” +</p> +<p> +“Not a bit of it. We don’t want him—not +for long, at least. I’ve got an idea. But we +must get hold of him first.” +</p> +<p> +Bringing the airship about in a wide circle, +Tom steered it back along the track in search of +the Jew. +</p> +<p> +“The donkey!” cried Oliphant, as presently +the man came in sight, making desperate efforts +to gain the village. “He might have hidden +himself among the rocks or the trees, and given +us no end of trouble.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145'></a>145</span> +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know. He has chosen probably the +lesser of two evils. He’d have a bad time of it +if he were found alone by any wandering Moors; +his best chance was certainly to try to get to the +village and tell the sheikh all he knows.” +</p> +<p> +The Jew could be seen every now and again +glancing anxiously back along the track. When +he caught side of the airship returning, and +realized that he was bound to be overtaken, he +pulled up his mule, tumbled off the saddle, and +dived into the cover of some rocks, hoping no +doubt that they would afford him concealment. +</p> +<p> +“Too late!” said Tom with a chuckle. +“He might escape us if we were on his level, +but he forgets we can look right down upon +him.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s like a field-mouse trying to escape from +a hawk,” said Oliphant. +</p> +<p> +“Rather worse, for a field-mouse has its colour +to help it, while Salathiel’s blue coat makes +him a little too conspicuous.” +</p> +<p> +For a few moments the Jew, indeed, disappeared +from view; but Tom steered the airship +exactly above the spot where he was last seen, +and there was Salathiel crouching in a cleft +much too narrow for him. +</p> +<p> +There was no convenient landing-place among +the rocks where the airship could be brought +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146'></a>146</span> +safely to rest, and the Jew, apparently recognizing +this, did not attempt to stir from his position. +But the vessel came to rest in the air, hovering +like a monstrous humming-bird above the trembling +man, no more than twenty feet from the +ground. +</p> +<p> +“How shall we get at him?” asked Oliphant. +</p> +<p> +“We can leave that to Abdul, I think,” replied +Tom. “He is used to ship-board, and he has +been on the end of our rope before.” +</p> +<p> +Abdul understood what was required of him. +Letting down the rope with the grapnel at the +end, he swarmed nimbly down, armed only with +his knife. The two in the car smiled to see what +ensued. Salathiel was unarmed. He broke forth +in a torrent of mingled threats and entreaties +as the Moor approached him, then lay on his +back and tried to repel the lad with his feet. +But Abdul got behind him, and by discreet +employment of the point of his knife at length +persuaded the Jew into the open. +</p> +<p> +Then Tom let the airship gently down. When +it stood upon terra firma, he and Oliphant +leapt out of the car, bundled Salathiel into it, and +in another minute were soaring through the air +towards their former resting-place on the hill. +With Salathiel’s added weight the airship travelled +somewhat slowly, and for some time, when a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147'></a>147</span> +breeze rose from the eastward, it had considerable +difficulty in making headway at all. But at last +the flat-topped hill was opened up on the horizon, +Tom estimating that the return journey had +taken more than twice as long as the outward +trip in the morning. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148'></a>148</span><a name='chX' id='chX'></a>CHAPTER X—THE KASBAH</h2> +<p> +Instead of alighting on the former spot +on the top of the hill, Tom this time let +the airship down at the foot. +</p> +<p> +“We haven’t darkness to cover us this time,” +he said, “and we don’t want to be spied from +the village.” +</p> +<p> +“What are you going to do with our fat +friend?” asked Oliphant. +</p> +<p> +“Well, I thought of taking him some miles +into the wilder parts of the hills and leaving +him; but I don’t want to use any more of our +fuel than I can help. Besides, I don’t want to +have the fellow murdered, though his Moor +friend might have done for poor Timothy. +What do you say to giving him a lodging in one +of the caves?” +</p> +<p> +“But how in the world could we get him up +there?” +</p> +<p> +“Abdul says it can be done. I forgot to tell +you that on our way to Ain Afroo that night I +told Abdul of our discovery, and he said he knew +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149'></a>149</span> +the caves well, and had often climbed into them. +The tradition of the country is that they were +actually cut in the rocks ages ago as a refuge when +the people were pressed by their enemies.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, it’s a capital idea if it can be managed. +The Jew would be out of harm’s way, at any +rate.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes. And if we succeed in releasing Ingleton, +we can come back for him, perhaps, and take +him into Rabat or Casa Blanca, and make him +disgorge some of Abdul’s property, which I’ve no +doubt he has appropriated.” +</p> +<p> +“But won’t he starve? We can’t spare him +any food.” +</p> +<p> +“A day’s fasting won’t hurt him. We’re on +uncommonly short rations ourselves, and there’s +no reason why he should fare better than we.” +</p> +<p> +“But can we get him up? He’s a big fellow,” +</p> +<p> +“We’ll do our best with Abdul’s help. One +of the caves is more easy to get at than the others, +Abdul says.” +</p> +<p> +“By Jove, we’ve forgotten that fellow who +got away!” +</p> +<p> +“Hang it, so we have. It can’t be helped. +We clearly can’t catch him now without showing +ourselves to the people of Ain Afroo. Perhaps +he didn’t make for the village after all. We must +dispose of Salathiel, at any rate.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150'></a>150</span> +</p> +<p> +Tom and Oliphant had been talking apart, +while Abdul kept watch over the Jew. The +former now went up to the man. +</p> +<p> +“Mr. Salathiel,” he said. “I don’t exactly +know what your game is, but we think it’s +advisable you should have a little rest after your +arduous work with the mule. There’s a very +comfortable cave some eighty feet above your +head. The way to it is rather steep, but with +our assistance you can mount there, and remain +in perfect safety until we can fetch you and +restore you to your friends.” +</p> +<p> +“I protest you treat me badly,” said Salathiel, +his mien expressing mingled fear and indignation. +“I am a peaceable merchant, and was on my way +to treat with the sheikh of Ain Afroo for a supply +of carpets from Rabat, when——” +</p> +<p> +“Still, you must be fatigued,” said Tom. +“We also have business with the sheikh, and I +fear that until ours is completed yours must +wait. Ours is a prior engagement, Mr. Salathiel. +Now if you will please climb the hillside. The +first steps are easy; we will help you when you +find further ascent difficult.” +</p> +<p> +For some moments the Jew tried entreaty, +cajolery, even bribery—in vain. With a very +bad grace he began to clamber up the rocks, +reaching at length a ledge some twenty-five feet +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151'></a>151</span> +below the cave. The hill was here almost perpendicular, +and when Salathiel looked at the +wall of rock above him he pleaded again with +great volubility to be allowed to go his way. +But Abdul was already swarming up with a rope +between his teeth. The Englishmen watched +him with admiration. Sticking fingers and toes +into the slightest crevice, taking advantage of +every little irregularity in the surface, he accomplished +what had seemed from below an impossible +feat. When he reached the cave, he +tied one end of the rope to a spur of rock at +the entrance, and let down the other to Oliphant, +who by its assistance managed to follow. Salathiel +for a time absolutely refused to mount; +but when Tom pointed out that in the cave he +would at least be safe, while no one could answer +for what might happen if he wandered about +the country alone, he at length allowed the rope +to be wound about him, and was hauled up by +the two above. He was supplied with a pot of +water from the hill stream and a half-dozen +biscuits, then Oliphant descended, followed by +Abdul with the rope. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t think he’ll attempt the descent,” +said Tom. “It requires more nerve than I +fancy he’s got.” +</p> +<p> +“It doesn’t matter much if he does, does it? +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152'></a>152</span> +He won’t try it while we are hereabout. He’ll +hardly try it in the dark when we are gone; and +if he does, and gets safely to the bottom, he’ll +take so long finding his way to the village that +we shall have done our business there—if we’re +going to do it at all.” +</p> +<p> +“Still, I think we’ll make sure. There are +one or two bits of rock sticking out that give +a slight foothold; Abdul may as well knock them +off. He won’t want them himself when we come +back to release the Jew.” +</p> +<p> +“Suppose we don’t come back!” +</p> +<p> +“You mean, suppose we come to grief ourselves! +Well, he’ll be able to signal for help +from the mouth of the cave to-morrow; some +of his cronies are sure to wonder what’s become +of him and be prowling about. It won’t matter +to us then, for we shall have either succeeded or +failed.” +</p> +<p> +“Suppose we can’t come back, and nobody +sees his signals!” +</p> +<p> +“That’s his lookout! Didn’t we rescue him +from the shark, which would have snapped +him up when the tide rose another few inches? +How has he repaid us? By trying to do for +us. And it isn’t as if he were a Moor, serving +his country. He hasn’t an ounce of patriotism +in his composition. He’s simply on the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153'></a>153</span> +make. He wanted to get a good haul out of the +sheikh for giving us away, and upon my word, +considering all things, I think he gets off pretty +easily. If he’d treated Moors as he has treated +us, he’d be dying a particularly slow death by this +time. I don’t think we need distress ourselves +about Salathiel ben Ezra.” +</p> +<p> +Leaving the Jew to his solitary reflections, the +two made their way back to the airship and +began to overhaul the machinery. Meanwhile +Abdul had gone to the summit of the hill to +bring down one or two things which had been +left there. He returned with the news that he +had seen in the far distance a single horseman +slowly climbing the steep hill-path to the village. +</p> +<p> +“That’s our man, depend upon it,” said +Oliphant. “He’ll give us away, Dorrell, as +sure as fate.” +</p> +<p> +“What can’t be cured must be endured. We +could catch him, I dare say; but we haven’t any +too much fodder for the engine, and we should +certainly be seen. He must tell the sheikh all he +knows, and, upon my word, I should like to hear +his account of us. It would probably be very +funny.” +</p> +<p> +“But it will put the sheikh on his guard.” +</p> +<p> +“My dear fellow, you haven’t enough faith +in the terrors of the unknown, or the misknown. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154'></a>154</span> +The Moor’s story will be such a mass of exaggeration, +ignorance, and superstition, that they’ll be +in a state of jumps, and dread the apparition ten +times more even than if it came upon them +without preparation.” +</p> +<p> +“Then why go to the trouble of preventing +the Jew from getting into the village?” +</p> +<p> +“Just because he <em>knows</em> the thing, you see, and +would stick to the bare truth. His story would +lay more stress on the object of our visit; the +Moor’s will be mainly about the airship. Really, +he may help us in the end.” +</p> +<p> +They spent the afternoon in a thorough cleaning +of the engines. Once or twice Salathiel +showed himself at the mouth of the cave, and +Tom fancied he saw him attempt to signal with +his hands. But when Oliphant made a movement +towards his carbine, the Jew retreated +hastily into the interior and appeared no more. +</p> +<p> +At last all was ready for the voyage. But +several hours must yet pass before the ascent +could be made. Tom had decided that it would +be unwise to arrive at the kasbah until the +Moors were either in their first sleep, or, if on +their guard, were somewhat tired and nervous +with watching. Learning this, Abdul, who had +been making observations during the afternoon, +left the two Englishmen and was not seen for a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155'></a>155</span> +time. When he returned, he carried a couple +of hares, explaining that he had snared them in +the wood that lay half a mile beyond their resting-place. +He produced also from the folds of his +garment a number of figs and dates which he +had plucked from the trees. +</p> +<p> +“Here’s a tuck-in!” cried Tom. “I’m as +hungry as a hunter. Oatmeal biscuits are all +very well, but they’re a trifle too chippy for my +taste. I suppose you, as a Scotsman, think ’em +quite succulent, Oliphant?” +</p> +<p> +“Do I, by George? You Englishmen make +a good many mistakes about us Scots, and that’s +one of them. Besides, I’m only Scotch when I +want a stoker’s place—or when I let off some of +my stories on the fellows in Booker’s. I was +rather had once, though. When I first went to +Tabor’s as a little chap, on my first day I dropped +my cap somewhere, and asked one of the masters +if he’d seen it. I’d just come from our village +school up north—a whim of the governor’s, you +know—and I suppose I’d a touch of the brogue, +for when I said, ‘Please, sir, have you seen my +cap?’ he said quite pat, ‘Are <em>you</em> MacFarlane?’ +And he called me MacFarlane until I left.” +</p> +<p> +Abdul had chosen a sheltered hollow, and built +a rough canopy of branches and leaves. Beneath +this he kindled a fire, and cooked one of the hares +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156'></a>156</span> +The table appointments were not exactly those +that either of the lads was accustomed to, but, +as Oliphant remarked, they were in a primitive +country, and it was not unfitting that they should +resort to the manners of their ancestors. Both +confessed that they had never enjoyed a meal so +much as this, and felt all the more ready for the +adventures of the night. +</p> +<p> +The moon was shedding a cold radiance around, +in strange contrast with the hot and sultry air, +when the airship with its three passengers rose +from the foot of the hill and started on its voyage +for the kasbah of Ain Afroo. To lessen the +chances of premature discovery, Tom ascended +to a considerable altitude, with the intention of +dropping obliquely upon the kasbah. He was +thus able to dispense in great part with the action +of the propellers as the airship drew near to its +destination, which was very desirable, seeing +that they made a loud whirring which must +otherwise have attracted attention. But by +ascending to a height of nearly 3,000 feet, and +then adjusting the planes so that the airship fell +at a sharp angle, he could make use of the force +of gravity to carry him in the right direction +without employing the horizontal screws. Finding, +however, when half the distance had been +covered, that the airship was coming too near +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157'></a>157</span> +the ground, he set the vertical screws in motion +rose a few hundred feet, and again dropped +obliquely towards his objective. +</p> +<p> +The whole country was bathed in the moon’s +pale light, and lay in perfect silence save for the +faint barking of dogs here and there. The three +adventurers said never a word; neither Tom +nor Oliphant was in a mood for talking now that +the real business of the expedition was so near at +hand. It was not until the airship was hovering +exactly over the flat roof of the kasbah that they +knew, from shouts below, that the strange visitant +had been observed. But some moments must +elapse, presumably, before the alarm could penetrate +to the sheikh’s apartments; and, aware +that everything depended on his coolness and +caution, Tom brought the airship to rest with as +much deliberation as if he were landing from a +practice voyage. +</p> +<p> +A shot from a musket struck one of the planes. +</p> +<p> +“The sentry on the terrace has caught sight +of us,” said Tom, as he was stepping out of the +car. “Let us hope that after having done his +duty he’ll be sufficiently scared to bolt for the +town, instead of coming up to warn the +sheikh.” +</p> +<p> +The programme had been settled before they +started. Oliphant was to remain in charge of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158'></a>158</span> +the airship, while Tom and the Moor attempted +to get into the house and release the prisoner. +</p> +<p> +“Remain in the car,” said Tom, “and have +everything ready to ascend at a moment’s notice.” +</p> +<p> +“Wish you good luck, old fellow,” returned +Oliphant. “You’ve got your revolver?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes. <em>Au revoir!</em>” +</p> +<p> +He glanced anxiously round for the opening +that led from the roof into the house. In the +ordinary way it would not be closed; indeed, +during the summer months, except when rain +threatened, such openings were seldom covered. +Unless the fugitive had the gift of second sight, +it was improbable that he would ever have +imagined that the airship would descend on the +very roof of the sheikh’s own dwelling. Thus +the inmates would have no reason to guard +against intrusion from above. Things might +have been different in a populous town, where +access could be had from one roof to another. +But the kasbah stood quite solitary, and the +nearest buildings were inaccessible. +</p> +<p> +The opening, in point of fact, lay within a few +feet of the spot upon which the airship had +descended. +</p> +<p> +Carrying an electric torch in one hand and +his revolver in the other, Tom stepped gingerly +down the staircase, followed by the Moor, who +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159'></a>159</span> +held his knife ready for instant use. They came +across a small vestibule, lit at the far end by the +moonlight streaming through a narrow aperture +in the wall. To the right and left was a door; +one led no doubt to the sheikh’s harem, the other +probably to the apartments of the male members +of the family; but Abdul was unable to say +which was which. There were no bolts on the +outside of these doors, which were fast shut, but +each had a very large keyhole. +</p> +<p> +Inasmuch as the entry to this part of the house +was no doubt barred beneath by a door on the +staircase, it was quite possible that the inhabitants +felt themselves secure enough to dispense +with locking these doors. Certainly a Moor will +never take any trouble if he can avoid it. +</p> +<p> +Choosing the right-hand door, Tom gently +turned the handle; the door opened to his push, +and, inserting his hand, he discovered, as he had +ventured to hope, a heavy key in the lock. He +silently withdrew it, closed the door, and turned +the key on the outside; Abdul at the same +time, taking the cue, did the same with the other +door on the left. Both locks squeaked somewhat, +and Tom thought he heard voices within. +Without waiting, however, to assure himself on +this point—feeling that he had the inmates +secure, at least for a time—he pushed on down +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160'></a>160</span> +the stairway, followed by Abdul, and they came, +as they had expected, upon a strong door bolted +on their side. Tom gently slid the bolts, opened +the door, and found himself in a small vestibule. +On the far side of this was another door, which +the Moor thought was the inner door of the +guest-chamber. This Tom expected would be +locked on the outside, but when he flashed his +torch at it he saw that the bolts were not shot. +He turned the handle of the door, which opened +outwards. No doubt, he thought, the Moors +considered their prisoner quite safe without +the necessity of locking him in from this +side. Access to the lower quarters being barred, +they would not object to his going up to the +roof, perhaps, for fresh air. The other door to +the right of the guest-chamber leading on to the +terrace was securely locked, as Abdul proved by +pushing it gently so as to avoid noise. +</p> +<p> +Tom tiptoed through the door, and cautiously +lowering his torch in order to avoid +flashing it on any window openings on the far +side, swept it round the room. He gave a start +of keen disappointment when he found that the +place was untenanted. It bore traces of recent +occupation, but the occupant, whoever he was, +had been removed. There were a couple of +bright oriental rugs on the floor, a dish such as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161'></a>161</span> +the Moors are accustomed to serve sweetmeats +on, and one or two other native articles; but +on one of the rugs lay a well-browned brier +pipe, which was clearly of European origin, and +indeed Tom was conscious of the familiar odour +of tobacco—a very different smell from that +made by the kief or hashish smoked by the Moors. +And, strangest contrast of all, a somewhat tattered +newspaper, and a bulky volume in a red +paper cover, showed that the sheikh’s prisoner +had certainly inhabited this room, and had found +some means of lightening his captivity. +</p> +<p> +Tom took in these details in a moment. Anxious +to further his errand, he did not pause to +look at the contents of the room minutely, but +hurried across to a door on the farther side, +leading, he suspected, to the terrace. This was +bolted, but from the inside. +</p> +<p> +He halted in perplexity. What had become +of the prisoner? +</p> +<p> +“Have they taken him to the upper apartments?” +he asked Abdul in a whisper. +</p> +<p> +“No, master,” replied the lad. “No Moor +would think of it.” +</p> +<p> +“Do you think he has been released? But +no: that is unlikely. Salathiel would certainly +not have come so far in that case, would +he?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162'></a>162</span> +</p> +<p> +“No. The mouse does not put his head in +the jaws of the lion.” +</p> +<p> +“And the smell of tobacco is quite fresh. I +believe the prisoner has only lately been removed. +Where would they take him if they feared an +attempt at rescue?” +</p> +<p> +With a significant look Abdul pointed downwards. +</p> +<p> +“The dungeons, eh? Where are they?” +</p> +<p> +“Under the ground, master.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, we must get down there if we can. +Do you know the way?” +</p> +<p> +The Moor hesitated. He knew too well the +fate of unhappy people who had offended the +sheikh, and upon whom the sheikh exercised the +power of life and death. Once, in Tangier, he +had accompanied a friend to such a dungeon, +where his friend’s father was confined for denying +that he possessed hidden treasure. The man’s +eyes had been put out, one of his hands had been +cut off, and he had languished for years in this +loathsome place, where he would have starved but +for the food brought him daily by his son, and +handed to him through a grating. Abdul had no +wish to see the inside of the kasbah’s dungeon. +</p> +<p> +But his hesitation was only momentary. Tom +was clearly determined to pursue his object, and +the Moor reflected that, whatever he did, he was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163'></a>163</span> +in parlous danger. Besides, did not everything +happen by the will of Allah? If it was decreed +that he should die, he would die; if he was +doomed to a living death in prison, nothing that +he could do would avert his fate. So, with a +Moor’s habitual fatalism, he told his employer +all he knew. +</p> +<p> +There was doubtless one entrance to the +dungeon from the patio beneath, where the +jailer occupied a room near the great gateway. +But there must also be an entrance from within +the house. Below the vestibule in which they +then stood was probably another vestibule, +dividing the rooms of the servants’ apartments. +Whether there was any communication between +the two vestibules he did not know; perhaps it +was from the terrace outside. In all probability +the inner entrance to the dungeon was from the +vestibule below. +</p> +<p> +This gave Tom pause. So far he had been +unmolested; indeed, it was only a couple of +minutes since he had left the roof. But the +thought of having to pass the servants’ apartments +was decidedly unpleasant. The sentry’s shot +must have been heard; he wondered why the +servants had not already come up to warn or to +take orders from the sheikh. Luckily the sheikh +himself and all his family were securely locked +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164'></a>164</span> +in their apartments. The menials might at any +rate be expected to prove less formidable. +</p> +<p> +There was no time to be lost. It suddenly +occurred to Tom that the floor of the vestibule +might have a kind of trapdoor. He pulled +aside one of the rugs that covered the stones; +there was indeed a trapdoor, not secured in any +way. Down he went on hands and knees. Releasing +the button of the electric torch so that +the room was in darkness, he lifted the door +half an inch, and guessed from the absence of +light that the vestibule below was unoccupied. +He cautiously raised the covering still farther +and listened. There was no sound. He set his +foot on a ladder beneath, and, moving so slowly +and gently as to make not so much as a rustle, he +went down step by step, pausing once or twice +to strain his ears. Still there was no sound. +When he reached the floor he ventured to flash +a light around him. He saw he was in a stone-flagged +chamber of equal size with the vestibule +above. In the middle of the floor was a circular +stone slab with an iron ring on it, and a thick +iron bolt was shut into a socket. There was one +door to the room, and, hurrying to it, Tom found +that it was fastened on the outside. +</p> +<p> +So far all was well. He softly summoned +Abdul to descend. Then, drawing back the bolt +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165'></a>165</span> +and lifting the slab, he discovered a large opening +leading to a spiral stone stairway. +</p> +<p> +Again he hesitated. What lay below? The +disappointment of finding the guest-chamber +empty, the prolongation of the search, were +beginning to tell upon him. But, crushing down +his nervous excitement, he extinguished his torch +again, and groped his way round and round until +he came once more to level ground. All was +still as death. A flash of the torch showed him +that he was in a large vaulted corridor, paved +with brick. Somewhere in this, he doubted not, +was the door into the dungeons. +</p> +<p> +In order to secure his line of retreat in case of +emergency, he felt it was absolutely necessary +first to secure the other entrance, wherever it +might be, that was ordinarily used by the jailer. +He soon discovered it by the aid of his torch. +Here, as he feared, the bolts were on the outside, +and the door was securely fastened. Was +it possible to barricade the door from the inside? +The whole place was empty with the exception +of a number of manacles and like effects, and a +long hammer, which Abdul said, in a whisper, +was used by the Moorish jailers in fastening the +chains round their victims’ ankles. But there +was nothing that promised to be of service as a +barricade. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166'></a>166</span> +</p> +<p> +At any moment the jailer, if he had not taken +panic from the discharge of the sentry’s musket, +might enter to assure himself of the security of +his prisoners. Could anything be done to delay +him? For Tom felt that it was not only a +question of the jailer, but of others who would +no doubt hasten to his assistance. +</p> +<p> +Flashing his torch round, Tom noticed that +the flooring had been worn and chipped away, +no doubt in the process of manacling, and scattered +about there was a large quantity of loose +particles of brick. An idea struck him. He +collected a big handful of these fragments and +pushed them into the keyhole. Then, leaving +Abdul to complete the work, which would, he +hoped, cause the lock to stick, he hastened down +the vaulted passage. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167'></a>167</span><a name='chXI' id='chXI'></a>CHAPTER XI—PRISON BREAKERS</h2> +<p> +Tom found himself in a long broad alley-way, +flanked by arches. There was no +sign of the dungeons, apparently no means of +exit. The air was damp and heavy, and the +first indication that he was approaching the +neighbourhood of the dungeons was afforded +by his nose. Coming at length to a narrow +flight of steps leading downwards, the fact that +he was nearing the object of his quest was borne +in upon his sense with ever-increasing pungency. +</p> +<p> +“Surely,” he thought, “the sheikh is not +such a beast as to herd Ingleton with the ordinary +criminals!” +</p> +<p> +Another alley-way, apparently underneath the +one from which he had come, was disclosed by +his electric torch when he reached the bottom +of the staircase; but in this case there were +doors at his right, and in the thickness of the wall, +Moorish fashion, little peep-holes, through which +no doubt the warder could spy upon the movements +of the captives within. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168'></a>168</span> +</p> +<p> +Which was the door leading to the place of +the envoy’s confinement? Tom wondered. Was +he indeed imprisoned here at all? Tom gave +no thought to the predicament in which Abdul +and he would be placed if it should prove that +they had gone astray; his whole mind was +centred on the plight of the English prisoner +and the terrible misfortune it would be if he +were elsewhere, and deep within him burned +a fierce indignation that any countryman of his +should be even within hailing distance of so +noisome a place as this kasbah dungeon. +</p> +<p> +So anxious was he to know whether he was on +the right track that, scarcely giving a thought +to possible consequences, he lifted up his voice +and shouted the name of the man for whom he +was seeking. The loud tones went rolling beneath +the arches, answered by a hundred echoes. But +there was a nearer and more material answer. +By the light of his torch, which he kept constantly +in use, Tom saw a big, bearded, spectacled +face appear at the aperture nearest to him +on the right. +</p> +<p> +“Ach! Gott in Himmel! Vas zat English +voice?” +</p> +<p> +Tom himself was in shadow, but his light fell +full on the face of the speaker, and with a gasp +of amazement he recognized Herr Hildebrand +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169'></a>169</span> +Schwab, the representative of the Schlagintwerts, +who had called on him at Midfont months before +and showed such a consuming curiosity to know +the use to which he put the Photographic Sensitizer +Preparation Number Six. And with a +sudden flash of recollection he remembered that +Schwab had spoken of proceeding to Morocco +on business. Coming out from beneath the +arch in which he stood, and holding his torch +before him, he approached the aperture. His +appearance was hailed by a groan. Schwab did +not recognize him in his Moorish dress. Deeply +he groaned again, muttering— +</p> +<p> +“Ach, Ich Unglücklicher!” +</p> +<p> +His face, utterly woebegone in expression, +was just disappearing within the cell when Tom, +almost frantic with despair at the thought that +the white prisoner was not the man he had come +to seek after all, shouted again— +</p> +<p> +“Ingleton! Sir Mark Ingleton! Are you there?” +</p> +<p> +Schwab’s face reappeared instantly. It was +aglow with excitement and hope. +</p> +<p> +“Gott sei Dank! Ingleton! You zay Ingleton! +Zough ze dress be Mohr, ze voice is +English. You are indeed English? Answer me +for ze love of ze heavens!” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, I am English,” cried Tom impatiently; +“I want Sir Mark Ingleton.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170'></a>170</span> +</p> +<p> +“He is here, vizin, inside, viz me, Hildebrand +Schwab. Let me out double-quick; I stifle, I +suffocate, I do not breaze. Gott sei dank!” +</p> +<p> +“He is there? Where is he? Tell him I +want to speak to him—an Englishman.” +</p> +<p> +“He sleep sound, he is indispose; but I am +ze vorst. I am here ze longest. Open ze door, +please, be good enough, have ze kindness——” +</p> +<p> +Without more ado, Tom drew back the bolts +with a bang and pulled at the door. It was +locked. Schwab groaned again; but Tom, +handing his torch to Abdul, who was pale with +apprehension, called to Schwab to stand away +from the door, and blew the lock in with a shot +from his revolver. He flung open the door, and +burst into the cell. The shot had awakened the +envoy, who looked up in a dazed fashion, and +asked, in the low voice of a man thoroughly tired, +what the disturbance was about. +</p> +<p> +“God be praise, we are save! Do not notice +ze dress; it is nozink; ze man is English. Ach! +it is no good; ze door is open, but ve are in +chains. Ach! Zum Teufel! It is kaput—all +up!” +</p> +<p> +Tom pushed past him impatiently. +</p> +<p> +“Quick, Abdul,” he said, “the hammer!” +</p> +<p> +Hastening to Sir Mark, who had risen from +the floor, with half a dozen sturdy blows Tom +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171'></a>171</span> +snapped the chains that fixed his ankle bands +to staples in the wall, then performed the like +service for Schwab. He made no attempt +to release their ankles from the fetters: there +was no time for this, and he feared also to do +them an injury. The sounds had caused commotion +in the further dungeon, where the sheikh’s +other prisoners were confined. Chains were +clanking, men were shouting, the uproar was so +great that it must reach the ears of the jailer if +he were anywhere in the neighbourhood, and +though he was shut off from the vaults, he might +burst the locks and bring a host of armed men +to the rescue. +</p> +<p> +“We have no time to lose,” said Tom. “Come +with me.” +</p> +<p> +“But, pardon me——” said Sir Mark. +</p> +<p> +“I can’t explain now,” Tom interrupted. +“Come along; it is all right, only we must get +away at once.” +</p> +<p> +“At vunce, Sir Ingleton,” said Schwab. “You +hear zat! For ze sake of anyzink, be a man!” +</p> +<p> +“My good sir——” began Sir Mark: but +Tom again cut him short. +</p> +<p> +“Can you walk?” he asked, noticing that +the Englishman tottered as he stood. +</p> +<p> +“With assistance, perhaps.” +</p> +<p> +At once Tom caught him by an arm, bidding +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172'></a>172</span> +Abdul take the other. Supporting him, they +led him along the passage, up the stairway to +the upper corridor, Schwab panting and ejaculating +behind them. Even before they reached +the corridor they heard a tremendous battering +at the door whose lock had been filled with fragments +of brick. +</p> +<p> +It was so stout a barrier that Tom had no fear +that it would be broken down by anything short +of a battering ram, and it was not likely that +the Moors had at hand an instrument ready for +this purpose. His confidence was, however, +soon shaken, for, before the party, encumbered +with the enfeebled envoy, had begun to ascend +the winding stairway leading from the arched corridor +to the vestibule above, there was the sound +of a very heavy body striking the door, followed +by an ominous creak. Leaving the others to +precede him, Tom stationed himself on the +narrow stair, the hammer in one hand, his revolver +in the other. He was determined not to +use the revolver except in the last extremity, but +he had no such compunctions about using the +hammer. +</p> +<p> +Suddenly in the midst of the crashing blows +upon the door there was the report of a rifle. +The Moors were adopting his own device of +blowing in the lock. The door gave way, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173'></a>173</span> +by the flash of his torch, Tom saw a crowd of +swarthy Riffians swarming through the opening. +The door at the foot of the winding stair leading +to the corridor was somewhat ruinous; it was +apparently seldom used, the sheikh depending +for his security upon the heavy trapdoor above. +Tom, however, succeeded in pulling it to before +the Moors were upon him, and shot the single +crazy bolt that still held. Then he darted up +the stairs after the rest. They were just lifting +the envoy through the trap. Schwab was +waiting his turn, and when he heard Tom rushing +up, he sprang through the opening with +extraordinary agility. The trapdoor was let +down and bolted; they hastened up the stairway +to the upper vestibule adjoining the guest-chamber, +thence up to the sheikh’s quarters on +the floor above, bolting every door behind them. +</p> +<p> +Even through the thick walls of the kasbah +they had heard sounds of great excitement in +the town. Evidently the whole place was now +alive. And there was danger to be anticipated +within, for as they groped their way up the last +flight of stairs leading to the roof, their steps +momentarily guided by the flashes of Tom’s +torches, the sounds of a tremendous battering +near at hand struck upon their ears. Evidently +the sheikh himself was now trying to make his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174'></a>174</span> +way out. They hastened their steps as much +as Sir Mark’s enfeebled state permitted; Tom +indeed was in such desperate anxiety, for pursuit +could not be long delayed, that he forced the +pace in a way that drew a protest from the +Englishman—even in this extremity a diplomatist. +</p> +<p> +They came to the last flight of stairs leading +to the roof. +</p> +<p> +“Is that you, Dorrell?” came the voice of +Oliphant from above. Nervously restless, first +on account of Tom’s long absence, and then at +the violent sounds within and without the +building, he had left the airship and stationed +himself with his revolver at the top of the staircase +leading to the roof, to cover Tom’s retreat +if he proved to be hard pressed. +</p> +<p> +“All well!” shouted Tom in reply. +</p> +<p> +In another minute all four emerged upon the +roof, and Oliphant gave a whistle of amazement +and consternation when he saw an unexpected +addition to the party. +</p> +<p> +“Two of them?” he ejaculated. +</p> +<p> +“Yes; the sheikh had a German gentleman—” +</p> +<p> +“Hildebrand Schwab, representative of ze +excellent firma of Schlagintwert and——” +</p> +<p> +“Hang it, we can’t stop for introductions +now,” said Tom. “Abdul, run down to the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175'></a>175</span> +door of the sheikh’s room and persuade him that +he risks his life if he comes out. We shall want +a minute or two to get ready.” +</p> +<p> +The Moor obeyed, not without a look of nervousness. +At first he could scarcely make his +voice heard above the uproar within the sheikh’s +room; but succeeding at last, he began a conversation +which might have shocked and would +certainly have amused Tom if he could have +understood it. +</p> +<p> +“Is the most excellent lord the sheikh within?” +shouted Abdul at the top of his voice. +</p> +<p> +The noise ceased. +</p> +<p> +“Certainly he is, thou misbegotten son of a +pig!” said the frenzied sheikh. “Open this +door, or by the beard of the Prophet I will flay +thee alive, thou rat.” +</p> +<p> +“Peace, O sheikh! Dost thou value thy life +so little, foolish one?” Abdul was gaining +courage; his enemy was on the other side of the +door. “Peace, thou kaffir; I spit upon thee. +Dost thou think to pass through till it be the +good pleasure of those who have captured thy +kasbah to permit thee? Know it is I, Abdul +ben Cassim, and verily I and the good men with +me will cut thee in pieces, first plucking out one +by one the hairs of thy beard, if thou showest +thy pig’s snout beyond this door.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176'></a>176</span> +</p> +<p> +This seemed to stagger the sheikh, for his +next words were uttered in a milder tone. +</p> +<p> +“What is thy purpose, O Abdul?” +</p> +<p> +“Know, thou dog of a dog, that a great sultan, +the King of England, hath sent his most trusty +wazeer to wrest from thee his servant, whom thou +didst treacherously seize and shut in thy stinking +dungeon. There now lies at this very door a +monstrous bomb which will go off—Allah is +great!—the instant this door is opened. Dost +thou believe, dog? Verily thou wilt be shattered +into as many pieces as there are lies in thy +heart if thou dost but move the door the tenth +part of an inch. But the King of England is +merciful; he will not do you or your folk harm: +he knows other ways of avenging the injury his servant +has suffered at thy hands. Verily thou art +in bad case, thou two-faced dog. Before the +growing of a fingernail thou wilt be haled to +Marrakesh, and then thou wilt suffer the pangs +of Tophet.” +</p> +<p> +And Abdul went on to revile the sheikh in +terms that cannot be rendered in our modest +English. His inventiveness was very creditable +to his presence of mind, for though the noise in +the sheikh’s apartments had ceased, the uproar +below was growing moment by moment in +intensity. The great gate had been thrown +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177'></a>177</span> +open, the patio was thronged with fierce Moors +enraged at the indignity put upon their chief, +and it was scarcely possible that the doors below, +stout as they were, could long withstand the +furious blows with which they were assailed. +</p> +<p> +Meanwhile Tom had assured himself that his +machinery was in order. Sir Mark had already +entered the car. Tom was beside him, ready to +start the propellers; Schwab was ensconced in +the corner furthest from danger. +</p> +<p> +“Call Abdul, Oliphant,” said Tom. +</p> +<p> +Oliphant went to the head of the stairs and +called; Abdul came bounding up, and in half +a minute all five were packed into the car. It +was a very tight fit, and Tom felt a tremor of +apprehension as he pressed the lever. The +vertical propellers answered instantly to his +touch, but they beat the air ineffectually: the +airship absolutely refused to rise. +</p> +<p> +“It won’t lift us!” he said, aghast. “We’re +too heavy. Some one must be left behind.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll stay,” said Oliphant at once. “Take +the others to the hill and come back for me. I +can manage for half an hour or so with my +revolver.” +</p> +<p> +“Not a bit of it. I want your help with the +machinery. What on earth can we do?” +</p> +<p> +“Leave Abdul?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178'></a>178</span> +</p> +<p> +“Can’t hear of it: he couldn’t defend himself +long, and he’d be frightfully tortured if they +got him. We can’t all get away at once, that’s +certain; and, as we certainly can’t leave Sir Mark, +we must leave the one we didn’t reckon on. +Herr Schwab——” +</p> +<p> +“No. I refuse. I vill not stay. I am here.” +</p> +<p> +“I’m afraid you must. We shan’t be long. +I’ll drop the others a mile or two away, and come +back for you at once.” +</p> +<p> +“Never in ze vorld. I protest. I am Jarman +sobjeck: is not ze life of Jarman sobjeck +of more vorth zan ze life of a Mohr? Our Kaiser, +who is in Berlin——” +</p> +<p> +“We can’t stop to argue it. They won’t +kill you, at any rate; they know enough of your +Kaiser perhaps to refrain from that: whereas +they’d kill the Moor to a certainty. We can’t +all lose our lives for you. In short, you must +get out, and be quick about it, or, by Jove! we’ll +have to throw you out.” +</p> +<p> +“It is terrible; it is unkind. I cannot stay +alone; no longer am I as I vas; I lose pounds in +ze prison. I am not made for zis. Some vun +muss remain viz me; I care not who: some +vun to give me courage.” +</p> +<p> +Here Abdul stepped into the breach and +volunteered to stay with the German. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179'></a>179</span> +</p> +<p> +“I have it!” cried Oliphant. “The trapdoor +that covers the opening is at the other +end of the roof, by the parapet there. We can +shut that down and bolt it. And, by George! +the stones of the parapet are pretty loose. Abdul +and Mr. Schwab can pile some of them on the trap; +we’ll leave them our revolvers, and with a little +pluck they can keep the blackguards at bay until +we get back.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s it. You’ll be as safe as the Bank of +England, Mr. Schwab. Quick! Out with you! +Here’s my revolver!” +</p> +<p> +“Ach! I am man of peace; vunce I vas var +gorresbondent, and——” +</p> +<p> +“For goodness’ sake get out, man. Don’t +you see you’re endangering the whole lot of us, +yourself included. Oliphant, we shall have to +fling him out.” +</p> +<p> +But at this threat Schwab rose and stepped +on to the roof, his face a very picture of woe. +Oliphant assisted Abdul to place the trapdoor +over the opening, and of course made the discovery +that the bolts were on the inside. +</p> +<p> +“But the stones will do,” said Oliphant. +“Buck up, Mr. Schwab; you’re not absolutely +helpless, are you?” +</p> +<p> +“It is true, I have carried stones, but zey vere +small,” said Schwab lugubriously, remembering +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180'></a>180</span> +the means by which he had mounted the fence +at Midfont in pursuit of business. Leaving him +to it, Oliphant got back into the car. Tom +pressed the lever, and the airship, relieved of +near two hundredweight of German subject and +the lesser bulk of the Moor, soared into the air. +Tom’s last view, as the vessel rose clear of the +kasbah, was Schwab limping across the roof +under the burden of a large stone from the +coping. +</p> +<p> +“A most singular proceeding!” murmured +Sir Mark, as the airship whirred over the hills. +“I wonder how I stand—diplomatically considered. +The vessel goes with consummate ease. +There is positively no roll—nothing to cause +seasickness.” +</p> +<p> +Tom laughed. The matter-of-fact at this +moment was very refreshing. +</p> +<p> +“I hope you will redeem your promise to +rescue Mr. Schwab,” the envoy continued. “He +has been a great joy to me in my captivity.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh yes, we’ll get him. We shall drop you +in a few minutes. You will not mind being left +for a little while?” +</p> +<p> +“Not at all, not at all. I find the air and +the motion most invigorating. I have lately +been very conscious of the inconvenience of +having a nose.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181'></a>181</span> +</p> +<p> +Tom did not know, though Oliphant suspected, +that Sir Mark’s cool manner was adopted intentionally—to +ease the strain on their nerves. A +man is not trained to diplomacy for nothing. +He kept up a quiet flow of nothings until the +hill was reached. +</p> +<p> +“A very airy situation,” he remarked, as he +was set down on the hill-top. +</p> +<p> +“Yes. You’ll find it cold,” said Tom. +“Here’s my coat.” +</p> +<p> +“Thanks. Having escaped asphyxia, it would +certainly be a pity to contract pneumonia. You +look quite comfortable yourself: the Moorish +djellab is a very warm garment, I should think.” +</p> +<p> +He put on Tom’s reefer, which had lain in a +corner of the car. Then Tom sent the airship +aloft again, and hurried back to the kasbah. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182'></a>182</span><a name='chXII' id='chXII'></a>CHAPTER XII—A HITCH</h2> +<p> +Short as the time seemed, it was in reality +nearly an hour before the airship once +more rested on the roof of the kasbah. While +it was still hovering above, Tom manœuvring for +a landing, there came the muffled sound of +shots and the rending of wood. +</p> +<p> +“They’ve broken in,” cried Oliphant. +</p> +<p> +The Moors had indeed burst through the +lower doors, released the infuriated sheikh, and, +finding themselves unable to lift the trapdoor, +were firing upwards through it. Schwab, who +had been sitting on the pile of stones which he +and Abdul had heaped on the covering, to reinforce +their weight with his own, slipped off with +amazing alacrity just as the airship came to +rest. +</p> +<p> +“Gott sei Dank!” he exclaimed, as Tom +joined him. +</p> +<div><a name='illus187' id='illus187'></a></div> +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i005' id='i005'></a> +<img src="images/illus187.jpg" alt="“TOM, SEIZING A BIG STONE, THREW IT WITH ALL HIS FORCE INTO THE BLACK ROOM BENEATH.”" title=""/><br /> +<span class='caption'>“TOM, SEIZING A BIG STONE, THREW IT WITH ALL<br/>HIS FORCE INTO THE BLACK ROOM BENEATH.”</span> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183'></a>183</span></div> +<p> +He needed no invitation to hurry into the +car. As soon as Abdul was aboard Tom started +the engines. To his consternation the airship +again refused to rise. +</p> +<p> +“Good heavens! what a weight you must +be!” he exclaimed. +</p> +<p> +“Colossal! But I lose pounds in ze——” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, shut up!” cried Oliphant impatiently. +“We can’t make another journey, Dorrell. The +cover won’t support the stones much longer with +those ruffians smashing the wood as they’re +doing.” +</p> +<p> +He had scarcely spoken when the woodwork +gave way, the stones crashed down the staircase, +and there were cries of pain and alarm from +the men beneath. But it was impossible to +suppose that they were all hurt, and the passage +was now clear for the rest. Something must be +done at once to gain a little time until the +problem of removing Schwab’s colossal weight +could be solved. +</p> +<p> +Stopping his engines, which were working +furiously, but with no effect, Tom, followed by +Oliphant and the Moor, jumped from the car +and hurried towards the opening. They were +greeted by a musket shot; but Tom, seizing a +big stone, threw it with all his force into the +black room beneath. There were more cries +from below, repeated when Oliphant and the +Moor followed suit, each with missiles of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184'></a>184</span> +same character. Then there was silence for a +time. The Moors were apparently nonplussed. +</p> +<p> +“You can find your way to the hill if I land +you below?” asked Tom of Abdul. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, master.” +</p> +<p> +“Hold the roof, Oliphant. I won’t be ten +minutes. Don’t shoot ’em unless you’re very +hard pressed.” +</p> +<p> +Tom and the Moor sprang into the car, the +airship again ascended, and came down about a +quarter of a mile from the village walls. There +was nobody in sight; without doubt the whole +population of the place was congregated about +the kasbah. Once more Tom ascended, alighting +on the roof just as Oliphant, using the wooden +shaft of Abdul’s hammer, was driving back one +man, more venturesome than the rest, who had +attempted to make his way up. There was no +time to carry more stones from the coping to +serve as missiles, so Tom and Oliphant at last +fired their revolvers, two shots each, taking care, +however, to avoid the opening. Tom hoped +that the sound of the shots would give pause to +the men below, most of whom must have hitherto +been unaware that the intruders carried firearms. +</p> +<p> +Immediately after they had fired, the two +made a dash for the car, scrambled aboard, and +set the engines in motion. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185'></a>185</span> +</p> +<p> +“Gott sei Dank!” cried Schwab again, as +the airship rose steadily above the roof. +</p> +<p> +As if they had known by some intuition what +was happening, the Moors at this moment made +a rush, and before the airship had sailed a hundred +yards from the kasbah, figures appeared on the +roof. A moment afterwards one or two shots +were fired, but they were without effect; the +airship sailed on, pursued by yells of baffled rage. +</p> +<p> +In order to draw away pursuit from his real +direction, Tom headed the airship north-east, +and it was not until he was well out of sight of +the kasbah that he put the helm up and steered +straight for the hill-top. +</p> +<p> +“We’ve come out of this uncommonly well,” +said Oliphant. “I was on thorns all the time +you and Abdul were absent.” +</p> +<p> +“We’re not out of it yet,” rejoined Tom. +“The fuel’s nearly done. These comings and +goings have used a terrible lot of the paste, and +I doubt whether there’s enough to make one +journey to the yacht—let alone two. I didn’t +reckon on another passenger besides Ingleton.” +</p> +<p> +“Who is this freak? You seem to know +him?” Oliphant spoke quietly: Herr Schwab +was lying against the rail of the car only a few +feet away. +</p> +<p> +“Met him once. His name’s Schwab; he’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186'></a>186</span> +an agent for the company I get my powder from. +Haven’t had time yet to ask him how he got +into this mess. I say, it looks as if a storm is +coming up.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, the wind’s rising, and the clouds are +scudding along at a great pace. How will she +behave in a storm?” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t know, and don’t want to know just +now. We should be in a pretty hobble if the +machine were to get smashed up altogether.” +</p> +<p> +While Tom and Oliphant were thus talking +in low tones, Herr Schwab was deeply ruminating. +He had been struck, on the roof of the kasbah, +by something familiar in the speech of this +Englishman who was masquerading as a Moor, +but in the agitation of the moment he could not +sift his recollections. Now, however, safe in the +car of an aeroplane, sailing with almost imperceptible +motion through the air, he was taking +the opportunity to search his memory. Just as +the airship arrived above the hill-top where Sir +Mark Ingleton was waiting, and Tom was preparing +to descend, he was startled by a loud +exclamation from the German. +</p> +<p> +“What’s the matter?” he asked. +</p> +<p> +“Nozink, nozink at all. I know you vat you +are. Mr. Thomas Dorrell! And ze Photographic +Sensitizer Preparation Number Six. I know all +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187'></a>187</span> +about him; jawohl! Zere are business for +Schlagintwert: I do not mind ze captivities +now: business are business.” +</p> +<p> +Oliphant looked inquiringly at Tom; but the +moment was not propitious for explanations. +Tom’s whole attention was engaged by the +machinery. The airship alighted without mishap, +and Tom as he stepped out of the car was +greeted by Sir Mark Ingleton. +</p> +<p> +“I have a new conception of the music of the +spheres,” he said. “Your approach was heralded +by an immense humming, which, I take it, will +discount the usefulness of the airship in time of +war.” +</p> +<p> +“Zat vill be chance for Schlagintwert,” interposed +Schwab: “to invent somezink vat stop ze +row.” +</p> +<p> +“Precisely,” said Sir Mark, with a faint smile. +</p> +<p> +“How do you feel now, sir?” asked Tom. +</p> +<p> +“Greatly invigorated by the fresh air. I am +glad of your coat. May I know to whom I +am indebted for this surprising change in my +fortunes?” +</p> +<p> +“My name’s Dorrell,” said Tom. “I happened +to be rather lucky in getting my airship to +go just when it could be made useful.” +</p> +<p> +“Viz Schlagintwert’s Photographic Sensitizer +Preparation Number Six,” added Schwab. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188'></a>188</span> +</p> +<p> +“This is Mr. Oliphant, Lord Langside’s son,” +Tom went on. +</p> +<p> +“Indeed!” With fine courtesy Sir Mark +perfectly concealed his amazement. Oliphant +still wore his stoker’s clothes, and the black +smudges on his face had given him a striking +resemblance to a coal-heaver. “I am grateful +to the Prime Minister for this novel and adventurous +expedition,” added the envoy. +</p> +<p> +“My father knows nothing about it, sir,” said +Oliphant. “We were afraid he wouldn’t allow +it if we told him.” +</p> +<p> +“I see. Nothing succeeds like success. Did +you come all the way from England in this +admirable machine?” +</p> +<p> +“No, sir. We were brought out on Mr. +Greatorex’s yacht, which is now waiting for us +at the shore.” +</p> +<p> +“That is good news, for in truth, seeing the +limited carrying capacity of your airship, I had +wondered how we were all to get away.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s our difficulty, sir. Our fuel is almost +gone, and I’m very much afraid there isn’t enough +left to make even one journey back to the yacht. +There’s plenty on board, if we <em>can</em> manage to +reach it.” +</p> +<p> +“In that case perhaps you and Mr. Oliphant +had better return without us. If you reach the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189'></a>189</span> +yacht safely, you can come back and fetch us; +if you do not—well, things will be no worse than +they were.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t care about doing that, sir. We came +out to rescue you. I think you had better come +with us. Our fuel may last out; the sooner you +are safe aboard the yacht the better; and if we +only get within sight of her it will be all right, +for Mr. Greatorex will certainly send a boat’s +crew to fetch us off.” +</p> +<p> +“Had you not better take Mr. Schwab first? +He has been in captivity longer than I.” +</p> +<p> +“And I have vair important business,” said +Schwab eagerly. +</p> +<p> +“I think my arrangement is best, sir. You +see, your position is a matter of state importance—international +importance, I might say; +all Europe is more or less interested in your fate, +whereas——” +</p> +<p> +“Ach!” interrupted Schwab, “zey insult +me, ze Mohrs; me, a Jarman sobjeck; zerefore +zey insult also our Kaiser, who is in Berlin. Zat +is important.” +</p> +<p> +“With all respect to your Kaiser, Mr. +Schwab,” said Tom, “we are three to one +here, and I think the interests of the majority +must prevail.” +</p> +<p> +“But ze population of Jarmany is grosser zan +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190'></a>190</span> +ze population of Great Britain. Ve grow vair +fast.” +</p> +<p> +“Therefore your Kaiser can spare one individual +better than our King. We must settle +it so, Mr. Schwab. We’ll take Sir Mark to the +yacht and then come back for you—as we have +already done.” +</p> +<p> +“But if you forget—vere am I zen? Mr. +Greatorex is business man, perhaps he vant to +make haste for home. Besides, you try to keep +ze secret of ze Photographic Sensitizer Preparation +Number Six. I discover ze secret. You vant +to keep me out, so zat I shall not take out patent +for Schlagintwert. Zat is business!” +</p> +<p> +“You may take my word for it that we’ll +come back for you,” said Tom patiently. Oliphant +was fuming: Sir Mark Ingleton was +quietly enjoying the situation. “And here’s +Abdul.” The young Moor at this moment +came over the brow of the hill. “Perhaps he +will stay and keep you company.” +</p> +<p> +“I have enough gombany of ze Mohrs,” said +Schwab dismally. “Give notice, I shall have big +claim for damage. Ze loss of business is colossal.” +</p> +<p> +“You’ll make it up when you put your Photographic +Sensitizer Preparation Number Six on +the market under a new name. Abdul, you will +stay with Mr. Schwab until we get back?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191'></a>191</span> +</p> +<p> +Abdul agreed at once. In the event of a +party coming from Ain Afroo to capture him he +could retreat to the caves, which were so difficult +of access that he might hope to defy attack for +a time, even if his hiding-place were discovered. +The chief difficulty would be food and water; +but he could slip down into the woods before +daybreak and gather a quantity of fruit; perhaps +also snare one or two wild animals; and if Tom +would leave behind the now almost empty +canister in which he kept the fuel for the engines, +he could fill that with water from the hill springs. +</p> +<p> +Schwab’s countenance, as he heard these +arrangements discussed, was that of a man very ill +at ease. But he had apparently come to the conclusion +that further protest would be unavailing, +and he held his peace, summing up in his mind, +possibly, the amount of his future claim for +damages. Tom handed Abdul his revolver, for +use in the last resort; then followed Oliphant +and the envoy into the car. +</p> +<p> +“You keep your vord!” cried Schwab, as the +airship rose into the now overclouded sky. +</p> +<p> +Tom set the engines at half speed, partly to +husband his fuel, partly because, moon and stars +being now obscured, he felt the same kind of +reluctance to go fast that a driver would feel in +going through a dark country lane. It was a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192'></a>192</span> +little before three in the morning. He hoped +to reach the yacht about dawn, though, having +in the darkness no means of guiding his course, he +foresaw the possibility of going out of the way. +But a strong wind had blown up from the east, +and with this at his back he knew that he must +in due time reach the sea. Rain began to fall, +at first in large scattered drops, finally in a steady +downpour, and when the grey dawn at last broke +through the sky, all three occupants of the car +were thoroughly drenched and miserable. +</p> +<p> +Tom had anxiously watched his fuel supply. +When the rain ceased and the sky became clearer, +and he caught sight of the sea afar off, he saw that +there was not the smallest chance of reaching +the shore. +</p> +<p> +“How far is it, do you think?” asked Oliphant. +</p> +<p> +“More than ten miles, I fancy. I’ve scraped +up the last ounces of paste; we shall be lucky +if it carries us another five miles.” +</p> +<p> +“And what then?” +</p> +<p> +“Goodness knows! I don’t know what part +of the shore we are heading for. We may be +miles north or south of the yacht for all I can +tell.” +</p> +<p> +“Will they see us on board?” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t think so. You see, the yacht, when we +left her, was moored pretty close inshore, and, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193'></a>193</span> +unless she runs out a good way, the cliffs will +intercept the view. By Jove! we haven’t come +far wrong, though. You see those two islands? +I noticed them from the deck. They’re a few +miles south of where we lay to. Here goes the +last of the fuel, Oliphant; we can’t keep up more +than five minutes. The only thing to be done +is to let her down at a suitable spot, and then +gain the shore on foot, and attract the attention +of some one on board. No doubt they’re keeping +a pretty keen lookout.” +</p> +<p> +They were now passing over a considerable +stretch of wooded country. But as Tom was +looking about for a place convenient for landing, +he saw to his consternation that they were within +sight of a village of some size. The airship +was no more than six hundred feet from the +ground: Tom had not dared to keep it at any +greater altitude, and he could scarcely hope +that it had escaped observation. To descend +at once was absolutely imperative: yet a descent +in full sight of the village would certainly bring +unwelcome and hostile visitors. In order to +stave off, even for a time, the inevitable, he +selected a spot that seemed to be about a couple +of miles from the village—a large clearing in the +midst of the wood, about halfway up a gently +rising hill. There he dropped gently to earth. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194'></a>194</span> +</p> +<p> +The airship had scarcely come to rest before +he saw, from the village below, a party of horsemen +issuing at full speed from the gate. Tom +counted more than a dozen men, and within a +minute these were followed by another dozen. +</p> +<p> +“We’re in for it now,” he said. “They’ll +be on us in a few minutes.” +</p> +<p> +“We can’t fight ’em with only one revolver +and a carbine,” said Oliphant ruefully. “They’ll +collar us and hold us to ransom—perhaps we’ll +all find ourselves before long in the kasbah of +Ain Afroo.” +</p> +<p> +“May I make a suggestion?” said Sir Mark +Ingleton. “The airship has failed us; we are, +it appears, about to be surrounded by horsemen +who are doubtless well armed; flight is therefore +impossible. It is equally impossible, as Mr. +Oliphant says, to fight. Before now, in similar +circumstances, diplomacy has been of some avail; +and it is but right that I, in whose behalf you +gentlemen have been brought to your present +plight, should exercise my poor abilities in disentangling +the knot.” +</p> +<p> +“What do you propose, sir?” asked Tom, +inwardly remarking that diplomacy seemed to +make a man tolerably long-winded. +</p> +<p> +“It is that Mr. Oliphant and myself should +go forth to meet these children of nature, waving +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195'></a>195</span> +a white handkerchief as if to welcome them. I +will explain to them, in terms they will comprehend, +and with a sufficient regard for the truth, +what our situation is. They will doubtless +convey us to their village, whether they believe +me or not. In the meantime you, Mr. Dorrell, +will have hidden yourself in a tree—no difficult +feat to a man of your years; and when you see +a fitting opportunity, you will steal your way to +the shore, rejoin your friends on the yacht, and +take such steps as may suggest themselves in +consultation with them to effect our release.” +</p> +<p> +“A capital idea!” said Tom. +</p> +<p> +“But can we do it? Can you speak to the +Moors in their own tongue?” asked Oliphant. +</p> +<p> +“My dear fellow, your father selected me for +this mission precisely on account of my knowledge +of Arabic,” said Sir Mark. “If these Riffians +do not understand me, it will be because my +speech is so much purer than theirs.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, good luck to you!” cried Tom. “I’m +off before they see me.” +</p> +<p> +And donning his djellab, which he had spread +on the ground to dry, he disappeared among +the trees. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196'></a>196</span><a name='chXIII' id='chXIII'></a>CHAPTER XIII—DIPLOMACY</h2> +<p> +Before the band of horsemen had approached +the edge of the little plateau where the airship +lay, the two men stepped forward through +the trees at its lower edge and waved to the +oncomers with every sign of welcome. +</p> +<p> +“I hope none of them will recognize me,” said +Sir Mark in a low tone to Oliphant. “Probably +few in this wild district have ever been in Tangier, +where my features are tolerably well known; +and having been for some time unable to shave—these +followers of the Prophet are forbidden the +use of the razor, and Mr. Schwab does not carry +one—I look perhaps a little unlike myself.” +</p> +<p> +The horsemen came up at a gallop, bringing +their horses to a halt when it seemed to Oliphant +that he and his companion must be trampled +to the ground. +</p> +<p> +“Peace be with you!” said Sir Mark in +Arabic, making a slight inclination. +</p> +<p> +“And with thee, peace!” returned the leader +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197'></a>197</span> +of the party, looking not a little surprised at this +orthodox salutation from a N’zrani. +</p> +<p> +“In the name of the most Merciful!” Sir +Mark continued. “Thou dost behold us in sore +straits, O Son of the Mountain. We are brothers +under our skin, thou and I, and I crave thy help.” +</p> +<p> +“Bismillah! I am thy host, and all that I +have is thine.” +</p> +<p> +“Thou sayest well. Behold this strange monster +that lieth on the ground beyond us. It was +made by a countryman of mine, to simulate the +flying of birds in the air—a most wondrous thing, +and worthy to be seen by his Shereefian Majesty +the Sultan himself. I was indeed on my way +to visit the Sultan, but was prevented by a most +untoward happening. (That is strictly true, +though the fact is somewhat post-dated,” he added +in an aside.) “Even a bird tires with overmuch +flying; and, as thou seest, this thing that imitates +the flying of a bird tires also, so much so, +indeed, that we saw that its wings would not +carry us the full extent of our journey, and we +were on our way back to the coast in order to +repair its strength, when it failed us utterly. +Wherefore, friend, we ask thee to lend us the +assistance of some sturdy men from your village +to carry our poor bird to Casa Blanca, or to any +ship that may chance to be off your shore. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198'></a>198</span> +(They may have seen the yacht.) For this service +we will reward them liberally.” +</p> +<p> +“Bismillah!” ejaculated the Moor. Oliphant, +watching his face during Sir Mark’s address, had +caught a fleeting expression of perplexity and +disappointment. Expecting to make an out-and-out +capture, he was no doubt somewhat nonplussed +at this request for assistance. But he +had the Moor’s ready adaptability to circumstances. +His speech gave no sign of his thoughts. +</p> +<p> +“Bismillah!” he repeated. “We are all in +God’s hands. Let my brother give thanks to +Allah the most Merciful that he came to a man +so friendly disposed as Salaam son of Absalaam. +It shall be even as thou wishest, Sidi. But first +thou and thy son must come to my village, for +your bird yonder is too heavy to be carried without +much preparation. It will need the shoulders +of a great number of men. But while the men +are making ready, enter my house, all too unworthy +to shelter you: yet we will comfort you with +food, and do all that is in our power to please +our guests.” +</p> +<p> +“We thank thee, O Salaam, for thy proffered +hospitality, which we will accept, knowing that +all things will be provided for our comfort.” +</p> +<p> +“So be it, Sidi. But within the walls of my +village, when I first looked heavenwards and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199'></a>199</span> +saw this strange flying thing, did I not see three +men borne along in it, and one of them in djellab +something like my own?” +</p> +<p> +Sir Mark smiled and, pointing to a part of +the apparatus that was coloured grey, said— +</p> +<p> +“No doubt in the distance my brother mistook +that for a person. We are two, as thou seest.” +</p> +<p> +The Moor still looked somewhat mistrustfully +around. Then, with an appearance of being +convinced, he dismounted, and ordered his +followers to dismount also, asking his guest to +choose whichever of the horses he pleased for +himself and his son. At this imputation of +kinship, Sir Mark elevated his eyebrows; the +young man was certainly a disreputable-looking +object. Thinking it policy to accept the offer, +Sir Mark mounted the head-man’s own steed, +Oliphant following his example with the horse +of one of his party. Then, bidding a score of +the men lift the airship on their shoulders, the +head-man and the rest remounted, and led the +way to the village. Both Sir Mark and Oliphant +were glad that the distance was not great, for +the high Moorish saddles were a sore trial to their +unaccustomed limbs. The envoy, at any rate, +was under no delusion as to the nature of the +hospitality promised. From the manner in which +the tribesmen escorted the two Englishmen to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200'></a>200</span> +the village, there could be little doubt that they +were prisoners. +</p> +<p> +From his perch in the tree Tom noticed that +although the majority of the horsemen accompanied +his friends towards the walls, four or five +detached themselves from the party and returned +to the plantation, which they proceeded to +search pretty thoroughly. He made himself as +small as he could among the foliage when they +passed beneath him, but they did not look up; +apparently it did not occur to them that any one +should have mounted into a tree. When they +had finished their fruitless search, they went, not +in the direction their fellow-villagers had taken, +but towards the coast. Tom saw them spread +out as they rode from the plantation, and watched +them until they were mere specks in the distance. +Then, when they were, he supposed, perfectly +satisfied that the suspected third member of +the English party could not have escaped them, +they wheeled round and returned one by one +again passing not far from his hiding-place. +Clearly, if they were so suspicious, it would be +expedient for him to remain for some time in the +tree—an unpleasant prospect, for he was becoming +very stiff and cramped, and suffering rather +severely from hunger and thirst. +</p> +<p> +It was some hours before he ventured to slip +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201'></a>201</span> +to the ground. Even then he did not dare to +leave the shelter of the wood, knowing that in +the open he would inevitably be observed. But +he stretched his limbs and found a few blackberries, +which somewhat appeased his hunger. +Every now and then he again climbed the tree +to find out whether any one was approaching, or +whether a watch was still being kept. Late in +the afternoon he descried, on the further side +of the village, a horseman approaching from the +direction of the hills. He came at full gallop, +and rode straight into the village, disappearing +there from Tom’s view. +</p> +<p> +“Hope to goodness he isn’t a messenger from +the sheikh!” thought Tom. +</p> +<p> +At last, when the sun had set, and the sky +was darkening, he deemed it safe to leave his +hiding-place. If the yacht had remained where +he had last seen her—and it was scarcely likely +that Mr. Greatorex would shift his anchorage—he +conjectured that a five mile walk would +bring him to the nearest point of the shore. +Fortunately it was a beautiful night, clear and +starlit, though the moon had not yet risen. +Taking his bearings very carefully by the stars, +in anticipation of a return journey, he started, +going very slowly and cautiously, watching every +shadow lest it should indicate the presence of a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202'></a>202</span> +Moor. Ignorant of their language, he knew +well that he had no chance whatever of slipping +past if he were once accosted. In such a case +he could trust only to his lightness of foot. +But nothing happened to cause him uneasiness, +and after trudging along for nearly two hours +he was beyond measure delighted to see what +was evidently a masthead light some distance out +at sea. No native craft would show a light; he +could hardly doubt that the <em>Dandy Dinmont</em> and +his friends were before him. +</p> +<p> +He was quickening his step in the pleasure of +this discovery, when suddenly, without warning, +he found himself at the edge of an encampment +lying in a slight hollow at the summit of the +cliffs. He started back, but it was too late. A +Moor, swathed in his hooded djellab, came out +of the darkness and spoke to him. Tom saw +that it might be fatal to run now; he walked +on, hoping that he might pass without replying. +But the Moor spoke again, more sharply, in a +more questioning tone. Tom, whose head was +covered with the hood, mumbled something +beneath his breath; but his unpractised tongue +could not achieve the hard guttural accent of +the Moorish speech, and the sentinel took a hasty +step towards him. +</p> +<p> +There was now nothing for it but to take to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203'></a>203</span> +his heels. Disguise was no longer possible, and, +to free his limbs, he cast the djellab from him, +and dashed at full speed across the grass to the +edge of the cliff. The slope was steep, but he +scarcely gave a thought to the risks he ran. +Scrambling over, he lay down and rolled from +top to bottom, with many a gash and bruise +from sharp edges of the rock. +</p> +<p> +Loud shouts pursued him. The camp was +aroused. Picking himself up, feeling breathless +and dazed, he sped across the sandy stretch of +beach and sent a sounding hail in the direction +of the yacht; perchance his voice might carry +above the rustle of the surf and the cries +of his pursuers. He heard men scurrying down +a path in the cliff somewhere behind him; then +their footsteps on the light shingle that lay above +the sand. Even if his cry had been heard on +the yacht, it was impossible that a boat should +reach him before he was overtaken. There was +only one way to safety. He plunged into the +surf, and struck out towards the vessel. A shot +followed him, but he cared nothing for that; in +the darkness it would puzzle an expert marksman +to hit him, when nothing of him could be seen +but a head bobbing up and down. Not till he +had swum well out of the reach of his pursuers, +who had not followed him into the sea, did the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204'></a>204</span> +thought of sharks cross his mind. Then he trod +water for a little, and, making a bell of his hands, +sent another prolonged cry across the water. +</p> +<p> +Is that an answering hail? He shouts once +more; yes, a cry comes back to him: “Ahoy-o!” +But at the same moment he hears also the sound +of paddles, to his right, apparently from a bend +of the shore. The Moors have not given him +up, then. Again he presses on, putting all his +force into a strong side-stroke. Now another +sound falls upon his ear; the welcome sound +of oars plied sturdily in rowlocks. The yacht’s +boat is coming to meet him. But the pursuers +are the nearer—will his friends arrive in time? +His long exertions since he left the yacht, his +want of food and sleep, have robbed him of +his strength. His pace becomes slower and +slower. The pursuers’ boat is coming up behind, +while yet the beat of oars before him sounds +terribly distant. But he is still swimming; +every yard he makes is a yard added to the speed +of the friendly boat. He struggled on; and +the Moors were still some distance behind when, +gasping and spent, he was helped by Timothy +and another into his ark of safety. +</p> +<p> +But the boat did not head at once for the yacht. +</p> +<p> +“Give way, men!” cried Captain Bodgers +himself, at the tiller. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205'></a>205</span> +</p> +<p> +He pointed the nose of the boat straight for +the Moors’ light craft. Eight sturdy British +sailors pulled with a will. There was a crash, +a cry, and a dozen Moors were in the water, +struggling to right their capsized boat. +</p> +<p> +“That’s all right. Now we’ll get back, my +men,” said Captain Bodgers, and some few +minutes thereafter Tom was assisted up the +side of the yacht, and into the arms of Mr. +Greatorex. +</p> +<p> +“God bless my soul, what has happened?” +said the worthy merchant. +</p> +<p> +“We’ve got him—Ingleton,” murmured Tom +faintly. “He’s with Oliphant, captured again. +Schwab’s in the cave with Abdul.” +</p> +<p> +“He’s light-headed, poor fellow!” said Mr. +Greatorex. “Here, some one, blankets, and +brandy—look <em>alive</em> now.” +</p> +<p> +Tom was soon stripped, dried, swathed in +warm blankets, and dosed with brandy till his +blood tingled. Mr. Greatorex fussed round +him, waiving his proffered explanations until +he was thoroughly recovered. Then Tom gave +him an account of all that had happened since +he left the yacht, Mr. Greatorex breaking in +every now and then with “Dear, dear!” “You +don’t <em>say</em> so!” “The villains!” “What a +<em>mercy</em>!” and such like exclamations. Early +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206'></a>206</span> +in the narrative he interrupted with a question: +</p> +<p> +“You say Oliphant! Who’s Oliphant? Am +I on my <em>head</em> or my <em>heels</em>?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I forgot you didn’t know,” said Tom +with a smile. “Your new stoker was Oliphant +in disguise. You see, Byles, your late stoker, +had to remain at home and attend to his sick +mother.” +</p> +<p> +“No more sick than I am!” declared Mr. +Greatorex. “Don’t believe he <em>had</em> a mother! +M’Cracken, indeed! I’ll M’Cracken him! I +hope his father will get him well <em>thrashed</em> when +he goes back to school.” +</p> +<p> +“He’s rather big for that, don’t you think?” +</p> +<p> +“The bigger the better! I never <em>heard</em> of +such a thing! The impudence of it! And +taking us all <em>in</em> so! What things are coming to +I don’t know. No obedience, no respect for +age—pretending to be Scotch, too——” +</p> +<p> +“Well, he is Scotch, you know.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t tell <em>me</em>! He’s only Scotch when it +suits him. There are others like him in the +Lords. He was never Scotch in <em>my</em> house—where +he shall never show his face again, <em>never</em>!” +</p> +<p> +Tom was not deceived by this explosion of +wrath. He knew very well that Mr. Greatorex +was only relieving the tension of his feelings, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207'></a>207</span> +and working off his nervous excitability on the +most convenient object. “Les absents ont toujours +tort,” he remembered. Mr. Greatorex +presently calmed down, and heard the rest of +the story in comparative quietude. +</p> +<p> +“And what are we to <em>do</em>?” he said at the close. +“Swob doesn’t matter; we’re not bound to +lift a finger for <em>him</em>; but we can’t leave Ingleton +and M’C—— and Oliphant in the hands of those +wretches. They’ll break up our machine, too, +and play the very deuce with <em>my property</em>. +What are we to <em>do</em>?” +</p> +<p> +What Tom answered is shown by subsequent +events. Two or three hours after his return +to the yacht, when he had had a thorough rest and +a good meal, a well-armed party, consisting of +the whole ship’s company except the cook and +one seaman, left the yacht, on which all lights +had been extinguished, and rowed with muffled +oars to a sheltered cove on the south side of the +bay—that furthest removed from the Arab +encampment. Mr. Greatorex had insisted on +joining the party. In vain Tom pointed out +that a hard march was before them, suggesting +delicately that Mr. Greatorex was not so +light as he once was. The merchant puffed the +objection away. They disembarked in dead +silence, and, leaving two of their number to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208'></a>208</span> +take the boat back to the yacht, made their way +cautiously up the cliff. +</p> +<p> +Led by Tom, the party, ten in all, struck off +in the direction of the village. Thanks to the +light of the moon, which now lay a little above +the horizon, Tom was able to make a fairly +straight course for the plantation in which he +had hidden during the previous day. Once or +twice he strayed from the proper track, and +ultimately found that he was nearly a mile from +his objective; but this was not bad, considering +that there was no beaten road, and they had to +tramp across rough country. When he reached +the plantation he was no longer in doubt as +to the true direction; during his long stay +among the trees he had had time to take his +bearings pretty thoroughly. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Greatorex was blown by the time they +came to the clearing in which the airship had +descended, and Tom begged him to remain +hidden in the plantation while the rest went on +to the village. +</p> +<p> +“Pff!” panted the perspiring old gentleman. +“Never gave up <em>anything</em> yet; on you +go!” +</p> +<p> +But a slight halt was made while Tom completed +arrangements for his night raid. The village +was walled; the gates would no doubt be shut, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209'></a>209</span> +as at Ain Afroo; the wall must be scaled. Captain +Bodgers selected the biggest men to give +their more active comrades a “leg-up.” These +latter were provided with ropes, by which they +might haul up the others when they had themselves +gained a footing on the wall. Tom +impressed on them all the necessity of maintaining +dead silence. He estimated that the village +contained about a hundred fighting men, and +if the approach of the raiders were discovered +in time for the walls to be manned, the chance of a +successful coup would be small indeed. +</p> +<p> +All carried firearms except Mr. Greatorex. +He had a knobbed stick, capable of dealing a +very damaging blow. +</p> +<p> +“There’s bound to be a <em>fight</em>, I suppose?” +he had said when Tom was discussing his plans +on the yacht. “I don’t like <em>that</em>, you know. +I’d punch a man’s nose and knock him down +without scruple, of course; but that needn’t +<em>kill</em> him, you know. Besides, how do I <em>stand</em>? +This is uncommonly like a piratical raid—like +Jameson’s, and he might have been <em>hanged</em>. +However!” +</p> +<p> +Tom assured him that no blood should be shed +if it could possibly be avoided; but he had small +hopes that the night would end without a fight, +and a very brisk one. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210'></a>210</span> +</p> +<p> +The party set off for the village, stealing along +under what cover was afforded by bushes and +inequalities in the ground. When about three +hundred yards from the wall all such protection +ceased; the ground was level and apparently +open. Tom’s heart was in his mouth lest their +footsteps should be heard as they crossed this. +He dared not set them at a run, for the soil all +around was stony, and the sound of near a dozen +men rushing at speed could not fail to be heard +in the village. So he kept up the same stealthy +approach, and his caution was justified, for level +as the space had appeared at a distance, it proved +to have patches of loose stones, and some yards +of boggy land, through which ran a narrow and +evil-smelling creek; to rush would have ended in +disaster. +</p> +<p> +They arrived beneath the wall without having +heard any alarm raised within. In a trice the +men began to clamber up. It was made of mud +and rubble, and was not in so ruinous a condition +as the wall of Ain Afroo. The first man reached +the top. Immediately there was a shout and +the sound of hurrying feet, and Tom sprang +up to the sailor’s side in time to see a Moor in +long djellab dashing from the nearest house +towards the wall. Suddenly he halted, and +fired. The young sailor winced as the bullet +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211'></a>211</span> +struck him; but he was not badly hurt, and +letting down his rope, calmly proceeded to haul +up one of his comrades. After firing, the Moor +made a rush along the wall. Tom grappled +with him; both fell, dropping their weapons, +and Tom felt in an instant that he was no match +for the sinewy figure that had him in his arms. +The Moor forced him down; his hands were +already at Tom’s throat, when Timothy Ball, +who had accompanied the party in spite of his +half-healed wound, threw himself upon the +enemy from behind, dragged him backwards, +and left him half-strangled, but yet alive. +</p> +<p> +When Tom rose dizzily to his feet, all his party +were within the wall. One or two shouts were +heard from the village, but apparently the Moors +were not yet quite awake to what was happening. +Tom pulled himself together, and led the way +straight for the kasbah, which, from his lofty +perch in the tree during the day, he had seen +slightly to the right of the place at which the +entry into the village had been made. When +they dashed up to the main gate, this was being +opened to give exit to a couple of men who were +apparently about to inquire into the cause of the +slight commotion and the rifle shot that had +been heard. The two were instantly bowled +over by the onrush of British seamen, the party +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212'></a>212</span> +swarmed through into the kasbah, the gate was +shut, and they came face to face with the head-man. +</p> +<p> +“What have you—got to—<em>say</em> for yourself?” +</p> +<p> +The Moor had naturally nothing to say for +himself. He saw himself confronted by an +elderly whiskered foreigner, in a yachting cap +and blue serge suit, brandishing a formidable +stick. Mr. Greatorex was in a passion. The +exertions of the march, the pains of being hauled +up a wall, not without bumps, the scamper at +the rear of his men into the Moor’s kasbah, +had deprived him equally of breath and of self-control. +Determined not to be left ignominiously +out of the hurly-burly, he forced himself to the +front, and thrust his stick under the very nose +of the Moor—who stood a foot above him—calling +him to account in the spluttering sentence +recorded above. +</p> +<p> +For a few moments there was a deadlock, and +Tom felt the need of an interpreter. Eventually +he persuaded Mr. Greatorex to give way, and +managed to make the Moor understand that +if he valued his life he must at once bring out the +Firangi whom he had recently introduced to +his house. Finding himself shut off by the gate +of his own kasbah from the support of his men, +the Moor recognized that he had no choice but +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213'></a>213</span> +to comply, and at a command from him one of +his servants brought Sir Mark Ingleton and +Oliphant from the upper floor into the patio, +looking none the worse for their brief incarceration. +</p> +<p> +“<em>Delighted</em> to see you,” said Mr. Greatorex, +stepping forward and wringing the diplomatist’s +hand; Oliphant he studiously ignored. +</p> +<p> +“Mr. Greatorex, I presume,” returned Sir +Mark. “I hope to make your better acquaintance, +sir. Meanwhile, if I may be allowed——” +</p> +<p> +His quick eye had taken in the situation at a +glance. +</p> +<p> +“Peace be with thee!” he said in Arabic, +turning with a bland smile to the scowling Moor, +“You perceive, O Salaam, that my friends also, +being alarmed at my absence, have availed themselves +of your generous hospitality. They are +distressed at the unceremonious manner of their +entry, but you will assuredly deign to pardon it, +for have you not professed yourself my devoted +servant? You will be the first to forgive an +intrusion due solely to the too great zeal of my +friends.” +</p> +<p> +The Moor, chagrined and bewildered, had +no option but to acquiesce in this polite fiction, +though it is to be feared his reply lacked something +of the diplomatist’s ease and suavity. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214'></a>214</span> +</p> +<p> +“But we are a large company,” Sir Mark +went on, “and should be loth to trespass on +your hospitality. You will be relieved, I am +sure, if we betake ourselves to the vessel that +awaits us off your coast. You will, of course, +honour us by giving us your company so far. +Indeed, if you will do us the favour to accompany +us on board our vessel, we shall endeavour +to return in some slight measure the gracious +hospitality that has been vouchsafed to myself +and—my son. If you add to your favours by +assisting us in the march—by showing us the +easiest road and defending us from the perils +that may beset us, such as are known to you, O +Salaam—you may be assured that we shall show +our gratitude in very tangible form. There +are, as you know, even in Morocco, evil counsellors, +men of violence, some who would even dare +to lift their hands against the Sultan himself. If +there be any such in this village, which truly I +am loth to believe, I advise you, as brother +advises brother, to exhort them to mildness +of demeanour. These friends of mine who now +enjoy your hospitality are men of war; they +have arms, you perceive, in the use of which +they are well skilled; and since, in our progress +to the shore, you will of course occupy the place +of honour at my right hand, in all likelihood +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215'></a>215</span> +you would suffer hurt if there are among your +followers any men of Belial whose hearts incline +towards bloodshed; that would be a great grief +to us. And now, O Salaam, as the night draws +towards dawn, it will be well if you perform +your morning ablutions and devotions and prepare +to lead us forth. Bismillah!” +</p> +<p> +Sir Mark, as he laughingly informed Mr. +Greatorex afterwards, had purposely made his +address somewhat lengthy, so as to give Salaam +plenty of time to regain his self-possession and +to weigh the pros and cons. The upshot was +that, shortly after dawn, the whole party, with +Salaam son of Absalaam in their midst, set off +towards the coast, the airship being carried on +the shoulders of a troop of the villagers who had +been promised liberal bakshish in return for their +services. +</p> +<p> +On arriving at the shore, Captain Bodgers +signalled to his men on the yacht to send a boat, +and with it a fresh supply of fuel for the airship, +which had been deposited just above high-water +mark. While this was being done, Mr. Greatorex +emptied his pockets of small coin, to redeem +the promise to the carriers, and Sir Mark kept +up an even flow of amicable talk, apparently +quite oblivious of the throng of Arabs who had +observed the proceedings from their encampment +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216'></a>216</span> +on the cliff, and by and by came down to the +shore and stood around, listening with looks of +amazement to this fluent Nazarene who discoursed +so pleasantly of things intimate to +them. +</p> +<p> +The men soon arrived with a large tin of the +fuel-paste. It was placed in the car; Tom +made an inspection of the machinery to assure +himself that it had suffered no hurt while in the +charge of Salaam; then Oliphant joined him. +A few moments later, with a mighty whirring +sound, the airship rose gallantly into the air, to +the great wonderment of the Moors. While +they were intently watching the manœuvres of +the airship, filling the air with their cries of +“Mashallah!” Sir Mark and the rest of the party +embarked and pulled out into the bay, two of the +men sitting in the stern of the boat with their +faces to the shore and their rifles held conspicuously +ready. Salaam indulged in a burst of fury +at the manner in which he had been outwitted. +His followers gathered around him and held +excited consultation, some being apparently +inclined to fire on the departing boat, others +to pursue the airship. But they had made up +their minds to neither course by the time the +party reached the yacht; and when Captain +Bodgers trained on them the two brass guns +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217'></a>217</span> +she carried, they hurriedly broke up and disappeared +over the cliffs. +</p> +<p> +“You were just in time, Mr. Greatorex,” +said Sir Mark Ingleton as they sat together in +the boat. “A messenger came in from the +sheikh yesterday afternoon, and I shrewdly suspect +that arrangements had been made to transfer us +to our old quarters in the kasbah. I say ‘our +old quarters,’ forgetting that Mr. Oliphant——” +</p> +<p> +“Oliphant!” interrupted Mr. Greatorex. +“<em>There</em> now! What do you think of <em>this</em>, Sir +Mark?” +</p> +<p> +And he proceeded to delight his guest with +a vigorous indictment of M’Cracken, and Byles, +and Byles’ sick mother, and Lord Langside for +having sent an English gentleman on a mission to +such an abominable country, and for having +such an outrageously impudent son. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218'></a>218</span><a name='chXIV' id='chXIV'></a>CHAPTER XIV—THE TROGLODYTES</h2> +<p> +Meanwhile, how had things been faring +with Herr Hildebrand Schwab, the +unlucky representative of the Schlagintwert +Company of Düsseldorf and the partner of Sir +Mark’s captivity? +</p> +<p> +When Abdul pointed out the cave in which +it was advisable that they should take shelter, +and the means of access to it, Schwab groaned +deeply, and declared that nothing on earth should +induce a German subject of his weight to attempt +so perilous a climb. But on reflection he came +to look upon it as the lesser of two evils, and with +much travailing of spirit and discomfiture of body +he allowed himself to be assisted up the incline +so long as progress on foot was possible, and then +to be hoisted at the end of the rope. Abdul’s +strength alone would not have sufficed to haul +so great a mass into safety; but Salathiel ben +Ezra, who was by this time thoroughly weary of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219'></a>219</span> +solitude, and had come to the end of his stock of +provisions, lent willing help, with a view, as it +proved, of turning the situation to account. +</p> +<p> +He used every means of persuasion and cajolery +which his ingenuity could devise to persuade Abdul +to release him. One of his propositions was that +they should convey the German to the sheikh of Ain +Afroo and claim a sufficient reward. Abdul ridiculed +the idea. Both he and the Jew would get +short shrift from the sheikh now that the more +valuable of his captives was snatched from his grasp. +Salathiel then proposed that they should try to gain +the nearest town where they might find Europeans, +and tell a moving story of the sufferings +and perils they had endured in rescuing the +German from the hands of his captors. But to +this, as to his other suggestions, Abdul turned a +deaf ear. +</p> +<p> +They were a strangely assorted trio. Schwab +only half trusted the Moor; the Moor despised +Schwab; both disliked the Jew. It was not +long before Schwab declared that he was hungry, +and illustrated the privations he had already +suffered by exhibiting the unwonted gap between +his waistcoat and his person: “And I have ze +straps of my vaistcoat drawn <em>so</em> tight!” he added. +Salathiel’s scanty stock of provisions having been +exhausted, Abdul descended to forage, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220'></a>220</span> +returned with a supply of dates and olives, and +the tin filled with water at the spring. +</p> +<p> +“Ach! My pipe! It is in ze room vere +first I vas laid up. Mein Gott! And ze list of +Schlagintwert; ze last edition, revise and enlarge. +Ze Moors zey vill now order vizout me, and I +lose colossal sum in commission!” +</p> +<p> +All this was Greek to Abdul, but a little more +comprehensible to the Jew, with whom, however, +Schwab refused to discuss business. He preferred +to ply Abdul diligently with questions +about the airship: where it came from; how +it was driven; what was the composition of the +fuel. +</p> +<p> +“Already is it partly known to me,” he said. +“It contain large quantity Photographic Sensitizer +Preparation Number Six. But zat is not +all. I know it! Vy? Because my Jarman +intellex tell me so. But vizout doubt I discover +it; zen zere shall be business for Schlagintwert. +You do not know vat ze ozer zink is?” +</p> +<p> +Abdul shook his head. +</p> +<p> +“Zen you vas never made for business. Vun +cannot learn it; it is born. So vas I born!” +</p> +<p> +He discoursed on business and other things, +despising his audience for their want of appreciation; +then fell to bemoaning his fate. Thus +the hours passed away. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221'></a>221</span> +</p> +<p> +At last the monotony of the situation was +broken. Abdul, like a good Mohammedan, was +engaged in his devotions when the Jew, at the +mouth of the cave, caught sight of a party of +Moors far below, and signalled to them before +he could be prevented. Springing up, Abdul +was on the point of killing him with his knife +when Schwab hastily interposed. +</p> +<p> +“No, I vill not have it,” he said. “You kill +him; zen am I accomplice; and vat is zat for +a kind of business, I say?” +</p> +<p> +But he did not decline to assist Abdul to truss +up the Jew and render him incapable of further +mischief. No more than Abdul himself did he +wish to attract visitors. +</p> +<p> +The mischief, however, was already done. +The Moors, a search party despatched by the +sheikh, had observed the Jew’s signals, and at once +spurred their horses across the country until +they reached the foot of the precipitous ascent. +They dismounted: one of them began to climb +up. For a time Abdul watched his progress; +then, when he thought the man had mounted +far enough, he threatened to hurl him from the +face of the cliff if he advanced another step +upwards. It was so obviously in Abdul’s power +to make good his threat that the Moor hesitated; +then, in response to an encouraging shout from +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222'></a>222</span> +below, he again began to climb. He may have +reflected that his comrades could afford to shout; +they were not clinging like a fly to the face of +an almost perpendicular wall of rock; but he +may have reflected also that great would be his +praise and reward if he succeeded in bringing to +account the insolent strangers who had done +such despite to his sheikh. No doubt also he +reckoned on support from the member of the +party who had signalled. +</p> +<p> +Up he came, slowly feeling his way. Abdul +bent over the brink, and, just as the man ascended +within reach, smartly rapped his knuckles with the +butt of Tom’s revolver. At the same moment +a shot from below struck the rock within an +inch of his head. Abdul at once darted back +within the shelter of the cave; but the climber, +taught by the sharp blow he had received, +ventured no farther, and shortly afterwards began +to descend. When he reached the party below, +it was clear that he met with a reprimand from +the leader for his want of courage; but he +sullenly refused to make another attempt, and +seemed by his gesticulations to invite each of his +comrades in turn to take his place. But nobody +came forward, and after an excited discussion—portions +of which were in tones so loud that +Abdul was able to interpret to Schwab, nervously +eager to learn what was to be done—a messenger +was sent off in the direction of Ain Afroo, while +the five or six who remained settled down to +keep watch at the foot of the precipice. +</p> +<div><a name='illus229' id='illus229'></a></div> +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i006' id='i006'></a> +<img src="images/illus229.jpg" alt="“ABDUL BENT OVER THE BRINK AND SMARTLY RAPPED HIS KNUCKLES WITH THE BUTT OF TOM’S REVOLVER.”" title=""/><br /> +<span class='caption'>“ABDUL BENT OVER THE BRINK AND SMARTLY RAPPED HIS<br/>KNUCKLES WITH THE BUTT OF TOM’S REVOLVER.”</span> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223'></a>223</span></div> +<p> +Rather more than an hour passed. Schwab +became more and more anxious. At last a much +larger party rode down at a gallop, among them +the sheikh himself. Raising his voice when he +came below the cave, he called on the occupants +to surrender, threatening them with the most +fearful tortures if they persisted in defying him. +It was evident from the terms he used that he +was under the impression that his escaped +prisoners and their rescuers were all in the cave +together, and thus that he had them fairly trapped. +Abdul made the most of this mistake. He +warned the sheikh against braving the power of +the white man. He had already had one example +of it; the Firangi had shown him more mercy +than he deserved; the second example would +entail dire consequences on himself and his +village. But this reply only fanned the flames +of the sheikh’s wrath; he was not to be intimidated +by words: and, hurling more threats, he +began to consult with his followers as to some +means of enforcing his summons. +</p> +<p> +It was clearly a hazardous if not indeed an +impossible task to approach the cave from below. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224'></a>224</span> +One man in the cave, so long as he kept himself +out of range of rifle fire, could hold any number +at bay. How much more, then, would it be +disastrous to make the attempt against, as the +sheikh supposed, five or six well-armed men? +But, as Abdul well knew, it was just possible to +gain the plateau above the cave, from which +access to it could be obtained, by climbers acting +in concert on the eastern face of the hill. That +this longer but easier ascent would be known to +the enemy there was no doubt, for Abdul had +just recognized, among the horsemen who had +accompanied the sheikh, a young man who had +been his companion in former days, and with +whom as a boy he had actually performed the +feat. +</p> +<p> +Anxiously he watched the colloquy below. +Behind, Schwab was imploring him to explain +what the sheikh had said. It turned out as he +had feared. His former companion with a few +others left the sheikh and disappeared; the rest +made themselves comfortable within a few yards +of the foot of the hill. Abdul had little doubt +that he would soon have to reckon with an attack +from above; not an easy matter, in truth, but +far more likely to succeed than any attempt from +below. +</p> +<p> +There was a long interval. Under stress of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225'></a>225</span> +fear and hunger, Schwab was nearly demented. +He walked about the cave, with his hands pressed +hard upon the neighbourhood of the lowest +button of his waistcoat, uttering guttural groans, +making lugubrious appeals to the Homeland, and +to a lady whom he called at one time Mrs. Bottle, +at another “mein briddy Chain,” and ever and +anon anathematizing Thomas Dorrell, “vat do +nozink for me—for me, vat do so much for him +viz Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number +Six.” Abdul paid no heed to the German’s +fumings and frettings, nor to the entreaties of +Salathiel ben Ezra, who, stretched on his back, +tied hand and foot, added to his prayers the most +lavish promises if the Moor would only release +him and help him to return to his own place. +</p> +<p> +At last, Abdul, squatting silent and watchful +just within the opening of the cave, saw a pair of +legs dangling in front of him. Some of the +enemy had, as he had foreseen, made their way +to the top of the hill, and were about to attempt +to reach the cave from above. It was a foolhardy +proceeding, for they could only come singly, +and the occupants of the cave could easily dispose +of them. Indeed, Abdul surmised that the +sheikh was trying an experiment, sending one +of his men to draw the badger. However that +may have been, the application of the point of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226'></a>226</span> +Abdul’s knife to the calf of one of the dangling +legs caused the owner of them to draw them +hastily up and to swarm up the rope to which +he was clinging, as a spider runs up his filmy +thread when threatened by an enemy. +</p> +<p> +Apparently the sheikh was satisfied that a +direct assault, whether from above or below, +was hopeless, for thenceforth the cave party were +left in peace. But it was peace only externally. +Even Abdul himself, who had hitherto preserved +extraordinary composure, now showed signs of +perturbation. What was the enemy doing? +He dared not attempt to see, for he knew that +if he showed his head it would be the target for +a dozen bullets. Did the sheikh intend to starve +them out? Their food was all gone; the +tin of water was almost empty; it was impossible +to get a fresh supply of either. Voices were +heard from below; once Abdul heard an answering +call from above; it appeared indeed as if +the sheikh had resolved on an investment, knowing +that sooner or later the occupants of the cave +must yield or die. +</p> +<p> +The day passed. Schwab fell into a sleep of +exhaustion. Abdul remained sleepless, wondering +why the Englishman had not reappeared with +the airship, as he had said he would do. Had +some mishap befallen him? Surely he had not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227'></a>227</span> +wilfully deserted them! This Abdul refused +to believe. When morning broke he ventured to +go to the mouth of the cave and look out. The +Moors were still below; apparently they had +camped all night on the ground. They caught +sight of Abdul, and mockingly invited him to +share their cous-cousoo. He made no reply, +and again withdrew into the shadow. +</p> +<p> +Schwab was by this time a wreck. He lay +silent. From the back of the cave came piteous +moans from Salathiel, begging to be relieved of +his bonds. But Abdul was obdurate; he had +enough to do to keep watch on the enemy in +front, without having to reckon with the Jew +besides, for he knew that Salathiel would stick +at no treachery. +</p> +<p> +Impassive as Abdul appeared, he was in reality +on the verge of despair. The time was fast +approaching when he must choose between +starvation and surrender. The choice did not +trouble him; he would never surrender to the +sheikh of Ain Afroo. What troubled him was +the thought that his old enemy would once more +triumph; that the vengeance on which he had +set his whole mind for years was to be snatched +from him. +</p> +<p> +He was bitterly thinking on these things when +Schwab rose feebly to his feet. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228'></a>228</span> +</p> +<p> +“I can no more,” he said; “I go to yield +myself. I muss have somezink to eat. Still +am I Jarman sobjeck; zey vill respeck our Kaiser +who is in Berlin.” +</p> +<p> +Abdul expostulated, striving in his imperfect +English to warn the German of the risk he ran. +He knew the sheikh; he was a terrible enemy; +he would care nothing who or what his prisoner +was. Who in Europe would be any the wiser +if in this remote mountainous region a man were +slowly done to death in the dungeons of a kasbah? +But Schwab would not listen; he craved for +food; “Let us eat, for to-morrow we die,” +exactly expresses his state of mind. He moved +towards the entrance to the cave, shaking off, +with a sudden access of rage, Abdul’s detaining +hand. The Moor followed him, and stood +behind him when Schwab, at the brink of the +precipice, waved his hand and shouted— +</p> +<p> +“I give myself opp. But you muss come and +fetch me.” +</p> +<p> +But before the echo of his voice had died away, +Abdul suddenly pulled him back by main force +into the cave. +</p> +<p> +“See! see!” he cried. +</p> +<p> +“Tausend Teufel! Vat shall I see?” returned +Schwab. +</p> +<p> +At the point where Abdul now stood the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229'></a>229</span> +country immediately beneath the cave was +invisible, and both the men were screened from +the Moors. But the sky was open, and far away +in the clear blue to the north-west Abdul had +descried a speck which moment by moment was +growing larger. +</p> +<p> +“Vat shall I see?” repeated Schwab, vainly +looking in the direction of Abdul’s stretched +forefinger. +</p> +<p> +“The flying ship!” cried Abdul. “It comes!” +</p> +<p> +“You say zat! Lemme see, lemme see, lemme +see!” +</p> +<p> +He roofed his eyes with his hands, and peered +into the distance. +</p> +<p> +“Ach! zey veep!” he said, rubbing away the +tears that had gathered. “It is for vant of food, +nozink else.” +</p> +<p> +He looked again. +</p> +<p> +“Boy, you are right!” he exclaimed, “truly +it is ze airship. Zey come for me! Ach! you +dirty Moors, now you may go choke! I vizdraw +vat I said about give myself opp. I vas not +myself; I vas—I vas—anozer man. Ach, boy, +so am I indeed hungry!” +</p> +<p> +The two watched the airship drawing nearer. +For a moment Abdul wondered whether it would +come into any danger from the rifles of the Moors +either below or on the hilltop above. But +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230'></a>230</span> +remembering how clearly everything on the +ground could be seen from the car of the airship, +he was reassured, guessing that Tom would +descry the besiegers in plenty of time to avoid +their shots. +</p> +<p> +To gain the hilltop the airship had approached +at a considerable altitude, but was now dropping. +About half a mile from the cave it suddenly +made an upward sweep, and Abdul knew that +the enemy had been seen. Before it sailed out +of sight over the hill, Abdul plucked off his +djellab, and waved it in the mouth of the cave. +The signal provoked two or three shots from +those of the Moors below whose attention was +not engrossed by the machine, which some of +them had seen before and of which all had heard +most marvellous accounts. Abdul was unhurt, +and his signal was answered by a shot from the +car of the airship, which then passed out of sight. +</p> +<p> +“Famos! Zey know ve are still alive! Mein +Gott! truly mein hunger is colossal.” +</p> +<p> +Tom had in point of fact discovered the enemy +at the moment when Abdul noticed the change +in the direction of the airship. The discovery +was by no means a welcome one. +</p> +<p> +“I didn’t reckon on their hiding-place being +found out,” he said to Oliphant. “It makes +things rather awkward.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231'></a>231</span> +</p> +<p> +“They must be in a pretty bad state in the +cave if the Moors have been here long.” +</p> +<p> +“And we can’t get at them; we daren’t go too +near, for at close quarters the Moors would +riddle the planes with their shot and very likely +smash the engines. And we certainly can’t +let the airship down and go for them. The +worst of it is, they know pretty well by this time +what the airship really is, and we couldn’t throw +them into a panic as we did before.” +</p> +<p> +“Confound this German!” said Oliphant. +“I shouldn’t mind if we could have a really good +scrimmage and some fun for our money, but +there’s nothing in it.” +</p> +<p> +“There’s Abdul, you see,” replied Tom. +“We’ll have to think it out. They’re in the +cave, safe enough, and can evidently hold on there. +Let us make for that hill yonder, and think the +matter out.” +</p> +<p> +As the airship crossed the hill of the cave, +Tom steering for the loftier hill some five miles +to the east, a dozen Moors sprang to their saddles +and set off in pursuit. But the ground was +very rough; they had to follow a tortuous route; +and when, a few minutes later, the airship reached +the hill, Tom calculated that he had probably +half-an-hour to spare before the horsemen would +arrive. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232'></a>232</span> +</p> +<p> +“We’d better ground, and economize fuel,” +he said. “’Pon my word, Oliphant, it seems as +if this is going to be as tough a job as it was at +the kasbah.” +</p> +<p> +Choosing a fairly open space almost at the +top of the hill, Tom brought the machine to +earth. Then, while Oliphant watched for signs +of the pursuing horsemen, Tom stretched himself +on his back, with his hands under his head and his +cap tilted over his eyes, and settled down to a +good hard think. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t go to sleep,” said Oliphant. +</p> +<p> +Tom replied with a grunt. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233'></a>233</span><a name='chXV' id='chXV'></a>CHAPTER XV—VIEW HALLOO!</h2> +<p> +Oliphant sat with his knees up, looking at +his friend, thinking what a cool hand he was. +No one could have guessed from Tom’s easy +attitude that he was thinking out a problem on +which lives depended. As the minutes passed, +even Oliphant was deceived. +</p> +<p> +“Not asleep, Dorrell?” +</p> +<p> +Tom grunted, but did not stir. Another +minute or two, then he suddenly jumped up. +</p> +<p> +“Well, I think I’ve got it,” he said, and he +chuckled. +</p> +<p> +“What is it?” +</p> +<p> +“Come along. I’ll explain as we go.” +</p> +<p> +The two mounted the car; Tom started the +ascensional screws; and the airship rose slowly +from the hill. When they had left the ground +some three hundred feet beneath them they +saw, a mile or more distant, the body of horsemen +who had set off in pursuit from the Moors’ +encampment. The airship was headed in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234'></a>234</span> +direction from which they had come, and when +they saw it they halted, and waited until it had +soared past them; then, having no doubt that +it was returning to the hill with the intention +of again attempting to rescue the blockaded men, +they wheeled round, and galloped in pursuit. +</p> +<p> +The airship was going at only a moderate speed, +so that the horsemen were able to keep pace +with it. Tom chuckled again, and Oliphant, +to whom he had by this time imparted his notion, +seemed to find great amusement in the sight. +</p> +<p> +“The beggars little imagine they’re playing +our game,” he said. +</p> +<p> +“No, indeed. I wonder what they really +are thinking. Probably they fancy something +has gone wrong with our works and we can’t go +any faster.” +</p> +<p> +“D’you think they’ve got wind of our former +breakdown?” +</p> +<p> +“It’s not unlikely. News travels very fast in +these countries that haven’t got the telegraph!” +</p> +<p> +When they arrived at the hill of the caves, +there appeared to be no change in the situation. +A small group of four or five men were squatting +on the summit; more than a score were congregated +below. All eyes were directed upwards +as the airship again came into view, and the +men laughed, recognizing how fruitless would be +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235'></a>235</span> +any renewed attempt to rescue the prisoners. +They all carried rifles, and evidently intended +to use them when the vessel came within range. +But it passed too high above their heads, still +going very slowly, and, so far from descending +towards the cave, sailed on towards the sea. It +crossed one of the adjacent hills, then sank a little, +so that it was only visible then to the few men +who kept watch above. +</p> +<p> +But a minute or two afterwards the occupants +of the car, looking round, saw that these men +were on their feet, gesticulating with great +excitement. +</p> +<p> +“They’ve taken the bait!” cried Oliphant, +laughing outright. +</p> +<p> +The men had noticed that the airship, instead +of continuing its north-westerly course, had +suddenly taken a turn to the left, and was making +at tremendous speed straight for the village +of Ain Afroo. Rising higher into the air, so +that he could get a view over the shoulder of +the hill, Tom saw that the whole body of horsemen, +now joined by the sheikh and his party, +were riding at a mad gallop for the village. By +this time the airship was a mile ahead of them, +and the two Englishmen laughed heartily as +they watched the frantic efforts of the Moors to +reduce the gap. They were left hopelessly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236'></a>236</span> +behind, and were still more than a mile from +the walls when the airship, hovering directly +over the roof of the kasbah, began very slowly +to drop earthwards as if a descent were going +to be made on the spot where it had formerly +rested. +</p> +<p> +The descent took a considerable time. Who +was there to tell the frenzied horsemen that +the accursed Firangi was playing with them? +They urged their foaming steeds up the hill +at a furious rate, making light of all obstacles, +and extorting a tribute of admiration from the +Englishmen for horses and riders alike. They +clattered into the village, dashed through the +street, pulled the horses up on their haunches at +the door of the kasbah, flung themselves from +the saddles, and poured into the patio and up the +stairs. +</p> +<p> +The sheikh himself, by far the best mounted +of the troop, was the first to arrive; and within +a few seconds he sprang out of the opening on +the roof, followed closely by several members of +his household. But what was this? The airship, +instead of resting on the flagged roof, was +hundreds of feet above them, and, horror of +horrors! sailing with terrific speed back towards +the hill of the caves. For a few moments the +Moors stood gazing in bewilderment, being +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237'></a>237</span> +joined by more men from below. Then, with +hearty Moslem curses, they rushed back to the +opening, toppling over one another, stumbling +down the stairs in their haste. Down into the +patio, out of the gate, on to their horses’ backs +once more, and off they set, pell-mell after the +airship. +</p> +<p> +But the horses were badly blown. There were +four miles of heavy country to cover. And by +the time they were again clear of the walls the +airship was halfway to the hill. +</p> +<p> +Tom and his friend were hugely delighted +with the success of their simple bit of strategy. +They could see the horsemen like ants in the +distance beneath, urging their poor panting horses +to the utmost of their capacity. +</p> +<p> +“We ought to have plenty of time to get +them away,” said Tom. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, but hang it all! we’ve clean forgotten +that we can’t lift both Schwab and the Moor.” +</p> +<p> +“Great Scott!” Tom ejaculated, in consternation. +But in a moment his face cleared. “We’ll +manage that,” he said cheerfully. But then +he received another shock. He saw that the +four or five men who had held their watch on +the plateau were still there: they had not followed +the rest. Their horses could be seen +tethered in the grove beneath, and the men were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238'></a>238</span> +gathered in a knot, watching the rapid approach +of the machine, which probably they had expected +to see no more. +</p> +<p> +“There’s only one thing for it,” said Tom. +“We must go slap at them, and trust to luck. +If they shoot, they may do so before we are within +range, and at this speed they may easily miss us. +They are sure to be a bit nervous, too.” +</p> +<p> +Tom had already begun the descent, obliquely +upon the hill. When the airship was, as nearly +as he could calculate, on a level with the summit, +he again put the engines to their utmost speed, +and dashed straight at the little group. There +were three or four reports almost simultaneously, +and above the whirr of the screws Tom thought +he heard a sound of rending, as if one of the +planes had been struck by a bullet. The vessel, +indeed, dipped slightly, and for a moment he +feared that it would be dashed against the face +of the hill. But he jerked up the lever controlling +the planes, the airship rose the few feet +necessary to clear the summit, and once more +sped on its course. +</p> +<p> +By this time, however, the group on the hilltop +had taken fright. They could not know +that if the airship dashed into them, they would +be as formidable to it as it could be to them. +Even if they had known this, they would probably +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239'></a>239</span> +not have been willing to sell their lives, even +though in doing so they should break up the +machine and hurl its occupants to destruction. +With one consent they broke and fled. +</p> +<p> +Tom instantly reversed the engines, and the +airship glided slowly to rest on the plateau. +But the path by which the fugitives were attempting +to make good their flight was only wide enough +to accommodate one man at a time, and that +with difficulty. Only three of the men had +begun to descend when Tom sprang out of the +car. The other two, fearing to be attacked +from behind, turned instinctively to meet the +supposed danger. Then, seeing that they had +only two men to deal with, and feeling no doubt +that they would be completely at the mercy of these +men when once they had begun the descent, +they hesitated for a second at the brink. +</p> +<p> +If they had used this second to draw their +formidable knives, Tom’s adventure might have +ended there and then, for in his eagerness he +had forgotten to snatch up his revolver. But +their halt was due rather to nervousness than +to courage, and Tom was never lacking in +promptitude at the critical moment. He dashed +straight at them. One of them swung round +at once and slithered down the path. The other, +somewhat more mettlesome, made a grab at his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240'></a>240</span> +knife. But he had only half drawn it from his +belt when Tom’s fist shot out and tumbled him +headlong after his comrade. The result would +have been amusing if Tom had had time to +observe it. From top to bottom of that rocky +declivity there was an avalanche of Moors. The +impetus with which the topmost man had been +shot over the edge sent him smack into the man +next below. The two then rolled, or rather +pitched, on top of those who had preceded them, +and were making their way quickly yet laboriously +down the steep tracks, and it is to be feared that +there were bruised and broken limbs at the +bottom. +</p> +<p> +But Tom had neither eyes nor ears for the +discomfiture of his enemies. There was still +much to be done before he could be sure that +his friends and his airship were out of harm’s +way. One of his friends was already taking +things into his own hands. At the first hint of +what was happening Abdul had left the mouth +of the cave, and was now swarming up the perilous +face of the hillside. Breathless he came over +the brink, on the opposite side from that +where the Moors had disappeared, almost before +Tom could turn round. +</p> +<p> +“All well below?” asked Tom. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, master.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241'></a>241</span> +</p> +<p> +“Can you bring up the big man?” +</p> +<p> +“With a rope, master.” +</p> +<p> +“Quick, then: we have no time to spare.” +</p> +<p> +“And the Hudi, master?” +</p> +<p> +“What of him?” +</p> +<p> +“He made them come. We tied him, feet +and hands.” +</p> +<p> +“Untie him, but leave him. He can make +them come again!” +</p> +<p> +A rope was quickly unshipped from the car +and strongly looped. Abdul descended, the +rope being held by both Oliphant and Tom +above, who, doubtful whether their strength +would stand the strain of the ponderous German’s +weight, hitched it round a rocky prominence +at the brink of the hill. But fear lent Schwab +extraordinary agility—as once before in the +enclosure of Midfont House. With the rope +looped about him, he hauled himself up by it, +assisting his progress with his feet against the +hill. He was in a bath of perspiration, his +fat face was pale as death, when he reached the +top and sank exhausted at Tom’s feet. Oliphant +and Tom together hoisted him into the car, and +by the time he was settled, Abdul had cut the +Jew’s bonds and again clambered up, pursued +by entreaties, wild threats, execrations, from +the luckless Salathiel ben Ezra. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242'></a>242</span> +</p> +<p> +Glancing in the direction of Ain Afroo, Tom +rejoiced to see that he had still about ten minutes +to spare before the pursuing horsemen could +arrive at the spot. He knew from experience +that with Schwab as a passenger the ascensional +screws did not exert sufficient power to lift three +other men; but when Oliphant had reminded +him of this, a way out of the difficulty suggested +itself. If once the airship could be raised from +the ground and the horizontal screws set in +motion, it was likely that, with the speed thus +obtained, they might suffice (the planes being +inclined at the proper angle) to overcome the +downward pull of gravity. +</p> +<p> +Tom rapidly explained to Abdul the plan he +had formed. Then, entering the car in which +Schwab and Oliphant already were, he set the +ascensional screws in motion. The vessel slowly +rose. Meanwhile Abdul had looped about his +body the rope by which Schwab had been hauled +up, the upper end of which had again been +securely attached to the car. When the airship +had risen a few feet from the hill-top, Tom set +the horizontal engines at full speed, and the +vessel sailed beyond the plateau, Abdul dangling +from it at the end of the rope, as he had done +once before when rescued from the shark. He +showed no fear; in the loop he was perfectly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243'></a>243</span> +safe, for even if the vessel sank with his weight, +it would be so slowly that he would run no risk +of being brought too violently into contact with +the ground. +</p> +<p> +As Tom had expected, the vessel did not sink. +But, the horizontal screws being partly engaged +in counteracting the force of gravity, the speed of +the airship was reduced to only five or six miles +an hour, and at that rate it was evident that the +fuel would not hold out until they reached the +coast. A second breakdown must be averted at +all costs; it was unlikely that they would be able +to escape the clutches of predatory Moors a +second time. No doubt the story of what had +happened before had spread for many miles +through the country, and short shrift would be +given to the aeronauts if again they were brought +to earth. +</p> +<p> +There was now only a minute or two to spare +before the sheikh would arrive. Whatever could +be done must be done at once. Glancing down, +Tom saw below him the horses belonging to the +men who had just been tumbled from the plateau. +The men themselves were lying at the foot of the +hill, not dead, as Tom was glad to see—the +rugged declivity had broken their fall—but +evidently completely disabled. Without hesitation +Tom reduced the speed of the engines +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244'></a>244</span> +and descended, shouting to Abdul, who at the +end of the rope would of course reach the ground +first, to secure two of the best horses, and follow +as fast as he could in the track of the airship. +</p> +<p> +Owing to the delay that had occurred, Abdul +had only just leapt into the saddle when the +horsemen came into sight scarcely half a mile +away. The sheikh was far ahead of his men, +and the pace even of his splendid Arab showed +that there was little fear of Abdul being overtaken. +The young Moor set off at a gallop, a second +horse at his side. There was a shout behind +him; the sheikh called upon his followers to +spur their flagging steeds: clearly he intended +gamely to continue the pursuit. +</p> +<p> +But the fugitives were now well away. Tom +accommodated the speed of the airship to the +pace of the horses below, keeping at a height +of no more than a hundred feet from the ground +so as to be able to drop down and stand by Abdul +in case of need. For a few minutes it seemed +as though the lad was to be close pressed, in spite +of the hard galloping the horses of the pursuers +had already done. But gradually they dropped +farther and farther behind; Abdul’s horses +were fresh; he himself was a light weight; and +Tom began to breathe more freely. +</p> +<p> +Another danger, however, occurred to him. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_245'></a>245</span> +The country was at present wild and desolate, +with no signs of habitation. But as he neared +the coast, he would undoubtedly pass scattered +villages and towns, and it was possible that Abdul +might be checked at one of these. He therefore +felt it desirable to rise to a greater height, so +that he might obtain a more extensive outlook +over the country and indicate to Abdul a course +which would prevent him from running into +danger. +</p> +<p> +He soon saw that his precaution was justified. +The pursuers were still sticking doggedly to the +trail, and Tom noticed that from time to time +they were joined by fresh horsemen from the +hamlets through which they passed. He could +not distinguish figures in the distance, but he +had no doubt that the sheikh had already obtained +a fresh horse, and was among a group which had +far outstripped the rest of the troop and was +gradually diminishing the distance between them +and their quarry. Abdul was riding gallantly +on, changing from horse to horse with admirable +dexterity; but it was clear that the pursuers, +with many opportunities of obtaining remounts, +must in course of time run him down. The +airship would always indicate the direction in +which they should ride. +</p> +<p> +Again Tom had to devise a means of overcoming a new +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246'></a>246</span> +difficulty. The chase had now +lasted some hours, and the matter was becoming +urgent. By good luck, the sight of a high conical +hill, well wooded, somewhat to the right of the +course they had been following, suggested a +plan. Lowering the airship to within easy speaking +distance of the Moor—a manœuvre which +caused some uneasiness to his horses, tired as +they were—Tom directed him to make for this +hill, and remain in hiding among the trees until +rejoined. At the moment he thought of making +all speed to the yacht, dropping Schwab, replenishing +his can of fuel, and returning for Abdul. +But a little consideration caused him to change +his mind. It might prove a very difficult matter +to find the hill again when returning. It must +be, he guessed, at least sixty miles from the sea, +and he could not remember the landmarks +exactly enough to be able to retrace his +course. +</p> +<p> +In rapid consultation with Oliphant he decided +on another plan. Altering the course of the +airship several points to the southward, and keeping +a sharp lookout upon the pursuers, he found +that they were still following him as a guide. +No longer having to consider the powers of +endurance of Abdul’s horses, he quickened the +speed of the airship, and saw in a little while +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_247'></a>247</span> +that this had had its effect, several of the horsemen +beginning to straggle, though they all +continued in the same direction. Having thus +taken the enemy some five or six miles out of their +course, he suddenly swung round and made off +at full speed towards the hill where he had left +Abdul, of which he had been careful not to lose +sight. +</p> +<p> +“They are a game lot,” remarked Oliphant, +as the horsemen again followed the track. They +were soon left mere specks on the horizon, and +at last dropped entirely out of sight. Approaching +the hill from another side, some time elapsed +before the airship was seen by Abdul from his +concealment in the wood. Then he again +mounted; his horses had profited by the short +rest: and the fugitives, having gained several +miles by Tom’s manœuvre, were able to take +matters comparatively easy until late in the +afternoon. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_248'></a>248</span><a name='chXVI' id='chXVI'></a>CHAPTER XVI—ICARUS</h2> +<p> +Meanwhile Schwab had awoke to the +facts of existence, and the manner in +which he announced his awakening was characteristic. +</p> +<p> +“Himmel! how I am hungry!” +</p> +<p> +“Hullo, Mr. Schwab! Feel better?” said +Tom, throwing a hasty glance at the German +lying against the rail. +</p> +<p> +“Vorse! vorse! Tousand times vorse!” +</p> +<p> +Oliphant laughed at his hollow tones. +</p> +<p> +“It is nozink for to laugh,” returned Schwab +with a flicker of animation. “I am vizout food, +I know not how many hours. It is not viz me +custom to go so long vizout food; it give me +rude pain—zere!” +</p> +<p> +He laid his hand on the lowest button of his +waistcoat. +</p> +<p> +“No longer am I as I vas. Vunce I swell, not +too moch, but all ober; now, I fade, I shrink, +I have to get ze tailor to take me in.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_249'></a>249</span> +</p> +<p> +“Awful, for a business man,” said Oliphant—“to +be taken in, you know.” +</p> +<p> +“So! But it muss be done. Ach! I am +hungry as a—as a—as a——” +</p> +<p> +“Hunter!” suggested Oliphant. +</p> +<p> +“No; hungry as a rhinoceros. I could eat—I +could eat—I could eat a——” +</p> +<p> +“Whale!” +</p> +<p> +“No; I could eat a steak, underdone, from +ze grill, viz chip bodadoes, gabbage viz vinegar, +and Voosder sauce, viz a long glass—ach! two +long glasses, of lager from München. Ach! +ze zought of it make my mous cry.” +</p> +<p> +“For goodness’ sake, Oliphant, give him some +grub and shut his mouth,” cried Tom. +</p> +<p> +“Shut my mous? How zen can I eat? For +ze sake of anyzink give me somezink to eat; zen +my mous vill shut and open of itself; vun needs +not to zink ven one eats.” +</p> +<p> +Bubbling with amusement, Oliphant handed +the German some biscuits from the stock they had +brought with them. But his mirth evaporated +when he caught sight of Tom’s face. He had +wondered a little at the tetchy tone in which +Tom had last addressed him, and from his anxious +expression he could not but guess that something +was seriously wrong. +</p> +<p> +“What’s the matter, Dorrell?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_250'></a>250</span> +</p> +<p> +“The engines—don’t you smell ’em?” +</p> +<p> +“I do,” replied Oliphant, sniffing. “What’s +it mean?” +</p> +<p> +“It means that the turbine casing is becoming +overheated. I altered the inlet valve so as to +let more of the explosive mixture into the turbine—and +this is the result.” +</p> +<p> +“What can we do?” +</p> +<p> +“Simply reduce speed and hope that we can +weather through.” +</p> +<p> +“Any idea how much farther we have to go?” +</p> +<p> +“About fifty miles, I should think. We must +have done forty at least. I shut off one of the +engines just now, but the second one can’t keep +us afloat. I wish Schwab would fade and shrink +into nothing.” +</p> +<p> +Schwab had heard nothing of this. He was +otherwise occupied. But noting now the anxious +looks of his two companions he said, with his +mouth full—“Do I eat too many?” +</p> +<p> +Tom was too much concerned to reply, but +Oliphant laughed again. +</p> +<p> +“We can’t go on,” said Tom. “I shall have +to drop her somewhere and see if I can put +matters right. We were five or six miles ahead +of the Moors when I caught sight of them last, +and we’ve a few minutes’ grace at any rate. +They won’t know exactly where we are.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_251'></a>251</span> +</p> +<p> +Choosing a secluded spot, he descended and +brought the airship to rest. Abdul had halted; +Tom explained to him the cause of his descent, +and set him to keep watch on the enemy while +he examined the machinery. The Moor looked +thoroughly done up, and it struck Oliphant that +he was even more in need of food than Schwab, +so he gave him the remainder of the stock +of biscuits—not a large quantity now. As for +Schwab, he had fallen asleep. +</p> +<p> +It took Tom but a few minutes to adjust +the valve, but he knew that the result of this +adjustment must be a serious reduction of +speed. He was greatly perturbed. It was clearly +impossible for Abdul to ride much farther: the +horses were in a terrible state of exhaustion. +They were cropping the scanty herbage at the +side of the track—poor refreshment after the +fatigue they had undergone. +</p> +<p> +“The Moors’ horses must be equally played +out, that’s one comfort,” said Tom;—“at least, +those that have pursued us all the way, if any +have. That’s doubtful: the Moors have probably +drawn on every village they have come through.” +</p> +<p> +“I say, did you hear that?” asked Oliphant. +</p> +<p> +It was a shout—apparently from a spur of +forest some distance to the right of the line +which they had expected the enemy to take. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_252'></a>252</span> +</p> +<p> +“They’re spreading out! Who’d have thought +they’d have kept it up so long?” +</p> +<p> +“Well, you see, they know that one of us is +on horseback: that means that the machine +won’t carry us all; and in the nature of things they +can overtake a rider.” +</p> +<p> +“I can see nothing for it but that Abdul must +push on alone,” said Tom. “We can manage +to get along slowly, and as long as the machine +can keep us afloat at all they can’t catch us. But +if they catch sight of Abdul he’s bound to be run +down. Abdul, you must go on by yourself. +Get to the coast if you can, and swim out to the +yacht—can you swim?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, master.” +</p> +<p> +“Swim to the yacht, then, and tell Mr. +Greatorex what has happened. He’ll do all he +can to help us if we can only get near enough.” +</p> +<p> +Abdul showed some reluctance to leave the +others in difficulties, but he obeyed. He mounted +the less exhausted of the horses and set off. +</p> +<p> +“He’ll have a chance,” remarked Tom, as he +disappeared. “When the Moors see us in the +air again they will suppose that Abdul is keeping +pace with us as before.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s nearly six o’clock; it’ll be dark soon.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, that gives him another chance—if they +don’t sight him.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_253'></a>253</span> +</p> +<p> +At this moment he observed a score of horsemen +emerging at a rapid pace from the forest whence +the shout had come. They were about half a +mile away. Catching sight of the airship, they +gave utterance to loud cries of triumph, and +somewhat changed their direction. Tom at +once caused the airship to rise, and by the +time the Moors arrived at the spot where it had +rested it was high above their heads and out of +harm’s way. +</p> +<p> +The Moors immediately began to scour the +neighbourhood for signs of Abdul. Tom steered +slightly to the left of the direction in which the +lad had gone, in order still further to delude the +pursuers. Not long afterwards a much larger +band of riders galloped up from the direction +in which the airship had come, and when they +joined the former party, it was seen that they +numbered at least sixty in all. +</p> +<p> +“We’re rousing the whole country,” said +Tom with a return to his wonted cheerful manner. +“If it goes on like this there’ll be thousands by +the time we reach the coast.” +</p> +<p> +“Shall we reach it, d’you think?” +</p> +<p> +“I can’t tell. The engines are good for a +few miles; how many I don’t know.” +</p> +<p> +“Vere am I?” said Schwab, awaking. “Ach! +I remember. Do ve soon arrive at ze yacht?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_254'></a>254</span> +</p> +<p> +“We probably shan’t arrive at all,” replied +Tom. “One of the engines is failing.” +</p> +<p> +“But it muss not—it muss not! Surely ze +Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number +Six vill not fail? Schlagintwert’s preparations +never fail; zat is ze foundation of zair business.” +</p> +<p> +“No; the preparation is all right; it’s the +engine.” +</p> +<p> +“Ach! it should have been made in Jarmany! +But, tell me true, Mr. Dorrell, are ve in danger?” +</p> +<p> +“The truth is, Mr. Schwab, that I can’t +guarantee the machine for another ten miles.” +</p> +<p> +“Ach! Vat vill I become? Vat vill Schlagintwert’s +become! Vy did you bring me in +zis bad-made airship from my captivity? If +you zere had left me, our Kaiser who is in Berlin +vould have sent a telegram to ze Sultan of +Marokko, and zen ve should see somezink. Zere +had I at least enough to eat.” +</p> +<p> +“Confound it!” cried Tom, thoroughly exasperated. +“We came to fetch Sir Mark Ingleton, +not you. But for you we should have been +halfway home to England by this time; and +but for your weight, we shouldn’t have been in +this pretty mess at all.” +</p> +<p> +Schwab’s jaw fell. This was an aspect of the +matter that had not occurred to him. Lifting +his waistcoat, and looking down, he said slowly— +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_255'></a>255</span> +</p> +<p> +“Truly I vish I had not eaten so much biscuit!” +</p> +<p> +It was now getting dark. Tom steered towards +a bit of rough country to the north, again some +points out of his course, his object being to +worry the pursuers as much as possible and to +draw them away from the line of Abdul’s flight. +With great satisfaction he saw them follow. After +scattering over a wide area in search of the +fugitive whose disappearance had so much puzzled +them, they had again formed a compact body, and +pursued the airship in the belief that their +quarry must still be within touch of it. In a few +more minutes they were obliterated by the darkness; +but the sky was starry, and while on the +ground they were invisible from above, it was +probable that the airship was still visible to them. +</p> +<p> +Tom had noticed for some time past that +the wind, which had been slight and for the most +part in his favour during the day, was shifting, +and blowing with greater force. In the circumstances +the airship was making very little headway, +and Tom’s anxieties were further increased when +his sense of smell apprised him that the engines +were again becoming overheated. Even if the +airship were out of sight, the pursuers would +probably still hear the whirring of the propellers, +and it was advisable, both for the sake +of cooling the machinery and of depriving the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_256'></a>256</span> +enemy of a clue, that the airship should once +more be brought to the ground. But it was +with some trepidation that Tom allowed it to +sink. He chose a spot just beyond a stretch +of woodland from which it was scarcely possible +that the vessel could have been seen. He +could only hope that the sound had not been +heard. +</p> +<p> +“I vish——” began Schwab, as they came to +rest. +</p> +<p> +“Shut up!” said Tom in a vehement whisper. +“Everything depends on our keeping perfect +silence now.” +</p> +<p> +In a few minutes the horsemen could be heard +approaching. They dashed past the trees behind +which the airship stood, and Tom’s heart beat +fast as he realized how very near the danger was. +But the riders did not pause, and the sound of +the horses’ hoofs gradually faded away. +</p> +<p> +“We’d better lie snug for a time,” said Tom. +“Perhaps the wind will moderate. I’m afraid +the exertion of overcoming it would do for the +engines altogether.” +</p> +<p> +While Oliphant held the electric torch, +carefully shaded, Tom again overhauled the +engines. +</p> +<p> +“The valve is sticking,” he said in a whisper. +“There is some grit between the stem and the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_257'></a>257</span> +sleeve. It must have got in at our last stop. +I shall have to take off the cover and file the +stem smooth.” +</p> +<p> +This was an operation of some difficulty; but +as it turned out there was time to spare, for +as the night wore on the force of the wind +rather increased than diminished. Schwab bemoaned +the lack of a pipe and beer; the others +were so tired and famished that they were +not provoked to either merriment or anger +by his complaints. He by and by again fell +asleep. Tom and Oliphant kept watch and +watch throughout the night. When Tom awoke +from an uneasy nap shortly before dawn, he +was relieved to find that the wind had dropped, +though its direction was still unfavourable. At +daybreak a start was made, and for a short +time the valve worked satisfactorily, thanks to +the large amount of oil used to counteract the +overheating. Then, however, the oil began +again to give off an unmistakable odour. The +airship was brought to ground, and Tom found +that the injured stem had become bent. With +infinite care, to avoid breaking it altogether, +Tom straightened it with a small hammer, and +again filed it smooth. +</p> +<p> +Once more the airship resumed its flight. +Fortunately there was no sign of the pursuers, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_258'></a>258</span> +and Tom hoped that Abdul had managed +to evade their clutches. +</p> +<p> +The country was very wild and deserted, and +Tom purposely steered some miles out of what +he thought was the true course, in order to avoid +the cultivated district that lay in the direct line +to the yacht. Suddenly, however, skirting the +shoulder of a hill, he came into full view of a +village, with the sea a few miles beyond. +</p> +<p> +“Thank Heaven!” ejaculated Oliphant, “we +may do it yet.” +</p> +<p> +“Surely that’s the very village you were +taken to with Ingleton,” said Tom, scanning the +place through his binocular. “Have a look.” +</p> +<p> +“By George! I believe you’re right. There’s +a whole host of Moors round it, too. They’ve +sighted us. They’re off!” +</p> +<p> +Taking the glass from him, Tom saw a body +of at least a hundred and fifty men galloping off +in a direction which would bring them between +him and the coast. +</p> +<p> +“Smother them!” he cried. “I wouldn’t +mind if we hadn’t to drop so often to cool.” +</p> +<p> +“Can’t we make one good dash for it? We’ve +only eight or nine miles to go, have we?” +</p> +<p> +“My dear fellow, we can’t do five miles at a +stretch—unless we drop Mr. Schwab.” +</p> +<p> +“Donnerwetter!” cried the German, starting +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_259'></a>259</span> +up in fright. “Vat you say? Vould you do +zat? Vould you desert? Vould you leave me, +a Jarman sobjeck, to be tore in piece by tousand +vile Mohrs, ven ze sea, ze sea vat sails ze Jarman +fleet, is so near, so near? But yes—I know +it! I alvays say so. Never trust an Englishman—egzept +in business!” +</p> +<p> +Tom treated this outburst with silent contempt. +</p> +<p> +“I can’t go at a higher speed than fifteen miles +an hour,” he said to Oliphant. “We’re perhaps +a mile nearer the sea than the Moors, but they +can equal our pace for a short distance, and I +know we’ll have to come down before we get +to the sea. If we do, we’ll be collared.” +</p> +<p> +“Risk a dash! It seems our only chance.” +</p> +<p> +Tom hesitated for a few moments. Then he +said, setting his teeth— +</p> +<p> +“All right. It’s the only thing to do.” +</p> +<p> +He put both engines at full speed, and Schwab +shouted with delight when he saw that the +airship was gradually drawing away from the +galloping Moors. But in ten minutes all three +were aware of the ominous smell. Was it possible +to reach the yacht, now clearly in view? Tom, +alert to catch the slightest indication of failure +on the part of the engines, hoped, doubted, hoped +again, but was resolved to hold on to the last. +</p> +<p> +Another five minutes passed. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_260'></a>260</span> +</p> +<p> +Then all were startled by a strange grinding +sound in the defective engine. +</p> +<p> +“What is it?” asked Oliphant. +</p> +<p> +“It’s all up,” said Tom quietly. “The heat +has loosened the turbine blades, and they are +smashing to pieces.” Even as he spoke sheets +of flame shot from the exhaust pipe, accompanied +by a series of deafening reports. +</p> +<p> +Tom at once reduced speed, shouting to +Oliphant to adjust the planes for descent. +</p> +<p> +“Zink! Zink vat you do!” cried Schwab, +now almost frantic. “Zey vill have us! Ze +Mohrs vill cut our zroats! Vy—vy—vy——” +</p> +<p> +Tom paid no heed; Oliphant muttered under +his breath. They were sinking towards a ravine +through which a watercourse ran to the sea. +The engine, its parts grinding and tearing with +a hideous scrunching sound, was shooting out +flames, to the accompaniment of detonations like +those of a Maxim gun. Another minute or two +would witness a cataclysm; but Tom thought that +if the farther side of the ravine could be reached, +they might gain a little grace. The enemy would +have some difficulty in crossing at speed. +</p> +<p> +The engines were failing; the airship was +falling more and more rapidly. +</p> +<p> +“Can’t screw the planes any further!” cried +Tom. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_261'></a>261</span> +</p> +<p> +Oliphant wrenched at the lever; Tom put +the whole force of the second engine upon the +ascensional screws; and the rapidity of descent +was somewhat checked. The ravine was directly +beneath; Tom succeeded in giving the vessel a +last forward motion; then it came with a violent +bump to the ground, just on the further edge. +</p> +<p> +“Out! Quick!” cried Tom to Schwab, who +was bemoaning the shock he had suffered. +</p> +<p> +When all three stood safe on the ground, Tom +caught hold of the rails of the car. +</p> +<p> +“I made it; I’ll break it; <em>they</em> shan’t,” he +said, and he toppled the airship over into the +gulf, where it was smashed to atoms. +</p> +<p> +Then, with Oliphant at his side, and Schwab +labouring behind, with piteous entreaties that +they would not desert him, he dashed towards +the cliff, a mile away, beyond which was the sea. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_262'></a>262</span><a name='chXVII' id='chXVII'></a>CHAPTER XVII—COMPLIMENTS AND THANKS</h2> +<p> +While yet in the air, Tom had seen a +boat putting off from the yacht. The +vessel itself was no longer visible, concealed by +the intervening cliff; but the top of its mast, +with Mr. Greatorex’s ensign flying, could just +be seen. Towards this Tom led the way at +full speed. To go very fast was impossible over +the rough ground, but moderate as the pace was +it soon began to tell upon Schwab, who plunged +heavily along, tripping over tussocks of coarse +grass that grew here and there on the sandy soil. +Fierce pants could be heard by the two running +side by side in front of him, though, in spite of +his breathlessness, he managed to give utterance +every now and again to agonizing entreaties +that the others would not desert him. Moved +by these, and remembering the German’s game +leg, the others waited for him, and catching each +an arm, hurried him along between them. +</p> +<p> +Terror lent him strength and speed when the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_263'></a>263</span> +foremost of the pursuers, arriving at the brink +of the ravine, which at that point they were +unable to cross, began to fire upon the fugitives. +Bullets whistled past, alarmingly near, +and Tom and Oliphant instinctively released +Schwab’s arms and moved apart, so as to present +a smaller target to the enemy. Meanwhile some +of the Moors had galloped up the bank of the +ravine in search of a crossing. Glancing round, +Tom was concerned to see that these horsemen +had disappeared; presumably they had found +a suitable crossing-place, and would soon again +be on his tracks. In a few moments they reappeared +on the nearer bank, and set off at a +gallop. +</p> +<p> +The Englishmen were now about a quarter +of a mile from the shore, Schwab having dropped +nearly a hundred yards behind, with another +quarter-mile between him and the horsemen. +There could be little doubt that the fugitives +would be overtaken before they reached the edge +of the cliff. Even if they contrived to scramble +down they might be snapped up under the +eyes of the yacht’s crew, should not the boat have +arrived. And what of the Moors who a day or +two ago, when Tom left the place, had been +encamped in the hollow of the cliff? Were +they still there? +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_264'></a>264</span> +</p> +<p> +The question was answered almost as it occurred. +Tom suddenly noticed a horseman making towards +him from the left, followed closely by a +dozen others. It was with a gasp of amazement +that he recognized in the foremost rider no other +than Abdul. He came up at a breakneck pace, +sprang from his horse, and joined himself to the +fugitives. Immediately afterwards the Moors +were upon the little party. Leaping from their +horses while still in full career, they threw themselves +upon the four, and though Tom and +Oliphant each with a blow from his fist felled +a man, and Schwab threatened the vengeance +of the Kaiser, they were overwhelmed and flung +to the ground. +</p> +<p> +The Moors shouted with exultation, their +cries being answered jubilantly by the horsemen +coming up from the ravine. They were beginning +to bind their captives; but before a single +knot could be tied there came other shouts from +the direction of the sea. +</p> +<p> +“At them, men; bowl ’em over!” +</p> +<p> +Surely this was the voice of Mr. Greatorex! +A lusty British cheer answered him. With a +great effort Tom threw off the Moor who was +pinning him down, and sprang to his feet in +time to see a dozen sturdy seamen rushing from +the edge of the cliff. The Moors turned at bay, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_265'></a>265</span> +but nothing could withstand the charge of the +British tars, wielding their clubbed rifles like +flails. In a few seconds half of the Moors were +on the ground with more or less broken heads; +the rest were in full flight. +</p> +<p> +But the other troop of horsemen was now +not more than a few hundred yards distant. +At a word from Captain Bodgers the sailors +flung themselves face downwards, ready to deal +with the second band. +</p> +<p> +“Aim at the horses!” cried Mr. Greatorex, +as he came panting up in the rear of his men, and +flopped down beside them. +</p> +<p> +A scattered volley brought half a dozen of +the advancing horsemen to the dust. The rest, +unable, owing to the rugged uneven ground, to +see with what force they had to contend, reined +up and hesitated. Another volley caused them +to draw off to some little distance, where they +formed a group and began to discuss how to +retrieve this unexpected check. +</p> +<p> +“Now for the boat, my lads!” cried Mr. +Greatorex. +</p> +<p> +Up sprang the men, and the whole body made +a dash down the cliff. Before the Moors had +agreed upon their course, the fugitives were +half-way down. Seeing now by how few men +they had been checked, the Moors came after +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_266'></a>266</span> +them at full speed. But by the time they reached +the edge of the cliff and dismounted the fugitives +were at the bottom. +</p> +<p> +At that moment there was a report and a +puff of smoke out at sea, and a shot, purposely +aimed high, flew over the cliff, and fell a little +to the rear of the Moors. That was the finishing +stroke. Their horses stampeded and dashed +straight for the ravine, the riders in wild pursuit +behind them. Three minutes afterwards Mr. +Greatorex had his whole party in the boat, +and the sailors, with a final rousing cheer, pulled +for the yacht. +</p> +<p> +Tom saw everything in a mist as he went +aboard. Worn out with the exertions and excitements +of the past few days, he was only vaguely +conscious of being fussed over, and treated, as he +said afterwards, more or less as a baby. He was +put to bed, slept heavily for several hours, and +awoke with a most exigent hunger. The yacht +was in motion. He rose, bathed, put on some +clean things, and, feeling himself again, thankfully +obeyed Mr. Greatorex’s hearty call to dinner. +</p> +<p> +Around the well-spread table he found the +rest of the party already seated. At the head was +Mr. Greatorex, with Sir Mark Ingleton at his +right; at the foot, Captain Bodgers with Herr +Schwab. The German had tucked his napkin +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_267'></a>267</span> +between his shirt and his waistcoat, and was +gazing with ecstatic anticipation through his +glasses at the covered entrée dishes just brought +in by Timothy. +</p> +<p> +Tom was taken aback, and not a little moved, +when Sir Mark Ingleton rose from his seat, and, +grasping his hand, said— +</p> +<p> +“Thank you, Mr. Dorrell. I have heard +the whole story from Mr. Greatorex and your +Moorish follower. It is not for me to speak of +the public service you have rendered; personally, +I owe you more than I can say, and I shall never +forget it.” +</p> +<p> +“So!” chimed in Schwab, rising stiffly from +his chair. His left hand gripped his fork; his +right enveloped Tom’s. “I zank you, for myself +personaliter, and for ze Kaiser, for Schlagintwert, +and for Business. Fill my glass, if you please,” +he added to Timothy, whose smile instantly +changed to a frown—“I vish to cry ‘Hoch!’ +No, no, not too full, for ze ship moves, and ze +champagne vould slop over.” +</p> +<p> +Schwab’s intervention came in the nick of +time to relieve Tom’s embarrassment. +</p> +<p> +“Come, Tom, my <em>dear</em> fellow,” cried Mr. +Greatorex, “<em>sit</em> down. We were only waiting +for you.” +</p> +<p> +“Where’s Oliphant?” asked Tom. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_268'></a>268</span> +</p> +<p> +“Hm! <em>M’Cracken</em> is at the furnace,” replied +Mr. Greatorex. +</p> +<p> +“I say! That’s rough luck!” said Tom. +</p> +<p> +“It is by his own wish. I did violence to my +sense of what is <em>right</em> and <em>proper</em>, and invited him +to a place at our board. He showed, I must +say, a commendable sense of his <em>duty</em> in the +matter. ‘I’m M’Cracken and your stoker, sir,’ +he said, ’till we get back to England.’” +</p> +<p> +“May I suggest,” said Sir Mark Ingleton, +“that a sense of the unfitness of his attire also +weighed with him?” +</p> +<p> +“We can soon alter that,” said Tom. “He’s +about my build; I’ll go and rig him out in one +of my suits.” +</p> +<p> +“Ve shall not vait to begin?” said Schwab +anxiously, holding knife and fork upright on the +table. +</p> +<p> +“Mr. Oliphant will doubtless pardon us,” +replied Sir Mark blandly. +</p> +<p> +In a quarter of an hour Tom returned with +Oliphant in white ducks and blue serge. +</p> +<p> +“Still is zere somezink left,” said Schwab. +“I feel moch better, zough I vish ze table vould +not move. Do not fill your glass quite full, sir; +it vould slop over, and zat vould be pity.” +</p> +<p> +“Where’s Abdul?” asked Tom, as he sat +down. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_269'></a>269</span> +</p> +<p> +“With the men, forward,” said Mr. Greatorex. +</p> +<p> +“That’s all right. I’m jolly glad he got off +safely.” +</p> +<p> +“A most intelligent youth,” said Sir Mark. +“It appears that he rode straight into the village +of Salaam son of Absalaam with an urgent demand +for assistance from the sheikh of Ain Afroo. He +was leading a party of Moors in that direction +when unluckily a genuine messenger from the +sheikh arrived. Abdul wheeled about and galloped +for the shore, with the rest at his heels, as +you saw.” +</p> +<p> +“Shust in time,” said Schwab. “Vun moment +after, and I am no more.” +</p> +<p> +“I haven’t heard your story yet, sir,” said +Tom to the envoy. +</p> +<p> +“Story, bless you, I have none to tell. I was +on my way to Marrakesh, where the Sultan +was at the time, and was indiscreet enough one +evening to leave my camp for a stroll with only +one attendant. I was snapped up, enveloped +in a djellab, and conveyed on horseback—to my +great discomfort—to the sheikh’s kasbah. There +I had the good fortune to meet Mr. Schwab, +whose conversation, together with a Schlagintwert +price list and a copy of the <em>Daily Mail</em>, helped +to lighten the tedium of my captivity.” +</p> +<p> +“I zank you, Sir Ingleton,” said Schwab. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_270'></a>270</span> +“Alvays do I vish to be useful. <em>Utile et dulce.</em> +You vill not forget vat I say about extra-special +discount to ze nobility and gentry? And I +hear viz surprise, sir,” he added to Oliphant, +“zat you are son of a lord. Viz gompliments!” +</p> +<p> +He handed Oliphant a card from his case. +</p> +<p> +“Much obliged,” said Oliphant, kicking Tom +under the table. “How did they get hold of +<em>you</em>?” +</p> +<p> +“Vy, I tell you. I come to Rabat to buy +great lot of carpets for Schlagintwert. Zere +I hear zat ze Sultan is at Marrakesh, and I zink +I shall visit him. I egzpect big order for alarm +clocks and bianola. Zat vill be good business. +Ach! vat know ze Mohrs of business? Zey +seize me; zey care nozink ven I say I am Jarman +sobjeck; zey understand nozink ven I speak of +our Kaiser who is in Berlin; and so am I shut +opp. I smoke all my tobacco; zere is no more. +I read ze <em>Daily Mail</em>, and zink ven I gontemblate +ze advertisement vat colossal business is literature +in England. I read Schlagintwert’s price list, +and make notes for new edition; alas! zat muss +all be done again. Zen I do nozink but zink +profound, until Sir Ingleton come and ve study +ze list togezer.” +</p> +<p> +“An experience I shall always cherish, believe +me, Mr. Schwab,” said Sir Mark. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_271'></a>271</span> +</p> +<p> +“I zank you, sir. Ze pleasure vas mutual; +ze profit shall be Schlagintwert’s.” +</p> +<p> +“But how was it you were put in the +dungeons?” asked Tom. +</p> +<p> +“Vy, I tell you. Vun day come ze sheikh +viz his men. Zink I, now has arrive ze Kaiser’s +telegram. But no; zey carry us down to ze +deps, and zere are ve shut opp vorse zan before!” +</p> +<p> +“That was when they got the message from +Salathiel ben Ezra, no doubt,” said Tom,“—the Jew you found in the cave, Mr. Schwab.” +</p> +<p> +“Ven I vas so hungry!” +</p> +<p> +“I wonder what has become of him?” said +Oliphant. “It’s to him I owe the keenest sport +I’ve ever had.” +</p> +<p> +“The less said about that the <em>better</em>, M’C—I +beg your pardon—Mr. Oliphant. The man +was a <em>villain</em>. I <em>said</em> so, Tom. Timothy will +have a <em>scar</em> for the rest of his days. And but for +the Jew we shouldn’t have lost our airship. Not +that that matters. We’ve <em>proved</em> it, you know; +we’ll build a larger one now.” +</p> +<p> +“And Schlagintwerts shall buy it cost price!” +</p> +<p> +“No, sir, Schlagintwerts shall <em>not</em> buy it,” +said Mr. Greatorex, frowning severely on the +German. “We will offer it to the Government. +I shall invite Colonel Capper to examine it, and +Lord Langside, I trust, will show himself sufficiently +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_272'></a>272</span> +sensible of his obligation to us to make no +difficulties about the <em>price</em>.” +</p> +<p> +“Vell, Schlagintwert shall have colossal order +for Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number +Six—at least until ze var come.” +</p> +<p> +“<em>What</em> war?” +</p> +<p> +“Vy, ze var ven ze Kaiser shall zink it is time +to teach ze vorld zat——” +</p> +<p> +“Stay, Mr. Schwab,” interrupted Sir Mark, +“we must not be indiscreet. As a diplomatist +it is my duty to avert war; as a business man +you, I am sure, would deplore it.” +</p> +<p> +“So. Zat is shust vat I alvays say: zat is +vat I go to say ven you interrup me; ven ze +Kaiser shall zink it is time to teach ze vorld zat +Business are Business!” +</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of King of the Air, by Herbert Strang + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KING OF THE AIR *** + +***** This file should be named 36443-h.htm or 36443-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/4/4/36443/ + +Produced by Roger Frank, Juliet Sutherland and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/36443-h/images/cover.jpg b/36443-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fe10587 --- /dev/null +++ b/36443-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/36443-h/images/illus004.jpg b/36443-h/images/illus004.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e80b1f8 --- /dev/null +++ b/36443-h/images/illus004.jpg diff --git a/36443-h/images/illus005.jpg b/36443-h/images/illus005.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5cad580 --- /dev/null +++ b/36443-h/images/illus005.jpg diff --git a/36443-h/images/illus133.jpg b/36443-h/images/illus133.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2da1425 --- /dev/null +++ b/36443-h/images/illus133.jpg diff --git a/36443-h/images/illus187.jpg b/36443-h/images/illus187.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..270caa8 --- /dev/null +++ b/36443-h/images/illus187.jpg diff --git a/36443-h/images/illus229.jpg b/36443-h/images/illus229.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..20f3d87 --- /dev/null +++ b/36443-h/images/illus229.jpg diff --git a/36443.txt b/36443.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a78521d --- /dev/null +++ b/36443.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6796 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of King of the Air, by Herbert Strang + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: King of the Air + Or, To Morocco on an Aeroplane + +Author: Herbert Strang + +Illustrator: W. E. Webster + +Release Date: June 16, 2011 [EBook #36443] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KING OF THE AIR *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank, Juliet Sutherland and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + Complete List of Stories for Boys by + HERBERT STRANG + + ADVENTURES OF DICK TREVANION, THE + ADVENTURES OF HARRY ROCHESTER, THE + A GENTLEMAN-AT-ARMS + A HERO OF LIEGE + A THOUSAND MILES AN HOUR + AIR PATROL, THE + AIR SCOUT, THE + BARCLAY OF THE GUIDES + BLUE RAIDER, THE + BOYS OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE + BRIGHT IDEAS + BURTON OF THE FLYING CORPS + CARRY ON + CRUISE OF THE GYRO-CAR, THE + DAN BOLTON'S DISCOVERY + FIGHTING WITH FRENCH + FLYING BOAT, THE + FRANK FORESTER + HEIR OF A HUNDRED KINGS, THE + HUMPHREY BOLD + JACK BROWN IN CHINA + JACK HARDY + KING OF THE AIR + KOBO + LONG TRAIL, THE + LORD OF THE SEAS + MARTIN OF OLD LONDON + MOTOR SCOUT, THE + NO MAN'S ISLAND + OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN, THE + ONE OF CLIVE'S HEROES + PALM TREE ISLAND + RIDERS, THE + RIVER PIRATES, THE + ROB THE RANGER + ROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS + SAMBA + SETTLERS AND SCOUTS + SULTAN JIM + SWIFT AND SURE + THROUGH THE ENEMY'S LINES + TOM BURNABY + TOM WILLOUGHBY'S SCOUTS + TRUE AS STEEL + WINNING HIS NAME + WITH DRAKE ON THE SPANISH MAIN + WITH HAIG ON THE SOMME + YOUNG JACK + + + + +[Illustration: HE CLUTCHED AT THE GRAPNEL, LET GO HIS HOLD OF THE MAST, +AND SWUNG CLEAR. Frontispiece--see page 79] + + + + + KING OF THE AIR + + Or, To Morocco on an Aeroplane + + By + + HERBERT STRANG + + ILLUSTRATED IN COLOUR BY W. E. WEBSTER + + + HUMPHREY MILFORD + OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS + + LONDON, EDINBURGH, GLASGOW + TORONTO, MELBOURNE, CAPE TOWN, BOMBAY + + + + + Copyright 1907 by the Bobbs-Merrill Company + in the United States of America. + + Published 1907. + + Reprinted 1908, 1909, 1911, 1913 (twice), 1915 (twice), + 1917, 1918, 1919 (twice), 1920, 1923, 1929 + + Printed in Great Britain by Richard Clay & Sons, Limited, + Bungay, Suffolk. + + + + + CONTENTS + + CHAPTER PAGE + I. Mr. Greatorex is Astonished 9 + II. Herr Schwab 20 + III. Tom makes Experiments 34 + IV. A Prisoner in Zemmur 51 + V. Off the Barbary Coast 63 + VI. Salathiel ben Ezra 81 + VII. The Hills of Zemmur 98 + VIII. The Swordsmith of Ain Afroo 116 + IX. A Bolt from the Blue 133 + X. The Kasbah 148 + XI. Prison Breakers 167 + XII. A Hitch 182 + XIII. Diplomacy 196 + XIV. The Troglodytes 218 + XV. View Halloo! 233 + XVI. Icarus 248 + XVII. Compliments and Thanks 262 + + + + + LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + "He clutched at the grapnel, let go his hold + of the mast, and swung clear" 79 + + "His sword flew from his grasp, and he reeled + dizzily to the ground." 130 + + "Tom, seizing a big stone, threw it with all his + force into the black room beneath" 187 + + "Abdul bent over the brink and smartly rapped his + knuckles with the butt of Tom's revolver" 222 + + + + +KING OF THE AIR + + + + +CHAPTER I--MR. GREATOREX IS ASTONISHED + + +Mr. John Greatorex was very wealthy, and very obstinate. He had made a +large fortune as a manufacturer of chemicals, but disclaimed any +knowledge of chemistry. He had dabbled a little in mechanics, and was +convinced that he possessed an accurate practical knowledge of its +applications. Consequently, when his new motor-car arrived, he saw no +necessity to take a chauffeur with him on its trial spin. He was like a +child with a new toy, jealous of participation. + +"My dear," said Mrs. Greatorex, as she handed him his motor goggles, +"are you sure you will not take Timothy? What if it breaks down?" + +"My _love_," said Mr. Greatorex in his emphatic way, "I do not _want_ +Timothy. It will not break down. If it _does_, I flatter myself I am +_competent_ to make any _necessary_ repairs. I shall be back at +seven-thirty--in good time for dinner; and I _hope and trust_ the soup +will _not_ be cold." + +He gave a preliminary _honk! honk!_ looking round with a smile that +plainly said, "There! you see that _everything_ is in order!" Then he +steered the car accurately down the drive to the road. + +His house lying in the heart of the country, Mr. Greatorex did not fear +to meet milestones in the shape of policemen with stop-watches, who +would take his number and afterwards confront him in court. In a minute +or two the car was whirling along the road at a rate which, it is to be +feared, gravely exceeded the speed limit. All went merry as a +marriage-bell, and Mr. Greatorex was at the height of exhilaration and +satisfaction, when, just as he was mounting the acclivity of Five Oaks +Bridge, without even a click in warning, the machine came to a dead +stop. Mr. Greatorex put the engine out of gear, then tried to start it +by turning the starting handle; but finding this of no avail he clapped +on the brake, skipped out of the car, removed his goggles and his +gloves, and set about making an examination. + +On the other side of the bridge, sitting on the bank of the stream, was +a boy, gazing with round eyes at a float that hung from a line attached +to a long home-made rod of yew. He had heard the clatter of the +motor-car as it came along the road; he was aware that the noise had +suddenly ceased; but, being a lad of great concentration, he did not +give a thought to what was happening out of sight at the further end of +the bridge. He had come out for an afternoon's fishing; two or three fat +carp lay beside him on the bank; and noticing at this moment a slight +movement of the float, he was soon oblivious of everything except the +fish on his hook. + +Half an hour passed. Three more fish had rewarded his patience; then, +satisfied with his catch, the boy rose, methodically wound up his line, +and, leaving reel, rod and basket on the bank, walked up on to the +bridge, to investigate the meaning of sundry strange noises he had +heard, vaguely, in the intervals between the bites. + +As he gained the foot of the bridge, where a motor-car stood somewhat +askew across the road, he caught sight of a pair of brown boots +projecting from beneath the machine. Nothing but the boots was visible; +but they moved, and it was clear that they shod the feet of some living +person, for there came puffs and grunts and explosive monosyllables +resembling those he had sometimes heard on the golf-links near his home. + +The boy leant against the parapet, stuck his hands into his pockets, and +watched. By and by there was an ejaculation of peculiar vehemence; the +boots moved out into the road, followed by a pair of grey-trousered +legs, a soiled and rumpled motor-coat, and a very red and dirty face; +the boy took especial note of a black patch in the very centre of a +shiny skull. + +Puffing and blowing, Mr. Greatorex crawled from under his new car, and +stood upon his feet--a rather disreputable-looking object--staring +wrathfully at the offending car. He had not perceived the small +spectator. + +"Wish I _had_ brought Timothy!" he muttered. "_Confound_ the brute!" + +He looked at his grimy hands, at his mud-stained clothes, up the road, +down the road, and finally at the boy, who had at last made an +impression on his retina. + +"Hi, boy!" he said. + +The boy approached with a shy smile. Mr. Greatorex scowled, conscious of +his plight. + +"Boy, tell me, and don't _grin_, is there a smith anywhere in this +neighbourhood?" + +"In the village, sure, measter." + +"Where is the village?" + +"About three miles away, over yonder." + +"God bless me! Three miles! Well, look here, boy, I'll give you +_sixpence_ to run there and send the smith back--behind a horse, on a +bicycle, _anyhow_--to mend this confounded machine. I'm twenty miles away +from _home_, you understand, and I shall be _late_ for dinner. I'll make +it a _shilling_ if the smith is here within an hour." + +The boy looked up into the wrathful face and smiled again. + +"Would 'ee like me to mend un for 'ee? 'Twould maybe save time." + +Mr. Greatorex stared. + +"_You_ mend it! 'Pon my word!" + +And then he burst into a roar of laughter which carried away his +ill-humour, for Mr. Greatorex was normally a very good-tempered person. + +The situation was, in truth, amusing. The boy was a little fellow under +four feet high. He had a round chubby face, not free from stains. He +wore corduroy breeches much too large for him, big clumping boots, and a +flannel shirt open at the neck. His blue eyes peeped up from beneath a +large, soft, much-discoloured straw hat. And this little urchin had +actually offered to mend a motor-car with which Mr. Greatorex, with all +his knowledge of mechanism, had been struggling for half an hour in +vain! + +Mr. Greatorex laughed again. + +"Come, cut along, youngster," he said genially. "Let me see how _fast_ +you can run." + +"I'll mend un if you give me leave. 'Twill save time," persisted the +boy. + +Mr. Greatorex pulled out his watch. What a joke, he thought--this sprat +of a boy offering to tackle his huge motor-car! It was only a little +after five; there might still be time to fetch the smith, get the +repairs made, and yet reach home by half-past seven. A little rest would +not come amiss after his exertions. Why not let the youngster try his +hand--for the fun of it? + +"Well then, _fire_ away, my young engineer. I've been at it half an +hour, _confound_ the thing!" + +"What have 'ee done, measter?" + +"Done? Everything! Examined the sparking plugs: _they're_ all right. +Wires from battery: _they're_ all right. Battery itself, _that's_ all +right. Plenty of petrol in the tank. _Every_thing's all right, hang it, +and yet the thing _won't_ go!" + +"Don't you worrit, measter. Give me a lend of your tools." + +The boy's cocksureness again amused Mr. Greatorex, who seated himself on +the parapet of the bridge, and mopped his perspiring face, smiling +pleasantly. Though past fifty he was still young at heart, and very +ready to be amused. He took out a pipe, filled and lit it, and puffed +away, with an expression of serene contentment on his rubicund dirty +face. + +The boy flung off his hat and disappeared. Metallic sounds came from the +interior of the car. + +"How are you getting on, boy?" asked Mr. Greatorex after some ten +minutes. + +There was no answer. + +Five minutes passed. + +"Find it rather too _much_ for you, eh?" said Mr. Greatorex, looking +more amused than ever. + +Still there was no answer. + +"Got everything you want?" he asked again. + +But the boy made no reply; only the sound of knocking and screwing +continued. + +Mr. Greatorex laughed aloud. + +"Come," he said, getting up and standing with legs astraddle a foot or +two from the car, "you mustn't make _too_ long a _job_ of it, you know." +Then he chuckled. + +Five minutes afterwards the boy crawled out. Mr. Greatorex laughed again +as he surveyed the grimy little fellow. A great patch of black +surrounded one eye, where he had rubbed his knuckles. + +"All right now, measter," said the boy. + +"What! Come, my lad, you've _had your_ turn; now run along and fetch the +smith." + +"Bean't no need. She'll go now." + +Mr. Greatorex looked impressed, stepped to the front of the car, and +turned the handle; to his amazement the engines started. He sprang into +the car, threw the engines into gear, and was still more amazed when, +releasing the clutch pedal, he found that the car moved. + +"Better take off the brake, measter," said the boy. + +"Why, yes, certainly," said Mr. Greatorex, with a preoccupied air, and +the car mounted the incline, spun across the bridge, and ran easily down +the road. Then Mr. Greatorex stopped it and turned round. + +"Hi, boy!" he shouted. The boy picked up his hat, stuck it on his head, +and approached. + +"Look here, youngster," said Mr. Greatorex, "the car is all _right_!" + +"Told 'ee so, measter." + +Mr. Greatorex roared. + +"You're a wonderful little chap. Bless my soul, how did you _do_ it?" + +"I'll show 'ee if you'll get out." + +"No thank 'ee. I've already had half an hour at it, and I'm as black as +a nigger. What was wrong?" + +"A bit of grit was stuck in the petrol spray nozzle, so you couldn't get +no petrol into the carburetter." + +"Oh!" said Mr. Greatorex blankly. "What's your name?" + +"Tom Dorrell." + +"You don't happen to be manager of a motor-works, I suppose?" + +"No," said the boy, unconscious of the genial sarcasm. + +"Where d'you live?" + +"In the village yonder," said Tom, pointing ahead. + +"Oh! Ah! Look _here_, my lad, why aren't you at school?" + +"Why, 'cos 'tis holidays," he replied with a grin. "Feyther didn't want +me, so I came out to fish." + +"Oh, indeed. And who's your father?" + +"He be the smith you wanted me to fetch; but there warn't no need." + +"So it appears! I say, my lad, how _old_ are you?" + +"Twelve, and I'm in the sixth standard." + +"You are, are you? And how long have you been mending motor-cars?" + +"Not so very long. I help feyther now and again; motor-cars are always +breaking down, and he has mended a rare lot of 'em." + +"Ah! And how much would he have charged for mending this one?" + +"About two shillings, I reckon; it wasn't a very hard job." + +"Oh! Well, here's two shillings for you. Don't spend it _all_ on +sweets." + +"Not me," said the boy with a grin. "I'm saving up, I am." + +"Indeed! What for?" + +"Why, for heaps of things. I want a model of a four-coupled bogie tank +engine, and a model of a turbine steamer, and a motor bicycle----" + +"Steady, youngster. That's rather a _large_ order, isn't it? You've got +a fancy for mechanics, eh!" + +"Mechanics! Not me! That's what they teach in the seventh standard. I +like engines, I do--machines that'll go. I'm going to be an engineer some +day--if I can; feyther says it costs a mint of money, and he hasn't got +much, and he says he don't hold with flying too high, and I'd much +better be a smith. But there's nothing new in smith's work: you just go +on shoeing horses, and sticking fellies on wheels, and mending prams and +motor-cars now and then. I want to do something new, I do." + +"Ah! What's your father's name?" + +"Dorrell, same as mine." + +"Naturally. And what do you call your village?" + +"Barton Abbas." + +"Well, Tom, here's your two shillings. You've got a bank-book, I +suppose." + +"Rather. I've got three pounds fourteen and ninepence; this makes +sixteen and ninepence. I shall have another sixpence on Saturday for +cleaning pa'son's bicycle; that'll make seventeen and threepence. Pa'son +gives me sixpence a week." + +"You're getting quite rich, you know. Well, Tom, thanks to you I _shall_ +get home in time for dinner." + +"I'm pretty hungry," said Tom. "I guess it's past my tea-time." + +"No doubt it is. _Strawberry_ jam, eh?" + +"No. Mother says that's too dear. We have rhubarb and marrow, growed in +the garden." + +"And very good stuff, too. _By George!_ I haven't had marrow jam for +forty years." + +"You be pretty old then: older than feyther." + +"Well, d'you know, Tom, I am _several years_ younger than I was two +hours ago. Good-bye!" + + + + +CHAPTER II--HERR SCHWAB + + +One spring day, rather more than six years after the meeting of Mr. +Greatorex and Tom Dorrell by Five Oaks Bridge, a shabby pony cart was +jogging along the road that led from the little railway station of +Midfont, through the sleepy village of the same name, to Midfont House, +the rural retreat to which Mr. Greatorex betook himself from his +business in the great manufacturing town of Burlingham some dozen miles +away. The sole occupant of the cart was a large florid man of about +forty-five, who eyed the surroundings curiously through heavy +gold-rimmed spectacles, the sluggish pony he drove requiring little +attention. + +His costume, no less than his spectacles, was strangely out of keeping +with the cart. That would have been a fit setting for a farm-hand, or a +carrier, or some other wearer of fustian. But its present occupant was +attired in a well-cut grey frock-coat, silk lined, a glossy silk hat, a +lilac-coloured necktie in which flashed a diamond pin, and trousers of +large check pattern. His hands were gloved in brown kid; between his +teeth he held a long cigar. + +He looked about him with intention. Unfenced fields stretched on either +side of the road. Every now and again the driver would pull up, stand on +the seat, and throw a searching glance around. Then, muttering under his +breath words that were certainly strange to that part of the English +midlands, he would drive on again, looking to right and left as before. + +By and by he came to a part of the road where a long wooden fence on the +right-hand side indicated an enclosure. To this the driver gave his +whole attention, and when the fence was broken by a wide wooden gate, +within which a carriage drive ran past a little lodge and between hedges +of evergreen, he pulled up, alighted from the cart, and, leading the +pony by the nose, went to the gate and gave the bell-pull a vigorous +tug. It might have been noticed that he walked a little lame. + +In response to his summons a man came to the gate--a young man, thin, +clean-shaven, with a slight cast in one eye. He was bareheaded, wore a +red waistcoat over a flannel shirt, and brown corduroy breeches, +supported by a leather belt and somewhat creased above brown leggings. + +"So!" said the driver of the pony cart, as the lodgekeeper rested his +arms on the second bar of the gate and looked at him. "Zis, my goot +friend, is Midfont House?" + +"You've got it right, guv'nor." + +"So! Zen I ask, is Mr. Thomas Dorrell at home?" + +"Nice day, guv'nor." + +"I zank you, yes, it is not bad. Mr. Thomas Dorrell----" + +"No; my name's Timothy Ball--T. B. on my collars." + +"I zank you. Mr. Thomas Dorrell----" + +"This 'ere place belongs to Mr. John Greatorex, Esquire, J.P., and he +ain't at home, bein' engaged in trying a bad case of stealin' lamb and +mint-sauce not a many miles from 'ere." + +"My goot friend, I do not mind; I like it. I come not to see Mr. +Greatorex, I come to see Mr. Thomas Dorrell----" + +"Now, look 'ere, guv'nor, we've had chaps 'ere before with cheap watches +and dear books and thingummies of all sorts, and I tell you straight, we +don't encourage 'em; in fact, I've got strict orders from Mr. Greatorex, +J.P., to set the dog on any such that won't take no for an answer." + +"My goot friend, you mistake. Vizout doubt I carry, some days, books, +editions de luxe, and vatches and ozer zinks, but to-day--no, no. Look, +here is my carte----" + +"And a rum-lookin' ramshackle turn-out it is," quoth Timothy, ignoring +the piece of pasteboard and eyeing the vehicle disdainfully. "I wonder +you ain't ashamed to come out in a 'at like that, togged up to the +nines, quite a torf, and your pony as looks as if he ain't had a +currycomb on his hide for a month o' Sundays." + +"Ah, you mistake me all ze time. Ze bony, he is not mine; I hire him to +bring me to Midfont House. Here is my carte, my friend. Take it to Mr. +Thomas Dorrell, viz gompliments. He do not know my name, so! But he know +ze name of ze firma I rebresent, and he vill like to see me, I know zat, +because he place large orders, vair large, viz our gompany; he is vat +you call a gustomer, you understand." + +Timothy Ball looked doubtfully at the visitor, and at the card he +offered to him. + +"There's customers, and rum customers," he said. + +"Rum!" interrupted the stranger. "If Mr. Dorrell like rum, we can subbly +any quantity, in cask or bottle, at rock-bottom price." + +Timothy sniggered and rubbed his mouth with the back of his hand. + +"Rum ain't the word for it," he said. "'Tis downright bloomin' funny, +that's what it is. Well, guv'nor, hold hard a bit; I'll just 'phone +through to Mr. Dorrell and tell him you're here. _'Ow_ do you say your +name?" + +"Schwab! Hildebrand Schwab, rebresentative of ze Schlagintwert Gombany +of Duesseldorf." + +"Can't say all that; telephone won't stand it. Wait a bit while I try +Swob." + +He rang up and put his ear to the receiver. + +"Are you there? That you, Mr. Dorrell?... There's a man here ... a man +... a gentleman to see you, name Swib ... Swob! So he _said_, sir.... +Travels for rum, by what I can make out----" + +"No! no!" cried Schwab; but Timothy glared him into silence. + +"Said you wouldn't know him, sir, but you're a customer of his firm.... +No, sir, _not_ rum.... Can't say it, sir.... Very well, sir (glancing at +the card): S C H L A G I N T W.... You've got it, sir.... He didn't say, +sir.... Very well, sir." + +"Mr. Dorrell wants to know what you've come for." + +"Vill you be so kind as permit me to speak to him myself?" + +"No; your trotter might run away.... Yes, sir, one minute.... Now, out +with it, Mr. Swob; Mr. Dorrell's busy." + +"Zen tell him I come from Duesseldorf on behalf of my firma to pay zeir +respects and gompliments to zeir valued gustomer and to zay zat ve shall +be alvays most pleased to subbly anyzink vatefer zat Mr. Dorrell vants +in quickest possible tempo egzept our Number Six Photographic Sensitizer +vich require fortnight notice----" + +"Arf a mo!... Yes, sir, but there's such a lot of it I can't get hold of +it all.... No, sir, not walk; the gentleman's rather lame, sir; came in +a pony cart.... Very well, sir." + +"Mr. Dorrell says he'll be here in a few minutes if you'll wait." + +"Vy certainly. I can get no train for two hour. I vait in ze house?" + +"No, Mr. Dorrell ain't in the house. He'll come here. We always +interview rum customers at the gate." + +"No, no, no; not rum, my friend; and Mr. Dorrell is ze gustomer. He buy +of _us_; at least, he order; Mr. Greatorex pay." + +"Well, it don't matter to you, I s'pose, so long as you get your money? +Mr. Greatorex's money is good enough for me, anyway. Paid for that +topping cigar of yours, didn't it?" + +"I have not ze honour to know Mr. Greatorex; but I have here a price +list of cigars, and if----" + +"Here's Mr. Dorrell." + +"Vere? I see him not." + +"Well, he's big enough, though he ain't as broad as he's long: that +gentleman in the blue clothes comin' down the path." + +"Zat Mr. Dorrell! Vy--he is a boy! Himmel!" + +"Rum, ain't it? S'pose you never _was_ a boy, Mr. Swob." + +A tall loose-limbed young fellow had come into the drive from a side +path, and was walking with great strides towards the gate. He was +bareheaded; his black hair tumbled over a brow unusually high and broad. +No other feature was noticeable except his eyes, which were large, deep +blue in colour, and shot with a strange glow. He was dressed in a loose +suit of what appeared to be blue alpaca, which was plentifully +bestained. + +By this time Timothy had opened the gate and given admittance to the +visitor. Tom Dorrell came up, held out his hand, and said in quick +decisive tones-- + +"How d'you do, Mr.----?" + +"Schwab, sir--Hildebrand Schwab, rebresentative of ze firma +Schlagintwert, all orders punctually eggzecuted." + +"Sorry to keep you waiting. Very busy, you know; if you had given me +notice----" + +"Ach! I come on ze hop, sir." + +Tom smiled. + +"Well, glad to see you, anyway. Is there anything I can do for you?" + +"Sir, zat is vat I ask you. You give orders, first class, for our +Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number Six; but my firma zink you do +not know, perhaps, zat zey do many ozer zinks beside Photographic +Sensitizer Preparation Number Six. Vy, zere is nozink vat ve do not do, +nozink at all. Ve can supply anyzink--soft goots, musical boxes, hair +oil----" + +"I know, I know," said Tom. "I have your price list." + +"But not ze new vun--revise and correck carte," returned Schwab, pulling +from his pocket a bulky volume in red paper cover. "Viz gompliments!" + +"Thanks! Now, I am very busy----" + +"Shust so! Business are business! Not for ze vorld vould I stand in ze +light. Only bermit me shust vun vord. Ze orders you give for +Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number Six, vy, zey are immense, +colossal; and you pay on ze nail. My firma get no such orders novere, +and zey are surprise, because Number Six is new zink; it is not long zat +it is on ze market. Vy zen come so large orders from so little place? +Zey zink zere are business to be done; zerefore am I here." + +"Well, you can't expect the merits of the stuff to be known all at +once." + +"Shust so. Zerefore I come! Schlagintwert say: 'Mr. Dorrell use a great +lot of P.S.P. No. 6; zerefore muss it be vair goot; go and see Mr. +Dorrell; perhaps he be so kind to give testimonial--zat vill be goot +business.'" + +"Afraid I can't do that. You see, I don't use it in photography, and +that is what you advertise it for." + +"But ve vill advertise it for anyzink you please!" + +"My use of it is secret at present." + +"Zen ve vill buy ze secret! Ve are vair rich firma." + +"But it wouldn't be a secret then." + +"Zat is true, but it vould be business. Zere vill be patent rights, +perhaps; vell, ve buy zem; ve buy anyzink zat is goot business." + +"No, I haven't taken out a patent. It is very good of you, Mr. Schwab, +if at any time----" + +"Ach! Vat you call any time!--zat is no time. Now, now is ze time. I am +in zis country only few days. I go soon to Morocco for business. I +suffer egstremely from sea-illness, but for business I go anyvere. Zink +how it vould console me in ze Bay of Biscay to know zat I had done goot +business for Schlagintwert--and for you, Mr. Dorrell." + +"Sorry. Really I can't say any more, Mr. Schwab. I _must_ go; look me up +again, if you like, when you get back from Morocco." + +Recognizing that Tom was not to be drawn, the German swallowed his +disappointment, took leave in most expansive terms, and was soon jogging +back in the direction from which he had come. But finding, on arriving +at the station, that he had an hour to wait for his train, he introduced +himself to the station-master and tactfully led the conversation to +Midfont House and its owner, Mr. Greatorex. What he learnt in the course +of it was something to the following effect. + +Some years before, Mr. Greatorex had discovered a taste for mechanics in +the son of the village smith at Barton Abbas, twenty miles away. He had +put the boy to a good school, often had him at Midfont House in the +holidays, and paid his fees at the university in the neighbouring town, +where the boy took honours in mechanics and engineering at a very early +age. Then, about a year before this time, Mr. Greatorex had fenced in a +large piece of waste ground on his estate, erected a workshop in the +middle of it, and given it up entirely to young Dorrell, who was now +apparently a permanent inmate of his house. What went on in the workshop +the station-master did not know. The enclosure was kept strictly +private; nobody outside the family was ever allowed to pass its borders. +The station-master believed that young Dorrell was inventing a +motor-car; it was said that Mr. Greatorex's interest in him dated from +the day when the boy had repaired some trifling mishap which had +befallen his car on the road. + +The effect of this information on Herr Schwab was greater than the +station-master ever knew. When the train came in, the German got into +it; but he alighted at the next station two miles off, and trudged back +over the road until he once more stood at the gate of Midfont House. It +was now dark. Schwab did not this time pull the bell. He walked on past +the gate for a good quarter of a mile, then halted at a large heap of +stones collected for mending the road. + +There were no wayfarers at this late hour; nobody saw how this big +figure in the frock-coat employed himself. He filled his glossy hat with +flints from the heap, carried it to the foot of the fence, and emptied +it there, returning for another hatful. After an hour's patient work a +pile of stones stood some three feet high against the fence. Mopping his +damp brow, dusting the inside of his hat, and replacing it on his head, +Schwab mounted the pile, clambered over the fence, and dropped down +somewhat heavily on the other side. Not till that moment had he given a +thought to the means of getting back; and looking up at the fence, the +top of which was quite beyond his reach, he uttered a low guttural +exclamation of dismay. But the die was cast! Consumed by his curiosity +to learn more about this mysterious workshop, in the way of business, he +had come thus far, and as there was apparently no going back he decided +to make his way forward. + +He found himself in an extensive meadow, bordered by trees. No +habitation was in sight. The moon threw a little light on the scene, +and, after walking for some minutes over the grass, he perceived a long +low oblong building which, as he drew nearer, he saw was built of wood, +with no windows in the walls, but having fanlights in the sloping roof. +There was but one door. + +"Ich hoffe dass die Thur nicht verriegelt ist!" he muttered as, glancing +apprehensively round, he approached to try the handle. He was not +conscious of anything improper in this nocturnal enterprise: was it not +all in the way of business? + +He came to the door, and grasped the handle.... + +When he recovered consciousness he found himself on his back on the +grass. In his right hand there was a feeling as if it had been burnt to +the bone. With many sighs and groans he rose, sought for his hat, and, +turning his back on the workshop, limped sadly towards the fence. His +whole body tingled with the electric shock. Bitterly he lamented his +unhappy zeal for business. What an abominable device for protecting the +premises! And there was that terrible fence to be climbed, or he would +have to remain all night in the field, assuredly to be discovered in the +morning and suspected of felonious intent. He remembered that Timothy +Ball had spoken of his master as a magistrate, and saw himself already, +frock-coat, silk hat and all, in a felon's cell. + +Shaken to the core he came to the fence, and spent a weary hour in +groping up and down, trying to find an outlet. At length, when he had +almost given up hope, and was trying to steel his soul against the +exposure of the morrow, he reached a tree whose branches overhung the +fence. It was more than thirty years since, as a boy, he had climbed a +tree in sport; who could have foreseen that now, a man of bulk, he would +be forced to attempt the feat in the interests of business? And his +right hand was so desperately painful! Luckily the trunk was gnarled and +a branch hung low. He tried to heave himself up, and his hat fell off. +He picked it up and shied it impatiently over the fence. Then he tried +again, and felt in the extremity of despair when he heard the _oosh_ of +tearing silk. Alas! for his new frock-coat! But he was at least safely +on the bough. He worked himself along it, dreading lest it should snap, +and conscious of the inconvenience of fourteen stone. Happily he was now +on the right side of the fence. He dropped, and alighted in a bed of +nettles. He got up, found his hat, mechanically brushed it with his +sleeve, and set it on his head. + +"Ach! Ich ungluecklicher!" he sighed as he set off up the road. + + + + +CHAPTER III--TOM MAKES EXPERIMENTS + + +The information given to Herr Schwab by the Midfont station-master was +accurate up to a certain point. Mr. Greatorex had indeed constituted +himself the beneficent patron of Tom Dorrell, educated him, entertained +him at Midfont House, and built for him a workshop in the grounds. So +far the station-master was right. But when he added that Tom was working +at a new motor-car, he stated a hypothesis, not a fact. + +About a year before this time, when Tom came to Midfont House to spend a +month's holiday, he brought with him a small model of an aerial machine +on which he had been quietly working in leisure moments. He showed it to +Mr. Greatorex. + +"Very pretty," said the worthy merchant, examining the toy; "but it +won't _go_." + +"Oh yes it will," said Tom. "See!" + +They were in Mr. Greatorex's study at the time. Tom poised the model on +his left hand, released a spring, and the little aeroplane, with a whizz +and a hum, soared across the room, and, before it could be stopped, +dashed against the glass door of a bookcase and shivered it to atoms. + +"I'm awfully sorry," said Tom contritely, picking up the machine and +silencing it. + +"What _are_ you doing, John?" said Mrs. Greatorex, opening the door. +"What a terrible mess!" she added, surveying the litter on the floor. + +"It shall be swept up, my dear," said Mr. Greatorex. "You can't make +omelets without breaking _eggs_, my love." + +Mrs. Greatorex looked a little puzzled. + +"Of course not, my dear," she said after a moment. Then with a +deprecating smile she went away. Mr. Greatorex locked the door. + +"Now, Tom," he said, "just _explain_, will you? Begin at the beginning; +I want to _know_, you know." + +"Well, I've been thinking a lot at odd times about airships and things, +and reading up what they've been doing in France and Germany. There's +little prospect of making a really serviceable machine out of the old +gas balloon; it's far too clumsy; can't make headway against a strong +wind; but I didn't see why something shouldn't be done on the lines of +the aeroplane. You see, it's easy enough to set the thing going, and +even to steer it, when you've got it up in the air; but there are three +difficulties: to get it up, to let it down without smashing it to bits, +and to keep it from turning somersaults. You can overcome the force of +gravity by an arrangement of planes when you keep up a good speed; but +if you slacken speed, down you come. And all the aeroplanes that have +been invented yet can't rise in the air at any given spot. They either +have to be thrown off from some elevated position, or they have to get +up a momentum along the ground, running like a motor-car. Then again, +the motor machinery has been too heavy; engines haven't been able to +exert sufficient horse-power in proportion to their own weight. I've +worked it out, and I calculate that no good can be done till you get an +engine that'll give you one horse-power to every two and a half pounds +of its weight." + +"Yes. Well?" + +"Well, this model is the result of no end of experiments. It goes, as +you see; but besides sailing horizontally, it will lift itself. Look!" + +He took up the little machine, released another spring, and the +miniature airship went flying to the ceiling, where it remained until +the spring ran down. + +"All very well," said Mr. Greatorex, unwilling to admit that he was +impressed; "but the thing is only a _toy_. There's all the difference in +the world between a model and the _real thing_, you know. You could +never get a spring strong enough to lift a real machine. I'm not +satisfied that you could even get the horizontal motion you're so +cocksure of, with a machine that would carry _men_." + +"No spring would do it, it is true; but I've worked out an application +of the principle. It's well known that a propeller rotating at +sufficient speed can be made to lift a weight into the air. Of course we +couldn't set a real airship rotating bodily; no aeronaut's head would +stand it if we could. But, as you saw, my model doesn't rotate itself. +I've only made use of the principle--pretty successfully, don't you +think?" + +"Just explain to me _thoroughly_, will you? I want a little more _light_ +on the subject." + +Tom took his model, and patiently expounded the mechanical principles on +which he had worked. The upshot of this and other conversations was that +Mr. Greatorex became first interested, then enthusiastic, and finally +determined. He had a workshop erected on a large piece of waste ground +nearly a mile and a half square on his estate, and gave Tom carte +blanche to get what assistance and spend what money he pleased. +Resolving to keep the matter a close secret until the experiments were +concluded, he fenced in the enclosure, and gave strict orders that no +one was to be admitted to it without Tom's consent. Tom himself devised +a simple means of defending the workshop from prying visitors. Whenever +he left it, he set going a strong electric current through the door +handle, which was a more effective protection than locks and bolts. + +Tom found, as soon as he came to enlarge his model into a practical +working size, that none of the motors then on the market was +sufficiently powerful in proportion to its weight to give him the +necessary lifting force. The electric motor was out of the question, and +an adaptation of the latest petrol engine as applied to motor-cars and +launches seemed to offer the most likely solution. Even here, however, +the march of invention had not gone far enough. The latest petrol motor, +it is true, enabled Tom to keep the machine at a constant altitude when +once it was in flight; but it failed to raise it from a position of +rest. Some other method must be found, and he set his wits to work to +discover it. + +The first condition of success was, he felt, the discovery of an +explosive mixture far more powerful than that offered by petrol, and yet +capable of being harnessed and controlled. He had the run of Mr. +Greatorex's chemical laboratories, and the benefit of the practical +advice and assistance of the heads of the experimental staff. Scores of +preparations were tried, and, for one reason or another, rejected. Where +sufficient power was obtained, it was almost invariably found that the +mixture was not stable or uniform in its effects. Several explosive +mixtures were discovered quite powerful enough for the purpose; but, as +Mr. Greatorex's chief chemist pointed out, all of them were likely to +blow the airship to smithereens in the event of any accident to the +machinery. + +It was some months after the beginning of the experiments when one of +the junior chemists came to Tom with the announcement that he had +discovered what he thought might be the very substance required. A +German firm, Schlagintwert & Co. of Duesseldorf, had placed on the market +a few months earlier a powder which, used as a solution, was highly +valuable in preparing photographic plates. The exact ingredients of the +powder were unknown, although by analysis it had been found to consist +of nitrate compounds; but the buyer was warned by a label that it should +not be exposed to great heat owing to the danger of explosion. It had +occurred to the chemist to mix a little of this powder with petrol. The +result was a paste which dried hard, but gave off almost infinitesimal +particles of a highly explosive nature, when floating in an air chamber, +though the paste itself was not explosive either under heat or shock. + +Tom was delighted with the discovery, and at once proceeded to construct +an engine suitable to the peculiar properties of the composition. In +building the motor he adapted the principle of the turbine to airship +navigation. A powerful fan drove the current of air through a number of +perforated aluminium plates covered with the paste. The resultant +mixture of air and explosive particles passed into the explosion +chamber, the intake being controlled by automatic valves connected with +the turbine. The explosion of the mixture was brought about by a +sparking plug connected with a small electric battery, the sparking +being controlled by a cam on the shaft. At each explosion, the gas +generated was forced at an enormous pressure through the turbine to the +right of the explosion chamber, thus driving the propeller fixed on the +shaft. + +Tom made his fan serve a double purpose, not only to drive air through +the aluminium plates, but to send a current round a jacket on the +outside of the turbine and thus keep the latter cool. This was a highly +necessary arrangement owing to the enormous heat generated. From the +first, indeed, the difficulty of cooling the turbine was the most +serious with which he had to grapple. It required months of experiment +before the engine could be worked for more than two or three minutes at +a time. Gradually, however, by increasing the power of the fan, and +constructing the turbine casing and blades of an alloy specially adapted +to resist the effects of intense heat, this difficulty was to a great +extent overcome. + +The airship when completed was not unlike a huge bird with wings +outstretched. The body of the bird consisted of the car and engine. The +wings were planes of lath strengthened with aluminium, and capable of +being inclined at any desired angle by the simple movement of a switch +in the car. A large rectangular plane projecting from the rear of the +car acted as a rudder, principally for lateral movement, motion upwards +and downwards being provided for either by the inclination of the larger +planes or by the special screws actuated by the engine. The latter drove +two sets of propellers: one fore and aft, giving a horizontal movement, +the other below and above the car, giving a vertical movement. Either +set of propellers could be thrown out of gear when desired. Tom would +have been glad to dispense with the vertical propellers if he could have +done so, but he found that the whole force of his engine was necessary +to raise the airship from a position of rest. He had not sufficient +motive power to enable him to use such an adjustment of oblique +propellers as would have ensured simultaneous horizontal and vertical +movement. + +Mr. Greatorex at once promoted the fortunate young chemist who had +discovered the virtues of the Schlagintwert powder, and swore him to +secrecy. The parts of Tom's machine were made to his order by various +firms, the work being distributed so that no one firm should be in +possession of the complete apparatus; and a few weeks before Herr +Schwab's visit, an aeroplane capable of sustaining the weight of several +men was finished, and in it Tom made daily trips about the field. He +tested it so frequently that he used considerable quantities of the +powder, and it was not surprising that the curiosity of Schlagintwerts +was aroused by the large orders that came from one small place for an +article that cost a good deal more than its weight in gold. + +Tom was, however, not yet satisfied with his machine. For one thing he +had found it impossible as yet to return to earth with any exactitude at +a fixed spot. It was a matter of the nice adjustment of the horizontal +with the vertical motion, and after repeated failures Tom comforted +himself with the thought that it must be only after long practice that +an engine driver could pull his locomotive up to a nicety. Obviously +much more practice must be required when the task was infinitely more +difficult. + +Further, in spite of the jacket around the turbine, the heat generated +was still too great to allow of travelling any great distance in safety, +and the prospective usefulness of the aeroplane was discounted +accordingly. + +It was Mr. Greatorex who suggested a possible way out of the difficulty. + +"Why not have two engines instead of one?" he said. "If one breaks +down--why, there's the other." + +"It means more weight," said Tom ruefully, "and therefore less speed and +less carrying capacity." + +"Well, there's no _hurry_, is there? And as for carrying capacity--_I_ +don't intend to tempt the fates, or run the risk of a smash-up like--who +was it? Icarus? Thought so." + +Tom adopted the suggestion. He replaced his first engine by two somewhat +smaller, so that if one became overheated there was the other in +reserve. The lifting capacity and the speed of the airship were +consequently diminished, but scarcely so much as Tom expected. + +So far the experiments had been carried on with perfect secrecy. The +enclosure was surrounded by trees, and Tom was always careful not to +drive his machine above the level of their tops. But one day, a few +months after Schwab's visit, he was careering round, to the mingled +admiration and terror of Timothy Ball watching him from the ground, when +he was startled by an exclamation that certainly did not spring from the +lips of that worthy. Timothy was a good quarter-mile away; the voice +appeared to come from a spot almost vertically below the aeroplane. + +"By George! Look there, Mops!" + +Tom took a hurried peep over. There, below him, in a gap between the +trees just beyond the inner fence, stood a tall young fellow in tennis +flannels, with light blue cap and tie. + +"What is it, Pops?" answered a silvery voice; and a second figure joined +the first--a girl in white. + +"Why, look! Hanged if it isn't an aeroplane, going like one o'clock, +too." + +"Oh, how dreadful!" cried the girl, looking up. "I am sure it will fall, +and there will be a horrid accident. Oh, do come away, Raymond!" + +"Not I! This is hot stuff, Mopsy. By Jove, the fellow can steer the +thing. He's making for that shanty over there--and coming down like a +lark. I say, Mops, give me a leg-up; I want to have a nearer squint at +the machine." + +"But, Raymond, it's no business of yours--it's--it's trespassing!" + +"Trespassing be hanged! We're next-door neighbours. Come, give me a +shove up." + +He clutched the top of the fence; his sister, still feebly +expostulating, gave him a most workmanlike hoist, and in a few seconds +he disappeared on the other side. The girl waited a little; then turned +and walked away. + +Her brother meanwhile was hastening across the field towards the +workshop, near which the aeroplane had by this time alighted. Halfway he +was met by Timothy Ball, who touched his cap and said-- + +"Beg pardon, sir, but these are private grounds and you're a +trespasser." + +"That's all right. My name's Oliphant; we're neighbours of yours, you +know." + +"Now, that's a good un. Hold hard, sir"--as the intruder made to walk +round him--"my orders is to allow no one on the premises! Your name's +Oliphant, you said? Well, you can't be a neighbour, 'cos the only +neighbour I knows of is Lord Langside." + +"He's my father." + +"But--Oliphant----" + +"Exactly! Now, come along, my good fellow--I want to see your master." + +"He don't want to see you, though. No you don't; keep off, sir; my +orders is to allow no one on the premises." + +Then began a little game of dodging, Timothy stepping in front of the +intruder and stretching his arms like a cattle driver. In half a minute +Raymond Oliphant gave it up. + +"Really, this is too absurd," he said good-temperedly. "I say, I'll give +you my word to stay here while you go and tell your master that I'd like +to introduce myself to him." + +"Then you'll stay a long time, 'cos master's in town and won't be home +till seven o'clock." + +"Well then, the driver of that aeroplane, whoever he is. Ah! here he +comes, thank goodness!" + +Tom was hastening across the field. He wore his usual working suit of +blue alpaca; face and hands were much begrimed. + +"Your watch-dog here won't let me pass," said Oliphant with a smile as +Tom came up. "I told him I was a neighbour, but he thinks I'm a bad lot. +We've only just come to the place; my father has taken it, you know; +he's coming down for shooting as soon as Parliament's up. I saw your +aeroplane skylarking round, and couldn't resist the temptation to come +over for a nearer look. You don't mind?" + +"Well--no." Tom's tone was dubious. + +"Oh, if you'd rather not, of course!" + +"No, I don't mind really. But Mr. Greatorex is rather particular about +keeping the matter quiet----" + +"I'll be mum as the dead, I assure you. I don't know anything about +machinery; it isn't in our line at Eton; you needn't be afraid of my +giving the secret away." + +"It isn't that, exactly. I'm not afraid of your discovering the secret +of the machine; but it's rather important that the fact of its existence +shouldn't leak out just yet." + +"Well, you'll have to make friends with my sister then. She has seen it +too. It's lucky Mother is in town, or the secret would be out by this +time." + +They were walking now side by side to the shed. + +"You're not Mr. Greatorex's son, then?" + +"No; my name's Dorrell. I'm no relation of his." + +"My name's Raymond Oliphant. I'm just home from Eton; long holidays, you +know. That's a clinking machine of yours. Never seen anything like it +before. Did Mr. Greatorex invent it? I understood he was a chemical +manufacturer." + +"No. I did." + +"Really! I say--d'you mind?--how old are you?" + +"Eighteen." + +"Just my age! And I'm rotting about at Eton while you----I say, you ought +to make a good thing of this." + +"It's only experimental at present. We haven't tried a long flight." + +"Will you get the Government to take it up? I'll put in a word with the +pater, you know." + +"That's altogether premature," said Tom with a smile. + +"Why, it seemed to me to go all right. Will it take two?" + +"Two of our weight, I think. Would you like to try?" + +"Rather! And I say, just keep out of sight from our grounds, will you? +If Margaret were to catch sight of me she'd have a fit or something. By +Jove! it won't be so slow here as I feared." + +Oliphant spent a quarter of an hour in the air, and when he descended +was overflowing with enthusiasm. + +"It's simply ripping, Mr. Dorrell," he cried. "I may come again, mayn't +I?" + +"Certainly," said Tom, adding with a smile: "On one condition." + +"Trust me, I won't say a word. And I'll shut Margaret's mouth too--if I +can. Look here, it seems to me you'd be the best man for that job. I'll +bring Margaret to-morrow--may I?--and when she knows you're the inventor, +and you impress on her that your life's at stake or something, she'll be +more likely to hold her tongue than if _I_ jaw. Good-bye." + +Tom thought it necessary to inform Mr. Greatorex, in the drawing-room +before dinner, of what had happened. + +"Hm!" he grunted. "Eton boy, is he? Got any _sense_?" + +"I didn't examine him," said Tom with a laugh. "I thought him quite a +decent fellow. He was very good-tempered with Tim, who was a trifle +taken aback when he learnt that he had ordered off the son of the Prime +Minister." + +"And a precious Prime Minister he _is_! Mark my words, Tom, the +Country's going to the dogs. To the _dogs_! We're dropping _behind_, +Tom, and Langside hasn't the grit to prevent it." + +"Mr. Oliphant suggested that a word to his father might induce him to +buy the aeroplane for the Country." + +"God bless my soul, you mustn't _dream_ of it! Langside will be turned +out at the next election; John Brooks will go in, and he's the man to +steer this old country through. No, no! and if young Oliphant blabs a +word of it to his father, I'll--I'll----Yes, my love"--as Mrs. Greatorex +entered--"we were talking about our new neighbour, Lord Langside. It +appears that his son and daughter have come down." + +"Oh, John, do you think I should call?" + +"On _no account_, my dear. I _hate_ Langside's politics, and we'll _have +nothing to do with them_. Now, Tom, give Mrs. Greatorex your arm." + + + + +CHAPTER IV--A PRISONER IN ZEMMUR + + +A few mornings after the meeting with Raymond Oliphant, Tom, coming down +to breakfast, found Mr. Greatorex in a state of high excitability, with +the _Times_ outspread before him. + +"What did I say, Tom!" he shouted. "Didn't I _tell_ you the Country was +going to the dogs! What do you think of _this_, now?" + +He read out a short paragraph-- + + "Information has just reached the Foreign Office that Sir Mark + Ingleton, who recently left London on a diplomatic mission to Morocco, + has been captured by tribesmen and carried off to the hills. Strong + pressure is being brought to bear on the Sultan to take steps against + the offenders; but if, as is feared, Sir Mark Ingleton's captor is the + notorious rebel whose headquarters are at Zemmur, there is little hope + of the Sultan in his present state of impotence being able to make his + authority felt." + +"That's what has happened to a servant of the British Crown under +Langside's administration;" said Mr. Greatorex hotly. "Strong +_pressure_, indeed! It wants a fleet, an expedition, a few quick-firers +and Long Toms." + +"But wouldn't that make a blaze?" said Tom quietly. "In the present +state of affairs it might give rise to no end of complications in +Europe, too." + +"Don't tell _me_!" cried Mr. Greatorex, banging his fist on the paper. +"We're sinking into a state of jelly-fish; any one can poke us and smack +us and we simply _go in_. This'll smash the Government: that's one good +thing; and we'll see what John Brooks can do when _he's_ at the helm." + +Later in the day Raymond Oliphant, who was now a privileged visitor to +the shed, adverted to the subject. + +"Thank your stars you are not Prime Minister, Dorrell," he said. "The +pater came down for the week-end, and he's nearly off his chump, poor +old chap! He knew about this kidnapping three days ago, before it got +into the papers, and he went back to town this morning prepared for +squalls in the House." + +"Can't he do anything?" + +"He says not. One of the Opposition rags was screaming about an +expedition on Saturday, but of course that can't be risked. And it might +fail after all--just as the Gordon expedition did. That Moorish brigand +might kill Ingleton if hard pressed." + +"But what would he gain by that? He's playing for a ransom, I suppose." + +"No, there's more in it than that. We've already offered an enormous +ransom through the Sultan; but the rebel wants to get certain +concessions out of the Sultan, and thinks he'll manage it by getting the +Sultan into hot water with us. I say, what a pity your aeroplane isn't +fit for the job. What a grand idea it would be to snap up the prisoner +under the very noses of his captors! I suppose it _isn't_ up to it, eh?" + +Tom shook his head. + +"I couldn't trust it to go so far. You see, here the workshop is at +hand, and if anything goes wrong it can be easily repaired. It would be +rather a poor lookout if the thing came to grief in the Bay of Biscay, +say, and I came souse into the sea." + +"It _would_ be rather rotten. Well, let's have a spin now." + +The two mounted the car, and spent an hour in wheeling about the +enclosure. Tom ventured to set the motors at a higher speed than he had +before tried, and put the aeroplane through a score of evolutions, which +demonstrated that he had it perfectly under control. Oliphant in his +enthusiasm returned again to the matter of the captured envoy. + +"I say, is it quite out of the question, d'you think?" + +"Afraid so. Perhaps in a few months----" + +"That's no good," interrupted his companion. "The occasion will be +passed. Ingleton will be either released or dead, and, in any case, +there'll be such a terrific agitation against the pater that he'll be +forced to resign. He wouldn't mind personally; but there's the Country, +you see. Can't you risk it?" + +"I might if only myself were concerned; but there's Mr. Greatorex to +reckon with. The whole thing's only experimental. I'm sure he wouldn't +hear of it." + +"Politics is a rotten game! Wish we were back in the times before Whigs +and Tories were invented." + +"And unpopular ministers lost their heads!--Now I'm going to let her +down. See how near she falls to the perpendicular." + +He dropped a hammer out of the car, stopped the horizontal motion and +started the vertical, adjusted the planes, and descended gently to the +ground. + +"That's better," he cried, when he had measured the distance between the +aeroplane and the hammer; "it's only a dozen yards. We're getting on. +Really, I wish I could try your suggestion." + +"Shall I mention it to the pater?" said Oliphant eagerly. + +"Not on any account," said Tom aghast. "Even if I could do it, he of all +men must not know." + +"I don't see why." + +"Supposing I tried it and came a cropper, there'd be a double outcry +against him; the first for not rescuing Sir Mark Ingleton, the second +for allowing a crack-brained engineer to make a fool of himself and a +corpse in the bargain. No, give it up; I don't see any help for it." + +But when left to himself Tom could not keep his thoughts from Oliphant's +suggestion. The adventurous idea captivated his imagination; he began to +consider it in earnest; he spent several hours of the afternoon in +further experimenting with the aeroplane, and after dinner, when Mr. +Greatorex and he went out into the grounds for their customary stroll +and cigarettes, he broached the subject, in a casual way, and in much +the same terms as Oliphant had used. + +"Pity we couldn't take a trip to Morocco and get Ingleton away," he said +cautiously. + +"Eh! Pull Langside's chestnuts out of the fire! He was a fool to send +the man to Morocco. I wouldn't if I could, and of _course_ it's +impossible." + +"I'm not sure of that. And it isn't a party matter, really." + +"Not party! It's _all_ party." + +"Sir Mark Ingleton is an agent of the Crown, sir, and the Crown is above +party. I think in these matters we might sink our differences." + +"Yes, and sink our aeroplane, and _drown_ ourselves, and serve us +_right_." + +But opposition was only a stimulus to Tom. He began to argue the matter +strenuously. Mr. Greatorex, to do him justice, was no bigot. His +politics were at bottom a particularly intense form of patriotism; and +when Tom showed him that there were at any rate possibilities in the +suggestion, he gradually changed his view, forgot his reluctance to help +a political opponent, and became indeed quite enthusiastic. + +"By _George_, Tom!" he exclaimed; "what a grand send-off it would be to +your invention if the first use of it were the rescue of this +unfortunate diplomatist! And what a magnificent thing for the Country! +Come and let's talk it out over a cup of coffee. Not a _word_ before +Mrs. Greatorex, mind." + +"Well, John, are you pleased with your toy?" said that good lady when +they re-entered the house. + +"Quite, my dear, _quite_." + +"It will be quite a feature of our garden party. But I hope Tom will +make sure that it is absolutely safe before he takes anybody up at half +a crown a ride. I shall be glad of the half-crowns for my Nursing +Association, but I should never forgive you if any one was hurt." + +"Why, my dear, the half-crowns would go to pay the _nurses_." + +Mr. Greatorex and Tom had a long talk in the study that night. Up to the +present the longest journey the aeroplane had taken without descending +was, as Tom estimated, about forty miles. Then something had always +occurred to make a descent necessary. The principal stumbling-block had +been the overheating of the motors. But Tom suggested that if he were +content with a speed of about twenty-five miles an hour, a greater +distance might be covered without this risk. + +The practical question was, could the machine be brought so near the +place of the envoy's captivity as to make a dash upon it practicable? +From the latest report, in the evening paper, it appeared that the +prisoner was held in a mountain fastness some eighty miles from the +Atlantic seaboard. Tom got out a map and pointed out the spot. It did +not seem impossible to reach it by means of the airship from some +convenient place on the coast. + +"D'you know what occurs to me?" said Tom. "You were talking of a +yachting cruise in the _Dandy Dinmont_ in September. Why not make it a +little earlier? I could then go in the airship and you in the yacht; and +we could make that a kind of floating base, taking in it all materials +necessary for repairs." + +"But you couldn't repair the thing without letting it down on the deck." + +"I could do that, I think. To-day I came down within a few feet of the +spot I aimed at, and I could let the machine down on deck if the yacht +were not rolling or pitching too much." + +"But _hang_ it all, Tom, the deck _wasn't made_ for such a purpose." + +"No; but it wouldn't take long to rig up a temporary wooden platform and +framework over the after-part of the vessel to serve as a +landing-stage." + +"You appear to have thought it all out," said Mr. Greatorex. "D'you want +to rush me off my _feet_?" + +"Not a bit," replied Tom smiling. "You'll be safe on deck." + +"Well, how long will it take to get everything ready?" + +"A week." + +"Very well. I'll write off to Bodgers to-night to trim the yacht. The +rest I leave to you. And mind, not a _word_ to a soul." + +"I think I shall have to tell Oliphant. In fact, it was he who put it +into my head." + +"That's a nuisance! Well, we'll have him to dinner to-morrow. I want to +take stock of him. Not a _word_ till I have sized him up." + +Oliphant came to dinner with his sister and was approved. Mrs. Greatorex +afterwards pronounced him to be "quite a nice boy." Mr. Greatorex used +different terms. + +"He's no _fool_, and don't _talk_ too much," he said. + +The three had a very animated discussion as they walked in the cool of +the evening. Mr. Greatorex was very emphatic on the point of secrecy. + +"We don't want any newspaper fellow to get wind of the airship until +we've _proved_ it," he said. "A pretty fool I should look if they gassed +about it for a column or two and then the whole thing went _pop_ like a +paper balloon. And that Morocco fellow will have plenty of spies, of +course; _I_ know their Eastern ways; and if he got a hint of what we're +up to, he'd be on his guard and then there'd be fizzle." + +"How many passengers will the machine carry?" asked Oliphant. + +"Three or four light-weights, I should think," Tom replied. + +"You'll have room for me, then?" + +"Good heavens, no!" cried Mr. Greatorex. "Couldn't _hear_ of it!" + +"But it was my idea, you know, Mr. Greatorex. I was only longing for +something to fill these holidays." + +"Absurd! Preposterous! You're under age; you couldn't go without your +father's permission; you couldn't ask that without giving the whole +thing away: and I couldn't be responsible for you." + +"Well, I tell you what it is, Mr. Greatorex. You invite me to go a +cruise in your yacht. The mater's got a notion that my lungs are weak, +and was saying only the other day that a sea trip would do me good. I'd +see some of the fun, then." + +"_There_ you are, Mr. Oliphant! _Fun! I_ regard it as most _serious_, I +assure you. Now, in _my_ young days----" + +"I bet you liked fun as well as any of us, Mr. Greatorex," said Oliphant +quickly. "If the truth were known, I dare say you really beat us all." + +Mr. Greatorex's eyes twinkled. + +"Well, now I come to think of it, I _was_ a wild young rip. So they all +said. I remember---- But come now, I mustn't tell you _that_. _Never_ do! +Your father would never let you go; he doesn't know me and doesn't want +to, and I'm doing my level best to kick him out at the next election." + +"And he'll probably be jolly glad if you succeed! Mayn't I come, Mr. +Greatorex?" + +"Sorry to disoblige you, Mr. Oliphant, but it would _never do_. No. In +fact, I think we'll give it up altogether. Too risky! We'll give it +_up_, Tom." + +Oliphant went home in a very bad temper. + +"Mrs. Greatorex is a dear old thing," said his sister. + +"And Mr. Greatorex is an old rotter," retorted Raymond in a tone of +disgust. + +Margaret Oliphant obtained very unsatisfactory answers to the questions +to which this remark gave rise, and concluded that in some way Raymond +had not hit it with his host. + +Mr. Greatorex would doubtless have been much surprised had he seen the +letter which Lord Langside wrote to his son a few days later. + +"My dear Ray," wrote the Prime Minister,-- + + "Are you conspiring against me, like Absalom? Mr. Greatorex can't do + me much harm on a yacht. He won't see a newspaper for a month! Hope + you'll enjoy yourself. + + "Your affectionate + "Dad." + +Oliphant showed this letter to no one. But the day he received it, he +went a long and tedious journey by train across country to the little +port of Horleston. He reached home very late, but in much better spirits +than might have been expected after such a tiresome experience of slow +trains. + + + + +CHAPTER V--OFF THE BARBARY COAST + + +The week was filled with the bustle of preparation. The airship was +divided into sections, the motors and the framework taken to pieces, and +the whole packed into large light crates and conveyed to the coast on +country carts, their arrival at Horleston being so timed that everything +could be put on board very early in the morning. Besides the crew, the +company consisted only of Mr. Greatorex, Tom Dorrell, and Timothy Ball. + +Before the vessel put off, a custom house officer came aboard, and +showed himself somewhat inquisitive as to the meaning of the strange +platform newly rigged on the after deck, and as to the nature of the +bulky packages. Mr. Greatorex explained that they contained a cooling +apparatus which he was taking out to Morocco on behalf of an +acquaintance, adding that by all accounts the country was pretty hot in +all respects. With this explanation the officer had to be content. +Clearly the parts of the airship did not come within the description of +explosives, firearms or other articles on which he might exercise his +powers of detention. Still, being by training suspicious, he was +evidently by no means satisfied, and left the yacht somewhat +unwillingly. + +Steam was already up and the officer had barely left the vessel before +she put to sea. + +"Just as well to be clear away before he gets his second wind," said Mr. +Greatorex with a chuckle. In his spotless white ducks and blue cap he +was enjoying himself already. "Did that uncommonly well, didn't I, Tom?" +he said. "What could be more useful than cooling apparatus when there's +a chance of getting into very hot water, eh?" + +He took a run over the vessel as soon as she had made an offing. His +yacht was a hobby, and whenever he went for a cruise he liked to examine +her in the company of his officers, with whom, as with the crew, whom he +knew individually, he was very popular. In the course of his inspection +he came to the engine room. + +"How do, Mr. Mumford!" he said genially to the engineer. "All in good +order, eh?" + +"Tip-top, sir. This is the neatest bit of machinery I've ever had to do +with." + +"Glad to hear that. I _say_, is that a new stoker I see there? What's +become of Byles?" + +"His mother is very ill, sir, and he had to cry off at the last moment. +I was very lucky to get a man to fill the place." + +"Ha! Looks rather _young_, doesn't he? Overgrown, perhaps. Any _good_?" + +"Can't tell yet, sir. I'll let you know later on. He shapes very well. +He's a fine well-made young fellow; very willing, too. Byles said he'd +go bail for him to any amount." + +"That's all right. What's his name?" + +"M'Cracken, sir; Scotch, by the name. Would you like to speak to him, +sir?" + +"Just a word. Like to _know_ the men, you know. Gives 'em a personal +interest in their job, I always think." + +The engineer called up the new stoker, a tall young fellow in the +flannel shirt open at the neck, the loose reach-me-down, and the +black-lead coated trousers affected by his kind. His face and arms were +begrimed with black grease, and his mouth received an extra smudge as he +drew the back of his hand across it, apparently in sheepish confusion. + +"You're a new man, M'Cracken," said the merchant pleasantly. "Hope +you'll get on well. Mr. Mumford won't _over-work_ you, I can answer for +that. Have you been long at this job?" + +"No that lang, sir; just a wee while," the stoker replied in a somewhat +husky voice. + +"Exactly. Ah! well! Good morning." + +"Good mornin', sir." + +And Mr. Greatorex went on deck, satisfied that he had established +excellent relations with the newest hand. + +The first part of the voyage was rather stormy. The yacht, by no means a +large vessel, shipped one or two fairly heavy seas, to the no small +alarm of Tom, who was anxious lest the crates containing his machine +should be washed overboard or otherwise injured. But halfway through the +Bay the weather moderated, and by the time the yacht reached the +latitude of Lisbon both wind and sea were calm enough, he thought, for +his first experiment. It had been decided that the dusk of the evening +would be the best time for the attempt, for it was just as necessary on +sea as on land to avoid observation. If the airship were descried from +the deck of a homeward-bound vessel, the fact, and the name of the +yacht, might be marconigraphed to England, and then, as Mr. Greatorex +said, all Fleet Street would be in a buzz. + +Early one morning the crates were broken open. It took the best part of +the day to piece the machine together, and Tom went over it bit by bit +several times to assure himself that everything was in order. The +airship was so placed that it could take flight over the stern of the +yacht. When dusk was falling, the vessel's engines were reversed, Tom +arranging that as soon as the airship rose from the deck the yacht +should be sent full speed ahead, to make sure that the apparatus cleared +the vessel and ran no risk of fouling the funnel. + +Mr. Greatorex had shown some nervousness as the critical moment +approached. He insisted on lowering a boat in case the airship came to +grief and Tom were thrown into the sea. Timothy Ball, too, looked on +with a most woful countenance as the final preparations were made. He +had unslung a life belt, ready to slip into it and fling himself +overboard if the airship broke down. + +"I feel sure in my inside it won't work," he said anxiously to Tom, as +he stepped to the car. "It'll be worse than suicide, sir." + +"Why worse, Tim?" asked Mr. Greatorex. + +"'Cos we're lookin' on, sir," said Tim solemnly, and felt much hurt by +the burst of laughter with which his explanation was received. + +But his anxiety was a vain expenditure of energy. With the vertical +screws at full speed, and the horizontal screws half speed, the machine +rose like a huge bird from the deck, with a noise like the clattering of +hundreds of bats and the humming of innumerable bees. At the height of +sixty feet or so Tom stopped the vertical screws, and turned the full +power of his engines on to the horizontal propellers, giving to the +planes just sufficient inclination to counteract the force of gravity. + +"Capital!" exclaimed Mr. Greatorex, as he watched the easy flight. +"First-rate! There's a _fortune_ in that, skipper," he said to Captain +Bodgers at his side. + +"Maybe," said the Captain reflectively. He was a man of few words. + +"Rather stay on deck, eh?" + +"Well, you can swim in water, sir." + +"Exactly. But how far is the fellow going? It's getting dark, and he'll +be out of sight directly. By the way, Bodgers, there's no law about +showing lamps on an airship. But there will be--there _will_ be. Ah! here +he comes--at a spanking pace, too. He'll overtake us in no time, going +dead slow as we are." + +In less than a minute the airship had come within a little distance +astern of the yacht. + +"Hallo!" came a voice from the air. + +"Are you there?" answered Mr. Greatorex, from force of habit at the +telephone. + +"Who are you?" came the response. "I say, Mr. Greatorex, pick up that +boat and go full speed ahead. She's going beautifully; the oiling she's +had has done her no end of good." + +"All right. Aren't you coming _down_? It's getting _dark_; I can hardly +_see_ you." + +"Not just yet. She goes smoother than the yacht, and it's beautifully +fresh up here. I can tell your whereabouts by your lights." + +"All right. _Don't get lost!_" + +Tom laughed. He laughed again when, from his elevated position, he saw +that though the boat had been hoisted on board, four men had been told +off to stand by the davits in order to lower it again at the first sign +of mishap. + +The yacht was sent full speed ahead. She could easily do her eighteen +knots, but was no match in speed for the airship, which circled round +and round her. + +"She beats us hollow," said Mr. Mumford to M'Cracken, as they watched +the flight from the foot of the companion. + +"Ou ay, sir. Yon's a grand invention. It's wonderful." + +After about an hour Tom called down that he was going to descend. + +"He'd much better stay up now he's there," said Timothy, gloomily. +"He'll smash himself or us--I know he will." + +Tom knew that to descend was a delicate operation, to be performed with +all caution. As his control over the airship was to a great extent +proportionate to its speed, he shouted instructions to keep the yacht +going under full steam. Coming up astern, he so adjusted his own speed +as to overtake the yacht very slowly. When the airship was level with +the stern, two men on board caught a cable hanging loose from the car. +Then Tom gradually reduced the speed of the horizontal propellers, and +started the vertical screws at half speed, keeping one hand all the time +on the lever that adjusted the angles of the planes. He handled his +appliances so dexterously that the airship, guided by the rope, sank +steadily and accurately to the deck. Buffers of india rubber were +slipped under her bottom to break the slight jar that must be inevitable +when she touched the platform. Then Tom stepped out. + +"Capital!" cried Mr. Greatorex, slapping him on the back. "This is going +to turn out _all right_, my boy. What does it _feel_ like, being up +there?" + +"Like a fish out of water, I should think," said Tom, laughing. "But I +thought what a helpless thing a man-of-war would be if she had to tackle +an airship. I could choose my own altitude, and drop explosives on her +deck and blow her to smithereens, and there's no gun that I know of that +could make an effective reply. They'd have to invent a rocket apparatus +for shying melinite shells aloft." + +"Well, let's hope that it'll never come to that. Ours is a _cooling_ +apparatus--don't you forget it!" + +Tom was so well pleased with his first sea trial that day had scarcely +dawned before he was again aloft. This time he took Timothy with him. He +needed some assistance in attending to the mechanism, and now that a +first ascent had been made without mishap, the man was no longer so +nervous about it. + +The airship had not been up more than half an hour, however, when Tom +signalled to the yacht that he saw a vessel on the horizon. + +"Come down _at once_!" roared Mr. Greatorex through a megaphone. + +Tom descended, somewhat unwillingly. Nothing would have pleased him +better than to steer directly for the vessel, and see what effect was +produced on board by the sight of this strange bird of passage hovering +above the tops. But clearly Mr. Greatorex was right, and Tom lowered the +machine deftly to the deck. As the ship was heading straight for the +yacht, the aeroplane was covered with tarpaulin. + +The vessel turned out to be a cruiser flying the French colours. The +captain spoke the yacht, and asked whether anything had been seen from +its deck of an extraordinary object that appeared to have been moving +through the air. + +"Answer him, Tom. I'm no good at French." + +"We did see something, monsieur le capitaine," he said, "Do you know +whether Monsieur Santos-Dumont is trying his thirty-third airship?" + +"I am not aware, monsieur. It may be. I saw the object very +indistinctly. It suddenly disappeared." + +"Ah! I was always afraid that Monsieur Santos-Dumont would meet his +death. You French, monsieur, are such adventurous spirits! When you +reach Brest perhaps you will inquire whether he has recently made an +ascent." + +"I will certainly do so, monsieur." + +The vessels were now out of speaking distance. Tom explained to Mr. +Greatorex what he had said. + +"Bravo! What with my cooling apparatus and your cool cheek I think we +are keeping our secret pretty well, Tom." + +In order to escape further observation from passing vessels Mr. +Greatorex had the yacht's course set considerably westward of the usual +track. It was consequently another couple of days before she came into +the latitude of Rabat, the port for which she was making. Her head was +turned eastward in the direction of the coast of Morocco, and, there +being no vessels in sight, Tom again made an ascent, Timothy +accompanying him. + +The coastline gradually came into view. From an altitude of more than a +hundred feet Tom saw, between him and the coast, a number of rocky +islets. Here and there the varying tints of the water indicated shoals +of sunken rocks. + +"Know the coast?" he called down to Captain Bodgers. + +"Ay, ay, sir," said the captain. + +"There are no end of shoals." + +"Know 'em all, sir; have a care you don't strike one." + +Captain Bodgers laughed uproariously at his little joke, and Tom, +circling round the yacht, set the aeroplane at full speed towards the +coast. He was a considerable distance ahead when Timothy suddenly called +his attention to an object projecting above the sea-level, close to one +of the rocky islets that dotted the intervening space. It might have +escaped their attention altogether but for a certain movement Tim +fancied he discerned in it. As they drew nearer, they discovered that +what Tim had thought to be a single object was in reality two, which +appeared to be the broken-off stumps of two masts. Taking his +field-glasses in one hand--the other always grasping the steering +wheel--Tom lifted them to his eyes, got the focus, and made out that the +objects were not stumps after all, but the tops of masts, and that two +figures were clinging to them, one to each. + +Tom had no doubt that the airship was approaching the scene of a wreck, +and that the two men were in distress and danger. Steering immediately +for the yacht, he came within hailing distance and through his megaphone +announced his discovery. + +"We'll go to the rescue, _of course_," shouted Mr. Greatorex in reply. + +The wreck was as yet invisible from the deck, but it was arranged that +the yacht should stand in as close as possible, and then send a boat to +bring off the survivors. Meanwhile Tom, setting his engine at full +speed, dashed on in the direction of the submerged vessel. + +He noticed that even during the few seconds in which he had been in +communication with the yacht the situation had changed. One of the masts +was now tenantless. Presumably its occupant had been washed off or +through fatigue had dropped into the sea. But as the airship drew +rapidly nearer, it was noticed that the figure on the other mast was +bending low as if to raise something from the water. Then a head and +shoulders appeared above the surface. Clearly the man Tom had supposed +to be lost was trying to make his way to the mast to which his companion +clung. + +The airship was now less than half a mile distant, and from the altitude +to which they had risen--some three hundred feet above the surface--the +occupants could see every detail in the strange drama that was being +enacted beneath them. Assisted by the figure above, the swimmer was +gradually making his way on to the mast, when suddenly a black fin +appeared above the surface a few yards off. With a convulsive movement, +the lowermost man had just succeeded in swinging himself a foot or two +up the mast when the gaping jaws of a shark passed immediately beneath +him. Tom shuddered involuntarily. The man had escaped by a few inches at +the most. + +In a second the shark turned and glided beneath the clinging figure. The +terror-stricken wretch clutched wildly at the man above him, and began +to haul himself up hand over hand, clinging to his companion's body. But +the latter, unable to bear the double weight on the smooth mast, slipped +slowly downwards. He was the slighter of the two, and no match, +apparently, for the man who had usurped his place. + +"What a beast!" ejaculated Tom, wondering at this strange want of +fellow-feeling in a man who was evidently older and stronger than his +companion in distress. Slowing down, he fixed his eyes on the +extraordinary spectacle. The position was now reversed. The younger and +slighter man was very manifestly the under dog. With every attempt on +his part to swarm up the mast the man above him kicked savagely, while +the shark circled below. The fact that the second mast had become +untenable seemed to indicate that the tide was rising. Neither of the +men, their whole attention fixed on the sea beneath, had noticed the +airship that was now hovering just above their heads. + +When, however, Tom gradually allowed the airship to sink towards the +sea, the shark seemed to take fright, just as smaller fish are scared by +signs of movement in the air above. It left the immediate neighbourhood +of the mast, and its black fin could be seen describing a much larger +circle some two or three hundred yards away. Clearly it had not given up +hope. When the shark moved away and the strain of terror was relaxed, +the two men became suddenly aware of the presence of the airship. The +topmost man was almost as much scared by the sight of the airship as he +had been by the presence of the shark. Tom had already noticed that both +of the men were dark skinned. The larger and stronger--the brute, as Tom +mentally called him--appeared to be middle-aged; the other was a +stripling. + +Tom was struck by the difference in their demeanour when they caught +sight of the airship; neither he nor Timothy was at present visible to +them. The elder man was aghast with fright, his eyes dilated, his mouth +gaped between black moustache and beard. The younger, however, seemed to +pull himself together as with renewed hope. Tom fancied that he heard a +cry from his lips. + +Looking round, Tom saw that the yacht had now hove to, and the boat was +leaving her side. But his attention was again called to the wreck by a +piercing shriek. The shark, regaining confidence, had made another dash +at the mast. This time it seemed to come within an inch of the terrified +youth; indeed, from the cry that had reached his ears, Tom thought that +the poor wretch had actually been seized. But next moment he saw that +the shark had again drawn off, scared, possibly, by the cry. + +There was now less of the masts above the surface. The tide was +evidently rising, and with its rise the shark would have another +opportunity of coming within snapping distance. Tom felt that it would +not again fail. It would be at least ten minutes before the boat reached +the spot; by that time the hapless lad would probably have fallen a +victim. Tom had noticed that when the shark was all but upon him, and he +made a convulsive movement upwards, he was met by a storm of kicks from +the man above, threatening to dislodge him completely from the mast and +hurl him into the very jaws of the monster. + +In a moment Tom made up his mind. He ordered Timothy to let down from +the car a light grapnel carried for use in emergencies, and also for +raising anything that might be needed, without having to bring the +airship to rest on the ground. Then he allowed the machine to sink +gently until the grapnel dangled within reach of the man at the top. Tom +had no intention of helping him first; by his conduct he deserved to be +left to drown or to make a meal for the shark. But the man seemed indeed +quite incapable of movement, except when scared to frenzy by the efforts +of the youth below to regain the position from which he had been forced. +He made no attempt to clutch the grapnel dangling at his very hand. Tom +let the machine fall lower, until the grapnel came within reach of the +younger man. He showed no such hesitation. Looking along the cable, he +saw Timothy gazing down at him from the car. The sight of a human face +gave him confidence. He clutched at the grapnel, let go his hold of the +mast, and swung clear, Timothy attempting to steady the rope. + +His sudden movement threatened a catastrophe. The airship was now only +about sixty feet above the sea, and before Tom, his attention partly +engaged by the efforts of the boy, could increase the speed of the +ascensional screw, the light vessel was pulled swiftly downwards. For a +moment he felt that it must inevitably be dragged into the water. The +young fellow below, still clutching desperately at the grapnel, had +actually begun to sink beneath the surface. But as soon as his weight +was supported by the water, the ascensional screw, now set by Tom +whirling at full speed, checked the downward movement, and in another +couple of seconds the airship began to rise, dragging the youth upwards. + +In his excitement Tom had momentarily forgotten the shark. That +persistent creature, however, having overcome its fear of the monster of +the air, made a dash for the youth as he entered the sea. The poor +wretch had the narrowest escape of all when the shark passed just +beneath him, as, whirling round on the grapnel, he was swung clear of +the water. + +Now that he was safe from the cruel jaws, the lad showed himself to be +possessed of no little agility. Hand over hand he swarmed up the cable +until he reached the lower rail of the car, which he clutched, and by +Timothy's aid he clambered over. Meanwhile Tom had steered the airship +towards the approaching boat. + +"Give way with a will, men!" he shouted. "There's no time to be lost. +We've got one; the other man will be nabbed by a shark if you aren't +there pretty soon. I can see the brute's fin above the water just by the +mast." + +The men spurted. As the boat approached the submerged vessel, the shark +took fright and glided swiftly away. In another half-minute the man was +taken from his precarious perch, and lifted, in a state of complete +collapse, into the boat. + + + + +CHAPTER VI--SALATHIEL BEN EZRA + + +"Bismillah!" ejaculated the young Moor when he stood in the car. + +"Just saved your bacon, if that's what you mean," said Timothy. "And a +nice sloppy mess you're making! I s'pose _I_'ll have to clean up." + +Timothy scowled and growled, but that was only his way. Tom knew well +enough that Timothy would clean up with great cheerfulness. + +"We'll get back to the yacht," he said, "and find some dry things for +him there." + +The airship was now so well under control that Tom had no difficulty in +letting her down safely on deck, though the yacht was at anchor. + +"Uncommonly well done!" exclaimed Mr. Greatorex as Tom stepped out of +the car. + +"Yes; I thought she came down pretty neatly," said Tom. + +"Didn't mean _that_, you egoist. I meant you saved this young fellow +uncommonly well; saw it _all_ through my binocular. Dangerous things, +sharks. Who _is_ the boy?" + +"I haven't asked him yet. I thought we might give him a dry change and +then see if we can make out anything. He probably can't speak English." + +"Very well. Bodgers, find some toggery and take him into the cabin. +Who's the _other_ fellow?" + +"We shall find out presently. Shall we go into the cabin? I'd like to +put a few questions before the other man comes aboard." + +They found that Captain Bodgers had rigged up the boy in a sailor's suit +much too large for him. + +"Capital!" cried Mr. Greatorex. "_Much_ more respectable! Can you speak +English, boy?" + +"Me speak English little bit, and Spanish little bit," replied the boy +with a frank smile. + +"That's capital! Not the _Spanish_, you know; but the English." + +"I tank very much for the gentleman's goodness----" + +"Yes, yes, _that's_ all right. But come now, how did you get into that +pretty pickle?" + +The boy looked puzzled. + +"Tell us how the ship came to be wrecked," said Tom, translating. + +"Aiyeh! She caught in fog last night, struck rock. Quick it was all +over; no one live, only me and Salathiel ben Ezra." + +"That is your friend's name, is it? A Jew?" + +"Yes, excellency, a Jew. A dog of a Jew!" + +"And you are not a Jew? What is your name?" + +"Abdul, most merciful--Abdul ben Cassim, of Ain Afroo in Zemmur." + +"Zemmur!" ejaculated Mr. Greatorex. "Isn't that the neighbourhood where +Ingleton is said to be?" + +"Yes," replied Tom. "We may find the lad useful. Tell us, Abdul, how you +came to be at sea with a Jew." + +Abdul explained that, some five or six years before, his father, a +well-to-do saddlemaker of Ain Afroo, had contrived to quarrel with the +sheikh of his district, refusing, in fact, to pay the sheikh a very +extortionate levy. It was, Abdul admitted, a foolish thing to do, for +soon afterwards the saddlemaker died mysteriously. His family took +instant flight with what possessions they could get together, and found +refuge in Casa Blanca, where the boy had a distant relative, the owner +of a small coasting vessel. Since that time he had been engaged in +trading up and down the coast, and in his journeyings had picked up a +smattering of English and Spanish. + +The small capital which the family had brought with them had been +considerably increased by profitable investments in trading ventures of +the lad's kinsman. A share in the business was owned by Salathiel ben +Ezra, the Jew who was now being brought from the wreck in the yacht's +boat. It was very unlucky; Abdul could not but think that the wreck must +have been caused by an evil spell cast on the boat by the Jew; for +Salathiel had never voyaged on the vessel before. The loss of the ship +meant the loss of almost the whole of his family's little fortune, and +Abdul feared they would be placed in the power of Salathiel, who already +had some claim on them which Abdul himself did not understand. But +everything happened by the will of Allah; it was written, and what is +written must be. + +Abdul's story was hardly finished when the Jew was hauled on board. He +appeared to have quite regained his self-possession during the short +passage of the boat. He made a deep obeisance when Mr. Greatorex met him +on deck. + +"I pay a thousand dutiful civilities," he said in a low smooth voice. +"The honourable sir overwhelms me with kindness in saving me and my +humble companion from the jaws of the monster, and my thanks are even as +the sand of the shore. May I beg the little loan of a dry garment or +two?" + +"Take Mr. Salathiel below, Captain Bodgers," said Mr. Greatorex, "and +see what you can do for him." + +With a deep salaam and a fawning smile the Jew departed. + +"Um!" grunted Mr. Greatorex. "Don't like his _looks_, Tom." + +"He's not prepossessing, certainly; a little too glib, don't you think?" + +"A _rascal_, Tom; mark my words." + +"I wouldn't go so far as that. But we may get something out of this, Mr. +Greatorex. This young Moor comes from the very country where Ingleton is +said to be. Don't you think we may profit by that?" + +"How do you mean?" + +"Why, instead of making for Rabat, as we intended, why not find some +quieter harbour where we shall not be such public characters, and get +the youngster to act as guide into the hills? No doubt he bears a grudge +against the sheikh who disposed of his father. If he has anything of the +usual oriental thirst for revenge he will be very willing to help us." + +"Well, sound him; go at it _cautiously_, you know; _tact_--that's the +thing." + +Meanwhile Salathiel ben Ezra had been clothed by Captain Bodgers in blue +serge trousers, a nankeen waistcoat, and an oilskin, the only other +garment available. The Jew cut a strange figure in this unfamiliar +attire. He was short, fat, thick-necked; the lower part of his face was +hidden by dense black moustache and beard; his eyes were unequal in size +and different in colour, and had a trick of roaming all around as he +talked. + +"This is very elegant yacht," he said to Captain Bodgers as the garments +were laid before him. The captain, always a silent man, made no reply. +"That is most marvellous creature, the thing that flies in the air," the +Jew continued; "I have never seen anything like it. It is without doubt +a new sport--the English love sport. They spend much money in sport. And +where is the yacht bound for, good captain?" + +"Goin' a cruise," said the captain shortly. + +"Without doubt. And perhaps the kind governor will permit to call at a +port--at Rabat, say; for I am not a man of the sea, and I have business +there." + +"Better ask him." + +"I will do so. I will say also how I fill myself with wonder of the +thing that flies. I myself am a sport!" + +Salathiel not merely expressed his wonderment to Mr. Greatorex, but +displayed a very active curiosity as to the construction of the machine +and the choice of those waters for the practice of the new sport. Mr. +Greatorex gave him no satisfaction, and was indeed somewhat curt in his +replies to the man's leading questions; but Salathiel smiled at each +rebuff, thereby confirming Mr. Greatorex's conviction that he was a +rascal. + +The yacht lay to for several hours, getting under way again in the +afternoon. It was very hot; everybody was more or less sleepy, and Tom +thought it a good time to sound the Moor as to his willingness to assist +in the expedition. They had a long conversation in the cabin, the result +of which was entirely satisfactory to Tom. Abdul's one object in life +was to wreak vengeance on the sheikh for the wrongs his family had +suffered, and it was to be a thorough vengeance. He would not be +satisfied merely with the death of his enemy; that might have been +achieved already. But he was determined to ruin the sheikh's family, +just as his own had been ruined. He had hoped to save enough money in +course of time to gather about him a band of trusty Riffians who would +raid the oppressor's stronghold. The loss of the vessel had swept away +the savings of five years; but he was resolved to begin again and even +if fifty years were to pass before he was in a position to accomplish +his aim, he would never relinquish it. The sheikh himself might die +before then; in that case the weight of the avenging hand would fall on +his descendants. + +When Tom reported to Mr. Greatorex the result of this conversation the +worthy merchant was shocked. + +"Terrible, terrible!" he said. "Most unchristian! The Moors are no +better than _heathen_, Tom." + +"Well, we don't know what it's like. I don't think you would be very +sweetly disposed towards any one who had served you as he has been +served." + +"Me! I'd bring an _action_ against the villain, you may be sure of +that." + +"I don't suppose they have actions at law in Morocco. But it's quite +clear that he will be willing to help us." + +"True. I'll go down with you, and we'll come to an understanding with +him." + +At this second interview Tom explained to Abdul the object he had in +view, and invited his assistance, Mr. Greatorex promising that if he +would guide Tom to the spot where the British diplomatist was held +captive he should be rewarded with a sum equal to what he had lost +through the wreck. Further, if Sir Mark Ingleton should actually be got +away safely, the sum should be doubled. Abdul jumped at the offer, and +listened respectfully enough when Mr. Greatorex went on to say that he +hoped the money would not be put to bad uses. + +"Everything happens by the will of Allah," he said; "what is to be, must +be." + +It was dusk when the little party broke up. Nobody noticed a figure +wriggle away from a ventilating grating over the skylight of the cabin. +Salathiel ben Ezra had watched these conferences between the Moor and +the Christians with much curiosity and suspicion, and without attracting +the attention of any one on deck he had contrived to steal to a spot +where he overheard a considerable part of the conversation. + +Before he turned in, Tom had a long talk with Mr. Greatorex, which took +an unexpected trend. The two were alone in the cabin. Tom was in the +highest spirits, for the greatest difficulty he had foreseen--the +difficulty of finding his way about the hill village when he should +arrive at it--seemed to have been removed now that he had secured a guide +in Abdul. + +"You see, it's just about there," he said, putting his finger down on +the map he had unrolled and spread on the table. "It is barely a hundred +miles inland, and without putting any strain on the engines I can do it +comfortably in four hours. Of course, we must arrive after dark; so +to-morrow night I think we'll make a start--Timothy and I and the Moor." + +Then it was that the unexpected happened. Mr. Greatorex had been staring +gravely at the map. Suddenly he brought his fist down on it with a bang. + +"Look here, Tom," he said, "we'll _drop_ it." + +Tom was taken too much aback for words. + +"Yes, we'll drop it. I won't _allow_ it. Suppose anything goes wrong +with the machine, where _are_ you? tell me that! In those hills--wild +country, wild men--_fanatics_, you know: hate all Christians, no sense of +law and order, won't pay their taxes, don't care tuppence for their +rulers--oh! I've _read_ all about 'em, you know, and 'pon my soul I don't +know what I was thinking of to come out here at all. We've had a +pleasant run, we've tested the airship; it'll _do_, Tom: but now we'll +go _back_, my boy, to our land of peace and settled government." + +"But what about Sir Mark Ingleton?" + +"Hang Ingleton! Ingleton never invented anything! If those Moors get +hold of you, England loses an inventor and I lose my man. No, no; we +mustn't meddle with state affairs." + +And then Tom spent an hour in patiently combatting Mr. Greatorex's +objections, and in the end had for his meagre reward the indecisive +remark-- + +"Well, we'll see, Tom, we'll _see_." + +Next morning Mr. Greatorex made no allusion to this conversation, but +was observed in close colloquy with Captain Bodgers. The result of this +removed the weight from Tom's mind. The yacht coasted up and down, the +captain scanning the desolate shore narrowly through his glass. At last +he found what he had been searching for, and steered the yacht into a +snug little bay. The country was well wooded, the trees coming down +almost to the edge of the narrow sandy beach. + +"Can't better this, sir," said the captain. "The anchorage is none too +good, and if a storm comes up we may have to put out to sea; but it's a +quiet place, as you see; can't do no better." + +"Very well. Now, Tom, I'm going to risk it. There's the _Country_ to +consider, you see. But you'll make me a promise not to run into danger; +I know you won't run away from it!" + +"With all my heart," replied Tom. "We'll start to-night." + +He spent the hours of daylight in making preparations. The machine was +overhauled; provisions and arms were stowed in the car; and Tom eagerly +awaited the moment for setting forth on his adventure. + +In the afternoon, while the preparations were still in progress, a crowd +of natives appeared on the cliffs south of the bay--wild-looking men clad +in djellabas and kaftans and yellow shoes, and all armed with long guns. +They made no attempt to open communication with the yacht, but encamped +on the cliff as though to keep an eye on her movements. + +Some little time afterwards, a small native craft was observed entering +the cove. Her appearance was hailed with shouts from the cliff, where +there were signs of excitement among the throng of spectators. + +"Barbary pirates, eh, Bodgers!" said Mr. Greatorex, taking a look at the +felucca through his glass. + +"Maybe, sir; they've plied that trade hereabouts for hundreds of years." + +"They're making for the yacht." + +"Yes. We'll serve out arms, sir; it's as well to be on the safe side." + +"Tom, cover up the airship. I don't suppose they'll know what it is, +but, as Bodgers says, it's as well to be on the safe side." + +As the vessel drew near, it was seen that she carried some thirty +fierce-looking fellows, tall and finely made. One of them hailed the +yacht. Mr. Greatorex called Abdul to his side and bade him interpret. + +"Say they want to come on ship, sir--see the captain--do trade for guns +and powder." + +"What do you say, Bodgers? Shall we let a few of them come aboard?" + +"I would, sir. A few won't do no harm, and if we can make friends of +them, so much the better." + +Accordingly, half a dozen Moors were allowed to mount to the yacht's +deck. They appeared to be much disappointed when Mr. Greatorex politely +explained through Abdul that he had no commercial object; his ostensible +purpose, to see the country, scarcely satisfied them. But they recovered +their spirits when he offered to show them over the vessel; and +afterwards when, at the suggestion of Captain Bodgers, who knew +something of the Moorish habits, they were each given a cup of weak tea +and unlimited sugar, they smacked their lips and declared themselves +well pleased with their reception. + +While they were still sipping their tea, squatting on the deck, +Salathiel ben Ezra, who had hitherto kept in the background, came to Mr. +Greatorex and begged the favour of a few minutes' conversation. + +"I ask you, excellency, to be so kind, as let me go with the men, when +they leave this ship. I have business on land; and thank you for your +kindness, and take leave respectfully." + +"Hm! Moors _friends_ of yours, eh?" + +"No, no; the Moors do not love the men of my nation; they oppress us; +they call us dogs and sons of swine." + +"Well then, you'd better stay aboard, you know. You wouldn't be _safe_ +among them in a wild spot like this. We can land you at Rabat in a day +or two; you'll be safer in a port." + +"Ah, excellency, but I do not love the sea. It has wrecked my vessel; I +have much fear of the sharks. I am not at ease until I set foot again on +dry land." + +Mr. Greatorex was perplexed. He had no reasonable excuse for detaining +the Jew: yet, remembering that the man had seen the airship at work, he +recognized that it would be in the highest degree impolitic to allow him +to go ashore and spread the news. He beckoned Tom forward and told him +of the Jew's request. Tom instantly grasped the situation. + +"Mr. Salathiel forgets," he said, "that we have a claim for salvage on +his effects. (Whether we have such a claim legally I don't know," he +said to Mr. Greatorex afterwards, "but it was the first thing that came +into my head.") + +"That is most true," said the Jew, with a smile; "but alas! I lost +everything in the wreck; and have only my clothes, and they----" + +He shrugged expressively. + +"Sorry for you," said Tom. "Still, it would not be fair to your +companion Abdul to leave him to meet our claim alone." + +"But he can come with me," said Salathiel eagerly. "He will be with his +countrymen." + +"You were not so anxious for his company when I first saw you," replied +Tom drily. "No, Mr. Salathiel; it will be better for you both to come +with us to Rabat: there we can lay this little matter of salvage before +the authorities." + +The Jew heaved a sigh as of weariness, and acquiesced with a smile. +Neither Tom nor Mr. Greatorex was aware that while the Moors were being +shown over the vessel, Salathiel had had a few moments' conversation +with one of them. The only man on board who had observed this--and he had +not given a second thought to it--was M'Cracken, the new stoker. + +The Moors left the yacht; the felucca sailed away; not shorewards, as +Tom had expected, but out to sea. The crowd on the cliff dispersed and +disappeared, and Tom's final preparations were made unobserved. + +Night fell, and the little bay, hemmed in by the surrounding cliffs, was +enveloped in pitchy darkness. Ten o'clock had been fixed as the time for +the ascent of the airship, and up to the last moment Tom employed +himself in seeing that all was right. Mr. Greatorex was fidgety, asking +the same questions, repeating the same warnings, over and over again, +until Tom began to fear that even now he would change his mind and +prohibit the expedition. His excitement infected every member of the +crew. The men had eyes only for the wonderful machine and for the +figures that moved to and fro about it in the light of the yacht's +electric lamps. Even the men of the watch were diverted from their +duties when they perceived that the lashings holding the airship to the +deck were being cast loose. Thus it was that no one had observed a small +craft gliding into the bay; no one had noticed that a rope hung over the +side of the yacht from the main deck forward; no one was on the look-out +when a dusky form clambered silently up and helped to lower Salathiel +ben Ezra into the boat riding alongside. + +But it happened that Timothy Ball, going forward at that moment to fetch +his reefer, which he had left in the fore cabin, noticed what was afoot +just as he reached the companion way. With a shout he dashed forward to +lay hands on the intruder. But, quick as thought, the Moor whipped out a +knife and struck at Timothy; and when the sailors came running to the +spot they found the poor fellow groaning on the deck, and caught a +glimpse of a felucca speeding away into the gloom. + + + + +CHAPTER VII--THE HILLS OF ZEMMUR + + +For the moment the airship was forgotten. The whole ship's company +flocked to the foredeck and formed a group around the prostrate form of +Timothy Ball. Tom was already on his knees beside the man, putting in +practice the principles of first aid, and receiving unexpected +assistance from M'Cracken, who showed remarkable adeptness. + +"How did it _happen_?" cried Mr. Greatorex, supposing that his man's +plight was due to some accident. + +"The Jew!" said Timothy, faintly. + +"The villain! Bring him _here_, some one." + +"He ain't here, sir; went over the side. It wasn't him that stabbed me; +it was a Moor that came up out of a boat and helped the Jew to get away. +Never mind me, sir; I'm all right." + +Mr. Greatorex fumed. + +"This puts a _stop_ to it, Tom. It's a villainous business, and we'll go +straight back home." + +Tom made no reply. He was completing the adjustment of a tourniquet. + +"And we've no doctor on board!" Mr. Greatorex went on. "We'll run back +to Gibraltar and get assistance. Can't let the poor fellow bleed to +_death_, you know." + +"He'll no bleed to death," said M'Cracken huskily. "It's just a wee +flesh wound. He'll be a' richt in a twa-three days." + +"Glad to hear it." + +"The question is, who shall I take with me now?" said Tom, rising to his +feet and ignoring Mr. Greatorex's expressed determination to go home. +"The sooner I'm off the better, for that rascally Jew will tell all he +knows about the airship, and the Moors will be on their guard." + +"But we're going _home_, Tom." + +"Surely you won't let our enterprise be ruined by a rogue!" replied Tom. +"There's all the more reason for going on with it." + +"Gad, you're right," cried Mr. Greatorex, veering round again. "We'll do +it in the _teeth_ of them. But you'll want some one with you in place of +Tim. If I were twenty years younger I'd go myself. You want a man who +knows _something_ about engines. Can't spare _you_, Mumford, I'm +afraid." + +"No, sir," replied the engineer, "and I'm rather heavy. But there's +young M'Cracken; he's a light weight; an uncommonly handy fellow too, +and judging from some remarks of his when we've been watching the +airship, he knows something about 'em; seems to have read a good deal. I +can do without him for a day or two, especially if we lie at anchor +here." + +"Ah! Yes! Where _is_ he? He was here a few seconds ago." + +M'Cracken was haled from below. He appeared even more grimy than ever. + +"Look here, M'Cracken," said Mr. Greatorex. "Mr. Dorrell wants some one +to _help_ him, and Mr. Mumford suggests you: speaks _well_ of you, you +know. You've never been on an airship, of course; but all you've to do +is to keep _calm_, and do _exactly_ as you are told. You're not +_afraid_--no _nerves_, oh?" + +"No, sir." + +"You're very hoarse still. It will do you _good_, you know, to be away +from that furnace for a day or two. Well, you'd better get a wash." + +"No time for that," said Tom quickly. "It's past ten o'clock, and we +ought to have started long ago." + +"Very well. You're not going _visiting_, to be sure. Well, M'Cracken, go +and put on your reefer; the night's cold, and will be colder." + +"Ay, ay, sir," returned M'Cracken, and dived with alacrity below. He was +back in less than a minute. Then Tom entered the car of the airship, +followed by Abdul and the stoker. With one hand on the steering wheel +and the other on the lever controlling the engines, he called to the men +to cast loose the ropes securing the car to the deck. Then he started +the ascensional screw, and with a whirr like that of a gigantic +humming-top the airship rose slowly from the yacht's deck. + +"Good-bye, Tom," shouted Mr. Greatorex. "Be _careful_, my boy; run no +risks." + +"Good-bye! Good-bye!" + +"This is ripping," said the stoker, as the machine rose higher and +higher into the air. + +Tom started so violently that he unconsciously jerked back the lever and +stopped the motion of the machine. + +"Pull that lever, quick!" he called. + +"Done it already," said the stoker, with his hand on the lever that +adjusted the planes. "Lucky I've been up before, Dorrell." + +"Good heavens, you're--yes, you're Oliphant. Whew! won't the old man be +in a tantrum. How in the world did you disguise yourself?" + +"Sammy Byles' clothes, a little lampblack, and my native brogue do make +a difference, don't they! I'm afraid Mr. Greatorex _will_ be a trifle +fizzy; but that won't matter, afterwards." + +"I'm not sure I oughtn't to go back and drop you." + +"Nonsense. I'm in for it now, and when you come to think of it you +couldn't have a better man. Bar Timothy, nobody knows so much about the +machine as I do; and I warrant I'm a better hand in a scrimmage, whether +with fists or revolvers. I've brought my Colt." + +It was some time before Tom recovered from his surprise; but for the +moment his attention was occupied by the airship. At last he said-- + +"Well, Oliphant, I'm glad enough to have you with me. I hope we shall +come through all right." + +While speaking, he had stopped the ascensional screws and set the +horizontal going. A small aneroid hung just above his head, lit by a +carefully screened electric lamp. The reading indicated that the airship +had risen to a height of five hundred metres. Maintaining the ascent +solely by the inclination of the planes, Tom brought the whole force of +the engines to bear on the horizontal screws, and the machine glided +onwards at a speed of some twenty miles an hour, gradually rising as she +went. Then, at the altitude of a thousand metres, when Tom judged that +he was high enough to clear the tops of the hills that fringed the +coast, Oliphant reduced the angle of the planes so that it was just +sufficient to maintain a constant height at the increased speed of +twenty-five miles. + +"By Jove, this _is_ ripping!" cried Oliphant again. + +It was a bright starlit night, without a breath of wind. At this +altitude the air was crisp and keen, producing a sense of exhilaration +in the occupants of the car. Even Abdul, who had quaked inwardly and +clutched the rail when the machine rose to such a giddy height, had now +lost his tremors, and looked around him with wonderment and delight. The +ship was soaring over the land, which lay outstretched like a vast black +floor three-quarters of a mile beneath. Behind, the lights of the yacht +could be faintly distinguished; before, there was not a glimmer over the +whole country. The airship crossed a peak or two, then sailed over a +rolling plain; by and by more hills loomed black in front. The aneroid, +an extremely delicate instrument, now indicated that the machine was +slowly sinking. Oliphant again adjusted the planes; the airship passed +clear of the hills, and Tom steered as directly as he could guess for +the spot he had marked on his map. + +When the voyage had lasted for about an hour the rising moon threw more +light on the scene, lending a weird beauty to the variegated +landscape--bare rugged hills alternating with wooded slopes and dark +valleys. But it was impossible, at the height at which they were +sailing, to distinguish any landmarks; Abdul knew the country +thoroughly, but was quite at a loss in this unfamiliar situation. He had +told Tom that the fastness where the diplomatist was probably held +captive stood on the top of an extremely steep hill, and explained that +the most convenient spot from which to approach it was a small tableland +about a sixth of a day's journey from it. This was Tom's objective; but +as it was impossible to make sure of reaching it unless Abdul could +obtain some guidance from prominent natural features, Tom more than once +allowed the airship to sink almost to the ground, so that the Moor might +scan the country. + +On one of these occasions, about four hours after they had left the +yacht, Abdul said that he recognized a hill stream whose source was +within a short distance of the sheikh's stronghold. From the directions +he was now able to give, Tom managed to steer fairly straight for the +tableland, and after once more descending so that Abdul might assure +himself that he had not been mistaken, he finally brought the airship to +rest at the desired spot. It was past three o'clock in the morning; the +sky was already lightening with what Abdul called subhi kazib--the false +dawn which often in these latitudes illumines the sky an hour or so +before the real dawn. The three adventurers were all very tired, and on +Abdul explaining that the tableland was but rarely visited, and that so +far as he knew there were no wild beasts in the neighbourhood, Tom +thought that they might all safely take a few hours' sleep before +considering the next move. The tableland was not entirely flat; it had +many depressions, and jagged rocks stood up on all sides around the +comparatively clear space on which the airship rested. Only one hill, +and that apparently four or five miles distant, stood higher, and even +the hawk-like vision of the mountaineers was not likely to discover the +airship from so remote a spot. + +The real dawn--subhi sadik--was some little while past when the Moor +awoke, first of the three. He had just completed his morning devotions +and ablutions at a little spring when the others roused themselves. +Among the contents of the car were a spirit lamp, a tin of condensed +milk, and materials for making tea; and while they ate their breakfast +Tom discussed with Oliphant the programme for the day. + +"The first thing is to find out exactly where Ingleton is imprisoned," +said Tom, "and what chance there is of getting into communication with +him. That's a job for Abdul; obviously we can't help him; we can't do +better than lie snug here while he goes and gets what information he +can." + +"A pretty dangerous job for him if he's caught, isn't it?" + +"Well, it's a good many years since he left these parts, and he must +have altered. I doubt whether he'll be recognized. Luckily the hills are +covered with mist, too; if he starts soon he'll be able to get a good +way before he's likely to run across any of his countrymen." + +"Or lose himself?" + +"No, master," said Abdul, "I don't not lose myself. I go all right." + +"The sooner the better, then," said Tom. "We'll wait for you here." + +The Moor, who had resumed his native dress, at once girt his djellab +about him and prepared to descend the hillside. Tom and Oliphant watched +him breathlessly until the mist hid him from view. He went over the brow +of the hill and began to clamber down its steep side with the agility +and sure-footedness of a mountain goat. When he was out of sight the +others returned to their half-finished breakfast, ready to endure with +what patience they might the long waiting until the Moor should have +completed his errand. + +"What if he doesn't come back?" said Oliphant. + +"We shall have to risk it ourselves. I'm certainly not going back +without making the attempt now that we have come so far. It's pretty +cold up here; I shall be glad when the sun sucks up this mist." + +When the mist at last cleared away, a magnificent view spread out before +the two watchers on the hill-top. They themselves were perched on the +top of a practically bare rock, but a hundred feet below them the hill +side was covered with forest, broken, however, with huge patches of +rocky ground, on which apparently not even the hardiest tree could find +a lodgment. For miles around, the country showed a succession of +tree-clad hills, with here and there a waterfall, and here and there a +bare summit, not, however, truncated like the hill on which they had +landed. Far away to the north-west they could descry, through their +field-glasses, a considerable walled village perched on the shoulder of +a hill, with one or two large buildings, one presumably a mosque, and a +second evidently the stronghold of the sheikh. This no doubt was the +place in which they were interested. It lay in the direction generally +indicated by the Moor, although when he started it was hidden by the +mists. + +The hours dragged all too slowly by. They talked over the situation, +occasionally getting up to stretch their limbs, but not venturing to +move about much, lest they should be seen by any chance shepherd or +hunter. On the plain below they caught sight of animals moving, and +longed to take a shot at them--now a gazelle, now a wild hog. But to fire +a shot was out of the question, and they had to content themselves with +exchanging reminiscences of sport at home. + +Darkness fell again. Abdul had not returned. Each spent a restless +night, and rose with the dawn, eagerly scanning the country, as soon as +the mist was dispersed, for a sign of their emissary, but in vain. + +"I hope he hasn't been collared," said Tom. + +"Or turned traitor!" + +"He wouldn't do that, I'm sure. I like the fellow. Of course you read a +lot about oriental duplicity, but I don't believe Abdul is a rogue. +Anyway, we should have time to get away in the airship before any one +could molest us here, and he knows that. For the life of me I don't know +what we can do if he _has_ been collared. We can't do a thing until we +know where Ingleton is; we certainly can't go inquiring ourselves. All +we can do is to go back to the yacht and try and pick up some +English-speaking native who can tell us what we want to know, and that +means loss of time." + +"And more than that; it would mean that I'd have to turn into M'Cracken +again, and I don't believe I could keep up the disguise any longer. I +say, what's that moving down there?" + +They seized their field-glasses and turned them towards a patch moving +along the outskirts of a wood some miles away. + +"Moors, by Jove!" exclaimed Oliphant. "And mounted. And coming this way. +It looks as though Abdul had betrayed us, after all." + +"Don't be in a hurry. They're making no attempt to mask their approach. +I don't believe they're coming here at all. No; see, they are wheeling +off to the right, in the direction of the hill village yonder. We +needn't worry ourselves. But I'm getting sick of this, and it'll be +serious soon. I only brought three days' grub in the car, and I'm afraid +we ate more than we ought yesterday. That's the worst of having nothing +to do." + +"It's so plaguy hot, too, when the sun's up. For two pins I'd go down +and have a shot at something in the woods. No doubt it's cooler down +there, and there's no fun in lying about up here to frizzle." + +"There'd certainly be no fun in being pitched into a Moorish dungeon. By +all accounts they're rather horrible. I think I'd rather frizzle here +than stew there. In any case, even supposing the Moors didn't find out +who was firing, the shots would put them on their guard and perhaps +spoil our game. I say, Oliphant, reel off some of your stories." + +But even Oliphant's stories in the Doric palled, and by and by Tom got +up and said that he was going for a stroll. He was away for nearly an +hour, and Oliphant began to feel uneasy at his prolonged absence. +Oliphant dared not call, for fear of being overheard by an enemy; nor +did he care to explore. But he was making up his mind to follow Tom down +the steep path when the wanderer at last returned. + +"Rather interesting spot, this," he said. "Round the corner below there +I came upon some caves." + +"I wondered what had become of you. Did you get lost?" + +"No. The odd thing is that these caves are up about twenty feet from a +ridge of rock, and can't be got at without a ladder. I tried to mount, +but the wall is almost flat." + +"I'll go and have a look. How do you get there?" + +"Down the hill a little way, turn to the right, go along the ridge, and +look up. The caves are about halfway between the ridge and the top of +the hill." + +Oliphant followed these directions, and by and by returned, with his +trousers cut in several places. + +"I tried to climb up," he explained, "but couldn't manage it. I think it +could be done, though, with practice." + +"Which we haven't time for." + +The discovery of the caves had occupied some little time, and furnished +material for speculation and talk that helped to relieve the tedium of +waiting. But their patience had well nigh given out when night once more +descended and still Abdul had not returned. The two were eating their +supper in moody silence when they heard suddenly the sound of a stone +rattling down the hillside. They seized their revolvers and sprang up, +waiting for another sound. Clearly some one, man or animal, was climbing +the hill. All was again silent; then, from some point beyond them, came +the sound of a high-pitched voice. + +"It's Abdul. Thank goodness!" cried Oliphant, with a laugh. "Come on, +you laggard, and give an account of yourself." + +"You have been a long time, Abdul," said Tom, as that young Moor came +through the darkness. + +"True, master; but it is with us a saying, 'Every delay is good.'" + +"Well, come and have something to eat. You're pretty tired and hungry, +no doubt. Then you can tell us what you have done." + +But Abdul declined the food offered him, and producing a wallet from +beneath his djellab, displayed a heap of dates. He related that he had +made his way safely into the village, but as he went through the street +towards the house of Hamet Ali--a friend on whose discretion he could +rely--he fancied from the manner of an old water-carrier that the man had +recognized him. He contrived to slip away among a company of muleteers +that happened to be passing, and reached his friend's house unmolested; +but shortly afterwards he learnt from this friend that the water-carrier +had mentioned his suspicions, and that inquiries were being diligently +made for him through the village. Every exit was watched; and his friend +was in some anxiety lest an emissary of the sheikh should come and +search the house. Hamet, however, was an old enemy of the sheikh, +though, with true oriental dissimulation, he had hitherto managed to +hide the fact. He agreed to give Abdul shelter so long as it was safe to +do so, but impressed upon him that he must not venture to show himself +out of doors. + +He then inquired what had brought Abdul to the village, and the boy +thought it advisable to confide in him, taking care to heighten the +mystery of the wonderful ship that sailed through the air, and to +promise, on the Englishmen's behalf, liberal bakshish to Hamet if he +lent all possible assistance to the enterprise. He wished his friend to +send a messenger to Tom, but this Hamet refused to do, for the results +to himself, if the messenger were followed and caught, might be +disastrous. + +On the morning of the same day, when Hamet returned from his usual visit +to the sok, he reported that a camel-driver had arrived, bearing a +message from a Jew of Rabat, Salathiel ben Ezra by name, who proposed to +come in person to see the sheikh, and had sent a swift rider in advance +to request a safe-conduct. The Jews are tolerated, scorned, made to do +menial work, in the ports; in remote districts of Morocco they carry +their lives in their hands. But the message conveyed to the sheikh had +been such that Salathiel's request was granted, and a dozen men had been +sent on horseback towards the coast as an escort. Hearing this, Abdul +decided that at all costs he must return to his employer. Under cover of +the night he had contrived to slip away from the village, and had come +back by a circuitous route so as to make sure of not being intercepted. + +"But what of the prisoner?" asked Tom. "Did you learn anything of him?" + +"Yes, master. He is in the sheikh's kasbah." + +"What is kasbah?" + +"Strong place, master; thick walls; a very bad prison." + +"We are on the right track, Oliphant," said Tom. + +"It looks bad, though. Ingleton will be pretty well guarded, you may be +sure; and I don't for the life of me see how we can break into a strong +place and get him out." + +"Unless we bribe his jailers. Could we get him away with bakshish, +Abdul?" + +"No, master. The sheikh would cut hands and feet off, put eyes out, and +more." + +"Evidently we've got our work cut out, Oliphant. And you may depend upon +it our friend Salathiel has somehow found out our errand and is coming +to warn the sheikh. I remember now that I saw him talking to one of the +Moors who came aboard the yacht." + +"That explains it." + +"How long will it take him to get here, Abdul?" + +"Two three days, master." + +"We must be beforehand with him, then. Are you prepared for short +rations, Oliphant? Our grub won't last more than another day." + +"Plenty dates and figs in woods, master," said Abdul. + +"We shan't starve, then. Let's have a good sleep, Oliphant. We shall +want all our strength for this job." + +"We shall indeed. Poor old pater! Wouldn't he have the blues if he knew +where I am!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII--THE SWORDSMITH OF AIN AFROO + + +The approaching advent of the Jew had introduced a new element of danger +into the enterprise. If he should reach the village before Ingleton was +released, clearly the game was up. Instead of getting a good sleep, Tom +lay awake, talking over the situation with Oliphant. He got Abdul to +describe the kasbah, but the description was so vague--the Moor when he +lived in the village having taken the stronghold for granted--that he +felt incapable of making any plans without seeing the place for himself. +When he made this suggestion Oliphant scouted it. + +"For one thing," he said, "it's too dangerous; for another, where do I +come in?" + +"Of course I should have to take Abdul--or rather he would have to take +me; and however dangerous it would be for two, it would be still more +dangerous for three. If you'll stay and keep an eye on the airship, I'll +take advantage of the moonlight and go and have a look round. Your turn +will come, you may be sure of that. If I don't come back, you know how +to set the machine going. Scoot back to the yacht, and get Mr. Greatorex +to make straight for Tangier." + +"There'll be a pretty row about this before we've done with it! All +right!--if you _will_ go. But I say, they'll spot you for a foreigner if +any one catches sight of you--in those clothes." + +"Yes; I forgot that. I wish I'd provided myself with a rig-out in the +Moorish style." + +Here Abdul produced from the folds of his djellab a small bundle, which, +being unrolled, proved to be a long grey garment with a pair of yellow +shoes wrapped in it. + +"You're a brick, Abdul!" cried Tom. "You guessed I'd want something of +this sort, eh?" + +"Yes, master. I could only get one." + +"So you're out of it for the present, anyhow, Oliphant. Well, good-bye. +If we're lucky we'll be back by the morning; if not--you know what to +do." + +Five minutes later Tom, swathed in the djellab, disappeared over the +brow of the hill with Abdul. He carried his revolver; the Moor had only +a knife. In his unfamiliar garment Tom found it by no means easy to make +the descent down the rough precipitous path; but Abdul went first, +picking the easiest course, and both arrived safely at the bottom. + +Then they began their march to the village. It was a toilsome journey, +and Tom found the Moorish slippers a very inconvenient footgear. A long +tramp, and another steep climb, brought them to the wall of the village, +which was built on the slope of the hill. The gates had been shut at +sunset, Abdul explained: that was the Moorish fashion. Tom perceived +that the wall was utterly dilapidated: in that respect Ain Afroo was +typically Moorish. In many parts the parapet had fallen to pieces, and, +for any protection it afforded, the wall might as well not have been +there. It gave easy foothold to a climber, and Tom indulged a hope that +the kasbah might prove to be in equally bad preservation. + +From what Abdul had told him, Tom guessed that the stronghold lay at the +upper extremity of the village, about eighty or ninety yards from the +wall. The Moor's knowledge of the place enabled him to lead Tom to a +spot where it would clearly be an easy matter to climb the battlements. +Secure in their remoteness, and in the fact that no hostile force could +come within many miles of the village without being instantly announced, +the inhabitants kept only a perfunctory watch. A few men, Abdul said, +were regularly on guard at the north-east and south-west corners; but no +attempt was made to watch the walls in general. Knowing the state of the +defences, this fact gave Tom some amusement. With walls so ruinous the +gates were the last places at which unauthorized ingress or egress would +be made. The whole place was still sleeping, and would sleep until the +muezzin from the mosque gave the call to prayer. Abdul declared it was +quite safe to enter the village so far as its human inhabitants were +concerned, though there was a risk that some pariah dog might be +wakeful. Taking his courage in both hands, Tom climbed up the wall after +Abdul, and descended on the other side; then, keeping in the black +shadows cast by the moon, the two made their way through round archways +and narrow alleys to the outer wall of the kasbah. + +The village was very silent. It might almost have been an abode of the +dead. Only the screech of night-birds beyond the walls broke the +stillness. Tom held his breath--and his nose, for sanitary authorities +are unknown in Morocco, and heaps of refuse here and there spoke +forcibly in the night air. The two intruders crept stealthily round the +walls of the kasbah, against which small shops and outbuildings that +Abdul called _inzella_ were built, except before the principal +entrance--a large gateway through which two or three men could ride +abreast. In front of this gateway was a wide, open square, with low +shops under a colonnade on the other side. + +The gateway was shut. It had massive iron doors. Stealing to the further +side of it, Abdul touched Tom's arm, and pointed to a small dark window, +unglazed, scarcely more than a slit in the wall, some twenty-five feet +above their heads, and a yard or two back from the parapet, which, as +the Moor had already explained, extended right round the kasbah, +enclosing a kind of terrace. It was the window of the guest-chamber, and +there, Abdul had suggested, the captured envoy was confined. + +The entrance to the guest-chamber would be from the terrace within the +parapet. The floor above was occupied by the sheikh and his family; the +floor below was devoted to the servants and the guard. Even as Tom +looked, a figure passed slowly along the terrace, and the moonlight +glinted on a steel musket barrel. It was clear that the guest-chamber +was carefully guarded--a proof, it seemed, that Abdul's suggestion was +correct. Drawing Tom out of earshot, Abdul said that special orders must +have been given, or the sentry would certainly not tramp up and down at +this hour of night. Tom learnt afterwards that the Moorish soldier's +idea of sentry-go is a long nap in the nearest doorway. + +"Is there no entrance to the guest-chamber from within?" asked Tom. + +Abdul confessed that he did not know. He had never set foot within the +walls. But he had once taken refuge for the night, on one of his +journeys through the country, in a ruined kasbah of somewhat similar +appearance, and there a door led from the guest-chamber into a small +vestibule, which gave access to the upper floor and the roof above. + +Flitting silently across the square, Tom and the Moor took post under +the shadow of the colonnade on the farther side, which ran at right +angles to the wall of the kasbah. Within it was a row of shops, now shut +and barred. There, leaning against one of the stout columns, within the +black darkness of the Moorish arch, Tom scanned the kasbah, looming +white in the moonlight, and meditated. + +To get into communication with the prisoner seemed absolutely hopeless. +No one could force an entrance into the sheikh's strong place. Was it +possible to gain the assistance of some one within? Might not Hamet Ali, +Abdul's friend, act as intermediary between Tom and some servant of the +sheikh's? The cynical saying, "Every man has his price," was literal +truth in Morocco: such was the impression Tom had gained from his +reading. But he knew enough of oriental ways to be sure that the fixing +of the price would be a long and tedious affair. If the Moor were asked +to name it, he would suggest a sum far in excess of what he would +ultimately accept; while however large a sum were offered, it would +prove only the starting place for long haggling. Indeed, the larger the +bribe, the more likely it would be to excite the cupidity of the agent, +and to encourage him to stand out for yet higher terms. + +In spite of the difficulties, Tom would have been inclined to attempt +this means if it had not involved serious delay, and still more serious +risk to both Abdul and himself. Hamet Ali lived on the far side of the +town. Abdul would have to make his way there, waken his friend, explain +the circumstances, overcome a probable reluctance to meddle, fix a price +with Hamet Ali, and another for the sheikh's servant. Every move would +be attended with danger. A Moor's house is a castle in miniature. Any +attempt to rouse the inmates at this dead hour of night would +necessitate so much noise and clatter as to disturb the neighbourhood. +The night was wearing on, and before Abdul could, with reasonable regard +to secrecy, obtain access to his friend's house, daylight might be upon +them. The Moors are early risers, and even if all went well, and Tom and +the others stole forth from the village before dawn, they would almost +certainly be seen and ridden down as they crossed the wide rocky spaces +that surrounded the place. But the most serious consideration of all was +that of time: it would not be possible to get into treaty with any one +inside the kasbah before Salathiel ben Ezra appeared on the scene. Then +the enterprise was doomed to failure. + +Tom was anxiously discussing with himself the pros and cons when Abdul +plucked him by the arm. + +"Day is near, master," he whispered. "We must go by the way we came." + +Tom was reluctant to own himself beaten; but there was clearly no hope +for it. Gathering his djellab about him, and pulling the hood over his +head, he followed Abdul with quick, noiseless footsteps across the +square. + + * * * * * + +Ahmed Huk, apprentice to Hamadi ben Ibn, the swordsmith of Ain Afroo, +had spent a restless night. His head throbbed; he could not sleep; he +wished he had not smoked so much hashish when his work was done for the +day. The air of the little shop was close and oppressive; and after +hours of wakefulness, turning from side to side in the vain effort to +find sleep, Ahmed got up and quietly unbarred the little wicket in the +door, careful not to disturb his master, who was snoring loudly within a +few feet of him. Perhaps a little fresh air from the outside would cool +his heated brow. + +He had not stood more than a few minutes at the wicket, and was already +thinking of returning to his charpoy, when he noticed, in the moonlight +on the other side of the square, two figures turn the corner by the +kasbah opposite, coming from the direction of the village wall. They at +once disappeared into the shadow thrown by the great wall of the +building, but something in their movements aroused the curiosity of +Ahmed. Why were two wayfarers abroad at so late an hour? The matter was +not his concern; still, he would remain at the wicket a little longer, +to see if the two night-walkers reappeared. + +His view was somewhat broken by the rows of pillars supporting the +colonnade in front of the shops of which his master's establishment was +one; but through the interval between two of them he did at last see the +two forms moving with rather suspicious quickness across the illumined +square, and, what was more interesting to him, they were seemingly +coming in his direction. Were they thieves, he wondered? He could hardly +believe it, for the village was small; they could scarcely escape +detection; and the sheikh's ingenuity in punishments was notorious even +in Morocco, where torture is a fine art. + +With instinctive caution Ahmed closed the wicket, leaving only a slit +just wide enough for him to peep through. In a few moments he heard the +slight rustle of the strangers' garments, and saw their dark forms +clearly outlined against the moonlight. They had come under the +colonnade and halted within two or three yards of him, behind one of the +pillars. They whispered a little together, then were silent for a space, +then whispered again: and now Ahmed was interested indeed, for, low as +their tones were, he overheard a word or two, and they made him jump; +they were certainly not in the Moorish tongue. His master's business had +taken him more than once to Dar al Beida, and he had heard such words +used by the N'zrani--the unbelievers who were suffered to pollute the +city by their presence. How came it that here, in Ain Afroo, a village +where no unbeliever ever set foot save a dog of a Jew now and then +(though truly there were one or two infidel wretches now safely confined +in the kasbah)--how came it that two men, good Moors and followers of the +Prophet, to all appearance, were speaking in the tongue of the infidel? +It was perplexing, to say the least, and undoubtedly worthy of the +attention of Hamadi his master. + +Leaving the wicket, Ahmed silently groped his way to the charpoy on +which the swordsmith was sleeping, and gently awakened him. In a low +whisper he conveyed the news of his discovery. Hamadi at once rose, and, +trusting to the pitch darkness of the colonnade, opened the wicket +fully, and listened with all his ears. + + * * * * * + +Tom and Abdul had no sooner crossed the square than the bolts of the +shop door opposite which they had been standing were softly drawn back, +and Hamadi, followed by his apprentice, glided barefoot after them. Each +bore a sword--good weapons, as Hamadi, who had made them, well knew. +Hamadi saw a vision of great prosperity and high favour with the sheikh. +He would follow up the strangers, if strangers they indeed were, to the +house where they harboured. There he would leave Ahmed to keep watch, +while he himself sped to the kasbah and told what he had seen. Without +doubt the sheikh would reward him handsomely. + +By the time Hamadi and his boy had left the shelter of the colonnade, +the strangers had turned the corner of the far side of the square; but +the pursuers ran quickly across the open space and gained the corner +while their quarry was still in sight. + +Tom and his companion, picking their way with all caution through the +dark, uneven, dirty passages that led from the kasbah to the outer wall, +went out slowly. Every now and again they stumbled over a loose cobble +or a heap of refuse; then there was a little noise that might betray +their presence to any one who happened to be within a few yards of them. +At such times Abdul would throw a hurried glance back; well he knew what +their fate would be if they were captured. + +Suddenly he edged a little closer to Tom and whispered-- + +"Men follow us!" + +By this time they were almost within reach of the wall. Tom was alive to +the danger in which the pursuit had placed them. Descending the wall, +they would have to grope for foothold. Before they could get clear, the +pursuers would have come up behind, and might either topple down upon +them loose boulders from the wall, or, if they bore firearms, have them +at their mercy. The two hurried their steps. + +"They are close behind--two men!" whispered Abdul. + +Tom glanced to each side along the wall. There was no convenient place +in which they might take refuge with any prospect of eluding their +pursuers. They were now hasting along at a half run beneath a long wall +that possibly enclosed some gardens of houses backing on the ramparts. +Here and there this wall was broken by a doorway; but the gates, when +Tom tested them by a push, were always closed. Abdul was making for the +spot at which they had entered the village; it was the nearest, indeed +the only practicable, place of descent. But to descend, with the +pursuers upon them, would be dangerous, perhaps fatal. To leave this +place of exit, and move farther along the ramparts or back into the +village, would be almost equally dangerous and would lose precious time. +The only other course open to them was to tackle the problem of +disposing of the pursuers. Tom nervously fingered his revolver; but a +shot would rouse the whole village and multiply the pursuers perhaps +fiftyfold. + +While Tom was feverishly attempting to hit on some means of dealing with +the two men, these, unaware that they had been seen, were already +reckoning up the profits of a successful coup. As soon as Hamadi the +swordsmith saw that the men in front were making for the ramparts, he +guessed at once that they were intruders from the outside, and he also +guessed the point at which the exit was to be made. This was not the +first time that the place had been used as a means of getting in and out +of the village by night. More than once it had happened that the +villagers, at feud with neighbouring mountaineers, had crept out at +night to settle their scores, returning safely within the walls before +daybreak. The fact that the gates were closed and no one could pass +during the night was prima facie evidence of their innocence. It was +even said that the sheikh had settled accounts with a hostile neighbour +in the same way. The swordsmith therefore was quite justified in shaping +his course on the assumption that the two men in front of him would +climb down the ruined part of the wall, and he would be in ample time to +deal with them when they were clinging precariously to the face of the +stonework. + +The only fault in his calculation was that he did not reckon with the +sharp eyes of Tom's companion. Thus it was that, passing incautiously +one of the recessed doorways leading on to the gardens, he suddenly saw +a thousand brilliant lights flash before his eyes, his sword flew from +his grasp, and he reeled dizzily to the ground. Tom's muscles were +hardened by much exercise in engineering workshops, and Hamadi, though a +big man and strong, as befitted one of his trade, was not prepared for +so surprising an attack. Before he could recover his wits Tom was upon +him, pressing the cold barrel of his revolver to his ear. The man, +although dizzy, had still enough intelligence left to know what this +meant, and he lay quite still while Tom pondered how he could at the +same time secure his vanquished foe and lend assistance to his +companion, who was now hotly engaged with the apprentice. Abdul, +however, needed no help. Before Tom had time to decide upon his own +course, the young Moor, taking full advantage of the darkness that +neutralized the effect of his enemy's longer weapon, dodged in beneath +the latter's guard, and got home a shrewd thrust in the forearm. Ahmed, +yelling lustily, dropped his sword, spun round, and set off down the +ramparts at full speed before Abdul could repeat his stroke. + +[Illustration: HIS SWORD FLEW FROM HIS GRASP, AND HE REELED DIZZILY TO +THE GROUND.] + +Tom breathed more freely. He had at any rate, he thought, gained a few +minutes. The yells of the Moor were not likely to bring help +immediately. While a shot would undoubtedly have raised the guard at the +kasbah, and brought a party in hot haste to the spot, the cries of a man +yelling would probably only cause a certain sleepy curiosity. A Moor +never puts himself to unnecessary trouble, and it would certainly not be +worth while to pay much attention to a brawl between men who had smoked +too much hashish. But there was still need for haste, so with Abdul's +assistance Tom trussed up the fallen swordsmith with workmanlike bonds +made of his own garments, and in another minute was beginning the +descent of the wall. + +They were only halfway down when they heard an uproar in the village. +The apprentice had lost no time in gathering a band to continue the +pursuit. Yet Tom could not hurry his flight, for a false step would mean +at least a broken arm, and in all probability a broken neck. With Abdul +close behind he picked his way down the broken masonry, the shouts +growing ever nearer and more menacing. At last they reached the bottom. +Then, Abdul leading the way, they hurried along the foot of the wall. +They durst not yet leave its shelter, for the moon, though now sinking +in the sky, still threw sufficient light to betray them if they +attempted to cross the open space towards the hillside. + +Crouching low as they went, they heard the pursuers halt at the place +where they had descended. But now they had reached a welcome patch of +stunted bush which promised needful cover. Plunging into this, still +keeping low so that their heads should not show above the scrub, they +strode away at right angles to the wall. Abdul's knowledge of the +country served him well. Descending the hill, they were soon out of +danger. Then up and down little eminences, over brooks, through patches +of wood, they pressed on, always bearing slightly to the right until +they struck the true course. Almost in a bee-line, they made for the +hill where Oliphant was anxiously awaiting them, and arrived there just +after dawn, tired out, and not a little disappointed with the barren +result of their night's work. + + + + +CHAPTER IX--A BOLT FROM THE BLUE + + +"Thank Heaven you are back!" said Oliphant when Tom appeared over the +brow of the hill. "I don't think I ever spent a more miserable night." + +"Anything happened?" + +"No. It wouldn't have been so bad if anything had. If I'd had something +to do--somebody to fight, or something!" + +"Well, you could have gone to sleep." + +"So I did, and woke in a fright. I dreamt that wretched Jew fellow was +coming at me with outstretched hands, and his fingernails were like some +horrid bird's claws, and he grew bigger and bigger as he came until he +seemed as huge as a mountain. But what luck did you have?" + +"None, or next to none. The kasbah's as strong as Newgate. And the worst +of it is, we were spotted and followed, had to truss up one fellow; +another alarmed the village. We escaped just by the skin of our teeth." + +He related in detail the incidents of the night. + +"It looks as if we'll have to back out after all," said Oliphant +gloomily when the story was finished. + +"I'll be hanged if we will. I've been thinking it over, and talking it +over with Abdul, on the way back. The only chance, it seems to me, is to +face all the risks and make a dash for it." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Come down in the airship on the terraced roof of the kasbah under cover +of night, and trust to luck to find our way to the prisoners' quarters." + +"But that would be confoundedly risky, especially after you have once +given the alarm in the village." + +"I admit that's a nuisance, but it's perhaps not so bad as you think. +You see, the Moors know nothing--I hope they don't, at any rate--about the +airship, and they won't look for intruders from the sky. The botheration +is that we've lost a lot of time, and our chance is utterly dished if +the Jew gets in first. Abdul says he can't be more than a day's march +from the place now. That's about thirty miles, as near as I can make +out. Luckily it's very rough country, so that he can't come fast. He's +probably starting this very morning for his last stage; it's possible +that we've already lost our chance, for he's sure to hurry, and if he +gets the ear of the sheikh before nightfall, they'll be on the watch for +us." + +"But even without the Jew I don't see how your scheme's possible. There +are sure to be extra guards at the wall, and if the night were as bright +as this they couldn't help seeing the machine, and we couldn't alight +without their knowledge." + +"Yes; but you must allow for their ignorance and superstition. If they +do see the airship swooping down on them they'll be scared out of their +wits; they'll think it some monstrous evil bird straight from Gehenna----" + +"Which is down below, not up aloft." + +"They won't be in a state to draw distinctions of that sort. Abdul +assures me that these ignorant mountaineers--he was one himself once, but +travel has widened his mind!--will be in such a state of terror that +they'll be for a time pretty well paralysed: and time's all we want." + +"Well, he ought to know his countrymen. But there's the Jew: suppose he +_does_ get there first?" + +"We've got to prevent him." + +"What!" + +"As I say, we must go and intercept him." + +"But he won't come alone." + +"Of course not. Abdul says he will come on horseback with a band of +armed and mounted men. He wouldn't trust himself in this country without +an escort. But that's where the airship comes in. I rather fancy that if +we swoop down from the sky among a lot of Moors they'll think more of +their own safety than of the Jew's." + +"Still, we couldn't prevent them from going on to the village." + +"I think we could." + +"What! shoot 'em down?" + +"No. I don't want to hurt a hair of their heads if I can help it. I +think we can manage to chase them back along the way they came, and do +something to frighten them into the bargain. Do you know how to make +throw-downs?" + +"Never heard of 'em. What are they?" + +"I forgot; you Eton fellows never use such things, I suppose. Well, I'll +make some, and you'll confess they're excellent little harmless bombs. +Then we'll be off." + +Carefully opening two or three cartridge cases, he extracted the powder, +and screwing it up with some tiny pebbles in tissue paper from his +pocket-book, he manufactured a dozen or so of the little bombs. Then he +inspected the machinery of the airship, thoroughly oiled the parts, and +went aboard with Oliphant and Abdul. He allowed the machine to rise only +a few feet from the top of the hill, so as to avoid if possible +observation from the village; then he set off in a south-easterly +direction, keeping the hill between him and the kasbah. Fetching a long +circuit, he gradually bore south-west, then slightly north, until, in +the course of about three-quarters of an hour, he struck the narrow +winding track which would be followed by parties travelling between the +village and the coast. + +From their elevated position they could trace the path for a +considerable distance through the country, but as yet they had seen no +sign of a party approaching the village. In broad daylight the airship +must have been sighted by many people over whose heads it had passed; +but from what Abdul had said it was unlikely that any one would have the +least idea of the real nature of the apparition. They would regard it as +a supernatural creature, and if within the next few hours a rumour of +its appearance should be carried to the sheikh of Ain Afroo he would +probably be none the wiser from any description that might be attempted. + +It was now little more than nine o'clock in the morning, and the Jew +could scarcely have passed. Tom therefore headed the airship westward, +keeping it at a low speed so that he might carefully scan the country +and not let the Jew and his party escape him. He knew that, unless +accident signally befriended him, the airship must be seen by them long +before they came into sight. Although the country was spread out like a +map, the machine in the open sky must be a much more conspicuous object +to people below than they would be to observers above. Salathiel would, +of course, recognize the airship; but Tom hoped that before the man +could explain clearly to his escort what it was, the immediate object of +the aerial flight would have been achieved. + +The morning wore away, and Tom began to feel anxious. To keep the +airship so long in motion involved the expenditure of a large amount of +his propulsive paste, and he had brought only as much of it as would +last the voyage to and from the hill fortress, with a little margin for +accidents. Yet he did not care to bring the machine to rest, for he +might then miss the party of which he was in search. Moreover, all the +provisions were gone except a few biscuits and some tea. With no food +for themselves and no fuel for the machine their plight would be +desperate. Tom spoke of his anxieties to Oliphant, and they were still +talking somewhat disconsolately, when Abdul, who had never ceased to +keep a sharp lookout, suddenly cried "Horses!" and pointed to sundry +small specks ahead. + +Tom instantly started up and looked through his binocular in the +direction of the Moor's forefinger. + +"There are about a score, I fancy," he said, handing the glass to +Oliphant. "Can you spot the Jew?" + +"No, they are too much mixed up. I shouldn't know him again, either." + +"We shall know him very soon, though. Abdul told me that Jews in this +country mostly wear blue clothes and black skullcaps. We'll make +straight for them." + +The engines had lately been reduced to something less than half speed. +Realizing that every second was now of value, Tom put them at full +speed, steering the vessel direct for the party of horsemen, who had +just emerged from a clump of timber. At the same time Oliphant altered +the inclination of the planes, so that the airship began to drop rapidly +earthwards. Thus it swooped down upon the party like a huge falcon. To +manipulate the engines, the steering gear, and the lever affecting the +planes, kept the hands of Tom and his friend pretty fully occupied; but +Abdul was to make himself useful, and Tom instructed him to take a +handful of the little bombs, in readiness to use them when the moment +came. Tom hoped that the mere appearance of the sky monster would +startle the horses and put the cavalcade to fright. As an additional +means of scaring them he relied on the throwdowns. + +The airship had come within about two miles of the horsemen when it was +seen that they had halted. No doubt the strange apparition had been +observed, and Salathiel ben Ezra was doing his best to explain its +nature. They remained stationary until the distance of the airship from +them was less than a mile: then two of them wheeled suddenly in their +tracks and set off in a mad gallop westward. The others, however, held +their ground; either they had stronger nerves, or the Jew had managed to +convince them that the strange object was not an instrument of the Evil +One, but simply a new invention of the accursed people who had invented +warships and alarm clocks. + +Tom had just distinguished the figure of Salathiel, on a mule in the +midst of the party, when there came a slight puff of smoke from the +centre of the group, followed by a second and a third. Oliphant laughed. + +"They're firing at us," he exclaimed, "which argues a pretty state of +fright." + +"All very much in our favour. Look, there are three more of them off as +hard as they can go." + +"But there are still ten or a dozen of them. If they have nerve enough +to hold their fire till we come within range they may do us some +damage--if their guns are any good." + +"There's not much doubt about that. They get hold of good rifles +somehow. But we're in for it now. A bullet or two in the machinery would +bring us to the ground; we must simply take our chance." + +The airship was now approaching the party at the speed of a fast train. +Moment by moment others of the horsemen detached themselves from the +group and galloped after their comrades, and Tom gave a cry when he saw +that the Jew was among the fugitives. Still several remained. + +"It won't do to allow them to get between us and the kasbah," said Tom. +"We must drive the whole lot of them back towards the coast." + +The airship was now only some three hundred feet above the ground. +Suddenly Tom shut off the horizontal propellers and brought the vertical +engines into play. The airship swept onward at the same level by virtue +of its momentum. The horses of the Moors began to rear and plunge. They +had probably heard the whirr of the machinery, for not being +long-sighted beasts it was possible that they had not yet seen the +vessel above them. + +"By George! aren't they magnificent horsemen!" said Oliphant, as he saw +the Moors striving to hold their terrified animals in. One or two puffs, +followed immediately by the reports of the rifles, came from the group; +but with their horses rearing and plunging beneath them it was not +surprising that the Moors missed the airship, though it now offered a +considerable mark. It was immediately above them. + +"Now, Abdul!" said Tom. + +The Moor flung one of the little bombs earthward with all his force. It +exploded at the very feet of one of the horses, which, frenzied with +fear, took the bit between its teeth and bolted. Abdul threw half a +dozen more, one after another, laughing with glee at the astonishing +effect of the little bombs. There was no holding the horses any longer, +and the whole party dashed away at a mad gallop along the road they had +come. + +It was not Tom's object to overtake them yet awhile. He put the +horizontal engines at half speed, and the airship began to follow the +fugitives like a sheepdog at the heels of a frantic flock. The little +group which had stood to the last were evidently the best mounted of the +party, for they gradually closed in upon those who had started earlier. +Tom could not forbear chuckling as he came upon the rotund black-capped +figure of Salathiel ben Ezra striving to urge his steady-going mule to a +brisker pace. + +"Is it safe to leave him behind?" asked Oliphant, as the Jew was +outstripped and passed. + +"Oh yes! We'll come back for him presently. We could easily catch him +up. If the mule is like most of his kind he won't hurry himself." + +The airship sped on after the rest of the party. Mile after mile was +covered: the horses showed signs of fatigue, but one or two that were +dropping behind were galvanized into further desperate efforts by the +dreaded whirr of the propellers just in their rear. + +The chase had continued for about half an hour when Abdul suddenly +noticed that the number of the fugitives was one less than it had been +when the flight began. None of the three occupants of the airship had +seen a rider diverge from the track: to do so would indeed have been +difficult, for it ran through uneven and rocky ground which offered +little footway for a horse. Yet it was clear that one of the Moors had +at some point or other left his comrades and ridden off to right or +left. + +"Never mind," said Tom. "If he tries to get to the village, I've no +doubt we can overtake him. His horse will be no match for us." + +"Don't you think we've chased them far enough!" asked Oliphant. "We're +using up a great deal of your paste." + +"Yes. I think we've pretty well disposed of them now. We'll swing round +and go back for Master Salathiel." + +"What are you going to do with him--not bring him up here?" + +"Not a bit of it. We don't want him--not for long, at least. I've got an +idea. But we must get hold of him first." + +Bringing the airship about in a wide circle, Tom steered it back along +the track in search of the Jew. + +"The donkey!" cried Oliphant, as presently the man came in sight, making +desperate efforts to gain the village. "He might have hidden himself +among the rocks or the trees, and given us no end of trouble." + +"I don't know. He has chosen probably the lesser of two evils. He'd have +a bad time of it if he were found alone by any wandering Moors; his best +chance was certainly to try to get to the village and tell the sheikh +all he knows." + +The Jew could be seen every now and again glancing anxiously back along +the track. When he caught side of the airship returning, and realized +that he was bound to be overtaken, he pulled up his mule, tumbled off +the saddle, and dived into the cover of some rocks, hoping no doubt that +they would afford him concealment. + +"Too late!" said Tom with a chuckle. "He might escape us if we were on +his level, but he forgets we can look right down upon him." + +"It's like a field-mouse trying to escape from a hawk," said Oliphant. + +"Rather worse, for a field-mouse has its colour to help it, while +Salathiel's blue coat makes him a little too conspicuous." + +For a few moments the Jew, indeed, disappeared from view; but Tom +steered the airship exactly above the spot where he was last seen, and +there was Salathiel crouching in a cleft much too narrow for him. + +There was no convenient landing-place among the rocks where the airship +could be brought safely to rest, and the Jew, apparently recognizing +this, did not attempt to stir from his position. But the vessel came to +rest in the air, hovering like a monstrous humming-bird above the +trembling man, no more than twenty feet from the ground. + +"How shall we get at him?" asked Oliphant. + +"We can leave that to Abdul, I think," replied Tom. "He is used to +ship-board, and he has been on the end of our rope before." + +Abdul understood what was required of him. Letting down the rope with +the grapnel at the end, he swarmed nimbly down, armed only with his +knife. The two in the car smiled to see what ensued. Salathiel was +unarmed. He broke forth in a torrent of mingled threats and entreaties +as the Moor approached him, then lay on his back and tried to repel the +lad with his feet. But Abdul got behind him, and by discreet employment +of the point of his knife at length persuaded the Jew into the open. + +Then Tom let the airship gently down. When it stood upon terra firma, he +and Oliphant leapt out of the car, bundled Salathiel into it, and in +another minute were soaring through the air towards their former +resting-place on the hill. With Salathiel's added weight the airship +travelled somewhat slowly, and for some time, when a breeze rose from +the eastward, it had considerable difficulty in making headway at all. +But at last the flat-topped hill was opened up on the horizon, Tom +estimating that the return journey had taken more than twice as long as +the outward trip in the morning. + + + + +CHAPTER X--THE KASBAH + + +Instead of alighting on the former spot on the top of the hill, Tom this +time let the airship down at the foot. + +"We haven't darkness to cover us this time," he said, "and we don't want +to be spied from the village." + +"What are you going to do with our fat friend?" asked Oliphant. + +"Well, I thought of taking him some miles into the wilder parts of the +hills and leaving him; but I don't want to use any more of our fuel than +I can help. Besides, I don't want to have the fellow murdered, though +his Moor friend might have done for poor Timothy. What do you say to +giving him a lodging in one of the caves?" + +"But how in the world could we get him up there?" + +"Abdul says it can be done. I forgot to tell you that on our way to Ain +Afroo that night I told Abdul of our discovery, and he said he knew the +caves well, and had often climbed into them. The tradition of the +country is that they were actually cut in the rocks ages ago as a refuge +when the people were pressed by their enemies." + +"Well, it's a capital idea if it can be managed. The Jew would be out of +harm's way, at any rate." + +"Yes. And if we succeed in releasing Ingleton, we can come back for him, +perhaps, and take him into Rabat or Casa Blanca, and make him disgorge +some of Abdul's property, which I've no doubt he has appropriated." + +"But won't he starve? We can't spare him any food." + +"A day's fasting won't hurt him. We're on uncommonly short rations +ourselves, and there's no reason why he should fare better than we." + +"But can we get him up? He's a big fellow," + +"We'll do our best with Abdul's help. One of the caves is more easy to +get at than the others, Abdul says." + +"By Jove, we've forgotten that fellow who got away!" + +"Hang it, so we have. It can't be helped. We clearly can't catch him now +without showing ourselves to the people of Ain Afroo. Perhaps he didn't +make for the village after all. We must dispose of Salathiel, at any +rate." + +Tom and Oliphant had been talking apart, while Abdul kept watch over the +Jew. The former now went up to the man. + +"Mr. Salathiel," he said. "I don't exactly know what your game is, but +we think it's advisable you should have a little rest after your arduous +work with the mule. There's a very comfortable cave some eighty feet +above your head. The way to it is rather steep, but with our assistance +you can mount there, and remain in perfect safety until we can fetch you +and restore you to your friends." + +"I protest you treat me badly," said Salathiel, his mien expressing +mingled fear and indignation. "I am a peaceable merchant, and was on my +way to treat with the sheikh of Ain Afroo for a supply of carpets from +Rabat, when----" + +"Still, you must be fatigued," said Tom. "We also have business with the +sheikh, and I fear that until ours is completed yours must wait. Ours is +a prior engagement, Mr. Salathiel. Now if you will please climb the +hillside. The first steps are easy; we will help you when you find +further ascent difficult." + +For some moments the Jew tried entreaty, cajolery, even bribery--in vain. +With a very bad grace he began to clamber up the rocks, reaching at +length a ledge some twenty-five feet below the cave. The hill was here +almost perpendicular, and when Salathiel looked at the wall of rock +above him he pleaded again with great volubility to be allowed to go his +way. But Abdul was already swarming up with a rope between his teeth. +The Englishmen watched him with admiration. Sticking fingers and toes +into the slightest crevice, taking advantage of every little +irregularity in the surface, he accomplished what had seemed from below +an impossible feat. When he reached the cave, he tied one end of the +rope to a spur of rock at the entrance, and let down the other to +Oliphant, who by its assistance managed to follow. Salathiel for a time +absolutely refused to mount; but when Tom pointed out that in the cave +he would at least be safe, while no one could answer for what might +happen if he wandered about the country alone, he at length allowed the +rope to be wound about him, and was hauled up by the two above. He was +supplied with a pot of water from the hill stream and a half-dozen +biscuits, then Oliphant descended, followed by Abdul with the rope. + +"I don't think he'll attempt the descent," said Tom. "It requires more +nerve than I fancy he's got." + +"It doesn't matter much if he does, does it? He won't try it while we +are hereabout. He'll hardly try it in the dark when we are gone; and if +he does, and gets safely to the bottom, he'll take so long finding his +way to the village that we shall have done our business there--if we're +going to do it at all." + +"Still, I think we'll make sure. There are one or two bits of rock +sticking out that give a slight foothold; Abdul may as well knock them +off. He won't want them himself when we come back to release the Jew." + +"Suppose we don't come back!" + +"You mean, suppose we come to grief ourselves! Well, he'll be able to +signal for help from the mouth of the cave to-morrow; some of his +cronies are sure to wonder what's become of him and be prowling about. +It won't matter to us then, for we shall have either succeeded or +failed." + +"Suppose we can't come back, and nobody sees his signals!" + +"That's his lookout! Didn't we rescue him from the shark, which would +have snapped him up when the tide rose another few inches? How has he +repaid us? By trying to do for us. And it isn't as if he were a Moor, +serving his country. He hasn't an ounce of patriotism in his +composition. He's simply on the make. He wanted to get a good haul out +of the sheikh for giving us away, and upon my word, considering all +things, I think he gets off pretty easily. If he'd treated Moors as he +has treated us, he'd be dying a particularly slow death by this time. I +don't think we need distress ourselves about Salathiel ben Ezra." + +Leaving the Jew to his solitary reflections, the two made their way back +to the airship and began to overhaul the machinery. Meanwhile Abdul had +gone to the summit of the hill to bring down one or two things which had +been left there. He returned with the news that he had seen in the far +distance a single horseman slowly climbing the steep hill-path to the +village. + +"That's our man, depend upon it," said Oliphant. "He'll give us away, +Dorrell, as sure as fate." + +"What can't be cured must be endured. We could catch him, I dare say; +but we haven't any too much fodder for the engine, and we should +certainly be seen. He must tell the sheikh all he knows, and, upon my +word, I should like to hear his account of us. It would probably be very +funny." + +"But it will put the sheikh on his guard." + +"My dear fellow, you haven't enough faith in the terrors of the unknown, +or the misknown. The Moor's story will be such a mass of exaggeration, +ignorance, and superstition, that they'll be in a state of jumps, and +dread the apparition ten times more even than if it came upon them +without preparation." + +"Then why go to the trouble of preventing the Jew from getting into the +village?" + +"Just because he _knows_ the thing, you see, and would stick to the bare +truth. His story would lay more stress on the object of our visit; the +Moor's will be mainly about the airship. Really, he may help us in the +end." + +They spent the afternoon in a thorough cleaning of the engines. Once or +twice Salathiel showed himself at the mouth of the cave, and Tom fancied +he saw him attempt to signal with his hands. But when Oliphant made a +movement towards his carbine, the Jew retreated hastily into the +interior and appeared no more. + +At last all was ready for the voyage. But several hours must yet pass +before the ascent could be made. Tom had decided that it would be unwise +to arrive at the kasbah until the Moors were either in their first +sleep, or, if on their guard, were somewhat tired and nervous with +watching. Learning this, Abdul, who had been making observations during +the afternoon, left the two Englishmen and was not seen for a time. When +he returned, he carried a couple of hares, explaining that he had snared +them in the wood that lay half a mile beyond their resting-place. He +produced also from the folds of his garment a number of figs and dates +which he had plucked from the trees. + +"Here's a tuck-in!" cried Tom. "I'm as hungry as a hunter. Oatmeal +biscuits are all very well, but they're a trifle too chippy for my +taste. I suppose you, as a Scotsman, think 'em quite succulent, +Oliphant?" + +"Do I, by George? You Englishmen make a good many mistakes about us +Scots, and that's one of them. Besides, I'm only Scotch when I want a +stoker's place--or when I let off some of my stories on the fellows in +Booker's. I was rather had once, though. When I first went to Tabor's as +a little chap, on my first day I dropped my cap somewhere, and asked one +of the masters if he'd seen it. I'd just come from our village school up +north--a whim of the governor's, you know--and I suppose I'd a touch of +the brogue, for when I said, 'Please, sir, have you seen my cap?' he +said quite pat, 'Are _you_ MacFarlane?' And he called me MacFarlane +until I left." + +Abdul had chosen a sheltered hollow, and built a rough canopy of +branches and leaves. Beneath this he kindled a fire, and cooked one of +the hares The table appointments were not exactly those that either of +the lads was accustomed to, but, as Oliphant remarked, they were in a +primitive country, and it was not unfitting that they should resort to +the manners of their ancestors. Both confessed that they had never +enjoyed a meal so much as this, and felt all the more ready for the +adventures of the night. + +The moon was shedding a cold radiance around, in strange contrast with +the hot and sultry air, when the airship with its three passengers rose +from the foot of the hill and started on its voyage for the kasbah of +Ain Afroo. To lessen the chances of premature discovery, Tom ascended to +a considerable altitude, with the intention of dropping obliquely upon +the kasbah. He was thus able to dispense in great part with the action +of the propellers as the airship drew near to its destination, which was +very desirable, seeing that they made a loud whirring which must +otherwise have attracted attention. But by ascending to a height of +nearly 3,000 feet, and then adjusting the planes so that the airship +fell at a sharp angle, he could make use of the force of gravity to +carry him in the right direction without employing the horizontal +screws. Finding, however, when half the distance had been covered, that +the airship was coming too near the ground, he set the vertical screws +in motion rose a few hundred feet, and again dropped obliquely towards +his objective. + +The whole country was bathed in the moon's pale light, and lay in +perfect silence save for the faint barking of dogs here and there. The +three adventurers said never a word; neither Tom nor Oliphant was in a +mood for talking now that the real business of the expedition was so +near at hand. It was not until the airship was hovering exactly over the +flat roof of the kasbah that they knew, from shouts below, that the +strange visitant had been observed. But some moments must elapse, +presumably, before the alarm could penetrate to the sheikh's apartments; +and, aware that everything depended on his coolness and caution, Tom +brought the airship to rest with as much deliberation as if he were +landing from a practice voyage. + +A shot from a musket struck one of the planes. + +"The sentry on the terrace has caught sight of us," said Tom, as he was +stepping out of the car. "Let us hope that after having done his duty +he'll be sufficiently scared to bolt for the town, instead of coming up +to warn the sheikh." + +The programme had been settled before they started. Oliphant was to +remain in charge of the airship, while Tom and the Moor attempted to get +into the house and release the prisoner. + +"Remain in the car," said Tom, "and have everything ready to ascend at a +moment's notice." + +"Wish you good luck, old fellow," returned Oliphant. "You've got your +revolver?" + +"Yes. _Au revoir!_" + +He glanced anxiously round for the opening that led from the roof into +the house. In the ordinary way it would not be closed; indeed, during +the summer months, except when rain threatened, such openings were +seldom covered. Unless the fugitive had the gift of second sight, it was +improbable that he would ever have imagined that the airship would +descend on the very roof of the sheikh's own dwelling. Thus the inmates +would have no reason to guard against intrusion from above. Things might +have been different in a populous town, where access could be had from +one roof to another. But the kasbah stood quite solitary, and the +nearest buildings were inaccessible. + +The opening, in point of fact, lay within a few feet of the spot upon +which the airship had descended. + +Carrying an electric torch in one hand and his revolver in the other, +Tom stepped gingerly down the staircase, followed by the Moor, who held +his knife ready for instant use. They came across a small vestibule, lit +at the far end by the moonlight streaming through a narrow aperture in +the wall. To the right and left was a door; one led no doubt to the +sheikh's harem, the other probably to the apartments of the male members +of the family; but Abdul was unable to say which was which. There were +no bolts on the outside of these doors, which were fast shut, but each +had a very large keyhole. + +Inasmuch as the entry to this part of the house was no doubt barred +beneath by a door on the staircase, it was quite possible that the +inhabitants felt themselves secure enough to dispense with locking these +doors. Certainly a Moor will never take any trouble if he can avoid it. + +Choosing the right-hand door, Tom gently turned the handle; the door +opened to his push, and, inserting his hand, he discovered, as he had +ventured to hope, a heavy key in the lock. He silently withdrew it, +closed the door, and turned the key on the outside; Abdul at the same +time, taking the cue, did the same with the other door on the left. Both +locks squeaked somewhat, and Tom thought he heard voices within. Without +waiting, however, to assure himself on this point--feeling that he had +the inmates secure, at least for a time--he pushed on down the stairway, +followed by Abdul, and they came, as they had expected, upon a strong +door bolted on their side. Tom gently slid the bolts, opened the door, +and found himself in a small vestibule. On the far side of this was +another door, which the Moor thought was the inner door of the +guest-chamber. This Tom expected would be locked on the outside, but +when he flashed his torch at it he saw that the bolts were not shot. He +turned the handle of the door, which opened outwards. No doubt, he +thought, the Moors considered their prisoner quite safe without the +necessity of locking him in from this side. Access to the lower quarters +being barred, they would not object to his going up to the roof, +perhaps, for fresh air. The other door to the right of the guest-chamber +leading on to the terrace was securely locked, as Abdul proved by +pushing it gently so as to avoid noise. + +Tom tiptoed through the door, and cautiously lowering his torch in order +to avoid flashing it on any window openings on the far side, swept it +round the room. He gave a start of keen disappointment when he found +that the place was untenanted. It bore traces of recent occupation, but +the occupant, whoever he was, had been removed. There were a couple of +bright oriental rugs on the floor, a dish such as the Moors are +accustomed to serve sweetmeats on, and one or two other native articles; +but on one of the rugs lay a well-browned brier pipe, which was clearly +of European origin, and indeed Tom was conscious of the familiar odour +of tobacco--a very different smell from that made by the kief or hashish +smoked by the Moors. And, strangest contrast of all, a somewhat tattered +newspaper, and a bulky volume in a red paper cover, showed that the +sheikh's prisoner had certainly inhabited this room, and had found some +means of lightening his captivity. + +Tom took in these details in a moment. Anxious to further his errand, he +did not pause to look at the contents of the room minutely, but hurried +across to a door on the farther side, leading, he suspected, to the +terrace. This was bolted, but from the inside. + +He halted in perplexity. What had become of the prisoner? + +"Have they taken him to the upper apartments?" he asked Abdul in a +whisper. + +"No, master," replied the lad. "No Moor would think of it." + +"Do you think he has been released? But no: that is unlikely. Salathiel +would certainly not have come so far in that case, would he?" + +"No. The mouse does not put his head in the jaws of the lion." + +"And the smell of tobacco is quite fresh. I believe the prisoner has +only lately been removed. Where would they take him if they feared an +attempt at rescue?" + +With a significant look Abdul pointed downwards. + +"The dungeons, eh? Where are they?" + +"Under the ground, master." + +"Well, we must get down there if we can. Do you know the way?" + +The Moor hesitated. He knew too well the fate of unhappy people who had +offended the sheikh, and upon whom the sheikh exercised the power of +life and death. Once, in Tangier, he had accompanied a friend to such a +dungeon, where his friend's father was confined for denying that he +possessed hidden treasure. The man's eyes had been put out, one of his +hands had been cut off, and he had languished for years in this +loathsome place, where he would have starved but for the food brought +him daily by his son, and handed to him through a grating. Abdul had no +wish to see the inside of the kasbah's dungeon. + +But his hesitation was only momentary. Tom was clearly determined to +pursue his object, and the Moor reflected that, whatever he did, he was +in parlous danger. Besides, did not everything happen by the will of +Allah? If it was decreed that he should die, he would die; if he was +doomed to a living death in prison, nothing that he could do would avert +his fate. So, with a Moor's habitual fatalism, he told his employer all +he knew. + +There was doubtless one entrance to the dungeon from the patio beneath, +where the jailer occupied a room near the great gateway. But there must +also be an entrance from within the house. Below the vestibule in which +they then stood was probably another vestibule, dividing the rooms of +the servants' apartments. Whether there was any communication between +the two vestibules he did not know; perhaps it was from the terrace +outside. In all probability the inner entrance to the dungeon was from +the vestibule below. + +This gave Tom pause. So far he had been unmolested; indeed, it was only +a couple of minutes since he had left the roof. But the thought of +having to pass the servants' apartments was decidedly unpleasant. The +sentry's shot must have been heard; he wondered why the servants had not +already come up to warn or to take orders from the sheikh. Luckily the +sheikh himself and all his family were securely locked in their +apartments. The menials might at any rate be expected to prove less +formidable. + +There was no time to be lost. It suddenly occurred to Tom that the floor +of the vestibule might have a kind of trapdoor. He pulled aside one of +the rugs that covered the stones; there was indeed a trapdoor, not +secured in any way. Down he went on hands and knees. Releasing the +button of the electric torch so that the room was in darkness, he lifted +the door half an inch, and guessed from the absence of light that the +vestibule below was unoccupied. He cautiously raised the covering still +farther and listened. There was no sound. He set his foot on a ladder +beneath, and, moving so slowly and gently as to make not so much as a +rustle, he went down step by step, pausing once or twice to strain his +ears. Still there was no sound. When he reached the floor he ventured to +flash a light around him. He saw he was in a stone-flagged chamber of +equal size with the vestibule above. In the middle of the floor was a +circular stone slab with an iron ring on it, and a thick iron bolt was +shut into a socket. There was one door to the room, and, hurrying to it, +Tom found that it was fastened on the outside. + +So far all was well. He softly summoned Abdul to descend. Then, drawing +back the bolt and lifting the slab, he discovered a large opening +leading to a spiral stone stairway. + +Again he hesitated. What lay below? The disappointment of finding the +guest-chamber empty, the prolongation of the search, were beginning to +tell upon him. But, crushing down his nervous excitement, he +extinguished his torch again, and groped his way round and round until +he came once more to level ground. All was still as death. A flash of +the torch showed him that he was in a large vaulted corridor, paved with +brick. Somewhere in this, he doubted not, was the door into the +dungeons. + +In order to secure his line of retreat in case of emergency, he felt it +was absolutely necessary first to secure the other entrance, wherever it +might be, that was ordinarily used by the jailer. He soon discovered it +by the aid of his torch. Here, as he feared, the bolts were on the +outside, and the door was securely fastened. Was it possible to +barricade the door from the inside? The whole place was empty with the +exception of a number of manacles and like effects, and a long hammer, +which Abdul said, in a whisper, was used by the Moorish jailers in +fastening the chains round their victims' ankles. But there was nothing +that promised to be of service as a barricade. + +At any moment the jailer, if he had not taken panic from the discharge +of the sentry's musket, might enter to assure himself of the security of +his prisoners. Could anything be done to delay him? For Tom felt that it +was not only a question of the jailer, but of others who would no doubt +hasten to his assistance. + +Flashing his torch round, Tom noticed that the flooring had been worn +and chipped away, no doubt in the process of manacling, and scattered +about there was a large quantity of loose particles of brick. An idea +struck him. He collected a big handful of these fragments and pushed +them into the keyhole. Then, leaving Abdul to complete the work, which +would, he hoped, cause the lock to stick, he hastened down the vaulted +passage. + + + + +CHAPTER XI--PRISON BREAKERS + + +Tom found himself in a long broad alley-way, flanked by arches. There +was no sign of the dungeons, apparently no means of exit. The air was +damp and heavy, and the first indication that he was approaching the +neighbourhood of the dungeons was afforded by his nose. Coming at length +to a narrow flight of steps leading downwards, the fact that he was +nearing the object of his quest was borne in upon his sense with +ever-increasing pungency. + +"Surely," he thought, "the sheikh is not such a beast as to herd +Ingleton with the ordinary criminals!" + +Another alley-way, apparently underneath the one from which he had come, +was disclosed by his electric torch when he reached the bottom of the +staircase; but in this case there were doors at his right, and in the +thickness of the wall, Moorish fashion, little peep-holes, through which +no doubt the warder could spy upon the movements of the captives within. + +Which was the door leading to the place of the envoy's confinement? Tom +wondered. Was he indeed imprisoned here at all? Tom gave no thought to +the predicament in which Abdul and he would be placed if it should prove +that they had gone astray; his whole mind was centred on the plight of +the English prisoner and the terrible misfortune it would be if he were +elsewhere, and deep within him burned a fierce indignation that any +countryman of his should be even within hailing distance of so noisome a +place as this kasbah dungeon. + +So anxious was he to know whether he was on the right track that, +scarcely giving a thought to possible consequences, he lifted up his +voice and shouted the name of the man for whom he was seeking. The loud +tones went rolling beneath the arches, answered by a hundred echoes. But +there was a nearer and more material answer. By the light of his torch, +which he kept constantly in use, Tom saw a big, bearded, spectacled face +appear at the aperture nearest to him on the right. + +"Ach! Gott in Himmel! Vas zat English voice?" + +Tom himself was in shadow, but his light fell full on the face of the +speaker, and with a gasp of amazement he recognized Herr Hildebrand +Schwab, the representative of the Schlagintwerts, who had called on him +at Midfont months before and showed such a consuming curiosity to know +the use to which he put the Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number +Six. And with a sudden flash of recollection he remembered that Schwab +had spoken of proceeding to Morocco on business. Coming out from beneath +the arch in which he stood, and holding his torch before him, he +approached the aperture. His appearance was hailed by a groan. Schwab +did not recognize him in his Moorish dress. Deeply he groaned again, +muttering-- + +"Ach, Ich Ungluecklicher!" + +His face, utterly woebegone in expression, was just disappearing within +the cell when Tom, almost frantic with despair at the thought that the +white prisoner was not the man he had come to seek after all, shouted +again-- + +"Ingleton! Sir Mark Ingleton! Are you there?" + +Schwab's face reappeared instantly. It was aglow with excitement and +hope. + +"Gott sei Dank! Ingleton! You zay Ingleton! Zough ze dress be Mohr, ze +voice is English. You are indeed English? Answer me for ze love of ze +heavens!" + +"Yes, I am English," cried Tom impatiently; "I want Sir Mark Ingleton." + +"He is here, vizin, inside, viz me, Hildebrand Schwab. Let me out +double-quick; I stifle, I suffocate, I do not breaze. Gott sei dank!" + +"He is there? Where is he? Tell him I want to speak to him--an +Englishman." + +"He sleep sound, he is indispose; but I am ze vorst. I am here ze +longest. Open ze door, please, be good enough, have ze kindness----" + +Without more ado, Tom drew back the bolts with a bang and pulled at the +door. It was locked. Schwab groaned again; but Tom, handing his torch to +Abdul, who was pale with apprehension, called to Schwab to stand away +from the door, and blew the lock in with a shot from his revolver. He +flung open the door, and burst into the cell. The shot had awakened the +envoy, who looked up in a dazed fashion, and asked, in the low voice of +a man thoroughly tired, what the disturbance was about. + +"God be praise, we are save! Do not notice ze dress; it is nozink; ze +man is English. Ach! it is no good; ze door is open, but ve are in +chains. Ach! Zum Teufel! It is kaput--all up!" + +Tom pushed past him impatiently. + +"Quick, Abdul," he said, "the hammer!" + +Hastening to Sir Mark, who had risen from the floor, with half a dozen +sturdy blows Tom snapped the chains that fixed his ankle bands to +staples in the wall, then performed the like service for Schwab. He made +no attempt to release their ankles from the fetters: there was no time +for this, and he feared also to do them an injury. The sounds had caused +commotion in the further dungeon, where the sheikh's other prisoners +were confined. Chains were clanking, men were shouting, the uproar was +so great that it must reach the ears of the jailer if he were anywhere +in the neighbourhood, and though he was shut off from the vaults, he +might burst the locks and bring a host of armed men to the rescue. + +"We have no time to lose," said Tom. "Come with me." + +"But, pardon me----" said Sir Mark. + +"I can't explain now," Tom interrupted. "Come along; it is all right, +only we must get away at once." + +"At vunce, Sir Ingleton," said Schwab. "You hear zat! For ze sake of +anyzink, be a man!" + +"My good sir----" began Sir Mark: but Tom again cut him short. + +"Can you walk?" he asked, noticing that the Englishman tottered as he +stood. + +"With assistance, perhaps." + +At once Tom caught him by an arm, bidding Abdul take the other. +Supporting him, they led him along the passage, up the stairway to the +upper corridor, Schwab panting and ejaculating behind them. Even before +they reached the corridor they heard a tremendous battering at the door +whose lock had been filled with fragments of brick. + +It was so stout a barrier that Tom had no fear that it would be broken +down by anything short of a battering ram, and it was not likely that +the Moors had at hand an instrument ready for this purpose. His +confidence was, however, soon shaken, for, before the party, encumbered +with the enfeebled envoy, had begun to ascend the winding stairway +leading from the arched corridor to the vestibule above, there was the +sound of a very heavy body striking the door, followed by an ominous +creak. Leaving the others to precede him, Tom stationed himself on the +narrow stair, the hammer in one hand, his revolver in the other. He was +determined not to use the revolver except in the last extremity, but he +had no such compunctions about using the hammer. + +Suddenly in the midst of the crashing blows upon the door there was the +report of a rifle. The Moors were adopting his own device of blowing in +the lock. The door gave way, and by the flash of his torch, Tom saw a +crowd of swarthy Riffians swarming through the opening. The door at the +foot of the winding stair leading to the corridor was somewhat ruinous; +it was apparently seldom used, the sheikh depending for his security +upon the heavy trapdoor above. Tom, however, succeeded in pulling it to +before the Moors were upon him, and shot the single crazy bolt that +still held. Then he darted up the stairs after the rest. They were just +lifting the envoy through the trap. Schwab was waiting his turn, and +when he heard Tom rushing up, he sprang through the opening with +extraordinary agility. The trapdoor was let down and bolted; they +hastened up the stairway to the upper vestibule adjoining the +guest-chamber, thence up to the sheikh's quarters on the floor above, +bolting every door behind them. + +Even through the thick walls of the kasbah they had heard sounds of +great excitement in the town. Evidently the whole place was now alive. +And there was danger to be anticipated within, for as they groped their +way up the last flight of stairs leading to the roof, their steps +momentarily guided by the flashes of Tom's torches, the sounds of a +tremendous battering near at hand struck upon their ears. Evidently the +sheikh himself was now trying to make his way out. They hastened their +steps as much as Sir Mark's enfeebled state permitted; Tom indeed was in +such desperate anxiety, for pursuit could not be long delayed, that he +forced the pace in a way that drew a protest from the Englishman--even in +this extremity a diplomatist. + +They came to the last flight of stairs leading to the roof. + +"Is that you, Dorrell?" came the voice of Oliphant from above. Nervously +restless, first on account of Tom's long absence, and then at the +violent sounds within and without the building, he had left the airship +and stationed himself with his revolver at the top of the staircase +leading to the roof, to cover Tom's retreat if he proved to be hard +pressed. + +"All well!" shouted Tom in reply. + +In another minute all four emerged upon the roof, and Oliphant gave a +whistle of amazement and consternation when he saw an unexpected +addition to the party. + +"Two of them?" he ejaculated. + +"Yes; the sheikh had a German gentleman--" + +"Hildebrand Schwab, representative of ze excellent firma of +Schlagintwert and----" + +"Hang it, we can't stop for introductions now," said Tom. "Abdul, run +down to the door of the sheikh's room and persuade him that he risks his +life if he comes out. We shall want a minute or two to get ready." + +The Moor obeyed, not without a look of nervousness. At first he could +scarcely make his voice heard above the uproar within the sheikh's room; +but succeeding at last, he began a conversation which might have shocked +and would certainly have amused Tom if he could have understood it. + +"Is the most excellent lord the sheikh within?" shouted Abdul at the top +of his voice. + +The noise ceased. + +"Certainly he is, thou misbegotten son of a pig!" said the frenzied +sheikh. "Open this door, or by the beard of the Prophet I will flay thee +alive, thou rat." + +"Peace, O sheikh! Dost thou value thy life so little, foolish one?" +Abdul was gaining courage; his enemy was on the other side of the door. +"Peace, thou kaffir; I spit upon thee. Dost thou think to pass through +till it be the good pleasure of those who have captured thy kasbah to +permit thee? Know it is I, Abdul ben Cassim, and verily I and the good +men with me will cut thee in pieces, first plucking out one by one the +hairs of thy beard, if thou showest thy pig's snout beyond this door." + +This seemed to stagger the sheikh, for his next words were uttered in a +milder tone. + +"What is thy purpose, O Abdul?" + +"Know, thou dog of a dog, that a great sultan, the King of England, hath +sent his most trusty wazeer to wrest from thee his servant, whom thou +didst treacherously seize and shut in thy stinking dungeon. There now +lies at this very door a monstrous bomb which will go off--Allah is +great!--the instant this door is opened. Dost thou believe, dog? Verily +thou wilt be shattered into as many pieces as there are lies in thy +heart if thou dost but move the door the tenth part of an inch. But the +King of England is merciful; he will not do you or your folk harm: he +knows other ways of avenging the injury his servant has suffered at thy +hands. Verily thou art in bad case, thou two-faced dog. Before the +growing of a fingernail thou wilt be haled to Marrakesh, and then thou +wilt suffer the pangs of Tophet." + +And Abdul went on to revile the sheikh in terms that cannot be rendered +in our modest English. His inventiveness was very creditable to his +presence of mind, for though the noise in the sheikh's apartments had +ceased, the uproar below was growing moment by moment in intensity. The +great gate had been thrown open, the patio was thronged with fierce +Moors enraged at the indignity put upon their chief, and it was scarcely +possible that the doors below, stout as they were, could long withstand +the furious blows with which they were assailed. + +Meanwhile Tom had assured himself that his machinery was in order. Sir +Mark had already entered the car. Tom was beside him, ready to start the +propellers; Schwab was ensconced in the corner furthest from danger. + +"Call Abdul, Oliphant," said Tom. + +Oliphant went to the head of the stairs and called; Abdul came bounding +up, and in half a minute all five were packed into the car. It was a +very tight fit, and Tom felt a tremor of apprehension as he pressed the +lever. The vertical propellers answered instantly to his touch, but they +beat the air ineffectually: the airship absolutely refused to rise. + +"It won't lift us!" he said, aghast. "We're too heavy. Some one must be +left behind." + +"I'll stay," said Oliphant at once. "Take the others to the hill and +come back for me. I can manage for half an hour or so with my revolver." + +"Not a bit of it. I want your help with the machinery. What on earth can +we do?" + +"Leave Abdul?" + +"Can't hear of it: he couldn't defend himself long, and he'd be +frightfully tortured if they got him. We can't all get away at once, +that's certain; and, as we certainly can't leave Sir Mark, we must leave +the one we didn't reckon on. Herr Schwab----" + +"No. I refuse. I vill not stay. I am here." + +"I'm afraid you must. We shan't be long. I'll drop the others a mile or +two away, and come back for you at once." + +"Never in ze vorld. I protest. I am Jarman sobjeck: is not ze life of +Jarman sobjeck of more vorth zan ze life of a Mohr? Our Kaiser, who is +in Berlin----" + +"We can't stop to argue it. They won't kill you, at any rate; they know +enough of your Kaiser perhaps to refrain from that: whereas they'd kill +the Moor to a certainty. We can't all lose our lives for you. In short, +you must get out, and be quick about it, or, by Jove! we'll have to +throw you out." + +"It is terrible; it is unkind. I cannot stay alone; no longer am I as I +vas; I lose pounds in ze prison. I am not made for zis. Some vun muss +remain viz me; I care not who: some vun to give me courage." + +Here Abdul stepped into the breach and volunteered to stay with the +German. + +"I have it!" cried Oliphant. "The trapdoor that covers the opening is at +the other end of the roof, by the parapet there. We can shut that down +and bolt it. And, by George! the stones of the parapet are pretty loose. +Abdul and Mr. Schwab can pile some of them on the trap; we'll leave them +our revolvers, and with a little pluck they can keep the blackguards at +bay until we get back." + +"That's it. You'll be as safe as the Bank of England, Mr. Schwab. Quick! +Out with you! Here's my revolver!" + +"Ach! I am man of peace; vunce I vas var gorresbondent, and----" + +"For goodness' sake get out, man. Don't you see you're endangering the +whole lot of us, yourself included. Oliphant, we shall have to fling him +out." + +But at this threat Schwab rose and stepped on to the roof, his face a +very picture of woe. Oliphant assisted Abdul to place the trapdoor over +the opening, and of course made the discovery that the bolts were on the +inside. + +"But the stones will do," said Oliphant. "Buck up, Mr. Schwab; you're +not absolutely helpless, are you?" + +"It is true, I have carried stones, but zey vere small," said Schwab +lugubriously, remembering the means by which he had mounted the fence at +Midfont in pursuit of business. Leaving him to it, Oliphant got back +into the car. Tom pressed the lever, and the airship, relieved of near +two hundredweight of German subject and the lesser bulk of the Moor, +soared into the air. Tom's last view, as the vessel rose clear of the +kasbah, was Schwab limping across the roof under the burden of a large +stone from the coping. + +"A most singular proceeding!" murmured Sir Mark, as the airship whirred +over the hills. "I wonder how I stand--diplomatically considered. The +vessel goes with consummate ease. There is positively no roll--nothing to +cause seasickness." + +Tom laughed. The matter-of-fact at this moment was very refreshing. + +"I hope you will redeem your promise to rescue Mr. Schwab," the envoy +continued. "He has been a great joy to me in my captivity." + +"Oh yes, we'll get him. We shall drop you in a few minutes. You will not +mind being left for a little while?" + +"Not at all, not at all. I find the air and the motion most +invigorating. I have lately been very conscious of the inconvenience of +having a nose." + +Tom did not know, though Oliphant suspected, that Sir Mark's cool manner +was adopted intentionally--to ease the strain on their nerves. A man is +not trained to diplomacy for nothing. He kept up a quiet flow of +nothings until the hill was reached. + +"A very airy situation," he remarked, as he was set down on the +hill-top. + +"Yes. You'll find it cold," said Tom. "Here's my coat." + +"Thanks. Having escaped asphyxia, it would certainly be a pity to +contract pneumonia. You look quite comfortable yourself: the Moorish +djellab is a very warm garment, I should think." + +He put on Tom's reefer, which had lain in a corner of the car. Then Tom +sent the airship aloft again, and hurried back to the kasbah. + + + + +CHAPTER XII--A HITCH + + +Short as the time seemed, it was in reality nearly an hour before the +airship once more rested on the roof of the kasbah. While it was still +hovering above, Tom manoeuvring for a landing, there came the muffled +sound of shots and the rending of wood. + +"They've broken in," cried Oliphant. + +The Moors had indeed burst through the lower doors, released the +infuriated sheikh, and, finding themselves unable to lift the trapdoor, +were firing upwards through it. Schwab, who had been sitting on the pile +of stones which he and Abdul had heaped on the covering, to reinforce +their weight with his own, slipped off with amazing alacrity just as the +airship came to rest. + +"Gott sei Dank!" he exclaimed, as Tom joined him. + +[Illustration: "TOM, SEIZING A BIG STONE, THREW IT WITH ALL HIS FORCE +INTO THE BLACK ROOM BENEATH."] + +He needed no invitation to hurry into the car. As soon as Abdul was +aboard Tom started the engines. To his consternation the airship again +refused to rise. + +"Good heavens! what a weight you must be!" he exclaimed. + +"Colossal! But I lose pounds in ze----" + +"Oh, shut up!" cried Oliphant impatiently. "We can't make another +journey, Dorrell. The cover won't support the stones much longer with +those ruffians smashing the wood as they're doing." + +He had scarcely spoken when the woodwork gave way, the stones crashed +down the staircase, and there were cries of pain and alarm from the men +beneath. But it was impossible to suppose that they were all hurt, and +the passage was now clear for the rest. Something must be done at once +to gain a little time until the problem of removing Schwab's colossal +weight could be solved. + +Stopping his engines, which were working furiously, but with no effect, +Tom, followed by Oliphant and the Moor, jumped from the car and hurried +towards the opening. They were greeted by a musket shot; but Tom, +seizing a big stone, threw it with all his force into the black room +beneath. There were more cries from below, repeated when Oliphant and +the Moor followed suit, each with missiles of the same character. Then +there was silence for a time. The Moors were apparently nonplussed. + +"You can find your way to the hill if I land you below?" asked Tom of +Abdul. + +"Yes, master." + +"Hold the roof, Oliphant. I won't be ten minutes. Don't shoot 'em unless +you're very hard pressed." + +Tom and the Moor sprang into the car, the airship again ascended, and +came down about a quarter of a mile from the village walls. There was +nobody in sight; without doubt the whole population of the place was +congregated about the kasbah. Once more Tom ascended, alighting on the +roof just as Oliphant, using the wooden shaft of Abdul's hammer, was +driving back one man, more venturesome than the rest, who had attempted +to make his way up. There was no time to carry more stones from the +coping to serve as missiles, so Tom and Oliphant at last fired their +revolvers, two shots each, taking care, however, to avoid the opening. +Tom hoped that the sound of the shots would give pause to the men below, +most of whom must have hitherto been unaware that the intruders carried +firearms. + +Immediately after they had fired, the two made a dash for the car, +scrambled aboard, and set the engines in motion. + +"Gott sei Dank!" cried Schwab again, as the airship rose steadily above +the roof. + +As if they had known by some intuition what was happening, the Moors at +this moment made a rush, and before the airship had sailed a hundred +yards from the kasbah, figures appeared on the roof. A moment afterwards +one or two shots were fired, but they were without effect; the airship +sailed on, pursued by yells of baffled rage. + +In order to draw away pursuit from his real direction, Tom headed the +airship north-east, and it was not until he was well out of sight of the +kasbah that he put the helm up and steered straight for the hill-top. + +"We've come out of this uncommonly well," said Oliphant. "I was on +thorns all the time you and Abdul were absent." + +"We're not out of it yet," rejoined Tom. "The fuel's nearly done. These +comings and goings have used a terrible lot of the paste, and I doubt +whether there's enough to make one journey to the yacht--let alone two. I +didn't reckon on another passenger besides Ingleton." + +"Who is this freak? You seem to know him?" Oliphant spoke quietly: Herr +Schwab was lying against the rail of the car only a few feet away. + +"Met him once. His name's Schwab; he's an agent for the company I get my +powder from. Haven't had time yet to ask him how he got into this mess. +I say, it looks as if a storm is coming up." + +"Yes, the wind's rising, and the clouds are scudding along at a great +pace. How will she behave in a storm?" + +"Don't know, and don't want to know just now. We should be in a pretty +hobble if the machine were to get smashed up altogether." + +While Tom and Oliphant were thus talking in low tones, Herr Schwab was +deeply ruminating. He had been struck, on the roof of the kasbah, by +something familiar in the speech of this Englishman who was masquerading +as a Moor, but in the agitation of the moment he could not sift his +recollections. Now, however, safe in the car of an aeroplane, sailing +with almost imperceptible motion through the air, he was taking the +opportunity to search his memory. Just as the airship arrived above the +hill-top where Sir Mark Ingleton was waiting, and Tom was preparing to +descend, he was startled by a loud exclamation from the German. + +"What's the matter?" he asked. + +"Nozink, nozink at all. I know you vat you are. Mr. Thomas Dorrell! And +ze Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number Six. I know all about him; +jawohl! Zere are business for Schlagintwert: I do not mind ze +captivities now: business are business." + +Oliphant looked inquiringly at Tom; but the moment was not propitious +for explanations. Tom's whole attention was engaged by the machinery. +The airship alighted without mishap, and Tom as he stepped out of the +car was greeted by Sir Mark Ingleton. + +"I have a new conception of the music of the spheres," he said. "Your +approach was heralded by an immense humming, which, I take it, will +discount the usefulness of the airship in time of war." + +"Zat vill be chance for Schlagintwert," interposed Schwab: "to invent +somezink vat stop ze row." + +"Precisely," said Sir Mark, with a faint smile. + +"How do you feel now, sir?" asked Tom. + +"Greatly invigorated by the fresh air. I am glad of your coat. May I +know to whom I am indebted for this surprising change in my fortunes?" + +"My name's Dorrell," said Tom. "I happened to be rather lucky in getting +my airship to go just when it could be made useful." + +"Viz Schlagintwert's Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number Six," +added Schwab. + +"This is Mr. Oliphant, Lord Langside's son," Tom went on. + +"Indeed!" With fine courtesy Sir Mark perfectly concealed his amazement. +Oliphant still wore his stoker's clothes, and the black smudges on his +face had given him a striking resemblance to a coal-heaver. "I am +grateful to the Prime Minister for this novel and adventurous +expedition," added the envoy. + +"My father knows nothing about it, sir," said Oliphant. "We were afraid +he wouldn't allow it if we told him." + +"I see. Nothing succeeds like success. Did you come all the way from +England in this admirable machine?" + +"No, sir. We were brought out on Mr. Greatorex's yacht, which is now +waiting for us at the shore." + +"That is good news, for in truth, seeing the limited carrying capacity +of your airship, I had wondered how we were all to get away." + +"That's our difficulty, sir. Our fuel is almost gone, and I'm very much +afraid there isn't enough left to make even one journey back to the +yacht. There's plenty on board, if we _can_ manage to reach it." + +"In that case perhaps you and Mr. Oliphant had better return without us. +If you reach the yacht safely, you can come back and fetch us; if you do +not--well, things will be no worse than they were." + +"I don't care about doing that, sir. We came out to rescue you. I think +you had better come with us. Our fuel may last out; the sooner you are +safe aboard the yacht the better; and if we only get within sight of her +it will be all right, for Mr. Greatorex will certainly send a boat's +crew to fetch us off." + +"Had you not better take Mr. Schwab first? He has been in captivity +longer than I." + +"And I have vair important business," said Schwab eagerly. + +"I think my arrangement is best, sir. You see, your position is a matter +of state importance--international importance, I might say; all Europe is +more or less interested in your fate, whereas----" + +"Ach!" interrupted Schwab, "zey insult me, ze Mohrs; me, a Jarman +sobjeck; zerefore zey insult also our Kaiser, who is in Berlin. Zat is +important." + +"With all respect to your Kaiser, Mr. Schwab," said Tom, "we are three +to one here, and I think the interests of the majority must prevail." + +"But ze population of Jarmany is grosser zan ze population of Great +Britain. Ve grow vair fast." + +"Therefore your Kaiser can spare one individual better than our King. We +must settle it so, Mr. Schwab. We'll take Sir Mark to the yacht and then +come back for you--as we have already done." + +"But if you forget--vere am I zen? Mr. Greatorex is business man, perhaps +he vant to make haste for home. Besides, you try to keep ze secret of ze +Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number Six. I discover ze secret. +You vant to keep me out, so zat I shall not take out patent for +Schlagintwert. Zat is business!" + +"You may take my word for it that we'll come back for you," said Tom +patiently. Oliphant was fuming: Sir Mark Ingleton was quietly enjoying +the situation. "And here's Abdul." The young Moor at this moment came +over the brow of the hill. "Perhaps he will stay and keep you company." + +"I have enough gombany of ze Mohrs," said Schwab dismally. "Give notice, +I shall have big claim for damage. Ze loss of business is colossal." + +"You'll make it up when you put your Photographic Sensitizer Preparation +Number Six on the market under a new name. Abdul, you will stay with Mr. +Schwab until we get back?" + +Abdul agreed at once. In the event of a party coming from Ain Afroo to +capture him he could retreat to the caves, which were so difficult of +access that he might hope to defy attack for a time, even if his +hiding-place were discovered. The chief difficulty would be food and +water; but he could slip down into the woods before daybreak and gather +a quantity of fruit; perhaps also snare one or two wild animals; and if +Tom would leave behind the now almost empty canister in which he kept +the fuel for the engines, he could fill that with water from the hill +springs. + +Schwab's countenance, as he heard these arrangements discussed, was that +of a man very ill at ease. But he had apparently come to the conclusion +that further protest would be unavailing, and he held his peace, summing +up in his mind, possibly, the amount of his future claim for damages. +Tom handed Abdul his revolver, for use in the last resort; then followed +Oliphant and the envoy into the car. + +"You keep your vord!" cried Schwab, as the airship rose into the now +overclouded sky. + +Tom set the engines at half speed, partly to husband his fuel, partly +because, moon and stars being now obscured, he felt the same kind of +reluctance to go fast that a driver would feel in going through a dark +country lane. It was a little before three in the morning. He hoped to +reach the yacht about dawn, though, having in the darkness no means of +guiding his course, he foresaw the possibility of going out of the way. +But a strong wind had blown up from the east, and with this at his back +he knew that he must in due time reach the sea. Rain began to fall, at +first in large scattered drops, finally in a steady downpour, and when +the grey dawn at last broke through the sky, all three occupants of the +car were thoroughly drenched and miserable. + +Tom had anxiously watched his fuel supply. When the rain ceased and the +sky became clearer, and he caught sight of the sea afar off, he saw that +there was not the smallest chance of reaching the shore. + +"How far is it, do you think?" asked Oliphant. + +"More than ten miles, I fancy. I've scraped up the last ounces of paste; +we shall be lucky if it carries us another five miles." + +"And what then?" + +"Goodness knows! I don't know what part of the shore we are heading for. +We may be miles north or south of the yacht for all I can tell." + +"Will they see us on board?" + +"Don't think so. You see, the yacht, when we left her, was moored pretty +close inshore, and, unless she runs out a good way, the cliffs will +intercept the view. By Jove! we haven't come far wrong, though. You see +those two islands? I noticed them from the deck. They're a few miles +south of where we lay to. Here goes the last of the fuel, Oliphant; we +can't keep up more than five minutes. The only thing to be done is to +let her down at a suitable spot, and then gain the shore on foot, and +attract the attention of some one on board. No doubt they're keeping a +pretty keen lookout." + +They were now passing over a considerable stretch of wooded country. But +as Tom was looking about for a place convenient for landing, he saw to +his consternation that they were within sight of a village of some size. +The airship was no more than six hundred feet from the ground: Tom had +not dared to keep it at any greater altitude, and he could scarcely hope +that it had escaped observation. To descend at once was absolutely +imperative: yet a descent in full sight of the village would certainly +bring unwelcome and hostile visitors. In order to stave off, even for a +time, the inevitable, he selected a spot that seemed to be about a +couple of miles from the village--a large clearing in the midst of the +wood, about halfway up a gently rising hill. There he dropped gently to +earth. + +The airship had scarcely come to rest before he saw, from the village +below, a party of horsemen issuing at full speed from the gate. Tom +counted more than a dozen men, and within a minute these were followed +by another dozen. + +"We're in for it now," he said. "They'll be on us in a few minutes." + +"We can't fight 'em with only one revolver and a carbine," said Oliphant +ruefully. "They'll collar us and hold us to ransom--perhaps we'll all +find ourselves before long in the kasbah of Ain Afroo." + +"May I make a suggestion?" said Sir Mark Ingleton. "The airship has +failed us; we are, it appears, about to be surrounded by horsemen who +are doubtless well armed; flight is therefore impossible. It is equally +impossible, as Mr. Oliphant says, to fight. Before now, in similar +circumstances, diplomacy has been of some avail; and it is but right +that I, in whose behalf you gentlemen have been brought to your present +plight, should exercise my poor abilities in disentangling the knot." + +"What do you propose, sir?" asked Tom, inwardly remarking that diplomacy +seemed to make a man tolerably long-winded. + +"It is that Mr. Oliphant and myself should go forth to meet these +children of nature, waving a white handkerchief as if to welcome them. I +will explain to them, in terms they will comprehend, and with a +sufficient regard for the truth, what our situation is. They will +doubtless convey us to their village, whether they believe me or not. In +the meantime you, Mr. Dorrell, will have hidden yourself in a tree--no +difficult feat to a man of your years; and when you see a fitting +opportunity, you will steal your way to the shore, rejoin your friends +on the yacht, and take such steps as may suggest themselves in +consultation with them to effect our release." + +"A capital idea!" said Tom. + +"But can we do it? Can you speak to the Moors in their own tongue?" +asked Oliphant. + +"My dear fellow, your father selected me for this mission precisely on +account of my knowledge of Arabic," said Sir Mark. "If these Riffians do +not understand me, it will be because my speech is so much purer than +theirs." + +"Well, good luck to you!" cried Tom. "I'm off before they see me." + +And donning his djellab, which he had spread on the ground to dry, he +disappeared among the trees. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII--DIPLOMACY + + +Before the band of horsemen had approached the edge of the little +plateau where the airship lay, the two men stepped forward through the +trees at its lower edge and waved to the oncomers with every sign of +welcome. + +"I hope none of them will recognize me," said Sir Mark in a low tone to +Oliphant. "Probably few in this wild district have ever been in Tangier, +where my features are tolerably well known; and having been for some +time unable to shave--these followers of the Prophet are forbidden the +use of the razor, and Mr. Schwab does not carry one--I look perhaps a +little unlike myself." + +The horsemen came up at a gallop, bringing their horses to a halt when +it seemed to Oliphant that he and his companion must be trampled to the +ground. + +"Peace be with you!" said Sir Mark in Arabic, making a slight +inclination. + +"And with thee, peace!" returned the leader of the party, looking not a +little surprised at this orthodox salutation from a N'zrani. + +"In the name of the most Merciful!" Sir Mark continued. "Thou dost +behold us in sore straits, O Son of the Mountain. We are brothers under +our skin, thou and I, and I crave thy help." + +"Bismillah! I am thy host, and all that I have is thine." + +"Thou sayest well. Behold this strange monster that lieth on the ground +beyond us. It was made by a countryman of mine, to simulate the flying +of birds in the air--a most wondrous thing, and worthy to be seen by his +Shereefian Majesty the Sultan himself. I was indeed on my way to visit +the Sultan, but was prevented by a most untoward happening. (That is +strictly true, though the fact is somewhat post-dated," he added in an +aside.) "Even a bird tires with overmuch flying; and, as thou seest, +this thing that imitates the flying of a bird tires also, so much so, +indeed, that we saw that its wings would not carry us the full extent of +our journey, and we were on our way back to the coast in order to repair +its strength, when it failed us utterly. Wherefore, friend, we ask thee +to lend us the assistance of some sturdy men from your village to carry +our poor bird to Casa Blanca, or to any ship that may chance to be off +your shore. (They may have seen the yacht.) For this service we will +reward them liberally." + +"Bismillah!" ejaculated the Moor. Oliphant, watching his face during Sir +Mark's address, had caught a fleeting expression of perplexity and +disappointment. Expecting to make an out-and-out capture, he was no +doubt somewhat nonplussed at this request for assistance. But he had the +Moor's ready adaptability to circumstances. His speech gave no sign of +his thoughts. + +"Bismillah!" he repeated. "We are all in God's hands. Let my brother +give thanks to Allah the most Merciful that he came to a man so friendly +disposed as Salaam son of Absalaam. It shall be even as thou wishest, +Sidi. But first thou and thy son must come to my village, for your bird +yonder is too heavy to be carried without much preparation. It will need +the shoulders of a great number of men. But while the men are making +ready, enter my house, all too unworthy to shelter you: yet we will +comfort you with food, and do all that is in our power to please our +guests." + +"We thank thee, O Salaam, for thy proffered hospitality, which we will +accept, knowing that all things will be provided for our comfort." + +"So be it, Sidi. But within the walls of my village, when I first looked +heavenwards and saw this strange flying thing, did I not see three men +borne along in it, and one of them in djellab something like my own?" + +Sir Mark smiled and, pointing to a part of the apparatus that was +coloured grey, said-- + +"No doubt in the distance my brother mistook that for a person. We are +two, as thou seest." + +The Moor still looked somewhat mistrustfully around. Then, with an +appearance of being convinced, he dismounted, and ordered his followers +to dismount also, asking his guest to choose whichever of the horses he +pleased for himself and his son. At this imputation of kinship, Sir Mark +elevated his eyebrows; the young man was certainly a +disreputable-looking object. Thinking it policy to accept the offer, Sir +Mark mounted the head-man's own steed, Oliphant following his example +with the horse of one of his party. Then, bidding a score of the men +lift the airship on their shoulders, the head-man and the rest +remounted, and led the way to the village. Both Sir Mark and Oliphant +were glad that the distance was not great, for the high Moorish saddles +were a sore trial to their unaccustomed limbs. The envoy, at any rate, +was under no delusion as to the nature of the hospitality promised. From +the manner in which the tribesmen escorted the two Englishmen to the +village, there could be little doubt that they were prisoners. + +From his perch in the tree Tom noticed that although the majority of the +horsemen accompanied his friends towards the walls, four or five +detached themselves from the party and returned to the plantation, which +they proceeded to search pretty thoroughly. He made himself as small as +he could among the foliage when they passed beneath him, but they did +not look up; apparently it did not occur to them that any one should +have mounted into a tree. When they had finished their fruitless search, +they went, not in the direction their fellow-villagers had taken, but +towards the coast. Tom saw them spread out as they rode from the +plantation, and watched them until they were mere specks in the +distance. Then, when they were, he supposed, perfectly satisfied that +the suspected third member of the English party could not have escaped +them, they wheeled round and returned one by one again passing not far +from his hiding-place. Clearly, if they were so suspicious, it would be +expedient for him to remain for some time in the tree--an unpleasant +prospect, for he was becoming very stiff and cramped, and suffering +rather severely from hunger and thirst. + +It was some hours before he ventured to slip to the ground. Even then he +did not dare to leave the shelter of the wood, knowing that in the open +he would inevitably be observed. But he stretched his limbs and found a +few blackberries, which somewhat appeased his hunger. Every now and then +he again climbed the tree to find out whether any one was approaching, +or whether a watch was still being kept. Late in the afternoon he +descried, on the further side of the village, a horseman approaching +from the direction of the hills. He came at full gallop, and rode +straight into the village, disappearing there from Tom's view. + +"Hope to goodness he isn't a messenger from the sheikh!" thought Tom. + +At last, when the sun had set, and the sky was darkening, he deemed it +safe to leave his hiding-place. If the yacht had remained where he had +last seen her--and it was scarcely likely that Mr. Greatorex would shift +his anchorage--he conjectured that a five mile walk would bring him to +the nearest point of the shore. Fortunately it was a beautiful night, +clear and starlit, though the moon had not yet risen. Taking his +bearings very carefully by the stars, in anticipation of a return +journey, he started, going very slowly and cautiously, watching every +shadow lest it should indicate the presence of a Moor. Ignorant of their +language, he knew well that he had no chance whatever of slipping past +if he were once accosted. In such a case he could trust only to his +lightness of foot. But nothing happened to cause him uneasiness, and +after trudging along for nearly two hours he was beyond measure +delighted to see what was evidently a masthead light some distance out +at sea. No native craft would show a light; he could hardly doubt that +the _Dandy Dinmont_ and his friends were before him. + +He was quickening his step in the pleasure of this discovery, when +suddenly, without warning, he found himself at the edge of an encampment +lying in a slight hollow at the summit of the cliffs. He started back, +but it was too late. A Moor, swathed in his hooded djellab, came out of +the darkness and spoke to him. Tom saw that it might be fatal to run +now; he walked on, hoping that he might pass without replying. But the +Moor spoke again, more sharply, in a more questioning tone. Tom, whose +head was covered with the hood, mumbled something beneath his breath; +but his unpractised tongue could not achieve the hard guttural accent of +the Moorish speech, and the sentinel took a hasty step towards him. + +There was now nothing for it but to take to his heels. Disguise was no +longer possible, and, to free his limbs, he cast the djellab from him, +and dashed at full speed across the grass to the edge of the cliff. The +slope was steep, but he scarcely gave a thought to the risks he ran. +Scrambling over, he lay down and rolled from top to bottom, with many a +gash and bruise from sharp edges of the rock. + +Loud shouts pursued him. The camp was aroused. Picking himself up, +feeling breathless and dazed, he sped across the sandy stretch of beach +and sent a sounding hail in the direction of the yacht; perchance his +voice might carry above the rustle of the surf and the cries of his +pursuers. He heard men scurrying down a path in the cliff somewhere +behind him; then their footsteps on the light shingle that lay above the +sand. Even if his cry had been heard on the yacht, it was impossible +that a boat should reach him before he was overtaken. There was only one +way to safety. He plunged into the surf, and struck out towards the +vessel. A shot followed him, but he cared nothing for that; in the +darkness it would puzzle an expert marksman to hit him, when nothing of +him could be seen but a head bobbing up and down. Not till he had swum +well out of the reach of his pursuers, who had not followed him into the +sea, did the thought of sharks cross his mind. Then he trod water for a +little, and, making a bell of his hands, sent another prolonged cry +across the water. + +Is that an answering hail? He shouts once more; yes, a cry comes back to +him: "Ahoy-o!" But at the same moment he hears also the sound of +paddles, to his right, apparently from a bend of the shore. The Moors +have not given him up, then. Again he presses on, putting all his force +into a strong side-stroke. Now another sound falls upon his ear; the +welcome sound of oars plied sturdily in rowlocks. The yacht's boat is +coming to meet him. But the pursuers are the nearer--will his friends +arrive in time? His long exertions since he left the yacht, his want of +food and sleep, have robbed him of his strength. His pace becomes slower +and slower. The pursuers' boat is coming up behind, while yet the beat +of oars before him sounds terribly distant. But he is still swimming; +every yard he makes is a yard added to the speed of the friendly boat. +He struggled on; and the Moors were still some distance behind when, +gasping and spent, he was helped by Timothy and another into his ark of +safety. + +But the boat did not head at once for the yacht. + +"Give way, men!" cried Captain Bodgers himself, at the tiller. + +He pointed the nose of the boat straight for the Moors' light craft. +Eight sturdy British sailors pulled with a will. There was a crash, a +cry, and a dozen Moors were in the water, struggling to right their +capsized boat. + +"That's all right. Now we'll get back, my men," said Captain Bodgers, +and some few minutes thereafter Tom was assisted up the side of the +yacht, and into the arms of Mr. Greatorex. + +"God bless my soul, what has happened?" said the worthy merchant. + +"We've got him--Ingleton," murmured Tom faintly. "He's with Oliphant, +captured again. Schwab's in the cave with Abdul." + +"He's light-headed, poor fellow!" said Mr. Greatorex. "Here, some one, +blankets, and brandy--look _alive_ now." + +Tom was soon stripped, dried, swathed in warm blankets, and dosed with +brandy till his blood tingled. Mr. Greatorex fussed round him, waiving +his proffered explanations until he was thoroughly recovered. Then Tom +gave him an account of all that had happened since he left the yacht, +Mr. Greatorex breaking in every now and then with "Dear, dear!" "You +don't _say_ so!" "The villains!" "What a _mercy_!" and such like +exclamations. Early in the narrative he interrupted with a question: + +"You say Oliphant! Who's Oliphant? Am I on my _head_ or my _heels_?" + +"Oh, I forgot you didn't know," said Tom with a smile. "Your new stoker +was Oliphant in disguise. You see, Byles, your late stoker, had to +remain at home and attend to his sick mother." + +"No more sick than I am!" declared Mr. Greatorex. "Don't believe he +_had_ a mother! M'Cracken, indeed! I'll M'Cracken him! I hope his father +will get him well _thrashed_ when he goes back to school." + +"He's rather big for that, don't you think?" + +"The bigger the better! I never _heard_ of such a thing! The impudence +of it! And taking us all _in_ so! What things are coming to I don't +know. No obedience, no respect for age--pretending to be Scotch, too----" + +"Well, he is Scotch, you know." + +"Don't tell _me_! He's only Scotch when it suits him. There are others +like him in the Lords. He was never Scotch in _my_ house--where he shall +never show his face again, _never_!" + +Tom was not deceived by this explosion of wrath. He knew very well that +Mr. Greatorex was only relieving the tension of his feelings, and +working off his nervous excitability on the most convenient object. "Les +absents ont toujours tort," he remembered. Mr. Greatorex presently +calmed down, and heard the rest of the story in comparative quietude. + +"And what are we to _do_?" he said at the close. "Swob doesn't matter; +we're not bound to lift a finger for _him_; but we can't leave Ingleton +and M'C---- and Oliphant in the hands of those wretches. They'll break up +our machine, too, and play the very deuce with _my property_. What are +we to _do_?" + +What Tom answered is shown by subsequent events. Two or three hours +after his return to the yacht, when he had had a thorough rest and a +good meal, a well-armed party, consisting of the whole ship's company +except the cook and one seaman, left the yacht, on which all lights had +been extinguished, and rowed with muffled oars to a sheltered cove on +the south side of the bay--that furthest removed from the Arab +encampment. Mr. Greatorex had insisted on joining the party. In vain Tom +pointed out that a hard march was before them, suggesting delicately +that Mr. Greatorex was not so light as he once was. The merchant puffed +the objection away. They disembarked in dead silence, and, leaving two +of their number to take the boat back to the yacht, made their way +cautiously up the cliff. + +Led by Tom, the party, ten in all, struck off in the direction of the +village. Thanks to the light of the moon, which now lay a little above +the horizon, Tom was able to make a fairly straight course for the +plantation in which he had hidden during the previous day. Once or twice +he strayed from the proper track, and ultimately found that he was +nearly a mile from his objective; but this was not bad, considering that +there was no beaten road, and they had to tramp across rough country. +When he reached the plantation he was no longer in doubt as to the true +direction; during his long stay among the trees he had had time to take +his bearings pretty thoroughly. + +Mr. Greatorex was blown by the time they came to the clearing in which +the airship had descended, and Tom begged him to remain hidden in the +plantation while the rest went on to the village. + +"Pff!" panted the perspiring old gentleman. "Never gave up _anything_ +yet; on you go!" + +But a slight halt was made while Tom completed arrangements for his +night raid. The village was walled; the gates would no doubt be shut, as +at Ain Afroo; the wall must be scaled. Captain Bodgers selected the +biggest men to give their more active comrades a "leg-up." These latter +were provided with ropes, by which they might haul up the others when +they had themselves gained a footing on the wall. Tom impressed on them +all the necessity of maintaining dead silence. He estimated that the +village contained about a hundred fighting men, and if the approach of +the raiders were discovered in time for the walls to be manned, the +chance of a successful coup would be small indeed. + +All carried firearms except Mr. Greatorex. He had a knobbed stick, +capable of dealing a very damaging blow. + +"There's bound to be a _fight_, I suppose?" he had said when Tom was +discussing his plans on the yacht. "I don't like _that_, you know. I'd +punch a man's nose and knock him down without scruple, of course; but +that needn't _kill_ him, you know. Besides, how do I _stand_? This is +uncommonly like a piratical raid--like Jameson's, and he might have been +_hanged_. However!" + +Tom assured him that no blood should be shed if it could possibly be +avoided; but he had small hopes that the night would end without a +fight, and a very brisk one. + +The party set off for the village, stealing along under what cover was +afforded by bushes and inequalities in the ground. When about three +hundred yards from the wall all such protection ceased; the ground was +level and apparently open. Tom's heart was in his mouth lest their +footsteps should be heard as they crossed this. He dared not set them at +a run, for the soil all around was stony, and the sound of near a dozen +men rushing at speed could not fail to be heard in the village. So he +kept up the same stealthy approach, and his caution was justified, for +level as the space had appeared at a distance, it proved to have patches +of loose stones, and some yards of boggy land, through which ran a +narrow and evil-smelling creek; to rush would have ended in disaster. + +They arrived beneath the wall without having heard any alarm raised +within. In a trice the men began to clamber up. It was made of mud and +rubble, and was not in so ruinous a condition as the wall of Ain Afroo. +The first man reached the top. Immediately there was a shout and the +sound of hurrying feet, and Tom sprang up to the sailor's side in time +to see a Moor in long djellab dashing from the nearest house towards the +wall. Suddenly he halted, and fired. The young sailor winced as the +bullet struck him; but he was not badly hurt, and letting down his rope, +calmly proceeded to haul up one of his comrades. After firing, the Moor +made a rush along the wall. Tom grappled with him; both fell, dropping +their weapons, and Tom felt in an instant that he was no match for the +sinewy figure that had him in his arms. The Moor forced him down; his +hands were already at Tom's throat, when Timothy Ball, who had +accompanied the party in spite of his half-healed wound, threw himself +upon the enemy from behind, dragged him backwards, and left him +half-strangled, but yet alive. + +When Tom rose dizzily to his feet, all his party were within the wall. +One or two shouts were heard from the village, but apparently the Moors +were not yet quite awake to what was happening. Tom pulled himself +together, and led the way straight for the kasbah, which, from his lofty +perch in the tree during the day, he had seen slightly to the right of +the place at which the entry into the village had been made. When they +dashed up to the main gate, this was being opened to give exit to a +couple of men who were apparently about to inquire into the cause of the +slight commotion and the rifle shot that had been heard. The two were +instantly bowled over by the onrush of British seamen, the party swarmed +through into the kasbah, the gate was shut, and they came face to face +with the head-man. + +"What have you--got to--_say_ for yourself?" + +The Moor had naturally nothing to say for himself. He saw himself +confronted by an elderly whiskered foreigner, in a yachting cap and blue +serge suit, brandishing a formidable stick. Mr. Greatorex was in a +passion. The exertions of the march, the pains of being hauled up a +wall, not without bumps, the scamper at the rear of his men into the +Moor's kasbah, had deprived him equally of breath and of self-control. +Determined not to be left ignominiously out of the hurly-burly, he +forced himself to the front, and thrust his stick under the very nose of +the Moor--who stood a foot above him--calling him to account in the +spluttering sentence recorded above. + +For a few moments there was a deadlock, and Tom felt the need of an +interpreter. Eventually he persuaded Mr. Greatorex to give way, and +managed to make the Moor understand that if he valued his life he must +at once bring out the Firangi whom he had recently introduced to his +house. Finding himself shut off by the gate of his own kasbah from the +support of his men, the Moor recognized that he had no choice but to +comply, and at a command from him one of his servants brought Sir Mark +Ingleton and Oliphant from the upper floor into the patio, looking none +the worse for their brief incarceration. + +"_Delighted_ to see you," said Mr. Greatorex, stepping forward and +wringing the diplomatist's hand; Oliphant he studiously ignored. + +"Mr. Greatorex, I presume," returned Sir Mark. "I hope to make your +better acquaintance, sir. Meanwhile, if I may be allowed----" + +His quick eye had taken in the situation at a glance. + +"Peace be with thee!" he said in Arabic, turning with a bland smile to +the scowling Moor, "You perceive, O Salaam, that my friends also, being +alarmed at my absence, have availed themselves of your generous +hospitality. They are distressed at the unceremonious manner of their +entry, but you will assuredly deign to pardon it, for have you not +professed yourself my devoted servant? You will be the first to forgive +an intrusion due solely to the too great zeal of my friends." + +The Moor, chagrined and bewildered, had no option but to acquiesce in +this polite fiction, though it is to be feared his reply lacked +something of the diplomatist's ease and suavity. + +"But we are a large company," Sir Mark went on, "and should be loth to +trespass on your hospitality. You will be relieved, I am sure, if we +betake ourselves to the vessel that awaits us off your coast. You will, +of course, honour us by giving us your company so far. Indeed, if you +will do us the favour to accompany us on board our vessel, we shall +endeavour to return in some slight measure the gracious hospitality that +has been vouchsafed to myself and--my son. If you add to your favours by +assisting us in the march--by showing us the easiest road and defending +us from the perils that may beset us, such as are known to you, O +Salaam--you may be assured that we shall show our gratitude in very +tangible form. There are, as you know, even in Morocco, evil +counsellors, men of violence, some who would even dare to lift their +hands against the Sultan himself. If there be any such in this village, +which truly I am loth to believe, I advise you, as brother advises +brother, to exhort them to mildness of demeanour. These friends of mine +who now enjoy your hospitality are men of war; they have arms, you +perceive, in the use of which they are well skilled; and since, in our +progress to the shore, you will of course occupy the place of honour at +my right hand, in all likelihood you would suffer hurt if there are +among your followers any men of Belial whose hearts incline towards +bloodshed; that would be a great grief to us. And now, O Salaam, as the +night draws towards dawn, it will be well if you perform your morning +ablutions and devotions and prepare to lead us forth. Bismillah!" + +Sir Mark, as he laughingly informed Mr. Greatorex afterwards, had +purposely made his address somewhat lengthy, so as to give Salaam plenty +of time to regain his self-possession and to weigh the pros and cons. +The upshot was that, shortly after dawn, the whole party, with Salaam +son of Absalaam in their midst, set off towards the coast, the airship +being carried on the shoulders of a troop of the villagers who had been +promised liberal bakshish in return for their services. + +On arriving at the shore, Captain Bodgers signalled to his men on the +yacht to send a boat, and with it a fresh supply of fuel for the +airship, which had been deposited just above high-water mark. While this +was being done, Mr. Greatorex emptied his pockets of small coin, to +redeem the promise to the carriers, and Sir Mark kept up an even flow of +amicable talk, apparently quite oblivious of the throng of Arabs who had +observed the proceedings from their encampment on the cliff, and by and +by came down to the shore and stood around, listening with looks of +amazement to this fluent Nazarene who discoursed so pleasantly of things +intimate to them. + +The men soon arrived with a large tin of the fuel-paste. It was placed +in the car; Tom made an inspection of the machinery to assure himself +that it had suffered no hurt while in the charge of Salaam; then +Oliphant joined him. A few moments later, with a mighty whirring sound, +the airship rose gallantly into the air, to the great wonderment of the +Moors. While they were intently watching the manoeuvres of the airship, +filling the air with their cries of "Mashallah!" Sir Mark and the rest +of the party embarked and pulled out into the bay, two of the men +sitting in the stern of the boat with their faces to the shore and their +rifles held conspicuously ready. Salaam indulged in a burst of fury at +the manner in which he had been outwitted. His followers gathered around +him and held excited consultation, some being apparently inclined to +fire on the departing boat, others to pursue the airship. But they had +made up their minds to neither course by the time the party reached the +yacht; and when Captain Bodgers trained on them the two brass guns she +carried, they hurriedly broke up and disappeared over the cliffs. + +"You were just in time, Mr. Greatorex," said Sir Mark Ingleton as they +sat together in the boat. "A messenger came in from the sheikh yesterday +afternoon, and I shrewdly suspect that arrangements had been made to +transfer us to our old quarters in the kasbah. I say 'our old quarters,' +forgetting that Mr. Oliphant----" + +"Oliphant!" interrupted Mr. Greatorex. "_There_ now! What do you think +of _this_, Sir Mark?" + +And he proceeded to delight his guest with a vigorous indictment of +M'Cracken, and Byles, and Byles' sick mother, and Lord Langside for +having sent an English gentleman on a mission to such an abominable +country, and for having such an outrageously impudent son. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV--THE TROGLODYTES + + +Meanwhile, how had things been faring with Herr Hildebrand Schwab, the +unlucky representative of the Schlagintwert Company of Duesseldorf and +the partner of Sir Mark's captivity? + +When Abdul pointed out the cave in which it was advisable that they +should take shelter, and the means of access to it, Schwab groaned +deeply, and declared that nothing on earth should induce a German +subject of his weight to attempt so perilous a climb. But on reflection +he came to look upon it as the lesser of two evils, and with much +travailing of spirit and discomfiture of body he allowed himself to be +assisted up the incline so long as progress on foot was possible, and +then to be hoisted at the end of the rope. Abdul's strength alone would +not have sufficed to haul so great a mass into safety; but Salathiel ben +Ezra, who was by this time thoroughly weary of solitude, and had come to +the end of his stock of provisions, lent willing help, with a view, as +it proved, of turning the situation to account. + +He used every means of persuasion and cajolery which his ingenuity could +devise to persuade Abdul to release him. One of his propositions was +that they should convey the German to the sheikh of Ain Afroo and claim +a sufficient reward. Abdul ridiculed the idea. Both he and the Jew would +get short shrift from the sheikh now that the more valuable of his +captives was snatched from his grasp. Salathiel then proposed that they +should try to gain the nearest town where they might find Europeans, and +tell a moving story of the sufferings and perils they had endured in +rescuing the German from the hands of his captors. But to this, as to +his other suggestions, Abdul turned a deaf ear. + +They were a strangely assorted trio. Schwab only half trusted the Moor; +the Moor despised Schwab; both disliked the Jew. It was not long before +Schwab declared that he was hungry, and illustrated the privations he +had already suffered by exhibiting the unwonted gap between his +waistcoat and his person: "And I have ze straps of my vaistcoat drawn +_so_ tight!" he added. Salathiel's scanty stock of provisions having +been exhausted, Abdul descended to forage, and returned with a supply of +dates and olives, and the tin filled with water at the spring. + +"Ach! My pipe! It is in ze room vere first I vas laid up. Mein Gott! And +ze list of Schlagintwert; ze last edition, revise and enlarge. Ze Moors +zey vill now order vizout me, and I lose colossal sum in commission!" + +All this was Greek to Abdul, but a little more comprehensible to the +Jew, with whom, however, Schwab refused to discuss business. He +preferred to ply Abdul diligently with questions about the airship: +where it came from; how it was driven; what was the composition of the +fuel. + +"Already is it partly known to me," he said. "It contain large quantity +Photographic Sensitizer Preparation Number Six. But zat is not all. I +know it! Vy? Because my Jarman intellex tell me so. But vizout doubt I +discover it; zen zere shall be business for Schlagintwert. You do not +know vat ze ozer zink is?" + +Abdul shook his head. + +"Zen you vas never made for business. Vun cannot learn it; it is born. +So vas I born!" + +He discoursed on business and other things, despising his audience for +their want of appreciation; then fell to bemoaning his fate. Thus the +hours passed away. + +At last the monotony of the situation was broken. Abdul, like a good +Mohammedan, was engaged in his devotions when the Jew, at the mouth of +the cave, caught sight of a party of Moors far below, and signalled to +them before he could be prevented. Springing up, Abdul was on the point +of killing him with his knife when Schwab hastily interposed. + +"No, I vill not have it," he said. "You kill him; zen am I accomplice; +and vat is zat for a kind of business, I say?" + +But he did not decline to assist Abdul to truss up the Jew and render +him incapable of further mischief. No more than Abdul himself did he +wish to attract visitors. + +The mischief, however, was already done. The Moors, a search party +despatched by the sheikh, had observed the Jew's signals, and at once +spurred their horses across the country until they reached the foot of +the precipitous ascent. They dismounted: one of them began to climb up. +For a time Abdul watched his progress; then, when he thought the man had +mounted far enough, he threatened to hurl him from the face of the cliff +if he advanced another step upwards. It was so obviously in Abdul's +power to make good his threat that the Moor hesitated; then, in response +to an encouraging shout from below, he again began to climb. He may have +reflected that his comrades could afford to shout; they were not +clinging like a fly to the face of an almost perpendicular wall of rock; +but he may have reflected also that great would be his praise and reward +if he succeeded in bringing to account the insolent strangers who had +done such despite to his sheikh. No doubt also he reckoned on support +from the member of the party who had signalled. + +Up he came, slowly feeling his way. Abdul bent over the brink, and, just +as the man ascended within reach, smartly rapped his knuckles with the +butt of Tom's revolver. At the same moment a shot from below struck the +rock within an inch of his head. Abdul at once darted back within the +shelter of the cave; but the climber, taught by the sharp blow he had +received, ventured no farther, and shortly afterwards began to descend. +When he reached the party below, it was clear that he met with a +reprimand from the leader for his want of courage; but he sullenly +refused to make another attempt, and seemed by his gesticulations to +invite each of his comrades in turn to take his place. But nobody came +forward, and after an excited discussion--portions of which were in tones +so loud that Abdul was able to interpret to Schwab, nervously eager to +learn what was to be done--a messenger was sent off in the direction of +Ain Afroo, while the five or six who remained settled down to keep watch +at the foot of the precipice. + +[Illustration: "ABDUL BENT OVER THE BRINK AND SMARTLY RAPPED HIS +KNUCKLES WITH THE BUTT OF TOM'S REVOLVER."] + +Rather more than an hour passed. Schwab became more and more anxious. At +last a much larger party rode down at a gallop, among them the sheikh +himself. Raising his voice when he came below the cave, he called on the +occupants to surrender, threatening them with the most fearful tortures +if they persisted in defying him. It was evident from the terms he used +that he was under the impression that his escaped prisoners and their +rescuers were all in the cave together, and thus that he had them fairly +trapped. Abdul made the most of this mistake. He warned the sheikh +against braving the power of the white man. He had already had one +example of it; the Firangi had shown him more mercy than he deserved; +the second example would entail dire consequences on himself and his +village. But this reply only fanned the flames of the sheikh's wrath; he +was not to be intimidated by words: and, hurling more threats, he began +to consult with his followers as to some means of enforcing his summons. + +It was clearly a hazardous if not indeed an impossible task to approach +the cave from below. One man in the cave, so long as he kept himself out +of range of rifle fire, could hold any number at bay. How much more, +then, would it be disastrous to make the attempt against, as the sheikh +supposed, five or six well-armed men? But, as Abdul well knew, it was +just possible to gain the plateau above the cave, from which access to +it could be obtained, by climbers acting in concert on the eastern face +of the hill. That this longer but easier ascent would be known to the +enemy there was no doubt, for Abdul had just recognized, among the +horsemen who had accompanied the sheikh, a young man who had been his +companion in former days, and with whom as a boy he had actually +performed the feat. + +Anxiously he watched the colloquy below. Behind, Schwab was imploring +him to explain what the sheikh had said. It turned out as he had feared. +His former companion with a few others left the sheikh and disappeared; +the rest made themselves comfortable within a few yards of the foot of +the hill. Abdul had little doubt that he would soon have to reckon with +an attack from above; not an easy matter, in truth, but far more likely +to succeed than any attempt from below. + +There was a long interval. Under stress of fear and hunger, Schwab was +nearly demented. He walked about the cave, with his hands pressed hard +upon the neighbourhood of the lowest button of his waistcoat, uttering +guttural groans, making lugubrious appeals to the Homeland, and to a +lady whom he called at one time Mrs. Bottle, at another "mein briddy +Chain," and ever and anon anathematizing Thomas Dorrell, "vat do nozink +for me--for me, vat do so much for him viz Photographic Sensitizer +Preparation Number Six." Abdul paid no heed to the German's fumings and +frettings, nor to the entreaties of Salathiel ben Ezra, who, stretched +on his back, tied hand and foot, added to his prayers the most lavish +promises if the Moor would only release him and help him to return to +his own place. + +At last, Abdul, squatting silent and watchful just within the opening of +the cave, saw a pair of legs dangling in front of him. Some of the enemy +had, as he had foreseen, made their way to the top of the hill, and were +about to attempt to reach the cave from above. It was a foolhardy +proceeding, for they could only come singly, and the occupants of the +cave could easily dispose of them. Indeed, Abdul surmised that the +sheikh was trying an experiment, sending one of his men to draw the +badger. However that may have been, the application of the point of +Abdul's knife to the calf of one of the dangling legs caused the owner +of them to draw them hastily up and to swarm up the rope to which he was +clinging, as a spider runs up his filmy thread when threatened by an +enemy. + +Apparently the sheikh was satisfied that a direct assault, whether from +above or below, was hopeless, for thenceforth the cave party were left +in peace. But it was peace only externally. Even Abdul himself, who had +hitherto preserved extraordinary composure, now showed signs of +perturbation. What was the enemy doing? He dared not attempt to see, for +he knew that if he showed his head it would be the target for a dozen +bullets. Did the sheikh intend to starve them out? Their food was all +gone; the tin of water was almost empty; it was impossible to get a +fresh supply of either. Voices were heard from below; once Abdul heard +an answering call from above; it appeared indeed as if the sheikh had +resolved on an investment, knowing that sooner or later the occupants of +the cave must yield or die. + +The day passed. Schwab fell into a sleep of exhaustion. Abdul remained +sleepless, wondering why the Englishman had not reappeared with the +airship, as he had said he would do. Had some mishap befallen him? +Surely he had not wilfully deserted them! This Abdul refused to believe. +When morning broke he ventured to go to the mouth of the cave and look +out. The Moors were still below; apparently they had camped all night on +the ground. They caught sight of Abdul, and mockingly invited him to +share their cous-cousoo. He made no reply, and again withdrew into the +shadow. + +Schwab was by this time a wreck. He lay silent. From the back of the +cave came piteous moans from Salathiel, begging to be relieved of his +bonds. But Abdul was obdurate; he had enough to do to keep watch on the +enemy in front, without having to reckon with the Jew besides, for he +knew that Salathiel would stick at no treachery. + +Impassive as Abdul appeared, he was in reality on the verge of despair. +The time was fast approaching when he must choose between starvation and +surrender. The choice did not trouble him; he would never surrender to +the sheikh of Ain Afroo. What troubled him was the thought that his old +enemy would once more triumph; that the vengeance on which he had set +his whole mind for years was to be snatched from him. + +He was bitterly thinking on these things when Schwab rose feebly to his +feet. + +"I can no more," he said; "I go to yield myself. I muss have somezink to +eat. Still am I Jarman sobjeck; zey vill respeck our Kaiser who is in +Berlin." + +Abdul expostulated, striving in his imperfect English to warn the German +of the risk he ran. He knew the sheikh; he was a terrible enemy; he +would care nothing who or what his prisoner was. Who in Europe would be +any the wiser if in this remote mountainous region a man were slowly +done to death in the dungeons of a kasbah? But Schwab would not listen; +he craved for food; "Let us eat, for to-morrow we die," exactly +expresses his state of mind. He moved towards the entrance to the cave, +shaking off, with a sudden access of rage, Abdul's detaining hand. The +Moor followed him, and stood behind him when Schwab, at the brink of the +precipice, waved his hand and shouted-- + +"I give myself opp. But you muss come and fetch me." + +But before the echo of his voice had died away, Abdul suddenly pulled +him back by main force into the cave. + +"See! see!" he cried. + +"Tausend Teufel! Vat shall I see?" returned Schwab. + +At the point where Abdul now stood the country immediately beneath the +cave was invisible, and both the men were screened from the Moors. But +the sky was open, and far away in the clear blue to the north-west Abdul +had descried a speck which moment by moment was growing larger. + +"Vat shall I see?" repeated Schwab, vainly looking in the direction of +Abdul's stretched forefinger. + +"The flying ship!" cried Abdul. "It comes!" + +"You say zat! Lemme see, lemme see, lemme see!" + +He roofed his eyes with his hands, and peered into the distance. + +"Ach! zey veep!" he said, rubbing away the tears that had gathered. "It +is for vant of food, nozink else." + +He looked again. + +"Boy, you are right!" he exclaimed, "truly it is ze airship. Zey come +for me! Ach! you dirty Moors, now you may go choke! I vizdraw vat I said +about give myself opp. I vas not myself; I vas--I vas--anozer man. Ach, +boy, so am I indeed hungry!" + +The two watched the airship drawing nearer. For a moment Abdul wondered +whether it would come into any danger from the rifles of the Moors +either below or on the hilltop above. But remembering how clearly +everything on the ground could be seen from the car of the airship, he +was reassured, guessing that Tom would descry the besiegers in plenty of +time to avoid their shots. + +To gain the hilltop the airship had approached at a considerable +altitude, but was now dropping. About half a mile from the cave it +suddenly made an upward sweep, and Abdul knew that the enemy had been +seen. Before it sailed out of sight over the hill, Abdul plucked off his +djellab, and waved it in the mouth of the cave. The signal provoked two +or three shots from those of the Moors below whose attention was not +engrossed by the machine, which some of them had seen before and of +which all had heard most marvellous accounts. Abdul was unhurt, and his +signal was answered by a shot from the car of the airship, which then +passed out of sight. + +"Famos! Zey know ve are still alive! Mein Gott! truly mein hunger is +colossal." + +Tom had in point of fact discovered the enemy at the moment when Abdul +noticed the change in the direction of the airship. The discovery was by +no means a welcome one. + +"I didn't reckon on their hiding-place being found out," he said to +Oliphant. "It makes things rather awkward." + +"They must be in a pretty bad state in the cave if the Moors have been +here long." + +"And we can't get at them; we daren't go too near, for at close quarters +the Moors would riddle the planes with their shot and very likely smash +the engines. And we certainly can't let the airship down and go for +them. The worst of it is, they know pretty well by this time what the +airship really is, and we couldn't throw them into a panic as we did +before." + +"Confound this German!" said Oliphant. "I shouldn't mind if we could +have a really good scrimmage and some fun for our money, but there's +nothing in it." + +"There's Abdul, you see," replied Tom. "We'll have to think it out. +They're in the cave, safe enough, and can evidently hold on there. Let +us make for that hill yonder, and think the matter out." + +As the airship crossed the hill of the cave, Tom steering for the +loftier hill some five miles to the east, a dozen Moors sprang to their +saddles and set off in pursuit. But the ground was very rough; they had +to follow a tortuous route; and when, a few minutes later, the airship +reached the hill, Tom calculated that he had probably half-an-hour to +spare before the horsemen would arrive. + +"We'd better ground, and economize fuel," he said. "'Pon my word, +Oliphant, it seems as if this is going to be as tough a job as it was at +the kasbah." + +Choosing a fairly open space almost at the top of the hill, Tom brought +the machine to earth. Then, while Oliphant watched for signs of the +pursuing horsemen, Tom stretched himself on his back, with his hands +under his head and his cap tilted over his eyes, and settled down to a +good hard think. + +"Don't go to sleep," said Oliphant. + +Tom replied with a grunt. + + + + +CHAPTER XV--VIEW HALLOO! + + +Oliphant sat with his knees up, looking at his friend, thinking what a +cool hand he was. No one could have guessed from Tom's easy attitude +that he was thinking out a problem on which lives depended. As the +minutes passed, even Oliphant was deceived. + +"Not asleep, Dorrell?" + +Tom grunted, but did not stir. Another minute or two, then he suddenly +jumped up. + +"Well, I think I've got it," he said, and he chuckled. + +"What is it?" + +"Come along. I'll explain as we go." + +The two mounted the car; Tom started the ascensional screws; and the +airship rose slowly from the hill. When they had left the ground some +three hundred feet beneath them they saw, a mile or more distant, the +body of horsemen who had set off in pursuit from the Moors' encampment. +The airship was headed in the direction from which they had come, and +when they saw it they halted, and waited until it had soared past them; +then, having no doubt that it was returning to the hill with the +intention of again attempting to rescue the blockaded men, they wheeled +round, and galloped in pursuit. + +The airship was going at only a moderate speed, so that the horsemen +were able to keep pace with it. Tom chuckled again, and Oliphant, to +whom he had by this time imparted his notion, seemed to find great +amusement in the sight. + +"The beggars little imagine they're playing our game," he said. + +"No, indeed. I wonder what they really are thinking. Probably they fancy +something has gone wrong with our works and we can't go any faster." + +"D'you think they've got wind of our former breakdown?" + +"It's not unlikely. News travels very fast in these countries that +haven't got the telegraph!" + +When they arrived at the hill of the caves, there appeared to be no +change in the situation. A small group of four or five men were +squatting on the summit; more than a score were congregated below. All +eyes were directed upwards as the airship again came into view, and the +men laughed, recognizing how fruitless would be any renewed attempt to +rescue the prisoners. They all carried rifles, and evidently intended to +use them when the vessel came within range. But it passed too high above +their heads, still going very slowly, and, so far from descending +towards the cave, sailed on towards the sea. It crossed one of the +adjacent hills, then sank a little, so that it was only visible then to +the few men who kept watch above. + +But a minute or two afterwards the occupants of the car, looking round, +saw that these men were on their feet, gesticulating with great +excitement. + +"They've taken the bait!" cried Oliphant, laughing outright. + +The men had noticed that the airship, instead of continuing its +north-westerly course, had suddenly taken a turn to the left, and was +making at tremendous speed straight for the village of Ain Afroo. Rising +higher into the air, so that he could get a view over the shoulder of +the hill, Tom saw that the whole body of horsemen, now joined by the +sheikh and his party, were riding at a mad gallop for the village. By +this time the airship was a mile ahead of them, and the two Englishmen +laughed heartily as they watched the frantic efforts of the Moors to +reduce the gap. They were left hopelessly behind, and were still more +than a mile from the walls when the airship, hovering directly over the +roof of the kasbah, began very slowly to drop earthwards as if a descent +were going to be made on the spot where it had formerly rested. + +The descent took a considerable time. Who was there to tell the frenzied +horsemen that the accursed Firangi was playing with them? They urged +their foaming steeds up the hill at a furious rate, making light of all +obstacles, and extorting a tribute of admiration from the Englishmen for +horses and riders alike. They clattered into the village, dashed through +the street, pulled the horses up on their haunches at the door of the +kasbah, flung themselves from the saddles, and poured into the patio and +up the stairs. + +The sheikh himself, by far the best mounted of the troop, was the first +to arrive; and within a few seconds he sprang out of the opening on the +roof, followed closely by several members of his household. But what was +this? The airship, instead of resting on the flagged roof, was hundreds +of feet above them, and, horror of horrors! sailing with terrific speed +back towards the hill of the caves. For a few moments the Moors stood +gazing in bewilderment, being joined by more men from below. Then, with +hearty Moslem curses, they rushed back to the opening, toppling over one +another, stumbling down the stairs in their haste. Down into the patio, +out of the gate, on to their horses' backs once more, and off they set, +pell-mell after the airship. + +But the horses were badly blown. There were four miles of heavy country +to cover. And by the time they were again clear of the walls the airship +was halfway to the hill. + +Tom and his friend were hugely delighted with the success of their +simple bit of strategy. They could see the horsemen like ants in the +distance beneath, urging their poor panting horses to the utmost of +their capacity. + +"We ought to have plenty of time to get them away," said Tom. + +"Yes, but hang it all! we've clean forgotten that we can't lift both +Schwab and the Moor." + +"Great Scott!" Tom ejaculated, in consternation. But in a moment his +face cleared. "We'll manage that," he said cheerfully. But then he +received another shock. He saw that the four or five men who had held +their watch on the plateau were still there: they had not followed the +rest. Their horses could be seen tethered in the grove beneath, and the +men were gathered in a knot, watching the rapid approach of the machine, +which probably they had expected to see no more. + +"There's only one thing for it," said Tom. "We must go slap at them, and +trust to luck. If they shoot, they may do so before we are within range, +and at this speed they may easily miss us. They are sure to be a bit +nervous, too." + +Tom had already begun the descent, obliquely upon the hill. When the +airship was, as nearly as he could calculate, on a level with the +summit, he again put the engines to their utmost speed, and dashed +straight at the little group. There were three or four reports almost +simultaneously, and above the whirr of the screws Tom thought he heard a +sound of rending, as if one of the planes had been struck by a bullet. +The vessel, indeed, dipped slightly, and for a moment he feared that it +would be dashed against the face of the hill. But he jerked up the lever +controlling the planes, the airship rose the few feet necessary to clear +the summit, and once more sped on its course. + +By this time, however, the group on the hilltop had taken fright. They +could not know that if the airship dashed into them, they would be as +formidable to it as it could be to them. Even if they had known this, +they would probably not have been willing to sell their lives, even +though in doing so they should break up the machine and hurl its +occupants to destruction. With one consent they broke and fled. + +Tom instantly reversed the engines, and the airship glided slowly to +rest on the plateau. But the path by which the fugitives were attempting +to make good their flight was only wide enough to accommodate one man at +a time, and that with difficulty. Only three of the men had begun to +descend when Tom sprang out of the car. The other two, fearing to be +attacked from behind, turned instinctively to meet the supposed danger. +Then, seeing that they had only two men to deal with, and feeling no +doubt that they would be completely at the mercy of these men when once +they had begun the descent, they hesitated for a second at the brink. + +If they had used this second to draw their formidable knives, Tom's +adventure might have ended there and then, for in his eagerness he had +forgotten to snatch up his revolver. But their halt was due rather to +nervousness than to courage, and Tom was never lacking in promptitude at +the critical moment. He dashed straight at them. One of them swung round +at once and slithered down the path. The other, somewhat more +mettlesome, made a grab at his knife. But he had only half drawn it from +his belt when Tom's fist shot out and tumbled him headlong after his +comrade. The result would have been amusing if Tom had had time to +observe it. From top to bottom of that rocky declivity there was an +avalanche of Moors. The impetus with which the topmost man had been shot +over the edge sent him smack into the man next below. The two then +rolled, or rather pitched, on top of those who had preceded them, and +were making their way quickly yet laboriously down the steep tracks, and +it is to be feared that there were bruised and broken limbs at the +bottom. + +But Tom had neither eyes nor ears for the discomfiture of his enemies. +There was still much to be done before he could be sure that his friends +and his airship were out of harm's way. One of his friends was already +taking things into his own hands. At the first hint of what was +happening Abdul had left the mouth of the cave, and was now swarming up +the perilous face of the hillside. Breathless he came over the brink, on +the opposite side from that where the Moors had disappeared, almost +before Tom could turn round. + +"All well below?" asked Tom. + +"Yes, master." + +"Can you bring up the big man?" + +"With a rope, master." + +"Quick, then: we have no time to spare." + +"And the Hudi, master?" + +"What of him?" + +"He made them come. We tied him, feet and hands." + +"Untie him, but leave him. He can make them come again!" + +A rope was quickly unshipped from the car and strongly looped. Abdul +descended, the rope being held by both Oliphant and Tom above, who, +doubtful whether their strength would stand the strain of the ponderous +German's weight, hitched it round a rocky prominence at the brink of the +hill. But fear lent Schwab extraordinary agility--as once before in the +enclosure of Midfont House. With the rope looped about him, he hauled +himself up by it, assisting his progress with his feet against the hill. +He was in a bath of perspiration, his fat face was pale as death, when +he reached the top and sank exhausted at Tom's feet. Oliphant and Tom +together hoisted him into the car, and by the time he was settled, Abdul +had cut the Jew's bonds and again clambered up, pursued by entreaties, +wild threats, execrations, from the luckless Salathiel ben Ezra. + +Glancing in the direction of Ain Afroo, Tom rejoiced to see that he had +still about ten minutes to spare before the pursuing horsemen could +arrive at the spot. He knew from experience that with Schwab as a +passenger the ascensional screws did not exert sufficient power to lift +three other men; but when Oliphant had reminded him of this, a way out +of the difficulty suggested itself. If once the airship could be raised +from the ground and the horizontal screws set in motion, it was likely +that, with the speed thus obtained, they might suffice (the planes being +inclined at the proper angle) to overcome the downward pull of gravity. + +Tom rapidly explained to Abdul the plan he had formed. Then, entering +the car in which Schwab and Oliphant already were, he set the +ascensional screws in motion. The vessel slowly rose. Meanwhile Abdul +had looped about his body the rope by which Schwab had been hauled up, +the upper end of which had again been securely attached to the car. When +the airship had risen a few feet from the hill-top, Tom set the +horizontal engines at full speed, and the vessel sailed beyond the +plateau, Abdul dangling from it at the end of the rope, as he had done +once before when rescued from the shark. He showed no fear; in the loop +he was perfectly safe, for even if the vessel sank with his weight, it +would be so slowly that he would run no risk of being brought too +violently into contact with the ground. + +As Tom had expected, the vessel did not sink. But, the horizontal screws +being partly engaged in counteracting the force of gravity, the speed of +the airship was reduced to only five or six miles an hour, and at that +rate it was evident that the fuel would not hold out until they reached +the coast. A second breakdown must be averted at all costs; it was +unlikely that they would be able to escape the clutches of predatory +Moors a second time. No doubt the story of what had happened before had +spread for many miles through the country, and short shrift would be +given to the aeronauts if again they were brought to earth. + +There was now only a minute or two to spare before the sheikh would +arrive. Whatever could be done must be done at once. Glancing down, Tom +saw below him the horses belonging to the men who had just been tumbled +from the plateau. The men themselves were lying at the foot of the hill, +not dead, as Tom was glad to see--the rugged declivity had broken their +fall--but evidently completely disabled. Without hesitation Tom reduced +the speed of the engines and descended, shouting to Abdul, who at the +end of the rope would of course reach the ground first, to secure two of +the best horses, and follow as fast as he could in the track of the +airship. + +Owing to the delay that had occurred, Abdul had only just leapt into the +saddle when the horsemen came into sight scarcely half a mile away. The +sheikh was far ahead of his men, and the pace even of his splendid Arab +showed that there was little fear of Abdul being overtaken. The young +Moor set off at a gallop, a second horse at his side. There was a shout +behind him; the sheikh called upon his followers to spur their flagging +steeds: clearly he intended gamely to continue the pursuit. + +But the fugitives were now well away. Tom accommodated the speed of the +airship to the pace of the horses below, keeping at a height of no more +than a hundred feet from the ground so as to be able to drop down and +stand by Abdul in case of need. For a few minutes it seemed as though +the lad was to be close pressed, in spite of the hard galloping the +horses of the pursuers had already done. But gradually they dropped +farther and farther behind; Abdul's horses were fresh; he himself was a +light weight; and Tom began to breathe more freely. + +Another danger, however, occurred to him. The country was at present +wild and desolate, with no signs of habitation. But as he neared the +coast, he would undoubtedly pass scattered villages and towns, and it +was possible that Abdul might be checked at one of these. He therefore +felt it desirable to rise to a greater height, so that he might obtain a +more extensive outlook over the country and indicate to Abdul a course +which would prevent him from running into danger. + +He soon saw that his precaution was justified. The pursuers were still +sticking doggedly to the trail, and Tom noticed that from time to time +they were joined by fresh horsemen from the hamlets through which they +passed. He could not distinguish figures in the distance, but he had no +doubt that the sheikh had already obtained a fresh horse, and was among +a group which had far outstripped the rest of the troop and was +gradually diminishing the distance between them and their quarry. Abdul +was riding gallantly on, changing from horse to horse with admirable +dexterity; but it was clear that the pursuers, with many opportunities +of obtaining remounts, must in course of time run him down. The airship +would always indicate the direction in which they should ride. + +Again Tom had to devise a means of overcoming a new difficulty. The +chase had now lasted some hours, and the matter was becoming urgent. By +good luck, the sight of a high conical hill, well wooded, somewhat to +the right of the course they had been following, suggested a plan. +Lowering the airship to within easy speaking distance of the Moor--a +manoeuvre which caused some uneasiness to his horses, tired as they +were--Tom directed him to make for this hill, and remain in hiding among +the trees until rejoined. At the moment he thought of making all speed +to the yacht, dropping Schwab, replenishing his can of fuel, and +returning for Abdul. But a little consideration caused him to change his +mind. It might prove a very difficult matter to find the hill again when +returning. It must be, he guessed, at least sixty miles from the sea, +and he could not remember the landmarks exactly enough to be able to +retrace his course. + +In rapid consultation with Oliphant he decided on another plan. Altering +the course of the airship several points to the southward, and keeping a +sharp lookout upon the pursuers, he found that they were still following +him as a guide. No longer having to consider the powers of endurance of +Abdul's horses, he quickened the speed of the airship, and saw in a +little while that this had had its effect, several of the horsemen +beginning to straggle, though they all continued in the same direction. +Having thus taken the enemy some five or six miles out of their course, +he suddenly swung round and made off at full speed towards the hill +where he had left Abdul, of which he had been careful not to lose sight. + +"They are a game lot," remarked Oliphant, as the horsemen again followed +the track. They were soon left mere specks on the horizon, and at last +dropped entirely out of sight. Approaching the hill from another side, +some time elapsed before the airship was seen by Abdul from his +concealment in the wood. Then he again mounted; his horses had profited +by the short rest: and the fugitives, having gained several miles by +Tom's manoeuvre, were able to take matters comparatively easy until late +in the afternoon. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI--ICARUS + + +Meanwhile Schwab had awoke to the facts of existence, and the manner in +which he announced his awakening was characteristic. + +"Himmel! how I am hungry!" + +"Hullo, Mr. Schwab! Feel better?" said Tom, throwing a hasty glance at +the German lying against the rail. + +"Vorse! vorse! Tousand times vorse!" + +Oliphant laughed at his hollow tones. + +"It is nozink for to laugh," returned Schwab with a flicker of +animation. "I am vizout food, I know not how many hours. It is not viz +me custom to go so long vizout food; it give me rude pain--zere!" + +He laid his hand on the lowest button of his waistcoat. + +"No longer am I as I vas. Vunce I swell, not too moch, but all ober; +now, I fade, I shrink, I have to get ze tailor to take me in." + +"Awful, for a business man," said Oliphant--"to be taken in, you know." + +"So! But it muss be done. Ach! I am hungry as a--as a--as a----" + +"Hunter!" suggested Oliphant. + +"No; hungry as a rhinoceros. I could eat--I could eat--I could eat a----" + +"Whale!" + +"No; I could eat a steak, underdone, from ze grill, viz chip bodadoes, +gabbage viz vinegar, and Voosder sauce, viz a long glass--ach! two long +glasses, of lager from Muenchen. Ach! ze zought of it make my mous cry." + +"For goodness' sake, Oliphant, give him some grub and shut his mouth," +cried Tom. + +"Shut my mous? How zen can I eat? For ze sake of anyzink give me +somezink to eat; zen my mous vill shut and open of itself; vun needs not +to zink ven one eats." + +Bubbling with amusement, Oliphant handed the German some biscuits from +the stock they had brought with them. But his mirth evaporated when he +caught sight of Tom's face. He had wondered a little at the tetchy tone +in which Tom had last addressed him, and from his anxious expression he +could not but guess that something was seriously wrong. + +"What's the matter, Dorrell?" + +"The engines--don't you smell 'em?" + +"I do," replied Oliphant, sniffing. "What's it mean?" + +"It means that the turbine casing is becoming overheated. I altered the +inlet valve so as to let more of the explosive mixture into the +turbine--and this is the result." + +"What can we do?" + +"Simply reduce speed and hope that we can weather through." + +"Any idea how much farther we have to go?" + +"About fifty miles, I should think. We must have done forty at least. I +shut off one of the engines just now, but the second one can't keep us +afloat. I wish Schwab would fade and shrink into nothing." + +Schwab had heard nothing of this. He was otherwise occupied. But noting +now the anxious looks of his two companions he said, with his mouth +full--"Do I eat too many?" + +Tom was too much concerned to reply, but Oliphant laughed again. + +"We can't go on," said Tom. "I shall have to drop her somewhere and see +if I can put matters right. We were five or six miles ahead of the Moors +when I caught sight of them last, and we've a few minutes' grace at any +rate. They won't know exactly where we are." + +Choosing a secluded spot, he descended and brought the airship to rest. +Abdul had halted; Tom explained to him the cause of his descent, and set +him to keep watch on the enemy while he examined the machinery. The Moor +looked thoroughly done up, and it struck Oliphant that he was even more +in need of food than Schwab, so he gave him the remainder of the stock +of biscuits--not a large quantity now. As for Schwab, he had fallen +asleep. + +It took Tom but a few minutes to adjust the valve, but he knew that the +result of this adjustment must be a serious reduction of speed. He was +greatly perturbed. It was clearly impossible for Abdul to ride much +farther: the horses were in a terrible state of exhaustion. They were +cropping the scanty herbage at the side of the track--poor refreshment +after the fatigue they had undergone. + +"The Moors' horses must be equally played out, that's one comfort," said +Tom;--"at least, those that have pursued us all the way, if any have. +That's doubtful: the Moors have probably drawn on every village they +have come through." + +"I say, did you hear that?" asked Oliphant. + +It was a shout--apparently from a spur of forest some distance to the +right of the line which they had expected the enemy to take. + +"They're spreading out! Who'd have thought they'd have kept it up so +long?" + +"Well, you see, they know that one of us is on horseback: that means +that the machine won't carry us all; and in the nature of things they +can overtake a rider." + +"I can see nothing for it but that Abdul must push on alone," said Tom. +"We can manage to get along slowly, and as long as the machine can keep +us afloat at all they can't catch us. But if they catch sight of Abdul +he's bound to be run down. Abdul, you must go on by yourself. Get to the +coast if you can, and swim out to the yacht--can you swim?" + +"Yes, master." + +"Swim to the yacht, then, and tell Mr. Greatorex what has happened. +He'll do all he can to help us if we can only get near enough." + +Abdul showed some reluctance to leave the others in difficulties, but he +obeyed. He mounted the less exhausted of the horses and set off. + +"He'll have a chance," remarked Tom, as he disappeared. "When the Moors +see us in the air again they will suppose that Abdul is keeping pace +with us as before." + +"It's nearly six o'clock; it'll be dark soon." + +"Yes, that gives him another chance--if they don't sight him." + +At this moment he observed a score of horsemen emerging at a rapid pace +from the forest whence the shout had come. They were about half a mile +away. Catching sight of the airship, they gave utterance to loud cries +of triumph, and somewhat changed their direction. Tom at once caused the +airship to rise, and by the time the Moors arrived at the spot where it +had rested it was high above their heads and out of harm's way. + +The Moors immediately began to scour the neighbourhood for signs of +Abdul. Tom steered slightly to the left of the direction in which the +lad had gone, in order still further to delude the pursuers. Not long +afterwards a much larger band of riders galloped up from the direction +in which the airship had come, and when they joined the former party, it +was seen that they numbered at least sixty in all. + +"We're rousing the whole country," said Tom with a return to his wonted +cheerful manner. "If it goes on like this there'll be thousands by the +time we reach the coast." + +"Shall we reach it, d'you think?" + +"I can't tell. The engines are good for a few miles; how many I don't +know." + +"Vere am I?" said Schwab, awaking. "Ach! I remember. Do ve soon arrive +at ze yacht?" + +"We probably shan't arrive at all," replied Tom. "One of the engines is +failing." + +"But it muss not--it muss not! Surely ze Photographic Sensitizer +Preparation Number Six vill not fail? Schlagintwert's preparations never +fail; zat is ze foundation of zair business." + +"No; the preparation is all right; it's the engine." + +"Ach! it should have been made in Jarmany! But, tell me true, Mr. +Dorrell, are ve in danger?" + +"The truth is, Mr. Schwab, that I can't guarantee the machine for +another ten miles." + +"Ach! Vat vill I become? Vat vill Schlagintwert's become! Vy did you +bring me in zis bad-made airship from my captivity? If you zere had left +me, our Kaiser who is in Berlin vould have sent a telegram to ze Sultan +of Marokko, and zen ve should see somezink. Zere had I at least enough +to eat." + +"Confound it!" cried Tom, thoroughly exasperated. "We came to fetch Sir +Mark Ingleton, not you. But for you we should have been halfway home to +England by this time; and but for your weight, we shouldn't have been in +this pretty mess at all." + +Schwab's jaw fell. This was an aspect of the matter that had not +occurred to him. Lifting his waistcoat, and looking down, he said +slowly-- + +"Truly I vish I had not eaten so much biscuit!" + +It was now getting dark. Tom steered towards a bit of rough country to +the north, again some points out of his course, his object being to +worry the pursuers as much as possible and to draw them away from the +line of Abdul's flight. With great satisfaction he saw them follow. +After scattering over a wide area in search of the fugitive whose +disappearance had so much puzzled them, they had again formed a compact +body, and pursued the airship in the belief that their quarry must still +be within touch of it. In a few more minutes they were obliterated by +the darkness; but the sky was starry, and while on the ground they were +invisible from above, it was probable that the airship was still visible +to them. + +Tom had noticed for some time past that the wind, which had been slight +and for the most part in his favour during the day, was shifting, and +blowing with greater force. In the circumstances the airship was making +very little headway, and Tom's anxieties were further increased when his +sense of smell apprised him that the engines were again becoming +overheated. Even if the airship were out of sight, the pursuers would +probably still hear the whirring of the propellers, and it was +advisable, both for the sake of cooling the machinery and of depriving +the enemy of a clue, that the airship should once more be brought to the +ground. But it was with some trepidation that Tom allowed it to sink. He +chose a spot just beyond a stretch of woodland from which it was +scarcely possible that the vessel could have been seen. He could only +hope that the sound had not been heard. + +"I vish----" began Schwab, as they came to rest. + +"Shut up!" said Tom in a vehement whisper. "Everything depends on our +keeping perfect silence now." + +In a few minutes the horsemen could be heard approaching. They dashed +past the trees behind which the airship stood, and Tom's heart beat fast +as he realized how very near the danger was. But the riders did not +pause, and the sound of the horses' hoofs gradually faded away. + +"We'd better lie snug for a time," said Tom. "Perhaps the wind will +moderate. I'm afraid the exertion of overcoming it would do for the +engines altogether." + +While Oliphant held the electric torch, carefully shaded, Tom again +overhauled the engines. + +"The valve is sticking," he said in a whisper. "There is some grit +between the stem and the sleeve. It must have got in at our last stop. I +shall have to take off the cover and file the stem smooth." + +This was an operation of some difficulty; but as it turned out there was +time to spare, for as the night wore on the force of the wind rather +increased than diminished. Schwab bemoaned the lack of a pipe and beer; +the others were so tired and famished that they were not provoked to +either merriment or anger by his complaints. He by and by again fell +asleep. Tom and Oliphant kept watch and watch throughout the night. When +Tom awoke from an uneasy nap shortly before dawn, he was relieved to +find that the wind had dropped, though its direction was still +unfavourable. At daybreak a start was made, and for a short time the +valve worked satisfactorily, thanks to the large amount of oil used to +counteract the overheating. Then, however, the oil began again to give +off an unmistakable odour. The airship was brought to ground, and Tom +found that the injured stem had become bent. With infinite care, to +avoid breaking it altogether, Tom straightened it with a small hammer, +and again filed it smooth. + +Once more the airship resumed its flight. Fortunately there was no sign +of the pursuers, and Tom hoped that Abdul had managed to evade their +clutches. + +The country was very wild and deserted, and Tom purposely steered some +miles out of what he thought was the true course, in order to avoid the +cultivated district that lay in the direct line to the yacht. Suddenly, +however, skirting the shoulder of a hill, he came into full view of a +village, with the sea a few miles beyond. + +"Thank Heaven!" ejaculated Oliphant, "we may do it yet." + +"Surely that's the very village you were taken to with Ingleton," said +Tom, scanning the place through his binocular. "Have a look." + +"By George! I believe you're right. There's a whole host of Moors round +it, too. They've sighted us. They're off!" + +Taking the glass from him, Tom saw a body of at least a hundred and +fifty men galloping off in a direction which would bring them between +him and the coast. + +"Smother them!" he cried. "I wouldn't mind if we hadn't to drop so often +to cool." + +"Can't we make one good dash for it? We've only eight or nine miles to +go, have we?" + +"My dear fellow, we can't do five miles at a stretch--unless we drop Mr. +Schwab." + +"Donnerwetter!" cried the German, starting up in fright. "Vat you say? +Vould you do zat? Vould you desert? Vould you leave me, a Jarman +sobjeck, to be tore in piece by tousand vile Mohrs, ven ze sea, ze sea +vat sails ze Jarman fleet, is so near, so near? But yes--I know it! I +alvays say so. Never trust an Englishman--egzept in business!" + +Tom treated this outburst with silent contempt. + +"I can't go at a higher speed than fifteen miles an hour," he said to +Oliphant. "We're perhaps a mile nearer the sea than the Moors, but they +can equal our pace for a short distance, and I know we'll have to come +down before we get to the sea. If we do, we'll be collared." + +"Risk a dash! It seems our only chance." + +Tom hesitated for a few moments. Then he said, setting his teeth-- + +"All right. It's the only thing to do." + +He put both engines at full speed, and Schwab shouted with delight when +he saw that the airship was gradually drawing away from the galloping +Moors. But in ten minutes all three were aware of the ominous smell. Was +it possible to reach the yacht, now clearly in view? Tom, alert to catch +the slightest indication of failure on the part of the engines, hoped, +doubted, hoped again, but was resolved to hold on to the last. + +Another five minutes passed. + +Then all were startled by a strange grinding sound in the defective +engine. + +"What is it?" asked Oliphant. + +"It's all up," said Tom quietly. "The heat has loosened the turbine +blades, and they are smashing to pieces." Even as he spoke sheets of +flame shot from the exhaust pipe, accompanied by a series of deafening +reports. + +Tom at once reduced speed, shouting to Oliphant to adjust the planes for +descent. + +"Zink! Zink vat you do!" cried Schwab, now almost frantic. "Zey vill +have us! Ze Mohrs vill cut our zroats! Vy--vy--vy----" + +Tom paid no heed; Oliphant muttered under his breath. They were sinking +towards a ravine through which a watercourse ran to the sea. The engine, +its parts grinding and tearing with a hideous scrunching sound, was +shooting out flames, to the accompaniment of detonations like those of a +Maxim gun. Another minute or two would witness a cataclysm; but Tom +thought that if the farther side of the ravine could be reached, they +might gain a little grace. The enemy would have some difficulty in +crossing at speed. + +The engines were failing; the airship was falling more and more rapidly. + +"Can't screw the planes any further!" cried Tom. + +Oliphant wrenched at the lever; Tom put the whole force of the second +engine upon the ascensional screws; and the rapidity of descent was +somewhat checked. The ravine was directly beneath; Tom succeeded in +giving the vessel a last forward motion; then it came with a violent +bump to the ground, just on the further edge. + +"Out! Quick!" cried Tom to Schwab, who was bemoaning the shock he had +suffered. + +When all three stood safe on the ground, Tom caught hold of the rails of +the car. + +"I made it; I'll break it; _they_ shan't," he said, and he toppled the +airship over into the gulf, where it was smashed to atoms. + +Then, with Oliphant at his side, and Schwab labouring behind, with +piteous entreaties that they would not desert him, he dashed towards the +cliff, a mile away, beyond which was the sea. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII--COMPLIMENTS AND THANKS + + +While yet in the air, Tom had seen a boat putting off from the yacht. +The vessel itself was no longer visible, concealed by the intervening +cliff; but the top of its mast, with Mr. Greatorex's ensign flying, +could just be seen. Towards this Tom led the way at full speed. To go +very fast was impossible over the rough ground, but moderate as the pace +was it soon began to tell upon Schwab, who plunged heavily along, +tripping over tussocks of coarse grass that grew here and there on the +sandy soil. Fierce pants could be heard by the two running side by side +in front of him, though, in spite of his breathlessness, he managed to +give utterance every now and again to agonizing entreaties that the +others would not desert him. Moved by these, and remembering the +German's game leg, the others waited for him, and catching each an arm, +hurried him along between them. + +Terror lent him strength and speed when the foremost of the pursuers, +arriving at the brink of the ravine, which at that point they were +unable to cross, began to fire upon the fugitives. Bullets whistled +past, alarmingly near, and Tom and Oliphant instinctively released +Schwab's arms and moved apart, so as to present a smaller target to the +enemy. Meanwhile some of the Moors had galloped up the bank of the +ravine in search of a crossing. Glancing round, Tom was concerned to see +that these horsemen had disappeared; presumably they had found a +suitable crossing-place, and would soon again be on his tracks. In a few +moments they reappeared on the nearer bank, and set off at a gallop. + +The Englishmen were now about a quarter of a mile from the shore, Schwab +having dropped nearly a hundred yards behind, with another quarter-mile +between him and the horsemen. There could be little doubt that the +fugitives would be overtaken before they reached the edge of the cliff. +Even if they contrived to scramble down they might be snapped up under +the eyes of the yacht's crew, should not the boat have arrived. And what +of the Moors who a day or two ago, when Tom left the place, had been +encamped in the hollow of the cliff? Were they still there? + +The question was answered almost as it occurred. Tom suddenly noticed a +horseman making towards him from the left, followed closely by a dozen +others. It was with a gasp of amazement that he recognized in the +foremost rider no other than Abdul. He came up at a breakneck pace, +sprang from his horse, and joined himself to the fugitives. Immediately +afterwards the Moors were upon the little party. Leaping from their +horses while still in full career, they threw themselves upon the four, +and though Tom and Oliphant each with a blow from his fist felled a man, +and Schwab threatened the vengeance of the Kaiser, they were overwhelmed +and flung to the ground. + +The Moors shouted with exultation, their cries being answered jubilantly +by the horsemen coming up from the ravine. They were beginning to bind +their captives; but before a single knot could be tied there came other +shouts from the direction of the sea. + +"At them, men; bowl 'em over!" + +Surely this was the voice of Mr. Greatorex! A lusty British cheer +answered him. With a great effort Tom threw off the Moor who was pinning +him down, and sprang to his feet in time to see a dozen sturdy seamen +rushing from the edge of the cliff. The Moors turned at bay, but nothing +could withstand the charge of the British tars, wielding their clubbed +rifles like flails. In a few seconds half of the Moors were on the +ground with more or less broken heads; the rest were in full flight. + +But the other troop of horsemen was now not more than a few hundred +yards distant. At a word from Captain Bodgers the sailors flung +themselves face downwards, ready to deal with the second band. + +"Aim at the horses!" cried Mr. Greatorex, as he came panting up in the +rear of his men, and flopped down beside them. + +A scattered volley brought half a dozen of the advancing horsemen to the +dust. The rest, unable, owing to the rugged uneven ground, to see with +what force they had to contend, reined up and hesitated. Another volley +caused them to draw off to some little distance, where they formed a +group and began to discuss how to retrieve this unexpected check. + +"Now for the boat, my lads!" cried Mr. Greatorex. + +Up sprang the men, and the whole body made a dash down the cliff. Before +the Moors had agreed upon their course, the fugitives were half-way +down. Seeing now by how few men they had been checked, the Moors came +after them at full speed. But by the time they reached the edge of the +cliff and dismounted the fugitives were at the bottom. + +At that moment there was a report and a puff of smoke out at sea, and a +shot, purposely aimed high, flew over the cliff, and fell a little to +the rear of the Moors. That was the finishing stroke. Their horses +stampeded and dashed straight for the ravine, the riders in wild pursuit +behind them. Three minutes afterwards Mr. Greatorex had his whole party +in the boat, and the sailors, with a final rousing cheer, pulled for the +yacht. + +Tom saw everything in a mist as he went aboard. Worn out with the +exertions and excitements of the past few days, he was only vaguely +conscious of being fussed over, and treated, as he said afterwards, more +or less as a baby. He was put to bed, slept heavily for several hours, +and awoke with a most exigent hunger. The yacht was in motion. He rose, +bathed, put on some clean things, and, feeling himself again, thankfully +obeyed Mr. Greatorex's hearty call to dinner. + +Around the well-spread table he found the rest of the party already +seated. At the head was Mr. Greatorex, with Sir Mark Ingleton at his +right; at the foot, Captain Bodgers with Herr Schwab. The German had +tucked his napkin between his shirt and his waistcoat, and was gazing +with ecstatic anticipation through his glasses at the covered entree +dishes just brought in by Timothy. + +Tom was taken aback, and not a little moved, when Sir Mark Ingleton rose +from his seat, and, grasping his hand, said-- + +"Thank you, Mr. Dorrell. I have heard the whole story from Mr. Greatorex +and your Moorish follower. It is not for me to speak of the public +service you have rendered; personally, I owe you more than I can say, +and I shall never forget it." + +"So!" chimed in Schwab, rising stiffly from his chair. His left hand +gripped his fork; his right enveloped Tom's. "I zank you, for myself +personaliter, and for ze Kaiser, for Schlagintwert, and for Business. +Fill my glass, if you please," he added to Timothy, whose smile +instantly changed to a frown--"I vish to cry 'Hoch!' No, no, not too +full, for ze ship moves, and ze champagne vould slop over." + +Schwab's intervention came in the nick of time to relieve Tom's +embarrassment. + +"Come, Tom, my _dear_ fellow," cried Mr. Greatorex, "_sit_ down. We were +only waiting for you." + +"Where's Oliphant?" asked Tom. + +"Hm! _M'Cracken_ is at the furnace," replied Mr. Greatorex. + +"I say! That's rough luck!" said Tom. + +"It is by his own wish. I did violence to my sense of what is _right_ +and _proper_, and invited him to a place at our board. He showed, I must +say, a commendable sense of his _duty_ in the matter. 'I'm M'Cracken and +your stoker, sir,' he said, 'till we get back to England.'" + +"May I suggest," said Sir Mark Ingleton, "that a sense of the unfitness +of his attire also weighed with him?" + +"We can soon alter that," said Tom. "He's about my build; I'll go and +rig him out in one of my suits." + +"Ve shall not vait to begin?" said Schwab anxiously, holding knife and +fork upright on the table. + +"Mr. Oliphant will doubtless pardon us," replied Sir Mark blandly. + +In a quarter of an hour Tom returned with Oliphant in white ducks and +blue serge. + +"Still is zere somezink left," said Schwab. "I feel moch better, zough I +vish ze table vould not move. Do not fill your glass quite full, sir; it +vould slop over, and zat vould be pity." + +"Where's Abdul?" asked Tom, as he sat down. + +"With the men, forward," said Mr. Greatorex. + +"That's all right. I'm jolly glad he got off safely." + +"A most intelligent youth," said Sir Mark. "It appears that he rode +straight into the village of Salaam son of Absalaam with an urgent +demand for assistance from the sheikh of Ain Afroo. He was leading a +party of Moors in that direction when unluckily a genuine messenger from +the sheikh arrived. Abdul wheeled about and galloped for the shore, with +the rest at his heels, as you saw." + +"Shust in time," said Schwab. "Vun moment after, and I am no more." + +"I haven't heard your story yet, sir," said Tom to the envoy. + +"Story, bless you, I have none to tell. I was on my way to Marrakesh, +where the Sultan was at the time, and was indiscreet enough one evening +to leave my camp for a stroll with only one attendant. I was snapped up, +enveloped in a djellab, and conveyed on horseback--to my great +discomfort--to the sheikh's kasbah. There I had the good fortune to meet +Mr. Schwab, whose conversation, together with a Schlagintwert price list +and a copy of the _Daily Mail_, helped to lighten the tedium of my +captivity." + +"I zank you, Sir Ingleton," said Schwab. "Alvays do I vish to be useful. +_Utile et dulce._ You vill not forget vat I say about extra-special +discount to ze nobility and gentry? And I hear viz surprise, sir," he +added to Oliphant, "zat you are son of a lord. Viz gompliments!" + +He handed Oliphant a card from his case. + +"Much obliged," said Oliphant, kicking Tom under the table. "How did +they get hold of _you_?" + +"Vy, I tell you. I come to Rabat to buy great lot of carpets for +Schlagintwert. Zere I hear zat ze Sultan is at Marrakesh, and I zink I +shall visit him. I egzpect big order for alarm clocks and bianola. Zat +vill be good business. Ach! vat know ze Mohrs of business? Zey seize me; +zey care nozink ven I say I am Jarman sobjeck; zey understand nozink ven +I speak of our Kaiser who is in Berlin; and so am I shut opp. I smoke +all my tobacco; zere is no more. I read ze _Daily Mail_, and zink ven I +gontemblate ze advertisement vat colossal business is literature in +England. I read Schlagintwert's price list, and make notes for new +edition; alas! zat muss all be done again. Zen I do nozink but zink +profound, until Sir Ingleton come and ve study ze list togezer." + +"An experience I shall always cherish, believe me, Mr. Schwab," said Sir +Mark. + +"I zank you, sir. Ze pleasure vas mutual; ze profit shall be +Schlagintwert's." + +"But how was it you were put in the dungeons?" asked Tom. + +"Vy, I tell you. Vun day come ze sheikh viz his men. Zink I, now has +arrive ze Kaiser's telegram. But no; zey carry us down to ze deps, and +zere are ve shut opp vorse zan before!" + +"That was when they got the message from Salathiel ben Ezra, no doubt," +said Tom,"--the Jew you found in the cave, Mr. Schwab." + +"Ven I vas so hungry!" + +"I wonder what has become of him?" said Oliphant. "It's to him I owe the +keenest sport I've ever had." + +"The less said about that the _better_, M'C--I beg your pardon--Mr. +Oliphant. The man was a _villain_. I _said_ so, Tom. Timothy will have a +_scar_ for the rest of his days. And but for the Jew we shouldn't have +lost our airship. Not that that matters. We've _proved_ it, you know; +we'll build a larger one now." + +"And Schlagintwerts shall buy it cost price!" + +"No, sir, Schlagintwerts shall _not_ buy it," said Mr. Greatorex, +frowning severely on the German. "We will offer it to the Government. I +shall invite Colonel Capper to examine it, and Lord Langside, I trust, +will show himself sufficiently sensible of his obligation to us to make +no difficulties about the _price_." + +"Vell, Schlagintwert shall have colossal order for Photographic +Sensitizer Preparation Number Six--at least until ze var come." + +"_What_ war?" + +"Vy, ze var ven ze Kaiser shall zink it is time to teach ze vorld zat----" + +"Stay, Mr. Schwab," interrupted Sir Mark, "we must not be indiscreet. As +a diplomatist it is my duty to avert war; as a business man you, I am +sure, would deplore it." + +"So. Zat is shust vat I alvays say: zat is vat I go to say ven you +interrup me; ven ze Kaiser shall zink it is time to teach ze vorld zat +Business are Business!" + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of King of the Air, by Herbert Strang + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KING OF THE AIR *** + +***** This file should be named 36443.txt or 36443.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/4/4/36443/ + +Produced by Roger Frank, Juliet Sutherland and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/36443.zip b/36443.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b16e971 --- /dev/null +++ b/36443.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9258d85 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #36443 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/36443) |
