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diff --git a/39488-0.txt b/39488-0.txt index 1a9c4b5..e8c1c71 100644 --- a/39488-0.txt +++ b/39488-0.txt @@ -1,29 +1,4 @@ - THE AIRSHIP "GOLDEN HIND" - - - - -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 http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Title: The Airship "Golden Hind" - -Author: Percy F. Westerman - -Release Date: April 19, 2012 [EBook #39488] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AIRSHIP "GOLDEN HIND" *** - - - +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 39488 *** Produced by Al Haines. @@ -5280,374 +5255,4 @@ Humane Society for saving the crew of the _Hilda P. Murchison_. 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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 http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Title: The Airship "Golden Hind" - -Author: Percy F. Westerman - -Release Date: April 19, 2012 [EBook #39488] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AIRSHIP "GOLDEN HIND" *** - - - - -Produced by Al Haines. - - - - -[Illustration: Cover art] - - - -[Illustration: "'THE GOLDEN HIND' RESCUES A SHIPWRECKED CREW."] - - - - THE AIRSHIP "GOLDEN HIND" - - - by - - Percy F. Westerman - - AUTHOR OF - - "THE SECRET BATTLEPLANE," "THE MYSTERY SHIP," - "BILLY BARCROFT OF THE R.N.A.S.," - ETC., ETC. - - - - ILLUSTRATED BY - FLEMING WILLIAMS - - - - Publishers - PARTRIDGE - London - 1920 - - - - MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN - - - - -THE GREAT ADVENTURE SERIES - - -_PERCY F. WESTERMAN:_ - -The Airship "Golden Hind" -To the Fore with the Tanks -The Secret Battleplane -Wilmshurst of the Frontier Force - - -_ROWLAND WALKER:_ - -Deville McKeene: The Exploits of the Mystery Airman -Blake of the Merchant Service -Buckle of Submarine V2 -Oscar Danby, V.C. - -LONDON: -S. W. PARTRIDGE & CO., LTD. - - - - ---- - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER I--A STARTLING PROPOSITION - CHAPTER II--FOSTERDYKE EXPLAINS - CHAPTER III--THE "GOLDEN HIND" - CHAPTER IV--THE DEPARTURE - CHAPTER V--FIRST AWAY - CHAPTER VI--Z64 SCORES - CHAPTER VII--DELAYS - CHAPTER VIII--CAST ADRIFT - CHAPTER IX--THE ESCAPADE OF ENRICO JAURES - CHAPTER X--UNDER EXAMINATION - CHAPTER XI--"WITH INTENT" - CHAPTER XII--CONFIDENCES - CHAPTER XIII--THE TAIL OF A CYCLONE - CHAPTER XIV--THE BOAT'S CREW - CHAPTER XV--REVELATIONS - CHAPTER XVI--THE OBSERVATION BASKET - CHAPTER XVII--A SURPRISE FOR CAPTAIN PROUT - CHAPTER XVIII--UNDER FIRE - CHAPTER XIX--VICTIMS OF A REVOLUTION - CHAPTER XX--WIRELESS REPORTS - CHAPTER XXI--VON SINZIG'S BID FOR SAFETY - CHAPTER XXII--THE END OF Z64 - CHAPTER XXIII--A DUMPING OPERATION - CHAPTER XXIV--WITHIN SIGHT OF SUCCESS - CHAPTER XXV--FIRE! - CHAPTER XXVI--"WELL PLAYED, SIR!" - - ---- - - - - The Airship "Golden Hind" - - - - -CHAPTER I--A STARTLING PROPOSITION - - -"What's the move?" enquired Kenneth Kenyon. - -"Ask me another, old son," replied his chum, Peter Bramsdean. -"Fosterdyke is a cautious old stick, but he knows what's what. There's -something in the wind, you mark my words." - -"Then you're going to see him?" - -"Rather! And you too, old bean. Where's a pencil? We can't keep the -telegraph boy waiting." - -Bramsdean tore a form from a pad, scribbled on it the -reply--"Fosterdyke, Air Grange, near Blandford. Yes, will expect motor -to-morrow morning," and he had taken the initial step of a journey that -man had never before attempted. - -Kenyon and Bramsdean were both ex-flying officers of the Royal Air -Force. What they did in the Great War now matters little. Sufficient is -it to say that had they belonged to any belligerent nation save their -own they would have been styled "aces"; but since in the Royal Air Force -details of personal achievements were deprecated, and the credit given -to the Force as a whole, they merely "carried on" until ordered to "get -out," or, in other words, be demobilised. Then, each with a -highly-prized decoration and a gratuity of precisely the same amount as -that given to an officer who had never served anywhere save at the Hotel -Cecil, they found themselves literally on their feet, relegated to the -limbo of civilian life. It was not long before they found how quickly -their gratuities diminished. Like many other ex-members of His -Majesty's Forces, they began to realise that in smashing the German -menace they had helped to raise a menace at home--the greed and cupidity -of the Profiteer. - -They were just two of thousands of skilled airmen for whom as such there -was now no need. Commercial aviation had yet to be developed; trick -flying and exhibition flights lead to nothing definite, and only a very -small percentage of war-time airmen could be retained in the -reconstituted Air Force. - -Kenyon and Bramsdean were not men to "take it lying down." They had -pluck and resource and a determination to "get a move on," and within a -twelvemonth of their demobilisation they found themselves partners and -sole proprietors of a fairly prosperous road transport concern operating -over the greater part of the South of England. - -But it wasn't the same thing as flying. Looking back over those -strenuous years of active service, they remembered vividly the good -times they had had, while the "sticky" times were mellowed until they -could afford to laugh at those occasions when they "had the wind up -badly." - -Then, with a suddenness akin to the arrival of a "whizz-bang," came a -telegram from Sir Reginald Fosterdyke, asking the chums to see him on -the morrow. - -Sir Reginald Fosterdyke had been Bramsdean's and Kenyon's O.C., or, to -employ service phraseology, a Wing-Commander. On his demobilisation he -went to live at Air Grange, a large old-world house standing on high -ground, a good five miles from Blandford. Very rarely he left his -country-house; his visits to town were few and far between, and his -friends wondered at the reticence of the versatile and breezy -Fosterdyke. He seldom wrote to anyone. When he did, his correspondence -was brief and to the point. More frequently he telegraphed--and then he -meant business. In pre-war days Air Grange was famous for its week-end -house parties. The shooting, one of the best in the county of Dorset, -was an additional source of attraction to Fosterdyke's guests. But the -war, and afterwards, had changed all that. Few, very few, guests were -to be found at Air Grange; the staff of servants was greatly reduced, -the well-kept grounds developed a state of neglect. Sir Reginald's -friends came to the conclusion that the baronet had become "mouldy." -They wondered what possessed him to live an almost hermit-like -existence. Fosterdyke knew their curiosity, but he merely shrugged his -shoulders and "carried on." His work in the world of aviation was by no -means ended. It might be said that it was yet a long way from attaining -its zenith. - -Early on the morning following the receipt of the baronet's telegram Sir -Reginald's car pulled up in front of the premises used as the -headquarters of the Southern Roads Transport Company. Kenyon and -Bramsdean, having given final instructions to their work's foreman--a -former flight-sergeant R.A.F.--jumped into the car, and were soon -whisking northwards at a speed that was considerably in excess of that -fixed by the regulations. - -Although of a retiring disposition, Sir Reginald Fosterdyke had made a -point of keeping in touch with his former officers. He had a sort of -personal interest in every one of them, and on their part they regarded -him as one of the best. Whenever, on rare occasions, Fosterdyke ran -down to Bournemouth he invariably looked up Bramsdean and Kenyon to talk -over old times. But being invited to Air Grange was quite a different -matter. Vaguely, the chums wondered what it might mean, conjecturing -ideas that somehow failed to be convincing. Yet they knew that there was -"something in the wind." They knew Sir Reginald and his methods. - -Through Blandford, up and past the now deserted hutments where formerly -German prisoners led an almost idyllic existence in their enemy's -country, the car sped on until it gained the lofty downs in the -direction of Shaftesbury. Then, turning up a steep and narrow lane, the -car drew up at the gate of Air Grange. - -It had to. There was no gate-keeper to unlock and throw open the -massive iron gates. That task the chauffeur had to perform, stopping -the car again in order to make secure the outer portals of Sir -Reginald's demesne. - -While the car remained stationary the two occupants looked in vain for a -glimpse of the house. All they could see was a winding, weed-grown -road, with a thick belt of pine trees on either hand. To the left of -the road and under the lee of the trees were half a dozen wooden huts, -unmistakably of a type known as temporary military quarters. Smoke -issuing from the chimneys suggested the idea that they were in -"occupation," and a couple of dungaree-clad men carrying a length of -copper pipe on their shoulders confirmed the fact. Somewhere from -behind the trees came the sharp rattle of a pneumatic drilling machine. - -Kenyon glanced at his companion. - -"What's the Old Man up to, I wonder?" he enquired. "Quite a labour -colony. Look--air flasks too, by Jove!" - -A pile of rusty wrought-iron cylinders stacked on the grass by the side -of the path recalled visions of by-gone days. - -"Something doing, that's evident," agreed Bramsdean. "What's the stunt, -and why are we hiked into it?" - -"Wait and see, old bird," replied Kenyon. - -The chauffeur regained the car and slipped in the clutch. For full -another quarter of a mile the car climbed steadily, negotiating awkward -corners in the rutty, winding path, until, emerging from the wood, it -pulled up outside the house of Fosterdyke. - -No powdered footman awaited them. On the steps, clad in worn but -serviceable tweeds, stood Sir Reginald Fosterdyke himself. - -The baronet--generally referred to by his former officers as the Old -Man--was of medium height, broad-shouldered, and deep-chested. He was -about thirty-five years of age, with well-bronzed features, clean -shaven, and possessed a thick crop of closely-cut dark brown hair tinged -with iron grey. - -He held out his left hand as Kenyon and Bramsdean ascended the stone -steps--his right hand was enveloped in surgical bandages--and greeted -his guests warmly. - -"Glad to see you, boys!" he exclaimed. "It's good of you to come. Have -a glass of sherry?" - -He led the way to the study, rang a bell, and gave instructions to a -man-servant whom Kenyon recognised as the O.C.'s batman somewhere in -France. - -Sir Reginald sat on the edge of the table and whimsically regarded his -former subordinates. At that moment, rising above the staccato rattle -of the pneumatic hammer, came the unmistakable whirr of an aerial -propeller. To Kenyon and Bramsdean it was much the same as a -trumpet-call to an old war-horse. - -"Sounds like old times, eh?" remarked Sir Reginald. - -"Rather, sir," agreed Kenyon heartily, and, at a loss to express himself -further, he relapsed into silence. - -"Experimental work, sir?" enquired Bramsdean. - -Fosterdyke nodded. - -"Yes," he replied in level tones. "Experimental work, that's it. -That's why I sent for you. I'm contemplating a flight round the world. -Keen on having a shot at it?" - - - - -CHAPTER II--FOSTERDYKE EXPLAINS - - -The two chums were not in the least taken aback with the announcement. -They knew the way of their late O.C. On active service Fosterdyke was -in the habit of issuing orders for certain operations to be performed -without apparently considering the magnitude or the danger of the -undertaking. The officer or man to whom the order was given almost -invariably executed it promptly. In the few cases where the individual -instructed to carry out a "stunt" failed to rise to the occasion, that -was an end of him as far as his service under Wing Commander Sir -Reginald Fosterdyke went. Fosterdyke had no use for faint-hearted -subordinates. - -On the other hand, Kenyon and Bramsdean were astonished at being invited -to take part in what promised to be the biggest aerial undertaking ever -contemplated. After nearly two years "on the ground" the prospect of -"going up" seemed too good to be true. - -"Business difficulties, perhaps?" hazarded Fosterdyke, noting the faint -signs of hesitation on the part of the two chums. "Think it over. But I -suppose you'd like to have a few particulars of the stunt before -committing yourselves?" - -"I think it could be arranged, sir," replied Kenyon. "As regards our -little show, we could leave it to our head foreman. He's a steady-going -fellow and all that sort of thing. It's merely a question of a month, I -suppose?" - -"Less than that. Twenty days, to give a time limit," declared the -baronet. "Either twenty days or--_phut_! However, I'll outline the -salient features of the scheme. - -"Like a good many others, it arose out of an almost trivial incident--a -bet with an American Air Staff officer whom I met in London just after -the Yankee seaplane NC4 flew across the Atlantic--or rather hopped -across. Without detracting from the merits of the stupendous -undertaking, it must be remembered that the seaplane was escorted the -whole way, and alighted several times _en route_. The Yankee--General -U. B. Outed is his name--offered to bet anyone $50,000 that an American -aircraft would be the first to circumnavigate the globe. - -"Half a dozen of us took him on; not that we could afford to throw away -an equivalent to ten thousand pounds, but because we had sufficient -faith in the Old Country to feel assured that the accomplishment of a -flight round the world would be the work of a British owned and flown -machine. - -"Shortly after the wager was accepted came the news that R34 had flown -from East Fortune to New York in 108 hours, making the return journey in -76 hours. That rather staggered General Outed, I fancy, and he had a -greater shock when Alcock and Brown covered nearly 2,000 miles between -Newfoundland and Ireland without a single stop. - -"Things from a British aviation point of view looked particularly rosy; -then for some obscure reason our Air Board appeared to let the whole -matter of aerial navigation slide, or, at any rate they gave no -encouragement. The big dirigibles were dismantled and sold; powerful -aeroplanes were scrapped, air-stations were closed, and in a -parsimonious wave of retrenchment even our old Royal Air Force was -threatened with ignominious relegation to a corps under the control of -the War Office. - -"About three months ago a wealthy Swiss--a M. Chauvasse--who had made a -pile in the United States, offered a prize to the value in British money -of 25,000 to be given to the first airman to circumnavigate the globe, -either in a lighter or a heavier than air machine. The prize is open to -all comers, and already a Yankee and a German have announced their -intention of competing." - -"A Hun!" exclaimed Kenyon. "I thought that Fritz, under the terms of -the armistice, had to surrender all his aircraft." - -"But he hasn't," remarked Fosterdyke, drily. "Nor is he likely to; and -if the Allies haven't the means to enforce the terms, that's not my -affair. If a Hun does compete, let him. That's my view. Providing he -doesn't resort to any of his dirty tricks, there's no valid reason why -the door should be banged in his face. Because he's down and out is no -reason why we should continue to sit on him. Commercially, I regard -German goods as a means to reduce the present extortionate prices of -things in England. I'm no believer in dumping, I never was; but if our -manufacturers cannot compete with the products of a country beaten in -war and torn by internal troubles, then there's something wrong -somewhere. But I am digressing. - -"Briefly, the terms of the contest are as follows: any type of machine -or engine can be employed, and as many descents as are necessary to -replenish fuel and stores. A start can be made from any place chosen by -the competitor, but the machine must finish at the same spot within -twenty days. Again, any route can be chosen, so that full advantage can -be taken of existing air stations, but--and this is a vital point--in -order to fairly circumnavigate the globe, competitors must pass within -one degree of a position immediately opposite the starting-point. Do -you follow me?" - -"What is known in navigation as Great Circle Sailing," replied -Bramsdean. "If a start is made somewhere on the 50th parallel North, -the halfway time will be somewhere 50 degrees South, with a difference -of 180 degrees of longitude." - -"That's it," agreed Sir Reginald. "Now the difficulty arises where to -find two suitable places answering to these conditions. With the -exception of a small part of Cornwall the whole of Great Britain lies -north of latitude 50.... Therefore, to reach the 50th parallel in the -Southern Hemisphere would mean making a position far south'ard of New -Zealand--where, I take it, there are no facilities for landing and -taking in petrol. - -"Nor is the vast extent of the United States any better off in that -respect. I think I am right in saying that there is no habitable land -diametrically opposite to any place in Uncle Sam's Republic." - -Fosterdyke produced a small globe from a corner of the room in order to -confirm his statement. - -"And the old Boche is a jolly sight worse off," said Kenyon. "I don't -suppose any British Dominion will tolerate him. It's certain he won't -be allowed to fly over any Allied fortress, so where is he?" - -"Paying the penalty for his misdeeds," replied Sir Reginald, grimly. -"It's not exactly a case of _vae victis_. If he'd played his game, he -would have taken his licking with a better grace because it wouldn't -have hurt him so much." - -"How many competitors are there for the Chauvasse Stakes, sir?" asked -Bramsdean. - -"A Yank, a Hun, and myself," replied Fosterdyke. "That is, up to the -present. For some reason the idea hasn't caught on with our fellows. -Probably there'll be a rush of entries later on--perhaps too late. I'll -show you my little craft; but before doing so I'll give you a few -details of the contest. - -"My idea is to start from Gibraltar--for the actual race, of course. -I'll have to take my airship there, but that's a mere detail. Why -Gibraltar? Here's an encyclopdia, Kenyon. Look up the position of -Gib." - -"Lat. 36 6' N.; long. 5 21' W.," replied Kenyon, after consulting the -work. - -"And the antipodes of Gib. would be lat. 36 6' S.; long. 174 39' E.," -continued the baronet. "The longitude, of course, being easily -determined by adding 180 to that of Gibraltar. Now the next thing to be -done (as a matter of fact I've determined it already) is to find a -habitable spot approximating to the second set of figures. Look up -Auckland, Kenyon." - -"Auckland is lat. 36 52' S.; long. 174 46' E.," replied Kenneth. -"Why, that's less than a degree either way." - -"Exactly," agreed Fosterdyke. "The next point is to determine the air -route between the two places, so as to make the best of the prevailing -winds. When one has to maintain an average speed of fifty miles an hour -for twenty days the advantage of a following wind cannot be ignored." - -"Your 'bus'll do more than that, sir," remarked Peter Bramsdean. - -"She'll do two hundred an hour," declared the baronet, emphatically. "I -haven't had a trial spin yet, but she'll come up to my expectations. -It's the stops that lower the average. Naturally I mean to take the -east to west course. It means a saving of twenty-four hours. If I took -the reverse direction, I'd be a day to the bad on returning to the -starting-point. The actual course I'll have to work out later. That's -where I want expert assistance. Also I want the aid of a couple of -experienced navigators. And so that's why I sent for you." - -"We're on it," declared both chums. - -"I thought as much," rejoined Fosterdyke with a smile. "There's one -thing I ought to make clear--the matter of terms." - -Kenyon made a deprecatory gesture. - -"Not so fast, Kenyon," protested his chief. "It's a rock-bottom -proposition. Twenty-five per cent. of the prize if we are successful is -your collective share. If we fail, then I'm broke--absolutely. I've -sunk my last penny into the concern, because I'm hanged if I'm going to -sit still and let a foreigner be the first to make an aerial -circumnavigation of the globe. Now let me introduce you to the airship -'Golden Hind.'" - - - - -CHAPTER III--THE "GOLDEN HIND" - - -"Appropriate name the 'Golden Hind,'" remarked Bramsdean, as the three -ex-R.A.F. officers made their way towards the concealed hangar. "That's -what Drake's ship was called, and he was the first Englishman to -circumnavigate the world." - -"Yes," replied Fosterdyke. "We must take it as an augury that this -'Golden Hind' will do in the air what her namesake did on the sea." - -"Not in every respect, I hope," said Kenneth Kenyon, with a laugh. -"Drake did a considerable amount of filibustering on his voyage, I -believe." - -"Ah, yes," answered Sir Reginald. "Those were good old days. Now left," -he added. "Mind yourselves, the brambles are a bit dangerous." - -Turning off the grass-grown road and down a side path, the two chums -found themselves entering a dense thicket that formed an outer fringe of -the pine wood. - -"Short cut," remarked Fosterdyke, laconically. "Now, there you are." - -A glade in the woods revealed the end of a lofty corrugated iron shed, -the hangar in which the "Golden Hind" was fast approaching completion. -The baronet "knew his way about." He knew how to deal with the -dictatorial and often completely muddled officials who ran the Surplus -Disposals Board, and had succeeded in obtaining, at a comparatively low -cost, a practically new airship shed, together with an enormous quantity -of material. - -"Now tell me what you think of her," he said, throwing open a small door -in the rear end of the building. - -Kenyon and Bramsdean paused in astonishment at what they saw. The -"Golden Hind" was neither airship nor aeroplane in the strict sense of -the word, but a hybrid embodying the salient features of both. The -fuselage, constructed almost entirely of aluminium, was a full 120 feet -in length, and enclosed so as to form a series of cabins or -compartments. Amidships these attained a beam of 15 feet, tapering fore -and aft until the end compartments terminated in a sharp wedge. -Wherever there were observation windows they were "glazed" with light -but tough fire-proof celluloid, sufficiently strong to withstand -wind-pressure. - -On either side of the hull, as Fosterdyke termed it, were six planes -arranged in pairs, each being 30 feet in fore and aft direction, and -projecting 25 feet from the side of the fuselage. Thus the total -breadth of the "Golden Hind" was well under 60 feet. On angle brackets -rising obliquely from the fuselage were six large aluminium propellers, -chain-driven by means of six 350-h.p. motors. - -"Some power there," remarked Kenyon, enthusiastically. - -"Rather," agreed Sir Reginald. "Sufficient to lift her independently of -the gas-bag, while in the unlikely event of the motors giving out there -is enough lifting power in the envelope to keep her up for an indefinite -period. Did you notice the small propellers in the wake of the large -ones?" - -"Yes, sir," replied Bramsdean. "Left-handed blades." - -"Precisely," agreed Fosterdyke. "They work on the same shaft, only in a -reverse direction. It's a little stunt of mine to utilise the eddies in -the wake of the main propellers. Yes, petrol-driven. I tried to find -an ideal fuel, one that is non-inflammable or practically so, except in -compression; but that's done me so far. There's a huge fortune awaiting -the chemist who succeeds in producing a liquid capable of conforming to -these conditions. I even made a cordite-fired motor once--something on -the Maxim-gun principle, fed by cordite grains from a hopper. It did -splendidly as far as developing power was concerned, but the difficulty -of excessive consumption and the pitting of the walls of the cylinder -did me. However, my experiments haven't all been failures. Now look at -the gas-bag." - -"It's only partly inflated," observed Peter. - -"No, fully," corrected Fosterdyke. "The envelope is a rigid one of -aluminium, subdivided into forty-nine compartments, each of which -contains a flexible ballonet. Each ballonet is theoretically proof -against leakage--in practice there is an almost inappreciable porosity, -which hardly counts for a comparatively short period, say a month. The -gas isn't hydrogen, nor is it the helium we used during the war. -Helium, although practically non-inflammable, is heavier than hydrogen. -Fortunately, I hit upon a rather smart youngster who had been in a -Government laboratory before he joined the R.A.F. With his assistance I -discovered a gas that is not only lighter than hydrogen, but is as -non-inflammable as helium. I've named the stuff 'Brodium,' after the -youngster who helped me so efficaciously. When this stunt's over, we're -going to work the gas on a commercial basis, but for the present it's -advisable to keep it a secret. - -"You observe that the section of the envelope is far from being -circular. The horizontal diameter is three-and-a-half times that of the -vertical. That gives less surface for a side wind, and consequently -less drift, while the 'cod's head and mackerel tail' ought to give a -perfect stream-line." - -"You carry a pretty stiff lot of fuel with those motors," remarked -Kenyon. - -"Rather," was the reply. "Enough for 5000 miles; which means, allowing -for deviations from a straight uniform course, about six halts to -replenish petrol tanks. We carry no water ballast of any description. -When the fuel supply runs low, there is a tendency for the airship to -rise, owing to the reduced weight. To counteract this, a certain -quantity of brodium is exhausted from the ballonets into cast-iron -cylinders, where it is stored under pressure until required again. The -leakage during this operation is less than one-half per cent. Now we'll -get on board." - -Past groups of busy workmen the three ex-officers made their way. Both -Kenyon and Bramsdean noticed that the men worked as if they had an -interest in what they were doing. Several they recognised as being in -the same "Flight" in which they had served on the other side of the -Channel. - -"Like old times," said Kenyon in a low voice. - -"Rather, old son," agreed his chum. - -They boarded the "Golden Hind," where workmen were putting finishing -touches to the interior decorations of the cabins. The floor was -composed of rigid aluminium plates, corrugated in order to provide a -firm foothold, and temporarily covered with sacking to prevent undue -wear upon the relatively soft metal. - -The door--one of the four--by which they entered was on the port side -aft. It opened into a saloon 20 feet by 7 feet, which in turn -communicated with a fore-and-aft alley-way extending almost the extreme -length of the fuselage. - -"We'll start right aft and work for'ard," said Fosterdyke. "If you can -suggest any alterations in the internal fittings, let me know. It often -happens that a new arrival spots something that the original designer -has overlooked." - -"Must have taken some thinking out, sir," remarked Bramsdean. - -"M'yes," agreed Sir Reginald. "I'm afraid I spent some sleepless nights -over the business. This is my cabin." - -The chums found themselves in a compartment measuring 15 feet in a -fore-and-aft direction and 10 feet across the for'ard bulkhead, the -width diminishing to the rounded end of the nacelle. It was plainly -furnished. A canvas cot, a folding table, and two camp chairs -comprising the principal contents. The large windows with celluloid -panes afforded a wide outlook, while should the atmospheric conditions -be favourable, the windows opened after the manner of those in a railway -carriage. - -Retracing their steps, the chums inspected the motors immediately -for'ard of the owner's cabin. Each was in a compartment measuring 10 -feet by 6 feet, leaving an uninterrupted alley-way nearly 3 feet in -length between. - -"The fuel and oil tanks are underneath the alley-way," Fosterdyke -pointed out. "I'm using pressure-feed in preference to gravity-feed. It -keeps the centre of gravity lower. What do you think of the engines?" - -"Clinking little motors," replied Kenyon, enthusiastically, as he -studied the spotlessly clean mechanism with professional interest. - -"There are six motor rooms, three on each side," observed the baronet. -"I'm taking twelve motor-mechanics to be on the safe side. When we are -running free, one man will look after two engines, but in any case half -the number will be off-duty at a time. Now, this is your cabin." - -He opened a sliding-door on the port side, corresponding with the -officers' dining-room on the starboard side. It was a compartment 20 -feet by 6 feet 6 inches, with a bunk at each end running athwartships, -and as plainly furnished as the owner's quarters. - -"Heaps of room," declared Bramsdean, "and warming apparatus, too." - -"Yes," replied Fosterdyke, "we had the exhausts led under the cabins. -Nothing like keeping warm at high altitudes. Warmth and good -food--that's more than half the battle. See this ladder?" - -He indicated a metal ladder in the alley-way, clamped vertically to the -outer wall of the cabin. - -"Leads through that hatchway," he continued, "right to the upper surface -of the envelope. There's an observation platform--useful to take -stellar observations and all that sort of thing. But you won't find a -machine-gun there," he added with a laugh. - -Passing between the 'midship pair of motor-rooms, Fosterdyke halted in a -door-way on the port side. - -"Pantry and kitchen," he remarked. - -"I'm taking a couple of good cooks. All the stoves are electrically -heated. There's a dynamo working off the main shaft of each of the -'midship motors. The starboard one provides 'juice' for the kitchen; -that on the port generates electricity for the searchlights and internal -lighting. Underneath are fresh water tanks and dry provision stores." - -On the port side corresponding to the kitchen were the air-mechanics' -quarters; while beyond the for'ard motor room the alley-way terminated, -opening into a triangular space 30 feet long and 12 feet at its greatest -breadth. - -"The crew's quarters," explained Fosterdyke. "Ample accommodation for -eight deck-hands and the two cooks. You'll notice that the head-room is -less than elsewhere. That's because of the navigation-room overhead." - -The chums looked upwards at the ceiling. There was no indication of a -hatchway of any description. - -"You gain the navigation-room from the alley-way," explained Sir -Reginald, noting their puzzled glances. "Saves the inconvenience of -disturbing the 'watch below' by having to pass through their quarters. -Up with you, Kenyon. Thank your lucky stars you're not a bulky fellow. -Mind your head against that girder." - -Bramsdean followed his chum, the baronet bringing up the rear. - -The combined chart-room and navigation compartment was spacious in -extent, but considerably congested with an intricate array of levers, -telephones, indicators, switches, and a compact wireless cabinet. In the -centre was a table with clamps to hold a large-size chart. Right "in -the eyes of the ship" was a gyroscopic compass, which, by reason of the -needle pointing to the true, instead of the magnetic, north pole, -greatly simplified steering a course, since those complicated factors, -variation and deviation, were eliminated. Altimeters, heeling -indicators, barometer, thermometer, and chronometer, with other -scientific instruments, completed the equipment of the room, which was -in telephonic communication with every part of the airship. - -From the car the three men ascended to the interior of the envelope, -climbing by means of aluminium rungs bolted to the flexible shaft. Once -inside the rigid envelope, it was possible to walk the whole five -hundred feet length of the airship along a narrow platform. From the -latter crossways ran at frequent intervals so that access could be -obtained to any of the ballonets. - -The interior reeked of the strong but not obnoxious fumes of the -brodium. - -"Leak somewhere," remarked Kenyon, sniffing audibly. - -"Yes," agreed Fosterdyke, "one of the supply pipes gave out this -morning; otherwise you wouldn't know by the sense of smell that the -envelope was fully charged." - -He struck a match and held it aloft. It burned with a pale green flame. - -"I wouldn't care to do this with hydrogen," he remarked. -"Non-inflammability of the gas practically does away with all risk. -When you recall the numerous accidents to aircraft in the earlier stages -of the war, you will find that in over eighty per cent. they were caused -by combustion. Of course I'm referring to disasters other than those -caused directly by enemy action. Now, carry on; up you go ... no, hold -on," he added, as a bell rang shrilly just above their heads. - -"One of the workmen coming down," said Fosterdyke. "Opening a flap at -the top of this shaft automatically rings an alarm, otherwise anyone -ascending might stand the risk of being kicked on the head by the feet -of someone else descending." - -"By Jove! I know that chap!" exclaimed Kenyon, after the mechanic had -descended the long vertical ladder. - -"Yes, it's Flight-sergeant Hayward," added Bramsdean. "He got the -D.C.M. for downing two Boche 'planes over Bapaume." - -"That's right," agreed the baronet. "Jolly fine mechanic he is, too. Do -you happen to know how he came to join the Royal Flying Corps? No; then -I'll let you into a secret. It was in '16 that he enlisted. Previous -to that he was a conscientious objector, and, I believe, a genuine one -at that. What caused him to change his opinions was rather remarkable. -Do you remember that Zepp raid over Lancashire? Hayward was driving a -motor-lorry that night somewhere up in the hills north of Manchester; a -bomb fell in the road some yards behind him and blew the back of his -lorry to bits. He came off with a shaking and a changed outlook on -life. Next morning he joined up. Yes, Hayward's quite a good sort; -he's been invaluable to me." - -"Had any trouble from inquisitive outsiders, sir?" asked Kenyon. - -"No, none whatever," replied Fosterdyke. "Touch wood. People in the -village hereabouts have seen enough aircraft during the war to take the -edge off their curiosity. As for our rival competitors, well, if they -can pick up a wrinkle or two it will make the contest even more -exciting." - -"If we succeed there'll be a stir," said Bramsdean. - -"Yes," agreed the baronet; "it's the first who scores in these -undertakings. See what a fuss was made when the Atlantic was first flown -by aeroplanes. If the feat were repeated, not a fraction of public -interest would be directed to it. The novelty has gone, as it were. -Even interest in the flight to Australia--in itself an epic of courage, -skill, and determination--was limited. Sensations of yesterday become -mediocrities of to-day. For instance Blriot's flight from France to -England: see what an outburst of excitement that caused. Since then -thousands of machines have crossed the Channel without exciting comment. -Now I think I've shown you everything that is to be seen. How about -lunch?" - - - - -CHAPTER IV--THE DEPARTURE - - -"Will next Monday suit you fellows to take on officially?" enquired -Fosterdyke, as the chums prepared to depart. "I want a trial flight on -that day, and if it proves satisfactory, I'll make a formal entry at -once. M. Chauvasse stipulates that all entries must reach him in -writing by noon on the thirtieth. That leaves us with only eight days -clear." - -"Monday it is, sir," replied Kenyon, promptly. "We'll have everything -fixed up as far as our private business is concerned before then. In -fact, we could arrange to join earlier--couldn't we, Peter?" - -Peter Bramsdean signified his agreement. - -"Hardly necessary," observed Fosterdyke. "But if anything unforeseen -transpires before then I'll wire you." - -During the next few days there was much to be done in "squaring up" the -motor transport work. Notices were issued stating that the principals, -Messrs. Kenyon and Bramsdean, would be away for six weeks, during which -time all orders could be safely entrusted to their works manager. Even -that individual had no inkling of the nature of his employers' -forthcoming absence. The secret, jealously guarded, had not yet leaked -out. - -On the other hand, the Press published a report of M. Chauvasse's offer -and stated that three entries other than British had been received. The -lack of enterprise on the part of British airmen was commented upon and -an appeal issued to sportsmen to make an effort to prevent yet another -record passing into the hands of foreigners. - -On the day following this journalistic jeremiad came the report that a -British airship of unique design was approaching completion at a private -aerodrome near Blandford, and that the Air Ministry had given -instructions for all facilities to be afforded to its crew in their -attempt to circumnavigate the globe within a space of twenty days. -Details, both erroneous and exaggerated, were given of the mysterious -airship, together with plans that were as unlike those of the "Golden -Hind" as those of a modern dreadnought would be compared with those of -Drake's famous ship. - -"That will rattle the Old Man," declared Kenyon, when he read the -announcement. - -It did. Fosterdyke sent a wire asking his two assistants to join him at -once. That was on the Friday morning. At 2.30 P.M.--or in Air Force -phraseology 14.30--Kenyon and Bramsdean arrived at Air Grange, to find a -vast concourse of would-be spectators congregated round the gates, -backing up the efforts of a knot of persistent Pressmen who cajoled, -bluffed, and argued--all in vain--with the imperturbable Hayward and -four hefty satellites. - -The grassy slopes outside the formidable fence resembled Epsom Downs on -Derby Day. Momentarily motor-cars were arriving, while at frequent -intervals heavily laden char-a-bancs rumbled up and discharged their -human cargo. Motor-bicycles, push-bikes, traps and carts added to the -congestion. Thousands of people arrived on foot--from where goodness -only knows! Hawkers and itinerant purveyors displayed their wares; -photographers, both amateur and professional, elbowed their way towards -the forbidden ground; while three brass bands and at least a dozen -individual musicians added to the din. On the outskirts temporary -platforms had been erected, while hirers of telescopes, field and opera -glasses did a roaring trade, people willingly paying to gaze at the -impenetrable barrier of fir-trees in the vain hope of catching a glimpse -of the mysterious airship. - -It took Kenyon and Bramsdean the best part of an hour to literally force -their way through the throng. By dint of shouting "Gangway, please," -they continued to make a certain amount of progress until their arrival, -coupled with the ex-sergeant's efforts to make the crowd stand aside, -attracted the attention of the representatives of the Press. - -For five minutes the latter bombarded the chums with questions, getting -inconsequent replies that put the reporters on their mettle. - -"If we aren't allowed in, we'll take jolly good care you won't be," -shouted one of the Press representatives, evidently mistaking Peter and -Kenneth for favoured spectators. - -There was a rush towards the gates. The half a dozen policemen -assisting Hayward and his men were almost swept off their feet. Things -looked serious. If Kenyon and his companion succeeded in getting past -the gate it would only be in the midst of an excited mob. - -Just then Sir Reginald Fosterdyke appeared. Some of the local -inhabitants recognised him, and the report of his identity quickly -spread. So when he raised his hand to enjoin silence the crowd surging -around the gate ceased its clamour. - -"By preventing my navigating officers you only defer your own ends," he -exclaimed in ringing tones. "The airship is not yet ready for flight, -nor is she open to inspection. A trial flight has been fixed for Monday -next. On that day the aerodrome will be thrown open to public -inspection. And," he added, with a disarming smile, "there will be no -charge for admission." - -Almost instantly the demeanour of the crowd changed. There were calls -for cheers for Sir Reginald Fosterdyke. Someone started singing: "For -he's a jolly good fellow." - -The baronet turned and hurried away precipitately. Publicity he hated. -Kenneth and Peter, taking advantage of this diversion, slipped inside -the barrier and found Fosterdyke awaiting them beyond the bend of the -carriage drive. - -"Good old British public," he exclaimed. "By Jove! They put the wind up -me. I thought that they would be swarming like locusts over the 'Golden -Hind.' We'll have to circumvent them. Only last night some of the crew -found a fellow prowling round the shed. Goodness only knows what for. -He pitched some sort of yarn, and since we aren't under the Defence of -the Realm Act I couldn't detain him. But this crowd scares me. We'll -get out to-night, even if we have to drift, and they can have the run of -the place on Monday, as I promised. But I said nothing about the -airship being here or otherwise. Where's your kit?" - -"Somewhere between here and Blandford railway station," replied Peter. -"We saw we'd have our work cut out to force our way through, so we told -the taxi-driver to take it back to the station. It isn't the first time -we've parted with our kit, eh, Kenneth?" - -"I'll send for it when the crowd thins," decided Sir Reginald. "Now I -suppose you're wondering why I telegraphed for you?" - -"The swarm outside offers a solution," said Kenyon. - -"To a certain extent, yes," agreed Fosterdyke. "Apart from that, -there's a reliable report that Captain Theodore Nye, of the United -States Army, is starting from Tampa, Florida, to-morrow in one of the -large airships of the 'R' type that the Air Ministry sold to America -recently. That forces our hand. We'll have to be at the -starting-point--1100 miles away--by to-morrow mid-day, so as to -replenish petrol and commence the competition flight before midnight." - -"And how about the Boche, sir?" - -"Count Karl von Sinzig? Not a word. He's apparently out of it. Not -even one of the 'also rans.' Our formidable rivals are the Yankee and a -Jap--a Count Hyashi--who will reach his Nadir somewhere in Uruguay. Let -'em all come--the more the merrier." - -All hands, including the workmen and mechanics who were not -participating in the voyage, assembled in the large dining-hall for an -impromptu farewell dinner, and to them the baronet broached the subject -of the hurried departure of the "Golden Hind." - -The meal over, the task of getting the huge airship out of her shed -began. Even though the wind was light the work was by no means simple. -Incautious handling or a sudden change in the direction of the air -currents might easily result in disaster. The operation had to be -carried out after sunset and with the minimum of artificial light, -since, for the present, the "Golden Hind's" departure was to be kept -secret. - -With her ballonets charged sufficiently to give her a slight lift, the -airship rose until the base of the fuselage was a bare three feet from -the ground. The crew were at their stations, Kenyon assisting -Fosterdyke in the wheelhouse, while right aft Peter Bramsdean directed -the movements of the "ground-men" holding the stern, securing, and -trailing ropes. - -Inch by inch, foot by foot, the leviathan of the air emerged from the -shed until her entire length, straining gently at the rope that tethered -her to mother earth, lay exposed to the starlit sky. - -"All clear, sir!" reported Bramsdean through a speaking-tube. - -Curt but precise orders rang out from the navigation-room. The slight -hiss of the brodium being released from the metal cylinders was barely -audible above the sighing of the wind in the pine-tops until the gauges -registering the "lift" of the airship indicated thirty-eight tons. - -Armed with a megaphone, Fosterdyke leant out of the window of the -navigation-room. - -"All ready? ... Let go!" - -Simultaneously the twenty men holding the airship released their hold. -That was where training and discipline told, for terrible to contemplate -would have been the fate of an unwary "ground-man" had he retained his -grip on the rope. But without an accident to mar the momentous event, -the "Golden Hind" shot almost vertically into the air, attaining in a -very short space of time an altitude of six thousand feet. - -Not a cheer rang out to speed the departing competitor for the -stupendous contest. Unheard and unseen save by the loyal band of helpers -at the aerodrome, Sir Reginald Fosterdyke's airship was on her way to -the starting-point of her voyage round the globe. - - - - -CHAPTER V--FIRST AWAY - - -Hanging apparently motionless in still air, although virtually she was -drifting in a southerly direction at a modest ten miles an hour, the -"Golden Hind" maintained her altitude for the best part of half an hour -before any attempt was made to start the motors. She was now to all -intents and purposes a non-dirigible balloon, floating aimlessly in the -air. - -Peter Bramsdean, his work aft accomplished, made his way to the -navigation-room, where he found the baronet and Kenyon watching the -galaxy of lights far beneath them. - -"We're drifting over Poole Harbour," observed Fosterdyke. "That's -prohibited for private owned aircraft; but who's to know?" - -"I often wonder what would happen," said Peter, "if a non-dirigible -drifted over a prohibited area. Hang it all! The balloonist couldn't -control the wind, neither can the Air Ministry, so what's the poor -fellow to do?" - -From their lofty post of observation the officers of the "Golden Hind" -could see the coast-line standing out distinctly in the starlight. Away -to the south-east the powerful St. Catherine's Light threw its beam -athwart the sky in a succession of flashes every five seconds. Nearer, -but less distinct, could be seen the distinctive lights of The Needles -and Hurst Castle. Then a curved line of glittering pin-points--the -esplanade lamps of Bournemouth. To the south-west the lesser glare of -Swanage and beyond the glow of Anvil Point Lighthouse. Lesser lights, -like myriads of glow-worms, denoted scattered towns, villages, and -detached houses ashore, while right ahead and for the most part visible -only by the aid of binoculars, could be discerned the red, green, and -white navigation lights of shipping passing up and down the Channel. - -The three men watched the nocturnal panorama almost without emotion. -The sight would have moved a novice into raptures of delight, but to the -veteran airmen there was little new, except perhaps that in the place of -star-shells, searchlights, "flaming-onions," and exploding shrapnel were -the lights of a nation once more at peace with her neighbours even if -not so with herself. - -Fosterdyke glanced at a clock set upon the bulkhead. - -"Time!" he announced laconically. - -Indicators clanged in various parts of the ship. Within a few seconds -the six motors, started by compressed air, were roaring. Swaying -slightly under the resistance of the gas-bag overhead, the airship -gathered way. In place of complete calm came the rush and whine of the -wind as the "Golden Hind" leapt forward. - -"May as well be on the safe side," remarked Fosterdyke. "Switch on the -navigation lights, Kenyon. I don't fancy another 'bus barging into us." - -He gave an order through a voice tube. Promptly one of the crew appeared -from below. - -"Take her, Taylor," said the skipper, indicating the helm. "Following -wind--no drift. Course S. W." - -"S. W. it is, sir," repeated the man, peering into the bowl of the -gyroscope compass. - -"Now, you bright beauties, take my tip and turn in," said Fosterdyke, -addressing Peter and Kenneth. "There won't be much doing to-night, I -hope, so you may as well make the best of things. If you'll relieve me -at four, Kenyon? ... Good." - -The chums left the navigation-room and made their way to their cabin. -Here, although adjoining one of the motor-rooms, there was comparatively -little vibration, but the noise was considerable. - -"We'll get used to it," observed Peter, as he proceeded to unpack his -luggage, which had been brought from Blandford station and put on board -only a few minutes before the "Golden Hind" parted company with terra -firma. "Seems like old times. Hanged if I thought I'd ever be up -again." - -"Between ourselves I'd prefer a 'bus," confided Kenyon. "Doesn't seem -quite the right thing being held up by a gas-bag." - -"Be thankful for small mercies, you old blighter!" exclaimed his -companion. "Turn in as sharp as you can, 'cause it's your watch in four -hours' time." - -It seemed less than ten minutes before Kenyon was awakened. His first -impression was that he was being roused by his batman, and that illusion -was heightened by the fact that the man held a cup of tea. - -"Ten to four, sir," announced the airman. "I've made you something -hot." - -Kenneth thanked the man, drank the tea, and slipped out of his bunk. He -was aware as he donned his clothes that the "Golden Hind" was pitching -considerably. Peter, sound asleep, was breathing deeply. There was a -smile on his face; evidently his dreams were pleasant ones. - -On his way for'ard Kenyon stopped to exchange a few words with the -air-mechanic tending the two after motors. - -"Running like clocks, sir," replied the man in answer to Kenneth's -enquiry. "If things go on as they are going now, I'm on a soft job." - -The first streaks of dawn were showing in the north-eastern sky as the -relieving pilot clambered up the ladder and gained the navigation-room. -Fosterdyke, busy with parallel rulers and compass was bending over a -chart. - -"Mornin'," he remarked genially, when he became aware of the presence of -his relief. "Everything O.K. Doing eighty, and there's a stiff -following wind--force five. Altitude 5500, course S. W. That's the -lot, I think. We ought to be sighting the Spanish coast in another -twenty minutes." - -Fosterdyke waited until the helmsman had been relieved, then, giving -another glance ahead, he turned to Kenyon. - -"We passed something going in a westerly direction at 1.15 A.M.," he -announced. "An airship flying fairly low. About 2000, I should think." - -"Not a competitor, sir?" - -"Hardly. No one but a born fool would think of taking a westerly course -round the earth if engaged in a race against time. We were passing over -Belle Isle, on the French coast, at the time, and it rather puzzled me -why an airship should be proceeding west from the Biscayan coast." - -"French patrol, possibly," suggested Kenyon. - -"Or a Hun running a cargo of arms and ammunition to Ireland. I -signalled her, but she didn't reply. Right-o! Carry on." - -Fosterdyke went to his cabin, to sleep like a log. He was one of those -fortunate individuals who can slumber almost anywhere and at any time, -but rarely if ever did he sleep for more than five hours at a stretch. -Even after a strenuous day's mental and physical work he would be "as -fresh as paint" after his customary "caulk." - -Left in the company of the airman at the helm, Kenyon prepared to accept -responsibility until eight o'clock. He took up his position at the -triplex glass window, the navigation-room being the only compartment -where celluloid was not employed for purposes of lighting. It was a -weird sight that met his gaze. Overhead and projecting from beyond the -point of the nacelle was the blunt nose of the gas-bag, the port side -tinted a rosy red as the growing light glinted on it, the starboard side -showing dark grey against the sombre sky. A thousand feet below were -rolling masses of clouds, their nether edges suffused by dawn. Between -the rifts in the bank of vapour was apparently a black, unfathomable -void, for as yet the first signs of another day were vouchsafed only to -the airman flying far above the surface of the sea. Already the stars -had paled before the growing light. Wisps of vapour--clouds on a higher -plane to the denser ones below--were trailing athwart the course of the -"Golden Hind," until, overtaken by the airship's high speed, they were -parted asunder, to follow in the eddying wake of the powerful -propellers. - -In the navigation-room, being placed right for'ard, the jerky motion of -the fuselage that was noticeable in Kenyon's cabin was greatly -exaggerated. It was a totally different sensation from being in an -aeroplane when the 'bus entered a "pocket." It reminded Kenyon of a -lift being alternately started up and down with only a brief interval -between. Rather vaguely the pilot wondered what he would be like at the -end of twenty-one days of this sort of thing. - -"Bucking a bit, isn't she, Thompson?" he remarked to the helmsman, who, -relieved of the responsibility of maintaining a constant altitude by the -fact that the airship was automatically controlled in that direction, -was merely keeping the vessel on her compass course. - -"Yes, sir," replied the man. "She'll be steadier when we trim the -planes." - -"Might have thought of that before," soliloquised Kenyon. He remarked -that the six "wings" were secured in a horizontal position. For the -present the "Golden Hind" was kept up solely by the lift of the brodium -in the ballonets. Not until it was fully light would Fosterdyke reduce -the gas in the ballonets and rely upon the planes for "lift." - -A quarter of an hour later, while Kenyon was engaged in making an entry -in the log, the helmsman reported land ahead. - -The "Golden Hind" was approaching the Spanish coast, not in the hostile -way in which her namesake did, but on a friendly voyage across a country -that, if not exactly an ally, is bound by strong ties to Great Britain. - -The airship was soon passing over Santander. Ahead the Cantabrian -Mountains reared themselves so high in the air that the "Golden Hind" -had to ascend another three thousand feet to ensure an easy crossing. - -At eight o'clock Fosterdyke appeared in the navigation-room. Under his -orders the airship's speed had been sensibly diminished. He intended to -put to a practical test the lifting powers of the six planes. - -Close behind him came Bramsdean, on whom the duties of officer of the -watch devolved for the next four hours. - -"Well, old bird," he observed, genially addressing his chum. "How goes -it?" - -"Fresh as paint," replied Kenyon, "but as hungry as a hunter." - -"Then hook it," continued Peter. "The cook's dished up a sumptuous -breakfast." - -Kenyon made a hurried but ample meal. He was anxious to see how the -"Golden Hind" manoeuvred as an aeroplane. - -Upon returning to the navigation-room he found that the six -comparatively small wings were being tilted to an effective angle, while -a large quantity of brodium was being exhausted from the alternate -ballonets into the pressure-flasks, until there was only enough "lift" -remaining in the envelope to prevent it dropping earthwards and thus -disturbing the stability of the fuselage by acting as top-hamper. - -Simultaneously instructions were telegraphed to the air mechanics -standing by the six motors to increase the number of revolutions. - -The change was instantly appreciable. No longer did the "Golden Hind" -pitch. She settled down to a rapid, steady motion, her speed being not -far short of 150 miles an hour. - -"No ailerons," explained Fosterdyke. "Horizontal and vertical rudders -only. Saves a lot of trouble and complication of gear." - -"Stunts not permissible, sir?" asked Kenyon. - -"No," he replied. "They are not. We're out to do something definite, -not to let the Spanish have an exhibition of an airship making a -spinning nose-dive or looping the loop. But we'll do a volplane, just -to test the gliding powers of the 'bus." - -He touched a switch by which a warning bell rang in each of the motor -rooms. This was to inform the mechanics that the electric current would -be simultaneously cut off from the six motors, so that there would be no -need on their part to endeavour to locate faults that did not exist. - -"Cut out!" ordered Fosterdyke. - -Bramsdean promptly depressed a small switch by the side of the -indicator-board. This automatically cut off the ignition. The propellers -made a few more "revs." and then came to a standstill. In almost -absolute silence, save for the whine of the wind in the struts and -tension wires the "Golden Hind" began her long, oblique glide earthward. - -Suddenly Kenyon gripped the baronet's arm. - -"Look!" he exclaimed. "Airship!" - -Fosterdyke did as requested. The "Golden Hind" was manoeuvring high -above La Mancha, the undulating well-watered plain between the Montes -del Toledo and the Sierra Morena. Six thousand feet beneath the airship -the town of Ciudad Real glinted in the slanting rays of the morning sun. - -"Our shadow--that's all," declared Fosterdyke. - -"No, not that," protested Kenneth. "More to the left." - -He grasped a pair of binoculars and looked at the object that had -attracted his attention. It was a somewhat difficult matter, owing to -the refraction of the triplex glass in front of the navigation-room, -where, in contrast to the rest of the windows, fire-proofed celluloid -had not been employed. - -Before Kenyon had got the airship in focus the baronet had also spotted -it. Apparently it had just left its shed and was heading in a -south-easterly direction, differing a good four points from that -followed by the "Golden Hind." - -"By Jove!" exclaimed Kenyon. "It's a Fritz! I can spot the black -crosses on the envelope." - -"In that case," added Fosterdyke, calmly, "Count Karl von Sinzig has -stolen a march on us. He's one up!" - - - - -CHAPTER VI--Z64 SCORES - - -Count Karl von Sinzig was certainly the "first away." Typically -Teutonic, he had succeeded in throwing dust in the eyes of his rivals. -Acting upon the principle "Do others or they'll do you," he was leaving -no stone unturned to pull off the big prize; and, figuratively speaking, -a good many of the stones were too dirty for a clean sportsman to -handle. - -For one thing von Sinzig had obtained his airship by fraud, although -none of the other competitors were aware of the fact. Formerly in the -German Air Service, the count managed to smuggle one of the Zeppelins -out of the shed at Tondern, taking it by night to an aerodrome in East -Prussia. - -According to the terms of the Peace Treaty, Germany was to surrender all -her airships. How she evaded the stipulation is now well known. The -Zeppelins at Tondern and other air stations in Sleswig-Holstein were -destroyed by fire deliberately, to prevent them falling into the hands -of the Allies. This act of bad faith was similar to the scuttling of -the Hun fleet at Scapa; and the tardiness of the Allies to obtain -reparation merely encouraged the Huns to other acts of passive defiance. -But, although the destruction of the airships was taken as an accepted -fact, it was unknown outside certain Junker circles that one of the -Zeppelins had been removed before the conflagration. - -Revolutions and counter-revolutions, in which the fire-eating von Sinzig -had several narrow escapes from death, led the count to seek pastures -new; and about this time the publication of M. Chauvasse's terms for the -international contest suggested to the Junker count the possibility of -making good his financial losses. - -Gathering a crew of airmen who had had experience in Zeppelins during -the war, von Sinzig flew the airship to Spain, crossing Austria and the -north of Italy during the night, and carefully avoiding French territory -on his aerial voyage. - -In a secluded part of the mountainous Estremadura he had practically his -own way. The Alcaldes of the nearest surrounding villages were easily -bribed to leave the mysterious airship and its foreign owner severely -alone. From stores of German war material "sold" to Spain von Sinzig -obtained gas cylinders, petrol, spares, and even a baby "Albatross"--a -small yet powerful monoplane. With folding wings this machine could -with ease be stowed away in the car of the airship. With German -thoroughness the Count, looking well ahead, foresaw that the Albatross -would probably serve a most useful purpose in helping him to win the -coveted prize. - -The honour of being the first man to fly round the world took quite a -subsidiary place in von Sinzig's plans. Since Germany did not own a -square inch of territory outside Europe, he was compelled to make use of -alien lands in which to alight. That was a handicap, and the thought of -it rankled. There was some consolation to be derived from the prospect -of wresting the big prize from a hated Englishman, a despised Yankee, or -a miserable yellow Jap. And he meant to do it--somehow. - -Already Germans had resumed their "peaceful penetration" of Great -Britain and the United States. Commercial travellers, representing -German houses and at the same time potential spies, were able to -ascertain with little difficulty particulars concerning the British and -American competitors for the Round-the-World Flight. The moment von -Sinzig learnt of the date of Sir Reginald Fosterdyke's departure from -England, he anticipated the time by starting the day before the British -airship was supposed to leave Gibraltar. - -This was a comparatively easy matter. According to the terms of the -contest, competitors had to obtain a clearance certificate from an -official of the International Airways Board. Provided the flight were -completed within twenty days of the date of the certificate the -principal condition was complied with, while it was furthermore -specified that the certificate could be post-dated to the extent of -twelve hours to allow for the time taken up in transmission from the -Board's representative to the actual competitor. - -In von Sinzig's case he scored again. Employing a swift motor-car, he -obtained the official _vis_ at Madrid, and was back at the rendezvous -within two and a half hours, the atrocious roads notwithstanding. - -Everything was in readiness for the start, and at ten in the morning Z64 -left her shed and, flying at a comparatively low altitude, made off in a -south-easterly direction. - -The German was counting on forty-eight hours' start of his English -rival--possibly more. He had been informed that the "Golden Hind" -proposed leaving England on the following Monday. Fosterdyke really -meant to have started on that day, and only the exuberant demonstration -of the crowd outside Air Grange had made him alter his plans. It was a -lucky stroke, for Fosterdyke's secret intelligence department was at -fault. According to information received from Germany, Count von Sinzig -was a non-starter. Incidentally it was the count who had set that -rumour afloat. It was but one of the many petty artifices upon which he -built his hopes of carrying off the Chauvasse Prize. - -Chuckling to himself, Count von Sinzig stood beside the helmsman of Z64, -quite in ignorance of the fact that a few thousand feet above him was -the British airship which he fondly thought was resting in her shed in -far-off England. - - - - -CHAPTER VII--DELAYS - - -"Avast stunting!" declared Fosterdyke. "Let's get on with it. Full -speed to Gib." - -Everyone on board realised that every minute was precious. With her six -motors running "all out" the "Golden Hind" quickly worked up to her -maximum speed of 180 miles an hour. At that rate the petrol consumption -was alarming, but Fosterdyke faced the fact cheerfully. While he was -obtaining the necessary certificates and making an official declaration -to the authorities at Gibraltar, the airship could replenish her -somewhat depleted fuel tanks. - -But Sir Reginald had not taken into account the vagaries of red tape and -petty officialdom. - -At 11 A.M. the "Golden Hind" sighted the historic Rock. Five minutes -later she slowed down and turned head to wind off the west side of the -fortress. With the assistance of a dockyard mooring-party, a stout -galvanised steel wire was lowered from the bow compartment of the -fuselage and secured to a large mooring buoy off the Detached Mole. -Then with sufficient gas in her ballonets to keep her buoyant the -"Golden Hind" floated head to wind at 50 feet above the Bay of -Gibraltar. - -Almost before the mooring operations were completed the water in the -vicinity was crowded with boats of all sorts, sizes, and descriptions, -while the water-front was packed with a dense concourse of interested -spectators, representatives of the umpteen nationalities to be found -living on the few square miles of thickly-populated rock. - -"Nothing you want ashore, I suppose?" enquired Fosterdyke as he prepared -to descend a wire ladder, the end of which was being steadied by a -couple of bluejackets in a picket-boat. - -"Thanks, no," replied Kenyon. - -"That's good," continued the baronet, fervently. "Hate having to -execute commissions. Not that I don't like obliging people, but I'm so -deucedly forgetful. Right-o; stand by. I'll be back in less than a -couple of hours, I hope. Come along, Bramsdean." - -Agilely Fosterdyke swarmed down the swaying ladder, followed at a safe -distance by Peter, who carried a parcel of documents and a Mercator's -chart on which the proposed route was marked for the benefit of the -International Air Committee's representative and also the "Competent -Military Authorities" of the various garrisons where the "Golden Hind" -was scheduled to land. - -Peter Bramsdean had plenty of experience of petty officialdom at the Air -Ministry. He well remembered the time--running into hours all told--of -weary waiting in draughty corridors until it pleased certain individuals -holding high places to signify their condescension (conveyed by a pert -damsel in brown overall and a pigtail tied with an enormous bow) to -receive the insignificant lieutenant. - -Here it was much the same. The officials who were considered -indispensable in the matter of signing various documents were "out to -lunch." - -A look of horrified amazement overspread the features of the minion to -whom Fosterdyke suggested that time would be saved by sending for them. -The British Empire might totter; the chance of winning fame by being the -first airman to fly round the globe be lost; but by no possibility must -such trivial details prevent officialdom from having its lunch--a -movable feast occupying normally from one o'clock till three. - -"Hang it all, Bramsdean!" exclaimed Fosterdyke explosively during one of -the numerous periods of forced inaction. Clearly the usually unruffled -baronet was showing signs of annoyance. "Hang it all! It was ever -thus. Petty hirelings whose one idea of efficiency is to raise -obstacles and to quibble over unimportant details; those are the -stumbling blocks. For twopence I'd cut the cackle and carry on." - -"And be disqualified at the winning post," reminded the cautious Peter. -"We're wasting precious time----" - -"It'll be an unofficial competition, then," declared Fosterdyke. "The -honour of achieving the flight will be enough. The money prize can go -hang. Come along, let's make tracks." - -"I vote we look up the Commissioner at his private quarters," suggested -Bramsdean. "After all, the 'Golden Hind' won't have refilled her petrol -tanks yet." - -"'Spose not," growled Fosterdyke. "Someone's illegible signature's -required for the indents, I presume. Right-o, Bramsdean, let's rout out -this indispensable." - -Somewhat to Peter's surprise the official was discovered with little -difficulty. He had just finished his lunch, and as the meal had been a -satisfying one, he was in high good humour. - -"So Count von Sinzig has five hours' start, eh?" remarked the worthy -representative of the International Air Board. "That's nothing. You'll -make that up easily. The documents? Ah--yes--quite so. Unfortunately, -the seals are in my office. I'll be along there very shortly." - -"Isn't your signature enough?" asked the baronet. - -The great one hesitated. On the one hand, he wanted to impress his -callers by admitting that his signature was "absolutely it." On the -other, years of punctilious devotion to the ethics of red tape urged him -to deprecate such a cutting of the Gordian knot. - -"No, Sir Reginald," he replied. "Both are necessary. One is not -conclusively in order without the other. I'll be at the office by -three." - -It was now a quarter-past two. Fosterdyke felt strongly inclined to -enquire pointedly why three-quarters of an hour would be taken up by the -Commissioner in getting from his quarters to his office. - -By ten minutes past three the various documents were sealed and signed. -As the competitors were on the point of taking their departure the -Commissioner spoke again. - -"I don't seem to have seen Form 4456," he observed dryly. "That had to -be obtained before you left England." - -"It wasn't," replied the baronet, bluntly. "An oversight, I admit, but -you don't suggest that I return to England to get it?" - -"It is necessary," was the rejoinder. "Without it the flight would not -be in order. In fact, as an authorised representative of the -International Air Board I can rule you out of the contest." - -"Piffle!" declared Fosterdyke hotly. He was rapidly nearing the end of -his restraint. "This, I may observe, is a contest of aircraft, not a -paper competition. Form 4456 is not an absolute essential. Since you -require it, I presume the case can be met if my representative in -England has the form made out and sent to you by registered post. It -will be in your hands before the 'Golden Hind' completes the circuit." - -The Commissioner consulted a ponderous tome, chock-a-block with rules -and regulations for aerial navigation, written in official phraseology -so confusing that it was possible to have more than one interpretation -for at least seventy-five per cent. of the complicated paragraphs. - -Quoting Article 1071, sub-section 3c, the official made the discovery -that the rendering of Form 4456 could be dispensed with in circumstances -laid down in Article 2074, section 5c, etc., etc. Thereupon he rang a -bell, summoned a head clerk, who in turn deputed a junior to fetch a -certain form. When this was forthcoming a blob of sealing-wax, the -impress of a seal, and the great man's illegible signature, and the -trick was done. As far as the International Air Board was concerned the -"Golden Hind" was a recognised and duly authorised competitor for the -Chauvasse Prize. - -There was still the Recognised Military Authority to be dealt with. -That official was urbanity personified. He did everything in his power -to expedite matters, but red tape was stronger than gold lace. - -The loud report of a gun warned Fosterdyke and his companion that sunset -had descended upon the Rock. The gates of the fortress were closed till -sunrise. - -"Won't affect you," explained the courteous official. "You can get back -by the boat from the Old Mole. I won't keep you very much longer. It -really isn't my fault." - -"Gibraltar was a bad choice of mine for a starting-point," observed -Fosterdyke. - -"'Fraid so," agreed the other. "Ah, here we are. Thank you, Wilson. -Where's my fountain pen? Where's---- Oh, dash it all, where's -everything? ... That's settled, then. Have a drink before you go? No? -Well, cheerio, and the very best of luck." - -Armed with the necessary documents, "sealed, signed, and delivered," -Fosterdyke and Bramsdean found themselves in the open air. Darkness had -already fallen. It was a good two miles from Little Europa Point to the -Old Mole, and not a vehicle of any sort was to be seen. - -Tired, hot, and hungry they reached the spot where a naval pinnace was -supposed to be awaiting them. It was not there. A message erroneously -delivered had sent the boat back to the dockyard. Not to be done, -Fosterdyke hired a native boat, paying without demur a -villainous-looking Rock Scorp the excessive sum he demanded. - -For a quarter of an hour the boat rowed about while the baronet and his -companion gazed aloft in the hope of spotting the "Golden Hind" against -the dark sky. - -"She's gone!" declared Bramsdean. - -"Nonsense!" exclaimed Fosterdyke, irritably. "Why should she?" - -Nevertheless in his mind he was convinced that such was the case. - -Presently the boat ran close to the buoy to which the airship had been -moored. Both men recognised the buoy by the number painted on it. No -wire rope ran upwards to an invisible object floating in the darkness of -the night. - -Unaccountably, mysteriously the "Golden Hind" had disappeared. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII--CAST ADRIFT - - -Enrico Jaures, Spaniard on his father's side and German on his mother's, -with a dash of almost every other Continental nation's blood in his -veins, lived or rather existed in a mean dwelling behind the King's -Bastion, on the west side of Gibraltar. - -Indolent, thriftless, and easy-going on the one hand, crafty and -quarrelsome on the other, he possessed all the bad points that -characterise the criminal classes of the two countries where his parents -first saw the light. What he did for a living and how he earned money -was a mystery even to his polyglot neighbours. Yet, without being well -off, he appeared to be always "flush" with money. - -Contrary to the general demeanour of the Rock Scorps, Enrico Jaures -expressed no astonishment when the "Golden Hind" appeared over the high -ground beyond Algeciras. He was expecting the airship, although he had -to confess to himself that she had certainly arrived prematurely. -Evidently this was not according to plan. - -He sat, smoked innumerable cigarettes, and thought as deeply as a -half-breed Spaniard can. Twice he got up, yawned, stretched himself and -ambled back to the house to partake of a meal consisting principally of -olives, garlic, and maize. Then back he came to his post of vantage and -sat gazing stolidly at the five hundred feet of inflated gasbag riding -easily to her wire cable, while her crew, bringing the airship close to -the surface, were busily engaged in pumping up petrol from a -tank-lighter. - -The shadows were lengthening considerably when a white-robed Moor -approached the reclining Jaures--a dignified, olive-featured man, -wearing a thick black beard and moustache. - -"The Englishman has started," observed the new-comer, speaking in -Spanish with a decidedly guttural accent. - -"That I know," rejoined Enrico. - -"But not so von Sinzig," continued the other in a low tone, giving a -furtive glance over his shoulder. "Until he arrives at Massowah it is -doubtful whether he will know that this English airship is on his heels. -Why is she here so soon?" - -"I know not," replied Jaures. "Two men landed from her. They went in -the direction of Buena Vista." - -The pseudo Moor shrugged his shoulders. - -"Two thousand five hundred pesetas are awaiting you in the Banqua del -Espiritu at Algeciras, friend Enrico," he said in a low voice. "Prevent -that airship's departure even for twelve hours and the money will be -paid you." - -"How can I?" asked Jaures, showing more interest than he had hitherto -displayed. "I cannot place a bomb on board her, like I did on board the -_Henri Artois_ at Barcelona." - -"S'sh! Not so loud," exclaimed the other warningly. "How you earn the -money is your affair." - -The supposed Moor passed on, leaving Enrico Jaures gazing thoughtfully -at the British airship. - -He sat and pondered until the refuelling operations were completed and -the "Golden Hind" allowed to rise a hundred feet above the sea. With -the setting of the sun a gentle breeze sprang up from the nor'east, -causing the hitherto almost motionless airship to sway as she fretted at -her cable. - -He waited until darkness had settled upon the scene, then once more made -his way into the house. This time he did not eat, but fortified himself -with a long drink out of an earthenware bottle. - -Drawing his knife, he carefully oiled the blade and replaced it in its -sheath. Then, having selected a marline-spike from a tool box, he slung -the implement from his neck by means of a lanyard, hiding it under his -coloured shirt. - -These preparations completed, he walked slowly and unconcernedly to the -Old Mole. - -By this time the water-front was almost deserted. A patrol marched -stolidly down the street; Enrico stepped into the shelter of a narrow -courtyard until the khaki-clad party had disappeared; but before he -could resume he had to await the passing of a gaitered and belted naval -picquet. - -The coast cleared, he reached the Mole. A tramp steamer and a few -feluccas were moored alongside. Farther out a tug was engaged in -shepherding a couple of large lighters alongside an East-bound liner, -while changing red, white, and green lights betokened the presence of -swift-moving steamboats in the bay. Standing out against the faint -starlight he could discern the "Golden Hind." Even as he looked a gleam -of light shot through the windows of one of the compartments, and then -another, both being almost instantly screened. - -"Two thousand five hundred pesetas," whispered Jaures to himself. "A -good price for a little swim." - -Without troubling to remove any of his clothes, although he kicked off -his canvas shoes, Enrico cautiously descended a flight of steps until -his feet touched the water. Listening to assure himself that no one was -about, he glided in as noiselessly as an eel, and swam with slow, steady -strokes under the counter of the tramp and close to her wall sides until -he gained her bows. - -Taking his bearings of the airship's mooring-buoy, he resumed his easy -progress cautiously lest feathers of phosphorescent spray should betray -his presence. - -A quarter of an hour's swim brought him up to the mooring-buoy. With -considerable difficulty, for the large barrel-shaped buoy was coated -with barnacles and slippery with seaweed, Enrico contrived to draw -himself clear of the water. - -Again he waited, listening to the sounds emanating from the airship a -hundred or a hundred and fifty feet overhead. The wire hawser, acting -as a conductor, enabled him to hear with great distinctness, and -possessing a good knowledge of English he was able to pick up scraps of -conversation between the crew. That helped him but little, for they -were talking of matters as remote from the topic of the great race as -the Poles. - -Enrico Jaures next devoted his attention to the shackle that secured the -thimble spliced in the end of the cable to the big ring bolt of the -buoy. - -He grunted with satisfaction when he discovered that the shackle was -threaded and not secured by a forelock, but at the same time he found by -the sense of touch that whoever had been responsible for the job had -done his work well by securing the pin by means of a piece of flexible -wire. - -This latter Jaures managed to cast loose, then, with the aid of his -marline-spike, he began to unfasten the shackle-pin, pausing -occasionally as the strain on the wire rope increased. - -At last the deed was accomplished. The shackle-pin clattered upon the -rounded surface of the buoy and rebounded into the water; but almost -simultaneously Enrico Jaures found himself being whisked aloft. A -snap-hook at the end of a wire had caught in his belt, and there he was, -suspended ignominiously like a horse being slung on board a ship, -already a hundred feet or more above the surface of the sea. - -His first impulse was to cut loose his belt and drop, but a downward -glance at the dark unfathomable void made him abruptly change his mind. - -His sole thought was now that of self-preservation. Fearful lest his -leather belt should break and send him hurtling through space he clung -desperately to the wire. - -Fax below him the lights of Gibraltar seemed to be gliding past as the -freed airship drifted towards the strait separating Europe from the -African shore. - -It was bitterly cold aloft. The keenness of the rarefied air was -intensified by the fact that his clothes were saturated with salt water. -A numbing pain crept down both arms. His muscles seemed to be cracking -under the strain, while his fingers closed round the wire until the -nails sunk deep into his palms. - -He shouted for help--his voice sounding more like the yelp of a jackal -than that of a human being. But no response came from the airship a -hundred feet above him. - -"Dios!" he exclaimed in agony. "This is indeed the end." - - - - -CHAPTER IX--THE ESCAPADE OF ENRICO JAURES - - -"What are those blighters doing?" soliloquised Kenyon for the twentieth -time. "Are they buying the place, or are they poodle-faking? They ought -to have been back hours ago." - -It was well after sunset. The "Golden Hind" had taken in stores and -provisions, and had replenished her fuel and oil tanks. An anchor watch -had been set, and having "gone the rounds" in order to satisfy himself -that everything was in order Kenneth Kenyon had gone to his cabin to -write letters that would be sent ashore when the picket-boat brought off -the skipper and Bramsdean. - -A shrill blast of the voice-tube whistle made Kenyon hasten across the -long narrow cabin. There was something insistent about the summons. It -was not the discreet apologetic trill that the look-out man gave when he -wished to report some trivial incident to the officer of the watch. - -"Hello!" replied Kenyon. - -"We're adrift, sir," announced the man, excitedly. - -Telling the look-out to call the duty-watch, Kenyon replaced the whistle -in the mouth of the voice-tube, struggled into his leather, fur-lined -coat, and hurried to the navigation-room. As he passed the various -motor-rooms he noticed that the air-mechanics of the duty-watch were -already at their posts awaiting the order to get the engines running. - -Throwing open one of the windows, Kenyon looked out into the night. -There was no staggering, biting wind. Drifting with the breeze, the -airship was apparently motionless save for a gently-undulating movement, -but the merest glance served to corroborate the look-out man's words. -Already the "Golden Hind," having risen to 6000 feet and still climbing, -was well to the south'ard of Europa Point. He could see the lighthouse -on the south-western point of the peninsula of Gibraltar steadily -receding as the airship approached the African coast. - -Kenyon was on the point of telegraphing for half-speed ahead when he -bethought him of the cable. More than likely, he decided, the wire rope -had parted half-way between the nose of the fuselage and the buoy. -There was danger in the comparatively light, springy wire getting foul -of the for'ard propellers. Stranded wire is apt to play hanky-panky -tricks. - -"Get the cable inboard," he ordered. "Don't use the winch or you won't -get the wire to lie evenly on the reel. Haul it in by hand." - -Two of the crew descended to the bow compartment, which, besides forming -a living-room for the men, contained the cable winch. - -"'Get it in by 'and,' 'e said," remarked one of the men to his -companion. "Blimey! There ain't 'arf a strain on the blessed thing. -Bear a 'and, chum." - -Presently one of the men returned to the navigation-room. - -"Pardon, sir," he said, saluting, "but we can't haul the wire in. It's -foul of something. Shall we bring it to the winch, sir?" - -"Foul of something, eh?" echoed Kenyon. "Does that mean we've hiked up -the blessed mooring-buoy? Switch on the bow searchlight, Jackson." - -The order was promptly obeyed, and the rays of the 10,000 candle-power -lamp were directed vertically downwards. - -Leaning well out of the open window, Kenyon peered along the glistening -length of tautened cable until parting from the converging rays of the -searchlight it vanished into space. - -"Two degrees left," ordered Kenneth. "Good--at that. By Jove! What's -that? A man!" - -Filled with a haunting suspicion that the suspended body might be that -of his chum Peter, Kenyon felt his heart jump into his throat; but a -second glance, as the motionless figure slowly revolved at the end of -the cable, relieved Kenneth's mind on that, score. Still, it was a -human being in dire peril. - -"Heave away handsomely," continued Kenyon. "Stand by to avast heaving," -he added. - -The orders were communicated to the hands at the cable-winch. Steadily -the winch-motor clanked away until the word was passed to "'vast -heaving." The luckless individual at the end of the wire was now -dangling thirty feet below the bows of the fuselage. - -It would have been useless to have hauled him up to the hawse-pipe, -because there would be no means of getting him on board. The only -practical way to reach him was by lowering a rope from a trap-door on -the underside of the chassis midway between the two hawse-pipes in the -bows. - -Meanwhile Kenyon was deftly making "bowlines on the bight" at the -extremities of two three-inch manilla ropes. - -"Jackson," he said, addressing the leading hand of the duty-watch, "I'm -going after that chap. Tell off a couple of men to attend to each of -the ropes. If I make a mess of things and don't get back, keep the ship -head to wind till daylight, and then make for our former mooring. -There'll be plenty of help available." - -Adjusting one of the loops under his arms and another round his legs -above his knees, Kenneth slipped through the narrow trap-hatch, taking -the second rope with him. It was a weird sensation dangling in space -with about 8000 feet of empty air between him and land or sea, for by -this time the "Golden Hind" was probably over the African coast. But -soon the eerie feeling passed and Kenneth, courageous, cool-headed and -accustomed to dizzy heights, had no thought but for the work in hand. - -"At that!" he shouted, when he found himself on the same level with the -man he hoped to rescue. "Take a turn." - -Ten feet from him was the unconscious Enrico Jaures. The question now -was, how was that intervening space to be bridged? - -Kenyon began to sway his legs after the manner of a child on a swing. - -"If the rope parts, then it's a case of 'going west' with a vengeance," -he soliloquised grimly. "Christopher! Isn't it beastly cold?" - -Momentarily the pendulum-like movement increased until Kenneth was able -to grip the arm of the unconscious man. As he did so Enrico's belt, -that had hitherto prevented him from dropping into space, parted like -pack-thread. - -With a jerk that nearly wrenched the rescuer's arms from their sockets, -the deadweight of the Scorp almost capsized Kenyon out of the bow-line. -As it was, he was hanging with his head lower than his feet, holding on -with a grip of iron to Jaures' arms. Thus hampered, he realised that it -was manifestly impossible to make use of the second bow-line. - -"Haul up!" he shouted breathlessly. - -"Heavens!" he added. "Can I do it? Can I hold on long enough?" - -It was a question that required some answering. The strain on his -muscles, coupled with the effect of the unexpected jerk, the numbing -cold, and, lastly, his own position, as he hung practically head -downwards, all told against him. Even in those moments of peril he -found himself thinking he must present a ludicrous sight to the watchers -in the airship in the dazzling glare of the searchlight. - -"Stick it another half a minute, sir," shouted a voice. "I'll be with -you in a brace of shakes." - -Of what happened during the next thirty long drawn out seconds Kenyon -had only a hazy recollection. He was conscious of someone bawling in -his ear, "Let go, sir; I've got him all right." - -Kenneth obeyed mechanically. In any case he was on the point of -relaxing his grip through sheer inability on the part of his muscles to -respond to his will. The sudden release of the man he had rescued -resulted in Kenyon regaining a normal position, and dizzy and utterly -exhausted he was hauled into safety. - -Someone gave him brandy. The strong spirit revived him considerably. - -"Where's the fellow?" he asked. - -"Safe, sir," replied Jackson. "Shall I carry on?" - -"Yes, please," said Kenneth, faintly, and with the clang of the -telegraph indicator bells and the rhythmic purr of the motors borne to -his ears he became unconscious. - -Meanwhile Enrico Jaures, to all outward appearances a corpse, had been -hauled on board. One of the crew, observing Kenneth's plight, had -descended by means of another rope, and had deftly hitched the end round -the Scorp's body, climbing back hand over hand as unconcernedly as if he -had been walking upstairs in his cottage in far-off Aberdeen. - -"Like handling frozen mutton," commented one of the crew as they -attended to the rescued Jaures. "Fine specimen, ain't he? An' what's -he doing with that there marline-spike, I should like to know. 'Tain't -all jonnick, if you ask me." - - - - -CHAPTER X--UNDER EXAMINATION - - -"I'm all right, I tell you. Hang it all, can't a fellow know when he's -all right?" - -Thus Kenyon rather resentfully resisted all efforts on the part of the -men to keep him in his bunk. He came from an indomitable stock that -never readily admits defeat, and on this occasion he steadfastly refused -to recognise the fact that his physical strength had been well-nigh -sapped. - -Donning his leather coat, he made his way to the navigation-room, -staggering slightly as he passed along the narrow alley-way. - -"Wireless message just received, sir," reported Jackson. "'From T.B.D. -_Zeebrugge_ to 'Golden Hind.' Am proceeding in search of you. Show -position lights. Will tranship Sir Reginald Fosterdyke and Mr. Bramsdean -as soon as possible. Make necessary arrangements.' We're steering N. -by W. W., but we haven't sighted the destroyer yet." - -"Very good," concurred Kenyon. "Carry on." - -He consulted the altimeter and the speed indicator. The former showed -that the airship had descended to two thousand feet, and the speed was -two thousand revolutions, or approximately thirty miles an hour. The -"Golden Hind" had by this time retraced a good portion of her drift, and -was now three or four miles from Ceuta. - -Ten minutes later a masthead flashing lamp was seen blinking at a -distance of about six miles. The light came from the destroyer -_Zeebrugge_, which, pelting along at twenty-five knots, was on the -lookout for the errant airship. - -Kenneth Kenyon was now on his mettle. For the first time he was in -command of a large airship about to make a descent. As officer of the -watch he had already had opportunities of observing the handling of the -huge vessel, but now he found himself confronted with the problem of -bringing her close to the surface of the sea so as to enable the -destroyer to manoeuvre sufficiently enough to establish direct -communication. - -"Hope I don't make a bog of it," he soliloquised. "I must admit I feel -a bit rotten after that little jamboree just now. Still, I'll stick it." - -Although he was not aware of the fact, Leading Hand Jackson was keeping -a sharp eye on his superior officer, ready at the first sign to "take -on" should Kenyon's physical strength fail him. - -For the next ten minutes the greatest activity prevailed. Gongs were -clanging, crisp orders were issued through various voice-tubes, gas was -being withdrawn from various ballonets, the motors were constantly being -either accelerated or retarded according to the conditions demanded. The -white flashing lamp signals were being exchanged with the T.B.D., which -had now circled sixteen degrees to starboard and was steaming slowly -dead in the eye of the wind. - -In the floor of the bow compartment of the "Golden Hind" the large -trap-hatch had been opened. Close by crouched men ready to lower away a -wire rope, at the end of which a small electric bulb glowed to enable -the destroyer's crew to locate the line in the dark. Throughout the -manoeuvre neither the "Golden Hind" nor the _Zeebrugge_ made use of -their searchlights, since the dazzling rays might baffle the respective -helmsmen and result in a collision. - -Slowly and gracefully the airship dropped until her fuselage was thirty -feet from the surface of the sea. She was now dead in the wake of the -destroyer, and the task that confronted Kenyon was to bring her ahead -sufficiently for the bows to overlap the _Zeebrugge's_ stern. An error -of judgment at that low height would result in the airship's bows -fouling the destroyer's mast. - -Foot by foot the "Golden Hind" gained upon the destroyer until a shout -from the latter's deck announced that the wire rope had been made fast. - -Instantly the airship's six motors were declutched. She was now moving -merely under the towing action of the _Zeebrugge_, which was forging -ahead at a bare four knots. - -From the trap-hatch in the airship's bows a rope-ladder was lowered, its -end being held by a couple of bluejackets on the T.B.D. Without loss of -time Fosterdyke swarmed up the swaying ladder, and was followed by -Bramsdean. - -"Cast off, and thank you!" shouted the baronet. - -"All gone," came an answering voice from the _Zeebrugge_, followed by a -hearty "Best of luck to you!" - -Released, the "Golden Hind" leapt a full five hundred feet into the air -before the propellers began to revolve. - -"Cheerio, Kenyon!" exclaimed Fosterdyke, as he joined Kenneth in the -navigation-room. "All's well that ends well, but you gave me a pretty -bad turn. What happened?" - -"Hardly know, sir," replied Kenyon. "Our wire rope didn't part. -Possibly the shackle on the buoy gave. But we found a man hanging on -the end of the wire." - -"You did, eh?" exclaimed the baronet, sharply. "What sort of man?" - -"You'll see him, sir," replied Kenneth. "He's laid out below." - -"H'm!" ejaculated Fosterdyke, and relapsed into silence. - -He was deep in thought for some moments, then turned to Kenyon again. - -"We're making an official start in a few minutes' time," he announced. -"We have to pass over the Rock and display three red and three white -lights to the official observer on Signal Hill. When we see a similar -signal made from the Rock that will be the actual starting time. Pass -the word for Jackson to get the lamps in position." - -At an altitude of three thousand feet, or fifteen hundred feet above the -summit of the Rock of Gibraltar, the "Golden Hind" received her official -send-off at 3.35 A.M., eighteen hours after the Hun-owned Z64. - -Evidently there was not a minute to be wasted. The contest had -developed not merely into a voyage round the world within the space of -twenty days, but a race in which the British competitor had to make good -her formidable handicap of eighteen hours or approximately three -thousand five hundred miles. - -With the wind abeam on the port side the "Golden Hind" opened out to one -hundred and forty miles an hour. During the earlier stages of the race -Fosterdyke rather wisely decided to keep below the maximum speed, rather -than overtax the motors by running "all out." Within a few minutes of -receiving her official permit to depart the airship lost sight of the -lights upon the Rock of Gibraltar. She was now steering E. by S.--a -course that would take her over the northern part of Algeria and Tunis -and within a few miles of Malta. - -At 4 A.M. Kenyon, who had modestly refrained from giving any details of -the part he had taken in the rescue of Enrico Jaures, and had concealed -the fact that he had been temporarily out of action, was relieved by -Peter Bramsdean. - -As he turned to go to his cabin Kenneth saw that the baronet was -standing in a corner of the navigation-room and studying a nautical -almanac. - -"Sleep well, Kenyon," exclaimed Fosterdyke. "You've some arrears to make -up." - -"Rather, sir," agreed Kenyon. "But we've forgotten something." - -"Eh, what?" - -"That fellow we found hanging on to the wire rope, we didn't put him on -board the destroyer." - -"No," agreed Fosterdyke, grimly. "We didn't. I saw to that. Unless -I'm much mistaken our unwanted supernumerary can and must give us -certain information that will rather astonish us. I'll see him later -on, by Jove!" - -Kenyon nodded knowingly. Evidently Fosterdyke had learnt something. -However, as far as he, Kenyon, was concerned, other things of a more -pressing nature demanded his attention--food and sleep. - -At eight o'clock Fosterdyke ordered his involuntary guest to be brought -before him. - -"There's something fishy about the breaking adrift business," he -observed to Bramsdean as the two sat at a table in the after-cabin -awaiting Enrico's appearance. - -"Where's Jackson? We'll want him. No, don't disturb Kenyon; he had a -pretty sticky time." - -"More than you imagine, sir," added Peter, and proceeded to tell the -baronet the part Kenneth had played in the aerial rescue of the -imperilled Rock Scorpion. - -"Kenyon didn't say a word about it," he added on the conclusion of the -narrative. "He was as mute as an oyster over it all. Frampton and -Collings told me. It was----" - -A knock on the cabin door interrupted Bramsdean's explanation. - -"Come in!" exclaimed Fosterdyke. - -In answer to the invitation entered Leading Hand Jackson, followed in -single file by one of the crew, Enrico Jaures, and two other members of -the "Golden Hind's" company. - -The Scorp was still labouring under the effects of his narrow escape. -He looked, to quote Bramsdean's words, "as if the stuffing had been -knocked out of him." - -Fosterdyke's handling of the situation was a bold one. Without any -preliminaries, without even asking the fellow's name, he demanded -sternly: - -"How much did Count Karl von Sinzig promise you for last night's work?" - -Jaures gave an involuntary start, but almost immediately relapsed into -his imperturbably passive attitude. Then with a slight shrug of his -shoulders he replied: - -"Me no spik Englis." - -"Try again," said Fosterdyke, contracting his bushy eyebrows and looking -straight at the man. "All I can say is that if you don't speak English -it's a case of won't, not can't." - -"Me no spik Englis," reiterated Jaures. - -Without speaking, Fosterdyke looked straight at the fellow for a full -thirty seconds. During that period Enrico attempted three times to meet -the searching gaze of his inquisitor. - -"Now!" exclaimed the baronet at length. - -Enrico Jaures maintained silence. - -Fosterdyke slowly and deliberately unstrapped his wristlet watch and -placed it on the table. - -"I give you thirty seconds," he said in level tones. "Thirty seconds in -which to make up your mind either to answer or refuse to answer my -question. Might I remind you that we are now eight thousand feet above -the sea, and it is a long drop. Jackson, will you please remove that -hatch?" - -"Of course the Old Man was only kiddin'," remarked Jackson when he -related what had transpired to his companions after the affair was over; -"but, bless me, even I thought he meant to do the dirty sweep in. He -looked that stern, that it put the wind up the bloke straight away." - -Absolutely disciplined, the Leading Hand obeyed orders promptly. -Throwing back the aluminium cover in the centre of the cabin floor, he -revealed to the gaze of the thoroughly terrified Jaures a rectangular -opening six feet by four. Far below, glittering in the sunshine, was -the blue Mediterranean. - -"Five seconds more!" announced Fosterdyke, calmly. - -Of the occupants of the after cabin Enrico Jaures now seemed to be the -least interested in the proceedings. His furtive glances had given -place to an expression of lofty detachment, as if he were utterly bored -by the whole transaction. Bramsdean found himself deciding that either -the fellow was an imbecile or else he was a past master in the art of -dissimulation. - -"Time!" declared Fosterdyke. - -Enrico Jaures positively beamed. - -"Me no spik Englis," he babbled. - -Sir Reginald eyed the accused sternly, but even his piercing glance -seemed of no avail. The Rock Scorp continued to smile inanely. - -"Take him away," ordered Fosterdyke with asperity. - -He waited till the door had closed upon the involuntary guest, and then -gave a deprecatory shrug. - -"The fellow's scored this time, Bramsdean," he remarked, "but I'll get -to windward of him yet." - - - - -CHAPTER XI--"WITH INTENT" - - -"Where are we now?" enquired Kenyon on returning to the navigation-room -to relieve his chum as officer of the watch. - -It was now twelve o'clock. Bramsdean had just "shot the sun" and was -reading off the degrees, minutes, and seconds from the arc of the -sextant. - -"Almost over Algiers, old thing," he replied, pointing to the glaring, -sun-baked Algerian coast. "Hark!" - -He held up his hand and inclined his head sideways. Above the bass hum -of the aerial propellers came the distant report of a gun. - -"Reminds a fellow of old times when the Archies got busy," remarked -Kenyon. - -"Our friends the French are evidently treating us to a salute to help us -on our weary way," rejoined Peter. "Goodness only knows how we are to -return it. We can't give gun for gun." - -He focussed his glasses on the white buildings three thousand feet -below. The whole of the water-front of Algiers was packed with figures -with upturned faces--Frenchmen, Algerines, Arabs, and Nubians--all -frantically waving to the huge airship as she sped eastwards. - -In ten minutes the "Golden Hind" had left the capital of France's -African possessions far astern. Unless anything untoward occurred, -another four hours would bring her within sight of Malta. - -"You might cast your eye over the signal log-book before you take on," -remarked Bramsdean. - -Kenyon did so. Evidently the wireless operator had been kept busily -employed, for there were dozens of messages wishing the "Golden Hind" -bon voyage. But amongst them were two of a different nature. One -announced that an American airship "Eagle," under the command of -Commodore Theodore Nye, had left Tampa Town bound for Colon, followed by -a supplementary message that the "Eagle" had left the Panama Canal zone -and was last sighted flying in a westerly direction. Making allowance -for the difference in New York and Greenwich times, both the "Golden -Hind" and her Yankee rival had started practically simultaneously from -their respective points of departure for the actual race. - -The second wireless message, transmitted via Vancouver, Newfoundland, -and Poldu, was to the effect that the "Banzai," the Japanese quadruplane -piloted by Count Hyashi, had started from Nagasaki at a speed estimated -at two hundred and twenty miles an hour. - -"Artful blighter, that Jap," declared Bramsdean. "He's kept his design -carefully up his sleeve till the last moment. We thought he was -attempting the flight in an airship, but he's pinned his faith to a -gigantic quadruplane." - -"Two hundred and twenty miles an hour, too," added Kenyon. "That means -he'll do the whole trip in less than 120 hours of actual flying, unless -something goes wrong with his 'bus. My word, some speed!" - -"What I'd like to know is his petrol consumption, and how much juice -does his 'bus carry," remarked Bramsdean, thoughtfully. "By Jove! -We're up against something, old son." - -"By the by, I see there's no news of Fritz," said Kenneth. - -"Not a word," replied Peter. "Von Sinzig evidently thinks that it's too -early to start bragging. We'll hear either from or of him before night. -Fosterdyke is trying to call him up by wireless and tell him that he has -a friend of his on board." - -"Oh, that greasy merchant!" rejoined Kenneth. "How did he get on?" - -"Played 'possum," answered Bramsdean. "Fosterdyke tried to put the wind -up him, but it was a frost. I'd like to know what he did to the shackle -on the mooring-buoy." - -"You think he cast us adrift?" - -"Without a doubt, old bird." - -Kenyon shook his head doubtfully. - -"He might have been simply fishing when the pin drew and he got whisked -aloft," he suggested. "Did he give his name or any particulars?" - -"Not he," replied Peter. "In fact he wasn't asked. Fosterdyke went for -him bald-headed and tried to make him admit that he was in von Sinzig's -pay. But nothin' doin', even when we made out that we were going to -drop him overboard. Well, cheerio, old thing." - -Left in charge of the airship, Kenyon pondered over the problem of -whether the man he had rescued had really been a secret agent of von -Sinzig or otherwise. If he were, then it would be almost a foregone -conclusion that he spoke German. - -Kenneth had plenty of time for reflection during his "trick." The -"Golden Hind" was making good progress. There was little or no wind, -and her drift was in consequence almost imperceptible; while the -temperature was so constant that there was no necessity to alter the -volume of brodium in the ballonets for hours at a stretch. The motors, -too, ran like clockwork, and beyond attending to the semi-automatic -lubricators occasionally, the air-mechanics on duty had little to do. -Fosterdyke, having paid a brief visit to the navigating room, retired to -his cabin to make up arrears of sleep. - -"Might work," soliloquised Kenneth, reflectively. "I'll tackle -Fosterdyke about it next time I come across him." - -At four in the afternoon Malta was passed at a distance of ten miles to -the south'ard. The "Golden Hind" was doing well, maintaining more than -her normal cruising speed. If she were able to keep on at that rate she -would accomplish the voyage of circumnavigation well under the twenty -days; but that was now but a secondary consideration. At all costs von -Sinzig's Z64 must be overhauled. - -The "Golden Hind's" first stop was at Alexandria, sixteen hours after -leaving Gibraltar. She made a faultless landing on sandy spit that -separates Lake Mareotis from the Mediterranean. The time of her arrival -had been notified by wireless, and all preparations had been made for -her reception. Keenly interested Tommies manned the trail ropes and -secured her firmly to anchors buried in the sand; lorries laden with -petrol and oil were rushed to the spot, and the work of refuelling began -without delay. While Fosterdyke and Kenyon were signing the "control -certificate" and holding an informal reception of almost the whole of -the British Colony at Alexandria, Bramsdean remained in charge of the -airship. - -In order to keep back the dense crowd, composed of fellaheen, Copts, -Arabs, Syrians, and representatives of every nation bordering on the -Mediterranean, strong picquets of British troops were posted round the -tethered airship, no unauthorised person being permitted to approach -within a hundred yards of the "Golden Hind"; while to enable the work of -refuelling to proceed as rapidly as possible, the improvised aerodrome -was brilliantly illuminated by portable searchlights mounted on motor -lorries. - -It seemed as if it would be impossible for any suspicious characters to -approach the airship without being detected. Having once been "bitten," -Fosterdyke was not taking chances in that direction. - -No attempt had been made to get rid of Enrico Jaures. Closely watched -by a couple of the crew, he was even permitted to view the proceedings -from an open scuttle in one of the compartments on the starboard side. - -When everything was in readiness to resume the voyage, Fosterdyke and -Kenyon shook hands with their entertainers and crossed the guarded -square. As they approached the entry port on the starboard side a dark -figure suddenly appeared from behind an unattended lorry, and at a -distance of ten paces fired half a dozen shots in rapid succession -straight at the baronet. - -Almost at the first report Fosterdyke threw himself at full length upon -the sand. Kenyon, without hesitation, rushed upon the would-be assassin, -while two of the crew, leaping from the fuselage, promptly seized the -miscreant and deprived him of his automatic pistol. - -"Hurt, sir?" asked Kenyon, anxiously. - -"Not a bit of it," replied Sir Reginald coolly. "That fellow couldn't -hit a haystack at five yards. Bring him along, men." - -An agitated member of the Egyptian Civil Service, accompanied by a -couple of staff officers, hurried up, and after making inquiries and -learning that Fosterdyke was unhurt, suggested, not without good reason, -that the would-be assassin should be handed over to the civil powers for -trial. - -The baronet airily swept aside the suggestion. - -"Sorry, Vansittart," he said; "but I'm not going to waste precious time -appearing as a prosecutor in this business. No, I'm not exactly -professing to take the law into my own hands, but I propose taking the -gentleman with me. If he tried to shoot me, surely I can jolly well -kidnap him. 'Tany rate, possession's nine points of the law. When I've -done with him you can deal with him." - -"But, dash it all, man!" exclaimed one of the staff officers; "you -aren't going to--to----" - -"Hang him? Not much," declared the baronet. "Return good for evil sort -of thing, you know. Don't get flustered, Vansittart. He's mine, and -we're just off." - -Happening to glance up as he entered the fuselage, Fosterdyke caught -sight of Enrico Jaures, who had seen the whole incident through one of -the windows. - -"Birds of a feather," he soliloquised. "However, I don't suppose we'll -pick up pals of this sort at every place we touch. All ready, Kenyon?" -he enquired, raising his voice. "Right-o; let go." - - - - -CHAPTER XII--CONFIDENCES - - -In one of the store-rooms, the contents of which had been removed in -order to adapt the place to present requirements, sat Enrico Jaures and -the would-be assassin. They were under lock and key and had been -unceremoniously bundled into durance vile without the formality of an -introduction. - -Enrico was feeling fairly content, in spite of being a prisoner. After -all, he reflected, nothing had been proved against him. He had scored -in his encounter with the captain and owner of the British airship, and, -all things considered, he was being well treated. - -He made no remark when his new companion was gently but firmly propelled -through the doorway. The newcomer was equally reticent; so the -ill-assorted pair--one rigged out in the nondescript garments of a -low-class inhabitant of Gibraltar and the other in European clothes and -a tarboosh--sat in opposite corners of the limited space. - -For the best part of an hour neither spoke. Occasionally they regarded -each other furtively. Then the gentleman who had demonstrated so -effectively how not to shoot straight began to slumber. Sitting on his -haunches with his arms clasped round his bent knees, he nodded his -crimson tarboosh until his head found a rather uncomfortable -resting-place on his clasped hands. - -Then in his somnolent condition he began muttering his wandering -sentences, punctuated with many "Achs!" - -Enrico listened intently. Hitherto he had been in ignorance of the -motive that had prompted the would-be murderer. Now he had enough -evidence to form the conclusion that they both had a motive in -common--to wreck the attempt of the British competitor to win the -Chauvasse Prize. - -Nevertheless Jaures was of a cautious disposition, and when his -companion awoke he still maintained his attitude of aloofness. - -Breakfast time came. One of the "Golden Hind's" crew appeared with -quite a substantial meal, and both men were hungry. The pure, cold air, -a striking contrast to the hot, enervating atmosphere of Alexandria, had -given them an enormous appetite, and the fact that they had to share -their meals and were not provided with knives and forks did not trouble -them. - -"Pass the salt," said Enrico's companion, speaking in German. - -Jaures complied without hesitation. The request was so natural that it -took him completely off his guard. - -"So you do speak German," remarked the wearer of the tarboosh. - -Enrico shook his head. - -"Come, come," continued the other. "Do not say that you cannot. I asked -you for the salt. I was not looking at it, so that you have no excuse." - -Jaures swallowed a big chunk of bread and stole cautiously to the door. -For a few seconds he listened lest there should be anyone eavesdropping -without. - -"Yes," he admitted. "My mother was German. But don't speak so loudly." - -"From what town came she?" enquired his companion. - -"From Lubeck," he replied. - -"And I come from Immeristadt. I am a Swabian and my name is Otto -Freising," announced the German. "What are you doing here?" - -"I am not here of my own free will," said Jaures, guardedly. He was -rather inclined to shut up like an oyster, but his semi-compatriot was -persistent. - -"I suppose these Englishmen will hang me," remarked Otto. "My one -regret is that I did not succeed in my attempt." - -"What attempt?" asked Enrico, innocently. As a matter of fact he knew, -having watched the shooting affray. - -Otto told him. - -"The trouble is," he added, "I've been paid for this business. Ten -thousand Egyptian piastres. I have a banker's order for that amount in -my pocket. Will they search me?" - -"Without a doubt," replied Enrico, whose knowledge of British criminal -courts was of a first-hand order. "But in a way you are lucky. You -were paid--I was not. I succeeded--you failed." - -The German raised his eyebrows, but forbore to elicit further -information concerning Jaures' motives. - -"My difficulty," resumed Otto, "is what I am to do with this banker's -order. I undertook the business because I was hard up, and should I be -hanged or even imprisoned my family will not benefit because the money -will be confiscated." - -He paused. Enrico eyed him thoughtfully. He would willingly rob -anybody. Now was a chance of enriching himself at the expense of his -semi-compatriot. - -"These English cannot keep me in captivity much longer," he observed. -"They can prove nothing against me. When I regain my liberty I propose -paying a visit to my mother's relations in Lubeck. Perhaps I might be -able to render you a service by handing that draft to your relatives." - -Otto showed no great eagerness to close with the offer. His hesitation -increased his companion's cupidity. - -"Rest assured that the money will eventually reach a safe destination," -he urged enigmatically. "Better even to run the risk of its being lost -than to let it fall into the hands of these Englishmen." - -"That is so," agreed Otto. "At any rate I can entrust it in your -keeping for the next few days until I know what they propose doing with -me. You will, of course, be paid well for your trouble." - -Enrico waved his hands deprecatingly, swearing by his patron Saint -Enrico of Guadalajara that it would be a pleasure and a duty to assist a -German in distress. - -"Very well, then," agreed Otto, producing a paper from the double crown -of his tarboosh. - -The Rock Scorp, craftily concealing his delight at the success of his -plan, took the document and glanced at the amount written thereon. As -he did so he uttered an exclamation. - -"Dios!" he ejaculated. - -"What is it?" enquired Otto. - -"The signature--Hans von Effrich. I know the man. He was at Barcelona -when the U-boats were busy. I helped him to--" - -He broke off abruptly, realising, perhaps, that there were limits to an -exchange of confidences. - -"Von Effrich--I have never met him," declared Otto. "All I know is that -he is now an agent for Count Karl von Sinzig." - -"Where is he now?" enquired Jaures. - -"Who?--von Sinzig or von Effrich?" - -"Von Effrich." - -"He is usually to be found in Corinth," replied Otto. "Why do you ask?" - -"Because he might also pay me what von Sinzig owes me," replied Enrico. -"We apparently are engaged on similar tasks." - -"To cripple or delay this airship," added Otto. "Up to the present we -have not made much of a success of it. My prospects are not at all -bright, but my one hope is that when we arrive at Singapore von Blicker -will be there. A clever fellow, von Blicker. I met him at von -Effrich's house just before I left Corinth for Alexandria--a month ago." - -"What is he going to do?" asked Enrico. - -"I believe he'll---- S'sh! someone coming." - - - - -CHAPTER XIII--THE TAIL OF A CYCLONE - - -"Hanged if I like the look of things one little bit," declared -Fosterdyke, frankly. "Glass dropping as quickly as if the bottom of it -had fallen out, and on top of it all we get this." - -"This" was a wireless from Point de Galle announcing that a terrific -cyclone was raging west of the Maldive Islands, its path being a -"right-hand circle." That meant that unless the "Golden Hind" made a -radical alteration of course she would encounter the full force of the -wind. - -It was the fourth day of the race. The "Golden Hind" had passed over -Socotra at daybreak and was on her way across the Arabian Sea, her next -scheduled landing-place being Colombo. - -"If we carry on we'll hit the tail of the cyclone," said Kenyon, -consulting a chart of the Indian Ocean. - -"Yes, but what is worse we'd pass through the dangerous storm-centre, -and then more than likely get a nose-ender on the other side, if we were -lucky enough to weather the centre," replied Fosterdyke. "It's too jolly -risky, Kenyon. At fifteen thousand feet it may be as bad or worse than -at five hundred feet up. Call up Murgatroyd, and ask what petrol there -is in the tanks." - -Kenneth went to the voice tube and made the necessary enquiry of the -engineer. - -"By Jove, we'll risk it!" declared Fosterdyke, when he received the -desired information. "We'll go south a bit, and then make straight for -Fremantle." - -Kenyon was taken aback with the audacity of the proposal. The distance -between Socotra and Western Australia was a good 5000 miles, or -thirty-six hours of uninterrupted flight. At 140 miles an hour there -was sufficient fuel on board for forty hours, which meant a reserve of -four hours only in case of anything occurring to protract the run. - -"Oh, we'll do it," said Fosterdyke, confidently, as he noticed his -companion's look of blank amazement. "Better run the risk of cutting -things fine than to barge into a cyclone. Sou'-east by south is the -course." - -"Remarkable thing we haven't heard anything of friend Sinzig 'clocking -in,'" observed Kenyon. "Wonder where he's making for?" - -"We'll hear in due course," replied the baronet. He crossed the cabin -to consult a Mercator's chart of the world, on which were pinned -British, American, and Japanese flags recording the latest-known -positions of the rival airmen. There was a German flag ready to be -stuck in, but nearly five days had elapsed since von Sinzig left Spain, -and the crew of the "Golden Hind" were still in ignorance of his -whereabouts. - -But they had the satisfaction of knowing that they more than held their -own with the others. The American had passed the Azores, while Count -Hyashi's "Banzai," which had made a stupendous non-stop flight to -Honolulu, had developed engine defects that promised to detain him -indefinitely. - -"Two thousand miles in nine hours," remarked Fosterdyke, referring to -the Japanese airplane's performance. "Some shifting that, but Count -Hyashi has evidently gone the pace a bit too thick. He's our most -dangerous rival, Kenyon." - -"Unless von Sinzig has something up his sleeve, sir," added Kenneth. - -"Trust him for that," said the baronet, grimly. "However, time will -prove. Well, carry on, Kenyon. Call me if there's any great change in -the weather." - -Within the next two hours there were indications that even the new -course taken by the "Golden Hind" would not allow her to escape the -cyclone. Right ahead the hitherto cloudless sky was heavy with dark, -ragged thunder-clouds that, extending north and south as far as the eye -could see, threatened to close upon the airship like the horns of a Zulu -impi. - -Roused from his sleep, Fosterdyke lost no time in making his way to the -navigation-room. Although he was not to be on duty for another hour and -a half, Peter Bramsdean had also hurried to the chart-room. - -"We're in for it, sir," declared Kenneth. - -"We are," agreed Fosterdyke, gravely. "Evidently there is a second -disturbance, but judging from appearances it's none the less formidable. -No use turning tail. We'll go up another five thousand feet and see what -it looks like." - -The "Golden Hind" rose rapidly, under the joint action of her six planes -and the addition of brodium to the ballonets; but even then it was -touch-and-go whether the gathering storm would encircle her. As it was -she flew within the influence of the fringe of the cyclone. Shrieking -winds assailed her, seeming to come from two opposing quarters. Her -huge bulk lurched and staggered as she climbed. Her fuselage see-sawed -as the blast struck the enormous envelope above, while the jar upon the -tension wires was plainly felt by the crew. - -For a full ten minutes it was as black as night, save when the dark -masses of cloud were riven by vivid flashes of lightning. Blinded by the -almost incessant glare, Fosterdyke and his companions could do little or -nothing but hang on, trusting that the "Golden Hind" would steer herself -through the opaque masses of vapour. It was impossible to consult the -instruments. Whether the airship was rising or falling, whether she was -steering north, south, east, or west remained questions that were -incapable of being solved, since the blinding flashes of lightning and -the deafening peals of thunder literally deprived the occupants of the -navigation-room of every sense save that of touch. All they could do -was to hold on tightly, clench their teeth, and wait. - -It required some holding on. At one moment the longitudinal axis of the -airship was inclined at an angle of forty-five degrees; at another she -was heeling to almost the same angle, the while twisting and writhing -like a trapped animal. Now and again she seemed to be enveloped in -electric fluid. Dazzling flashes of blue flame played on and along the -aluminium envelope, vicious tongues of forked lightning seemed to stab -the gas-bag through and through; and doubtless had the ballonets -contained hydrogen instead of non-inflammable brodium the "Golden Hind" -would have crashed seawards in trailing masses of flame. - -How long this inferno lasted no one on board had the remotest idea. The -flight of time remained a matter of individual calculation. To Kenyon -it seemed hours; Bramsdean afterwards confessed that he thought the -passage through the storm cloud lasted thirty minutes. In reality only -six minutes had elapsed from the time the "Golden Hind" was enveloped in -the thunder cloud till the moment when she emerged. - -It was much like being in a train coming out of a long tunnel. With -their eyes still dazed by the vivid flashes the men in the -navigation-room became aware that the vapour was growing lighter. They -could distinguish the smoke-like rolls of mist as the sunshine -penetrated the upper edges of the clouds. Then, no longer beaten by the -torrential downpour of hail, the "Golden Hind" shot into a blaze of -brilliant sunshine. - -It seemed too good to be true. For some moments Fosterdyke and his -companions simply stared blankly ahead until their eyes grew accustomed -to the different conditions. - -Then Kenyon, who was still officer of the watch, glanced over the -shoulder of the helmsman and noted the compass. The lubber's line was a -point west of north. The "Golden Hind" had been practically retracing -her course, and might be anything from fifty to a hundred miles farther -away from her goal than she had been when the storm enveloped her. - -Obedient to the action of the vertical rudders the airship swung back on -her former course. The altimeter indicated a height of twelve thousand -feet, and the "Golden Hind" was still rising. Three thousand feet below -was an expanse of wind-torn clouds, no longer showing dark, but of a -dazzling whiteness. The crew of the "Golden Hind" were literally -looking on the bright side of things. - -"We're well above the path of the storm," remarked Fosterdyke, -gratefully. "We've a lot to be thankful for, but the fact remains we -daren't descend while that stuff's knocking about. Once in a lifetime -is quite enough." - -Before any of his companions could offer any remark, Murgatroyd, the -chief air-mechanic on duty, appeared through the hatchway. - -"Sorry to have to report, sir," he announced, "that the two after motors -are both out of action. Blade smashed on the starboard prop, sir, and -the chain-drive on the port prop has snapped. The broken chain is in -your cabin, sir." - -"Who put it there?" asked Fosterdyke. - -"It put itself there, sir," was the imperturbable reply. "Sort of flew -off the sprocket when the link parted and went bang through the side -plate of the fuselage, sir. I'll allow it's made a wee bit of a mess -inside, sir." - -"Take over, Bramsdean, please," said Fosterdyke. "Directly you get a -chance obtain our position. Come on, Kenyon, let's see the extent of -the damage. The cabin doesn't matter. It isn't the first time I've -slept in a punctured dog-box. But the mechanical breakdown--that's the -thing that counts." - -Followed by Murgatroyd, the baronet and Kenyon went aft. From No. 5 -motor-room they could see the motionless propeller, one of the four -blades of which had been shattered as far as the boss, while all the -others bore signs of more or less damage from the flying fragments. - -"Matter of twenty minutes, sir," replied Murgatroyd in answer to his -chief's enquiry as to how long the repairs would take. "We'll have to -stop, and I'll bolt on the new blades. At the same time I'll put a -couple of hands on to fitting a new chain to the starboard drive. I -don't fancy the 'A' bracket's strained, but I'll soon find out directly -we stop." - -It was rough luck to have to stop all the motors and drift at the mercy -of the air currents for twenty precious minutes; but the only option -would be to carry on under the action of four propellers only at a -greatly reduced speed. - -"Right-o, Murgatroyd," agreed the baronet. "Slap it about." - -"Trust me for that, sir," replied the engineer. "I've warned the -break-down gang. I'll give you the all-clear signal in twenty -minutes--less, sir, or my name isn't Robert Murgatroyd." - -Three minutes later the remaining four motors were switched off, and the -"Golden Hind," rapidly losing way, fell off broadside on to the wind at -a height of twelve thousand five hundred feet above sea-level. - -Instantly the mechanics swarmed out along the slender "A" brackets, -Murgatroyd and an assistant setting to work to unbolt the damaged -blades, while other airmen passed a new chain round the sprocket wheels -of the starboard motor and propeller respectively. - -Although there was no apparent wind, and the airship was drifting at -practically the same rate as the air current, it was bitterly cold. The -brackets were slippery with ice, and the difficulty of maintaining a -foothold was still further increased by the erratic vertical motion of -the airship. - -The mechanics, wearing lifelines, went about their work fearlessly. -They were used to clambering about on coastal airships, sometimes under -fire; and although the present task was a simple one from a mechanical -point, it was most difficult owing to the adverse atmospheric -conditions. - -Yet in the space of seventeen and a half minutes Murgatroyd and his band -of workers were back in the fuselage, their task accomplished, and in -twenty minutes the six motors were running once more. - -Murgatroyd flushed with pleasure when his chief thanked and complimented -him. - -"Maybe, sir, you'd be liking to have your cabin repaired?" he asked. -"Just a sheet of metal strapped against the plates will hold till we -land again. Then I'll see that it's well bolted on, sir; but I'll -guarantee you'll not be feeling the draught to-night." - - - - -CHAPTER XIV--THE BOAT'S CREW - - -The state of his cabin hardly troubled Fosterdyke. He never even went -to investigate the extent of the damage, for the moment the airship's -motors were re-started he hastened back to the navigation-room. - -"Got a fix yet, Bramsdean?" were his first words. - -Peter handed him a slip of paper. - -"Well out of our course, sir," he remarked. - -The position was given as lat. 3 15' 20" S., long. 58 20' 5" E. - -"We are," agreed Fosterdyke gravely. "Well to the west'ard. We ought to -be within sight of the Seychelles." - -"Any chance of getting petrol there, I wonder?" asked Bramsdean. -"Judging by the name it seems a likely place to get 'Shell brand.'" - -"Don't prattle, Peter," exclaimed Kenneth, facetiously. - -Fosterdyke laughed at the joke. - -"Rotten puns, both of them," he said. "All the same I wish we had -another two hundred gallons of 'Pratt's' or 'Shell' or any other old -brand of petrol. But it's no use going still farther out of our course -on the off-chance of getting juice, so we'll just carry on." - -With the passing of the cyclone the wind fell light. What little there -was was dead aft. The sea, viewed from an altitude of three thousand -feet, appeared as smooth as glass, although in reality there was a long -rolling ground swell. - -In order to economise the petrol consumption the speed of the "Golden -Hind" was reduced to ninety miles an hour. Should the favouring wind -hold, the airship stood a good chance of making the Australian coast. -If it changed and blew from the south-east, then Fosterdyke's chances of -winning the race would be off. - -Just before eleven o'clock in the morning of the day following the -storm, Frampton, one of the crew on duty in the navigation-room, -reported a boat about three miles away on the port bow. - -By the aid of glasses it was seen that the boat was a ship's cutter -moving slowly under sail in an easterly direction. Her crew were hidden -from view by a spare sail rigged as an awning over the stern sheets. - -"Something wrong there," remarked Bramsdean. "A small boat hundreds of -miles from the nearest land requires some explanation. Inform Sir -Reginald, Frampton; tell him I propose coming down within hailing -distance." - -Before Fosterdyke could reach the navigation-room the noise of the -"Golden Hind's" aerial propellers had attracted the attention of the -occupants of the cutter, and six or seven men, whipping off the awning, -began waving strips of canvas and various garments. - -Slowing down and descending to fifty feet, the airship approached the -boat. The latter was hardly seaworthy. Her topstrake had been stove in -on the starboard side, and had been roughly repaired by means of a piece -of painted canvas. Her sails were patched in several places, while in -default of a rudder she was being steered by means of an oar. - -"Poor chaps! Look at them!" ejaculated Kenneth. "They're almost done -in." - -The boat's crew were indeed in desperate straits. They were ragged, -gaunt, and famished. Their faces and hands were burnt to a brick-red -colour with exposure to the wind and tropical sun. Three of them, -seeing that help was at hand, had collapsed and were lying inertly on -the bottom-boards. - -Viewed from a height of fifty feet the length of the ocean rollers -became apparent. The sea was not dangerous, since there were no -formidable crests to the long undulations, but there was considerable -risk of the lightly built fuselage sustaining damage should the boat -surge alongside. On the other hand, it was almost a matter of -impossibility to get the men on board otherwise than by the airship -descending and resting on the surface. Obviously they were far too weak -to attempt to climb the rope-ladder, while the use of bowlines was open -to great objection both as regards the length of time and the risk of -injury to the rescued men. - -Being a ship's boat the cutter was provided with slinging gear. The -question was whether in her damaged state the boat would break her back -in being hoisted; but Fosterdyke decided to take the risk. - -Accordingly wire hawsers were lowered from the two bow-hawser pipes, and -by dint of careful manoeuvring the shackles were engaged. Then, under -the lifting power of additional brodium introduced into the for'ard -ballonets, the "Golden Hind" rose vertically until the boat was clear of -the water. The motor winches were then started and the cutter hauled up -until her gunwales were almost touching the underside of the airship's -nacelle. - -One by one the exhausted men were taken on board the airship by means of -the hatchway through which Kenyon had gone to the rescue of Enrico -Jaures. This done, two of the "Golden Hind's" men dropped into the boat -and passed slings round her. When these took the weight of the cutter -the wire hawsers were unshackled and the two men clambered back to the -airship, which had now risen to nearly a thousand feet. One end of each -sling was then slipped, and the boat, falling like a stone, splintered -to matchwood as she struck the surface of the sea. - -The seven rescued men were given food and drink in strictly moderate -quantities. Vainly they begged for more, but Fosterdyke knew the danger -of starving men being allowed to eat and drink their fill. Nor did he -attempt to question them at that juncture, beyond ascertaining that -there were no more boats belonging to their ship. They were put into -bunks and made to sleep. - -It was not until ten o'clock on the following morning that four of the -rescued men put in an appearance in Fosterdyke's cabin. The remaining -three were too ill to leave their bunks. - -They were, they said, the sole survivors of the American barque _Hilda -P. Murchison_, thirty days out from Albany, Western Australia, and bound -for Karachi. Three hundred miles east of the Chagos Archipelago an -explosion took place, but whether external or internal the survivors did -not know. One of them thought it might have been a mine. But it was -severe enough to sink the _Hilda P. Murchison_ in less than five -minutes, and the sole survivors were the first mate and six hands of the -duty watch, who managed to scramble into the only boat that had not been -shattered. - -Without food and with only a small barrico of water, they set off to -make their way back to Australia, knowing that with the prevailing winds -they stood a much better chance of making land there than if they -attempted a three-hundred-mile beat to windward, with the risk of -missing the Chagos Archipelago altogether. - -That was eight days ago. They contrived to exist upon raw fish, tallow -candles--which they found in a locker--and half a pint of water per man -per diem. - -Once they sighted a vessel, but their signals for assistance were -unnoticed. Then they encountered a white squall, the tail end of a -storm that ripped their sails before they could stow canvas, and carried -away the rudder. - -The blow was succeeded by a flat calm. For hours the cutter drifted -idly, her roughly repaired sails hanging listlessly in the sultry air. -Almost overcome by hunger, fatigue, and the tropical heat, they were on -the point of despair when the timely arrival of the British airship -snatched them from a lingering death. - -"I hope we'll be able to set you ashore at Fremantle within the next -eight or ten hours," said Fosterdyke. "Meanwhile we'll get in touch -with the wireless station there and report your rescue. Oh, yes, you -may smoke in the for'ard compartment, but you'll find this ship as 'dry' -as the land of the Stars and Stripes." - -During the rest of the day progress was well maintained. The westerly -breeze increased to half a gale, which meant an addition of thirty to -forty miles an hour to the airship's speed. Barring accidents the -"Golden Hind" would reach Fremantle with petrol still remaining in her -tanks. - -"It's not often one gets a westerly wind in the Twenties," observed the -baronet. "South-east Trades are the usual order of things. We're lucky. -Normally we should have to go as far south as 40 to rely upon a -westerly wind." - -"It will help us from Fremantle to New Zealand," said Peter. "I -remember reading in the paper not so many months ago of the skipper of a -sailing vessel who tried for days to beat up from Melbourne to -Fremantle. Finally he gave up beating to wind'ard as a hopeless job, so -he turned and ran before the westerly breeze, sailed round the Horn and -the Cape of Good Hope, and actually arrived at Fremantle several days -before another vessel that had left Melbourne at the same time as he -did." - -"Let's hope we'll find an equally favouring wind to help us across the -Pacific," remarked Fosterdyke. "We'll want it." - - - - -CHAPTER XV--REVELATIONS - - -"Land ahead!" - -The hail brought Fosterdyke and Bramsdean from their cabins with the -utmost alacrity. They had not expected to sight Australia for another -hour and a half, and now there was certainly land far away to the -east'ard. - -During the last three hours the clear sky had given place to a thick -bank of dark clouds. Observations to determine the "Golden Hind's" -position were therefore out of the question. She was steering a compass -course with the wind almost dead aft. It was a case of dead reckoning, -and now no one knew exactly what part of Western Australia they were -approaching--whether it was north or south of the Fremantle aerodrome. - -"We'll do it before dark," declared Fosterdyke, confidently. - -He had hardly spoken when Murgatroyd's head and shoulders appeared -through the hatchway of the navigation-room. - -"We're on the last few gallons of petrol, sir," he reported. "I've me -doubts if the engines'll run another ten minutes. They're slowing down -now," he added. - -"Switch off all but numbers 1 and 2 motors," ordered the baronet. "Keep -these running for twenty minutes if you can, and we'll manage it." - -But before the chief engineer could regain the for'ard motor-room the -six aerial propellers were motionless. The "Golden Hind" no longer -drove through the air, but simply drifted broadside on to the strong -breeze. - -Just as the sun sank in the Indian Ocean the airship crossed the -coastline. Ten miles to the north could be discerned Perth and -Fremantle--ten miles that, as far as the "Golden Hind" was concerned -might have been a thousand. - -"Down with her," ordered Fosterdyke. "Stand by with both grapnels. -We'll have to trust to luck to find a good anchoring-ground." - -It was not until the airship had passed over the railway running -southward from Perth to Busselton that Kenyon noted a hill that might -afford shelter from the strong wind. - -Rapidly several thousand cubic feet of brodium were exhausted from the -ballonets, with the result that the "Golden Hind" dropped to within a -hundred feet of the ground. - -There was just sufficient twilight to make out the nature of the landing -place. It was a wide belt of grassland, dotted here and there with -small trees. Hedges there were none. - -"There are a couple of men on horseback, sir," reported Frampton. - -"Good," replied Fosterdyke. "Let go both grapnels. See how she takes -that." - -Both of the stout barbed hooks engaged the moment they touched the -ground. Even though the wire ropes were paid out in order to reduce the -strain, the jerk was severe. Round swung the giant airship head to -wind, but still she dragged. The grapnels had caught in a wire fence, -and having uprooted half a dozen posts, were doing their level best to -remove a five-mile sheep fence. - -Up galloped the two farmers. The uprooting of their boundary fence -hardly troubled them. The arrival of the airship--the first they had -ever seen--occupied all their attention. - -"Make fast for us, please," hailed Fosterdyke, having ordered another -rope to be lowered. - -"Right-o," was the reply. "We'll fix you up." - -Dismounting and tethering their somewhat restive horses, the two -Australians took the end of the third wire rope to the trunk of a large -tree-the only one for miles, as it so happened. Fortunately they knew -how to make a rope fast--an accomplishment that few people other than -seamen possess. - -"Where are we?" asked the baronet. - -"In Minto County, ten miles from Kelmscott," was the reply. - -"Any petrol to be had hereabouts?" - -"Sure," was the unexpected answer. "How much do you want?" - -"A hundred gallons--enough to take us to Fremantle," replied Fosterdyke -rather dubiously. - -"Two hundred if you want," offered the good Samaritan. "I'll run it -along in less than an hour." - -"Will to-morrow at daybreak do equally as well?" asked Sir Reginald, -knowing the difficulty and possible danger of handling quantities of the -highly volatile spirit in the dark. "We'll be all right here until -morning if the wind doesn't increase." - -"It won't," declared the farmer, confidently. "If anything it'll fall -light. If you're in a hurry, I'll hitch you on to my motor lorry and -tow you into Fremantle." - -Fosterdyke thanked him and begged to be excused on the score that he was -obliged by the terms of the race to make a flight without outside -assistance in the matter of propulsion. - -The two Australians, declining an invitation to go on board the airship, -rode away in the darkness. - -As the farmer had predicted, the wind fell away to a dead calm, so the -airship was able to rest upon the ground, but ready, should the breeze -spring up, to ascend to a hundred feet and there ride it out until the -promised petrol was forthcoming. - -"Now for our first dinner on or over Australian soil," exclaimed -Fosterdyke. "By Jove, I'm hungry! What's going?" - -He scanned the menu card. The cooks on the airship were good men at -their work, and dinner, whenever circumstances permitted, was rather a -formal affair. - -"Hullo!" exclaimed Peter. "Covers laid for four, eh?" - -"Yes," replied the baronet. "I'm expecting a guest. Ah! here he is. -Let me introduce you to my friend, Mr. Trefusis." - -Kenyon and Bramsdean could hardly conceal their astonishment, for -standing just inside the doorway, immaculately dressed in well-cut -clothes, was the man they had hitherto known as Otto Freising, the -fellow who had attempted to shoot Fosterdyke at Alexandria. - -"Secret Service," explained the baronet. "Had to keep the affair dark, -even from you two fellows." - -"You certainly did us in the eye," said Peter. - -"No more than I did Seor Jaures," rejoined Trefusis. "I had a rotten -time cooped up with that bird, but it was worth it." - -"So you've succeeded?" asked Fosterdyke. - -Trefusis nodded. - -"Wouldn't be here if I hadn't," he remarked. "It took me some time to -get the right side of Seor Enrico, but I managed it. He rather looked -a bit sideways at me when I pitched a yarn about being a Hun. However, -I've got it out of him that he was employed by von Sinzig to kipper your -part of the show, and judging by accounts he almost succeeded. You'll -have enough evidence, Fosterdyke, to disqualify von Sinzig." - -"I'll think about it," drawled the baronet. "After all's said and done -the Hun is a sport, only his idea of sport differs radically from ours. -It's his nature, I suppose. But another time you fire at me with blank -cartridges, Trefusis, old son, please don't aim at my head. Grains of -burnt powder in one's eyes aren't pleasant." - -"Nor did I feel very pleasant," rejoined the Secret Service man, "when -that officious blighter suggested putting me under arrest and trying me -in a Civil Court. He must have thought you pretty high-handed, rushing -me off in your airship." - -"Yes, it was as well I took Colonel Holmes into my confidence," said -Fosterdyke. "Otherwise you might at this moment be cooling your heels in -a 'Gippy' prison. However, we've got evidence against von Sinzig, if -needs be." - -"What are you going to do with Seor Jaures?" asked Trefusis. - -"Do with him? Nothing much. Fact, I'll do it now, directly we've -finished dinner." - -The meal over, Fosterdyke ordered Enrico Jaures to be brought in. The -look on the miscreant's features was positively astounding when he found -his former companion in captivity revealed in his true colours. - -"Now, Enrico Jaures," began Fosterdyke, without further preliminaries. -"You understand English, in spite of your previous denial. Read that. -If you agree to it, you are a free man the moment you've signed the -statement." - -At the promise of liberty Enrico plucked up courage. He had a wholesome -respect for the word of an Englishman. - -The document was in the form of a confession, stating that Enrico Jaures -had agreed, for a certain sum promised by Count Karl von Sinzig, to -hinder, either by crippling or destroying the "Golden Hind," Sir -Reginald Fosterdyke's attempt to fly round the world. - -"I'll sign," said Enrico. - -He wrote his name. Kenyon and Trefusis witnessed the signature. - -The baronet folded the document and placed it in his pocket. - -"Now you can go," he said. - -"But how am I to return to Gibraltar?" asked Jaures. - -"That's your affair," replied Fosterdyke, sternly. "You ought to be -thankful you're still alive. Now go." - -At the first sign of dawn the Australian farmer, true to his word, -arrived with a large motor-lorry piled with filled petrol cans. He was -not alone. The seemingly sparsely-populated district now teemed with -people. Hundreds must have seen the "Golden Hind" pass overhead the -previous evening, but how they discovered the airship's temporary -anchorage was a mystery. There were townsmen in motorcars, sturdy -farmers on motor-cycles, waggons, and carts, backwoodsmen on bicycles -and on foot. Even the "sun-downer" class were represented. - -The "Golden Hind" had just completed her preparations for flying back to -Fremantle aerodrome when a motor-cyclist rode up and handed Fosterdyke a -telegram. - -"It was fortunate we didn't make Fremantle last night," observed the -baronet, handing the message to Kenyon and Bramsdean. "The aerodrome -was destroyed by fire at one o'clock this morning." - - - - -CHAPTER XVI--THE OBSERVATION BASKET - - -While the "Golden Hind" was struggling towards the shores of Western -Australia, Count Karl von Sinzig in Z64 was flying almost due south from -Samarang, in the island of Java. - -He, too, had had a taste of the cyclone, which had extended over the -whole of the Arabian Sea and had been severely felt as far north as the -Persian-Turkestan frontier. - -Practically helpless in the grip of the furious blast, Z64 had been -driven far off her course. Passing high over the mountainous districts -of Thibet, the German airship, unseen and unheard, finally encountered a -stiff northerly wind when approaching the China Sea in the neighbourhood -of Hanoi. Already the start von Sinzig had obtained over his British -rival was wiped out. The long detour he had been obliged to take -represented twelve hours' flight under normal conditions, and since he -knew of Fosterdyke's progress by the expedient of picking up the "Golden -Hind's" wireless message, he realised that the latter had made good her -belated departure. - -At Samarang, Z64 took in fresh hydrogen and petrol. Von Sinzig reported -his arrival to the representatives of the International Air Board, and -stated his intention of proceeding via New Guinea, New Caledonia, and -Norfolk Island to New Zealand, where he would be able to fulfil one of -the conditions that required the competitors to touch at a spot within -one degree of the nadir to their starting-point. - -But von Sinzig had no intention of carrying out his declared programme. -Directly he was well clear of Samarang, he shaped a course due south in -order to pick up the prevailing westerly wind south of Australia on -which Fosterdyke counted also. A stiff northerly wind over the Sunda -Sea helped the German to attain his object, and on the evening that the -"Golden Hind" drifted to south of Fremantle, Z64 was skirting the coast -of West Australia, in the neighbourhood of Geographe Bay. - -Von Sinzig was in a bad state of mind. He knew by means of a code -message from Barcelona that one of his agents had made an attempt to -delay the "Golden Hind's" departure. What had actually taken place he -knew not. All he did know was the galling fact that the attempt had -been unsuccessful, and that by this time his rival was practically level -with him. - -"Hans," he exclaimed, calling one of his subordinates, formerly an -Unter-Leutnant in the German Flying Service and before that a Mercantile -Marine officer. - -Hans Leutter clicked his heels and stood to attention. - -"You know Fremantle?" enquired the count, brusquely. - -"Fairly well, mein Herr," was the reply. "I've called there perhaps a -dozen times in cargo boats. The last time was in January, 1914." - -"There was, of course, no aerodrome there then?" - -"Assuredly no, sir." - -"According to my information it is on the right bank of the Swan River -and a couple of kilometres to the east of the town. It ought to be -easily found." - -Hans Leutter agreed that to locate it ought to be a simple matter. - -"Then we'll do so, little Hans," exclaimed the count, grimly. "We might -even make the Englishman Fosterdyke a little present anonymously, of -course." - -The ex-Unter-Leutnant grinned. - -"You wish me to take the Albatross for an airing then?" he said. - -"Ach, no," replied von Sinzig. "If our Albatross were invisible and -noiseless, it would be different. We'll use the observation basket. -Overhaul the mechanism carefully, because you, little Hans, are going to -use it." - -Hans Leutter saluted and went for'ard. He was not at all keen on being -told off for observation work, but his innate sense of discipline made -him accept the duty without outward signs of resentment. Somehow he -didn't relish the idea of being lowered from the Zeppelin and allowed to -dangle at the end of two or three thousand feet of fine wire. - -Shortly before midnight the look-out on Z64 picked up the harbour and -town lights of Fremantle. It was now a fairly calm night. At five -thousand feet was a stratum of light clouds, sufficient to obscure the -starlight. The climatic conditions for von Sinzig's plans were exactly -what he wanted. - -When the German airship was dead to windward of the town her motors were -switched off and she was allowed to drift in and out of the lower edge -of the bank of clouds. - -From her foremost nacelle a circular basket, fitted with a vertical vane -to prevent it from turning round and round like a gigantic meat-jack, -was hanging. In the basket, with a couple of small incendiary bombs for -company, was Hans Leutter. In order to keep in touch with the captain -of Z64 Hans was provided with a wireless telephone. - -"All ready," announced the observer. "Lower away." - -The well-oiled mechanism ran smoothly and noiselessly until a sudden -check in the downward journey told Hans that the observation basket had -reached the limit of its cable. From where he dangled--nearly -two-thirds of a mile below the airship--Z64 was quite invisible. It was -therefore safe to assume that the good people of Fremantle were likewise -not in a position to see the huge gas-bag five thousand feet overhead, -while the insignificant observation basket, although only a thousand -feet or so up, was too minute to be spotted against the blurred -starlight. - -On the other hand, Hans Leutter could command a fairly comprehensive -view of the town beneath him. The tranquil waters of the Swan River -enabled him to fix his position, for even on the darkest night a river -can readily be seen by an aerial observer. The navigation lamps of the -aerodrome almost misled him. At first he mistook them for the railway -station; but when he discovered his mistake he asked himself why the -aerial signalling lamps were still being exhibited. According to the -latest wireless messages picked up by Z64, the "Golden Hind" ought by -this time to be berthed in the hangar. But, perhaps, he argued, the -officials in their demonstrations of welcome had forgotten to switch the -lights off. - -"This reminds me of London in 1916," thought Hans. "London in those -good old days when our Zeppelins came and went almost without let or -hindrance. Now, my beauty, you and I must part." - -He raised the bomb and poised it on the edge of the basket. In his -excitement he had completely forgotten his fears at being suspended by a -steel rope almost the same gauge as a piano-wire. - -The incendiary bomb was quite a small affair, but none the less -efficacious. In order to guard against identification should any of the -metal parts be found, the vanes were stamped with the British Government -marks, which showed that von Sinzig, with characteristic Teutonic -thoroughness, had taken the precaution of covering his tracks. The -British Air Ministry and the Australian Commonwealth Government could -appraise responsibility later--by that time Z64 would be thousands of -miles away. - -Allowing for the slight breeze, Hans Leutter telephoned for the Zeppelin -to steer ten degrees to the nor'ard. Slowly Z64 carried out the -instructions, and seesawing gently the observation basket moved in a -slightly different direction from its previous line of drift until the -crucial moment arrived. - -Hans Leutter released the bomb. For three seconds the observer could -follow its downward passage; then it vanished into the darkness. Five -seconds later the missile hit its objective. - -There was no need for a second bomb. The airship shed was blazing -fiercely. - -The Hun in the basket spoke into the telephone. - -"Direct hit," he reported. "Haul me up." - -Z64 had once more stopped her motors and was rising rapidly above the -bank of clouds. At the same time a motor winch was winding in the -cable, and Hans Leutter's rate of progress as the basket whirred through -the air brought back all his fears concerning his hazardous position. -What if there were a flaw in the wire? It was ex-Government stuff, he -recalled--material that might have been left lying in a neglected -condition for months before von Sinzig acquired it for its present -purpose. And supposing the wire slipped off the drum and got nipped in -the cogs of the winch? A score of thoughts of a similar nature flashed -across the observer's mind. He broke into a gentle perspiration. He -trembled violently as a mental vision of himself hurtling through space -gripped him in all its hideousness. - -But the wire held. Hans Leutter was assisted into the nacelle, where he -promptly fainted. By that time Z64 was several miles away from -Fremantle, but a dull red glare on the horizon unmistakably indicated -the extent of the conflagration. - -Throughout the night Z64 flew at an altitude of not less than fifteen -thousand feet. Dawn found her far to the south'ard of the Great -Australian Bight. - -Von Sinzig had good cause for keeping out of the beaten steamer tracks; -nor did he intend to pass within a hundred miles of the southern part of -Tasmania. He counted upon arriving at Napier, New Zealand, at daybreak -on the day following, and until then he meant to be most careful not to -be reported by any vessel. - -The commander of Z64 had just sat down to breakfast when one of the crew -entered his cabin. - -"Pardon, Herr Offizier," said the man, apologetically, "but the -observation basket is missing." - -"What do you mean?" demanded von Sinzig. - -"We secured it after Herr Leutter had finished with it, Herr Kapitan," -explained the man. "I myself saw that the four bottle-screws were -turned up tightly. Kaspar Graus, who had been told to remove the -remaining petrol bomb, came and reported that the basket was no longer -there. The metal clips were still attached to the bottle-screws. It -would appear that these were torn from the basket itself." - -Count Karl von Sinzig left his breakfast untasted and hurried along the -catwalk to the gondola from which the observation basket was hung. His -informant's news was only too true. Unaccountably the basket had been -wrenched from its securing apparatus. - -"It is of little consequence," he declared. "We would not have required -it again, and, since it will not float, it is at the bottom of the sea -by this time. Perhaps it is as well, in case we are inspected by -inquisitive officials at our next alighting place." - -It was an unlucky day for Z64. About noon two of her motors developed -trouble simultaneously. Three hours elapsed before the sweating -mechanics were able to get the recalcitrant engines in running order -again, and during that period the Zeppelin had perforce to slow down -considerably. Consequently, it was half an hour after sunrise when Z64 -sighted the Three Kings Island to the north-west of Cape Maria van -Diemen. Here she altered course, so as ostensibly to appear as if she -had been flying straight from New Caledonia, and, skirting the west -coast of New Zealand, headed for Napier, where, by the consent of the -New Zealand Government, von Sinzig was permitted to land and thus carry -out one of the conditions of the contest. - -"We'll fly inland when we sight Auckland," decided the count. "No, -don't take her up any higher. There is now no need for concealment. -Let these New Zealanders see and comment upon the fact that their -islands are not beyond reach of a good German airship." - -And so, flaunting her prowess in the rapidly-growing daylight, Z64 -approached the town of Auckland. The Zeppelin was within ten miles of -the place when one of the crew shouted the disconcerting information -that there was an airship on the starboard bow, travelling east by -north. - -Rapping out a furious oath, von Sinzig snatched up a pair of binoculars. -He had never before set eyes on the "Golden Hind," although the British -airship had passed almost immediately above him within a few minutes of -Z64 leaving her Spanish base, but instinctively he realised that this -was his greatest rival, Sir Reginald Fosterdyke's creation. - -"Gott in Himmel!" shouted von Sinzig. "Leutter, you numbskull, you made -a hideous mess of things last night! Look--the 'Golden Hind'!" - - - - -CHAPTER XVII--A SURPRISE FOR CAPTAIN PROUT - - -Captain Abraham Prout, master and part owner of the topsail schooner -_Myrtle_, of 120 tons burthen, came on deck on hearing the mate give the -order "All hands shorten sail!" - -It was six o'clock in the morning, still dark and very cold, for the -_Myrtle_ was on the fortieth parallel of the Southern Hemisphere, and -the month being June it was mid-winter. There were flakes of snow -flying about. For the last three days and nights it had either been -sleeting, raining, or snowing, or else all three together; but the wind -was fair, and there was every prospect of the schooner making a quick -passage from Albany to Hobart. - -"There's something behind this muck, Abe," remarked the mate, who, on -the strength of being the "Old Man's" brother-in-law, was on familiar -terms with Captain Prout. "The old hooker won't carry her topsails with -the breeze a-freshenin'. Best be on the safe side, says I." - -"Quite right, Tom," agreed the skipper. "New topmasts cost a mort sight -o' money in these hard times. Anything to report?" - -"Nothin'," replied the mate, laconically. - -He shook the frozen sleet from the rim of his sou'wester and turned to -inform one of the crew, in polite language of the sea, that "he'd better -get a move on an' not stand there a-hanging on to the slack." - -"There's some tea a-goin', Tom," announced Captain Prout. "Nip below -an' get a mug to warm you up a bit." - -The mate fell in with the suggestion with alacrity. The skipper, having -seen the hands complete their task of "gettin' the tops'ls off her," -went aft to where the half-frozen helmsman was almost mechanically -toying with the wheel. - -Through sheer force of habit Captain Prout peered into the feebly -illuminated compass-bowl. Even as he did so, there was a tremendous -crash. - -The _Myrtle_ trembled from truck to kelson, while from aloft a jumble of -splintered spars, cordage, and canvas fell upon the deck like a -miniature avalanche. - -Captain Prout's first impressions were those of pained surprise. For -the moment he was firmly convinced that the schooner had piled herself -upon an uncharted rock, but the absence of any signs of the vessel -pounding against a hard bottom reassured him on that point. - -Although in ignorance of what had occurred, the tough old skipper rose -to the occasion. - -"Steady on your helm!" he shouted to the man at the wheel. "Don't let -her fall off her course." - -The helmsman obeyed. It was no easy matter, since he was enveloped in a -fold of the mainsail and the _Myrtle_ was towing the main-topmast and a -portion of the cross-trees alongside. - -Alarmed by the commotion, the "watch below"--two men and a boy--rushed -on deck, while the mate, issuing from the after-cabin with a tin -pannikin of tea still grasped in his hand, raised his voice in a -strongly worded enquiry to know what had happened to the old hooker. - -"Get a light, Tom, an' we'll have a squint at the damage," shouted the -Old Man. "One of you sound the well and see if she's making any. Dick, -you just see if them sidelights are burning properly." - -The mate disappeared, to return with a hurricane lamp. - -"Jerusalem!" he exclaimed. "Ain't it a lash up?" - -The mainmast had been broken off five feet below the cross-trees, with -the result that the main and throat halliard blocks had gone with the -broken spars, while the mainsail, with the gaff and boom, had fallen -across the deck. The shroud halliards still held, and the wire shrouds -themselves trailed athwart both bulwarks. Apparently the foremast was -intact, since it was the main topmast stay that had parted under the -strain. - -This much Captain Prout saw, noted, and understood, but what puzzled him -was a telescoped object, looking very much like an exaggerated top-hat, -that lay upon the deck between the mainmast fife-rail and the coaming of -the main hatch. - -"Guess it's a meteorite," hazarded the mate. - -"Meteorite, my foot!" ejaculated Captain Prout, scornfully. "If't had -been, 'twould ha' gone slap bang through the old hooker, an' we'd have -been in the ditch." - -"It's had a good try, anyway," rejoined the mate. "Half a dozen deck -planks stove in." - -He held the lantern close to the mysterious object. - -"Looks like a bloomin' bath," he continued, "and I'm hanged if there -isn't a whopping big bird in it. Rummiest birdcage I've ever set eyes -on." - -The cause of the damage to the _Myrtle's_ top-hamper and deck planks was -Z64's observation basket. Instead of falling into the sea and -decorously sinking to the bottom, as von Sinzig had hoped, the -contrivance had struck the only vessel within a radius of a hundred -miles. With its head and neck driven completely through the aluminium -side of the basket was a large eagle. The huge bird had struck the -suspended basket such a tremendous blow that the impact had wrenched -away the metal clips securing it to the bottle-screws. - -"Standin' an' looking at the blessed thing won't clear away this -raffle," said the Old Man with asperity. "Set to, all hands. Secure -and belay all you can and cut the rest adrift." - -"Heave this lot overboard, Abe?" questioned the mate, kicking the basket -with his sea-boot. - -"Best let 'un stop awhile," decided the skipper. "Pass a lashing round -it. Be sharp with that topmast, or it'll stove us in." - -Quickly the mate and a couple of hands cut away the rigging that held -the topmast alongside. The heavy spar, which had been bumping heavily -against the side, fell clear. The _Myrtle_, no longer impeded by the -trailing wreckage, forged rapidly through the water, although she was -now carrying foresail, staysail, and outer jib only. - -By this time day had broken. The snow had ceased falling, and right -ahead the pale sun shone in a grey, misty sky. - -The crew, having made all ship-shape as far as lay in their power, were -curiously regarding the cause of the catastrophe. They rather looked -upon it as a diversion to break the monotony. - -"There's a log of sorts, sir," exclaimed one of the men, fumbling with -the leather straps that secured the unused petrol bomb. The missile had -been badly dented, but luckily the safety cap was intact. Had it not -been so, the bomb would have ignited on impact, and the _Myrtle_, her -snow-swept deck notwithstanding, would soon have been enveloped in -flames from stem to stern. - -"Don't fool around with it, Ted," said another of the crew, who, an -R.N.R. man, had seen life and death in the Great War. "It's a bomb." - -"Well," observed Captain Prout, "that's more'n I bargained for. I've -taken my chances with floating mines, but it's coming too much of a good -thing when these airmen blokes start chucking bombs haphazard-like." - -"Best pitch the thing overboard," suggested the mate. - -"No," objected the Old Man. "If we do, we've no evidence. Someone's -got to pay for this lash up. Government broad arrow on the thing, too. -That fixes it. When we make Hobart I'll raise Cain or my name's not -Abraham Prout." - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII--UNDER FIRE - - -"It's going to be a close race, Kenyon," remarked Fosterdyke, as Z64 -crossed the "Golden Hind's" bows at a distance of less than a mile. - -"Guess we're top-dog, though," replied Kenneth. "We've wiped out the -Hun's useful lead, and at the half-way point we're practically level." - -"Yes," agreed the baronet; "but we must not ignore the element of -chance. Let me see"--he referred to the large Mercator map--"according -to the latest reports, Commodore Nye's 'Eagle' is at Khartoum. His hop -across the Atlantic and a non-stop run over the Sahara takes a lot of -beating. I'd like to meet that Yankee. And there's the Jap, Count -Hyashi. He's at Panama, after having been hung up for three days at -Honolulu. If he'd been able to carry on without a hitch, his quadruplane -would have won the race. So it appears that all the competitors have -completed half the course at practically the same time." - -"Aeroplane approaching, sir," reported Collings. - -Right ahead a biplane was heading towards the "Golden Hind," followed at -close intervals by three more. Seemingly ignoring the German airship, -which was now on a diverging course, the four machines with admirable -precision turned and accompanied the British airship. - -Two took up station on either side of the "Golden Hind." Each flew the -New Zealand ensign. It was Fosterdyke's preliminary welcome to the -Antipodes. - -Gliding serenely earthwards in perfectly calm air, the "Golden Hind" -entered the big shed prepared for her reception. The civic officials of -Auckland turned out in force, supported by crowds of "Diggers" and a -fair sprinkling of Maoris. - -"We quite understand," was the mayor's remark when Fosterdyke, thanking -him for the warmness of his reception, firmly but courteously refused to -attend a banquet proposed to be given in his honour. "This is a race, -not a ceremonial tour. The prestige of the Empire is at stake, so get on -with it." - -Accordingly, the "Golden Hind's" crew did "get on with it." Aided by -scores of willing helpers, they replenished fuel tanks, took in fresh -water and provisions and necessary stores. A representative of the -International Air Board was in attendance to sign the control sheet, -certifying that the "Golden Hind" had completed half the circuit, and -had touched at a spot within a degree of the opposite point of the globe -to his starting-point. Within an hour and a quarter of her arrival at -Auckland the British airship started on her homeward voyage. - -Although New Zealand had no cause to show any goodwill towards the Huns, -von Sinzig had no reason to complain of his reception. He was received -coldly, it is true, but the New Zealanders, sportsmen all, were not ones -to put obstacles in the way of an alien and former enemy. - -Notified by wireless of Z64's impending arrival at Napier, the -authorities at that town had cylinders of hydrogen and a large stock of -petrol in readiness for the German airship's requirements. Within ten -minutes of the "Golden Hind's" departure from Auckland Z64 started from -Napier. - -The contest had now entered upon a more interesting phase. It was -almost certain that the rivals would take a practically identical -course, crossing the American continent in the neighbourhood of the -Isthmus of Panama. The lofty Andes, extending like a gigantic backbone -from Colombia to Patagonia--an almost uninterrupted range 450 miles in -length--presented a difficult, though not exactly insurmountable -obstacle to the rival airships. - -Vainly the wireless operators of the "Golden Hind" sought to "pick up" -the Zeppelin. Von Sinzig had seen to that, for directly the German -airship left New Zealand he gave orders that on no account were messages -to be transmitted, but on the other hand, the receivers were to be -constantly in use, in order to pick up any radiograms that might throw -light upon the movements of the "Golden Hind." - -Apart from the chagrin at the knowledge that his attempt to burn the -British airship was a failure, von Sinzig felt rather elated. His -deceptive report of the course he had taken from Java to New Zealand had -been accepted by the authorities without question; hence no suspicion -could possibly be attached to him for the burning of the Fremantle -aerodrome. He was also of the opinion that Z64 was a swifter craft than -her rival, and possessed another advantage--that of greater -fuel-carrying capacity. Even if the "Golden Hind" did possess a higher -speed, she would have to alight more frequently to replenish her tanks. - -As far as the "Golden Hind" was concerned the run across the Panama was -almost devoid of incident. With the exception of a distant view of -Pitcairn Island--famous in connection with the mutiny of the -_Bounty_--no land was sighted until Galapagos Group was seen ten miles -on the starboard bow. - -The "Golden Hind" was now re-crossing the equator. Fosterdyke, who had -crossed the line at least a dozen times, in all sorts of vessels from -luxuriant liners to singy tramps, and even on one occasion on board a -wind-jammer, declared that there was nothing to beat an airship for -travelling in the Tropics. - -"For one thing you can keep cool," he added; "another, that will appeal -to a good many people, is the fact that an airship is beyond reach of -Father Neptune and his merry myrmidons. And the Doldrums, instead of -being regarded as a terror, afford an easy passage to aircraft of all -descriptions." - -With the setting of the sun a thick mist arose--one of those humid -tropical mists that are responsible for malaria and other zymotic -diseases peculiar to the Torrid Zone. - -At a couple or three thousand feet altitude, the "Golden Hind" was in -pure clear air, but in the brief twilight the banks of mist as viewed -from above were picturesque in the extreme. - -But to the crew of the "Golden Hind" the picturesqueness of the scene -was in a measure unappreciated. They were nearing land, and a fog was -one of the most undesirable climatic conditions. Not only was time a -consideration, but the petrol supply was running low. But for this, -Fosterdyke would have slowed down and cruised around until the mists -dispersed with daybreak. - -"We'll have to risk it and make a descent," he declared. "Anywhere -within easy distance of Panama will do, because it is a calm night and -there will be little or no risk of the 'Golden Hind' being exposed to a -high wind. Thank goodness we've directional wireless." - -At length Fosterdyke felt convinced that the "Golden Hind" was nearing -Panama. He had arranged by wireless to detonate three explosive -rockets, and the United States Air Station was to reply with a similar -signal, while searchlights, directed vertically, would enable the -airship to locate the landing-ground. - -"Hanged if I can see any searchlights," exclaimed Bramsdean. - -"Killed by the mist," explained the baronet. "I fancy I see a blurr of -light two points on our port bow. What's that, Truscott?" - -The wireless operator had left his cabin and was standing behind -Fosterdyke as the latter was peering through the darkness. - -"There's a jam for some reason," announced Truscott. "For the last five -minutes I've been calling up Panama, but there's nothin' doin'. A -high-powered installation, using the same metre-wave, is cutting in. I -asked them to knock off, but they haven't done so." - -"Inconsiderate blighters!" exclaimed Fosterdyke. "Never mind, Truscott, -we can get along all right now. I fancy I can see the aerodrome -lights." - -"Yes, sir," agreed Kenyon. "One point on our port bow now." - -"Then fire the rockets," ordered the baronet, at the same time -telegraphing for the motors to be declutched. - -Three vivid flashes rent the darkness, their brilliance illuminating a -wide area of the fog-bank a thousand feet below, while the report echoed -over the level line of misty vapour like a continuous peal of thunder. - -Within a minute of the discharge of the third rocket two bursts of -flame, accompanied by sharp reports, occurred at a distance of less than -a quarter of a mile of the "Golden Hind's" port quarter, while after an -interval of fifteen seconds three more exploded simultaneously in the -same direction. - -"Guess Uncle Sam can't count," remarked Kenyon, imitating to perfection -the nasal drawl of the typical New Englander. - -"Looks to me like shrapnel," added Bramsdean. "Judging by the way the -smoke mushroomed, it reminds me of Archies over the Hun lines." - -"Good enough, we'll drop gently," decided Fosterdyke. "Stand by with -the holding-down lines and have a couple of grapnels ready." - -The amount of brodium necessary to more than neutralise the lifting -power of the gas and the dead weight of the airship was exhausted from -the requisite number of ballonets, and the "Golden Hind" began to sink -almost vertically in the still air. - -Within five minutes she entered the belt of mist--a warm, -sickly-smelling atmosphere that reminded Kenyon of a hot-house. - -"I hear voices," announced Peter. - -Not far beneath the airship men were shouting and talking excitedly, but -the crew of the "Golden Hind" were unable to understand what the men -were saying. - -"Ahoy, there!" hailed Fosterdyke. "Stand by to take our ropes." - -Both grapnels were carefully lowered, since there would be grave risks -entailed by throwing them overboard. At the same time half a dozen -holding-down ropes were paid out from each side of the nacelle. These -were caught by unseen hands and the airship was quickly drawn earthwards -at far too great a speed to please Sir Reginald Fosterdyke. - -"Gently," he shouted. "Avast heaving." - -The response was a terrible surprise. Simultaneously two searchlights -were unmasked, their powerful beams at short range punctuating the fog -and impinging upon the enormous envelope of the "Golden Hind," while an -irregular fusillade of musketry assailed the airship on all sides. - -"Up with her!" shouted Fosterdyke. "Charge all the ballonets. We've -struck a revolution." - - - - -CHAPTER XIX--VICTIMS OF A REVOLUTION - - -Above the staccato of rifle-firing rose the roar of the "Golden Hind's" -powerful motors. Volumes of brodium, released from the pressure-flasks, -rushed into the ballonets. The airship rose at an oblique angle, her -nose almost touching the ground. Then, as the aerial propellers went -ahead, the fore-part of the fuselage ploughed over the rough ground. - -With thirty or forty men hanging on like grim death to the guide-lines, -and as many more tailing on to the grapnel ropes, the "Golden Hind," -with gas leaking from numerous bullet holes in her ballonets, was unable -to seek refuge in her natural element. - -Fortunately for the safety of the airship's crew, the rifle-firing -quickly ceased as soon as the attackers realised that they had effected -her capture. Apparently it was their intention to prevent further -damage being done to the huge airship. - -Finding that escape was impossible and unable to offer resistance, -Fosterdyke opened out one of the doors of the nacelle and raised his -hands above his head. It was no disgrace in surrendering thus. Alive -the crew of the "Golden Hind" could offer and receive explanations. -Dead, they could not. - -The appearance of the captain of the "Golden Hind" was greeted by -peremptory orders, shouted in an unintelligible language. It certainly -wasn't American. It seemed to Fosterdyke that it was a kind of Spanish, -and since he was ignorant of that tongue he failed to grasp the meaning -of the volume of directions. - -Covered by scores of rifles, Fosterdyke, Kenyon, and Bramsdean headed -the crew of the airship. Completely bewildered by the aggressive nature -of their reception, and not knowing what fate would befall them, the -position of the British airmen was critical in the extreme. Yet they -bore themselves calmly and bravely, scorning to let their captors know -that inwardly at least they "felt the breeze." - -Deftly, as if they were well used to performing the operation, two -half-breeds searched the baronet for concealed weapons. The rest of the -crew were subjected to the same treatment. Finding nothing in the -nature of arms, the searchers looked rather astonished and disappointed. - -A gorgeously uniformed man, evidently the commandant of the band, walked -up to the baronet and saluted with an elaborate flourish. There was -little doubt about it; he had already come to the conclusion that a -mistake had occurred, and that he rather feared the consequences. - -"Americano, seor?" he asked. - -"No," replied Fosterdyke. "English." - -"Madre de Dios!" ejaculated the commandant in ill-concealed -consternation. He shouted something to his followers. After a brief -interval, a tall, olive-featured follower, whose black oiled locks fell -on his shoulders, slouched forward and announced-- - -"Me speak English. Vot you do here?" - -Mutual explanations took a considerable time; but eventually Fosterdyke -and his companions gleaned the salient facts for the reason of the -attack and capture of the "Golden Hind." - -In the tropical mists the airship had landed not in the Panama Zone but -in a neighbouring republic, which, as is by no means an unusual -occurrence, was indulging in a little political diversion in the shape -of a revolution. Just at present there was no means of ascertaining -which was the predominant faction, but one side had gained possession of -an old airship--purchased at a disposal sale of one of the _Entente_ -countries. This airship, hastily fitted out and provided with bombs and -machine-guns, was known to be on the point of operating against the -Federals. The latter were therefore expecting the raiding airship when -the "Golden Hind," miles out of her course owing to the mists and a side -wind that, unknown to the navigating officers, had blown her well to -leeward, fired her detonating rockets almost immediately over the -Federal party's main force. - -The Federals knew nothing of the Round the World Race; but their anxiety -to make amends was most marked. They offered to provide unlimited -supplies of petrol, and to render any assistance that lay in their -power; but the fact remained that the hasty fusillade had caused -considerable damage to the "Golden Hind." - -At first Fosterdyke thought that the airship was out of the running. -Kenyon and Bramsdean were of the same opinion, for the loss of brodium -through the punctured ballonets seemed a fatal obstacle to the immediate -resumption of the flight. - -Further examination revealed the fact that half the number of the -ballonets were holed. Of these almost every one could be patched and -made gas-tight, since the rifle-bullets, being of small calibre and of -high velocity, had bored minute holes. But what was far more serious was -the shortage of brodium. Even by releasing the contents of the reserve -cylinders it was doubtful whether there was sufficient to lift the -airship. - -"We'll have a good try, anyway," declared Fosterdyke. "Once we get her -up we'll rely on our planes to get us across the Atlantic. Thank -goodness the motors are intact! I wonder if there's much damage done to -the navigation-room. Several bullets came unpleasantly close to our -heads, I remember." - -Examination resulted in the knowledge that although the aluminium sides -of the nacelle had been liberally peppered, most of the nickel bullets -had penetrated both sides without doing vital damage. What was the most -serious injury was caused to the propellers of Nos. 5 and 6 motors, the -feather-edged blades being chipped by bullets. Since the spare blades -had already been used earlier in the voyage replacement was out of the -question. The ragged edges meant at least a reduction of ten miles an -hour, even if the blades did not fly to pieces when the propellers were -running at maximum speed. - -During the rest of the night the crew worked with a will--patching, -mending, and "doping" the holed fabric and carefully testing each -repaired ballonet with compressed air before refilling it with the -precious brodium. - -Meanwhile, the Federals brought quantities of petrol, employing teams of -mules for the purpose, their petrol dump being a good five miles from -the scene of the "Golden Hind's" unfortunate landing. Every drop had to -be passed through a fine gauze strainer before being allowed to enter -the tanks, since foreign matter in the fuel might easily result in motor -trouble. - -Anxious to make amends, the commandant also presented the baronet with a -quantity of excellent tobacco and cigars, several native cakes made of -maize, an earthenware bowl filled with good butter, and a wicker crate -of fresh fruit. - -By dawn the refitting of the "Golden Hind" was accomplished as far as -lay in the power of the dauntless crew. Now came the crucial test: -would the airship rise under the lifting power of the reduced volume of -brodium? - -At seven o'clock the huge fabric showed signs of buoyancy. A quarter of -an hour later the recording instruments showed that only another -thousand cubic feet of gas was necessary to overcome the force of -gravity. - -"We haven't that quantity, sir," reported Chief Air Mechanic Hayward. -"But I would suggest, sir, that we release our reserve gas into the -for'ard ballonets. That will lift her nose clear of the ground, and the -propellers will do the rest. Once we're up, sir, it will be as easy as -shelling peas." - -"We can but try it," replied Fosterdyke. "At any rate, if we can make -Panama we will manage with hydrogen for the remaining ballonets. -Right-o! Pass the word when you're ready." - -At seven-thirty the crew were at their stations. The for'ard portion of -the airship was straining at the guide ropes. The declutched motors, -purring gently at a quarter throttle, were awaiting the order that would -transform them into propulsive forces. Until the planes could be -brought into action the "Golden Hind" was much in the nature of a rocket -soaring obliquely under the influence of a self-contained impulsive -charge. - -Throwing open one of the windows of the riddled navigation-room, -Fosterdyke surveyed the crowd below. The Federal troops, in spite of -their bizarre uniforms and varied equipment, were fairly well -disciplined. Those not actually engaged in holding down the airship -were formed up at about fifty yards from the nacelle, interested -spectators of the largest airship that had ever passed over the -territory of the Central American Republic. - -"Let go!" shouted the baronet. - -The order, interpreted by the Creole who claimed to have a knowledge of -English, was obeyed promptly. The men seemed to have an inkling of what -would happen if they did not, and they dropped the guide ropes as though -they were hot irons. - -Simultaneously, as the bows of the "Golden Hind" lifted, Kenyon -telegraphed for "full ahead." - -With four of the propellers purring in their accustomed way and the two -after ones roaring like gigantic buzzers, as the jagged edges revolved -rapidly in the air, the "Golden Hind" ascended obliquely, with her major -axis inclined at an angle of forty degrees to the horizontal. - -The Federal troops were waving their nondescript headgear and -brandishing their rifles in token of farewell. Doubtless they were -cheering and shouting also, but the noise of the airship's propellers -out-voiced all extraneous sounds. - -At a height of one thousand feet the six planes were trimmed and brought -into action, with the result that the "Golden Hind" settled down on -almost an even keel. - -Four minutes later the scene of the unfortunate "regrettable incident" -was lost to sight. - -"Thanks be, we're up!" ejaculated Fosterdyke. - - - - -CHAPTER XX--WIRELESS REPORTS - - -"Kenyon!" exclaimed the baronet. - -"Sir?" - -"We'll cut Panama," was Fosterdyke's astounding decision. "We'll carry -straight away on. She's doing splendidly, shortage of brodium -notwithstanding. We've plenty of fuel, so it's a dash for Madeira." - -"How about reporting at the Panama control?" asked Kenneth. - -"I'll risk omitting that," replied Sir Reginald. "Being mixed up in a -potty revolution is quite sufficient excuse for non-compliance with -regulations. It isn't as if we were bound to report ourselves, as in -the case of Auckland. Bramsdean, you might ask the wireless operator to -report us to Panama, and enquire if there's any news of our rivals. -Last night's affair has given von Sinzig a very useful lead, I'm -afraid." - -Peter hastened to give the necessary orders. Presently he returned. - -"No news of the Hun, sir," he reported. "The Yankee airship made a bad -landing at Port Denison, Queensland, and was totally destroyed by fire." - -"Hard lines," remarked Fosterdyke, feelingly. "Commodore Nye is a good -sport. I hope he wasn't injured?" - -"Far from it," replied Bramsdean. "In fact he's reported to have cabled -to Melbourne asking the Victorian Government if they can sell him a -Vickers-Vimy, so that he can continue the contest." - -"Good luck to him, then!" exclaimed the baronet. "And the Jap?" - -"Looks like a winner, sir," replied Peter. "The quadruplane is reported -passing over Calcutta." - -"Next to beating Fritz myself, the Jap is the fellow I hope will do it," -remarked Fosterdyke. "By Jove! I'd like to know where von Sinzig is -and what he's doing." - -The "Golden Hind," now virtually a heavier-than-air machine, was doing -her level best to make up for the unlucky contretemps that had delayed -her for eight precious hours. Unaccountably the reduction of the volume -of brodium in her ballonets, although the rigid aluminium envelope had -not appreciably contracted, had resulted in a marked increase of speed. -Judging by the time she took to cover the distance between Panama and -Nevis, in the Lesser Antilles--a distance of 1250 miles--her speed over -the water was not far short of 190 miles an hour. - -"If those two props had not been crippled," lamented Kenyon, "we'd be -doing a good two hundred." - -"I'm content," rejoined Fosterdyke, "provided we can keep it up. If we -don't lap Z64 in another twelve hours, you can jolly well boot me, -Kenyon!" - -A few minutes later the wireless operator appeared and handed Fosterdyke -a long written message. - -The baronet's face was a study of varying emotions as he read the news. -Kenyon, watching him, wondered what had happened. Not that he was -surprised; after the experiences of the last week or so, it would take -something very much out of the common to take Kenneth Kenyon aback. - -"Evidently our friend von Sinzig has butted in where he didn't ought," -remarked Fosterdyke, handing his companion the slip of paper. - -It was a general Marconigram communication to the Press Agency, and read -as follows: - -"Hobart, Tasmania, Thursday. The schooner _Myrtle_, Abraham Prout, -master, arrived here this morning in a damaged condition. Her master -reports that in lat. 43 15' S., long. 141 20' E., the schooner was hit -by a falling object, which Captain Prout subsequently brought into port. -Examination showed that the object in question was an airship -observation box or basket. In it, fortunately intact, and with the -safety vane locking the detonator-pin, was an incendiary bomb stamped -with the broad arrow. Experts here agree that the bomb is certainly not -a British Government's missile, and by certain markings on the -observation basket it is safe to assume that it belonged to a German -airship. The basket and the bomb are being forwarded to the -Commonwealth Air Board Headquarters at Sydney." - -Then came another report: - -"Fremantle, Western Australia, Thursday. Investigations amongst the -ruins of the aerodrome destroyed by fire yesterday morning have resulted -in the finding of the remains of an aerial torpedo bearing the British -Government mark. This discovery completely upsets the original theory -as to the cause of the outbreak. Various rumours are afloat, but pending -an official declaration on the subject, the Press is requested to -confine reports to the actual known facts. A further communication will -be made as soon as definite information is forthcoming." - -"Yes, von Sinzig is getting desperate," remarked Kenyon. "It's a dead -cert that he thought we were berthed in the Fremantle aerodrome that -night. But how in the name of goodness did he get so far south? It was -reported he went direct from Java to New Zealand, passing north of -Australia." - -"He reported, you mean," corrected Fosterdyke. "Trying to throw dust in -one's eyes is an old trick of Fritz's. Personally, I don't believe he -took the northern route, and that he picked up our wireless announcing -our intention of making Fremantle, and then tried to do us in." - -"He's done for himself, any old way," declared Kenyon. "I wonder if a -Hun can ever be a sportsman?" - -"I wonder," echoed the baronet. "I've come across a good many Huns -during the last five years, but I'm hanged if I ever met one who knew -how to play the game." - -Half an hour later the "Golden Hind" intercepted a wireless message to -the effect that the British, American, and French Governments had issued -joint instructions for the German airship Z64 to be detained at the next -landing-place. - -"That looks like business," commented Kenyon. "Von Sinzig's out of the -running." - -"Unless he contrives to land in Spanish territory," added the baronet. -"There are the Canary Islands, for instance. He could, and probably -will, claim immunity as a political offender. I don't think he can be -extradited. You see, it has to be proved to the hilt that he actually -and by deliberate intent dropped a bomb on the aerodrome. No, I fancy -we haven't lost our Hun rival yet. He stands a chance of romping home, -so it's up to us to beat Z64." - -"I'd like to know what the blighter's doing now," said Kenneth, -tentatively. "Perhaps he's within fifty miles of us." - -"Provided he's fifty miles behind us, I won't worry my head about him," -declared Sir Reginald. "I'm not particularly keen on coming in touch -with him on a dark night. He might try his hand at another dirty -trick." - - - - -CHAPTER XXI--VON SINZIG'S BID FOR SAFETY - - -Count Karl von Sinzig was in a particularly bad temper. He had just -learned, by picking up various wireless messages, that "the cat was out -of the bag." In other words, the discovery of the lost observation -basket had landed him in a very awkward predicament. - -He blamed everyone and everybody save himself. The luckless -Unter-Leutnant, Hans Leutter, came in for a very bad time because he -hadn't got rid of the second bomb. The petty officer, who had -conscientiously seen that the bottle-screws securing the basket were -properly made fast, was bullied and browbeaten because the basket was -torn away. The rest of the crew, the makers of the airship, and every -person having anything to do with the aerial contest also came in for -abuse. - -The count was also puzzled at not being able to intercept any messages -from the "Golden Hind" after the one announcing her approach to Panama. -Z64 had reported at Colon, when, according to the latest information, -the British airship was hard on the heels of her German rival. - -And now, almost the final straw, came the general wireless message -declaring that Z64 was proscribed and liable to be detained should she -touch at any place belonging to either of the _entente_ nations. - -Fosterdyke had accurately gauged his rival's intentions. The knowledge -that his guilty secret was out compelled von Sinzig to change his plans -and make for Teneriffe, whence, having replenished fuel, he ought to be -easily able to complete the last stage of the round the world voyage. - -When about 300 miles to the westward of the Canaries, but farther to the -north than von Sinzig hoped to be, owing to a strong side-drift, Z64 -encountered a violent storm. In order to try to avoid the worst of the -terrific wind and rain, the airship began to ascend, hoping to find -better conditions in the rarefied atmosphere. - -Z64 was ascending obliquely under the action of her huge horizontal -rudders and was passing through a dense cloud when a vivid flash of -lightning, followed almost immediately by a deafening crash of thunder, -appeared to penetrate the airship through and through. - -Almost every man on board shouted with terror. They were fully -convinced that the hydrogen had ignited. There was a frantic rush for -the life-saving parachutes, until Unter-Leutnant Hans Leutter reassured -the panic-stricken crew with the information that the gas-bag had not -taken fire. - -Meanwhile the airship, left to its own devices, since the helmsman had -abandoned the wheel, had turned eight degrees to port and was travelling -at a rate of 120 miles an hour on a course N. by W. - -Von Sinzig, who "had the wind up" as badly as anybody, was nowhere to be -found for some time. Leutter even came to the conclusion that his -superior officer had leapt overboard when the alarm of fire had been -raised; but after a lapse of twenty-five minutes the count re-appeared, -looking very grey and haggard. - -"I think I must have been stunned, Herr Leutter," he said in -explanation. - -His subordinate accepted the excuse without smiling incredulously. He -had seen his chief bolting for his very life. He certainly did not look -like being stunned. - -"Take charge for a while," continued von Sinzig. "I am not feeling -well. I must go to my cabin and lie down." - -He staggered aft along the narrow catwalk, while the Unter-Leutnant gave -orders for the airship to be brought back on her original course. - -It was easier said than done. The gigantic gas-bag was see-sawing -erratically. She had difficulty in answering to her helm, and in spite -of the fact that the horizontal rudders were trimmed for ascending, the -airship was decreasing her altitude. - -Then reports began to come in from the still "jumpy" crew. The engineer -reported that the after propeller was damaged; another man announced -that there was a large gash in the aluminium envelope, and that several -of the after ballonets were leaking rapidly. - -Further examination revealed the grave fact that one of the propeller -blades had fractured, and the flying piece of metal had penetrated the -gas-bag at about eighty feet from the after-end. So great had been the -velocity of the broken blade that it had practically wrecked every gas -compartment in the stern of the envelope. - -Unter-Leutnant Leutter sent a man to inform von Sinzig. He had to do -that, although he would have preferred to act upon his own initiative. -He was decidedly "fed up" with his arrogant and craven skipper. - -The count arrived quickly. He led off by abusing Leutter in front of -several of the crew for having disturbed him; then, on being told of -what had occurred, he changed completely round and complimented his -subordinate on his sagacity. - -"Z64's done, Herr kapitan," declared Hans Leutter. "She's sinking -rapidly. Half an hour, perhaps, will find her falling into the sea. We -must take steps to safeguard ourselves." - -"Quite true," agreed the count. "Although there will be enough buoyancy -in the envelope to keep it afloat for hours--days even. What do you -propose to do?" - -"Throw overboard everything of a weighty nature, Herr kapitan," replied -the Unter-Leutnant. "We can empty the petrol tanks, since we have no -further use for the motors. Meanwhile we must send out a general -wireless call for assistance to all ships within a hundred or two -hundred kilometres of us." - -Count Karl von Sinzig thought this quite an excellent idea. At least, -he said so. At the back of his mind he had a hazy notion that even now -there was a chance of winning the Chauvasse Prize. There was nothing in -the conditions forbidding a competitor---- - -His ruminations were interrupted by the appearance of the wireless -operator, who reported that both the transmitter and the receiver were -out of action, and that the wireless cabin bore signs of having been -struck by lightning. - -"Can't you effect repairs?" demanded von Sinzig. - -"I am sorry I cannot, Herr kapitan," replied the operator. - -"A useful wireless man you are!" commented the count, caustically. - -The man saluted and backed away from his chief, congratulating himself -that he had come off so lightly. But von Sinzig was rather pleased than -otherwise that the wireless was out of action. It furnished him with a -good excuse to put a certain little plan into execution. - -"Are there any vessels in sight?" he asked. - -A look-out man had been scanning the wide expanse of sea for the last -ten minutes. - -"Nothing in sight, Herr kapitan," he announced. - -By this time Z64 was well beyond the storm-area. The sea, now a bare -3000 feet below, was no longer white with angry crested waves, but by -the aid of binoculars it could be seen that there was a long swell -running. - -"Then there's nothing to be done unless we make use of the Albatross," -declared von Sinzig. "I will go and look for a ship." - -Hans Leutter and those of the crew who heard the count's resolve -received the proposal in stony silence. They all recognised that their -kapitan was violating the traditions of the sea and the air by being the -first to abandon his command. Of the crew at least four were capable of -flying the small but powerful monoplane, so there was no excuse on that -score of von Sinzig being the only man able to take the Albatross up. - -In obedience to a peremptory order the crew hurriedly prepared the -monoplane for her flight. The Albatross, nominally used for starting -from and alighting on the ground, was adapted for marine work by having -three small floats, the lower portions of which were just above the -wheel base line, so that the monoplane could be used either as an -ordinary machine or as a seaplane. - -In the present circumstances von Sinzig elected to start from the air. -The Albatross, suspended by a quick release gear from the underside of -the 'midship gondola, was ready before the airship had dropped to a -thousand feet. - -"You will be quite safe," reiterated the count. "I'll send the first -vessel I meet to your assistance. It may be a matter of a few hours. -All ready? Let go." - -The monoplane's motor was already running slowly. Directly von Sinzig -felt the Albatross had parted company with her gigantic parent he opened -"all out." At a hundred and thirty miles an hour he was soon lost to -sight. - -"He's going east by north, I notice," soliloquised Hans Leutter. "I -will be greatly surprised if he returns to Z64." - -And the count was of the same opinion. He hadn't the faintest intention -of flying back to the airship. Nor was he particularly keen on -reporting Z64's predicament to any vessel he sighted. - -He was out to win the Chauvasse Prize. The sum went to the man who -succeeded in flying round the world in twenty days. There was no -stipulation to the effect that only one airship, flying-boat, aeroplane, -or seaplane must be used throughout the flight. Therefore, since the -goal was within a comparatively easy distance, he hoped to complete the -circuit in the Albatross, and thus win the coveted prize. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII--THE END OF Z64 - - -"By Jove! Kenyon, what's that over on our starboard bow?" exclaimed -Bramsdean. - -Kenneth raised his binoculars and focussed them on a dark object in the -direction indicated. - -"That," he replied after a brief survey, "is a Zepp. There's not much -mistake about that. She is also in difficulties apparently, since Zepps -don't generally assume an angle of forty-five degrees. It is also -reasonable to assume that it is Z64, since we know that von Sinzig was -keeping a course slightly divergent to ours. The southerly wind has -evidently driven her northward." - -Fosterdyke was asleep in his cabin, but upon hearing the news he hurried -to the navigation-room. - -"Are we Pharisees or Good Samaritans, sir?" enquired Kenyon. "Do we -pass by on the other side, or do we stop to render assistance?" - -"It strikes me that something more than assistance is required," replied -the baronet. "Obviously our friend von Sinzig is out of the running. -His airship is down and out. If there are any of the crew on board, -we'll be just in time to prevent them losing the number of their mess." - -Z64 was in a very bad way. The after part of the envelope was half -submerged. The rearmost gondola was entirely so. The foremost car was -rising and falling owing to the slight buoyancy of the for'ard -ballonets. At one moment it was thirty or forty feet above the water, -at another it was smacking the surface and sending the spray far and -wide. - -"Keep to windward," ordered Fosterdyke. - -"There are men still on board," replied Peter. "A dozen more or less -are hanging on to the catwalk." - -"It'll be rather a proposition to get them off," said the baronet. "We -haven't a boat; neither apparently have they, and I don't like the idea -of running alongside a half-submerged gas-bag. With this heavy swell -there's no knowing what might happen." - -"We might run out a hawser and take her in tow," suggested Kenyon. "I -mean, tow her until we get the crew off by means of an endless line." - -"Might do," half agreed Fosterdyke. "It would be decidedly awkward if -our head fell away and we drifted in broadside on to the wreckage. -We'll try it. Tell Jackson to get a hawser ready, and see there is a -slip fitted in case we have to cast off in a hurry." - -Already several of the ballonets that at first sight seemed beyond -repair had been patched up, while the fortunate discovery of two flasks -of compressed brodium gave the "Golden Hind" considerable buoyancy, so -that she was no longer dependent upon the lift of her six planes. Yet -the prospect of having to take on board the weighty Hun crew would -seriously threaten the buoyancy of the airship. - -"Luckily we are within sight of our goal," said Fosterdyke. "We can -sacrifice a quantity of our stores. The reserve fresh water tank can be -started, too. Two hundred and fifty gallons less of water ought to make -a considerable difference." - -Leading Hand Jackson, with the help of four or five of the crew, soon -made the necessary preparations. By this time the "Golden Hind" had -approached to within a hundred yards of the disabled Zeppelin, the crew -of which, half in doubt as to what was going to happen, were signalling -and shouting frantically for help. - -"Rescuing the crew of the _Hilda P. Murchison_ was child's play to -this," commented Kenyon. "Goodness only knows how we are going to -establish communication. Her blessed envelope is in the way." - -Thrice the "Golden Hind" sailed over her crippled rival. The trailing -hawser glided over the rounded surface of the gasbag, but none of the -men made any attempt to leave the gondolas and secure the rope. It -afterwards transpired that the aluminium envelope was sagging and -whipping to such an extent that the vertical shaft through it by which -access could be made to the upper surface of the gas-bag was -impracticable. Anyone attempting to ascend by that way would almost -certainly be crushed to death. - -"Can't the lubbers see the hawser?" asked Fosterdyke, impatiently. "Or -have they all got the wind up so frightfully that they can't lift a hand -to help themselves? Get in that hawser, Jackson. We'll try approaching -to leeward this time and see if they've got the sense to veer a rope." - -The manoeuvre required very careful execution. The "Golden Hind," -descending until her fuselage was but a few feet above the sea, -approached carefully. She had to be kept under control up to a certain -point, when way had to be taken off her. If she stopped too soon, she -would drift away before communication could be established; if she -carried on even a few yards too much, there was a danger of her -overlapping envelope colliding nose on with the wrecked Zeppelin. - -This time the Huns showed decided activity. They bent a line to an -inflated indiarubber lifebelt and threw the latter into the sea. -Unfortunately, they did not take into account the fact that the Zeppelin -was drifting to leeward as fast as the lifebelt. When they realised -what was happening one of the crew jumped overboard and towed the line a -hundred yards or so away. - -"Now there's a chance of doing something," commented Fosterdyke, -telegraphing for a touch ahead with Nos. 1 and 2 motors. - -As the "Golden Hind" passed immediately over the life-buoy a grapnel, -lowered from the after-part of the fuselage, engaged the rope, and in a -remarkably short space of time a stout hawser connected the British -airship with the still buoyant bows of the German. - -Fosterdyke waited until the "Golden Hind" had swung round and was -pointing "down wind," then he ordered easy ahead with the two for'ard -motors. This gave sufficient tension to the hawser, which was now -inclined at an angle of about thirty degrees. - -A "snatch-block" with an endless line was then allowed to run down to -the hawser. - -"Now the rest is easy," declared Fosterdyke, but for once at least he -was greatly mistaken. - -The first of the Huns arrived in a bowline on board the "Golden Hind." - -"How many are there?" asked Fosterdyke. - -"Ve vos dwanty," replied the German, holding up the fingers of both -hands twice in order to make his meaning clearer. - -More Huns emerging from the for'ard gondola of Z64 confirmed the man's -statement. One was evidently an officer, but his features did not in -the least resemble those of Count von Sinzig, whose photograph had -appeared some time back in the illustrated papers. - -Seventeen Huns were transhipped in about as many minutes. The -eighteenth was half-way along the tautened hawser when Fosterdyke -shouted, "Let go!" - -Leading-Hand Jackson obeyed the order instantly. The ring of the -Senhouse slip was knocked clear, and the hawser fell with a splash into -the sea. The "Golden Hind," released from the drag of the partly -water-logged Zeppelin, shot ahead. - -She was only just in time. The baronet had noticed a tongue of flame -issuing from the centre gondola of Z64. How the fire was caused was a -mystery, since had the Huns wished to destroy the wreckage they would -have waited until the last man was clear of the Zeppelin. Possibly the -wiring of the electric stove had short-circuited when in contact with -the salt water. - -In less than fifteen seconds from the time the hawser had been slipped -the hydrogen escaping from the leaky ballonets was ignited. The -aluminium gasbag was surrounded by flames. The heat caused the gas in -the still intact ballonets to expand, affording sufficient lifting power -to heave the wreckage almost clear of the water. The remaining Huns, -keenly alive to the terrible danger, promptly jumped into the sea. - -Then with a terrific glare the remaining ballonets burst, and the -shattered wreckage, sizzling as it came into contact with the cold -water, disappeared beneath the surface, leaving a steadily widening -circle of oil surmounted by a dense pall of black smoke to mark the -scene of the end of Z64. - -Before the evil-smelling vapour had dispersed the "Golden Hind," turning -head to wind, was over the spot searching for possible survivors. For -half an hour she cruised round, but her efforts to rescue the three Huns -were unavailing. The men had either been stunned by the explosion or -had been hit by falling wreckage. Amongst them was Unter-Leutnant Hans -Leutter, who, by resolutely refusing to leave his command until the rest -of the crew were safe, had proved that all Hun officers were not of the -von Sinzig type. - -Several of the rescued Germans could speak English--but they were -decidedly reticent. In the back of their minds they rather feared that -they were in for a bad time. They knew that their late kapitan had been -practically outlawed and that he was "wanted" by the authorities for -having, amongst other misdemeanours, destroyed the Fremantle aerodrome -by means of an incendiary bomb. They rather expected that they would be -blamed for the acts of their fugitive superior. - -On the other hand, they were grateful to their rescuers for having saved -their lives, and with typical Teutonic reasoning they eventually decided -that one way to repay the kindness and to ingratiate themselves in the -eyes of the Englishman would be to give away their former officers. - -The spokesman led off by informing Sir Reginald Fosterdyke that -Unter-Leutnant Hans Leutter was the person who dropped the incendiary -bomb from the observation basket in the hope that it would destroy the -"Golden Hind." - -"He was, of course, acting under Count von Sinzig's orders," remarked -Fosterdyke, drily. "Where is Herr Leutter?" - -"Dead," was the reply. "He was one of the three left on Z64." - -"And Count von Sinzig was one of the other two?" - -The German airman shrugged his shoulders and made a gesture of disgust. -He still rankled over his kapitan's cowardly desertion. It was long -obvious to all the survivors of Z64 that von Sinzig had no intention of -summoning aid. Eight hours had elapsed since he began his flight in the -Albatross. In that time he must have sighted several vessels, since the -scene of the disaster was not many miles from one of the great Atlantic -trade routes. - -"Kapitan Count von Sinzig left Z64 soon after daybreak this morning, -mein Herr," replied the German. "At seven o'clock, to be exact." - -"Left--how?" demanded Fosterdyke, sharply. - -"In an Albatross monoplane. He was last seen going east-north-east." - -Fosterdyke dismissed his informant and turned to Kenyon and Bramsdean. - -"The cunning old rascal!" he exclaimed. "I see his little game now. -He's completing the final stage by aeroplane. I suppose by this time -he's won the Chauvasse Prize; but I don't envy him." - -"Will you enter a protest, sir?" asked Peter. - -"Protest? Not much," replied the baronet, emphatically. "These -seventeen Huns can do the protesting if they want to, and I rather fancy -they will." - -"There's many a slip," quoted Kenyon. "He may not complete the course -after all." - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII--A DUMPING OPERATION - - -The heavily-laden "Golden Hind" resumed her delayed journey. Both -gas-bags and planes had to do their full share of work to keep the -airship afloat. She was flying low, but making good progress; but so -little was her reserve of buoyancy that had the three Huns who perished -in the catastrophe to Z64 been saved, it was doubtful whether Fosterdyke -could have "carried on." - -To make matters worse, some of the patches on the repaired ballonets -were leaking, for owing to the heat of the rubber the solution was not -holding well. - -"I wonder if Drake's 'Golden Hind,' when she arrived in the Thames after -circumnavigating the globe, was patched up like we are," remarked -Kenyon. "It took Drake three long years to do the trick, and we look -like completing our voyage in under seventeen days." - -"If the old 'bus holds out," added Bramsdean. "'Tany rate, no one can -say we haven't done our bit. The 'Golden Hind's' been a regular sort of -aerial lifeboat. That is some satisfaction. I'd rather we did that than -win the race." - -"I suppose our passengers won't get up to any of their Hunnish tricks?" -observed Kenneth. - -"Trust Fosterdyke for that," replied Peter grimly. "He's had 'em placed -in the dining-saloon. (Fortunately, we won't require many more meals.) -They can amuse themselves there without getting into mischief. There's -one of our fellows stationed outside to keep the blighters in order." - -Just then the baronet came upon the scene. - -"Von Sinzig looks like pulling it off," he observed. "A wireless from -the S.S. _Wontwash_ reports that a monoplane passed over the ship at 6 -P.M., flying east. According to the position given, the _Wontwash_ was -only thirty-five miles west of Gibraltar." - -"Then perhaps he's back at his hangar by this time," commented Peter. -"Any news of the others?" - -"Yes; Commodore Theodore Nye has been unable to get hold of another 'bus -yet, although two of the Australian R.A.F. pilots are bringing him a -'Bristol' machine from Melbourne. He's out of the running. That he -admits, but he means to complete the course, even if it takes him six -months." - -"And the Jap?" asked Kenyon. - -"Not a word," replied the baronet. "He's keeping quiet; but mark my -words, that quadruplane will turn up unexpectedly. If his 'bus had had -British motors, he would have romped home in less than a week." - -"What engines has he?" asked Bramsdean. - -"Japanese," replied Fosterdyke. "Passable imitations of ours and good -up to a certain point; but give me British engines all the jolly old -time." - -Although the baronet made frequent enquiries of the operator, no -wireless messages concerning von Sinzig came through. - -"Perhaps he's crashed," suggested Peter. - -"Not he," replied Kenyon. "That Hun's got the luck of a cat with nine -lives. He's playing his own game." - -"It is a game," added Bramsdean. "Loading that crowd of Huns on to us is -like a man in a mile race chucking his gear to another competitor and -telling him to hang on. I don't wish the blighter any harm, but I do -hope that if he pulls off the money prize they'll pay him in German -marks at the pre-war rate of exchange. That'd make him look blue!" - -Although no news came in concerning their Hun rival, the officers and -crew of the "Golden Hind" began to be bombarded with wireless messages -from Britons in every quarter of the globe. All were of the most -encouraging nature, for the story of Fosterdyke's airship and her -adventures and misadventures--all more or less distorted owing to the -lack of authentic detail--had awakened world-wide interest. - -There were cheery messages from patriotic Britons; incentive ones from -sportsmen, to whom the suggestion of a race appealed more than did the -fact that the contest was one of endurance calculated to uphold the -prestige of British flying men. Frenchmen, Dutchmen, Norwegians, -Americans, and Japanese all sent greetings to the intrepid British -airmen. - -"Didn't know we had so many friends," remarked Fosterdyke. -"Sportsmanlike of those Americans and Japs, too, when they have -representatives in the show." - -The "Golden Hind" was now approaching the regular mail line, where -routes to and from the Cape and round the Horn unite in the -neighbourhood of Las Palmas. - -"We'll signal the first vessel we sight," decided Sir Reginald, "and get -her to relieve us of our cargo of Fritzes. The sooner the better, -because several of the ballonets are showing distinct symptoms of -porosity." - -Five minutes later the airship had slowed down and had swung round on a -course parallel to a homeward-bound Dutchman. - -The skipper of the latter, when appealed to by megaphone, stoutly -refused to receive the seventeen Germans. He gave no reason why he -should not do so, and without waiting for further parley rang for full -speed ahead. - -A little later a French auxiliary barque was sighted, bound south. - -Fosterdyke made no attempt to intercept her. - -"There are limits," he observed. "Dumping those Huns on board an -outward-bound Frenchman is one of them. Now for the next vessel. Three -for luck." - -The third was a British tramp, bound from Montevideo for Naples. Her -"Old Man," although ignorant that a Round-the-World aerial race was in -progress or even in contemplation, readily agreed to help the "Golden -Hind" on her way. - -"I'll find use for 'em," he added with infinite relish. "They'll work -their passage, never you fear. Three times I've been torpedoed without -warning, and on two occasions Fritz popped up to jeer at us struggling -in waterlogged boats." - -While conversation was in progress between Fosterdyke and the master of -the S.S. _Diaphanous_, a wire hawser had been lowered from the bows of -the airship and made fast to the tramp's after-winch. Since she was -steaming dead in the eye of the wind there was no necessity for her to -alter helm. The "Golden Hind," pitching slightly, was towed astern of -and thirty feet above the tramp. As the airship's course was almost -identical with that of the tramp Fosterdyke conscientiously kept the -propellers revolving, since, even in the present circumstances, he did -not wish to give his rivals a chance of raising a protest on the score -that the flight of the British airship had been mechanically aided. - -The seventeen Germans showed no great enthusiasm at being placed on -board the tramp. At first they imagined that the _Diaphanous_ was bound -for the Pacific. Even the prospect of being dumped ashore at Naples was -not at all attractive. - -When they did make a move they descended the rope-ladder so slowly and -deliberately that it was obvious they meant to detain the "Golden Hind" -as much as possible. - -"I see through their little game," exclaimed Fosterdyke, angrily. "Make -'em get a move on, Jackson." - -The Leading Hand wanted no further bidding. Ably seconded by Chief Air -Mechanic Hayward, he gave vent to such a flow of forcible language, -accompanied by realistic dumbshow, that the Huns changed their tactics -completely. It was even necessary to check their impetuosity, lest the -ladder should break under the weight of too many men descending -simultaneously. Then, with a joyous toot on her syren as the hawser was -cast off, and a stentorian greeting from the Mercantile Marine skipper, -the _Diaphanous_ gathered way, while the "Golden Hind," almost as -buoyant as of yore, rose steadily and rapidly against the gentle breeze. - -Two hours later land--the Moroccan coast--was sighted on the starboard -bow. Then fifty minutes later Fosterdyke touched Kenyon on the shoulder -and pointed dead ahead to a faint object rising above the horizon. - -"Guess we've done the trick, barring accidents," he observed. "That's -Gibraltar." - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV--WITHIN SIGHT OF SUCCESS - - -Count Karl von Sinzig had not started upon his long solo flight in the -Albatross without studiously calculating his chances. He knew the -machine and its capabilities, and, given ordinary luck, he saw no reason -why he should not make a landing on Spanish soil, replenish fuel, and -carry on to his hangar in Estremadura before his hated rival arrived at -Gibraltar. Even if there were delays in obtaining petrol, he still had a -useful lead, thanks to his twelve hours' start in advance of the "Golden -Hind." The two hundred extra miles he had to cover beyond Gibraltar was -a mere bagatelle--a question of an hour and twenty minutes' flight. - -He rather regretted that the accident to Z64 had not occurred nearer the -African coast; but realising that he was lucky to be able to carry on, -he ran the risk of a prolonged flight over the sea with comparative -equanimity. - -Within an hour of leaving the wrecked Zeppelin he sighted two vessels, -but with callous indifference to his promise to his crew he made not the -slightest attempt to communicate with either of them. He was "all out" -to win the much-needed Chauvasse Prize. Even his indictment by the -various Allied Governments hardly worried him. Time to consider what he -should do in the matter when he was safe on Spanish soil, he decided. - -The Albatross, one of the best types of German machines, was practically -an automatic flier. Von Sinzig could keep her on her course by an -occasional pressure with his feet upon the rudder-bar, thus leaving both -hands free. He was able to eat and drink, to study maps and make -observations without risk of the monoplane getting out of control, while -if needs be he could leave the pilot's seat, knowing that the Albatross -would hold on automatically for several minutes with only a slight -deviation in direction and hardly any difference in altitude. - -Although only ten degrees north of the Tropics, it was bitterly cold at -ten thousand feet; but the count had taken due precautions to combat the -low temperature. He was warmly clad in orthodox flying kit, including -sheepskin boots, fleece-lined leather jacket and trousers, all -electrically heated. He had four thermos flasks filled with hot coffee -and a pocket flask of brandy. For provisions he carried concentrated -food, beef lozenges, and Strasburg sausages. - -Hour after hour passed. The Albatross was flying magnificently, her -pilot holding on to a compass course, after making due allowances for -the "drift" of the air current. He had based this allowance upon the -direction of the wind when he left Z64; but unknown to him the light -breeze had shifted eight points and was now blowing slightly ahead of -his port beam. Then, having backed, it presently veered six points and -blew with increasing force right against the Albatross; but von Sinzig -was for the present in ignorance of the fact. Had he known that instead -of a following breeze of about twenty miles an hour there was a head -wind approaching the neighbourhood of thirty-five miles, he would not -have been so chock-a-block with confidence. - -When, at the end of the time limit he had set, he was not in sight of -land he began to feel anxious. Half an hour later, as he was still -without a glimpse of the coast, his misgivings increased, but ten -minutes later he picked up land on his right. This was a puzzle. He had -expected to make a landfall right ahead, and its appearance in an -unexpected quarter mystified him. In point of fact he was in the -neighbourhood of Cape Blanco, or nearly 250 miles south of Cape St. -Vincent, where he hoped to pass over on his way to Estremadura. - -A knowledge of the Moroccan coast obtained during a cruise in a German -gunboat at the time of the Agadir crisis stood von Sinzig in good stead. -He was able to recognise certain landmarks in spite of viewing them from -a different aspect, and accordingly he turned the monoplane in a -north-easterly direction, keeping parallel to the African coast, The new -direction would take him a little to the eastward of Cadiz; rather -nearer that port than Gibraltar. He had not the slightest inclination -to fly over the latter fortress. Rather vaguely he wondered whether he -would sight the "Golden Hind" making thither, since, sooner or later, -unless a mishap occurred, the rival aviators must cut each other's -routes. - -He was now painfully aware of the change of wind. The direction of the -smoke from several steamers, and the sight of a full-rigged ship running -in a south-westerly direction told him that. Additionally, as he saw by -the aid of his binoculars, that sailing ship was running under topsails -only. That meant something more than a stiff breeze--and against this -he had to contend. - -Suddenly he detected an ominous cough of the motor. He knew that the -petrol supply was running low, but he had no idea that the gauge -registered so little. The tank was practically empty. - -"Himmel!" gasped the dumfounded Hun. "Will she last out?" - -He mentally measured the distance between him and the Spanish coast. A -good ten miles. With a following wind he could glide that distance from -that altitude, but not with this infernal head wind! - -The engine was running jerkily. Clearly its spasmodic coughing -betokened the fact that it would soon cease duty from sheer inanition. -Its life-blood was being cut off at the heart of the machine--its petrol -tank. That head wind. How von Sinzig cursed it! Had it been in his -favour, even if he failed to volplane as far as the shore, the -Albatross, being provided with floats, could have drifted on the -surface. - -In the midst of his incoherent utterances von Sinzig realised that the -motor had at last given out. He trimmed the ailerons and prepared for a -long glide, but, as he had feared, the head wind made it a matter of -impossibility for the Albatross to cover more than two miles before she -alighted. - -It did not take long to complete the volplane, although the pilot nursed -his machine to the best of his ability in the hope of prolonging the -oblique descent. - -The Albatross "landed" badly, her floats striking the water with a -resounding smack. The count, having done his best, could do no more. -He sat smoking a cigarette and keeping a look out for a vessel that -would come to his assistance. There were several away to the south'ard, -for he had alighted well to the north'ard of the regular steamer track -between Gibraltar and Cape St. Vincent. They were too far off to notice -the little Albatross. - -Then von Sinzig made the disconcerting discovery that the starboard -float was leaking. Already, owing to this cause, the monoplane was -listing so that her starboard wing-tip was touching the water. This -fact, combined with the knowledge that he was momentarily drifting -farther and farther away from land, did not tend to improve the Hun's -peace of mind. - -Half an hour later, during which time the monoplane had drifted at least -three miles, and was being considerably buffeted by the rising sea, von -Sinzig noticed that a vessel was bearing down upon the crippled -Albatross. - -As she approached, the count saw that she was a small motor-yacht of -about forty or fifty tons, and that she was flying the burgee of the -"Real Club Mediterraneo" and the Spanish ensign. The sight of the -Spanish colours gave von Sinzig renewed hope. - -The yacht slowed down and lost way a few yards to the wind'ard of the -monoplane. For so small a vessel she carried a large crew. There were -half a dozen men for'ard, clad in white canvas jumpers and trousers and -wearing red woollen caps. Aft were two gorgeously attired individuals -in gold-laced yachting uniforms. - -Von Sinzig, who was a fair Spanish linguist, hailed them. A rope thrown -from the bows of the yacht fell across the nose of the Albatross. This -the count caught and secured. - -"Can you supply me with petrol, seor?" asked von Sinzig. "My tank is -empty. A hundred litres will be enough." - -One of the gold-laced men shook his head and extended his hands, palms -uppermost. - -"I am desolated at being compelled to refuse your excellency's modest -request," he replied, "but we have paraffin engines and carry only a -small quantity of petrol for starting purposes. How far have you come?" - -"Nearly round the world," replied the Hun, grandiloquently. He could -not resist the typically Teutonic trait of self-advertisement. - -"Dios!" exclaimed the Spaniard, twirling his long moustachios. "Then -you are Count Karl von Sinzig, who left Quintanur, in the province of -Estremadura, sixteen or seventeen days ago?" - -"I am," admitted von Sinzig, proudly. - -The Spaniard said a few words in an undertone to his companion. The -other's eyes gleamed and he nodded his head vigorously. - -"We will take you on board and tow your machine," announced the owner of -the yacht. - -"To Cadiz or Huelva?" asked the count. - -"Accept ten thousand regrets, count," replied the Spaniard. "We must -take you to Gibraltar." - -"But I have no wish to be taken to Gibraltar," declared von Sinzig. "I -will give a thousand pesetas to be landed at Cadiz." - -The Don again shrugged his shoulders. - -"No doubt my crew would be glad of your offer of a thousand pesetas, -count," he replied, "but since they know that the English have offered a -reward equal to five thousand pesetas----" - -"You would sell me?" demanded von Sinzig, furiously. - -"I sell you, seor? Not I--a caballero of Spain! You insult me by the -suggestion. I recollect, however, that I once had a brother. He was -lost at sea, while travelling on an English vessel from New York to -Cadiz. Like you, he wanted to land at Cadiz, but he was not able to do -so. For why? Because the ship was torpedoed by one of your -ever-accursed U-boats. Therefore I have a small measure of revenge when -I hand you over to the English authorities at Gibraltar. Be pleased, -seor, to step aboard." - -Covered by an automatic pistol, Count Karl von Sinzig had no option but -to obey. In the race round the world he was down and out. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV--FIRE! - - -Sir Reginald Fosterdyke laid down his pencil and uttered an exclamation -of intense satisfaction. He had just "shot the sun" and had finished -working out his position. - -"Another hour will see us at Gib., lads," he announced joyously. "Then -there'll be some mafficking. What's your programme? Going to pack your -suit cases and back by the Madrid-Paris express?" - -"You are not leaving the 'Golden Hind' at Gibraltar?" asked Kenneth. - -"No," replied the baronet. "But I must certainly get some repairs -executed before I resume my flight to England. I thought, perhaps, you -were in a hurry to get home." - -"There's no immediate hurry, sir," declared the chums, simultaneously. - -"A few more days won't matter," began Kenyon; but before he could -proceed with his explanation the alarm bell rang violently and -continuously. - -"What's wrong now?" exclaimed Fosterdyke, snatching up the voice tube. - -Peter, glancing aft through the window of the navigation-room, which -being raised gave a clear view over the roof of the rest of the nacelle, -saw at once what was amiss. - -Dense volumes of smoke, tinged with dull red flames, were pouring from -the after-end of the fuselage. Fanned by the rush of the airship, the -black vapour was streaming in its wake like a fox's tail. - -Leaving Kenyon to take charge of the navigation-room, and cautioning him -to keep the "Golden Hind" dead in the eye of the wind, and as fast as -she could possibly go, Fosterdyke and Peter hastened aft. - -They found the alley-way thick with smoke, for on the well-known -principle that "the wind follows the ship" the draught was carrying the -fumes within the nacelle in a forward direction. - -A man wearing a smoke helmet brushed past them. It was Hayward going to -find some fire-extinguishers. Others of the crew, who had hastily -donned masks to protect themselves from the choking vapour, were busily -engaged in hurling pyrene into the seat of the conflagration. - -Although the speed of the "Golden Hind" through the air fanned the -flames, Fosterdyke had done well to order speed to be maintained. The -velocity had the effect of compelling the fire to trail astern instead -of spreading upwards and thus destroying the envelope. Even as it was -the heat had caused the non-inflammable brodium to expand, giving the -envelope a tendency to trim down by the head. - -"Petrol tank to No. 5 motor, sir," reported a grimy and perspiring -mechanic, who through sheer exhaustion and being partly gassed by the -noxious fumes had to withdraw from the fray. "Went up all of a sudden, -like. Never saw such a flare up in all my life, sir; but we're getting -it under." - -It was indeed a stiff fight. In a few seconds the area of the fire had -attained such large dimensions that it was impossible to reach the -actual source. The fire-fighters had first to subdue the fringe of the -conflagration, and by the time they had done this several of them were -_hors de combat_ by reason of the suffocating gases thrown off by the -oxygen-exterminating pyrene. Above the crackling of the flames came the -sharp tang of the suspension wires holding the nacelle to the aluminium -envelope as they parted under the terrific heat. - -Not only were the crew faced with the danger of the fire getting the -upper hand; the while there was the chance of a portion of the fuselage -becoming detached from the gas-bag, and the prospect of being hurled -through space from a height of eight or nine thousand feet above the sea -was one that might well in cold blood put fear into the heart of the -bravest of the brave. But in the heat of action the crew, knowing the -danger, faced the risk manfully. Working in relays, they plied the -flames with the fire-extinguishing chemicals. As fast as one man fell -out, temporarily overcome by the fumes and the terrific heat, another -took his place until the fire was overcome. Even then the danger was not -over. There was still a possibility of the smouldering fuselage being -fanned into a blaze. Parts of the aluminium framework and panelling -were warped and twisted into fantastic shapes. Snake-like coils of wire -indicated the fact that several of the highly important connections -between the fuselage and the envelope had been burnt through. Whether a -sufficient number of tension wires remained to adequately support the -afterpart of the nacelle remained a matter of doubt. - -Unaccountably the petrol tank feeding No. 5 motor had taken fire. The -pipes and unions had been frequently examined and found to be in good -order. In fact, Hayward had personally inspected the fittings of that -particular tank less than a quarter of an hour before the outbreak. - -The damage was serious. Both Nos. 5 and 6 motors were out of action, -the former showing signs of crashing through the charred framework of -the fuselage. The flames had spread to Fosterdyke's cabin, completely -gutting it. Only a few aluminium frames were left, and these, blackened -and bent, trailed forlornly astern like a gaunt skeleton. - -With the contraction of the brodium after the fire had been quelled the -envelope, instead of tending to tilt aft, now showed a tendency to -droop. The heat had melted the solder of the union pipes through which -the gas was passed either to or from the metal pressure flasks, and -several thousand feet of brodium had escaped. - -Driven only by four propellers, her preciously scanty supply of brodium -sadly depleted, and with the controls of the two after planes damaged by -the flames, the "Golden Hind" was in a perilous state. She was just -able, and no more, to overcome the attraction of gravity. How long she -would be able to maintain herself in the air was a problem of -supposition. - -Had the "Golden Hind" been supported by hydrogen gas nothing could have -saved her. The overcoming of the flames was a triumph for the -fire-resisting properties of brodium. The patent gas had been put to -one of the severest tests--an actual fire in mid-air--and had emerged -with flying colours. - -From the time of the alarm being raised until the fire was subdued only -half an hour had elapsed. The smoke-grimed and fatigued crew were glad -to rest, while Fosterdyke and Peter returned to the navigation-room, -there to wash and replace their singed and reeking clothes with others -from Kenyon's and Bramsdean's kit-bags. The baronet had to borrow a -suit. The one he was wearing was in holes, while all his others on -board were destroyed when his cabin was burnt out. - -Fosterdyke was cheerful. In fact he was jocular. He realised that -things might have been far worse; he was glad to find that the "Golden -Hind" was still navigable and that none of his crew had sustained -injury. - -"This comes of boasting, Kenyon," he remarked. "I said we'd be in Gib. -in an hour. We stood a chance of being in 'Kingdom Come.' What's she -doing now?" - -"Not more than eighty, sir," replied Kenneth, "and we've a stiffish wind -to contend with." - -"Eighty, eh? Not so dusty, considering we're trailing the wreckage of -my cabin astern, and there's only four props to shove us along. She's -dipping, though." - -"She is, sir," agreed Kenyon, gravely. "I've trimmed the planes to their -maximum. That tends to shove her nose up, but if I didn't she'd sit on -her tail." - -"We'll finish at the tape like an aerial Cleopatra's Needle," declared -Fosterdyke. "Hello! There's Tangier. That strip of blue you can just -see beyond is the Straits of Gibraltar. We're a bit to the east'ard of -our course." - -Another half an hour of strenuous battling against heavy odds brought -the "Golden Hind" immediately to the west of Ceuta. Ahead could be -discerned the famous rock, although viewed from an altitude and "end on" -its well-known appearance as a lion couchant was absent. But the "Golden -Hind" had shot her bolt. "We're baulked at the tape," declared -Fosterdyke. "This head wind's doing us. Hard lines, but we must take -things as we find them." - -Like von Sinzig he had been beaten by the head wind, but Fosterdyke, -instead of raving and cursing like his German rival, accepted the -situation philosophically. It was hard lines, failing within sight of -the goal; but the baronet kept a stiff upper lip. He had done everything -humanly possible to achieve his aim. He could do no more. - -The "Golden Hind," inclined at an angle of sixty degrees, was dropping -slowly but surely. With her remaining motors running all out she was -unable to overcome the pull of gravity. Even as she dropped, her -progress towards her goal was maintained at a rate of a bare five miles -an hour above and against that of the wind. - -Every man on board was holding on like grim death. With the floor as -steep as the roof of a house there was nothing to be done but hold on. -The ballonets were practically empty save the four or five for'ard ones. -The propellers were now virtually helices--whirling screws that strove -valiantly but unavailingly to lift the huge bulk of the airship in an -almost vertical direction. Should the motors fail to function, then the -"Golden Hind" would drop like a stone. As it was she was falling surely -and slowly. - -Already officers and men had donned their inflated indiarubber -lifebelts. There was not the slightest sign of panic. The men, -although keenly disappointed at failure within sight of success, were -joking with each other. - -"Stand by to jump, all hands," shouted Fosterdyke. "Keep clear of the -raffle, and you'll be as right as rain. There are half a dozen vessels -within a couple of miles of us." - -Some of the men slid along the sloping alley-way to the side doors. -Others tore away the large celluloid windows in the cabins and -motor-rooms, so as to be able to jump clear directly the fuselage -touched the water. - -The two chums had drawn themselves through the windows of the -navigation-room and were standing on the blunt bows and steadying -themselves by the tension wires running from the normal top of the -nacelle to the underside of the envelope. - -With the four motors running to the last the "Golden Hind" dropped into -the sea. Her projecting envelope was the first to come into contact -with the water. The ballonets, practically air-tight compartments, -checked the downward movement, while the whole of the hitherto inclined -bulk, pivoted as it were by the water-borne stern, dropped until it -resumed its normal horizontal position. - -Fosterdyke alone had remained in the navigation-room. Directly he saw -that the airship was resting temporarily on the surface and was -beginning to gather way like a gigantic hydroplane he switched off the -remaining motors. - -"Every man for himself," he shouted. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI--"WELL PLAYED, SIR!" - - -Water poured into the open doors and windows and through the charred and -torn stern of the nacelle. - -The aluminium envelope, not built to withstand abnormal stress, began -buckling amidships. Tension wires, no longer in tension but in -compression, were spreading in all directions as the huge gas-bag -settled down upon the already foundering nacelle. - -Every one of the crew realised the danger of being entangled in the -wreckage. In a trice the water was dotted with heads and shoulders of -life-belted swimmers as the crew struck out to get clear of the sinking -airship, and presently Fosterdyke was surrounded by a little mob of -undaunted men. - -"Thank heaven!" ejaculated the baronet, after a hasty count. "None -missing. Keep together, lads, there's a vessel bearing down on us." - -Not one but four craft were hastening to the rescue. Amongst these was -the T.B.D. _Zeebrugge_, which, eighteen days previously, had gone to -search for the derelict "Golden Hind" and had placed Sir Reginald -Fosterdyke on board. - -Fortunately the water was warm, and in spite of a fairly high sea -running the late crew of the "Golden Hind" were taken aboard the -destroyer. - -Fosterdyke and the others, declining to go below, stood on deck and -watched the end of the airship that had taken them safely for nearly -twenty-eight thousand miles, to perish within five miles of the Rock of -Gibraltar, her official starting-point. - -The end was not long delayed. The buckling of the aluminium envelope -resulted in ballonet after ballonet collapsing under the pressure of -water. The fuselage had already disappeared. Bow and stern, nearly -four hundred feet apart, reared themselves high in the air; then, with a -terrific rush of mingled brodium and air that caused a seething cauldron -around each of the extremities of the envelope, the last of the "Golden -Hind" sank beneath the waves. - -"Rough luck losing such a fine airship," commiserated the -Lieut.-Commander of the destroyer. - -"It is," agreed Fosterdyke, feelingly. "Especially as she is my own -design and I superintended every bit of her construction. It was a -pity, too, we didn't hang on for another half an hour. I'd have -jockeyed her over the Rock somehow." - -"It was a brilliant achievement, Sir Reginald," said the naval officer. -"Every sportsman will sympathise with you, but I'm sure they'll shout: -'Well played, sir!'" - -"Any news of the other competitors?" asked Peter. - -"Yes. Commodore Nye, the Yankee, is still stranded in Australia, but I -suppose you know that. Count Hyashi, the Jap, crashed somewhere near -Saigon. He, too, was almost home." - -"Jolly hard lines," murmured Kenyon, sympathetically. "Was he hurt?" - -"No, hardly bruised, but a bit shaken. Engine failure, they say," -continued the Lieut.-Commander. "That leaves only the Hun to be -accounted for." - -"And I suppose he's completed the circuit?" remarked Fosterdyke, -questioningly. - -The naval officer laughed. - -"Completing the circuit of a prison-yard!" he exclaimed. "That's about -his mark. A Spanish yacht brought Count von Sinzig in this morning and -handed him over to the Port Admiral. It'll be a three years' job, I -fancy. Huns must learn that they can't bomb British air stations in -peace time with impunity." - -The destroyer ran alongside the dockyard. Fosterdyke and the rest of -his crew disembarked. On the jetty they were met by several of the -chief Naval, Military, and Air Force officials and two representatives -of the International Air Board. - -Fosterdyke looked puzzled. He didn't want commiseration, but -congratulation seemed a bit out of place. - -"On what grounds, Admiral?" he asked. - -"On winning the Chauvasse Prize for completing the circumnavigation of -the globe," replied the senior International Air Board representative, -speaking instead of the Port Admiral. "Fact! You've won it fairly and -squarely." - -"But----" began the astonished baronet. - -"You have," persisted the official. "Do you recollect when the airship -broke adrift? The destroyer went in pursuit and put you on board. That -was within three miles or so of Ceuta. The same destroyer picks you up -out of the water five miles from 'Gib.' Consequently, you've more than -completed the circuit, and although the official start was from -Gibraltar I don't think there will be any difficulty in obtaining the -International Air Board's decision to the effect that you've won." - -And that was exactly what happened. Had it not been for Count von -Sinzig's underhand work in employing Enrico Jaures to cast adrift the -"Golden Hind," Fosterdyke would not have completed his aerial voyage -round the world. By the irony of fate the Hun had enabled his rival to -score. - -Fosterdyke won the Chauvasse Prize and the honour of being the first man -to fly round the world. Needless to say Kenyon and Bramsdean and the -rest of the crew were not forgotten. Honours were heaped upon the -intrepid airmen. They were lionised, fted, and praised to such an -extent that they were in danger of developing "swelled heads." - -But Kenyon and Bramsdean knew that the achievement would be but a nine -days' wonder. Having attempted and won, they were content to return to -their profession, their financial standing much increased by their -shares in the big prize. They had enough honours and diplomas to -satisfy them, but what they prized most was a certificate from the Royal -Humane Society for saving the crew of the _Hilda P. Murchison_. - -"So, after all," declared Kenyon, "we did do something useful, old son!" - - - - PRINTED BY PURNELL AND SONS - PAULTON (SOMERSET) AND LONDON - - - - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AIRSHIP "GOLDEN HIND" *** - - - - -A Word from Project Gutenberg - - -We will update this book if we find any errors. - -This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/39488 - -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. 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-
-.. meta::
- :PG.Id: 39488
- :PG.Title: The Airship "Golden Hind"
- :PG.Released: 2012-04-19
- :PG.Rights: Public Domain
- :PG.Producer: Al Haines
- :DC.Creator: Percy F. Westerman
- :MARCREL.ill: Fleming Williams
- :DC.Title: The Airship "Golden Hind"
- :DC.Language: en
- :DC.Created: 1920
- :coverpage: images/img-cover.jpg
-
-.. role:: small-caps
- :class: small-caps
-
-===========================
-THE AIRSHIP "GOLDEN HIND"
-===========================
-
-.. clearpage::
-
-.. pgheader::
-
-.. vspace:: 3
-
-.. container: coverpage
-
-.. _`Cover art`:
-
-.. figure:: images/img-cover.jpg
- :align: center
- :alt: Cover art
-
- Cover art
-
-.. vspace:: 3
-
-.. container: frontispiece
-
-.. _`"'THE GOLDEN HIND' RESCUES A SHIPWRECKED CREW."`:
-
-.. figure:: images/img-front.jpg
- :align: center
- :alt: "'THE GOLDEN HIND' RESCUES A SHIPWRECKED CREW."
-
- "'THE GOLDEN HIND' RESCUES A SHIPWRECKED CREW."
-
-.. vspace:: 3
-
-.. container:: titlepage center white-space-pre-line
-
- .. class:: center x-large
-
- .. vspace:: 3
-
- THE AIRSHIP "GOLDEN HIND"
-
- .. vspace:: 2
-
- .. class:: center medium
-
- by
-
- .. class:: center large
-
- Percy F. Westerman
-
- .. class:: center small
-
- AUTHOR OF
-
- "THE SECRET BATTLEPLANE," "THE MYSTERY SHIP,"
- "BILLY BARCROFT OF THE R.N.A.S.,"
- ETC., ETC.
-
- .. class:: center medium
-
- .. vspace:: 3
-
- ILLUSTRATED BY
- FLEMING WILLIAMS
-
- .. class:: center medium
-
- .. vspace:: 3
-
- Publishers
- PARTRIDGE
- London
- 1920
-
- .. vspace:: 3
-
-.. container:: verso white-space-pre-line
-
- .. class:: center small
-
- MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN
-
- .. vspace:: 4
-
- .. class:: left small
-
- THE GREAT ADVENTURE SERIES
-
- .. vspace:: 2
-
- *PERCY F. WESTERMAN:*
-
- .. vspace:: 1
-
- The Airship "Golden Hind"
- To the Fore with the Tanks
- The Secret Battleplane
- Wilmshurst of the Frontier Force
-
- .. vspace:: 2
-
- *ROWLAND WALKER:*
-
- .. vspace:: 1
-
- Deville McKeene: The Exploits of the Mystery Airman
- Blake of the Merchant Service
- Buckle of Submarine V2
- Oscar Danby, V.C.
-
- .. vspace:: 1
-
- LONDON:
- S. W. PARTRIDGE & CO., LTD.
-
-
-.. vspace:: 3
-
-----
-
-.. contents:: CONTENTS
- :depth: 1
- :backlinks: entry
-
-----
-
-.. vspace:: 3
-
-.. class:: center x-large
-
-The Airship "Golden Hind"
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER I--A STARTLING PROPOSITION
-==================================
-
-"What's the move?" enquired Kenneth Kenyon.
-
-"Ask me another, old son," replied his
-chum, Peter Bramsdean. "Fosterdyke is
-a cautious old stick, but he knows what's
-what. There's something in the wind, you
-mark my words."
-
-"Then you're going to see him?"
-
-"Rather! And you too, old bean.
-Where's a pencil? We can't keep the
-telegraph boy waiting."
-
-Bramsdean tore a form from a pad,
-scribbled on it the reply--"Fosterdyke,
-Air Grange, near Blandford. Yes, will
-expect motor to-morrow morning," and
-he had taken the initial step of a journey
-that man had never before attempted.
-
-Kenyon and Bramsdean were both
-ex-flying officers of the Royal Air Force.
-What they did in the Great War now
-matters little. Sufficient is it to say that
-had they belonged to any belligerent
-nation save their own they would have
-been styled "aces"; but since in the
-Royal Air Force details of personal
-achievements were deprecated, and the
-credit given to the Force as a whole, they
-merely "carried on" until ordered to "get
-out," or, in other words, be demobilised.
-Then, each with a highly-prized decoration
-and a gratuity of precisely the same
-amount as that given to an officer who
-had never served anywhere save at the
-Hotel Cecil, they found themselves literally
-on their feet, relegated to the limbo of
-civilian life. It was not long before they
-found how quickly their gratuities
-diminished. Like many other ex-members of
-His Majesty's Forces, they began to realise
-that in smashing the German menace
-they had helped to raise a menace at
-home--the greed and cupidity of the Profiteer.
-
-They were just two of thousands of skilled
-airmen for whom as such there was now
-no need. Commercial aviation had yet to
-be developed; trick flying and exhibition
-flights lead to nothing definite, and only a
-very small percentage of war-time airmen
-could be retained in the reconstituted Air Force.
-
-Kenyon and Bramsdean were not men
-to "take it lying down." They had pluck
-and resource and a determination to "get
-a move on," and within a twelvemonth
-of their demobilisation they found
-themselves partners and sole proprietors of a
-fairly prosperous road transport concern
-operating over the greater part of the South
-of England.
-
-But it wasn't the same thing as flying.
-Looking back over those strenuous years
-of active service, they remembered vividly
-the good times they had had, while the
-"sticky" times were mellowed until they
-could afford to laugh at those occasions
-when they "had the wind up badly."
-
-Then, with a suddenness akin to the
-arrival of a "whizz-bang," came a telegram
-from Sir Reginald Fosterdyke, asking the
-chums to see him on the morrow.
-
-Sir Reginald Fosterdyke had been
-Bramsdean's and Kenyon's O.C., or, to employ
-service phraseology, a Wing-Commander.
-On his demobilisation he went to live at Air
-Grange, a large old-world house standing
-on high ground, a good five miles from
-Blandford. Very rarely he left his
-country-house; his visits to town were few and far
-between, and his friends wondered at the
-reticence of the versatile and breezy
-Fosterdyke. He seldom wrote to anyone.
-When he did, his correspondence was brief
-and to the point. More frequently he
-telegraphed--and then he meant business.
-In pre-war days Air Grange was famous
-for its week-end house parties. The
-shooting, one of the best in the county of Dorset,
-was an additional source of attraction to
-Fosterdyke's guests. But the war, and
-afterwards, had changed all that. Few,
-very few, guests were to be found at Air
-Grange; the staff of servants was greatly
-reduced, the well-kept grounds developed
-a state of neglect. Sir Reginald's friends
-came to the conclusion that the baronet had
-become "mouldy." They wondered what
-possessed him to live an almost
-hermit-like existence. Fosterdyke knew their
-curiosity, but he merely shrugged his
-shoulders and "carried on." His work in
-the world of aviation was by no means
-ended. It might be said that it was yet
-a long way from attaining its zenith.
-
-Early on the morning following the
-receipt of the baronet's telegram Sir
-Reginald's car pulled up in front of the
-premises used as the headquarters of the
-Southern Roads Transport Company.
-Kenyon and Bramsdean, having given
-final instructions to their work's foreman--a
-former flight-sergeant R.A.F.--jumped
-into the car, and were soon whisking
-northwards at a speed that was considerably in
-excess of that fixed by the regulations.
-
-Although of a retiring disposition, Sir
-Reginald Fosterdyke had made a point of
-keeping in touch with his former officers.
-He had a sort of personal interest in every
-one of them, and on their part they regarded
-him as one of the best. Whenever, on rare
-occasions, Fosterdyke ran down to
-Bournemouth he invariably looked up Bramsdean
-and Kenyon to talk over old times. But
-being invited to Air Grange was quite a
-different matter. Vaguely, the chums
-wondered what it might mean, conjecturing
-ideas that somehow failed to be convincing.
-Yet they knew that there was "something
-in the wind." They knew Sir Reginald and
-his methods.
-
-Through Blandford, up and past the now
-deserted hutments where formerly German
-prisoners led an almost idyllic existence
-in their enemy's country, the car sped on
-until it gained the lofty downs in the
-direction of Shaftesbury. Then, turning up a
-steep and narrow lane, the car drew up at
-the gate of Air Grange.
-
-It had to. There was no gate-keeper to
-unlock and throw open the massive iron
-gates. That task the chauffeur had to
-perform, stopping the car again in order
-to make secure the outer portals of Sir
-Reginald's demesne.
-
-While the car remained stationary the
-two occupants looked in vain for a glimpse
-of the house. All they could see was a
-winding, weed-grown road, with a thick
-belt of pine trees on either hand. To the
-left of the road and under the lee of the
-trees were half a dozen wooden huts,
-unmistakably of a type known as temporary
-military quarters. Smoke issuing from the
-chimneys suggested the idea that they
-were in "occupation," and a couple of
-dungaree-clad men carrying a length of
-copper pipe on their shoulders confirmed
-the fact. Somewhere from behind the
-trees came the sharp rattle of a pneumatic
-drilling machine.
-
-Kenyon glanced at his companion.
-
-"What's the Old Man up to, I wonder?"
-he enquired. "Quite a labour colony.
-Look--air flasks too, by Jove!"
-
-A pile of rusty wrought-iron cylinders
-stacked on the grass by the side of the path
-recalled visions of by-gone days.
-
-"Something doing, that's evident,"
-agreed Bramsdean. "What's the stunt,
-and why are we hiked into it?"
-
-"Wait and see, old bird," replied Kenyon.
-
-The chauffeur regained the car and slipped
-in the clutch. For full another quarter of a
-mile the car climbed steadily, negotiating
-awkward corners in the rutty, winding path,
-until, emerging from the wood, it pulled up
-outside the house of Fosterdyke.
-
-No powdered footman awaited them.
-On the steps, clad in worn but serviceable
-tweeds, stood Sir Reginald Fosterdyke
-himself.
-
-The baronet--generally referred to by
-his former officers as the Old Man--was of
-medium height, broad-shouldered, and
-deep-chested. He was about thirty-five years
-of age, with well-bronzed features, clean
-shaven, and possessed a thick crop of
-closely-cut dark brown hair tinged with iron grey.
-
-He held out his left hand as Kenyon and
-Bramsdean ascended the stone steps--his
-right hand was enveloped in surgical
-bandages--and greeted his guests warmly.
-
-"Glad to see you, boys!" he exclaimed.
-"It's good of you to come. Have a glass
-of sherry?"
-
-He led the way to the study, rang a bell,
-and gave instructions to a man-servant
-whom Kenyon recognised as the O.C.'s
-batman somewhere in France.
-
-Sir Reginald sat on the edge of the table
-and whimsically regarded his former
-subordinates. At that moment, rising above the
-staccato rattle of the pneumatic hammer,
-came the unmistakable whirr of an aerial
-propeller. To Kenyon and Bramsdean it
-was much the same as a trumpet-call to an
-old war-horse.
-
-"Sounds like old times, eh?" remarked
-Sir Reginald.
-
-"Rather, sir," agreed Kenyon heartily,
-and, at a loss to express himself further,
-he relapsed into silence.
-
-"Experimental work, sir?" enquired Bramsdean.
-
-Fosterdyke nodded.
-
-"Yes," he replied in level tones. "Experimental
-work, that's it. That's why I
-sent for you. I'm contemplating a flight
-round the world. Keen on having a shot at it?"
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER II--FOSTERDYKE EXPLAINS
-===============================
-
-The two chums were not in the least taken
-aback with the announcement. They knew
-the way of their late O.C. On active service
-Fosterdyke was in the habit of issuing
-orders for certain operations to be
-performed without apparently considering
-the magnitude or the danger of the
-undertaking. The officer or man to whom the
-order was given almost invariably executed
-it promptly. In the few cases where
-the individual instructed to carry out a
-"stunt" failed to rise to the occasion, that
-was an end of him as far as his service
-under Wing Commander Sir Reginald
-Fosterdyke went. Fosterdyke had no use
-for faint-hearted subordinates.
-
-On the other hand, Kenyon and Bramsdean
-were astonished at being invited to
-take part in what promised to be the
-biggest aerial undertaking ever
-contemplated. After nearly two years "on the
-ground" the prospect of "going up"
-seemed too good to be true.
-
-"Business difficulties, perhaps?"
-hazarded Fosterdyke, noting the faint signs
-of hesitation on the part of the two chums.
-"Think it over. But I suppose you'd
-like to have a few particulars of the stunt
-before committing yourselves?"
-
-"I think it could be arranged, sir,"
-replied Kenyon. "As regards our little show,
-we could leave it to our head foreman.
-He's a steady-going fellow and all that sort
-of thing. It's merely a question of a
-month, I suppose?"
-
-"Less than that. Twenty days, to give a
-time limit," declared the baronet. "Either
-twenty days or--*phut*! However, I'll
-outline the salient features of the scheme.
-
-"Like a good many others, it arose out
-of an almost trivial incident--a bet with
-an American Air Staff officer whom I met
-in London just after the Yankee seaplane
-NC4 flew across the Atlantic--or rather
-hopped across. Without detracting from
-the merits of the stupendous undertaking,
-it must be remembered that the seaplane
-was escorted the whole way, and alighted
-several times *en route*. The Yankee--General
-U. B. Outed is his name--offered to
-bet anyone $50,000 that an American
-aircraft would be the first to circumnavigate
-the globe.
-
-"Half a dozen of us took him on; not
-that we could afford to throw away an
-equivalent to ten thousand pounds, but
-because we had sufficient faith in the Old
-Country to feel assured that the accomplishment
-of a flight round the world would be
-the work of a British owned and flown machine.
-
-"Shortly after the wager was accepted
-came the news that R34 had flown from
-East Fortune to New York in 108 hours,
-making the return journey in 76 hours.
-That rather staggered General Outed, I
-fancy, and he had a greater shock when
-Alcock and Brown covered nearly 2,000
-miles between Newfoundland and Ireland
-without a single stop.
-
-"Things from a British aviation point
-of view looked particularly rosy; then for
-some obscure reason our Air Board appeared
-to let the whole matter of aerial navigation
-slide, or, at any rate they gave no encouragement.
-The big dirigibles were dismantled
-and sold; powerful aeroplanes were
-scrapped, air-stations were closed, and in a
-parsimonious wave of retrenchment even
-our old Royal Air Force was threatened
-with ignominious relegation to a corps under
-the control of the War Office.
-
-"About three months ago a wealthy
-Swiss--a M. Chauvasse--who had made a
-pile in the United States, offered a prize
-to the value in British money of £25,000
-to be given to the first airman to
-circumnavigate the globe, either in a lighter or a
-heavier than air machine. The prize is
-open to all comers, and already a Yankee
-and a German have announced their
-intention of competing."
-
-"A Hun!" exclaimed Kenyon. "I
-thought that Fritz, under the terms of the
-armistice, had to surrender all his aircraft."
-
-"But he hasn't," remarked Fosterdyke,
-drily. "Nor is he likely to; and if the
-Allies haven't the means to enforce the
-terms, that's not my affair. If a Hun does
-compete, let him. That's my view.
-Providing he doesn't resort to any of his dirty
-tricks, there's no valid reason why the door
-should be banged in his face. Because he's
-down and out is no reason why we should
-continue to sit on him. Commercially, I
-regard German goods as a means to reduce
-the present extortionate prices of things in
-England. I'm no believer in dumping, I
-never was; but if our manufacturers
-cannot compete with the products of a country
-beaten in war and torn by internal troubles,
-then there's something wrong somewhere.
-But I am digressing.
-
-"Briefly, the terms of the contest are as
-follows: any type of machine or engine
-can be employed, and as many descents
-as are necessary to replenish fuel and stores.
-A start can be made from any place chosen
-by the competitor, but the machine must
-finish at the same spot within twenty days.
-Again, any route can be chosen, so that full
-advantage can be taken of existing air
-stations, but--and this is a vital point--in
-order to fairly circumnavigate the globe,
-competitors must pass within one degree
-of a position immediately opposite the
-starting-point. Do you follow me?"
-
-"What is known in navigation as Great
-Circle Sailing," replied Bramsdean. "If a
-start is made somewhere on the 50th
-parallel North, the halfway time will be
-somewhere 50 degrees South, with a
-difference of 180 degrees of longitude."
-
-"That's it," agreed Sir Reginald. "Now
-the difficulty arises where to find two
-suitable places answering to these
-conditions. With the exception of a small part
-of Cornwall the whole of Great Britain lies
-north of latitude 50.... Therefore, to
-reach the 50th parallel in the Southern
-Hemisphere would mean making a position
-far south'ard of New Zealand--where, I
-take it, there are no facilities for landing
-and taking in petrol.
-
-"Nor is the vast extent of the United
-States any better off in that respect. I
-think I am right in saying that there is
-no habitable land diametrically opposite to
-any place in Uncle Sam's Republic."
-
-Fosterdyke produced a small globe from
-a corner of the room in order to confirm his
-statement.
-
-"And the old Boche is a jolly sight worse
-off," said Kenyon. "I don't suppose any
-British Dominion will tolerate him. It's
-certain he won't be allowed to fly over any
-Allied fortress, so where is he?"
-
-"Paying the penalty for his misdeeds,"
-replied Sir Reginald, grimly. "It's not
-exactly a case of *vae victis*. If he'd played
-his game, he would have taken his licking
-with a better grace because it wouldn't
-have hurt him so much."
-
-"How many competitors are there for
-the Chauvasse Stakes, sir?" asked Bramsdean.
-
-"A Yank, a Hun, and myself," replied
-Fosterdyke. "That is, up to the present.
-For some reason the idea hasn't caught on
-with our fellows. Probably there'll be a
-rush of entries later on--perhaps too late.
-I'll show you my little craft; but before doing
-so I'll give you a few details of the contest.
-
-"My idea is to start from Gibraltar--for
-the actual race, of course. I'll have to
-take my airship there, but that's a mere
-detail. Why Gibraltar? Here's an
-encyclopædia, Kenyon. Look up the position
-of Gib."
-
-"Lat. 36° 6' N.; long. 5° 21' W.,"
-replied Kenyon, after consulting the work.
-
-"And the antipodes of Gib. would be
-lat. 36° 6' S.; long. 174° 39' E.," continued the
-baronet. "The longitude, of course, being
-easily determined by adding 180 to that of
-Gibraltar. Now the next thing to be done
-(as a matter of fact I've determined it
-already) is to find a habitable spot
-approximating to the second set of figures. Look
-up Auckland, Kenyon."
-
-"Auckland is lat. 36° 52' S.;
-long. 174° 46' E.," replied Kenneth. "Why,
-that's less than a degree either way."
-
-"Exactly," agreed Fosterdyke. "The
-next point is to determine the air route
-between the two places, so as to make the
-best of the prevailing winds. When one
-has to maintain an average speed of fifty
-miles an hour for twenty days the
-advantage of a following wind cannot be
-ignored."
-
-"Your 'bus'll do more than that, sir,"
-remarked Peter Bramsdean.
-
-"She'll do two hundred an hour,"
-declared the baronet, emphatically. "I
-haven't had a trial spin yet, but she'll
-come up to my expectations. It's the
-stops that lower the average. Naturally
-I mean to take the east to west course. It
-means a saving of twenty-four hours. If
-I took the reverse direction, I'd be a day
-to the bad on returning to the starting-point.
-The actual course I'll have to work
-out later. That's where I want expert
-assistance. Also I want the aid of a
-couple of experienced navigators. And so
-that's why I sent for you."
-
-"We're on it," declared both chums.
-
-"I thought as much," rejoined
-Fosterdyke with a smile. "There's one thing I
-ought to make clear--the matter of terms."
-
-Kenyon made a deprecatory gesture.
-
-"Not so fast, Kenyon," protested his
-chief. "It's a rock-bottom proposition.
-Twenty-five per cent. of the prize if we
-are successful is your collective share. If
-we fail, then I'm broke--absolutely. I've
-sunk my last penny into the concern,
-because I'm hanged if I'm going to sit still
-and let a foreigner be the first to make an
-aerial circumnavigation of the globe. Now
-let me introduce you to the airship 'Golden Hind.'"
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER III--THE "GOLDEN HIND"
-==============================
-
-"Appropriate name the 'Golden Hind,'"
-remarked Bramsdean, as the three
-ex-R.A.F. officers made their way towards the
-concealed hangar. "That's what Drake's ship
-was called, and he was the first Englishman
-to circumnavigate the world."
-
-"Yes," replied Fosterdyke. "We must
-take it as an augury that this 'Golden Hind'
-will do in the air what her namesake did
-on the sea."
-
-"Not in every respect, I hope," said
-Kenneth Kenyon, with a laugh. "Drake
-did a considerable amount of filibustering
-on his voyage, I believe."
-
-"Ah, yes," answered Sir Reginald.
-"Those were good old days. Now left,"
-he added. "Mind yourselves, the brambles
-are a bit dangerous."
-
-Turning off the grass-grown road and
-down a side path, the two chums found
-themselves entering a dense thicket that formed
-an outer fringe of the pine wood.
-
-"Short cut," remarked Fosterdyke,
-laconically. "Now, there you are."
-
-A glade in the woods revealed the end
-of a lofty corrugated iron shed, the hangar
-in which the "Golden Hind" was fast
-approaching completion. The baronet
-"knew his way about." He knew how to
-deal with the dictatorial and often
-completely muddled officials who ran the Surplus
-Disposals Board, and had succeeded in
-obtaining, at a comparatively low cost, a
-practically new airship shed, together with
-an enormous quantity of material.
-
-"Now tell me what you think of her,"
-he said, throwing open a small door in the
-rear end of the building.
-
-Kenyon and Bramsdean paused in
-astonishment at what they saw. The "Golden
-Hind" was neither airship nor aeroplane in
-the strict sense of the word, but a hybrid
-embodying the salient features of both.
-The fuselage, constructed almost entirely of
-aluminium, was a full 120 feet in length, and
-enclosed so as to form a series of cabins or
-compartments. Amidships these attained
-a beam of 15 feet, tapering fore and aft
-until the end compartments terminated in a
-sharp wedge. Wherever there were observation
-windows they were "glazed" with light
-but tough fire-proof celluloid, sufficiently
-strong to withstand wind-pressure.
-
-On either side of the hull, as Fosterdyke
-termed it, were six planes arranged in pairs,
-each being 30 feet in fore and aft direction,
-and projecting 25 feet from the side of the
-fuselage. Thus the total breadth of the
-"Golden Hind" was well under 60 feet. On
-angle brackets rising obliquely from the
-fuselage were six large aluminium propellers,
-chain-driven by means of six 350-h.p. motors.
-
-"Some power there," remarked Kenyon,
-enthusiastically.
-
-"Rather," agreed Sir Reginald. "Sufficient
-to lift her independently of the gas-bag,
-while in the unlikely event of the motors
-giving out there is enough lifting power in
-the envelope to keep her up for an indefinite
-period. Did you notice the small propellers
-in the wake of the large ones?"
-
-"Yes, sir," replied Bramsdean. "Left-handed blades."
-
-"Precisely," agreed Fosterdyke. "They
-work on the same shaft, only in a reverse
-direction. It's a little stunt of mine to
-utilise the eddies in the wake of the main
-propellers. Yes, petrol-driven. I tried to
-find an ideal fuel, one that is non-inflammable
-or practically so, except in compression;
-but that's done me so far. There's a huge
-fortune awaiting the chemist who succeeds
-in producing a liquid capable of conforming
-to these conditions. I even made a
-cordite-fired motor once--something on the
-Maxim-gun principle, fed by cordite grains from a
-hopper. It did splendidly as far as developing
-power was concerned, but the difficulty
-of excessive consumption and the pitting of
-the walls of the cylinder did me. However,
-my experiments haven't all been failures.
-Now look at the gas-bag."
-
-"It's only partly inflated," observed Peter.
-
-"No, fully," corrected Fosterdyke. "The
-envelope is a rigid one of aluminium,
-subdivided into forty-nine compartments, each
-of which contains a flexible ballonet. Each
-ballonet is theoretically proof against
-leakage--in practice there is an almost
-inappreciable porosity, which hardly counts for a
-comparatively short period, say a month.
-The gas isn't hydrogen, nor is it the helium
-we used during the war. Helium, although
-practically non-inflammable, is heavier than
-hydrogen. Fortunately, I hit upon a rather
-smart youngster who had been in a
-Government laboratory before he joined the R.A.F.
-With his assistance I discovered a gas that
-is not only lighter than hydrogen, but is as
-non-inflammable as helium. I've named
-the stuff 'Brodium,' after the youngster
-who helped me so efficaciously. When this
-stunt's over, we're going to work the gas on
-a commercial basis, but for the present it's
-advisable to keep it a secret.
-
-"You observe that the section of the
-envelope is far from being circular. The
-horizontal diameter is three-and-a-half times
-that of the vertical. That gives less surface
-for a side wind, and consequently less drift,
-while the 'cod's head and mackerel tail'
-ought to give a perfect stream-line."
-
-"You carry a pretty stiff lot of fuel with
-those motors," remarked Kenyon.
-
-"Rather," was the reply. "Enough for
-5000 miles; which means, allowing for
-deviations from a straight uniform course,
-about six halts to replenish petrol tanks.
-We carry no water ballast of any description.
-When the fuel supply runs low, there is a
-tendency for the airship to rise, owing to
-the reduced weight. To counteract this, a
-certain quantity of brodium is exhausted
-from the ballonets into cast-iron cylinders,
-where it is stored under pressure until
-required again. The leakage during this
-operation is less than one-half per cent.
-Now we'll get on board."
-
-Past groups of busy workmen the three
-ex-officers made their way. Both Kenyon
-and Bramsdean noticed that the men
-worked as if they had an interest in what
-they were doing. Several they recognised
-as being in the same "Flight" in which
-they had served on the other side of the Channel.
-
-"Like old times," said Kenyon in a low voice.
-
-"Rather, old son," agreed his chum.
-
-They boarded the "Golden Hind," where
-workmen were putting finishing touches to
-the interior decorations of the cabins. The
-floor was composed of rigid aluminium plates,
-corrugated in order to provide a firm
-foothold, and temporarily covered with sacking
-to prevent undue wear upon the relatively
-soft metal.
-
-The door--one of the four--by which they
-entered was on the port side aft. It opened
-into a saloon 20 feet by 7 feet, which in
-turn communicated with a fore-and-aft
-alley-way extending almost the extreme length
-of the fuselage.
-
-"We'll start right aft and work for'ard,"
-said Fosterdyke. "If you can suggest any
-alterations in the internal fittings, let me
-know. It often happens that a new arrival
-spots something that the original designer
-has overlooked."
-
-"Must have taken some thinking out,
-sir," remarked Bramsdean.
-
-"M'yes," agreed Sir Reginald. "I'm
-afraid I spent some sleepless nights over
-the business. This is my cabin."
-
-The chums found themselves in a
-compartment measuring 15 feet in a fore-and-aft
-direction and 10 feet across the for'ard
-bulkhead, the width diminishing to the
-rounded end of the nacelle. It was plainly
-furnished. A canvas cot, a folding table,
-and two camp chairs comprising the principal
-contents. The large windows with celluloid
-panes afforded a wide outlook, while should
-the atmospheric conditions be favourable,
-the windows opened after the manner of
-those in a railway carriage.
-
-Retracing their steps, the chums inspected
-the motors immediately for'ard of the
-owner's cabin. Each was in a compartment
-measuring 10 feet by 6 feet, leaving
-an uninterrupted alley-way nearly 3 feet in
-length between.
-
-"The fuel and oil tanks are underneath
-the alley-way," Fosterdyke pointed out.
-"I'm using pressure-feed in preference to
-gravity-feed. It keeps the centre of gravity
-lower. What do you think of the engines?"
-
-"Clinking little motors," replied Kenyon,
-enthusiastically, as he studied the spotlessly
-clean mechanism with professional interest.
-
-"There are six motor rooms, three on
-each side," observed the baronet. "I'm
-taking twelve motor-mechanics to be on the
-safe side. When we are running free, one
-man will look after two engines, but in any
-case half the number will be off-duty at a
-time. Now, this is your cabin."
-
-He opened a sliding-door on the port side,
-corresponding with the officers' dining-room
-on the starboard side. It was a compartment
-20 feet by 6 feet 6 inches, with a bunk
-at each end running athwartships, and as
-plainly furnished as the owner's quarters.
-
-"Heaps of room," declared Bramsdean,
-"and warming apparatus, too."
-
-"Yes," replied Fosterdyke, "we had
-the exhausts led under the cabins.
-Nothing like keeping warm at high altitudes.
-Warmth and good food--that's more than
-half the battle. See this ladder?"
-
-He indicated a metal ladder in the alley-way,
-clamped vertically to the outer wall
-of the cabin.
-
-"Leads through that hatchway," he
-continued, "right to the upper surface of
-the envelope. There's an observation
-platform--useful to take stellar observations
-and all that sort of thing. But you won't
-find a machine-gun there," he added with
-a laugh.
-
-Passing between the 'midship pair of
-motor-rooms, Fosterdyke halted in a
-door-way on the port side.
-
-"Pantry and kitchen," he remarked.
-
-"I'm taking a couple of good cooks. All
-the stoves are electrically heated. There's
-a dynamo working off the main shaft of
-each of the 'midship motors. The
-starboard one provides 'juice' for the kitchen;
-that on the port generates electricity for
-the searchlights and internal lighting.
-Underneath are fresh water tanks and dry
-provision stores."
-
-On the port side corresponding to the
-kitchen were the air-mechanics' quarters;
-while beyond the for'ard motor room the
-alley-way terminated, opening into a triangular
-space 30 feet long and 12 feet at its
-greatest breadth.
-
-"The crew's quarters," explained
-Fosterdyke. "Ample accommodation for eight
-deck-hands and the two cooks. You'll
-notice that the head-room is less than
-elsewhere. That's because of the
-navigation-room overhead."
-
-The chums looked upwards at the ceiling.
-There was no indication of a hatchway of
-any description.
-
-"You gain the navigation-room from the
-alley-way," explained Sir Reginald, noting
-their puzzled glances. "Saves the
-inconvenience of disturbing the 'watch below'
-by having to pass through their quarters.
-Up with you, Kenyon. Thank your lucky
-stars you're not a bulky fellow. Mind
-your head against that girder."
-
-Bramsdean followed his chum, the
-baronet bringing up the rear.
-
-The combined chart-room and navigation
-compartment was spacious in extent, but
-considerably congested with an intricate
-array of levers, telephones, indicators,
-switches, and a compact wireless cabinet.
-In the centre was a table with clamps to
-hold a large-size chart. Right "in the
-eyes of the ship" was a gyroscopic compass,
-which, by reason of the needle pointing to
-the true, instead of the magnetic, north pole,
-greatly simplified steering a course, since
-those complicated factors, variation and
-deviation, were eliminated. Altimeters,
-heeling indicators, barometer, thermometer,
-and chronometer, with other scientific
-instruments, completed the equipment of
-the room, which was in telephonic
-communication with every part of the airship.
-
-From the car the three men ascended to
-the interior of the envelope, climbing by
-means of aluminium rungs bolted to the
-flexible shaft. Once inside the rigid
-envelope, it was possible to walk the whole
-five hundred feet length of the airship along a
-narrow platform. From the latter crossways
-ran at frequent intervals so that access
-could be obtained to any of the ballonets.
-
-The interior reeked of the strong but not
-obnoxious fumes of the brodium.
-
-"Leak somewhere," remarked Kenyon,
-sniffing audibly.
-
-"Yes," agreed Fosterdyke, "one of
-the supply pipes gave out this morning;
-otherwise you wouldn't know by the sense
-of smell that the envelope was fully charged."
-
-He struck a match and held it aloft.
-It burned with a pale green flame.
-
-"I wouldn't care to do this with
-hydrogen," he remarked. "Non-inflammability
-of the gas practically does away with
-all risk. When you recall the numerous
-accidents to aircraft in the earlier stages of
-the war, you will find that in over eighty
-per cent. they were caused by combustion.
-Of course I'm referring to disasters other
-than those caused directly by enemy action.
-Now, carry on; up you go ... no, hold
-on," he added, as a bell rang shrilly just
-above their heads.
-
-"One of the workmen coming down,"
-said Fosterdyke. "Opening a flap at the top
-of this shaft automatically rings an alarm,
-otherwise anyone ascending might stand
-the risk of being kicked on the head by the
-feet of someone else descending."
-
-"By Jove! I know that chap!"
-exclaimed Kenyon, after the mechanic had
-descended the long vertical ladder.
-
-"Yes, it's Flight-sergeant Hayward,"
-added Bramsdean. "He got the D.C.M.
-for downing two Boche 'planes over Bapaume."
-
-"That's right," agreed the baronet.
-"Jolly fine mechanic he is, too. Do you
-happen to know how he came to join the
-Royal Flying Corps? No; then I'll let
-you into a secret. It was in '16 that he
-enlisted. Previous to that he was a
-conscientious objector, and, I believe, a genuine
-one at that. What caused him to change
-his opinions was rather remarkable. Do
-you remember that Zepp raid over
-Lancashire? Hayward was driving a
-motor-lorry that night somewhere up in the hills
-north of Manchester; a bomb fell in the
-road some yards behind him and blew the
-back of his lorry to bits. He came off
-with a shaking and a changed outlook on
-life. Next morning he joined up. Yes,
-Hayward's quite a good sort; he's been
-invaluable to me."
-
-"Had any trouble from inquisitive
-outsiders, sir?" asked Kenyon.
-
-"No, none whatever," replied Fosterdyke.
-"Touch wood. People in the village
-hereabouts have seen enough aircraft during
-the war to take the edge off their curiosity.
-As for our rival competitors, well, if they
-can pick up a wrinkle or two it will make
-the contest even more exciting."
-
-"If we succeed there'll be a stir," said
-Bramsdean.
-
-"Yes," agreed the baronet; "it's the
-first who scores in these undertakings.
-See what a fuss was made when the
-Atlantic was first flown by aeroplanes. If
-the feat were repeated, not a fraction of
-public interest would be directed to it.
-The novelty has gone, as it were. Even
-interest in the flight to Australia--in itself
-an epic of courage, skill, and determination--was
-limited. Sensations of yesterday
-become mediocrities of to-day. For instance
-Blériot's flight from France to England:
-see what an outburst of excitement that
-caused. Since then thousands of machines
-have crossed the Channel without exciting
-comment. Now I think I've shown you
-everything that is to be seen. How about lunch?"
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER IV--THE DEPARTURE
-=========================
-
-"Will next Monday suit you fellows to
-take on officially?" enquired Fosterdyke,
-as the chums prepared to depart. "I want
-a trial flight on that day, and if it proves
-satisfactory, I'll make a formal entry at
-once. M. Chauvasse stipulates that all
-entries must reach him in writing by noon
-on the thirtieth. That leaves us with only
-eight days clear."
-
-"Monday it is, sir," replied Kenyon,
-promptly. "We'll have everything fixed
-up as far as our private business is
-concerned before then. In fact, we could
-arrange to join earlier--couldn't we, Peter?"
-
-Peter Bramsdean signified his agreement.
-
-"Hardly necessary," observed Fosterdyke.
-"But if anything unforeseen transpires
-before then I'll wire you."
-
-During the next few days there was much
-to be done in "squaring up" the motor
-transport work. Notices were issued
-stating that the principals, Messrs. Kenyon
-and Bramsdean, would be away for six
-weeks, during which time all orders could
-be safely entrusted to their works manager.
-Even that individual had no inkling of
-the nature of his employers' forthcoming
-absence. The secret, jealously guarded,
-had not yet leaked out.
-
-On the other hand, the Press published a
-report of M. Chauvasse's offer and stated
-that three entries other than British had
-been received. The lack of enterprise on
-the part of British airmen was commented
-upon and an appeal issued to sportsmen to
-make an effort to prevent yet another
-record passing into the hands of foreigners.
-
-On the day following this journalistic
-jeremiad came the report that a British
-airship of unique design was approaching
-completion at a private aerodrome near
-Blandford, and that the Air Ministry had
-given instructions for all facilities to be
-afforded to its crew in their attempt to
-circumnavigate the globe within a space of
-twenty days. Details, both erroneous and
-exaggerated, were given of the mysterious
-airship, together with plans that were as
-unlike those of the "Golden Hind" as
-those of a modern dreadnought would be
-compared with those of Drake's famous ship.
-
-"That will rattle the Old Man," declared
-Kenyon, when he read the announcement.
-
-It did. Fosterdyke sent a wire asking
-his two assistants to join him at once. That
-was on the Friday morning. At 2.30 P.M.--or
-in Air Force phraseology 14.30--Kenyon
-and Bramsdean arrived at Air Grange, to
-find a vast concourse of would-be spectators
-congregated round the gates, backing up
-the efforts of a knot of persistent Pressmen
-who cajoled, bluffed, and argued--all in
-vain--with the imperturbable Hayward
-and four hefty satellites.
-
-The grassy slopes outside the formidable
-fence resembled Epsom Downs on Derby
-Day. Momentarily motor-cars were
-arriving, while at frequent intervals heavily
-laden char-a-bancs rumbled up and
-discharged their human cargo. Motor-bicycles,
-push-bikes, traps and carts added
-to the congestion. Thousands of people
-arrived on foot--from where goodness only
-knows! Hawkers and itinerant purveyors
-displayed their wares; photographers, both
-amateur and professional, elbowed their way
-towards the forbidden ground; while three
-brass bands and at least a dozen individual
-musicians added to the din. On the
-outskirts temporary platforms had been erected,
-while hirers of telescopes, field and opera
-glasses did a roaring trade, people willingly
-paying to gaze at the impenetrable barrier of
-fir-trees in the vain hope of catching a
-glimpse of the mysterious airship.
-
-It took Kenyon and Bramsdean the best
-part of an hour to literally force their way
-through the throng. By dint of shouting
-"Gangway, please," they continued to
-make a certain amount of progress until
-their arrival, coupled with the ex-sergeant's
-efforts to make the crowd stand aside,
-attracted the attention of the
-representatives of the Press.
-
-For five minutes the latter bombarded
-the chums with questions, getting
-inconsequent replies that put the reporters on
-their mettle.
-
-"If we aren't allowed in, we'll take jolly
-good care you won't be," shouted one of
-the Press representatives, evidently
-mistaking Peter and Kenneth for favoured
-spectators.
-
-There was a rush towards the gates. The
-half a dozen policemen assisting Hayward
-and his men were almost swept off their
-feet. Things looked serious. If Kenyon
-and his companion succeeded in getting past
-the gate it would only be in the midst of
-an excited mob.
-
-Just then Sir Reginald Fosterdyke
-appeared. Some of the local inhabitants
-recognised him, and the report of his
-identity quickly spread. So when he raised his
-hand to enjoin silence the crowd surging
-around the gate ceased its clamour.
-
-"By preventing my navigating officers
-you only defer your own ends," he
-exclaimed in ringing tones. "The airship
-is not yet ready for flight, nor is she open
-to inspection. A trial flight has been
-fixed for Monday next. On that day the
-aerodrome will be thrown open to public
-inspection. And," he added, with a
-disarming smile, "there will be no charge for
-admission."
-
-Almost instantly the demeanour of the
-crowd changed. There were calls for cheers
-for Sir Reginald Fosterdyke. Someone
-started singing: "For he's a jolly good fellow."
-
-The baronet turned and hurried away
-precipitately. Publicity he hated.
-Kenneth and Peter, taking advantage of this
-diversion, slipped inside the barrier and
-found Fosterdyke awaiting them beyond
-the bend of the carriage drive.
-
-"Good old British public," he exclaimed.
-"By Jove! They put the wind up me. I
-thought that they would be swarming like
-locusts over the 'Golden Hind.' We'll
-have to circumvent them. Only last night
-some of the crew found a fellow prowling
-round the shed. Goodness only knows
-what for. He pitched some sort of yarn,
-and since we aren't under the Defence of
-the Realm Act I couldn't detain him. But
-this crowd scares me. We'll get out
-to-night, even if we have to drift, and they can
-have the run of the place on Monday, as I
-promised. But I said nothing about the
-airship being here or otherwise. Where's
-your kit?"
-
-"Somewhere between here and Blandford
-railway station," replied Peter. "We
-saw we'd have our work cut out to force
-our way through, so we told the taxi-driver
-to take it back to the station. It isn't the
-first time we've parted with our kit, eh,
-Kenneth?"
-
-"I'll send for it when the crowd thins,"
-decided Sir Reginald. "Now I suppose
-you're wondering why I telegraphed for you?"
-
-"The swarm outside offers a solution," said Kenyon.
-
-"To a certain extent, yes," agreed
-Fosterdyke. "Apart from that, there's a reliable
-report that Captain Theodore Nye, of the
-United States Army, is starting from Tampa,
-Florida, to-morrow in one of the large
-airships of the 'R' type that the Air Ministry
-sold to America recently. That forces our
-hand. We'll have to be at the
-starting-point--1100 miles away--by to-morrow
-mid-day, so as to replenish petrol and commence
-the competition flight before midnight."
-
-"And how about the Boche, sir?"
-
-"Count Karl von Sinzig? Not a word.
-He's apparently out of it. Not even one
-of the 'also rans.' Our formidable rivals
-are the Yankee and a Jap--a Count Hyashi--who
-will reach his Nadir somewhere in
-Uruguay. Let 'em all come--the more
-the merrier."
-
-All hands, including the workmen and
-mechanics who were not participating in the
-voyage, assembled in the large dining-hall
-for an impromptu farewell dinner, and to
-them the baronet broached the subject of the
-hurried departure of the "Golden Hind."
-
-The meal over, the task of getting the
-huge airship out of her shed began. Even
-though the wind was light the work was by
-no means simple. Incautious handling or
-a sudden change in the direction of the air
-currents might easily result in disaster.
-The operation had to be carried out after
-sunset and with the minimum of artificial
-light, since, for the present, the "Golden
-Hind's" departure was to be kept secret.
-
-With her ballonets charged sufficiently
-to give her a slight lift, the airship rose
-until the base of the fuselage was a bare
-three feet from the ground. The crew
-were at their stations, Kenyon assisting
-Fosterdyke in the wheelhouse, while right
-aft Peter Bramsdean directed the
-movements of the "ground-men" holding the
-stern, securing, and trailing ropes.
-
-Inch by inch, foot by foot, the leviathan
-of the air emerged from the shed until her
-entire length, straining gently at the rope
-that tethered her to mother earth, lay
-exposed to the starlit sky.
-
-"All clear, sir!" reported Bramsdean
-through a speaking-tube.
-
-Curt but precise orders rang out from the
-navigation-room. The slight hiss of the
-brodium being released from the metal
-cylinders was barely audible above the
-sighing of the wind in the pine-tops until
-the gauges registering the "lift" of the
-airship indicated thirty-eight tons.
-
-Armed with a megaphone, Fosterdyke
-leant out of the window of the navigation-room.
-
-"All ready? ... Let go!"
-
-Simultaneously the twenty men holding
-the airship released their hold. That was
-where training and discipline told, for
-terrible to contemplate would have been
-the fate of an unwary "ground-man" had
-he retained his grip on the rope. But
-without an accident to mar the momentous
-event, the "Golden Hind" shot almost
-vertically into the air, attaining in a very
-short space of time an altitude of six
-thousand feet.
-
-Not a cheer rang out to speed the
-departing competitor for the stupendous contest.
-Unheard and unseen save by the loyal band
-of helpers at the aerodrome, Sir Reginald
-Fosterdyke's airship was on her way to the
-starting-point of her voyage round the globe.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER V--FIRST AWAY
-=====================
-
-Hanging apparently motionless in still air,
-although virtually she was drifting in a
-southerly direction at a modest ten miles
-an hour, the "Golden Hind" maintained
-her altitude for the best part of half an
-hour before any attempt was made to start
-the motors. She was now to all intents
-and purposes a non-dirigible balloon,
-floating aimlessly in the air.
-
-Peter Bramsdean, his work aft
-accomplished, made his way to the
-navigation-room, where he found the baronet and
-Kenyon watching the galaxy of lights far
-beneath them.
-
-"We're drifting over Poole Harbour,"
-observed Fosterdyke. "That's prohibited
-for private owned aircraft; but who's to know?"
-
-"I often wonder what would happen,"
-said Peter, "if a non-dirigible drifted over
-a prohibited area. Hang it all! The
-balloonist couldn't control the wind, neither
-can the Air Ministry, so what's the poor
-fellow to do?"
-
-From their lofty post of observation the
-officers of the "Golden Hind" could see
-the coast-line standing out distinctly in the
-starlight. Away to the south-east the
-powerful St. Catherine's Light threw its
-beam athwart the sky in a succession of
-flashes every five seconds. Nearer, but less
-distinct, could be seen the distinctive lights
-of The Needles and Hurst Castle. Then a
-curved line of glittering pin-points--the
-esplanade lamps of Bournemouth. To the
-south-west the lesser glare of Swanage and
-beyond the glow of Anvil Point Lighthouse.
-Lesser lights, like myriads of glow-worms,
-denoted scattered towns, villages, and
-detached houses ashore, while right ahead
-and for the most part visible only by the
-aid of binoculars, could be discerned the
-red, green, and white navigation lights of
-shipping passing up and down the Channel.
-
-The three men watched the nocturnal
-panorama almost without emotion. The
-sight would have moved a novice into
-raptures of delight, but to the veteran
-airmen there was little new, except perhaps
-that in the place of star-shells, searchlights,
-"flaming-onions," and exploding shrapnel
-were the lights of a nation once more at
-peace with her neighbours even if not so
-with herself.
-
-Fosterdyke glanced at a clock set upon
-the bulkhead.
-
-"Time!" he announced laconically.
-
-Indicators clanged in various parts of
-the ship. Within a few seconds the six
-motors, started by compressed air, were
-roaring. Swaying slightly under the
-resistance of the gas-bag overhead, the airship
-gathered way. In place of complete calm
-came the rush and whine of the wind as the
-"Golden Hind" leapt forward.
-
-"May as well be on the safe side,"
-remarked Fosterdyke. "Switch on the
-navigation lights, Kenyon. I don't fancy
-another 'bus barging into us."
-
-He gave an order through a voice tube.
-Promptly one of the crew appeared from
-below.
-
-"Take her, Taylor," said the skipper,
-indicating the helm. "Following
-wind--no drift. Course S. ¾ W."
-
-"S. ¾ W. it is, sir," repeated the man,
-peering into the bowl of the gyroscope compass.
-
-"Now, you bright beauties, take my tip
-and turn in," said Fosterdyke, addressing
-Peter and Kenneth. "There won't be
-much doing to-night, I hope, so you may
-as well make the best of things. If you'll
-relieve me at four, Kenyon? ... Good."
-
-The chums left the navigation-room and
-made their way to their cabin. Here,
-although adjoining one of the motor-rooms,
-there was comparatively little vibration,
-but the noise was considerable.
-
-"We'll get used to it," observed Peter,
-as he proceeded to unpack his luggage,
-which had been brought from Blandford
-station and put on board only a few minutes
-before the "Golden Hind" parted company
-with terra firma. "Seems like old times.
-Hanged if I thought I'd ever be up again."
-
-"Between ourselves I'd prefer a 'bus,"
-confided Kenyon. "Doesn't seem quite
-the right thing being held up by a gas-bag."
-
-"Be thankful for small mercies, you old
-blighter!" exclaimed his companion. "Turn
-in as sharp as you can, 'cause it's your
-watch in four hours' time."
-
-It seemed less than ten minutes before
-Kenyon was awakened. His first
-impression was that he was being roused by
-his batman, and that illusion was heightened
-by the fact that the man held a cup of tea.
-
-"Ten to four, sir," announced the
-airman. "I've made you something hot."
-
-Kenneth thanked the man, drank the tea,
-and slipped out of his bunk. He was aware
-as he donned his clothes that the "Golden
-Hind" was pitching considerably. Peter,
-sound asleep, was breathing deeply. There
-was a smile on his face; evidently his
-dreams were pleasant ones.
-
-On his way for'ard Kenyon stopped to
-exchange a few words with the air-mechanic
-tending the two after motors.
-
-"Running like clocks, sir," replied the
-man in answer to Kenneth's enquiry. "If
-things go on as they are going now, I'm on
-a soft job."
-
-The first streaks of dawn were showing
-in the north-eastern sky as the relieving
-pilot clambered up the ladder and gained
-the navigation-room. Fosterdyke, busy
-with parallel rulers and compass was
-bending over a chart.
-
-"Mornin'," he remarked genially, when
-he became aware of the presence of his
-relief. "Everything O.K. Doing eighty,
-and there's a stiff following wind--force
-five. Altitude 5500, course S. ¾ W.
-That's the lot, I think. We ought to
-be sighting the Spanish coast in another
-twenty minutes."
-
-Fosterdyke waited until the helmsman
-had been relieved, then, giving another
-glance ahead, he turned to Kenyon.
-
-"We passed something going in a westerly
-direction at 1.15 A.M.," he announced.
-"An airship flying fairly low. About 2000,
-I should think."
-
-"Not a competitor, sir?"
-
-"Hardly. No one but a born fool would
-think of taking a westerly course round the
-earth if engaged in a race against time. We
-were passing over Belle Isle, on the French
-coast, at the time, and it rather puzzled me
-why an airship should be proceeding west
-from the Biscayan coast."
-
-"French patrol, possibly," suggested Kenyon.
-
-"Or a Hun running a cargo of arms and
-ammunition to Ireland. I signalled her,
-but she didn't reply. Right-o! Carry on."
-
-Fosterdyke went to his cabin, to sleep
-like a log. He was one of those fortunate
-individuals who can slumber almost
-anywhere and at any time, but rarely if ever
-did he sleep for more than five hours at a
-stretch. Even after a strenuous day's
-mental and physical work he would be "as
-fresh as paint" after his customary "caulk."
-
-Left in the company of the airman at the
-helm, Kenyon prepared to accept responsibility
-until eight o'clock. He took up his
-position at the triplex glass window, the
-navigation-room being the only
-compartment where celluloid was not employed
-for purposes of lighting. It was a weird
-sight that met his gaze. Overhead and
-projecting from beyond the point of the
-nacelle was the blunt nose of the gas-bag,
-the port side tinted a rosy red as the
-growing light glinted on it, the starboard
-side showing dark grey against the sombre
-sky. A thousand feet below were rolling
-masses of clouds, their nether edges suffused
-by dawn. Between the rifts in the bank
-of vapour was apparently a black,
-unfathomable void, for as yet the first signs
-of another day were vouchsafed only to
-the airman flying far above the surface of
-the sea. Already the stars had paled
-before the growing light. Wisps of
-vapour--clouds on a higher plane to the denser
-ones below--were trailing athwart the
-course of the "Golden Hind," until,
-overtaken by the airship's high speed, they were
-parted asunder, to follow in the eddying
-wake of the powerful propellers.
-
-In the navigation-room, being placed
-right for'ard, the jerky motion of the
-fuselage that was noticeable in Kenyon's
-cabin was greatly exaggerated. It was a
-totally different sensation from being in an
-aeroplane when the 'bus entered a "pocket." It
-reminded Kenyon of a lift being
-alternately started up and down with only a
-brief interval between. Rather vaguely the
-pilot wondered what he would be like at
-the end of twenty-one days of this sort of thing.
-
-"Bucking a bit, isn't she, Thompson?"
-he remarked to the helmsman, who,
-relieved of the responsibility of maintaining
-a constant altitude by the fact that the
-airship was automatically controlled in
-that direction, was merely keeping the
-vessel on her compass course.
-
-"Yes, sir," replied the man. "She'll
-be steadier when we trim the planes."
-
-"Might have thought of that before,"
-soliloquised Kenyon. He remarked that
-the six "wings" were secured in a
-horizontal position. For the present the
-"Golden Hind" was kept up solely by the
-lift of the brodium in the ballonets. Not
-until it was fully light would Fosterdyke
-reduce the gas in the ballonets and rely
-upon the planes for "lift."
-
-A quarter of an hour later, while Kenyon
-was engaged in making an entry in the log,
-the helmsman reported land ahead.
-
-The "Golden Hind" was approaching
-the Spanish coast, not in the hostile way
-in which her namesake did, but on a
-friendly voyage across a country that, if
-not exactly an ally, is bound by strong ties
-to Great Britain.
-
-The airship was soon passing over
-Santander. Ahead the Cantabrian
-Mountains reared themselves so high in the air
-that the "Golden Hind" had to ascend
-another three thousand feet to ensure an
-easy crossing.
-
-At eight o'clock Fosterdyke appeared in
-the navigation-room. Under his orders the
-airship's speed had been sensibly
-diminished. He intended to put to a practical
-test the lifting powers of the six planes.
-
-Close behind him came Bramsdean, on
-whom the duties of officer of the watch
-devolved for the next four hours.
-
-"Well, old bird," he observed, genially
-addressing his chum. "How goes it?"
-
-"Fresh as paint," replied Kenyon, "but
-as hungry as a hunter."
-
-"Then hook it," continued Peter. "The
-cook's dished up a sumptuous breakfast."
-
-Kenyon made a hurried but ample meal.
-He was anxious to see how the "Golden
-Hind" manoeuvred as an aeroplane.
-
-Upon returning to the navigation-room
-he found that the six comparatively small
-wings were being tilted to an effective angle,
-while a large quantity of brodium was being
-exhausted from the alternate ballonets
-into the pressure-flasks, until there was
-only enough "lift" remaining in the
-envelope to prevent it dropping earthwards
-and thus disturbing the stability of the
-fuselage by acting as top-hamper.
-
-Simultaneously instructions were
-telegraphed to the air mechanics standing by
-the six motors to increase the number of
-revolutions.
-
-The change was instantly appreciable.
-No longer did the "Golden Hind" pitch.
-She settled down to a rapid, steady motion,
-her speed being not far short of 150 miles an hour.
-
-"No ailerons," explained Fosterdyke.
-"Horizontal and vertical rudders only.
-Saves a lot of trouble and complication of gear."
-
-"Stunts not permissible, sir?" asked Kenyon.
-
-"No," he replied. "They are not.
-We're out to do something definite, not to
-let the Spanish have an exhibition of an
-airship making a spinning nose-dive or
-looping the loop. But we'll do a volplane, just
-to test the gliding powers of the 'bus."
-
-He touched a switch by which a warning
-bell rang in each of the motor rooms. This
-was to inform the mechanics that the electric
-current would be simultaneously cut off
-from the six motors, so that there would be
-no need on their part to endeavour to locate
-faults that did not exist.
-
-"Cut out!" ordered Fosterdyke.
-
-Bramsdean promptly depressed a small
-switch by the side of the indicator-board.
-This automatically cut off the ignition.
-The propellers made a few more "revs." and
-then came to a standstill. In almost
-absolute silence, save for the whine of the
-wind in the struts and tension wires the
-"Golden Hind" began her long, oblique
-glide earthward.
-
-Suddenly Kenyon gripped the baronet's arm.
-
-"Look!" he exclaimed. "Airship!"
-
-Fosterdyke did as requested. The
-"Golden Hind" was manoeuvring high
-above La Mancha, the undulating
-well-watered plain between the Montes del
-Toledo and the Sierra Morena. Six
-thousand feet beneath the airship the town of
-Ciudad Real glinted in the slanting rays of
-the morning sun.
-
-"Our shadow--that's all," declared
-Fosterdyke.
-
-"No, not that," protested Kenneth.
-"More to the left."
-
-He grasped a pair of binoculars and
-looked at the object that had attracted his
-attention. It was a somewhat difficult
-matter, owing to the refraction of the triplex
-glass in front of the navigation-room,
-where, in contrast to the rest of the
-windows, fire-proofed celluloid had not been
-employed.
-
-Before Kenyon had got the airship in
-focus the baronet had also spotted it.
-Apparently it had just left its shed and
-was heading in a south-easterly direction,
-differing a good four points from that
-followed by the "Golden Hind."
-
-"By Jove!" exclaimed Kenyon. "It's
-a Fritz! I can spot the black crosses on
-the envelope."
-
-"In that case," added Fosterdyke,
-calmly, "Count Karl von Sinzig has
-stolen a march on us. He's one up!"
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER VI--Z64 SCORES
-======================
-
-Count Karl von Sinzig was certainly the
-"first away." Typically Teutonic, he had
-succeeded in throwing dust in the eyes of
-his rivals. Acting upon the principle
-"Do others or they'll do you," he was
-leaving no stone unturned to pull off the
-big prize; and, figuratively speaking, a
-good many of the stones were too dirty
-for a clean sportsman to handle.
-
-For one thing von Sinzig had obtained
-his airship by fraud, although none of the
-other competitors were aware of the fact.
-Formerly in the German Air Service, the
-count managed to smuggle one of the
-Zeppelins out of the shed at Tondern,
-taking it by night to an aerodrome in East Prussia.
-
-According to the terms of the Peace
-Treaty, Germany was to surrender all her
-airships. How she evaded the stipulation
-is now well known. The Zeppelins at
-Tondern and other air stations in Sleswig-Holstein
-were destroyed by fire deliberately,
-to prevent them falling into the hands
-of the Allies. This act of bad faith was
-similar to the scuttling of the Hun fleet at
-Scapa; and the tardiness of the Allies to
-obtain reparation merely encouraged the
-Huns to other acts of passive defiance.
-But, although the destruction of the airships
-was taken as an accepted fact, it was
-unknown outside certain Junker circles that
-one of the Zeppelins had been removed
-before the conflagration.
-
-Revolutions and counter-revolutions, in
-which the fire-eating von Sinzig had several
-narrow escapes from death, led the count
-to seek pastures new; and about this time
-the publication of M. Chauvasse's terms
-for the international contest suggested
-to the Junker count the possibility of
-making good his financial losses.
-
-Gathering a crew of airmen who had had
-experience in Zeppelins during the war,
-von Sinzig flew the airship to Spain,
-crossing Austria and the north of Italy during
-the night, and carefully avoiding French
-territory on his aerial voyage.
-
-In a secluded part of the mountainous
-Estremadura he had practically his own
-way. The Alcaldes of the nearest
-surrounding villages were easily bribed to
-leave the mysterious airship and its foreign
-owner severely alone. From stores of
-German war material "sold" to Spain
-von Sinzig obtained gas cylinders, petrol,
-spares, and even a baby "Albatross"--a
-small yet powerful monoplane. With
-folding wings this machine could with ease
-be stowed away in the car of the airship.
-With German thoroughness the Count,
-looking well ahead, foresaw that the Albatross
-would probably serve a most useful
-purpose in helping him to win the coveted prize.
-
-The honour of being the first man to
-fly round the world took quite a subsidiary
-place in von Sinzig's plans. Since Germany
-did not own a square inch of territory
-outside Europe, he was compelled to make use
-of alien lands in which to alight. That
-was a handicap, and the thought of it
-rankled. There was some consolation to
-be derived from the prospect of wresting
-the big prize from a hated Englishman,
-a despised Yankee, or a miserable yellow
-Jap. And he meant to do it--somehow.
-
-Already Germans had resumed their
-"peaceful penetration" of Great Britain
-and the United States. Commercial
-travellers, representing German houses and at
-the same time potential spies, were able
-to ascertain with little difficulty particulars
-concerning the British and American
-competitors for the Round-the-World Flight.
-The moment von Sinzig learnt of the date
-of Sir Reginald Fosterdyke's departure
-from England, he anticipated the time by
-starting the day before the British airship
-was supposed to leave Gibraltar.
-
-This was a comparatively easy matter.
-According to the terms of the contest,
-competitors had to obtain a clearance certificate
-from an official of the International Airways
-Board. Provided the flight were
-completed within twenty days of the date of
-the certificate the principal condition was
-complied with, while it was furthermore
-specified that the certificate could be
-post-dated to the extent of twelve hours
-to allow for the time taken up in transmission
-from the Board's representative to the
-actual competitor.
-
-In von Sinzig's case he scored again.
-Employing a swift motor-car, he obtained
-the official *visé* at Madrid, and was back
-at the rendezvous within two and a half
-hours, the atrocious roads notwithstanding.
-
-Everything was in readiness for the start,
-and at ten in the morning Z64 left her shed
-and, flying at a comparatively low altitude,
-made off in a south-easterly direction.
-
-The German was counting on forty-eight
-hours' start of his English rival--possibly
-more. He had been informed that the
-"Golden Hind" proposed leaving England
-on the following Monday. Fosterdyke
-really meant to have started on that day,
-and only the exuberant demonstration of
-the crowd outside Air Grange had made him
-alter his plans. It was a lucky stroke, for
-Fosterdyke's secret intelligence department
-was at fault. According to information
-received from Germany, Count von Sinzig
-was a non-starter. Incidentally it was the
-count who had set that rumour afloat.
-It was but one of the many petty artifices
-upon which he built his hopes of carrying
-off the Chauvasse Prize.
-
-Chuckling to himself, Count von Sinzig
-stood beside the helmsman of Z64, quite in
-ignorance of the fact that a few thousand
-feet above him was the British airship
-which he fondly thought was resting in
-her shed in far-off England.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER VII--DELAYS
-===================
-
-"Avast stunting!" declared Fosterdyke.
-"Let's get on with it. Full speed to Gib."
-
-Everyone on board realised that every
-minute was precious. With her six motors
-running "all out" the "Golden Hind"
-quickly worked up to her maximum speed
-of 180 miles an hour. At that rate the
-petrol consumption was alarming, but
-Fosterdyke faced the fact cheerfully. While
-he was obtaining the necessary certificates
-and making an official declaration to the
-authorities at Gibraltar, the airship could
-replenish her somewhat depleted fuel tanks.
-
-But Sir Reginald had not taken into
-account the vagaries of red tape and petty
-officialdom.
-
-At 11 A.M. the "Golden Hind" sighted
-the historic Rock. Five minutes later she
-slowed down and turned head to wind off
-the west side of the fortress. With the
-assistance of a dockyard mooring-party,
-a stout galvanised steel wire was lowered
-from the bow compartment of the fuselage
-and secured to a large mooring buoy off
-the Detached Mole. Then with sufficient
-gas in her ballonets to keep her buoyant
-the "Golden Hind" floated head to wind
-at 50 feet above the Bay of Gibraltar.
-
-Almost before the mooring operations
-were completed the water in the vicinity
-was crowded with boats of all sorts, sizes,
-and descriptions, while the water-front was
-packed with a dense concourse of interested
-spectators, representatives of the umpteen
-nationalities to be found living on the few
-square miles of thickly-populated rock.
-
-"Nothing you want ashore, I suppose?"
-enquired Fosterdyke as he prepared to
-descend a wire ladder, the end of which
-was being steadied by a couple of
-bluejackets in a picket-boat.
-
-"Thanks, no," replied Kenyon.
-
-"That's good," continued the baronet,
-fervently. "Hate having to execute
-commissions. Not that I don't like obliging
-people, but I'm so deucedly forgetful.
-Right-o; stand by. I'll be back in less
-than a couple of hours, I hope. Come
-along, Bramsdean."
-
-Agilely Fosterdyke swarmed down the
-swaying ladder, followed at a safe distance
-by Peter, who carried a parcel of documents
-and a Mercator's chart on which the
-proposed route was marked for the benefit of
-the International Air Committee's
-representative and also the "Competent
-Military Authorities" of the various garrisons
-where the "Golden Hind" was scheduled to land.
-
-Peter Bramsdean had plenty of
-experience of petty officialdom at the Air
-Ministry. He well remembered the
-time--running into hours all told--of weary
-waiting in draughty corridors until it
-pleased certain individuals holding high
-places to signify their condescension
-(conveyed by a pert damsel in brown overall
-and a pigtail tied with an enormous bow)
-to receive the insignificant lieutenant.
-
-Here it was much the same. The officials
-who were considered indispensable in
-the matter of signing various documents
-were "out to lunch."
-
-A look of horrified amazement overspread
-the features of the minion to whom
-Fosterdyke suggested that time would be
-saved by sending for them. The British
-Empire might totter; the chance of
-winning fame by being the first airman to
-fly round the globe be lost; but by no
-possibility must such trivial details prevent
-officialdom from having its lunch--a
-movable feast occupying normally from one
-o'clock till three.
-
-"Hang it all, Bramsdean!" exclaimed
-Fosterdyke explosively during one of the
-numerous periods of forced inaction.
-Clearly the usually unruffled baronet was
-showing signs of annoyance. "Hang it
-all! It was ever thus. Petty hirelings
-whose one idea of efficiency is to raise
-obstacles and to quibble over unimportant
-details; those are the stumbling blocks.
-For twopence I'd cut the cackle and carry on."
-
-"And be disqualified at the winning
-post," reminded the cautious Peter.
-"We're wasting precious time----"
-
-"It'll be an unofficial competition, then,"
-declared Fosterdyke. "The honour of
-achieving the flight will be enough. The
-money prize can go hang. Come along,
-let's make tracks."
-
-"I vote we look up the Commissioner at
-his private quarters," suggested Bramsdean.
-"After all, the 'Golden Hind' won't
-have refilled her petrol tanks yet."
-
-"'Spose not," growled Fosterdyke.
-"Someone's illegible signature's required
-for the indents, I presume. Right-o,
-Bramsdean, let's rout out this indispensable."
-
-Somewhat to Peter's surprise the official
-was discovered with little difficulty. He
-had just finished his lunch, and as the meal
-had been a satisfying one, he was in high good humour.
-
-"So Count von Sinzig has five hours'
-start, eh?" remarked the worthy
-representative of the International Air Board.
-"That's nothing. You'll make that up
-easily. The documents? Ah--yes--quite
-so. Unfortunately, the seals are in my
-office. I'll be along there very shortly."
-
-"Isn't your signature enough?" asked the baronet.
-
-The great one hesitated. On the one
-hand, he wanted to impress his callers by
-admitting that his signature was
-"absolutely it." On the other, years of
-punctilious devotion to the ethics of red tape
-urged him to deprecate such a cutting of
-the Gordian knot.
-
-"No, Sir Reginald," he replied. "Both
-are necessary. One is not conclusively in
-order without the other. I'll be at the
-office by three."
-
-It was now a quarter-past two. Fosterdyke
-felt strongly inclined to enquire
-pointedly why three-quarters of an hour
-would be taken up by the Commissioner in
-getting from his quarters to his office.
-
-By ten minutes past three the various
-documents were sealed and signed. As
-the competitors were on the point of
-taking their departure the Commissioner
-spoke again.
-
-"I don't seem to have seen Form 4456,"
-he observed dryly. "That had to be
-obtained before you left England."
-
-"It wasn't," replied the baronet, bluntly.
-"An oversight, I admit, but you don't
-suggest that I return to England to get it?"
-
-"It is necessary," was the rejoinder.
-"Without it the flight would not be in order.
-In fact, as an authorised representative of
-the International Air Board I can rule you
-out of the contest."
-
-"Piffle!" declared Fosterdyke hotly.
-He was rapidly nearing the end of his
-restraint. "This, I may observe, is a
-contest of aircraft, not a paper competition.
-Form 4456 is not an absolute essential.
-Since you require it, I presume the case
-can be met if my representative in
-England has the form made out and sent
-to you by registered post. It will be in
-your hands before the 'Golden Hind'
-completes the circuit."
-
-The Commissioner consulted a ponderous
-tome, chock-a-block with rules and
-regulations for aerial navigation, written in
-official phraseology so confusing that it
-was possible to have more than one
-interpretation for at least seventy-five per
-cent. of the complicated paragraphs.
-
-Quoting Article 1071, sub-section 3c,
-the official made the discovery that the
-rendering of Form 4456 could be dispensed
-with in circumstances laid down in Article
-2074, section 5c, etc., etc. Thereupon he
-rang a bell, summoned a head clerk, who in
-turn deputed a junior to fetch a certain
-form. When this was forthcoming a blob
-of sealing-wax, the impress of a seal, and
-the great man's illegible signature, and the
-trick was done. As far as the International
-Air Board was concerned the "Golden
-Hind" was a recognised and duly authorised
-competitor for the Chauvasse Prize.
-
-There was still the Recognised Military
-Authority to be dealt with. That official
-was urbanity personified. He did
-everything in his power to expedite matters, but
-red tape was stronger than gold lace.
-
-The loud report of a gun warned
-Fosterdyke and his companion that sunset had
-descended upon the Rock. The gates of
-the fortress were closed till sunrise.
-
-"Won't affect you," explained the
-courteous official. "You can get back
-by the boat from the Old Mole. I won't
-keep you very much longer. It really isn't
-my fault."
-
-"Gibraltar was a bad choice of mine for
-a starting-point," observed Fosterdyke.
-
-"'Fraid so," agreed the other. "Ah,
-here we are. Thank you, Wilson. Where's
-my fountain pen? Where's---- Oh, dash
-it all, where's everything? ... That's
-settled, then. Have a drink before you go?
-No? Well, cheerio, and the very best of luck."
-
-Armed with the necessary documents,
-"sealed, signed, and delivered," Fosterdyke
-and Bramsdean found themselves in the
-open air. Darkness had already fallen.
-It was a good two miles from Little Europa
-Point to the Old Mole, and not a vehicle of
-any sort was to be seen.
-
-Tired, hot, and hungry they reached the
-spot where a naval pinnace was supposed
-to be awaiting them. It was not there. A
-message erroneously delivered had sent the
-boat back to the dockyard. Not to be
-done, Fosterdyke hired a native boat,
-paying without demur a villainous-looking
-Rock Scorp the excessive sum he demanded.
-
-For a quarter of an hour the boat rowed
-about while the baronet and his companion
-gazed aloft in the hope of spotting the
-"Golden Hind" against the dark sky.
-
-"She's gone!" declared Bramsdean.
-
-"Nonsense!" exclaimed Fosterdyke,
-irritably. "Why should she?"
-
-Nevertheless in his mind he was convinced
-that such was the case.
-
-Presently the boat ran close to the buoy
-to which the airship had been moored.
-Both men recognised the buoy by the
-number painted on it. No wire rope ran
-upwards to an invisible object floating in
-the darkness of the night.
-
-Unaccountably, mysteriously the "Golden
-Hind" had disappeared.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER VIII--CAST ADRIFT
-=========================
-
-Enrico Jaures, Spaniard on his father's
-side and German on his mother's, with a
-dash of almost every other Continental
-nation's blood in his veins, lived or rather
-existed in a mean dwelling behind the
-King's Bastion, on the west side of Gibraltar.
-
-Indolent, thriftless, and easy-going on
-the one hand, crafty and quarrelsome on
-the other, he possessed all the bad points
-that characterise the criminal classes of
-the two countries where his parents first
-saw the light. What he did for a living
-and how he earned money was a mystery
-even to his polyglot neighbours. Yet,
-without being well off, he appeared to be
-always "flush" with money.
-
-Contrary to the general demeanour of
-the Rock Scorps, Enrico Jaures expressed
-no astonishment when the "Golden Hind"
-appeared over the high ground beyond
-Algeciras. He was expecting the airship,
-although he had to confess to himself that
-she had certainly arrived prematurely.
-Evidently this was not according to plan.
-
-He sat, smoked innumerable cigarettes,
-and thought as deeply as a half-breed
-Spaniard can. Twice he got up, yawned,
-stretched himself and ambled back to the
-house to partake of a meal consisting
-principally of olives, garlic, and maize.
-Then back he came to his post of vantage
-and sat gazing stolidly at the five hundred
-feet of inflated gasbag riding easily to her
-wire cable, while her crew, bringing the
-airship close to the surface, were busily engaged
-in pumping up petrol from a tank-lighter.
-
-The shadows were lengthening considerably
-when a white-robed Moor approached
-the reclining Jaures--a dignified,
-olive-featured man, wearing a thick black beard
-and moustache.
-
-"The Englishman has started," observed
-the new-comer, speaking in Spanish with a
-decidedly guttural accent.
-
-"That I know," rejoined Enrico.
-
-"But not so von Sinzig," continued the
-other in a low tone, giving a furtive glance
-over his shoulder. "Until he arrives at
-Massowah it is doubtful whether he will
-know that this English airship is on his
-heels. Why is she here so soon?"
-
-"I know not," replied Jaures. "Two
-men landed from her. They went in the
-direction of Buena Vista."
-
-The pseudo Moor shrugged his shoulders.
-
-"Two thousand five hundred pesetas
-are awaiting you in the Banqua del Espiritu
-at Algeciras, friend Enrico," he said in a low
-voice. "Prevent that airship's departure
-even for twelve hours and the money will
-be paid you."
-
-"How can I?" asked Jaures, showing
-more interest than he had hitherto
-displayed. "I cannot place a bomb on board
-her, like I did on board the *Henri Artois*
-at Barcelona."
-
-"S'sh! Not so loud," exclaimed the
-other warningly. "How you earn the
-money is your affair."
-
-The supposed Moor passed on, leaving
-Enrico Jaures gazing thoughtfully at the
-British airship.
-
-He sat and pondered until the refuelling
-operations were completed and the "Golden
-Hind" allowed to rise a hundred feet above
-the sea. With the setting of the sun a
-gentle breeze sprang up from the nor'east,
-causing the hitherto almost motionless
-airship to sway as she fretted at her cable.
-
-He waited until darkness had settled
-upon the scene, then once more made his
-way into the house. This time he did not
-eat, but fortified himself with a long drink
-out of an earthenware bottle.
-
-Drawing his knife, he carefully oiled the
-blade and replaced it in its sheath. Then,
-having selected a marline-spike from a tool
-box, he slung the implement from his neck
-by means of a lanyard, hiding it under
-his coloured shirt.
-
-These preparations completed, he walked
-slowly and unconcernedly to the Old Mole.
-
-By this time the water-front was almost
-deserted. A patrol marched stolidly down
-the street; Enrico stepped into the shelter
-of a narrow courtyard until the khaki-clad
-party had disappeared; but before he could
-resume he had to await the passing of a
-gaitered and belted naval picquet.
-
-The coast cleared, he reached the Mole.
-A tramp steamer and a few feluccas were
-moored alongside. Farther out a tug was
-engaged in shepherding a couple of large
-lighters alongside an East-bound liner, while
-changing red, white, and green lights
-betokened the presence of swift-moving
-steamboats in the bay. Standing out
-against the faint starlight he could discern
-the "Golden Hind." Even as he looked
-a gleam of light shot through the
-windows of one of the compartments, and
-then another, both being almost instantly
-screened.
-
-"Two thousand five hundred pesetas,"
-whispered Jaures to himself. "A good
-price for a little swim."
-
-Without troubling to remove any of his
-clothes, although he kicked off his canvas
-shoes, Enrico cautiously descended a flight
-of steps until his feet touched the water.
-Listening to assure himself that no one was
-about, he glided in as noiselessly as an eel,
-and swam with slow, steady strokes under
-the counter of the tramp and close to her
-wall sides until he gained her bows.
-
-Taking his bearings of the airship's
-mooring-buoy, he resumed his easy progress
-cautiously lest feathers of phosphorescent
-spray should betray his presence.
-
-A quarter of an hour's swim brought him
-up to the mooring-buoy. With considerable
-difficulty, for the large barrel-shaped
-buoy was coated with barnacles and slippery
-with seaweed, Enrico contrived to draw
-himself clear of the water.
-
-Again he waited, listening to the sounds
-emanating from the airship a hundred or
-a hundred and fifty feet overhead. The
-wire hawser, acting as a conductor, enabled
-him to hear with great distinctness, and
-possessing a good knowledge of English
-he was able to pick up scraps of conversation
-between the crew. That helped him
-but little, for they were talking of matters
-as remote from the topic of the great race
-as the Poles.
-
-Enrico Jaures next devoted his attention
-to the shackle that secured the thimble
-spliced in the end of the cable to the big
-ring bolt of the buoy.
-
-He grunted with satisfaction when he
-discovered that the shackle was threaded
-and not secured by a forelock, but at the
-same time he found by the sense of touch
-that whoever had been responsible for the
-job had done his work well by securing the
-pin by means of a piece of flexible wire.
-
-This latter Jaures managed to cast loose,
-then, with the aid of his marline-spike, he
-began to unfasten the shackle-pin, pausing
-occasionally as the strain on the wire rope
-increased.
-
-At last the deed was accomplished. The
-shackle-pin clattered upon the rounded
-surface of the buoy and rebounded into
-the water; but almost simultaneously
-Enrico Jaures found himself being whisked
-aloft. A snap-hook at the end of a wire
-had caught in his belt, and there he was,
-suspended ignominiously like a horse being
-slung on board a ship, already a hundred
-feet or more above the surface of the sea.
-
-His first impulse was to cut loose his
-belt and drop, but a downward glance at
-the dark unfathomable void made him
-abruptly change his mind.
-
-His sole thought was now that of
-self-preservation. Fearful lest his leather belt
-should break and send him hurtling through
-space he clung desperately to the wire.
-
-Fax below him the lights of Gibraltar
-seemed to be gliding past as the freed
-airship drifted towards the strait separating
-Europe from the African shore.
-
-It was bitterly cold aloft. The keenness
-of the rarefied air was intensified by the fact
-that his clothes were saturated with salt
-water. A numbing pain crept down both
-arms. His muscles seemed to be cracking
-under the strain, while his fingers closed
-round the wire until the nails sunk deep
-into his palms.
-
-He shouted for help--his voice sounding
-more like the yelp of a jackal than that of a
-human being. But no response came from
-the airship a hundred feet above him.
-
-"Dios!" he exclaimed in agony. "This
-is indeed the end."
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER IX--THE ESCAPADE OF ENRICO JAURES
-=========================================
-
-"What are those blighters doing?"
-soliloquised Kenyon for the twentieth time.
-"Are they buying the place, or are they
-poodle-faking? They ought to have been
-back hours ago."
-
-It was well after sunset. The "Golden
-Hind" had taken in stores and provisions,
-and had replenished her fuel and oil tanks.
-An anchor watch had been set, and having
-"gone the rounds" in order to satisfy
-himself that everything was in order
-Kenneth Kenyon had gone to his cabin to
-write letters that would be sent ashore when
-the picket-boat brought off the skipper and
-Bramsdean.
-
-A shrill blast of the voice-tube whistle
-made Kenyon hasten across the long narrow
-cabin. There was something insistent about
-the summons. It was not the discreet
-apologetic trill that the look-out man gave
-when he wished to report some trivial
-incident to the officer of the watch.
-
-"Hello!" replied Kenyon.
-
-"We're adrift, sir," announced the man, excitedly.
-
-Telling the look-out to call the
-duty-watch, Kenyon replaced the whistle in the
-mouth of the voice-tube, struggled into his
-leather, fur-lined coat, and hurried to the
-navigation-room. As he passed the various
-motor-rooms he noticed that the
-air-mechanics of the duty-watch were already
-at their posts awaiting the order to get the
-engines running.
-
-Throwing open one of the windows,
-Kenyon looked out into the night. There
-was no staggering, biting wind. Drifting
-with the breeze, the airship was apparently
-motionless save for a gently-undulating
-movement, but the merest glance served
-to corroborate the look-out man's words.
-Already the "Golden Hind," having risen
-to 6000 feet and still climbing, was well to
-the south'ard of Europa Point. He could
-see the lighthouse on the south-western
-point of the peninsula of Gibraltar steadily
-receding as the airship approached the
-African coast.
-
-Kenyon was on the point of telegraphing
-for half-speed ahead when he bethought
-him of the cable. More than likely, he
-decided, the wire rope had parted half-way
-between the nose of the fuselage and the
-buoy. There was danger in the comparatively
-light, springy wire getting foul of the
-for'ard propellers. Stranded wire is apt
-to play hanky-panky tricks.
-
-"Get the cable inboard," he ordered.
-"Don't use the winch or you won't get the
-wire to lie evenly on the reel. Haul it in
-by hand."
-
-Two of the crew descended to the bow
-compartment, which, besides forming a
-living-room for the men, contained the
-cable winch.
-
-"'Get it in by 'and,' 'e said," remarked
-one of the men to his companion. "Blimey!
-There ain't 'arf a strain on the blessed
-thing. Bear a 'and, chum."
-
-Presently one of the men returned to the
-navigation-room.
-
-"Pardon, sir," he said, saluting, "but
-we can't haul the wire in. It's foul of
-something. Shall we bring it to the winch, sir?"
-
-"Foul of something, eh?" echoed
-Kenyon. "Does that mean we've hiked
-up the blessed mooring-buoy? Switch on
-the bow searchlight, Jackson."
-
-The order was promptly obeyed, and the
-rays of the 10,000 candle-power lamp were
-directed vertically downwards.
-
-Leaning well out of the open window,
-Kenyon peered along the glistening length
-of tautened cable until parting from the
-converging rays of the searchlight it
-vanished into space.
-
-"Two degrees left," ordered Kenneth.
-"Good--at that. By Jove! What's that? A man!"
-
-Filled with a haunting suspicion that
-the suspended body might be that of his
-chum Peter, Kenyon felt his heart jump
-into his throat; but a second glance, as the
-motionless figure slowly revolved at the end
-of the cable, relieved Kenneth's mind on
-that, score. Still, it was a human being in
-dire peril.
-
-"Heave away handsomely," continued
-Kenyon. "Stand by to avast heaving," he added.
-
-The orders were communicated to the
-hands at the cable-winch. Steadily the
-winch-motor clanked away until the word
-was passed to "'vast heaving." The
-luckless individual at the end of the wire was
-now dangling thirty feet below the bows
-of the fuselage.
-
-It would have been useless to have hauled
-him up to the hawse-pipe, because there
-would be no means of getting him on board.
-The only practical way to reach him was by
-lowering a rope from a trap-door on the
-underside of the chassis midway between
-the two hawse-pipes in the bows.
-
-Meanwhile Kenyon was deftly making
-"bowlines on the bight" at the extremities
-of two three-inch manilla ropes.
-
-"Jackson," he said, addressing the
-leading hand of the duty-watch, "I'm going
-after that chap. Tell off a couple of men
-to attend to each of the ropes. If I make
-a mess of things and don't get back, keep
-the ship head to wind till daylight, and then
-make for our former mooring. There'll be
-plenty of help available."
-
-Adjusting one of the loops under his
-arms and another round his legs above his
-knees, Kenneth slipped through the narrow
-trap-hatch, taking the second rope with
-him. It was a weird sensation
-dangling in space with about 8000 feet of
-empty air between him and land or sea,
-for by this time the "Golden Hind" was
-probably over the African coast. But
-soon the eerie feeling passed and Kenneth,
-courageous, cool-headed and accustomed to
-dizzy heights, had no thought but for the
-work in hand.
-
-"At that!" he shouted, when he found
-himself on the same level with the man he
-hoped to rescue. "Take a turn."
-
-Ten feet from him was the unconscious
-Enrico Jaures. The question now was,
-how was that intervening space to be bridged?
-
-Kenyon began to sway his legs after the
-manner of a child on a swing.
-
-"If the rope parts, then it's a case of
-'going west' with a vengeance," he
-soliloquised grimly. "Christopher! Isn't it
-beastly cold?"
-
-Momentarily the pendulum-like movement
-increased until Kenneth was able to
-grip the arm of the unconscious man. As
-he did so Enrico's belt, that had hitherto
-prevented him from dropping into
-space, parted like pack-thread.
-
-With a jerk that nearly wrenched the
-rescuer's arms from their sockets, the
-deadweight of the Scorp almost capsized Kenyon
-out of the bow-line. As it was, he was
-hanging with his head lower than his feet,
-holding on with a grip of iron to Jaures'
-arms. Thus hampered, he realised that it
-was manifestly impossible to make use of
-the second bow-line.
-
-"Haul up!" he shouted breathlessly.
-
-"Heavens!" he added. "Can I do it?
-Can I hold on long enough?"
-
-It was a question that required some
-answering. The strain on his muscles,
-coupled with the effect of the unexpected
-jerk, the numbing cold, and, lastly, his own
-position, as he hung practically head
-downwards, all told against him. Even in those
-moments of peril he found himself thinking
-he must present a ludicrous sight to
-the watchers in the airship in the dazzling
-glare of the searchlight.
-
-"Stick it another half a minute, sir,"
-shouted a voice. "I'll be with you in a
-brace of shakes."
-
-Of what happened during the next thirty
-long drawn out seconds Kenyon had only
-a hazy recollection. He was conscious of
-someone bawling in his ear, "Let go, sir;
-I've got him all right."
-
-Kenneth obeyed mechanically. In any
-case he was on the point of relaxing his
-grip through sheer inability on the part
-of his muscles to respond to his will. The
-sudden release of the man he had rescued
-resulted in Kenyon regaining a normal
-position, and dizzy and utterly exhausted
-he was hauled into safety.
-
-Someone gave him brandy. The strong
-spirit revived him considerably.
-
-"Where's the fellow?" he asked.
-
-"Safe, sir," replied Jackson. "Shall I
-carry on?"
-
-"Yes, please," said Kenneth, faintly, and
-with the clang of the telegraph indicator
-bells and the rhythmic purr of the motors
-borne to his ears he became unconscious.
-
-Meanwhile Enrico Jaures, to all outward
-appearances a corpse, had been hauled on
-board. One of the crew, observing
-Kenneth's plight, had descended by means
-of another rope, and had deftly hitched
-the end round the Scorp's body, climbing
-back hand over hand as unconcernedly as
-if he had been walking upstairs in his
-cottage in far-off Aberdeen.
-
-"Like handling frozen mutton,"
-commented one of the crew as they attended
-to the rescued Jaures. "Fine specimen,
-ain't he? An' what's he doing with that
-there marline-spike, I should like to know.
-'Tain't all jonnick, if you ask me."
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER X--UNDER EXAMINATION
-============================
-
-"I'm all right, I tell you. Hang it all,
-can't a fellow know when he's all right?"
-
-Thus Kenyon rather resentfully resisted
-all efforts on the part of the men to keep
-him in his bunk. He came from an
-indomitable stock that never readily admits
-defeat, and on this occasion he
-steadfastly refused to recognise the fact that
-his physical strength had been well-nigh sapped.
-
-Donning his leather coat, he made his
-way to the navigation-room, staggering
-slightly as he passed along the narrow alley-way.
-
-"Wireless message just received, sir,"
-reported Jackson. "'From T.B.D. *Zeebrugge*
-to 'Golden Hind.' Am proceeding
-in search of you. Show position lights.
-Will tranship Sir Reginald Fosterdyke and
-Mr. Bramsdean as soon as possible. Make
-necessary arrangements.' We're steering
-N. by W. ¼ W., but we haven't sighted
-the destroyer yet."
-
-"Very good," concurred Kenyon. "Carry on."
-
-He consulted the altimeter and the speed
-indicator. The former showed that the
-airship had descended to two thousand
-feet, and the speed was two thousand
-revolutions, or approximately thirty miles
-an hour. The "Golden Hind" had by
-this time retraced a good portion of her
-drift, and was now three or four miles from Ceuta.
-
-Ten minutes later a masthead flashing
-lamp was seen blinking at a distance of
-about six miles. The light came from the
-destroyer *Zeebrugge*, which, pelting along
-at twenty-five knots, was on the lookout
-for the errant airship.
-
-Kenneth Kenyon was now on his mettle.
-For the first time he was in command of a
-large airship about to make a descent. As
-officer of the watch he had already had
-opportunities of observing the handling of
-the huge vessel, but now he found himself
-confronted with the problem of bringing
-her close to the surface of the sea so as
-to enable the destroyer to manoeuvre
-sufficiently enough to establish direct
-communication.
-
-"Hope I don't make a bog of it," he
-soliloquised. "I must admit I feel a bit
-rotten after that little jamboree just now.
-Still, I'll stick it."
-
-Although he was not aware of the fact,
-Leading Hand Jackson was keeping a sharp
-eye on his superior officer, ready at the
-first sign to "take on" should Kenyon's
-physical strength fail him.
-
-For the next ten minutes the greatest
-activity prevailed. Gongs were clanging,
-crisp orders were issued through various
-voice-tubes, gas was being withdrawn from
-various ballonets, the motors were
-constantly being either accelerated or retarded
-according to the conditions demanded.
-The white flashing lamp signals were being
-exchanged with the T.B.D., which had
-now circled sixteen degrees to starboard
-and was steaming slowly dead in the eye
-of the wind.
-
-In the floor of the bow compartment of
-the "Golden Hind" the large trap-hatch
-had been opened. Close by crouched men
-ready to lower away a wire rope, at the end
-of which a small electric bulb glowed to
-enable the destroyer's crew to locate the
-line in the dark. Throughout the
-manoeuvre neither the "Golden Hind" nor
-the *Zeebrugge* made use of their searchlights,
-since the dazzling rays might baffle
-the respective helmsmen and result in a collision.
-
-Slowly and gracefully the airship dropped
-until her fuselage was thirty feet from the
-surface of the sea. She was now dead in
-the wake of the destroyer, and the task
-that confronted Kenyon was to bring her
-ahead sufficiently for the bows to overlap
-the *Zeebrugge's* stern. An error of judgment
-at that low height would result in the
-airship's bows fouling the destroyer's mast.
-
-Foot by foot the "Golden Hind" gained
-upon the destroyer until a shout from the
-latter's deck announced that the wire rope
-had been made fast.
-
-Instantly the airship's six motors were
-declutched. She was now moving merely
-under the towing action of the *Zeebrugge*,
-which was forging ahead at a bare four knots.
-
-From the trap-hatch in the airship's
-bows a rope-ladder was lowered, its end
-being held by a couple of bluejackets on
-the T.B.D. Without loss of time Fosterdyke
-swarmed up the swaying ladder, and
-was followed by Bramsdean.
-
-"Cast off, and thank you!" shouted the baronet.
-
-"All gone," came an answering voice
-from the *Zeebrugge*, followed by a hearty
-"Best of luck to you!"
-
-Released, the "Golden Hind" leapt a
-full five hundred feet into the air before
-the propellers began to revolve.
-
-"Cheerio, Kenyon!" exclaimed Fosterdyke,
-as he joined Kenneth in the
-navigation-room. "All's well that ends well,
-but you gave me a pretty bad turn. What
-happened?"
-
-"Hardly know, sir," replied Kenyon.
-"Our wire rope didn't part. Possibly the
-shackle on the buoy gave. But we found
-a man hanging on the end of the wire."
-
-"You did, eh?" exclaimed the baronet,
-sharply. "What sort of man?"
-
-"You'll see him, sir," replied Kenneth.
-"He's laid out below."
-
-"H'm!" ejaculated Fosterdyke, and
-relapsed into silence.
-
-He was deep in thought for some
-moments, then turned to Kenyon again.
-
-"We're making an official start in a
-few minutes' time," he announced. "We
-have to pass over the Rock and display
-three red and three white lights to the
-official observer on Signal Hill. When we
-see a similar signal made from the Rock
-that will be the actual starting time. Pass
-the word for Jackson to get the lamps in
-position."
-
-At an altitude of three thousand feet, or
-fifteen hundred feet above the summit of
-the Rock of Gibraltar, the "Golden
-Hind" received her official send-off at
-3.35 A.M., eighteen hours after the Hun-owned Z64.
-
-Evidently there was not a minute to be
-wasted. The contest had developed not
-merely into a voyage round the world
-within the space of twenty days, but a
-race in which the British competitor had
-to make good her formidable handicap of
-eighteen hours or approximately three
-thousand five hundred miles.
-
-With the wind abeam on the port side
-the "Golden Hind" opened out to one
-hundred and forty miles an hour. During
-the earlier stages of the race Fosterdyke
-rather wisely decided to keep below the
-maximum speed, rather than overtax the
-motors by running "all out." Within a
-few minutes of receiving her official
-permit to depart the airship lost sight of
-the lights upon the Rock of Gibraltar.
-She was now steering E. by S.--a course
-that would take her over the northern
-part of Algeria and Tunis and within a
-few miles of Malta.
-
-At 4 A.M. Kenyon, who had modestly
-refrained from giving any details of the
-part he had taken in the rescue of Enrico
-Jaures, and had concealed the fact that he
-had been temporarily out of action, was
-relieved by Peter Bramsdean.
-
-As he turned to go to his cabin Kenneth
-saw that the baronet was standing in a
-corner of the navigation-room and studying
-a nautical almanac.
-
-"Sleep well, Kenyon," exclaimed Fosterdyke.
-"You've some arrears to make up."
-
-"Rather, sir," agreed Kenyon. "But
-we've forgotten something."
-
-"Eh, what?"
-
-"That fellow we found hanging on to
-the wire rope, we didn't put him on board
-the destroyer."
-
-"No," agreed Fosterdyke, grimly. "We
-didn't. I saw to that. Unless I'm much
-mistaken our unwanted supernumerary
-can and must give us certain information
-that will rather astonish us. I'll see him
-later on, by Jove!"
-
-Kenyon nodded knowingly. Evidently
-Fosterdyke had learnt something. However,
-as far as he, Kenyon, was concerned,
-other things of a more pressing nature
-demanded his attention--food and sleep.
-
-At eight o'clock Fosterdyke ordered his
-involuntary guest to be brought before him.
-
-"There's something fishy about the
-breaking adrift business," he observed to
-Bramsdean as the two sat at a table in the
-after-cabin awaiting Enrico's appearance.
-
-"Where's Jackson? We'll want him.
-No, don't disturb Kenyon; he had a
-pretty sticky time."
-
-"More than you imagine, sir," added
-Peter, and proceeded to tell the baronet
-the part Kenneth had played in the aerial
-rescue of the imperilled Rock Scorpion.
-
-"Kenyon didn't say a word about it,"
-he added on the conclusion of the narrative.
-"He was as mute as an oyster over it
-all. Frampton and Collings told me. It
-was----"
-
-A knock on the cabin door interrupted
-Bramsdean's explanation.
-
-"Come in!" exclaimed Fosterdyke.
-
-In answer to the invitation entered
-Leading Hand Jackson, followed in single
-file by one of the crew, Enrico Jaures, and
-two other members of the "Golden Hind's" company.
-
-The Scorp was still labouring under the
-effects of his narrow escape. He looked,
-to quote Bramsdean's words, "as if the
-stuffing had been knocked out of him."
-
-Fosterdyke's handling of the situation
-was a bold one. Without any preliminaries,
-without even asking the fellow's name,
-he demanded sternly:
-
-"How much did Count Karl von Sinzig
-promise you for last night's work?"
-
-Jaures gave an involuntary start, but
-almost immediately relapsed into his
-imperturbably passive attitude. Then with a
-slight shrug of his shoulders he replied:
-
-"Me no spik Englis."
-
-"Try again," said Fosterdyke,
-contracting his bushy eyebrows and looking
-straight at the man. "All I can say is
-that if you don't speak English it's a case
-of won't, not can't."
-
-"Me no spik Englis," reiterated Jaures.
-
-Without speaking, Fosterdyke looked
-straight at the fellow for a full thirty
-seconds. During that period Enrico
-attempted three times to meet the searching
-gaze of his inquisitor.
-
-"Now!" exclaimed the baronet at length.
-
-Enrico Jaures maintained silence.
-
-Fosterdyke slowly and deliberately
-unstrapped his wristlet watch and placed it
-on the table.
-
-"I give you thirty seconds," he said in
-level tones. "Thirty seconds in which to
-make up your mind either to answer or
-refuse to answer my question. Might I
-remind you that we are now eight thousand
-feet above the sea, and it is a long drop.
-Jackson, will you please remove that hatch?"
-
-"Of course the Old Man was only kiddin',"
-remarked Jackson when he related what
-had transpired to his companions after the
-affair was over; "but, bless me, even I
-thought he meant to do the dirty sweep in.
-He looked that stern, that it put the wind
-up the bloke straight away."
-
-Absolutely disciplined, the Leading Hand
-obeyed orders promptly. Throwing back
-the aluminium cover in the centre of the
-cabin floor, he revealed to the gaze of the
-thoroughly terrified Jaures a rectangular
-opening six feet by four. Far below,
-glittering in the sunshine, was the blue
-Mediterranean.
-
-"Five seconds more!" announced
-Fosterdyke, calmly.
-
-Of the occupants of the after cabin
-Enrico Jaures now seemed to be the least
-interested in the proceedings. His furtive
-glances had given place to an expression of
-lofty detachment, as if he were utterly
-bored by the whole transaction. Bramsdean
-found himself deciding that either
-the fellow was an imbecile or else he was a
-past master in the art of dissimulation.
-
-"Time!" declared Fosterdyke.
-
-Enrico Jaures positively beamed.
-
-"Me no spik Englis," he babbled.
-
-Sir Reginald eyed the accused sternly,
-but even his piercing glance seemed of no
-avail. The Rock Scorp continued to smile inanely.
-
-"Take him away," ordered Fosterdyke
-with asperity.
-
-He waited till the door had closed upon
-the involuntary guest, and then gave a
-deprecatory shrug.
-
-"The fellow's scored this time, Bramsdean,"
-he remarked, "but I'll get to windward
-of him yet."
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XI--"WITH INTENT"
-=========================
-
-"Where are we now?" enquired Kenyon
-on returning to the navigation-room to
-relieve his chum as officer of the watch.
-
-It was now twelve o'clock. Bramsdean
-had just "shot the sun" and was reading
-off the degrees, minutes, and seconds from
-the arc of the sextant.
-
-"Almost over Algiers, old thing," he
-replied, pointing to the glaring, sun-baked
-Algerian coast. "Hark!"
-
-He held up his hand and inclined his
-head sideways. Above the bass hum of
-the aerial propellers came the distant
-report of a gun.
-
-"Reminds a fellow of old times when
-the Archies got busy," remarked Kenyon.
-
-"Our friends the French are evidently
-treating us to a salute to help us on our
-weary way," rejoined Peter. "Goodness
-only knows how we are to return it. We
-can't give gun for gun."
-
-He focussed his glasses on the white
-buildings three thousand feet below. The
-whole of the water-front of Algiers was
-packed with figures with upturned faces--Frenchmen,
-Algerines, Arabs, and Nubians--all
-frantically waving to the huge airship as
-she sped eastwards.
-
-In ten minutes the "Golden Hind" had
-left the capital of France's African
-possessions far astern. Unless anything
-untoward occurred, another four hours would
-bring her within sight of Malta.
-
-"You might cast your eye over the
-signal log-book before you take on,"
-remarked Bramsdean.
-
-Kenyon did so. Evidently the wireless
-operator had been kept busily employed,
-for there were dozens of messages wishing
-the "Golden Hind" bon voyage. But
-amongst them were two of a different
-nature. One announced that an American
-airship "Eagle," under the command of
-Commodore Theodore Nye, had left Tampa
-Town bound for Colon, followed by a
-supplementary message that the "Eagle"
-had left the Panama Canal zone and was
-last sighted flying in a westerly direction.
-Making allowance for the difference in New
-York and Greenwich times, both the
-"Golden Hind" and her Yankee rival had
-started practically simultaneously from
-their respective points of departure for
-the actual race.
-
-The second wireless message,
-transmitted via Vancouver, Newfoundland, and
-Poldu, was to the effect that the "Banzai,"
-the Japanese quadruplane piloted by Count
-Hyashi, had started from Nagasaki at a
-speed estimated at two hundred and twenty
-miles an hour.
-
-"Artful blighter, that Jap," declared
-Bramsdean. "He's kept his design
-carefully up his sleeve till the last moment.
-We thought he was attempting the flight in
-an airship, but he's pinned his faith to a
-gigantic quadruplane."
-
-"Two hundred and twenty miles an
-hour, too," added Kenyon. "That means
-he'll do the whole trip in less than 120
-hours of actual flying, unless something
-goes wrong with his 'bus. My word, some speed!"
-
-"What I'd like to know is his petrol
-consumption, and how much juice does
-his 'bus carry," remarked Bramsdean,
-thoughtfully. "By Jove! We're up
-against something, old son."
-
-"By the by, I see there's no news of
-Fritz," said Kenneth.
-
-"Not a word," replied Peter. "Von
-Sinzig evidently thinks that it's too early
-to start bragging. We'll hear either from
-or of him before night. Fosterdyke is
-trying to call him up by wireless and tell
-him that he has a friend of his on board."
-
-"Oh, that greasy merchant!" rejoined
-Kenneth. "How did he get on?"
-
-"Played 'possum," answered Bramsdean.
-"Fosterdyke tried to put the wind up him,
-but it was a frost. I'd like to know what
-he did to the shackle on the mooring-buoy."
-
-"You think he cast us adrift?"
-
-"Without a doubt, old bird."
-
-Kenyon shook his head doubtfully.
-
-"He might have been simply fishing when
-the pin drew and he got whisked aloft,"
-he suggested. "Did he give his name or
-any particulars?"
-
-"Not he," replied Peter. "In fact
-he wasn't asked. Fosterdyke went for him
-bald-headed and tried to make him admit
-that he was in von Sinzig's pay. But
-nothin' doin', even when we made out that
-we were going to drop him overboard. Well,
-cheerio, old thing."
-
-Left in charge of the airship, Kenyon
-pondered over the problem of whether the
-man he had rescued had really been a secret
-agent of von Sinzig or otherwise. If he
-were, then it would be almost a foregone
-conclusion that he spoke German.
-
-Kenneth had plenty of time for reflection
-during his "trick." The "Golden Hind"
-was making good progress. There was
-little or no wind, and her drift was in
-consequence almost imperceptible; while the
-temperature was so constant that there
-was no necessity to alter the volume of
-brodium in the ballonets for hours at a
-stretch. The motors, too, ran like
-clockwork, and beyond attending to the
-semi-automatic lubricators occasionally, the
-air-mechanics on duty had little to do.
-Fosterdyke, having paid a brief visit to
-the navigating room, retired to his cabin
-to make up arrears of sleep.
-
-"Might work," soliloquised Kenneth,
-reflectively. "I'll tackle Fosterdyke about
-it next time I come across him."
-
-At four in the afternoon Malta was passed
-at a distance of ten miles to the south'ard.
-The "Golden Hind" was doing well,
-maintaining more than her normal cruising
-speed. If she were able to keep on at that
-rate she would accomplish the voyage of
-circumnavigation well under the twenty
-days; but that was now but a secondary
-consideration. At all costs von Sinzig's
-Z64 must be overhauled.
-
-The "Golden Hind's" first stop was at
-Alexandria, sixteen hours after leaving
-Gibraltar. She made a faultless landing on
-sandy spit that separates Lake Mareotis
-from the Mediterranean. The time of her
-arrival had been notified by wireless, and all
-preparations had been made for her
-reception. Keenly interested Tommies manned
-the trail ropes and secured her firmly to
-anchors buried in the sand; lorries laden
-with petrol and oil were rushed to the spot,
-and the work of refuelling began without
-delay. While Fosterdyke and Kenyon were
-signing the "control certificate" and
-holding an informal reception of almost the
-whole of the British Colony at Alexandria,
-Bramsdean remained in charge of the airship.
-
-In order to keep back the dense crowd,
-composed of fellaheen, Copts, Arabs,
-Syrians, and representatives of every nation
-bordering on the Mediterranean, strong
-picquets of British troops were posted
-round the tethered airship, no unauthorised
-person being permitted to approach within
-a hundred yards of the "Golden Hind";
-while to enable the work of refuelling to
-proceed as rapidly as possible, the
-improvised aerodrome was brilliantly
-illuminated by portable searchlights mounted
-on motor lorries.
-
-It seemed as if it would be impossible for
-any suspicious characters to approach the
-airship without being detected. Having
-once been "bitten," Fosterdyke was not
-taking chances in that direction.
-
-No attempt had been made to get rid
-of Enrico Jaures. Closely watched by a
-couple of the crew, he was even permitted to
-view the proceedings from an open scuttle
-in one of the compartments on the starboard side.
-
-When everything was in readiness to
-resume the voyage, Fosterdyke and Kenyon
-shook hands with their entertainers and
-crossed the guarded square. As they
-approached the entry port on the starboard
-side a dark figure suddenly appeared from
-behind an unattended lorry, and at a
-distance of ten paces fired half a dozen
-shots in rapid succession straight at the baronet.
-
-Almost at the first report Fosterdyke
-threw himself at full length upon the sand.
-Kenyon, without hesitation, rushed upon
-the would-be assassin, while two of the crew,
-leaping from the fuselage, promptly seized
-the miscreant and deprived him of his
-automatic pistol.
-
-"Hurt, sir?" asked Kenyon, anxiously.
-
-"Not a bit of it," replied Sir Reginald
-coolly. "That fellow couldn't hit a
-haystack at five yards. Bring him along, men."
-
-An agitated member of the Egyptian
-Civil Service, accompanied by a couple of
-staff officers, hurried up, and after making
-inquiries and learning that Fosterdyke was
-unhurt, suggested, not without good reason,
-that the would-be assassin should be handed
-over to the civil powers for trial.
-
-The baronet airily swept aside the suggestion.
-
-"Sorry, Vansittart," he said; "but I'm
-not going to waste precious time appearing
-as a prosecutor in this business. No, I'm
-not exactly professing to take the law into
-my own hands, but I propose taking the
-gentleman with me. If he tried to shoot
-me, surely I can jolly well kidnap him.
-'Tany rate, possession's nine points of the
-law. When I've done with him you can
-deal with him."
-
-"But, dash it all, man!" exclaimed one
-of the staff officers; "you aren't going
-to--to----"
-
-"Hang him? Not much," declared the
-baronet. "Return good for evil sort of
-thing, you know. Don't get flustered,
-Vansittart. He's mine, and we're just off."
-
-Happening to glance up as he entered the
-fuselage, Fosterdyke caught sight of Enrico
-Jaures, who had seen the whole incident
-through one of the windows.
-
-"Birds of a feather," he soliloquised.
-"However, I don't suppose we'll pick up
-pals of this sort at every place we touch.
-All ready, Kenyon?" he enquired, raising
-his voice. "Right-o; let go."
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XII--CONFIDENCES
-========================
-
-In one of the store-rooms, the contents of
-which had been removed in order to adapt
-the place to present requirements, sat Enrico
-Jaures and the would-be assassin. They
-were under lock and key and had been
-unceremoniously bundled into durance vile
-without the formality of an introduction.
-
-Enrico was feeling fairly content, in spite
-of being a prisoner. After all, he reflected,
-nothing had been proved against him. He
-had scored in his encounter with the
-captain and owner of the British airship,
-and, all things considered, he was being
-well treated.
-
-He made no remark when his new
-companion was gently but firmly propelled
-through the doorway. The newcomer was
-equally reticent; so the ill-assorted
-pair--one rigged out in the nondescript garments
-of a low-class inhabitant of Gibraltar and
-the other in European clothes and a
-tarboosh--sat in opposite corners of the
-limited space.
-
-For the best part of an hour neither spoke.
-Occasionally they regarded each other
-furtively. Then the gentleman who had
-demonstrated so effectively how not to
-shoot straight began to slumber. Sitting
-on his haunches with his arms clasped
-round his bent knees, he nodded his crimson
-tarboosh until his head found a rather
-uncomfortable resting-place on his clasped hands.
-
-Then in his somnolent condition he began
-muttering his wandering sentences,
-punctuated with many "Achs!"
-
-Enrico listened intently. Hitherto he
-had been in ignorance of the motive that
-had prompted the would-be murderer.
-Now he had enough evidence to form the
-conclusion that they both had a motive
-in common--to wreck the attempt of the
-British competitor to win the Chauvasse Prize.
-
-Nevertheless Jaures was of a cautious
-disposition, and when his companion
-awoke he still maintained his attitude of
-aloofness.
-
-Breakfast time came. One of the
-"Golden Hind's" crew appeared with
-quite a substantial meal, and both men
-were hungry. The pure, cold air, a striking
-contrast to the hot, enervating atmosphere
-of Alexandria, had given them an enormous
-appetite, and the fact that they had to
-share their meals and were not provided
-with knives and forks did not trouble them.
-
-"Pass the salt," said Enrico's companion,
-speaking in German.
-
-Jaures complied without hesitation. The
-request was so natural that it took him
-completely off his guard.
-
-"So you do speak German," remarked
-the wearer of the tarboosh.
-
-Enrico shook his head.
-
-"Come, come," continued the other.
-"Do not say that you cannot. I asked
-you for the salt. I was not looking at it,
-so that you have no excuse."
-
-Jaures swallowed a big chunk of bread
-and stole cautiously to the door. For a
-few seconds he listened lest there should
-be anyone eavesdropping without.
-
-"Yes," he admitted. "My mother was
-German. But don't speak so loudly."
-
-"From what town came she?" enquired
-his companion.
-
-"From Lubeck," he replied.
-
-"And I come from Immeristadt. I am
-a Swabian and my name is Otto Freising,"
-announced the German. "What are you
-doing here?"
-
-"I am not here of my own free will,"
-said Jaures, guardedly. He was rather
-inclined to shut up like an oyster, but his
-semi-compatriot was persistent.
-
-"I suppose these Englishmen will hang
-me," remarked Otto. "My one regret
-is that I did not succeed in my attempt."
-
-"What attempt?" asked Enrico, innocently.
-As a matter of fact he knew, having
-watched the shooting affray.
-
-Otto told him.
-
-"The trouble is," he added, "I've been
-paid for this business. Ten thousand
-Egyptian piastres. I have a banker's
-order for that amount in my pocket. Will
-they search me?"
-
-"Without a doubt," replied Enrico,
-whose knowledge of British criminal courts
-was of a first-hand order. "But in a
-way you are lucky. You were paid--I
-was not. I succeeded--you failed."
-
-The German raised his eyebrows, but
-forbore to elicit further information
-concerning Jaures' motives.
-
-"My difficulty," resumed Otto, "is what
-I am to do with this banker's order. I
-undertook the business because I was
-hard up, and should I be hanged or even
-imprisoned my family will not benefit
-because the money will be confiscated."
-
-He paused. Enrico eyed him thoughtfully.
-He would willingly rob anybody.
-Now was a chance of enriching himself
-at the expense of his semi-compatriot.
-
-"These English cannot keep me in
-captivity much longer," he observed.
-"They can prove nothing against me.
-When I regain my liberty I propose
-paying a visit to my mother's relations in
-Lubeck. Perhaps I might be able to render
-you a service by handing that draft to
-your relatives."
-
-Otto showed no great eagerness to close
-with the offer. His hesitation increased
-his companion's cupidity.
-
-"Rest assured that the money will
-eventually reach a safe destination," he
-urged enigmatically. "Better even to run
-the risk of its being lost than to let it
-fall into the hands of these Englishmen."
-
-"That is so," agreed Otto. "At any
-rate I can entrust it in your keeping for
-the next few days until I know what they
-propose doing with me. You will, of
-course, be paid well for your trouble."
-
-Enrico waved his hands deprecatingly,
-swearing by his patron Saint Enrico of
-Guadalajara that it would be a pleasure
-and a duty to assist a German in distress.
-
-"Very well, then," agreed Otto,
-producing a paper from the double crown
-of his tarboosh.
-
-The Rock Scorp, craftily concealing his
-delight at the success of his plan, took the
-document and glanced at the amount
-written thereon. As he did so he uttered
-an exclamation.
-
-"Dios!" he ejaculated.
-
-"What is it?" enquired Otto.
-
-"The signature--Hans von Effrich. I
-know the man. He was at Barcelona when
-the U-boats were busy. I helped him to--"
-
-He broke off abruptly, realising, perhaps,
-that there were limits to an exchange of
-confidences.
-
-"Von Effrich--I have never met him,"
-declared Otto. "All I know is that he is
-now an agent for Count Karl von Sinzig."
-
-"Where is he now?" enquired Jaures.
-
-"Who?--von Sinzig or von Effrich?"
-
-"Von Effrich."
-
-"He is usually to be found in Corinth,"
-replied Otto. "Why do you ask?"
-
-"Because he might also pay me what
-von Sinzig owes me," replied Enrico. "We
-apparently are engaged on similar tasks."
-
-"To cripple or delay this airship," added
-Otto. "Up to the present we have not
-made much of a success of it. My prospects
-are not at all bright, but my one hope is
-that when we arrive at Singapore von
-Blicker will be there. A clever fellow,
-von Blicker. I met him at von Effrich's
-house just before I left Corinth for
-Alexandria--a month ago."
-
-"What is he going to do?" asked Enrico.
-
-"I believe he'll---- S'sh! someone coming."
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XIII--THE TAIL OF A CYCLONE
-===================================
-
-"Hanged if I like the look of things one
-little bit," declared Fosterdyke, frankly.
-"Glass dropping as quickly as if the bottom
-of it had fallen out, and on top of it all we get this."
-
-"This" was a wireless from Point de
-Galle announcing that a terrific cyclone
-was raging west of the Maldive Islands, its
-path being a "right-hand circle." That
-meant that unless the "Golden Hind"
-made a radical alteration of course she
-would encounter the full force of the wind.
-
-It was the fourth day of the race. The
-"Golden Hind" had passed over Socotra
-at daybreak and was on her way across the
-Arabian Sea, her next scheduled
-landing-place being Colombo.
-
-"If we carry on we'll hit the tail of the
-cyclone," said Kenyon, consulting a chart
-of the Indian Ocean.
-
-"Yes, but what is worse we'd pass
-through the dangerous storm-centre, and
-then more than likely get a nose-ender on
-the other side, if we were lucky enough to
-weather the centre," replied Fosterdyke.
-"It's too jolly risky, Kenyon. At fifteen
-thousand feet it may be as bad or worse
-than at five hundred feet up. Call up
-Murgatroyd, and ask what petrol there
-is in the tanks."
-
-Kenneth went to the voice tube and made
-the necessary enquiry of the engineer.
-
-"By Jove, we'll risk it!" declared
-Fosterdyke, when he received the desired
-information. "We'll go south a bit, and
-then make straight for Fremantle."
-
-Kenyon was taken aback with the
-audacity of the proposal. The distance
-between Socotra and Western Australia was
-a good 5000 miles, or thirty-six hours of
-uninterrupted flight. At 140 miles an hour
-there was sufficient fuel on board for forty
-hours, which meant a reserve of four hours
-only in case of anything occurring to
-protract the run.
-
-"Oh, we'll do it," said Fosterdyke,
-confidently, as he noticed his companion's
-look of blank amazement. "Better run
-the risk of cutting things fine than to barge
-into a cyclone. Sou'-east by south is the
-course."
-
-"Remarkable thing we haven't heard
-anything of friend Sinzig 'clocking in,'"
-observed Kenyon. "Wonder where he's
-making for?"
-
-"We'll hear in due course," replied the
-baronet. He crossed the cabin to
-consult a Mercator's chart of the world, on
-which were pinned British, American, and
-Japanese flags recording the latest-known
-positions of the rival airmen. There was
-a German flag ready to be stuck in, but
-nearly five days had elapsed since von
-Sinzig left Spain, and the crew of the
-"Golden Hind" were still in ignorance
-of his whereabouts.
-
-But they had the satisfaction of knowing
-that they more than held their own with
-the others. The American had passed the
-Azores, while Count Hyashi's "Banzai,"
-which had made a stupendous non-stop
-flight to Honolulu, had developed engine
-defects that promised to detain him indefinitely.
-
-"Two thousand miles in nine hours,"
-remarked Fosterdyke, referring to the
-Japanese airplane's performance. "Some
-shifting that, but Count Hyashi has
-evidently gone the pace a bit too thick. He's
-our most dangerous rival, Kenyon."
-
-"Unless von Sinzig has something up
-his sleeve, sir," added Kenneth.
-
-"Trust him for that," said the baronet,
-grimly. "However, time will prove.
-Well, carry on, Kenyon. Call me if there's
-any great change in the weather."
-
-Within the next two hours there were
-indications that even the new course taken
-by the "Golden Hind" would not allow
-her to escape the cyclone. Right ahead
-the hitherto cloudless sky was heavy with
-dark, ragged thunder-clouds that,
-extending north and south as far as the eye
-could see, threatened to close upon the
-airship like the horns of a Zulu impi.
-
-Roused from his sleep, Fosterdyke lost
-no time in making his way to the
-navigation-room. Although he was not to be
-on duty for another hour and a half, Peter
-Bramsdean had also hurried to the chart-room.
-
-"We're in for it, sir," declared Kenneth.
-
-"We are," agreed Fosterdyke, gravely.
-"Evidently there is a second disturbance,
-but judging from appearances it's none
-the less formidable. No use turning tail.
-We'll go up another five thousand feet and
-see what it looks like."
-
-The "Golden Hind" rose rapidly, under
-the joint action of her six planes and the
-addition of brodium to the ballonets; but
-even then it was touch-and-go whether the
-gathering storm would encircle her. As
-it was she flew within the influence of the
-fringe of the cyclone. Shrieking winds
-assailed her, seeming to come from two
-opposing quarters. Her huge bulk lurched
-and staggered as she climbed. Her
-fuselage see-sawed as the blast struck the
-enormous envelope above, while the jar
-upon the tension wires was plainly felt by the crew.
-
-For a full ten minutes it was as black as
-night, save when the dark masses of cloud
-were riven by vivid flashes of lightning.
-Blinded by the almost incessant glare,
-Fosterdyke and his companions could do
-little or nothing but hang on, trusting that
-the "Golden Hind" would steer herself
-through the opaque masses of vapour. It
-was impossible to consult the instruments.
-Whether the airship was rising or falling,
-whether she was steering north, south, east,
-or west remained questions that were
-incapable of being solved, since the blinding
-flashes of lightning and the deafening peals
-of thunder literally deprived the occupants
-of the navigation-room of every sense save
-that of touch. All they could do was to
-hold on tightly, clench their teeth, and wait.
-
-It required some holding on. At one
-moment the longitudinal axis of the airship
-was inclined at an angle of forty-five
-degrees; at another she was heeling to
-almost the same angle, the while twisting
-and writhing like a trapped animal. Now
-and again she seemed to be enveloped in
-electric fluid. Dazzling flashes of blue
-flame played on and along the aluminium
-envelope, vicious tongues of forked lightning
-seemed to stab the gas-bag through and
-through; and doubtless had the ballonets
-contained hydrogen instead of
-non-inflammable brodium the "Golden Hind"
-would have crashed seawards in trailing
-masses of flame.
-
-How long this inferno lasted no one on
-board had the remotest idea. The flight
-of time remained a matter of individual
-calculation. To Kenyon it seemed hours;
-Bramsdean afterwards confessed that he
-thought the passage through the storm
-cloud lasted thirty minutes. In reality
-only six minutes had elapsed from the
-time the "Golden Hind" was enveloped
-in the thunder cloud till the moment when
-she emerged.
-
-It was much like being in a train coming
-out of a long tunnel. With their eyes
-still dazed by the vivid flashes the men in
-the navigation-room became aware that
-the vapour was growing lighter. They
-could distinguish the smoke-like rolls of
-mist as the sunshine penetrated the upper
-edges of the clouds. Then, no longer
-beaten by the torrential downpour of hail,
-the "Golden Hind" shot into a blaze of
-brilliant sunshine.
-
-It seemed too good to be true. For
-some moments Fosterdyke and his
-companions simply stared blankly ahead until
-their eyes grew accustomed to the different
-conditions.
-
-Then Kenyon, who was still officer of
-the watch, glanced over the shoulder of the
-helmsman and noted the compass. The
-lubber's line was a point west of north.
-The "Golden Hind" had been practically
-retracing her course, and might be
-anything from fifty to a hundred miles farther
-away from her goal than she had been when
-the storm enveloped her.
-
-Obedient to the action of the vertical
-rudders the airship swung back on her
-former course. The altimeter indicated
-a height of twelve thousand feet, and the
-"Golden Hind" was still rising. Three
-thousand feet below was an expanse of
-wind-torn clouds, no longer showing dark,
-but of a dazzling whiteness. The crew of
-the "Golden Hind" were literally looking
-on the bright side of things.
-
-"We're well above the path of the
-storm," remarked Fosterdyke, gratefully.
-"We've a lot to be thankful for, but the
-fact remains we daren't descend while that
-stuff's knocking about. Once in a
-lifetime is quite enough."
-
-Before any of his companions could offer
-any remark, Murgatroyd, the chief
-air-mechanic on duty, appeared through the
-hatchway.
-
-"Sorry to have to report, sir," he
-announced, "that the two after motors are
-both out of action. Blade smashed on the
-starboard prop, sir, and the chain-drive
-on the port prop has snapped. The broken
-chain is in your cabin, sir."
-
-"Who put it there?" asked Fosterdyke.
-
-"It put itself there, sir," was the
-imperturbable reply. "Sort of flew off the
-sprocket when the link parted and went
-bang through the side plate of the fuselage,
-sir. I'll allow it's made a wee bit of
-a mess inside, sir."
-
-"Take over, Bramsdean, please," said
-Fosterdyke. "Directly you get a chance
-obtain our position. Come on, Kenyon, let's
-see the extent of the damage. The cabin
-doesn't matter. It isn't the first time I've
-slept in a punctured dog-box. But the
-mechanical breakdown--that's the thing
-that counts."
-
-Followed by Murgatroyd, the baronet
-and Kenyon went aft. From No. 5 motor-room
-they could see the motionless
-propeller, one of the four blades of which had
-been shattered as far as the boss, while all
-the others bore signs of more or less damage
-from the flying fragments.
-
-"Matter of twenty minutes, sir," replied
-Murgatroyd in answer to his chief's enquiry
-as to how long the repairs would take.
-"We'll have to stop, and I'll bolt on the
-new blades. At the same time I'll put a
-couple of hands on to fitting a new chain
-to the starboard drive. I don't fancy the
-'A' bracket's strained, but I'll soon find
-out directly we stop."
-
-It was rough luck to have to stop all the
-motors and drift at the mercy of the air
-currents for twenty precious minutes; but
-the only option would be to carry on under
-the action of four propellers only at a
-greatly reduced speed.
-
-"Right-o, Murgatroyd," agreed the
-baronet. "Slap it about."
-
-"Trust me for that, sir," replied the
-engineer. "I've warned the break-down
-gang. I'll give you the all-clear signal in
-twenty minutes--less, sir, or my name
-isn't Robert Murgatroyd."
-
-Three minutes later the remaining four
-motors were switched off, and the "Golden
-Hind," rapidly losing way, fell off
-broadside on to the wind at a height of twelve
-thousand five hundred feet above sea-level.
-
-Instantly the mechanics swarmed out
-along the slender "A" brackets, Murgatroyd
-and an assistant setting to work to unbolt
-the damaged blades, while other airmen
-passed a new chain round the sprocket
-wheels of the starboard motor and
-propeller respectively.
-
-Although there was no apparent wind,
-and the airship was drifting at practically
-the same rate as the air current, it was
-bitterly cold. The brackets were slippery
-with ice, and the difficulty of maintaining
-a foothold was still further increased by
-the erratic vertical motion of the airship.
-
-The mechanics, wearing lifelines, went
-about their work fearlessly. They were
-used to clambering about on coastal
-airships, sometimes under fire; and although
-the present task was a simple one from
-a mechanical point, it was most
-difficult owing to the adverse atmospheric
-conditions.
-
-Yet in the space of seventeen and a half
-minutes Murgatroyd and his band of
-workers were back in the fuselage, their
-task accomplished, and in twenty minutes
-the six motors were running once more.
-
-Murgatroyd flushed with pleasure when
-his chief thanked and complimented him.
-
-"Maybe, sir, you'd be liking to have
-your cabin repaired?" he asked. "Just a
-sheet of metal strapped against the plates
-will hold till we land again. Then I'll see
-that it's well bolted on, sir; but I'll
-guarantee you'll not be feeling the draught
-to-night."
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XIV--THE BOAT'S CREW
-============================
-
-The state of his cabin hardly troubled
-Fosterdyke. He never even went to
-investigate the extent of the damage, for the
-moment the airship's motors were re-started
-he hastened back to the navigation-room.
-
-"Got a fix yet, Bramsdean?" were
-his first words.
-
-Peter handed him a slip of paper.
-
-"Well out of our course, sir," he remarked.
-
-The position was given as lat. 3° 15' 20"
-S., long. 58° 20' 5" E.
-
-"We are," agreed Fosterdyke gravely.
-"Well to the west'ard. We ought to be
-within sight of the Seychelles."
-
-"Any chance of getting petrol there, I
-wonder?" asked Bramsdean. "Judging
-by the name it seems a likely place to get
-'Shell brand.'"
-
-"Don't prattle, Peter," exclaimed
-Kenneth, facetiously.
-
-Fosterdyke laughed at the joke.
-
-"Rotten puns, both of them," he said.
-"All the same I wish we had another two
-hundred gallons of 'Pratt's' or 'Shell'
-or any other old brand of petrol. But it's
-no use going still farther out of our course
-on the off-chance of getting juice, so we'll
-just carry on."
-
-With the passing of the cyclone the wind
-fell light. What little there was was dead
-aft. The sea, viewed from an altitude of
-three thousand feet, appeared as smooth
-as glass, although in reality there was a
-long rolling ground swell.
-
-In order to economise the petrol
-consumption the speed of the "Golden Hind"
-was reduced to ninety miles an hour.
-Should the favouring wind hold, the
-airship stood a good chance of making the
-Australian coast. If it changed and blew
-from the south-east, then Fosterdyke's
-chances of winning the race would be off.
-
-Just before eleven o'clock in the morning
-of the day following the storm, Frampton,
-one of the crew on duty in the
-navigation-room, reported a boat about three
-miles away on the port bow.
-
-By the aid of glasses it was seen that
-the boat was a ship's cutter moving slowly
-under sail in an easterly direction. Her
-crew were hidden from view by a spare
-sail rigged as an awning over the stern sheets.
-
-"Something wrong there," remarked
-Bramsdean. "A small boat hundreds
-of miles from the nearest land requires
-some explanation. Inform Sir Reginald,
-Frampton; tell him I propose coming
-down within hailing distance."
-
-Before Fosterdyke could reach the
-navigation-room the noise of the "Golden
-Hind's" aerial propellers had attracted
-the attention of the occupants of the cutter,
-and six or seven men, whipping off the
-awning, began waving strips of canvas
-and various garments.
-
-Slowing down and descending to fifty
-feet, the airship approached the boat. The
-latter was hardly seaworthy. Her topstrake
-had been stove in on the starboard
-side, and had been roughly repaired by
-means of a piece of painted canvas. Her
-sails were patched in several places, while
-in default of a rudder she was being steered
-by means of an oar.
-
-"Poor chaps! Look at them!" ejaculated
-Kenneth. "They're almost done in."
-
-The boat's crew were indeed in desperate
-straits. They were ragged, gaunt, and
-famished. Their faces and hands were
-burnt to a brick-red colour with exposure
-to the wind and tropical sun. Three of
-them, seeing that help was at hand, had
-collapsed and were lying inertly on the
-bottom-boards.
-
-Viewed from a height of fifty feet the
-length of the ocean rollers became apparent.
-The sea was not dangerous, since there
-were no formidable crests to the long
-undulations, but there was considerable
-risk of the lightly built fuselage sustaining
-damage should the boat surge alongside.
-On the other hand, it was almost a matter
-of impossibility to get the men on board
-otherwise than by the airship descending
-and resting on the surface. Obviously
-they were far too weak to attempt to climb
-the rope-ladder, while the use of bowlines
-was open to great objection both as regards
-the length of time and the risk of injury to
-the rescued men.
-
-Being a ship's boat the cutter was
-provided with slinging gear. The question
-was whether in her damaged state the boat
-would break her back in being hoisted;
-but Fosterdyke decided to take the risk.
-
-Accordingly wire hawsers were lowered
-from the two bow-hawser pipes, and by
-dint of careful manoeuvring the shackles
-were engaged. Then, under the lifting
-power of additional brodium introduced
-into the for'ard ballonets, the "Golden
-Hind" rose vertically until the boat was
-clear of the water. The motor winches
-were then started and the cutter hauled
-up until her gunwales were almost touching
-the underside of the airship's nacelle.
-
-One by one the exhausted men were
-taken on board the airship by means of
-the hatchway through which Kenyon had
-gone to the rescue of Enrico Jaures. This
-done, two of the "Golden Hind's" men
-dropped into the boat and passed slings
-round her. When these took the weight
-of the cutter the wire hawsers were
-unshackled and the two men clambered back
-to the airship, which had now risen to
-nearly a thousand feet. One end of each
-sling was then slipped, and the boat, falling
-like a stone, splintered to matchwood as
-she struck the surface of the sea.
-
-The seven rescued men were given food
-and drink in strictly moderate quantities.
-Vainly they begged for more, but
-Fosterdyke knew the danger of starving men
-being allowed to eat and drink their fill.
-Nor did he attempt to question them at
-that juncture, beyond ascertaining that
-there were no more boats belonging to their
-ship. They were put into bunks and made to sleep.
-
-It was not until ten o'clock on the
-following morning that four of the rescued
-men put in an appearance in Fosterdyke's
-cabin. The remaining three were too ill
-to leave their bunks.
-
-They were, they said, the sole survivors of
-the American barque *Hilda P. Murchison*,
-thirty days out from Albany, Western
-Australia, and bound for Karachi. Three
-hundred miles east of the Chagos Archipelago
-an explosion took place, but whether
-external or internal the survivors did not
-know. One of them thought it might
-have been a mine. But it was severe
-enough to sink the *Hilda P. Murchison* in
-less than five minutes, and the sole survivors
-were the first mate and six hands of the
-duty watch, who managed to scramble
-into the only boat that had not been
-shattered.
-
-Without food and with only a small
-barrico of water, they set off to make their
-way back to Australia, knowing that with
-the prevailing winds they stood a much
-better chance of making land there than
-if they attempted a three-hundred-mile
-beat to windward, with the risk of missing
-the Chagos Archipelago altogether.
-
-That was eight days ago. They contrived
-to exist upon raw fish, tallow candles--which
-they found in a locker--and half a
-pint of water per man per diem.
-
-Once they sighted a vessel, but their
-signals for assistance were unnoticed. Then
-they encountered a white squall, the tail
-end of a storm that ripped their sails before
-they could stow canvas, and carried away
-the rudder.
-
-The blow was succeeded by a flat calm.
-For hours the cutter drifted idly, her
-roughly repaired sails hanging listlessly in
-the sultry air. Almost overcome by hunger,
-fatigue, and the tropical heat, they were
-on the point of despair when the timely
-arrival of the British airship snatched
-them from a lingering death.
-
-"I hope we'll be able to set you ashore
-at Fremantle within the next eight or ten
-hours," said Fosterdyke. "Meanwhile we'll
-get in touch with the wireless station there
-and report your rescue. Oh, yes, you
-may smoke in the for'ard compartment,
-but you'll find this ship as 'dry' as the
-land of the Stars and Stripes."
-
-During the rest of the day progress was
-well maintained. The westerly breeze
-increased to half a gale, which meant an
-addition of thirty to forty miles an hour
-to the airship's speed. Barring accidents
-the "Golden Hind" would reach Fremantle
-with petrol still remaining in her tanks.
-
-"It's not often one gets a westerly wind
-in the Twenties," observed the baronet.
-"South-east Trades are the usual order of
-things. We're lucky. Normally we should
-have to go as far south as 40° to rely upon
-a westerly wind."
-
-"It will help us from Fremantle to New
-Zealand," said Peter. "I remember
-reading in the paper not so many months ago
-of the skipper of a sailing vessel who tried
-for days to beat up from Melbourne to
-Fremantle. Finally he gave up beating
-to wind'ard as a hopeless job, so he turned
-and ran before the westerly breeze, sailed
-round the Horn and the Cape of Good Hope,
-and actually arrived at Fremantle several
-days before another vessel that had left
-Melbourne at the same time as he did."
-
-"Let's hope we'll find an equally favouring
-wind to help us across the Pacific,"
-remarked Fosterdyke. "We'll want it."
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XV--REVELATIONS
-=======================
-
-"Land ahead!"
-
-The hail brought Fosterdyke and
-Bramsdean from their cabins with the
-utmost alacrity. They had not expected
-to sight Australia for another hour and a
-half, and now there was certainly land far
-away to the east'ard.
-
-During the last three hours the clear
-sky had given place to a thick bank of
-dark clouds. Observations to determine
-the "Golden Hind's" position were therefore
-out of the question. She was steering
-a compass course with the wind almost
-dead aft. It was a case of dead reckoning,
-and now no one knew exactly what part
-of Western Australia they were
-approaching--whether it was north or south
-of the Fremantle aerodrome.
-
-"We'll do it before dark," declared
-Fosterdyke, confidently.
-
-He had hardly spoken when Murgatroyd's
-head and shoulders appeared through the
-hatchway of the navigation-room.
-
-"We're on the last few gallons of petrol,
-sir," he reported. "I've me doubts if the
-engines'll run another ten minutes. They're
-slowing down now," he added.
-
-"Switch off all but numbers 1 and
-2 motors," ordered the baronet. "Keep
-these running for twenty minutes if you
-can, and we'll manage it."
-
-But before the chief engineer could
-regain the for'ard motor-room the six
-aerial propellers were motionless. The
-"Golden Hind" no longer drove through
-the air, but simply drifted broadside on to
-the strong breeze.
-
-Just as the sun sank in the Indian Ocean
-the airship crossed the coastline. Ten
-miles to the north could be discerned Perth
-and Fremantle--ten miles that, as far as
-the "Golden Hind" was concerned might
-have been a thousand.
-
-"Down with her," ordered Fosterdyke.
-"Stand by with both grapnels. We'll
-have to trust to luck to find a good
-anchoring-ground."
-
-It was not until the airship had passed
-over the railway running southward from
-Perth to Busselton that Kenyon noted a
-hill that might afford shelter from the strong wind.
-
-Rapidly several thousand cubic feet of
-brodium were exhausted from the ballonets,
-with the result that the "Golden Hind"
-dropped to within a hundred feet of the ground.
-
-There was just sufficient twilight to make
-out the nature of the landing place. It
-was a wide belt of grassland, dotted here
-and there with small trees. Hedges there were none.
-
-"There are a couple of men on horseback,
-sir," reported Frampton.
-
-"Good," replied Fosterdyke. "Let go
-both grapnels. See how she takes that."
-
-Both of the stout barbed hooks engaged
-the moment they touched the ground.
-Even though the wire ropes were paid out
-in order to reduce the strain, the jerk was
-severe. Round swung the giant airship
-head to wind, but still she dragged. The
-grapnels had caught in a wire fence, and
-having uprooted half a dozen posts, were
-doing their level best to remove a five-mile
-sheep fence.
-
-Up galloped the two farmers. The
-uprooting of their boundary fence hardly
-troubled them. The arrival of the airship--the
-first they had ever seen--occupied
-all their attention.
-
-"Make fast for us, please," hailed
-Fosterdyke, having ordered another rope
-to be lowered.
-
-"Right-o," was the reply. "We'll fix you up."
-
-Dismounting and tethering their
-somewhat restive horses, the two Australians
-took the end of the third wire rope to the
-trunk of a large tree-the only one for
-miles, as it so happened. Fortunately
-they knew how to make a rope fast--an
-accomplishment that few people other
-than seamen possess.
-
-"Where are we?" asked the baronet.
-
-"In Minto County, ten miles from
-Kelmscott," was the reply.
-
-"Any petrol to be had hereabouts?"
-
-"Sure," was the unexpected answer.
-"How much do you want?"
-
-"A hundred gallons--enough to take
-us to Fremantle," replied Fosterdyke rather
-dubiously.
-
-"Two hundred if you want," offered
-the good Samaritan. "I'll run it along
-in less than an hour."
-
-"Will to-morrow at daybreak do equally
-as well?" asked Sir Reginald, knowing
-the difficulty and possible danger of
-handling quantities of the highly volatile
-spirit in the dark. "We'll be all right here
-until morning if the wind doesn't increase."
-
-"It won't," declared the farmer,
-confidently. "If anything it'll fall light. If
-you're in a hurry, I'll hitch you on to my
-motor lorry and tow you into Fremantle."
-
-Fosterdyke thanked him and begged to
-be excused on the score that he was obliged
-by the terms of the race to make a flight
-without outside assistance in the matter
-of propulsion.
-
-The two Australians, declining an invitation
-to go on board the airship, rode away
-in the darkness.
-
-As the farmer had predicted, the wind
-fell away to a dead calm, so the airship
-was able to rest upon the ground, but ready,
-should the breeze spring up, to ascend to
-a hundred feet and there ride it out until
-the promised petrol was forthcoming.
-
-"Now for our first dinner on or over
-Australian soil," exclaimed Fosterdyke.
-"By Jove, I'm hungry! What's going?"
-
-He scanned the menu card. The cooks
-on the airship were good men at their work,
-and dinner, whenever circumstances
-permitted, was rather a formal affair.
-
-"Hullo!" exclaimed Peter. "Covers
-laid for four, eh?"
-
-"Yes," replied the baronet. "I'm
-expecting a guest. Ah! here he is. Let me
-introduce you to my friend, Mr. Trefusis."
-
-Kenyon and Bramsdean could hardly
-conceal their astonishment, for standing
-just inside the doorway, immaculately
-dressed in well-cut clothes, was the man
-they had hitherto known as Otto Freising,
-the fellow who had attempted to shoot
-Fosterdyke at Alexandria.
-
-"Secret Service," explained the baronet.
-"Had to keep the affair dark, even from
-you two fellows."
-
-"You certainly did us in the eye," said Peter.
-
-"No more than I did Señor Jaures,"
-rejoined Trefusis. "I had a rotten time
-cooped up with that bird, but it was worth it."
-
-"So you've succeeded?" asked Fosterdyke.
-
-Trefusis nodded.
-
-"Wouldn't be here if I hadn't," he
-remarked. "It took me some time to get
-the right side of Señor Enrico, but I
-managed it. He rather looked a bit
-sideways at me when I pitched a yarn about
-being a Hun. However, I've got it out
-of him that he was employed by von Sinzig
-to kipper your part of the show, and judging
-by accounts he almost succeeded. You'll
-have enough evidence, Fosterdyke, to
-disqualify von Sinzig."
-
-"I'll think about it," drawled the
-baronet. "After all's said and done the
-Hun is a sport, only his idea of sport differs
-radically from ours. It's his nature, I
-suppose. But another time you fire at me
-with blank cartridges, Trefusis, old son,
-please don't aim at my head. Grains of
-burnt powder in one's eyes aren't pleasant."
-
-"Nor did I feel very pleasant," rejoined
-the Secret Service man, "when that
-officious blighter suggested putting me
-under arrest and trying me in a Civil Court.
-He must have thought you pretty
-high-handed, rushing me off in your airship."
-
-"Yes, it was as well I took Colonel
-Holmes into my confidence," said Fosterdyke.
-"Otherwise you might at this
-moment be cooling your heels in a 'Gippy'
-prison. However, we've got evidence
-against von Sinzig, if needs be."
-
-"What are you going to do with Señor
-Jaures?" asked Trefusis.
-
-"Do with him? Nothing much. Fact,
-I'll do it now, directly we've finished dinner."
-
-The meal over, Fosterdyke ordered
-Enrico Jaures to be brought in. The look
-on the miscreant's features was positively
-astounding when he found his former
-companion in captivity revealed in his
-true colours.
-
-"Now, Enrico Jaures," began Fosterdyke,
-without further preliminaries. "You
-understand English, in spite of your
-previous denial. Read that. If you agree
-to it, you are a free man the moment you've
-signed the statement."
-
-At the promise of liberty Enrico plucked
-up courage. He had a wholesome respect
-for the word of an Englishman.
-
-The document was in the form of a
-confession, stating that Enrico Jaures had
-agreed, for a certain sum promised by Count
-Karl von Sinzig, to hinder, either by
-crippling or destroying the "Golden Hind,"
-Sir Reginald Fosterdyke's attempt to fly
-round the world.
-
-"I'll sign," said Enrico.
-
-He wrote his name. Kenyon and
-Trefusis witnessed the signature.
-
-The baronet folded the document and
-placed it in his pocket.
-
-"Now you can go," he said.
-
-"But how am I to return to Gibraltar?"
-asked Jaures.
-
-"That's your affair," replied Fosterdyke,
-sternly. "You ought to be thankful you're
-still alive. Now go."
-
-At the first sign of dawn the Australian
-farmer, true to his word, arrived with a
-large motor-lorry piled with filled petrol
-cans. He was not alone. The seemingly
-sparsely-populated district now teemed
-with people. Hundreds must have seen
-the "Golden Hind" pass overhead the
-previous evening, but how they discovered
-the airship's temporary anchorage was a
-mystery. There were townsmen in
-motorcars, sturdy farmers on motor-cycles,
-waggons, and carts, backwoodsmen on
-bicycles and on foot. Even the
-"sun-downer" class were represented.
-
-The "Golden Hind" had just completed
-her preparations for flying back to
-Fremantle aerodrome when a motor-cyclist
-rode up and handed Fosterdyke a telegram.
-
-"It was fortunate we didn't make
-Fremantle last night," observed the baronet,
-handing the message to Kenyon and
-Bramsdean. "The aerodrome was destroyed by
-fire at one o'clock this morning."
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XVI--THE OBSERVATION BASKET
-===================================
-
-While the "Golden Hind" was struggling
-towards the shores of Western Australia,
-Count Karl von Sinzig in Z64 was flying
-almost due south from Samarang, in the
-island of Java.
-
-He, too, had had a taste of the cyclone,
-which had extended over the whole of the
-Arabian Sea and had been severely felt as
-far north as the Persian-Turkestan frontier.
-
-Practically helpless in the grip of the
-furious blast, Z64 had been driven far off
-her course. Passing high over the
-mountainous districts of Thibet, the German
-airship, unseen and unheard, finally
-encountered a stiff northerly wind when
-approaching the China Sea in the
-neighbourhood of Hanoi. Already the start
-von Sinzig had obtained over his British
-rival was wiped out. The long detour he
-had been obliged to take represented twelve
-hours' flight under normal conditions, and
-since he knew of Fosterdyke's progress by
-the expedient of picking up the "Golden
-Hind's" wireless message, he realised that
-the latter had made good her belated departure.
-
-At Samarang, Z64 took in fresh
-hydrogen and petrol. Von Sinzig reported his
-arrival to the representatives of the
-International Air Board, and stated his intention
-of proceeding via New Guinea, New
-Caledonia, and Norfolk Island to New
-Zealand, where he would be able to fulfil one
-of the conditions that required the
-competitors to touch at a spot within one degree
-of the nadir to their starting-point.
-
-But von Sinzig had no intention of
-carrying out his declared programme.
-Directly he was well clear of Samarang, he
-shaped a course due south in order to pick
-up the prevailing westerly wind south of
-Australia on which Fosterdyke counted
-also. A stiff northerly wind over the Sunda
-Sea helped the German to attain his object,
-and on the evening that the "Golden
-Hind" drifted to south of Fremantle, Z64
-was skirting the coast of West Australia,
-in the neighbourhood of Geographe Bay.
-
-Von Sinzig was in a bad state of mind.
-He knew by means of a code message from
-Barcelona that one of his agents had made
-an attempt to delay the "Golden Hind's"
-departure. What had actually taken place
-he knew not. All he did know was the
-galling fact that the attempt had been
-unsuccessful, and that by this time his
-rival was practically level with him.
-
-"Hans," he exclaimed, calling one of his
-subordinates, formerly an Unter-Leutnant
-in the German Flying Service and before
-that a Mercantile Marine officer.
-
-Hans Leutter clicked his heels and stood
-to attention.
-
-"You know Fremantle?" enquired the
-count, brusquely.
-
-"Fairly well, mein Herr," was the reply.
-"I've called there perhaps a dozen times
-in cargo boats. The last time was in
-January, 1914."
-
-"There was, of course, no aerodrome there then?"
-
-"Assuredly no, sir."
-
-"According to my information it is on
-the right bank of the Swan River and a
-couple of kilometres to the east of the
-town. It ought to be easily found."
-
-Hans Leutter agreed that to locate it
-ought to be a simple matter.
-
-"Then we'll do so, little Hans,"
-exclaimed the count, grimly. "We might
-even make the Englishman Fosterdyke a
-little present anonymously, of course."
-
-The ex-Unter-Leutnant grinned.
-
-"You wish me to take the Albatross for
-an airing then?" he said.
-
-"Ach, no," replied von Sinzig. "If
-our Albatross were invisible and noiseless,
-it would be different. We'll use the
-observation basket. Overhaul the mechanism
-carefully, because you, little Hans, are
-going to use it."
-
-Hans Leutter saluted and went for'ard.
-He was not at all keen on being told
-off for observation work, but his innate
-sense of discipline made him accept the
-duty without outward signs of resentment.
-Somehow he didn't relish the idea of being
-lowered from the Zeppelin and allowed to
-dangle at the end of two or three thousand
-feet of fine wire.
-
-Shortly before midnight the look-out
-on Z64 picked up the harbour and town
-lights of Fremantle. It was now a fairly
-calm night. At five thousand feet was a
-stratum of light clouds, sufficient to obscure
-the starlight. The climatic conditions for
-von Sinzig's plans were exactly what he wanted.
-
-When the German airship was dead to
-windward of the town her motors were
-switched off and she was allowed to drift
-in and out of the lower edge of the bank
-of clouds.
-
-From her foremost nacelle a circular
-basket, fitted with a vertical vane to
-prevent it from turning round and round like
-a gigantic meat-jack, was hanging. In
-the basket, with a couple of small
-incendiary bombs for company, was Hans
-Leutter. In order to keep in touch with
-the captain of Z64 Hans was provided
-with a wireless telephone.
-
-"All ready," announced the observer. "Lower away."
-
-The well-oiled mechanism ran smoothly
-and noiselessly until a sudden check in the
-downward journey told Hans that the
-observation basket had reached the limit
-of its cable. From where he dangled--nearly
-two-thirds of a mile below the
-airship--Z64 was quite invisible. It was
-therefore safe to assume that the good
-people of Fremantle were likewise not in
-a position to see the huge gas-bag five
-thousand feet overhead, while the
-insignificant observation basket, although only
-a thousand feet or so up, was too minute
-to be spotted against the blurred starlight.
-
-On the other hand, Hans Leutter could
-command a fairly comprehensive view of
-the town beneath him. The tranquil
-waters of the Swan River enabled him to
-fix his position, for even on the darkest
-night a river can readily be seen by an
-aerial observer. The navigation lamps of
-the aerodrome almost misled him. At
-first he mistook them for the railway
-station; but when he discovered his
-mistake he asked himself why the aerial
-signalling lamps were still being exhibited.
-According to the latest wireless messages
-picked up by Z64, the "Golden Hind"
-ought by this time to be berthed in the
-hangar. But, perhaps, he argued, the
-officials in their demonstrations of welcome
-had forgotten to switch the lights off.
-
-"This reminds me of London in 1916,"
-thought Hans. "London in those good old
-days when our Zeppelins came and went
-almost without let or hindrance. Now,
-my beauty, you and I must part."
-
-He raised the bomb and poised it on the
-edge of the basket. In his excitement he
-had completely forgotten his fears at being
-suspended by a steel rope almost the same
-gauge as a piano-wire.
-
-The incendiary bomb was quite a small
-affair, but none the less efficacious. In
-order to guard against identification should
-any of the metal parts be found, the vanes
-were stamped with the British Government
-marks, which showed that von Sinzig, with
-characteristic Teutonic thoroughness, had
-taken the precaution of covering his tracks.
-The British Air Ministry and the Australian
-Commonwealth Government could appraise
-responsibility later--by that time Z64
-would be thousands of miles away.
-
-Allowing for the slight breeze, Hans
-Leutter telephoned for the Zeppelin to
-steer ten degrees to the nor'ard. Slowly
-Z64 carried out the instructions, and
-seesawing gently the observation basket moved
-in a slightly different direction from its
-previous line of drift until the crucial
-moment arrived.
-
-Hans Leutter released the bomb. For
-three seconds the observer could follow
-its downward passage; then it vanished
-into the darkness. Five seconds later the
-missile hit its objective.
-
-There was no need for a second bomb.
-The airship shed was blazing fiercely.
-
-The Hun in the basket spoke into the telephone.
-
-"Direct hit," he reported. "Haul me up."
-
-Z64 had once more stopped her motors
-and was rising rapidly above the bank of
-clouds. At the same time a motor winch
-was winding in the cable, and Hans
-Leutter's rate of progress as the basket
-whirred through the air brought back all
-his fears concerning his hazardous position.
-What if there were a flaw in the wire? It
-was ex-Government stuff, he recalled--material
-that might have been left lying in
-a neglected condition for months before
-von Sinzig acquired it for its present
-purpose. And supposing the wire slipped
-off the drum and got nipped in the cogs
-of the winch? A score of thoughts of a
-similar nature flashed across the observer's
-mind. He broke into a gentle perspiration.
-He trembled violently as a mental
-vision of himself hurtling through space
-gripped him in all its hideousness.
-
-But the wire held. Hans Leutter was
-assisted into the nacelle, where he promptly
-fainted. By that time Z64 was several
-miles away from Fremantle, but a dull
-red glare on the horizon unmistakably
-indicated the extent of the conflagration.
-
-Throughout the night Z64 flew at an
-altitude of not less than fifteen thousand
-feet. Dawn found her far to the south'ard
-of the Great Australian Bight.
-
-Von Sinzig had good cause for keeping
-out of the beaten steamer tracks; nor did
-he intend to pass within a hundred miles
-of the southern part of Tasmania. He
-counted upon arriving at Napier, New
-Zealand, at daybreak on the day following,
-and until then he meant to be most careful
-not to be reported by any vessel.
-
-The commander of Z64 had just sat
-down to breakfast when one of the crew
-entered his cabin.
-
-"Pardon, Herr Offizier," said the man,
-apologetically, "but the observation basket
-is missing."
-
-"What do you mean?" demanded von Sinzig.
-
-"We secured it after Herr Leutter had
-finished with it, Herr Kapitan," explained
-the man. "I myself saw that the four
-bottle-screws were turned up tightly.
-Kaspar Graus, who had been told to
-remove the remaining petrol bomb, came
-and reported that the basket was no
-longer there. The metal clips were still
-attached to the bottle-screws. It would
-appear that these were torn from the
-basket itself."
-
-Count Karl von Sinzig left his breakfast
-untasted and hurried along the catwalk to
-the gondola from which the observation
-basket was hung. His informant's news
-was only too true. Unaccountably the
-basket had been wrenched from its securing
-apparatus.
-
-"It is of little consequence," he declared.
-"We would not have required it again,
-and, since it will not float, it is at the bottom
-of the sea by this time. Perhaps it is as
-well, in case we are inspected by inquisitive
-officials at our next alighting place."
-
-It was an unlucky day for Z64. About
-noon two of her motors developed trouble
-simultaneously. Three hours elapsed
-before the sweating mechanics were able
-to get the recalcitrant engines in running
-order again, and during that period the
-Zeppelin had perforce to slow down
-considerably. Consequently, it was half an
-hour after sunrise when Z64 sighted the
-Three Kings Island to the north-west of
-Cape Maria van Diemen. Here she altered
-course, so as ostensibly to appear as if she
-had been flying straight from New
-Caledonia, and, skirting the west coast of New
-Zealand, headed for Napier, where, by the
-consent of the New Zealand Government,
-von Sinzig was permitted to land and thus
-carry out one of the conditions of the contest.
-
-"We'll fly inland when we sight Auckland,"
-decided the count. "No, don't
-take her up any higher. There is now
-no need for concealment. Let these New
-Zealanders see and comment upon the fact
-that their islands are not beyond reach of
-a good German airship."
-
-And so, flaunting her prowess in the
-rapidly-growing daylight, Z64 approached
-the town of Auckland. The Zeppelin was
-within ten miles of the place when one
-of the crew shouted the disconcerting
-information that there was an airship
-on the starboard bow, travelling east by north.
-
-Rapping out a furious oath, von Sinzig
-snatched up a pair of binoculars. He had
-never before set eyes on the "Golden Hind,"
-although the British airship had passed
-almost immediately above him within a
-few minutes of Z64 leaving her Spanish
-base, but instinctively he realised that
-this was his greatest rival, Sir Reginald
-Fosterdyke's creation.
-
-"Gott in Himmel!" shouted von Sinzig.
-"Leutter, you numbskull, you made a
-hideous mess of things last night! Look--the
-'Golden Hind'!"
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XVII--A SURPRISE FOR CAPTAIN PROUT
-==========================================
-
-Captain Abraham Prout, master and
-part owner of the topsail schooner *Myrtle*,
-of 120 tons burthen, came on deck on
-hearing the mate give the order "All
-hands shorten sail!"
-
-It was six o'clock in the morning, still
-dark and very cold, for the *Myrtle* was
-on the fortieth parallel of the Southern
-Hemisphere, and the month being June
-it was mid-winter. There were flakes of
-snow flying about. For the last three days
-and nights it had either been sleeting,
-raining, or snowing, or else all three together;
-but the wind was fair, and there was every
-prospect of the schooner making a quick
-passage from Albany to Hobart.
-
-"There's something behind this muck,
-Abe," remarked the mate, who, on the
-strength of being the "Old Man's" brother-in-law,
-was on familiar terms with Captain
-Prout. "The old hooker won't carry her
-topsails with the breeze a-freshenin'. Best
-be on the safe side, says I."
-
-"Quite right, Tom," agreed the skipper.
-"New topmasts cost a mort sight o'
-money in these hard times. Anything
-to report?"
-
-"Nothin'," replied the mate, laconically.
-
-He shook the frozen sleet from the rim of
-his sou'wester and turned to inform one of
-the crew, in polite language of the sea, that
-"he'd better get a move on an' not stand
-there a-hanging on to the slack."
-
-"There's some tea a-goin', Tom,"
-announced Captain Prout. "Nip below an'
-get a mug to warm you up a bit."
-
-The mate fell in with the suggestion with
-alacrity. The skipper, having seen the
-hands complete their task of "gettin' the
-tops'ls off her," went aft to where the
-half-frozen helmsman was almost mechanically
-toying with the wheel.
-
-Through sheer force of habit Captain
-Prout peered into the feebly illuminated
-compass-bowl. Even as he did so, there
-was a tremendous crash.
-
-The *Myrtle* trembled from truck to
-kelson, while from aloft a jumble of
-splintered spars, cordage, and canvas fell upon
-the deck like a miniature avalanche.
-
-Captain Prout's first impressions were
-those of pained surprise. For the moment
-he was firmly convinced that the schooner
-had piled herself upon an uncharted rock,
-but the absence of any signs of the vessel
-pounding against a hard bottom reassured
-him on that point.
-
-Although in ignorance of what had
-occurred, the tough old skipper rose to the
-occasion.
-
-"Steady on your helm!" he shouted to
-the man at the wheel. "Don't let her fall
-off her course."
-
-The helmsman obeyed. It was no easy
-matter, since he was enveloped in a fold of
-the mainsail and the *Myrtle* was towing
-the main-topmast and a portion of the
-cross-trees alongside.
-
-Alarmed by the commotion, the "watch
-below"--two men and a boy--rushed on
-deck, while the mate, issuing from the
-after-cabin with a tin pannikin of tea still
-grasped in his hand, raised his voice in a
-strongly worded enquiry to know what had
-happened to the old hooker.
-
-"Get a light, Tom, an' we'll have a
-squint at the damage," shouted the Old
-Man. "One of you sound the well and
-see if she's making any. Dick, you
-just see if them sidelights are burning
-properly."
-
-The mate disappeared, to return with a
-hurricane lamp.
-
-"Jerusalem!" he exclaimed. "Ain't
-it a lash up?"
-
-The mainmast had been broken off five
-feet below the cross-trees, with the result
-that the main and throat halliard blocks
-had gone with the broken spars, while the
-mainsail, with the gaff and boom, had fallen
-across the deck. The shroud halliards
-still held, and the wire shrouds themselves
-trailed athwart both bulwarks. Apparently
-the foremast was intact, since it was the
-main topmast stay that had parted under
-the strain.
-
-This much Captain Prout saw, noted,
-and understood, but what puzzled him was
-a telescoped object, looking very much like
-an exaggerated top-hat, that lay upon the
-deck between the mainmast fife-rail and
-the coaming of the main hatch.
-
-"Guess it's a meteorite," hazarded the mate.
-
-"Meteorite, my foot!" ejaculated
-Captain Prout, scornfully. "If't had been,
-'twould ha' gone slap bang through the
-old hooker, an' we'd have been in the ditch."
-
-"It's had a good try, anyway," rejoined
-the mate. "Half a dozen deck planks stove in."
-
-He held the lantern close to the mysterious object.
-
-"Looks like a bloomin' bath," he
-continued, "and I'm hanged if there isn't a
-whopping big bird in it. Rummiest
-birdcage I've ever set eyes on."
-
-The cause of the damage to the
-*Myrtle's* top-hamper and deck planks
-was Z64's observation basket. Instead
-of falling into the sea and decorously
-sinking to the bottom, as von Sinzig had
-hoped, the contrivance had struck the only
-vessel within a radius of a hundred miles.
-With its head and neck driven completely
-through the aluminium side of the basket
-was a large eagle. The huge bird had struck
-the suspended basket such a tremendous
-blow that the impact had wrenched away
-the metal clips securing it to the bottle-screws.
-
-"Standin' an' looking at the blessed
-thing won't clear away this raffle," said
-the Old Man with asperity. "Set to,
-all hands. Secure and belay all you can
-and cut the rest adrift."
-
-"Heave this lot overboard, Abe?"
-questioned the mate, kicking the basket
-with his sea-boot.
-
-"Best let 'un stop awhile," decided the
-skipper. "Pass a lashing round it. Be
-sharp with that topmast, or it'll stove us in."
-
-Quickly the mate and a couple of hands
-cut away the rigging that held the topmast
-alongside. The heavy spar, which had
-been bumping heavily against the side,
-fell clear. The *Myrtle*, no longer
-impeded by the trailing wreckage, forged
-rapidly through the water, although she
-was now carrying foresail, staysail, and
-outer jib only.
-
-By this time day had broken. The
-snow had ceased falling, and right ahead
-the pale sun shone in a grey, misty sky.
-
-The crew, having made all ship-shape
-as far as lay in their power, were curiously
-regarding the cause of the catastrophe.
-They rather looked upon it as a diversion
-to break the monotony.
-
-"There's a log of sorts, sir," exclaimed
-one of the men, fumbling with the leather
-straps that secured the unused petrol
-bomb. The missile had been badly dented,
-but luckily the safety cap was intact.
-Had it not been so, the bomb would have
-ignited on impact, and the *Myrtle*,
-her snow-swept deck notwithstanding,
-would soon have been enveloped in flames
-from stem to stern.
-
-"Don't fool around with it, Ted," said
-another of the crew, who, an R.N.R. man,
-had seen life and death in the Great
-War. "It's a bomb."
-
-"Well," observed Captain Prout,
-"that's more'n I bargained for. I've
-taken my chances with floating mines,
-but it's coming too much of a good thing
-when these airmen blokes start chucking
-bombs haphazard-like."
-
-"Best pitch the thing overboard,"
-suggested the mate.
-
-"No," objected the Old Man. "If
-we do, we've no evidence. Someone's got
-to pay for this lash up. Government
-broad arrow on the thing, too. That
-fixes it. When we make Hobart I'll raise
-Cain or my name's not Abraham Prout."
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XVIII--UNDER FIRE
-=========================
-
-"It's going to be a close race, Kenyon,"
-remarked Fosterdyke, as Z64 crossed the
-"Golden Hind's" bows at a distance of
-less than a mile.
-
-"Guess we're top-dog, though," replied
-Kenneth. "We've wiped out the Hun's
-useful lead, and at the half-way point
-we're practically level."
-
-"Yes," agreed the baronet; "but we
-must not ignore the element of chance.
-Let me see"--he referred to the large
-Mercator map--"according to the latest
-reports, Commodore Nye's 'Eagle' is at
-Khartoum. His hop across the Atlantic
-and a non-stop run over the Sahara takes
-a lot of beating. I'd like to meet that
-Yankee. And there's the Jap, Count
-Hyashi. He's at Panama, after having
-been hung up for three days at Honolulu.
-If he'd been able to carry on without a
-hitch, his quadruplane would have won
-the race. So it appears that all the
-competitors have completed half the course
-at practically the same time."
-
-"Aeroplane approaching, sir," reported Collings.
-
-Right ahead a biplane was heading
-towards the "Golden Hind," followed
-at close intervals by three more.
-Seemingly ignoring the German airship, which
-was now on a diverging course, the four
-machines with admirable precision turned
-and accompanied the British airship.
-
-Two took up station on either side of
-the "Golden Hind." Each flew the New
-Zealand ensign. It was Fosterdyke's
-preliminary welcome to the Antipodes.
-
-Gliding serenely earthwards in perfectly
-calm air, the "Golden Hind" entered the
-big shed prepared for her reception. The
-civic officials of Auckland turned out in
-force, supported by crowds of "Diggers"
-and a fair sprinkling of Maoris.
-
-"We quite understand," was the mayor's
-remark when Fosterdyke, thanking him
-for the warmness of his reception, firmly
-but courteously refused to attend a
-banquet proposed to be given in his honour.
-"This is a race, not a ceremonial tour.
-The prestige of the Empire is at stake, so
-get on with it."
-
-Accordingly, the "Golden Hind's" crew
-did "get on with it." Aided by scores
-of willing helpers, they replenished fuel
-tanks, took in fresh water and provisions
-and necessary stores. A representative
-of the International Air Board was in
-attendance to sign the control sheet,
-certifying that the "Golden Hind" had
-completed half the circuit, and had touched
-at a spot within a degree of the opposite
-point of the globe to his starting-point.
-Within an hour and a quarter of her
-arrival at Auckland the British airship
-started on her homeward voyage.
-
-Although New Zealand had no cause
-to show any goodwill towards the Huns,
-von Sinzig had no reason to complain of
-his reception. He was received coldly,
-it is true, but the New Zealanders,
-sportsmen all, were not ones to put obstacles
-in the way of an alien and former enemy.
-
-Notified by wireless of Z64's impending
-arrival at Napier, the authorities at that
-town had cylinders of hydrogen and a large
-stock of petrol in readiness for the German
-airship's requirements. Within ten minutes
-of the "Golden Hind's" departure from
-Auckland Z64 started from Napier.
-
-The contest had now entered upon a
-more interesting phase. It was almost
-certain that the rivals would take a
-practically identical course, crossing the
-American continent in the neighbourhood of the
-Isthmus of Panama. The lofty Andes,
-extending like a gigantic backbone from
-Colombia to Patagonia--an almost
-uninterrupted range 450 miles in
-length--presented a difficult, though not exactly
-insurmountable obstacle to the rival airships.
-
-Vainly the wireless operators of the
-"Golden Hind" sought to "pick up"
-the Zeppelin. Von Sinzig had seen to
-that, for directly the German airship left
-New Zealand he gave orders that on no
-account were messages to be transmitted,
-but on the other hand, the receivers were
-to be constantly in use, in order to pick
-up any radiograms that might throw light
-upon the movements of the "Golden Hind."
-
-Apart from the chagrin at the knowledge
-that his attempt to burn the British
-airship was a failure, von Sinzig felt rather
-elated. His deceptive report of the course
-he had taken from Java to New Zealand
-had been accepted by the authorities
-without question; hence no suspicion could
-possibly be attached to him for the burning
-of the Fremantle aerodrome. He was
-also of the opinion that Z64 was a swifter
-craft than her rival, and possessed another
-advantage--that of greater fuel-carrying
-capacity. Even if the "Golden Hind"
-did possess a higher speed, she would have
-to alight more frequently to replenish her tanks.
-
-As far as the "Golden Hind" was
-concerned the run across the Panama was
-almost devoid of incident. With the
-exception of a distant view of Pitcairn
-Island--famous in connection with the
-mutiny of the *Bounty*--no land was
-sighted until Galapagos Group was seen
-ten miles on the starboard bow.
-
-The "Golden Hind" was now re-crossing
-the equator. Fosterdyke, who had
-crossed the line at least a dozen times,
-in all sorts of vessels from luxuriant liners
-to singy tramps, and even on one occasion
-on board a wind-jammer, declared that
-there was nothing to beat an airship for
-travelling in the Tropics.
-
-"For one thing you can keep cool,"
-he added; "another, that will appeal to
-a good many people, is the fact that
-an airship is beyond reach of Father
-Neptune and his merry myrmidons. And the
-Doldrums, instead of being regarded as a
-terror, afford an easy passage to aircraft
-of all descriptions."
-
-With the setting of the sun a thick mist
-arose--one of those humid tropical mists
-that are responsible for malaria and other
-zymotic diseases peculiar to the Torrid Zone.
-
-At a couple or three thousand feet
-altitude, the "Golden Hind" was in pure
-clear air, but in the brief twilight the
-banks of mist as viewed from above were
-picturesque in the extreme.
-
-But to the crew of the "Golden Hind"
-the picturesqueness of the scene was in a
-measure unappreciated. They were
-nearing land, and a fog was one of the most
-undesirable climatic conditions. Not only
-was time a consideration, but the petrol
-supply was running low. But for this,
-Fosterdyke would have slowed down and
-cruised around until the mists dispersed
-with daybreak.
-
-"We'll have to risk it and make a
-descent," he declared. "Anywhere within
-easy distance of Panama will do, because
-it is a calm night and there will be little
-or no risk of the 'Golden Hind' being
-exposed to a high wind. Thank goodness
-we've directional wireless."
-
-At length Fosterdyke felt convinced
-that the "Golden Hind" was nearing
-Panama. He had arranged by wireless
-to detonate three explosive rockets, and
-the United States Air Station was to
-reply with a similar signal, while searchlights,
-directed vertically, would enable
-the airship to locate the landing-ground.
-
-"Hanged if I can see any searchlights,"
-exclaimed Bramsdean.
-
-"Killed by the mist," explained the
-baronet. "I fancy I see a blurr of light
-two points on our port bow. What's that,
-Truscott?"
-
-The wireless operator had left his cabin
-and was standing behind Fosterdyke as the
-latter was peering through the darkness.
-
-"There's a jam for some reason,"
-announced Truscott. "For the last five
-minutes I've been calling up Panama,
-but there's nothin' doin'. A high-powered
-installation, using the same metre-wave,
-is cutting in. I asked them to knock off,
-but they haven't done so."
-
-"Inconsiderate blighters!" exclaimed
-Fosterdyke. "Never mind, Truscott, we
-can get along all right now. I fancy I
-can see the aerodrome lights."
-
-"Yes, sir," agreed Kenyon. "One point
-on our port bow now."
-
-"Then fire the rockets," ordered the
-baronet, at the same time telegraphing for
-the motors to be declutched.
-
-Three vivid flashes rent the darkness,
-their brilliance illuminating a wide area
-of the fog-bank a thousand feet below,
-while the report echoed over the level line
-of misty vapour like a continuous peal
-of thunder.
-
-Within a minute of the discharge of
-the third rocket two bursts of flame,
-accompanied by sharp reports, occurred
-at a distance of less than a quarter of a
-mile of the "Golden Hind's" port quarter,
-while after an interval of fifteen seconds
-three more exploded simultaneously in
-the same direction.
-
-"Guess Uncle Sam can't count,"
-remarked Kenyon, imitating to perfection
-the nasal drawl of the typical New
-Englander.
-
-"Looks to me like shrapnel," added
-Bramsdean. "Judging by the way the
-smoke mushroomed, it reminds me of
-Archies over the Hun lines."
-
-"Good enough, we'll drop gently,"
-decided Fosterdyke. "Stand by with the
-holding-down lines and have a couple of
-grapnels ready."
-
-The amount of brodium necessary to
-more than neutralise the lifting power of
-the gas and the dead weight of the
-airship was exhausted from the requisite
-number of ballonets, and the "Golden
-Hind" began to sink almost vertically
-in the still air.
-
-Within five minutes she entered the
-belt of mist--a warm, sickly-smelling
-atmosphere that reminded Kenyon of a
-hot-house.
-
-"I hear voices," announced Peter.
-
-Not far beneath the airship men were
-shouting and talking excitedly, but the
-crew of the "Golden Hind" were unable
-to understand what the men were saying.
-
-"Ahoy, there!" hailed Fosterdyke.
-"Stand by to take our ropes."
-
-Both grapnels were carefully lowered,
-since there would be grave risks entailed
-by throwing them overboard. At the
-same time half a dozen holding-down ropes
-were paid out from each side of the nacelle.
-These were caught by unseen hands and
-the airship was quickly drawn earthwards
-at far too great a speed to please Sir
-Reginald Fosterdyke.
-
-"Gently," he shouted. "Avast heaving."
-
-The response was a terrible surprise.
-Simultaneously two searchlights were
-unmasked, their powerful beams at short
-range punctuating the fog and impinging
-upon the enormous envelope of the
-"Golden Hind," while an irregular fusillade
-of musketry assailed the airship on
-all sides.
-
-"Up with her!" shouted Fosterdyke.
-"Charge all the ballonets. We've struck
-a revolution."
-
-CHAPTER XIX--VICTIMS OF A REVOLUTION
-====================================
-
-Above the staccato of rifle-firing rose the
-roar of the "Golden Hind's" powerful
-motors. Volumes of brodium, released
-from the pressure-flasks, rushed into the
-ballonets. The airship rose at an oblique
-angle, her nose almost touching the ground.
-Then, as the aerial propellers went ahead,
-the fore-part of the fuselage ploughed over
-the rough ground.
-
-With thirty or forty men hanging on
-like grim death to the guide-lines, and as
-many more tailing on to the grapnel
-ropes, the "Golden Hind," with gas
-leaking from numerous bullet holes in her
-ballonets, was unable to seek refuge in
-her natural element.
-
-Fortunately for the safety of the airship's
-crew, the rifle-firing quickly ceased
-as soon as the attackers realised that they
-had effected her capture. Apparently it
-was their intention to prevent further
-damage being done to the huge airship.
-
-Finding that escape was impossible and
-unable to offer resistance, Fosterdyke
-opened out one of the doors of the nacelle
-and raised his hands above his head. It
-was no disgrace in surrendering thus.
-Alive the crew of the "Golden Hind"
-could offer and receive explanations.
-Dead, they could not.
-
-The appearance of the captain of the
-"Golden Hind" was greeted by peremptory
-orders, shouted in an unintelligible
-language. It certainly wasn't American.
-It seemed to Fosterdyke that it was a kind
-of Spanish, and since he was ignorant of
-that tongue he failed to grasp the meaning
-of the volume of directions.
-
-Covered by scores of rifles, Fosterdyke,
-Kenyon, and Bramsdean headed the crew
-of the airship. Completely bewildered by
-the aggressive nature of their reception,
-and not knowing what fate would befall
-them, the position of the British airmen was
-critical in the extreme. Yet they bore
-themselves calmly and bravely, scorning
-to let their captors know that inwardly
-at least they "felt the breeze."
-
-Deftly, as if they were well used to
-performing the operation, two half-breeds
-searched the baronet for concealed weapons.
-The rest of the crew were subjected to the
-same treatment. Finding nothing in the
-nature of arms, the searchers looked rather
-astonished and disappointed.
-
-A gorgeously uniformed man, evidently
-the commandant of the band, walked up to
-the baronet and saluted with an elaborate
-flourish. There was little doubt about it;
-he had already come to the conclusion that
-a mistake had occurred, and that he rather
-feared the consequences.
-
-"Americano, señor?" he asked.
-
-"No," replied Fosterdyke. "English."
-
-"Madre de Dios!" ejaculated the
-commandant in ill-concealed consternation.
-He shouted something to his followers.
-After a brief interval, a tall, olive-featured
-follower, whose black oiled locks fell on
-his shoulders, slouched forward and
-announced--
-
-"Me speak English. Vot you do here?"
-
-Mutual explanations took a considerable
-time; but eventually Fosterdyke and his
-companions gleaned the salient facts for
-the reason of the attack and capture of
-the "Golden Hind."
-
-In the tropical mists the airship had
-landed not in the Panama Zone but in a
-neighbouring republic, which, as is by no
-means an unusual occurrence, was indulging
-in a little political diversion in the
-shape of a revolution. Just at present
-there was no means of ascertaining which
-was the predominant faction, but one side
-had gained possession of an old
-airship--purchased at a disposal sale of one of the
-*Entente* countries. This airship, hastily
-fitted out and provided with bombs and
-machine-guns, was known to be on the
-point of operating against the Federals.
-The latter were therefore expecting the
-raiding airship when the "Golden Hind,"
-miles out of her course owing to the mists
-and a side wind that, unknown to the
-navigating officers, had blown her well to leeward,
-fired her detonating rockets almost immediately
-over the Federal party's main force.
-
-The Federals knew nothing of the Round
-the World Race; but their anxiety to
-make amends was most marked. They
-offered to provide unlimited supplies of
-petrol, and to render any assistance that
-lay in their power; but the fact remained
-that the hasty fusillade had caused
-considerable damage to the "Golden Hind."
-
-At first Fosterdyke thought that the
-airship was out of the running. Kenyon
-and Bramsdean were of the same opinion,
-for the loss of brodium through the
-punctured ballonets seemed a fatal obstacle to
-the immediate resumption of the flight.
-
-Further examination revealed the fact
-that half the number of the ballonets were
-holed. Of these almost every one could
-be patched and made gas-tight, since the
-rifle-bullets, being of small calibre and of
-high velocity, had bored minute holes.
-But what was far more serious was the
-shortage of brodium. Even by releasing
-the contents of the reserve cylinders it
-was doubtful whether there was sufficient
-to lift the airship.
-
-"We'll have a good try, anyway,"
-declared Fosterdyke. "Once we get her
-up we'll rely on our planes to get us across
-the Atlantic. Thank goodness the motors
-are intact! I wonder if there's much
-damage done to the navigation-room.
-Several bullets came unpleasantly close
-to our heads, I remember."
-
-Examination resulted in the knowledge
-that although the aluminium sides of the
-nacelle had been liberally peppered, most
-of the nickel bullets had penetrated both
-sides without doing vital damage. What
-was the most serious injury was caused
-to the propellers of Nos. 5 and 6 motors,
-the feather-edged blades being chipped
-by bullets. Since the spare blades had
-already been used earlier in the voyage
-replacement was out of the question.
-The ragged edges meant at least a reduction
-of ten miles an hour, even if the blades did
-not fly to pieces when the propellers were
-running at maximum speed.
-
-During the rest of the night the crew
-worked with a will--patching, mending,
-and "doping" the holed fabric and
-carefully testing each repaired ballonet with
-compressed air before refilling it with the
-precious brodium.
-
-Meanwhile, the Federals brought quantities
-of petrol, employing teams of mules
-for the purpose, their petrol dump being
-a good five miles from the scene of the
-"Golden Hind's" unfortunate landing.
-Every drop had to be passed through a
-fine gauze strainer before being allowed to
-enter the tanks, since foreign matter in the
-fuel might easily result in motor trouble.
-
-Anxious to make amends, the
-commandant also presented the baronet with
-a quantity of excellent tobacco and cigars,
-several native cakes made of maize, an
-earthenware bowl filled with good butter,
-and a wicker crate of fresh fruit.
-
-By dawn the refitting of the "Golden
-Hind" was accomplished as far as lay in
-the power of the dauntless crew. Now
-came the crucial test: would the airship
-rise under the lifting power of the reduced
-volume of brodium?
-
-At seven o'clock the huge fabric showed
-signs of buoyancy. A quarter of an hour
-later the recording instruments showed
-that only another thousand cubic feet of
-gas was necessary to overcome the force
-of gravity.
-
-"We haven't that quantity, sir,"
-reported Chief Air Mechanic Hayward.
-"But I would suggest, sir, that we release
-our reserve gas into the for'ard ballonets.
-That will lift her nose clear of the ground,
-and the propellers will do the rest. Once
-we're up, sir, it will be as easy as shelling peas."
-
-"We can but try it," replied Fosterdyke.
-"At any rate, if we can make
-Panama we will manage with hydrogen
-for the remaining ballonets. Right-o!
-Pass the word when you're ready."
-
-At seven-thirty the crew were at their
-stations. The for'ard portion of the
-airship was straining at the guide ropes.
-The declutched motors, purring gently
-at a quarter throttle, were awaiting the
-order that would transform them into
-propulsive forces. Until the planes could
-be brought into action the "Golden Hind"
-was much in the nature of a rocket soaring
-obliquely under the influence of a
-self-contained impulsive charge.
-
-Throwing open one of the windows of
-the riddled navigation-room, Fosterdyke
-surveyed the crowd below. The Federal
-troops, in spite of their bizarre uniforms
-and varied equipment, were fairly well
-disciplined. Those not actually engaged
-in holding down the airship were formed
-up at about fifty yards from the nacelle,
-interested spectators of the largest airship
-that had ever passed over the territory
-of the Central American Republic.
-
-"Let go!" shouted the baronet.
-
-The order, interpreted by the Creole
-who claimed to have a knowledge of
-English, was obeyed promptly. The men
-seemed to have an inkling of what would
-happen if they did not, and they dropped the
-guide ropes as though they were hot irons.
-
-Simultaneously, as the bows of the
-"Golden Hind" lifted, Kenyon telegraphed
-for "full ahead."
-
-With four of the propellers purring in
-their accustomed way and the two after
-ones roaring like gigantic buzzers, as the
-jagged edges revolved rapidly in the air,
-the "Golden Hind" ascended obliquely,
-with her major axis inclined at an angle
-of forty degrees to the horizontal.
-
-The Federal troops were waving their
-nondescript headgear and brandishing
-their rifles in token of farewell.
-Doubtless they were cheering and shouting also,
-but the noise of the airship's propellers
-out-voiced all extraneous sounds.
-
-At a height of one thousand feet the
-six planes were trimmed and brought into
-action, with the result that the "Golden
-Hind" settled down on almost an even keel.
-
-Four minutes later the scene of the
-unfortunate "regrettable incident" was
-lost to sight.
-
-"Thanks be, we're up!" ejaculated Fosterdyke.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XX--WIRELESS REPORTS
-============================
-
-"Kenyon!" exclaimed the baronet.
-
-"Sir?"
-
-"We'll cut Panama," was Fosterdyke's
-astounding decision. "We'll carry straight
-away on. She's doing splendidly, shortage
-of brodium notwithstanding. We've plenty
-of fuel, so it's a dash for Madeira."
-
-"How about reporting at the Panama
-control?" asked Kenneth.
-
-"I'll risk omitting that," replied Sir
-Reginald. "Being mixed up in a potty
-revolution is quite sufficient excuse for
-non-compliance with regulations. It isn't as
-if we were bound to report ourselves, as in
-the case of Auckland. Bramsdean, you
-might ask the wireless operator to report us
-to Panama, and enquire if there's any news
-of our rivals. Last night's affair has given
-von Sinzig a very useful lead, I'm afraid."
-
-Peter hastened to give the necessary
-orders. Presently he returned.
-
-"No news of the Hun, sir," he reported.
-"The Yankee airship made a bad landing
-at Port Denison, Queensland, and was
-totally destroyed by fire."
-
-"Hard lines," remarked Fosterdyke,
-feelingly. "Commodore Nye is a good sport.
-I hope he wasn't injured?"
-
-"Far from it," replied Bramsdean. "In
-fact he's reported to have cabled to
-Melbourne asking the Victorian Government
-if they can sell him a Vickers-Vimy, so
-that he can continue the contest."
-
-"Good luck to him, then!" exclaimed
-the baronet. "And the Jap?"
-
-"Looks like a winner, sir," replied
-Peter. "The quadruplane is reported
-passing over Calcutta."
-
-"Next to beating Fritz myself, the Jap
-is the fellow I hope will do it," remarked
-Fosterdyke. "By Jove! I'd like to know
-where von Sinzig is and what he's doing."
-
-The "Golden Hind," now virtually a
-heavier-than-air machine, was doing her
-level best to make up for the unlucky
-contretemps that had delayed her for eight
-precious hours. Unaccountably the
-reduction of the volume of brodium in her
-ballonets, although the rigid aluminium
-envelope had not appreciably contracted,
-had resulted in a marked increase of speed.
-Judging by the time she took to cover the
-distance between Panama and Nevis, in
-the Lesser Antilles--a distance of 1250
-miles--her speed over the water was not
-far short of 190 miles an hour.
-
-"If those two props had not been
-crippled," lamented Kenyon, "we'd be
-doing a good two hundred."
-
-"I'm content," rejoined Fosterdyke,
-"provided we can keep it up. If we don't lap
-Z64 in another twelve hours, you can jolly
-well boot me, Kenyon!"
-
-A few minutes later the wireless operator
-appeared and handed Fosterdyke a long
-written message.
-
-The baronet's face was a study of varying
-emotions as he read the news. Kenyon,
-watching him, wondered what had
-happened. Not that he was surprised; after
-the experiences of the last week or so, it
-would take something very much out of
-the common to take Kenneth Kenyon aback.
-
-"Evidently our friend von Sinzig has
-butted in where he didn't ought," remarked
-Fosterdyke, handing his companion the
-slip of paper.
-
-It was a general Marconigram
-communication to the Press Agency, and read
-as follows:
-
-"Hobart, Tasmania, Thursday. The
-schooner *Myrtle*, Abraham Prout, master,
-arrived here this morning in a damaged
-condition. Her master reports that in
-lat. 43° 15' S., long. 141° 20' E., the schooner
-was hit by a falling object, which Captain
-Prout subsequently brought into port.
-Examination showed that the object in
-question was an airship observation box
-or basket. In it, fortunately intact, and
-with the safety vane locking the detonator-pin,
-was an incendiary bomb stamped with
-the broad arrow. Experts here agree that
-the bomb is certainly not a British
-Government's missile, and by certain markings on
-the observation basket it is safe to assume
-that it belonged to a German airship. The
-basket and the bomb are being forwarded
-to the Commonwealth Air Board Headquarters
-at Sydney."
-
-Then came another report:
-
-"Fremantle, Western Australia,
-Thursday. Investigations amongst the ruins of
-the aerodrome destroyed by fire yesterday
-morning have resulted in the finding of
-the remains of an aerial torpedo bearing
-the British Government mark. This
-discovery completely upsets the original
-theory as to the cause of the outbreak.
-Various rumours are afloat, but pending an
-official declaration on the subject, the Press
-is requested to confine reports to the actual
-known facts. A further communication
-will be made as soon as definite information
-is forthcoming."
-
-"Yes, von Sinzig is getting desperate,"
-remarked Kenyon. "It's a dead cert that
-he thought we were berthed in the
-Fremantle aerodrome that night. But
-how in the name of goodness did he get so
-far south? It was reported he went direct
-from Java to New Zealand, passing north
-of Australia."
-
-"He reported, you mean," corrected
-Fosterdyke. "Trying to throw dust in
-one's eyes is an old trick of Fritz's.
-Personally, I don't believe he took the northern
-route, and that he picked up our wireless
-announcing our intention of making
-Fremantle, and then tried to do us in."
-
-"He's done for himself, any old way,"
-declared Kenyon. "I wonder if a Hun
-can ever be a sportsman?"
-
-"I wonder," echoed the baronet. "I've
-come across a good many Huns during the
-last five years, but I'm hanged if I ever
-met one who knew how to play the game."
-
-Half an hour later the "Golden Hind"
-intercepted a wireless message to the effect
-that the British, American, and French
-Governments had issued joint instructions
-for the German airship Z64 to be detained
-at the next landing-place.
-
-"That looks like business," commented
-Kenyon. "Von Sinzig's out of the running."
-
-"Unless he contrives to land in Spanish
-territory," added the baronet. "There
-are the Canary Islands, for instance. He
-could, and probably will, claim immunity
-as a political offender. I don't think he
-can be extradited. You see, it has to be
-proved to the hilt that he actually and by
-deliberate intent dropped a bomb on the
-aerodrome. No, I fancy we haven't lost
-our Hun rival yet. He stands a chance of
-romping home, so it's up to us to beat Z64."
-
-"I'd like to know what the blighter's
-doing now," said Kenneth, tentatively.
-"Perhaps he's within fifty miles of us."
-
-"Provided he's fifty miles behind us, I
-won't worry my head about him," declared
-Sir Reginald. "I'm not particularly keen
-on coming in touch with him on a dark
-night. He might try his hand at another
-dirty trick."
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XXI--VON SINZIG'S BID FOR SAFETY
-========================================
-
-Count Karl von Sinzig was in a particularly
-bad temper. He had just learned,
-by picking up various wireless messages,
-that "the cat was out of the bag." In
-other words, the discovery of the lost
-observation basket had landed him in a
-very awkward predicament.
-
-He blamed everyone and everybody save
-himself. The luckless Unter-Leutnant, Hans
-Leutter, came in for a very bad time
-because he hadn't got rid of the second
-bomb. The petty officer, who had
-conscientiously seen that the bottle-screws
-securing the basket were properly made
-fast, was bullied and browbeaten because
-the basket was torn away. The rest of
-the crew, the makers of the airship, and
-every person having anything to do with
-the aerial contest also came in for abuse.
-
-The count was also puzzled at not being
-able to intercept any messages from the
-"Golden Hind" after the one announcing
-her approach to Panama. Z64 had
-reported at Colon, when, according to the
-latest information, the British airship was
-hard on the heels of her German rival.
-
-And now, almost the final straw, came
-the general wireless message declaring that
-Z64 was proscribed and liable to be detained
-should she touch at any place belonging to
-either of the *entente* nations.
-
-Fosterdyke had accurately gauged his
-rival's intentions. The knowledge that his
-guilty secret was out compelled von Sinzig
-to change his plans and make for Teneriffe,
-whence, having replenished fuel, he ought
-to be easily able to complete the last stage
-of the round the world voyage.
-
-When about 300 miles to the westward
-of the Canaries, but farther to the north
-than von Sinzig hoped to be, owing to a
-strong side-drift, Z64 encountered a violent
-storm. In order to try to avoid the worst
-of the terrific wind and rain, the airship
-began to ascend, hoping to find better
-conditions in the rarefied atmosphere.
-
-Z64 was ascending obliquely under the
-action of her huge horizontal rudders and
-was passing through a dense cloud when a
-vivid flash of lightning, followed almost
-immediately by a deafening crash of
-thunder, appeared to penetrate the airship
-through and through.
-
-Almost every man on board shouted with
-terror. They were fully convinced that the
-hydrogen had ignited. There was a frantic
-rush for the life-saving parachutes, until
-Unter-Leutnant Hans Leutter reassured
-the panic-stricken crew with the information
-that the gas-bag had not taken fire.
-
-Meanwhile the airship, left to its own
-devices, since the helmsman had abandoned
-the wheel, had turned eight degrees to port
-and was travelling at a rate of 120 miles
-an hour on a course N. by W.
-
-Von Sinzig, who "had the wind up" as
-badly as anybody, was nowhere to be found
-for some time. Leutter even came to the
-conclusion that his superior officer had
-leapt overboard when the alarm of fire
-had been raised; but after a lapse of
-twenty-five minutes the count re-appeared,
-looking very grey and haggard.
-
-"I think I must have been stunned,
-Herr Leutter," he said in explanation.
-
-His subordinate accepted the excuse
-without smiling incredulously. He had
-seen his chief bolting for his very life. He
-certainly did not look like being stunned.
-
-"Take charge for a while," continued
-von Sinzig. "I am not feeling well. I
-must go to my cabin and lie down."
-
-He staggered aft along the narrow
-catwalk, while the Unter-Leutnant gave
-orders for the airship to be brought back
-on her original course.
-
-It was easier said than done. The
-gigantic gas-bag was see-sawing erratically.
-She had difficulty in answering to her
-helm, and in spite of the fact that the
-horizontal rudders were trimmed for ascending,
-the airship was decreasing her altitude.
-
-Then reports began to come in from the
-still "jumpy" crew. The engineer
-reported that the after propeller was damaged;
-another man announced that there was a
-large gash in the aluminium envelope, and
-that several of the after ballonets were
-leaking rapidly.
-
-Further examination revealed the grave
-fact that one of the propeller blades had
-fractured, and the flying piece of metal had
-penetrated the gas-bag at about eighty feet
-from the after-end. So great had been the
-velocity of the broken blade that it had
-practically wrecked every gas compartment
-in the stern of the envelope.
-
-Unter-Leutnant Leutter sent a man to
-inform von Sinzig. He had to do that,
-although he would have preferred to act upon
-his own initiative. He was decidedly "fed
-up" with his arrogant and craven skipper.
-
-The count arrived quickly. He led off
-by abusing Leutter in front of several of
-the crew for having disturbed him; then,
-on being told of what had occurred, he
-changed completely round and complimented
-his subordinate on his sagacity.
-
-"Z64's done, Herr kapitan," declared
-Hans Leutter. "She's sinking rapidly.
-Half an hour, perhaps, will find her falling
-into the sea. We must take steps to
-safeguard ourselves."
-
-"Quite true," agreed the count.
-"Although there will be enough buoyancy
-in the envelope to keep it afloat for
-hours--days even. What do you propose to do?"
-
-"Throw overboard everything of a
-weighty nature, Herr kapitan," replied
-the Unter-Leutnant. "We can empty the
-petrol tanks, since we have no further use
-for the motors. Meanwhile we must send
-out a general wireless call for assistance
-to all ships within a hundred or two
-hundred kilometres of us."
-
-Count Karl von Sinzig thought this quite
-an excellent idea. At least, he said so. At
-the back of his mind he had a hazy notion
-that even now there was a chance of
-winning the Chauvasse Prize. There was
-nothing in the conditions forbidding a
-competitor----
-
-His ruminations were interrupted by the
-appearance of the wireless operator, who
-reported that both the transmitter and the
-receiver were out of action, and that the
-wireless cabin bore signs of having been
-struck by lightning.
-
-"Can't you effect repairs?" demanded von Sinzig.
-
-"I am sorry I cannot, Herr kapitan,"
-replied the operator.
-
-"A useful wireless man you are!"
-commented the count, caustically.
-
-The man saluted and backed away
-from his chief, congratulating himself that
-he had come off so lightly. But von
-Sinzig was rather pleased than otherwise
-that the wireless was out of action. It
-furnished him with a good excuse to put a
-certain little plan into execution.
-
-"Are there any vessels in sight?" he asked.
-
-A look-out man had been scanning the
-wide expanse of sea for the last ten minutes.
-
-"Nothing in sight, Herr kapitan," he announced.
-
-By this time Z64 was well beyond the
-storm-area. The sea, now a bare 3000
-feet below, was no longer white with angry
-crested waves, but by the aid of binoculars
-it could be seen that there was a long swell
-running.
-
-"Then there's nothing to be done unless
-we make use of the Albatross," declared
-von Sinzig. "I will go and look for a ship."
-
-Hans Leutter and those of the crew who
-heard the count's resolve received the
-proposal in stony silence. They all
-recognised that their kapitan was violating
-the traditions of the sea and the air by
-being the first to abandon his command.
-Of the crew at least four were capable of
-flying the small but powerful monoplane,
-so there was no excuse on that score of von
-Sinzig being the only man able to take the
-Albatross up.
-
-In obedience to a peremptory order the
-crew hurriedly prepared the monoplane
-for her flight. The Albatross, nominally
-used for starting from and alighting on the
-ground, was adapted for marine work by
-having three small floats, the lower portions
-of which were just above the wheel base
-line, so that the monoplane could be used
-either as an ordinary machine or as a seaplane.
-
-In the present circumstances von Sinzig
-elected to start from the air. The
-Albatross, suspended by a quick release
-gear from the underside of the 'midship
-gondola, was ready before the airship had
-dropped to a thousand feet.
-
-"You will be quite safe," reiterated the
-count. "I'll send the first vessel I meet
-to your assistance. It may be a matter of
-a few hours. All ready? Let go."
-
-The monoplane's motor was already
-running slowly. Directly von Sinzig felt
-the Albatross had parted company with
-her gigantic parent he opened "all out." At
-a hundred and thirty miles an hour he
-was soon lost to sight.
-
-"He's going east by north, I notice,"
-soliloquised Hans Leutter. "I will be
-greatly surprised if he returns to Z64."
-
-And the count was of the same opinion.
-He hadn't the faintest intention of flying
-back to the airship. Nor was he
-particularly keen on reporting Z64's predicament
-to any vessel he sighted.
-
-He was out to win the Chauvasse Prize.
-The sum went to the man who succeeded
-in flying round the world in twenty days.
-There was no stipulation to the effect that
-only one airship, flying-boat, aeroplane, or
-seaplane must be used throughout the
-flight. Therefore, since the goal was within
-a comparatively easy distance, he hoped to
-complete the circuit in the Albatross, and
-thus win the coveted prize.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XXII--THE END OF Z64
-============================
-
-"By Jove! Kenyon, what's that over on
-our starboard bow?" exclaimed Bramsdean.
-
-Kenneth raised his binoculars and
-focussed them on a dark object in the
-direction indicated.
-
-"That," he replied after a brief survey,
-"is a Zepp. There's not much mistake
-about that. She is also in difficulties
-apparently, since Zepps don't generally
-assume an angle of forty-five degrees.
-It is also reasonable to assume that it is
-Z64, since we know that von Sinzig was
-keeping a course slightly divergent to ours.
-The southerly wind has evidently driven
-her northward."
-
-Fosterdyke was asleep in his cabin, but
-upon hearing the news he hurried to the
-navigation-room.
-
-"Are we Pharisees or Good Samaritans,
-sir?" enquired Kenyon. "Do we pass by
-on the other side, or do we stop to render
-assistance?"
-
-"It strikes me that something more
-than assistance is required," replied the
-baronet. "Obviously our friend von
-Sinzig is out of the running. His airship
-is down and out. If there are any of the
-crew on board, we'll be just in time to
-prevent them losing the number of their mess."
-
-Z64 was in a very bad way. The after
-part of the envelope was half submerged.
-The rearmost gondola was entirely so.
-The foremost car was rising and falling
-owing to the slight buoyancy of the for'ard
-ballonets. At one moment it was thirty
-or forty feet above the water, at another it
-was smacking the surface and sending the
-spray far and wide.
-
-"Keep to windward," ordered Fosterdyke.
-
-"There are men still on board," replied
-Peter. "A dozen more or less are hanging
-on to the catwalk."
-
-"It'll be rather a proposition to get them
-off," said the baronet. "We haven't a
-boat; neither apparently have they, and
-I don't like the idea of running alongside
-a half-submerged gas-bag. With this heavy
-swell there's no knowing what might happen."
-
-"We might run out a hawser and take
-her in tow," suggested Kenyon. "I mean,
-tow her until we get the crew off by means
-of an endless line."
-
-"Might do," half agreed Fosterdyke.
-"It would be decidedly awkward if our
-head fell away and we drifted in broadside
-on to the wreckage. We'll try it. Tell
-Jackson to get a hawser ready, and see
-there is a slip fitted in case we have to cast
-off in a hurry."
-
-Already several of the ballonets that at
-first sight seemed beyond repair had been
-patched up, while the fortunate discovery
-of two flasks of compressed brodium gave
-the "Golden Hind" considerable buoyancy,
-so that she was no longer dependent upon
-the lift of her six planes. Yet the prospect
-of having to take on board the weighty
-Hun crew would seriously threaten the
-buoyancy of the airship.
-
-"Luckily we are within sight of our
-goal," said Fosterdyke. "We can sacrifice
-a quantity of our stores. The reserve
-fresh water tank can be started, too.
-Two hundred and fifty gallons less of water
-ought to make a considerable difference."
-
-Leading Hand Jackson, with the help of
-four or five of the crew, soon made the
-necessary preparations. By this time the
-"Golden Hind" had approached to within
-a hundred yards of the disabled Zeppelin,
-the crew of which, half in doubt as to what
-was going to happen, were signalling and
-shouting frantically for help.
-
-"Rescuing the crew of the *Hilda P. Murchison*
-was child's play to this,"
-commented Kenyon. "Goodness only
-knows how we are going to establish
-communication. Her blessed envelope is
-in the way."
-
-Thrice the "Golden Hind" sailed over
-her crippled rival. The trailing hawser
-glided over the rounded surface of the
-gasbag, but none of the men made any
-attempt to leave the gondolas and secure
-the rope. It afterwards transpired that
-the aluminium envelope was sagging and
-whipping to such an extent that the vertical
-shaft through it by which access could be
-made to the upper surface of the gas-bag
-was impracticable. Anyone attempting
-to ascend by that way would almost
-certainly be crushed to death.
-
-"Can't the lubbers see the hawser?"
-asked Fosterdyke, impatiently. "Or have
-they all got the wind up so frightfully that
-they can't lift a hand to help themselves?
-Get in that hawser, Jackson. We'll try
-approaching to leeward this time and see
-if they've got the sense to veer a rope."
-
-The manoeuvre required very careful
-execution. The "Golden Hind," descending
-until her fuselage was but a few feet
-above the sea, approached carefully. She
-had to be kept under control up to a certain
-point, when way had to be taken off her.
-If she stopped too soon, she would drift
-away before communication could be
-established; if she carried on even a few
-yards too much, there was a danger of
-her overlapping envelope colliding nose on
-with the wrecked Zeppelin.
-
-This time the Huns showed decided
-activity. They bent a line to an inflated
-indiarubber lifebelt and threw the latter
-into the sea. Unfortunately, they did not
-take into account the fact that the
-Zeppelin was drifting to leeward as fast as the
-lifebelt. When they realised what was
-happening one of the crew jumped
-overboard and towed the line a hundred yards
-or so away.
-
-"Now there's a chance of doing something,"
-commented Fosterdyke, telegraphing
-for a touch ahead with Nos. 1 and 2 motors.
-
-As the "Golden Hind" passed
-immediately over the life-buoy a grapnel,
-lowered from the after-part of the fuselage,
-engaged the rope, and in a remarkably
-short space of time a stout hawser
-connected the British airship with the still
-buoyant bows of the German.
-
-Fosterdyke waited until the "Golden
-Hind" had swung round and was pointing
-"down wind," then he ordered easy ahead
-with the two for'ard motors. This gave
-sufficient tension to the hawser, which
-was now inclined at an angle of about
-thirty degrees.
-
-A "snatch-block" with an endless line
-was then allowed to run down to the hawser.
-
-"Now the rest is easy," declared Fosterdyke,
-but for once at least he was greatly
-mistaken.
-
-The first of the Huns arrived in a bowline
-on board the "Golden Hind."
-
-"How many are there?" asked Fosterdyke.
-
-"Ve vos dwanty," replied the German,
-holding up the fingers of both hands twice
-in order to make his meaning clearer.
-
-More Huns emerging from the for'ard
-gondola of Z64 confirmed the man's
-statement. One was evidently an officer, but
-his features did not in the least resemble
-those of Count von Sinzig, whose photograph
-had appeared some time back in the
-illustrated papers.
-
-Seventeen Huns were transhipped in
-about as many minutes. The eighteenth
-was half-way along the tautened hawser
-when Fosterdyke shouted, "Let go!"
-
-Leading-Hand Jackson obeyed the order
-instantly. The ring of the Senhouse slip
-was knocked clear, and the hawser fell with
-a splash into the sea. The "Golden Hind,"
-released from the drag of the partly
-water-logged Zeppelin, shot ahead.
-
-She was only just in time. The baronet
-had noticed a tongue of flame issuing from
-the centre gondola of Z64. How the fire
-was caused was a mystery, since had the
-Huns wished to destroy the wreckage they
-would have waited until the last man was
-clear of the Zeppelin. Possibly the wiring
-of the electric stove had short-circuited
-when in contact with the salt water.
-
-In less than fifteen seconds from the
-time the hawser had been slipped the
-hydrogen escaping from the leaky ballonets
-was ignited. The aluminium gasbag was
-surrounded by flames. The heat caused
-the gas in the still intact ballonets to
-expand, affording sufficient lifting power to
-heave the wreckage almost clear of the
-water. The remaining Huns, keenly alive
-to the terrible danger, promptly jumped
-into the sea.
-
-Then with a terrific glare the remaining
-ballonets burst, and the shattered wreckage,
-sizzling as it came into contact with the
-cold water, disappeared beneath the surface,
-leaving a steadily widening circle of oil
-surmounted by a dense pall of black smoke
-to mark the scene of the end of Z64.
-
-Before the evil-smelling vapour had
-dispersed the "Golden Hind," turning head
-to wind, was over the spot searching for
-possible survivors. For half an hour she
-cruised round, but her efforts to rescue
-the three Huns were unavailing. The men
-had either been stunned by the explosion
-or had been hit by falling wreckage.
-Amongst them was Unter-Leutnant Hans
-Leutter, who, by resolutely refusing to
-leave his command until the rest of the
-crew were safe, had proved that all Hun
-officers were not of the von Sinzig type.
-
-Several of the rescued Germans could
-speak English--but they were decidedly
-reticent. In the back of their minds they
-rather feared that they were in for a bad
-time. They knew that their late kapitan
-had been practically outlawed and that
-he was "wanted" by the authorities for
-having, amongst other misdemeanours,
-destroyed the Fremantle aerodrome by
-means of an incendiary bomb. They rather
-expected that they would be blamed for
-the acts of their fugitive superior.
-
-On the other hand, they were grateful
-to their rescuers for having saved their lives,
-and with typical Teutonic reasoning they
-eventually decided that one way to repay
-the kindness and to ingratiate themselves
-in the eyes of the Englishman would be to
-give away their former officers.
-
-The spokesman led off by informing Sir
-Reginald Fosterdyke that Unter-Leutnant
-Hans Leutter was the person who dropped
-the incendiary bomb from the observation
-basket in the hope that it would destroy
-the "Golden Hind."
-
-"He was, of course, acting under Count
-von Sinzig's orders," remarked Fosterdyke,
-drily. "Where is Herr Leutter?"
-
-"Dead," was the reply. "He was one
-of the three left on Z64."
-
-"And Count von Sinzig was one of the other two?"
-
-The German airman shrugged his
-shoulders and made a gesture of disgust.
-He still rankled over his kapitan's cowardly
-desertion. It was long obvious to all the
-survivors of Z64 that von Sinzig had no
-intention of summoning aid. Eight hours
-had elapsed since he began his flight in the
-Albatross. In that time he must have
-sighted several vessels, since the scene of
-the disaster was not many miles from one
-of the great Atlantic trade routes.
-
-"Kapitan Count von Sinzig left Z64 soon
-after daybreak this morning, mein Herr,"
-replied the German. "At seven o'clock,
-to be exact."
-
-"Left--how?" demanded Fosterdyke, sharply.
-
-"In an Albatross monoplane. He was
-last seen going east-north-east."
-
-Fosterdyke dismissed his informant and
-turned to Kenyon and Bramsdean.
-
-"The cunning old rascal!" he exclaimed.
-"I see his little game now. He's
-completing the final stage by aeroplane. I
-suppose by this time he's won the Chauvasse
-Prize; but I don't envy him."
-
-"Will you enter a protest, sir?" asked Peter.
-
-"Protest? Not much," replied the
-baronet, emphatically. "These seventeen
-Huns can do the protesting if they want to,
-and I rather fancy they will."
-
-"There's many a slip," quoted Kenyon.
-"He may not complete the course after all."
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XXIII--A DUMPING OPERATION
-==================================
-
-The heavily-laden "Golden Hind"
-resumed her delayed journey. Both gas-bags
-and planes had to do their full share of
-work to keep the airship afloat. She was
-flying low, but making good progress; but
-so little was her reserve of buoyancy that
-had the three Huns who perished in the
-catastrophe to Z64 been saved, it was
-doubtful whether Fosterdyke could have "carried on."
-
-To make matters worse, some of the
-patches on the repaired ballonets were
-leaking, for owing to the heat of the rubber
-the solution was not holding well.
-
-"I wonder if Drake's 'Golden Hind,'
-when she arrived in the Thames after
-circumnavigating the globe, was patched
-up like we are," remarked Kenyon. "It
-took Drake three long years to do the trick,
-and we look like completing our voyage
-in under seventeen days."
-
-"If the old 'bus holds out," added
-Bramsdean. "'Tany rate, no one can say
-we haven't done our bit. The 'Golden
-Hind's' been a regular sort of aerial lifeboat.
-That is some satisfaction. I'd rather we
-did that than win the race."
-
-"I suppose our passengers won't get up
-to any of their Hunnish tricks?" observed
-Kenneth.
-
-"Trust Fosterdyke for that," replied
-Peter grimly. "He's had 'em placed in
-the dining-saloon. (Fortunately, we won't
-require many more meals.) They can amuse
-themselves there without getting into
-mischief. There's one of our fellows stationed
-outside to keep the blighters in order."
-
-Just then the baronet came upon the scene.
-
-"Von Sinzig looks like pulling it off,"
-he observed. "A wireless from the
-S.S. *Wontwash* reports that a monoplane
-passed over the ship at 6 P.M., flying east.
-According to the position given, the
-*Wontwash* was only thirty-five miles west of
-Gibraltar."
-
-"Then perhaps he's back at his hangar
-by this time," commented Peter. "Any
-news of the others?"
-
-"Yes; Commodore Theodore Nye has
-been unable to get hold of another 'bus yet,
-although two of the Australian R.A.F. pilots
-are bringing him a 'Bristol' machine from
-Melbourne. He's out of the running. That
-he admits, but he means to complete the
-course, even if it takes him six months."
-
-"And the Jap?" asked Kenyon.
-
-"Not a word," replied the baronet.
-"He's keeping quiet; but mark my words,
-that quadruplane will turn up unexpectedly.
-If his 'bus had had British motors,
-he would have romped home in less than a week."
-
-"What engines has he?" asked Bramsdean.
-
-"Japanese," replied Fosterdyke. "Passable
-imitations of ours and good up to a
-certain point; but give me British engines
-all the jolly old time."
-
-Although the baronet made frequent
-enquiries of the operator, no wireless
-messages concerning von Sinzig came through.
-
-"Perhaps he's crashed," suggested Peter.
-
-"Not he," replied Kenyon. "That
-Hun's got the luck of a cat with nine lives.
-He's playing his own game."
-
-"It is a game," added Bramsdean.
-"Loading that crowd of Huns on to us
-is like a man in a mile race chucking his
-gear to another competitor and telling him
-to hang on. I don't wish the blighter any
-harm, but I do hope that if he pulls off the
-money prize they'll pay him in German
-marks at the pre-war rate of exchange.
-That'd make him look blue!"
-
-Although no news came in concerning
-their Hun rival, the officers and crew of
-the "Golden Hind" began to be
-bombarded with wireless messages from Britons
-in every quarter of the globe. All were of
-the most encouraging nature, for the story
-of Fosterdyke's airship and her adventures
-and misadventures--all more or less
-distorted owing to the lack of authentic
-detail--had awakened world-wide interest.
-
-There were cheery messages from
-patriotic Britons; incentive ones from
-sportsmen, to whom the suggestion of a
-race appealed more than did the fact that
-the contest was one of endurance
-calculated to uphold the prestige of British
-flying men. Frenchmen, Dutchmen,
-Norwegians, Americans, and Japanese all
-sent greetings to the intrepid British airmen.
-
-"Didn't know we had so many friends,"
-remarked Fosterdyke. "Sportsmanlike of
-those Americans and Japs, too, when they
-have representatives in the show."
-
-The "Golden Hind" was now approaching
-the regular mail line, where routes to
-and from the Cape and round the Horn
-unite in the neighbourhood of Las Palmas.
-
-"We'll signal the first vessel we sight,"
-decided Sir Reginald, "and get her to
-relieve us of our cargo of Fritzes. The
-sooner the better, because several of the
-ballonets are showing distinct symptoms
-of porosity."
-
-Five minutes later the airship had slowed
-down and had swung round on a course
-parallel to a homeward-bound Dutchman.
-
-The skipper of the latter, when appealed
-to by megaphone, stoutly refused to
-receive the seventeen Germans. He gave
-no reason why he should not do so, and
-without waiting for further parley rang
-for full speed ahead.
-
-A little later a French auxiliary barque
-was sighted, bound south.
-
-Fosterdyke made no attempt to intercept her.
-
-"There are limits," he observed.
-"Dumping those Huns on board an
-outward-bound Frenchman is one of them.
-Now for the next vessel. Three for luck."
-
-The third was a British tramp, bound
-from Montevideo for Naples. Her "Old
-Man," although ignorant that a Round-the-World
-aerial race was in progress or even
-in contemplation, readily agreed to help
-the "Golden Hind" on her way.
-
-"I'll find use for 'em," he added with
-infinite relish. "They'll work their
-passage, never you fear. Three times I've
-been torpedoed without warning, and on
-two occasions Fritz popped up to jeer at
-us struggling in waterlogged boats."
-
-While conversation was in progress
-between Fosterdyke and the master of
-the S.S. *Diaphanous*, a wire hawser had
-been lowered from the bows of the airship
-and made fast to the tramp's after-winch.
-Since she was steaming dead in the eye of
-the wind there was no necessity for her to
-alter helm. The "Golden Hind," pitching
-slightly, was towed astern of and thirty
-feet above the tramp. As the airship's
-course was almost identical with that of
-the tramp Fosterdyke conscientiously kept
-the propellers revolving, since, even in the
-present circumstances, he did not wish to
-give his rivals a chance of raising a protest
-on the score that the flight of the British
-airship had been mechanically aided.
-
-The seventeen Germans showed no great
-enthusiasm at being placed on board the
-tramp. At first they imagined that the
-*Diaphanous* was bound for the Pacific.
-Even the prospect of being dumped ashore
-at Naples was not at all attractive.
-
-When they did make a move they
-descended the rope-ladder so slowly and
-deliberately that it was obvious they
-meant to detain the "Golden Hind" as
-much as possible.
-
-"I see through their little game,"
-exclaimed Fosterdyke, angrily. "Make 'em
-get a move on, Jackson."
-
-The Leading Hand wanted no further
-bidding. Ably seconded by Chief Air
-Mechanic Hayward, he gave vent to such a
-flow of forcible language, accompanied by
-realistic dumbshow, that the Huns changed
-their tactics completely. It was even
-necessary to check their impetuosity, lest
-the ladder should break under the weight of
-too many men descending simultaneously.
-Then, with a joyous toot on her syren
-as the hawser was cast off, and a
-stentorian greeting from the Mercantile Marine
-skipper, the *Diaphanous* gathered way,
-while the "Golden Hind," almost as
-buoyant as of yore, rose steadily and rapidly
-against the gentle breeze.
-
-Two hours later land--the Moroccan
-coast--was sighted on the starboard bow.
-Then fifty minutes later Fosterdyke touched
-Kenyon on the shoulder and pointed dead
-ahead to a faint object rising above the
-horizon.
-
-"Guess we've done the trick, barring
-accidents," he observed. "That's Gibraltar."
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XXIV--WITHIN SIGHT OF SUCCESS
-=====================================
-
-Count Karl von Sinzig had not started
-upon his long solo flight in the
-Albatross without studiously calculating his
-chances. He knew the machine and its
-capabilities, and, given ordinary luck, he
-saw no reason why he should not make a
-landing on Spanish soil, replenish fuel, and
-carry on to his hangar in Estremadura
-before his hated rival arrived at Gibraltar.
-Even if there were delays in obtaining
-petrol, he still had a useful lead, thanks to
-his twelve hours' start in advance of the
-"Golden Hind." The two hundred extra
-miles he had to cover beyond Gibraltar
-was a mere bagatelle--a question of an
-hour and twenty minutes' flight.
-
-He rather regretted that the accident
-to Z64 had not occurred nearer the
-African coast; but realising that he was
-lucky to be able to carry on, he ran the
-risk of a prolonged flight over the sea with
-comparative equanimity.
-
-Within an hour of leaving the wrecked
-Zeppelin he sighted two vessels, but with
-callous indifference to his promise to his
-crew he made not the slightest attempt to
-communicate with either of them. He
-was "all out" to win the much-needed
-Chauvasse Prize. Even his indictment by
-the various Allied Governments hardly
-worried him. Time to consider what he
-should do in the matter when he was safe
-on Spanish soil, he decided.
-
-The Albatross, one of the best types of
-German machines, was practically an
-automatic flier. Von Sinzig could keep her
-on her course by an occasional pressure
-with his feet upon the rudder-bar, thus
-leaving both hands free. He was able to
-eat and drink, to study maps and make
-observations without risk of the
-monoplane getting out of control, while if
-needs be he could leave the pilot's seat,
-knowing that the Albatross would hold
-on automatically for several minutes with
-only a slight deviation in direction and
-hardly any difference in altitude.
-
-Although only ten degrees north of the
-Tropics, it was bitterly cold at ten thousand
-feet; but the count had taken due
-precautions to combat the low temperature.
-He was warmly clad in orthodox flying
-kit, including sheepskin boots, fleece-lined
-leather jacket and trousers, all
-electrically heated. He had four thermos
-flasks filled with hot coffee and a pocket
-flask of brandy. For provisions he carried
-concentrated food, beef lozenges, and Strasburg sausages.
-
-Hour after hour passed. The Albatross
-was flying magnificently, her pilot holding
-on to a compass course, after making due
-allowances for the "drift" of the air
-current. He had based this allowance
-upon the direction of the wind when he
-left Z64; but unknown to him the light
-breeze had shifted eight points and was
-now blowing slightly ahead of his port
-beam. Then, having backed, it presently
-veered six points and blew with increasing
-force right against the Albatross; but von
-Sinzig was for the present in ignorance
-of the fact. Had he known that instead
-of a following breeze of about twenty miles
-an hour there was a head wind approaching
-the neighbourhood of thirty-five miles,
-he would not have been so chock-a-block
-with confidence.
-
-When, at the end of the time limit he
-had set, he was not in sight of land he
-began to feel anxious. Half an hour later,
-as he was still without a glimpse of the
-coast, his misgivings increased, but ten
-minutes later he picked up land on his right.
-This was a puzzle. He had expected to
-make a landfall right ahead, and its
-appearance in an unexpected quarter mystified
-him. In point of fact he was in the
-neighbourhood of Cape Blanco, or nearly 250
-miles south of Cape St. Vincent, where he
-hoped to pass over on his way to Estremadura.
-
-A knowledge of the Moroccan coast
-obtained during a cruise in a German
-gunboat at the time of the Agadir crisis
-stood von Sinzig in good stead. He was
-able to recognise certain landmarks in
-spite of viewing them from a different
-aspect, and accordingly he turned the
-monoplane in a north-easterly direction,
-keeping parallel to the African coast,
-The new direction would take him a
-little to the eastward of Cadiz; rather
-nearer that port than Gibraltar. He had
-not the slightest inclination to fly over
-the latter fortress. Rather vaguely he
-wondered whether he would sight the
-"Golden Hind" making thither, since,
-sooner or later, unless a mishap occurred,
-the rival aviators must cut each other's routes.
-
-He was now painfully aware of the
-change of wind. The direction of the
-smoke from several steamers, and the
-sight of a full-rigged ship running in a
-south-westerly direction told him that.
-Additionally, as he saw by the aid of his
-binoculars, that sailing ship was running
-under topsails only. That meant something
-more than a stiff breeze--and against
-this he had to contend.
-
-Suddenly he detected an ominous cough
-of the motor. He knew that the petrol
-supply was running low, but he had no
-idea that the gauge registered so little.
-The tank was practically empty.
-
-"Himmel!" gasped the dumfounded
-Hun. "Will she last out?"
-
-He mentally measured the distance
-between him and the Spanish coast. A good
-ten miles. With a following wind he could
-glide that distance from that altitude, but
-not with this infernal head wind!
-
-The engine was running jerkily. Clearly
-its spasmodic coughing betokened the fact
-that it would soon cease duty from sheer
-inanition. Its life-blood was being cut off
-at the heart of the machine--its petrol tank.
-That head wind. How von Sinzig cursed
-it! Had it been in his favour, even
-if he failed to volplane as far as the
-shore, the Albatross, being provided with
-floats, could have drifted on the surface.
-
-In the midst of his incoherent
-utterances von Sinzig realised that the motor
-had at last given out. He trimmed the
-ailerons and prepared for a long glide,
-but, as he had feared, the head wind made
-it a matter of impossibility for the
-Albatross to cover more than two miles before
-she alighted.
-
-It did not take long to complete the
-volplane, although the pilot nursed his
-machine to the best of his ability in the
-hope of prolonging the oblique descent.
-
-The Albatross "landed" badly, her
-floats striking the water with a resounding
-smack. The count, having done his best,
-could do no more. He sat smoking a
-cigarette and keeping a look out for a
-vessel that would come to his assistance.
-There were several away to the south'ard,
-for he had alighted well to the north'ard
-of the regular steamer track between
-Gibraltar and Cape St. Vincent. They were
-too far off to notice the little Albatross.
-
-Then von Sinzig made the disconcerting
-discovery that the starboard float was
-leaking. Already, owing to this cause,
-the monoplane was listing so that her
-starboard wing-tip was touching the water.
-This fact, combined with the knowledge
-that he was momentarily drifting farther
-and farther away from land, did not tend
-to improve the Hun's peace of mind.
-
-Half an hour later, during which time
-the monoplane had drifted at least three
-miles, and was being considerably
-buffeted by the rising sea, von Sinzig noticed
-that a vessel was bearing down upon the
-crippled Albatross.
-
-As she approached, the count saw that
-she was a small motor-yacht of about
-forty or fifty tons, and that she was flying
-the burgee of the "Real Club Mediterraneo"
-and the Spanish ensign. The sight
-of the Spanish colours gave von Sinzig
-renewed hope.
-
-The yacht slowed down and lost way
-a few yards to the wind'ard of the
-monoplane. For so small a vessel she carried
-a large crew. There were half a dozen
-men for'ard, clad in white canvas jumpers
-and trousers and wearing red woollen
-caps. Aft were two gorgeously attired
-individuals in gold-laced yachting uniforms.
-
-Von Sinzig, who was a fair Spanish
-linguist, hailed them. A rope thrown from
-the bows of the yacht fell across the nose
-of the Albatross. This the count caught
-and secured.
-
-"Can you supply me with petrol, señor?"
-asked von Sinzig. "My tank is empty.
-A hundred litres will be enough."
-
-One of the gold-laced men shook his head
-and extended his hands, palms uppermost.
-
-"I am desolated at being compelled to
-refuse your excellency's modest request,"
-he replied, "but we have paraffin engines
-and carry only a small quantity of petrol
-for starting purposes. How far have you come?"
-
-"Nearly round the world," replied the
-Hun, grandiloquently. He could not resist
-the typically Teutonic trait of self-advertisement.
-
-"Dios!" exclaimed the Spaniard, twirling
-his long moustachios. "Then you are
-Count Karl von Sinzig, who left Quintanur,
-in the province of Estremadura, sixteen or
-seventeen days ago?"
-
-"I am," admitted von Sinzig, proudly.
-
-The Spaniard said a few words in an
-undertone to his companion. The other's
-eyes gleamed and he nodded his head vigorously.
-
-"We will take you on board and tow
-your machine," announced the owner of
-the yacht.
-
-"To Cadiz or Huelva?" asked the count.
-
-"Accept ten thousand regrets, count,"
-replied the Spaniard. "We must take
-you to Gibraltar."
-
-"But I have no wish to be taken to
-Gibraltar," declared von Sinzig. "I will
-give a thousand pesetas to be landed at Cadiz."
-
-The Don again shrugged his shoulders.
-
-"No doubt my crew would be glad of
-your offer of a thousand pesetas, count,"
-he replied, "but since they know that
-the English have offered a reward equal
-to five thousand pesetas----"
-
-"You would sell me?" demanded von
-Sinzig, furiously.
-
-"I sell you, señor? Not I--a caballero
-of Spain! You insult me by the suggestion.
-I recollect, however, that I once
-had a brother. He was lost at sea, while
-travelling on an English vessel from New
-York to Cadiz. Like you, he wanted to
-land at Cadiz, but he was not able to do
-so. For why? Because the ship was
-torpedoed by one of your ever-accursed
-U-boats. Therefore I have a small
-measure of revenge when I hand you over to
-the English authorities at Gibraltar. Be
-pleased, señor, to step aboard."
-
-Covered by an automatic pistol, Count
-Karl von Sinzig had no option but to obey.
-In the race round the world he was down
-and out.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XXV--FIRE!
-==================
-
-Sir Reginald Fosterdyke laid down his
-pencil and uttered an exclamation of intense
-satisfaction. He had just "shot the sun"
-and had finished working out his position.
-
-"Another hour will see us at Gib., lads,"
-he announced joyously. "Then there'll
-be some mafficking. What's your
-programme? Going to pack your suit cases
-and back by the Madrid-Paris express?"
-
-"You are not leaving the 'Golden Hind'
-at Gibraltar?" asked Kenneth.
-
-"No," replied the baronet. "But I
-must certainly get some repairs executed
-before I resume my flight to England. I
-thought, perhaps, you were in a hurry to
-get home."
-
-"There's no immediate hurry, sir,"
-declared the chums, simultaneously.
-
-"A few more days won't matter," began
-Kenyon; but before he could proceed with
-his explanation the alarm bell rang
-violently and continuously.
-
-"What's wrong now?" exclaimed
-Fosterdyke, snatching up the voice tube.
-
-Peter, glancing aft through the window
-of the navigation-room, which being raised
-gave a clear view over the roof of the rest
-of the nacelle, saw at once what was amiss.
-
-Dense volumes of smoke, tinged with dull
-red flames, were pouring from the after-end
-of the fuselage. Fanned by the rush of
-the airship, the black vapour was streaming
-in its wake like a fox's tail.
-
-Leaving Kenyon to take charge of the
-navigation-room, and cautioning him to
-keep the "Golden Hind" dead in the eye
-of the wind, and as fast as she could possibly
-go, Fosterdyke and Peter hastened aft.
-
-They found the alley-way thick with
-smoke, for on the well-known principle that
-"the wind follows the ship" the draught
-was carrying the fumes within the nacelle
-in a forward direction.
-
-A man wearing a smoke helmet brushed
-past them. It was Hayward going to
-find some fire-extinguishers. Others of the
-crew, who had hastily donned masks to
-protect themselves from the choking vapour,
-were busily engaged in hurling pyrene into
-the seat of the conflagration.
-
-Although the speed of the "Golden
-Hind" through the air fanned the flames,
-Fosterdyke had done well to order speed
-to be maintained. The velocity had the
-effect of compelling the fire to trail astern
-instead of spreading upwards and thus
-destroying the envelope. Even as it was
-the heat had caused the non-inflammable
-brodium to expand, giving the envelope
-a tendency to trim down by the head.
-
-"Petrol tank to No. 5 motor, sir,"
-reported a grimy and perspiring mechanic,
-who through sheer exhaustion and being
-partly gassed by the noxious fumes had to
-withdraw from the fray. "Went up all
-of a sudden, like. Never saw such a flare
-up in all my life, sir; but we're getting it
-under."
-
-It was indeed a stiff fight. In a few
-seconds the area of the fire had attained
-such large dimensions that it was
-impossible to reach the actual source. The
-fire-fighters had first to subdue the fringe
-of the conflagration, and by the time they
-had done this several of them were *hors de
-combat* by reason of the suffocating gases
-thrown off by the oxygen-exterminating
-pyrene. Above the crackling of the flames
-came the sharp tang of the suspension
-wires holding the nacelle to the aluminium
-envelope as they parted under the terrific
-heat.
-
-Not only were the crew faced with the
-danger of the fire getting the upper hand;
-the while there was the chance of a portion
-of the fuselage becoming detached from the
-gas-bag, and the prospect of being hurled
-through space from a height of eight or
-nine thousand feet above the sea was one
-that might well in cold blood put fear into
-the heart of the bravest of the brave. But
-in the heat of action the crew, knowing the
-danger, faced the risk manfully. Working
-in relays, they plied the flames with the
-fire-extinguishing chemicals. As fast as
-one man fell out, temporarily overcome
-by the fumes and the terrific heat, another
-took his place until the fire was overcome.
-Even then the danger was not over. There
-was still a possibility of the smouldering
-fuselage being fanned into a blaze. Parts
-of the aluminium framework and panelling
-were warped and twisted into fantastic
-shapes. Snake-like coils of wire indicated
-the fact that several of the highly
-important connections between the fuselage
-and the envelope had been burnt through.
-Whether a sufficient number of tension wires
-remained to adequately support the afterpart
-of the nacelle remained a matter of doubt.
-
-Unaccountably the petrol tank feeding
-No. 5 motor had taken fire. The pipes and
-unions had been frequently examined and
-found to be in good order. In fact,
-Hayward had personally inspected the fittings
-of that particular tank less than a quarter
-of an hour before the outbreak.
-
-The damage was serious. Both Nos. 5
-and 6 motors were out of action, the former
-showing signs of crashing through the
-charred framework of the fuselage. The
-flames had spread to Fosterdyke's cabin,
-completely gutting it. Only a few
-aluminium frames were left, and these, blackened
-and bent, trailed forlornly astern like a
-gaunt skeleton.
-
-With the contraction of the brodium
-after the fire had been quelled the envelope,
-instead of tending to tilt aft, now showed a
-tendency to droop. The heat had melted
-the solder of the union pipes through which
-the gas was passed either to or from the
-metal pressure flasks, and several thousand
-feet of brodium had escaped.
-
-Driven only by four propellers, her
-preciously scanty supply of brodium sadly
-depleted, and with the controls of the two
-after planes damaged by the flames, the
-"Golden Hind" was in a perilous state.
-She was just able, and no more, to
-overcome the attraction of gravity. How long
-she would be able to maintain herself in
-the air was a problem of supposition.
-
-Had the "Golden Hind" been supported
-by hydrogen gas nothing could have saved
-her. The overcoming of the flames was a
-triumph for the fire-resisting properties of
-brodium. The patent gas had been put to
-one of the severest tests--an actual fire in
-mid-air--and had emerged with flying colours.
-
-From the time of the alarm being raised
-until the fire was subdued only half an
-hour had elapsed. The smoke-grimed and
-fatigued crew were glad to rest, while
-Fosterdyke and Peter returned to the
-navigation-room, there to wash and replace
-their singed and reeking clothes with others
-from Kenyon's and Bramsdean's kit-bags.
-The baronet had to borrow a suit. The
-one he was wearing was in holes, while
-all his others on board were destroyed
-when his cabin was burnt out.
-
-Fosterdyke was cheerful. In fact he
-was jocular. He realised that things might
-have been far worse; he was glad to find
-that the "Golden Hind" was still
-navigable and that none of his crew had
-sustained injury.
-
-"This comes of boasting, Kenyon," he
-remarked. "I said we'd be in Gib. in an
-hour. We stood a chance of being in
-'Kingdom Come.' What's she doing now?"
-
-"Not more than eighty, sir," replied
-Kenneth, "and we've a stiffish wind to
-contend with."
-
-"Eighty, eh? Not so dusty, considering
-we're trailing the wreckage of my cabin
-astern, and there's only four props to
-shove us along. She's dipping, though."
-
-"She is, sir," agreed Kenyon, gravely.
-"I've trimmed the planes to their
-maximum. That tends to shove her nose
-up, but if I didn't she'd sit on her tail."
-
-"We'll finish at the tape like an aerial
-Cleopatra's Needle," declared Fosterdyke.
-"Hello! There's Tangier. That strip of
-blue you can just see beyond is the Straits
-of Gibraltar. We're a bit to the east'ard
-of our course."
-
-Another half an hour of strenuous
-battling against heavy odds brought the
-"Golden Hind" immediately to the west
-of Ceuta. Ahead could be discerned the
-famous rock, although viewed from an
-altitude and "end on" its well-known
-appearance as a lion couchant was absent.
-But the "Golden Hind" had shot her bolt.
-"We're baulked at the tape," declared
-Fosterdyke. "This head wind's doing us.
-Hard lines, but we must take things as we
-find them."
-
-Like von Sinzig he had been beaten by
-the head wind, but Fosterdyke, instead of
-raving and cursing like his German rival,
-accepted the situation philosophically. It
-was hard lines, failing within sight of the
-goal; but the baronet kept a stiff upper lip.
-He had done everything humanly possible
-to achieve his aim. He could do no more.
-
-The "Golden Hind," inclined at an
-angle of sixty degrees, was dropping slowly
-but surely. With her remaining motors
-running all out she was unable to overcome
-the pull of gravity. Even as she dropped,
-her progress towards her goal was maintained
-at a rate of a bare five miles an hour
-above and against that of the wind.
-
-Every man on board was holding on like
-grim death. With the floor as steep as
-the roof of a house there was nothing to be
-done but hold on. The ballonets were
-practically empty save the four or five
-for'ard ones. The propellers were now
-virtually helices--whirling screws that
-strove valiantly but unavailingly to lift the
-huge bulk of the airship in an almost
-vertical direction. Should the motors
-fail to function, then the "Golden Hind"
-would drop like a stone. As it was
-she was falling surely and slowly.
-
-Already officers and men had donned
-their inflated indiarubber lifebelts. There
-was not the slightest sign of panic. The
-men, although keenly disappointed at
-failure within sight of success, were joking
-with each other.
-
-"Stand by to jump, all hands," shouted
-Fosterdyke. "Keep clear of the raffle,
-and you'll be as right as rain. There are
-half a dozen vessels within a couple of miles of us."
-
-Some of the men slid along the sloping
-alley-way to the side doors. Others tore
-away the large celluloid windows in the
-cabins and motor-rooms, so as to be able
-to jump clear directly the fuselage touched the water.
-
-The two chums had drawn themselves
-through the windows of the navigation-room
-and were standing on the blunt bows
-and steadying themselves by the tension
-wires running from the normal top of the
-nacelle to the underside of the envelope.
-
-With the four motors running to the
-last the "Golden Hind" dropped into the
-sea. Her projecting envelope was the first
-to come into contact with the water. The
-ballonets, practically air-tight
-compartments, checked the downward movement,
-while the whole of the hitherto inclined
-bulk, pivoted as it were by the water-borne
-stern, dropped until it resumed its normal
-horizontal position.
-
-Fosterdyke alone had remained in the
-navigation-room. Directly he saw that
-the airship was resting temporarily on the
-surface and was beginning to gather way
-like a gigantic hydroplane he switched off
-the remaining motors.
-
-"Every man for himself," he shouted.
-
-
-
-
-CHAPTER XXVI--"WELL PLAYED, SIR!"
-=================================
-
-Water poured into the open doors and
-windows and through the charred and
-torn stern of the nacelle.
-
-The aluminium envelope, not built to
-withstand abnormal stress, began buckling
-amidships. Tension wires, no longer in
-tension but in compression, were spreading
-in all directions as the huge gas-bag settled
-down upon the already foundering nacelle.
-
-Every one of the crew realised the danger
-of being entangled in the wreckage. In a
-trice the water was dotted with heads and
-shoulders of life-belted swimmers as the
-crew struck out to get clear of the sinking
-airship, and presently Fosterdyke was
-surrounded by a little mob of undaunted men.
-
-"Thank heaven!" ejaculated the baronet,
-after a hasty count. "None missing.
-Keep together, lads, there's a vessel bearing
-down on us."
-
-Not one but four craft were hastening
-to the rescue. Amongst these was the
-T.B.D. *Zeebrugge*, which, eighteen days
-previously, had gone to search for the
-derelict "Golden Hind" and had placed
-Sir Reginald Fosterdyke on board.
-
-Fortunately the water was warm, and
-in spite of a fairly high sea running the late
-crew of the "Golden Hind" were taken
-aboard the destroyer.
-
-Fosterdyke and the others, declining to
-go below, stood on deck and watched the
-end of the airship that had taken them
-safely for nearly twenty-eight thousand
-miles, to perish within five miles of the
-Rock of Gibraltar, her official starting-point.
-
-The end was not long delayed. The
-buckling of the aluminium envelope resulted
-in ballonet after ballonet collapsing under
-the pressure of water. The fuselage had
-already disappeared. Bow and stern, nearly
-four hundred feet apart, reared themselves
-high in the air; then, with a terrific rush
-of mingled brodium and air that caused a
-seething cauldron around each of the
-extremities of the envelope, the last of the
-"Golden Hind" sank beneath the waves.
-
-"Rough luck losing such a fine airship,"
-commiserated the Lieut.-Commander of the destroyer.
-
-"It is," agreed Fosterdyke, feelingly.
-"Especially as she is my own design and
-I superintended every bit of her
-construction. It was a pity, too, we didn't
-hang on for another half an hour. I'd have
-jockeyed her over the Rock somehow."
-
-"It was a brilliant achievement, Sir
-Reginald," said the naval officer. "Every
-sportsman will sympathise with you, but
-I'm sure they'll shout: 'Well played, sir!'"
-
-"Any news of the other competitors?" asked Peter.
-
-"Yes. Commodore Nye, the Yankee,
-is still stranded in Australia, but I suppose
-you know that. Count Hyashi, the Jap,
-crashed somewhere near Saigon. He, too,
-was almost home."
-
-"Jolly hard lines," murmured Kenyon,
-sympathetically. "Was he hurt?"
-
-"No, hardly bruised, but a bit shaken.
-Engine failure, they say," continued the
-Lieut.-Commander. "That leaves only the
-Hun to be accounted for."
-
-"And I suppose he's completed the
-circuit?" remarked Fosterdyke, questioningly.
-
-The naval officer laughed.
-
-"Completing the circuit of a prison-yard!"
-he exclaimed. "That's about his
-mark. A Spanish yacht brought Count von
-Sinzig in this morning and handed him
-over to the Port Admiral. It'll be a
-three years' job, I fancy. Huns must
-learn that they can't bomb British air
-stations in peace time with impunity."
-
-The destroyer ran alongside the
-dockyard. Fosterdyke and the rest of his
-crew disembarked. On the jetty they
-were met by several of the chief Naval,
-Military, and Air Force officials and two
-representatives of the International Air Board.
-
-Fosterdyke looked puzzled. He didn't
-want commiseration, but congratulation
-seemed a bit out of place.
-
-"On what grounds, Admiral?" he asked.
-
-"On winning the Chauvasse Prize for
-completing the circumnavigation of the
-globe," replied the senior International
-Air Board representative, speaking instead
-of the Port Admiral. "Fact! You've
-won it fairly and squarely."
-
-"But----" began the astonished baronet.
-
-"You have," persisted the official. "Do
-you recollect when the airship broke adrift?
-The destroyer went in pursuit and put you
-on board. That was within three miles or
-so of Ceuta. The same destroyer picks
-you up out of the water five miles from
-'Gib.' Consequently, you've more than
-completed the circuit, and although the
-official start was from Gibraltar I don't
-think there will be any difficulty in
-obtaining the International Air Board's
-decision to the effect that you've won."
-
-And that was exactly what happened.
-Had it not been for Count von Sinzig's
-underhand work in employing Enrico Jaures
-to cast adrift the "Golden Hind,"
-Fosterdyke would not have completed his aerial
-voyage round the world. By the irony
-of fate the Hun had enabled his rival to score.
-
-Fosterdyke won the Chauvasse Prize
-and the honour of being the first man to fly
-round the world. Needless to say Kenyon
-and Bramsdean and the rest of the crew
-were not forgotten. Honours were heaped
-upon the intrepid airmen. They were
-lionised, fêted, and praised to such an extent
-that they were in danger of developing
-"swelled heads."
-
-But Kenyon and Bramsdean knew that
-the achievement would be but a nine days'
-wonder. Having attempted and won, they
-were content to return to their profession,
-their financial standing much increased
-by their shares in the big prize. They
-had enough honours and diplomas to
-satisfy them, but what they prized most
-was a certificate from the Royal Humane
-Society for saving the crew of the *Hilda P. Murchison*.
-
-"So, after all," declared Kenyon, "we
-did do something useful, old son!"
-
-.. vspace:: 3
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-
-PRINTED BY PURNELL AND SONS
-PAULTON (SOMERSET) AND LONDON
-
-.. vspace:: 4
-
-.. pgfooter::
diff --git a/39488-rst/images/img-cover.jpg b/39488-rst/images/img-cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 284e13b..0000000 --- a/39488-rst/images/img-cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/39488-rst/images/img-front.jpg b/39488-rst/images/img-front.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index cc5fb2e..0000000 --- a/39488-rst/images/img-front.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/39488.txt b/39488.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 720b3a0..0000000 --- a/39488.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5660 +0,0 @@ - THE AIRSHIP "GOLDEN HIND" - - - - -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 http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Title: The Airship "Golden Hind" - -Author: Percy F. Westerman - -Release Date: April 19, 2012 [EBook #39488] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: US-ASCII - - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AIRSHIP "GOLDEN HIND" *** - - - - -Produced by Al Haines. - - - - -[Illustration: Cover art] - - - -[Illustration: "'THE GOLDEN HIND' RESCUES A SHIPWRECKED CREW."] - - - - THE AIRSHIP "GOLDEN HIND" - - - by - - Percy F. Westerman - - AUTHOR OF - - "THE SECRET BATTLEPLANE," "THE MYSTERY SHIP," - "BILLY BARCROFT OF THE R.N.A.S.," - ETC., ETC. - - - - ILLUSTRATED BY - FLEMING WILLIAMS - - - - Publishers - PARTRIDGE - London - 1920 - - - - MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN - - - - -THE GREAT ADVENTURE SERIES - - -_PERCY F. WESTERMAN:_ - -The Airship "Golden Hind" -To the Fore with the Tanks -The Secret Battleplane -Wilmshurst of the Frontier Force - - -_ROWLAND WALKER:_ - -Deville McKeene: The Exploits of the Mystery Airman -Blake of the Merchant Service -Buckle of Submarine V2 -Oscar Danby, V.C. - -LONDON: -S. W. PARTRIDGE & CO., LTD. - - - - ---- - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER I--A STARTLING PROPOSITION - CHAPTER II--FOSTERDYKE EXPLAINS - CHAPTER III--THE "GOLDEN HIND" - CHAPTER IV--THE DEPARTURE - CHAPTER V--FIRST AWAY - CHAPTER VI--Z64 SCORES - CHAPTER VII--DELAYS - CHAPTER VIII--CAST ADRIFT - CHAPTER IX--THE ESCAPADE OF ENRICO JAURES - CHAPTER X--UNDER EXAMINATION - CHAPTER XI--"WITH INTENT" - CHAPTER XII--CONFIDENCES - CHAPTER XIII--THE TAIL OF A CYCLONE - CHAPTER XIV--THE BOAT'S CREW - CHAPTER XV--REVELATIONS - CHAPTER XVI--THE OBSERVATION BASKET - CHAPTER XVII--A SURPRISE FOR CAPTAIN PROUT - CHAPTER XVIII--UNDER FIRE - CHAPTER XIX--VICTIMS OF A REVOLUTION - CHAPTER XX--WIRELESS REPORTS - CHAPTER XXI--VON SINZIG'S BID FOR SAFETY - CHAPTER XXII--THE END OF Z64 - CHAPTER XXIII--A DUMPING OPERATION - CHAPTER XXIV--WITHIN SIGHT OF SUCCESS - CHAPTER XXV--FIRE! - CHAPTER XXVI--"WELL PLAYED, SIR!" - - ---- - - - - The Airship "Golden Hind" - - - - -CHAPTER I--A STARTLING PROPOSITION - - -"What's the move?" enquired Kenneth Kenyon. - -"Ask me another, old son," replied his chum, Peter Bramsdean. -"Fosterdyke is a cautious old stick, but he knows what's what. There's -something in the wind, you mark my words." - -"Then you're going to see him?" - -"Rather! And you too, old bean. Where's a pencil? We can't keep the -telegraph boy waiting." - -Bramsdean tore a form from a pad, scribbled on it the -reply--"Fosterdyke, Air Grange, near Blandford. Yes, will expect motor -to-morrow morning," and he had taken the initial step of a journey that -man had never before attempted. - -Kenyon and Bramsdean were both ex-flying officers of the Royal Air -Force. What they did in the Great War now matters little. Sufficient is -it to say that had they belonged to any belligerent nation save their -own they would have been styled "aces"; but since in the Royal Air Force -details of personal achievements were deprecated, and the credit given -to the Force as a whole, they merely "carried on" until ordered to "get -out," or, in other words, be demobilised. Then, each with a -highly-prized decoration and a gratuity of precisely the same amount as -that given to an officer who had never served anywhere save at the Hotel -Cecil, they found themselves literally on their feet, relegated to the -limbo of civilian life. It was not long before they found how quickly -their gratuities diminished. Like many other ex-members of His -Majesty's Forces, they began to realise that in smashing the German -menace they had helped to raise a menace at home--the greed and cupidity -of the Profiteer. - -They were just two of thousands of skilled airmen for whom as such there -was now no need. Commercial aviation had yet to be developed; trick -flying and exhibition flights lead to nothing definite, and only a very -small percentage of war-time airmen could be retained in the -reconstituted Air Force. - -Kenyon and Bramsdean were not men to "take it lying down." They had -pluck and resource and a determination to "get a move on," and within a -twelvemonth of their demobilisation they found themselves partners and -sole proprietors of a fairly prosperous road transport concern operating -over the greater part of the South of England. - -But it wasn't the same thing as flying. Looking back over those -strenuous years of active service, they remembered vividly the good -times they had had, while the "sticky" times were mellowed until they -could afford to laugh at those occasions when they "had the wind up -badly." - -Then, with a suddenness akin to the arrival of a "whizz-bang," came a -telegram from Sir Reginald Fosterdyke, asking the chums to see him on -the morrow. - -Sir Reginald Fosterdyke had been Bramsdean's and Kenyon's O.C., or, to -employ service phraseology, a Wing-Commander. On his demobilisation he -went to live at Air Grange, a large old-world house standing on high -ground, a good five miles from Blandford. Very rarely he left his -country-house; his visits to town were few and far between, and his -friends wondered at the reticence of the versatile and breezy -Fosterdyke. He seldom wrote to anyone. When he did, his correspondence -was brief and to the point. More frequently he telegraphed--and then he -meant business. In pre-war days Air Grange was famous for its week-end -house parties. The shooting, one of the best in the county of Dorset, -was an additional source of attraction to Fosterdyke's guests. But the -war, and afterwards, had changed all that. Few, very few, guests were -to be found at Air Grange; the staff of servants was greatly reduced, -the well-kept grounds developed a state of neglect. Sir Reginald's -friends came to the conclusion that the baronet had become "mouldy." -They wondered what possessed him to live an almost hermit-like -existence. Fosterdyke knew their curiosity, but he merely shrugged his -shoulders and "carried on." His work in the world of aviation was by no -means ended. It might be said that it was yet a long way from attaining -its zenith. - -Early on the morning following the receipt of the baronet's telegram Sir -Reginald's car pulled up in front of the premises used as the -headquarters of the Southern Roads Transport Company. Kenyon and -Bramsdean, having given final instructions to their work's foreman--a -former flight-sergeant R.A.F.--jumped into the car, and were soon -whisking northwards at a speed that was considerably in excess of that -fixed by the regulations. - -Although of a retiring disposition, Sir Reginald Fosterdyke had made a -point of keeping in touch with his former officers. He had a sort of -personal interest in every one of them, and on their part they regarded -him as one of the best. Whenever, on rare occasions, Fosterdyke ran -down to Bournemouth he invariably looked up Bramsdean and Kenyon to talk -over old times. But being invited to Air Grange was quite a different -matter. Vaguely, the chums wondered what it might mean, conjecturing -ideas that somehow failed to be convincing. Yet they knew that there was -"something in the wind." They knew Sir Reginald and his methods. - -Through Blandford, up and past the now deserted hutments where formerly -German prisoners led an almost idyllic existence in their enemy's -country, the car sped on until it gained the lofty downs in the -direction of Shaftesbury. Then, turning up a steep and narrow lane, the -car drew up at the gate of Air Grange. - -It had to. There was no gate-keeper to unlock and throw open the -massive iron gates. That task the chauffeur had to perform, stopping -the car again in order to make secure the outer portals of Sir -Reginald's demesne. - -While the car remained stationary the two occupants looked in vain for a -glimpse of the house. All they could see was a winding, weed-grown -road, with a thick belt of pine trees on either hand. To the left of -the road and under the lee of the trees were half a dozen wooden huts, -unmistakably of a type known as temporary military quarters. Smoke -issuing from the chimneys suggested the idea that they were in -"occupation," and a couple of dungaree-clad men carrying a length of -copper pipe on their shoulders confirmed the fact. Somewhere from -behind the trees came the sharp rattle of a pneumatic drilling machine. - -Kenyon glanced at his companion. - -"What's the Old Man up to, I wonder?" he enquired. "Quite a labour -colony. Look--air flasks too, by Jove!" - -A pile of rusty wrought-iron cylinders stacked on the grass by the side -of the path recalled visions of by-gone days. - -"Something doing, that's evident," agreed Bramsdean. "What's the stunt, -and why are we hiked into it?" - -"Wait and see, old bird," replied Kenyon. - -The chauffeur regained the car and slipped in the clutch. For full -another quarter of a mile the car climbed steadily, negotiating awkward -corners in the rutty, winding path, until, emerging from the wood, it -pulled up outside the house of Fosterdyke. - -No powdered footman awaited them. On the steps, clad in worn but -serviceable tweeds, stood Sir Reginald Fosterdyke himself. - -The baronet--generally referred to by his former officers as the Old -Man--was of medium height, broad-shouldered, and deep-chested. He was -about thirty-five years of age, with well-bronzed features, clean -shaven, and possessed a thick crop of closely-cut dark brown hair tinged -with iron grey. - -He held out his left hand as Kenyon and Bramsdean ascended the stone -steps--his right hand was enveloped in surgical bandages--and greeted -his guests warmly. - -"Glad to see you, boys!" he exclaimed. "It's good of you to come. Have -a glass of sherry?" - -He led the way to the study, rang a bell, and gave instructions to a -man-servant whom Kenyon recognised as the O.C.'s batman somewhere in -France. - -Sir Reginald sat on the edge of the table and whimsically regarded his -former subordinates. At that moment, rising above the staccato rattle -of the pneumatic hammer, came the unmistakable whirr of an aerial -propeller. To Kenyon and Bramsdean it was much the same as a -trumpet-call to an old war-horse. - -"Sounds like old times, eh?" remarked Sir Reginald. - -"Rather, sir," agreed Kenyon heartily, and, at a loss to express himself -further, he relapsed into silence. - -"Experimental work, sir?" enquired Bramsdean. - -Fosterdyke nodded. - -"Yes," he replied in level tones. "Experimental work, that's it. -That's why I sent for you. I'm contemplating a flight round the world. -Keen on having a shot at it?" - - - - -CHAPTER II--FOSTERDYKE EXPLAINS - - -The two chums were not in the least taken aback with the announcement. -They knew the way of their late O.C. On active service Fosterdyke was -in the habit of issuing orders for certain operations to be performed -without apparently considering the magnitude or the danger of the -undertaking. The officer or man to whom the order was given almost -invariably executed it promptly. In the few cases where the individual -instructed to carry out a "stunt" failed to rise to the occasion, that -was an end of him as far as his service under Wing Commander Sir -Reginald Fosterdyke went. Fosterdyke had no use for faint-hearted -subordinates. - -On the other hand, Kenyon and Bramsdean were astonished at being invited -to take part in what promised to be the biggest aerial undertaking ever -contemplated. After nearly two years "on the ground" the prospect of -"going up" seemed too good to be true. - -"Business difficulties, perhaps?" hazarded Fosterdyke, noting the faint -signs of hesitation on the part of the two chums. "Think it over. But I -suppose you'd like to have a few particulars of the stunt before -committing yourselves?" - -"I think it could be arranged, sir," replied Kenyon. "As regards our -little show, we could leave it to our head foreman. He's a steady-going -fellow and all that sort of thing. It's merely a question of a month, I -suppose?" - -"Less than that. Twenty days, to give a time limit," declared the -baronet. "Either twenty days or--_phut_! However, I'll outline the -salient features of the scheme. - -"Like a good many others, it arose out of an almost trivial incident--a -bet with an American Air Staff officer whom I met in London just after -the Yankee seaplane NC4 flew across the Atlantic--or rather hopped -across. Without detracting from the merits of the stupendous -undertaking, it must be remembered that the seaplane was escorted the -whole way, and alighted several times _en route_. The Yankee--General -U. B. Outed is his name--offered to bet anyone $50,000 that an American -aircraft would be the first to circumnavigate the globe. - -"Half a dozen of us took him on; not that we could afford to throw away -an equivalent to ten thousand pounds, but because we had sufficient -faith in the Old Country to feel assured that the accomplishment of a -flight round the world would be the work of a British owned and flown -machine. - -"Shortly after the wager was accepted came the news that R34 had flown -from East Fortune to New York in 108 hours, making the return journey in -76 hours. That rather staggered General Outed, I fancy, and he had a -greater shock when Alcock and Brown covered nearly 2,000 miles between -Newfoundland and Ireland without a single stop. - -"Things from a British aviation point of view looked particularly rosy; -then for some obscure reason our Air Board appeared to let the whole -matter of aerial navigation slide, or, at any rate they gave no -encouragement. The big dirigibles were dismantled and sold; powerful -aeroplanes were scrapped, air-stations were closed, and in a -parsimonious wave of retrenchment even our old Royal Air Force was -threatened with ignominious relegation to a corps under the control of -the War Office. - -"About three months ago a wealthy Swiss--a M. Chauvasse--who had made a -pile in the United States, offered a prize to the value in British money -of L25,000 to be given to the first airman to circumnavigate the globe, -either in a lighter or a heavier than air machine. The prize is open to -all comers, and already a Yankee and a German have announced their -intention of competing." - -"A Hun!" exclaimed Kenyon. "I thought that Fritz, under the terms of -the armistice, had to surrender all his aircraft." - -"But he hasn't," remarked Fosterdyke, drily. "Nor is he likely to; and -if the Allies haven't the means to enforce the terms, that's not my -affair. If a Hun does compete, let him. That's my view. Providing he -doesn't resort to any of his dirty tricks, there's no valid reason why -the door should be banged in his face. Because he's down and out is no -reason why we should continue to sit on him. Commercially, I regard -German goods as a means to reduce the present extortionate prices of -things in England. I'm no believer in dumping, I never was; but if our -manufacturers cannot compete with the products of a country beaten in -war and torn by internal troubles, then there's something wrong -somewhere. But I am digressing. - -"Briefly, the terms of the contest are as follows: any type of machine -or engine can be employed, and as many descents as are necessary to -replenish fuel and stores. A start can be made from any place chosen by -the competitor, but the machine must finish at the same spot within -twenty days. Again, any route can be chosen, so that full advantage can -be taken of existing air stations, but--and this is a vital point--in -order to fairly circumnavigate the globe, competitors must pass within -one degree of a position immediately opposite the starting-point. Do -you follow me?" - -"What is known in navigation as Great Circle Sailing," replied -Bramsdean. "If a start is made somewhere on the 50th parallel North, -the halfway time will be somewhere 50 degrees South, with a difference -of 180 degrees of longitude." - -"That's it," agreed Sir Reginald. "Now the difficulty arises where to -find two suitable places answering to these conditions. With the -exception of a small part of Cornwall the whole of Great Britain lies -north of latitude 50.... Therefore, to reach the 50th parallel in the -Southern Hemisphere would mean making a position far south'ard of New -Zealand--where, I take it, there are no facilities for landing and -taking in petrol. - -"Nor is the vast extent of the United States any better off in that -respect. I think I am right in saying that there is no habitable land -diametrically opposite to any place in Uncle Sam's Republic." - -Fosterdyke produced a small globe from a corner of the room in order to -confirm his statement. - -"And the old Boche is a jolly sight worse off," said Kenyon. "I don't -suppose any British Dominion will tolerate him. It's certain he won't -be allowed to fly over any Allied fortress, so where is he?" - -"Paying the penalty for his misdeeds," replied Sir Reginald, grimly. -"It's not exactly a case of _vae victis_. If he'd played his game, he -would have taken his licking with a better grace because it wouldn't -have hurt him so much." - -"How many competitors are there for the Chauvasse Stakes, sir?" asked -Bramsdean. - -"A Yank, a Hun, and myself," replied Fosterdyke. "That is, up to the -present. For some reason the idea hasn't caught on with our fellows. -Probably there'll be a rush of entries later on--perhaps too late. I'll -show you my little craft; but before doing so I'll give you a few -details of the contest. - -"My idea is to start from Gibraltar--for the actual race, of course. -I'll have to take my airship there, but that's a mere detail. Why -Gibraltar? Here's an encyclopaedia, Kenyon. Look up the position of -Gib." - -"Lat. 36 deg. 6' N.; long. 5 deg. 21' W.," replied Kenyon, after -consulting the work. - -"And the antipodes of Gib. would be lat. 36 deg. 6' S.; long. 174 deg. -39' E.," continued the baronet. "The longitude, of course, being easily -determined by adding 180 to that of Gibraltar. Now the next thing to be -done (as a matter of fact I've determined it already) is to find a -habitable spot approximating to the second set of figures. Look up -Auckland, Kenyon." - -"Auckland is lat. 36 deg. 52' S.; long. 174 deg. 46' E.," replied -Kenneth. "Why, that's less than a degree either way." - -"Exactly," agreed Fosterdyke. "The next point is to determine the air -route between the two places, so as to make the best of the prevailing -winds. When one has to maintain an average speed of fifty miles an hour -for twenty days the advantage of a following wind cannot be ignored." - -"Your 'bus'll do more than that, sir," remarked Peter Bramsdean. - -"She'll do two hundred an hour," declared the baronet, emphatically. "I -haven't had a trial spin yet, but she'll come up to my expectations. -It's the stops that lower the average. Naturally I mean to take the -east to west course. It means a saving of twenty-four hours. If I took -the reverse direction, I'd be a day to the bad on returning to the -starting-point. The actual course I'll have to work out later. That's -where I want expert assistance. Also I want the aid of a couple of -experienced navigators. And so that's why I sent for you." - -"We're on it," declared both chums. - -"I thought as much," rejoined Fosterdyke with a smile. "There's one -thing I ought to make clear--the matter of terms." - -Kenyon made a deprecatory gesture. - -"Not so fast, Kenyon," protested his chief. "It's a rock-bottom -proposition. Twenty-five per cent. of the prize if we are successful is -your collective share. If we fail, then I'm broke--absolutely. I've -sunk my last penny into the concern, because I'm hanged if I'm going to -sit still and let a foreigner be the first to make an aerial -circumnavigation of the globe. Now let me introduce you to the airship -'Golden Hind.'" - - - - -CHAPTER III--THE "GOLDEN HIND" - - -"Appropriate name the 'Golden Hind,'" remarked Bramsdean, as the three -ex-R.A.F. officers made their way towards the concealed hangar. "That's -what Drake's ship was called, and he was the first Englishman to -circumnavigate the world." - -"Yes," replied Fosterdyke. "We must take it as an augury that this -'Golden Hind' will do in the air what her namesake did on the sea." - -"Not in every respect, I hope," said Kenneth Kenyon, with a laugh. -"Drake did a considerable amount of filibustering on his voyage, I -believe." - -"Ah, yes," answered Sir Reginald. "Those were good old days. Now left," -he added. "Mind yourselves, the brambles are a bit dangerous." - -Turning off the grass-grown road and down a side path, the two chums -found themselves entering a dense thicket that formed an outer fringe of -the pine wood. - -"Short cut," remarked Fosterdyke, laconically. "Now, there you are." - -A glade in the woods revealed the end of a lofty corrugated iron shed, -the hangar in which the "Golden Hind" was fast approaching completion. -The baronet "knew his way about." He knew how to deal with the -dictatorial and often completely muddled officials who ran the Surplus -Disposals Board, and had succeeded in obtaining, at a comparatively low -cost, a practically new airship shed, together with an enormous quantity -of material. - -"Now tell me what you think of her," he said, throwing open a small door -in the rear end of the building. - -Kenyon and Bramsdean paused in astonishment at what they saw. The -"Golden Hind" was neither airship nor aeroplane in the strict sense of -the word, but a hybrid embodying the salient features of both. The -fuselage, constructed almost entirely of aluminium, was a full 120 feet -in length, and enclosed so as to form a series of cabins or -compartments. Amidships these attained a beam of 15 feet, tapering fore -and aft until the end compartments terminated in a sharp wedge. -Wherever there were observation windows they were "glazed" with light -but tough fire-proof celluloid, sufficiently strong to withstand -wind-pressure. - -On either side of the hull, as Fosterdyke termed it, were six planes -arranged in pairs, each being 30 feet in fore and aft direction, and -projecting 25 feet from the side of the fuselage. Thus the total -breadth of the "Golden Hind" was well under 60 feet. On angle brackets -rising obliquely from the fuselage were six large aluminium propellers, -chain-driven by means of six 350-h.p. motors. - -"Some power there," remarked Kenyon, enthusiastically. - -"Rather," agreed Sir Reginald. "Sufficient to lift her independently of -the gas-bag, while in the unlikely event of the motors giving out there -is enough lifting power in the envelope to keep her up for an indefinite -period. Did you notice the small propellers in the wake of the large -ones?" - -"Yes, sir," replied Bramsdean. "Left-handed blades." - -"Precisely," agreed Fosterdyke. "They work on the same shaft, only in a -reverse direction. It's a little stunt of mine to utilise the eddies in -the wake of the main propellers. Yes, petrol-driven. I tried to find -an ideal fuel, one that is non-inflammable or practically so, except in -compression; but that's done me so far. There's a huge fortune awaiting -the chemist who succeeds in producing a liquid capable of conforming to -these conditions. I even made a cordite-fired motor once--something on -the Maxim-gun principle, fed by cordite grains from a hopper. It did -splendidly as far as developing power was concerned, but the difficulty -of excessive consumption and the pitting of the walls of the cylinder -did me. However, my experiments haven't all been failures. Now look at -the gas-bag." - -"It's only partly inflated," observed Peter. - -"No, fully," corrected Fosterdyke. "The envelope is a rigid one of -aluminium, subdivided into forty-nine compartments, each of which -contains a flexible ballonet. Each ballonet is theoretically proof -against leakage--in practice there is an almost inappreciable porosity, -which hardly counts for a comparatively short period, say a month. The -gas isn't hydrogen, nor is it the helium we used during the war. -Helium, although practically non-inflammable, is heavier than hydrogen. -Fortunately, I hit upon a rather smart youngster who had been in a -Government laboratory before he joined the R.A.F. With his assistance I -discovered a gas that is not only lighter than hydrogen, but is as -non-inflammable as helium. I've named the stuff 'Brodium,' after the -youngster who helped me so efficaciously. When this stunt's over, we're -going to work the gas on a commercial basis, but for the present it's -advisable to keep it a secret. - -"You observe that the section of the envelope is far from being -circular. The horizontal diameter is three-and-a-half times that of the -vertical. That gives less surface for a side wind, and consequently -less drift, while the 'cod's head and mackerel tail' ought to give a -perfect stream-line." - -"You carry a pretty stiff lot of fuel with those motors," remarked -Kenyon. - -"Rather," was the reply. "Enough for 5000 miles; which means, allowing -for deviations from a straight uniform course, about six halts to -replenish petrol tanks. We carry no water ballast of any description. -When the fuel supply runs low, there is a tendency for the airship to -rise, owing to the reduced weight. To counteract this, a certain -quantity of brodium is exhausted from the ballonets into cast-iron -cylinders, where it is stored under pressure until required again. The -leakage during this operation is less than one-half per cent. Now we'll -get on board." - -Past groups of busy workmen the three ex-officers made their way. Both -Kenyon and Bramsdean noticed that the men worked as if they had an -interest in what they were doing. Several they recognised as being in -the same "Flight" in which they had served on the other side of the -Channel. - -"Like old times," said Kenyon in a low voice. - -"Rather, old son," agreed his chum. - -They boarded the "Golden Hind," where workmen were putting finishing -touches to the interior decorations of the cabins. The floor was -composed of rigid aluminium plates, corrugated in order to provide a -firm foothold, and temporarily covered with sacking to prevent undue -wear upon the relatively soft metal. - -The door--one of the four--by which they entered was on the port side -aft. It opened into a saloon 20 feet by 7 feet, which in turn -communicated with a fore-and-aft alley-way extending almost the extreme -length of the fuselage. - -"We'll start right aft and work for'ard," said Fosterdyke. "If you can -suggest any alterations in the internal fittings, let me know. It often -happens that a new arrival spots something that the original designer -has overlooked." - -"Must have taken some thinking out, sir," remarked Bramsdean. - -"M'yes," agreed Sir Reginald. "I'm afraid I spent some sleepless nights -over the business. This is my cabin." - -The chums found themselves in a compartment measuring 15 feet in a -fore-and-aft direction and 10 feet across the for'ard bulkhead, the -width diminishing to the rounded end of the nacelle. It was plainly -furnished. A canvas cot, a folding table, and two camp chairs -comprising the principal contents. The large windows with celluloid -panes afforded a wide outlook, while should the atmospheric conditions -be favourable, the windows opened after the manner of those in a railway -carriage. - -Retracing their steps, the chums inspected the motors immediately -for'ard of the owner's cabin. Each was in a compartment measuring 10 -feet by 6 feet, leaving an uninterrupted alley-way nearly 3 feet in -length between. - -"The fuel and oil tanks are underneath the alley-way," Fosterdyke -pointed out. "I'm using pressure-feed in preference to gravity-feed. It -keeps the centre of gravity lower. What do you think of the engines?" - -"Clinking little motors," replied Kenyon, enthusiastically, as he -studied the spotlessly clean mechanism with professional interest. - -"There are six motor rooms, three on each side," observed the baronet. -"I'm taking twelve motor-mechanics to be on the safe side. When we are -running free, one man will look after two engines, but in any case half -the number will be off-duty at a time. Now, this is your cabin." - -He opened a sliding-door on the port side, corresponding with the -officers' dining-room on the starboard side. It was a compartment 20 -feet by 6 feet 6 inches, with a bunk at each end running athwartships, -and as plainly furnished as the owner's quarters. - -"Heaps of room," declared Bramsdean, "and warming apparatus, too." - -"Yes," replied Fosterdyke, "we had the exhausts led under the cabins. -Nothing like keeping warm at high altitudes. Warmth and good -food--that's more than half the battle. See this ladder?" - -He indicated a metal ladder in the alley-way, clamped vertically to the -outer wall of the cabin. - -"Leads through that hatchway," he continued, "right to the upper surface -of the envelope. There's an observation platform--useful to take -stellar observations and all that sort of thing. But you won't find a -machine-gun there," he added with a laugh. - -Passing between the 'midship pair of motor-rooms, Fosterdyke halted in a -door-way on the port side. - -"Pantry and kitchen," he remarked. - -"I'm taking a couple of good cooks. All the stoves are electrically -heated. There's a dynamo working off the main shaft of each of the -'midship motors. The starboard one provides 'juice' for the kitchen; -that on the port generates electricity for the searchlights and internal -lighting. Underneath are fresh water tanks and dry provision stores." - -On the port side corresponding to the kitchen were the air-mechanics' -quarters; while beyond the for'ard motor room the alley-way terminated, -opening into a triangular space 30 feet long and 12 feet at its greatest -breadth. - -"The crew's quarters," explained Fosterdyke. "Ample accommodation for -eight deck-hands and the two cooks. You'll notice that the head-room is -less than elsewhere. That's because of the navigation-room overhead." - -The chums looked upwards at the ceiling. There was no indication of a -hatchway of any description. - -"You gain the navigation-room from the alley-way," explained Sir -Reginald, noting their puzzled glances. "Saves the inconvenience of -disturbing the 'watch below' by having to pass through their quarters. -Up with you, Kenyon. Thank your lucky stars you're not a bulky fellow. -Mind your head against that girder." - -Bramsdean followed his chum, the baronet bringing up the rear. - -The combined chart-room and navigation compartment was spacious in -extent, but considerably congested with an intricate array of levers, -telephones, indicators, switches, and a compact wireless cabinet. In the -centre was a table with clamps to hold a large-size chart. Right "in -the eyes of the ship" was a gyroscopic compass, which, by reason of the -needle pointing to the true, instead of the magnetic, north pole, -greatly simplified steering a course, since those complicated factors, -variation and deviation, were eliminated. Altimeters, heeling -indicators, barometer, thermometer, and chronometer, with other -scientific instruments, completed the equipment of the room, which was -in telephonic communication with every part of the airship. - -From the car the three men ascended to the interior of the envelope, -climbing by means of aluminium rungs bolted to the flexible shaft. Once -inside the rigid envelope, it was possible to walk the whole five -hundred feet length of the airship along a narrow platform. From the -latter crossways ran at frequent intervals so that access could be -obtained to any of the ballonets. - -The interior reeked of the strong but not obnoxious fumes of the -brodium. - -"Leak somewhere," remarked Kenyon, sniffing audibly. - -"Yes," agreed Fosterdyke, "one of the supply pipes gave out this -morning; otherwise you wouldn't know by the sense of smell that the -envelope was fully charged." - -He struck a match and held it aloft. It burned with a pale green flame. - -"I wouldn't care to do this with hydrogen," he remarked. -"Non-inflammability of the gas practically does away with all risk. -When you recall the numerous accidents to aircraft in the earlier stages -of the war, you will find that in over eighty per cent. they were caused -by combustion. Of course I'm referring to disasters other than those -caused directly by enemy action. Now, carry on; up you go ... no, hold -on," he added, as a bell rang shrilly just above their heads. - -"One of the workmen coming down," said Fosterdyke. "Opening a flap at -the top of this shaft automatically rings an alarm, otherwise anyone -ascending might stand the risk of being kicked on the head by the feet -of someone else descending." - -"By Jove! I know that chap!" exclaimed Kenyon, after the mechanic had -descended the long vertical ladder. - -"Yes, it's Flight-sergeant Hayward," added Bramsdean. "He got the -D.C.M. for downing two Boche 'planes over Bapaume." - -"That's right," agreed the baronet. "Jolly fine mechanic he is, too. Do -you happen to know how he came to join the Royal Flying Corps? No; then -I'll let you into a secret. It was in '16 that he enlisted. Previous -to that he was a conscientious objector, and, I believe, a genuine one -at that. What caused him to change his opinions was rather remarkable. -Do you remember that Zepp raid over Lancashire? Hayward was driving a -motor-lorry that night somewhere up in the hills north of Manchester; a -bomb fell in the road some yards behind him and blew the back of his -lorry to bits. He came off with a shaking and a changed outlook on -life. Next morning he joined up. Yes, Hayward's quite a good sort; -he's been invaluable to me." - -"Had any trouble from inquisitive outsiders, sir?" asked Kenyon. - -"No, none whatever," replied Fosterdyke. "Touch wood. People in the -village hereabouts have seen enough aircraft during the war to take the -edge off their curiosity. As for our rival competitors, well, if they -can pick up a wrinkle or two it will make the contest even more -exciting." - -"If we succeed there'll be a stir," said Bramsdean. - -"Yes," agreed the baronet; "it's the first who scores in these -undertakings. See what a fuss was made when the Atlantic was first flown -by aeroplanes. If the feat were repeated, not a fraction of public -interest would be directed to it. The novelty has gone, as it were. -Even interest in the flight to Australia--in itself an epic of courage, -skill, and determination--was limited. Sensations of yesterday become -mediocrities of to-day. For instance Bleriot's flight from France to -England: see what an outburst of excitement that caused. Since then -thousands of machines have crossed the Channel without exciting comment. -Now I think I've shown you everything that is to be seen. How about -lunch?" - - - - -CHAPTER IV--THE DEPARTURE - - -"Will next Monday suit you fellows to take on officially?" enquired -Fosterdyke, as the chums prepared to depart. "I want a trial flight on -that day, and if it proves satisfactory, I'll make a formal entry at -once. M. Chauvasse stipulates that all entries must reach him in -writing by noon on the thirtieth. That leaves us with only eight days -clear." - -"Monday it is, sir," replied Kenyon, promptly. "We'll have everything -fixed up as far as our private business is concerned before then. In -fact, we could arrange to join earlier--couldn't we, Peter?" - -Peter Bramsdean signified his agreement. - -"Hardly necessary," observed Fosterdyke. "But if anything unforeseen -transpires before then I'll wire you." - -During the next few days there was much to be done in "squaring up" the -motor transport work. Notices were issued stating that the principals, -Messrs. Kenyon and Bramsdean, would be away for six weeks, during which -time all orders could be safely entrusted to their works manager. Even -that individual had no inkling of the nature of his employers' -forthcoming absence. The secret, jealously guarded, had not yet leaked -out. - -On the other hand, the Press published a report of M. Chauvasse's offer -and stated that three entries other than British had been received. The -lack of enterprise on the part of British airmen was commented upon and -an appeal issued to sportsmen to make an effort to prevent yet another -record passing into the hands of foreigners. - -On the day following this journalistic jeremiad came the report that a -British airship of unique design was approaching completion at a private -aerodrome near Blandford, and that the Air Ministry had given -instructions for all facilities to be afforded to its crew in their -attempt to circumnavigate the globe within a space of twenty days. -Details, both erroneous and exaggerated, were given of the mysterious -airship, together with plans that were as unlike those of the "Golden -Hind" as those of a modern dreadnought would be compared with those of -Drake's famous ship. - -"That will rattle the Old Man," declared Kenyon, when he read the -announcement. - -It did. Fosterdyke sent a wire asking his two assistants to join him at -once. That was on the Friday morning. At 2.30 P.M.--or in Air Force -phraseology 14.30--Kenyon and Bramsdean arrived at Air Grange, to find a -vast concourse of would-be spectators congregated round the gates, -backing up the efforts of a knot of persistent Pressmen who cajoled, -bluffed, and argued--all in vain--with the imperturbable Hayward and -four hefty satellites. - -The grassy slopes outside the formidable fence resembled Epsom Downs on -Derby Day. Momentarily motor-cars were arriving, while at frequent -intervals heavily laden char-a-bancs rumbled up and discharged their -human cargo. Motor-bicycles, push-bikes, traps and carts added to the -congestion. Thousands of people arrived on foot--from where goodness -only knows! Hawkers and itinerant purveyors displayed their wares; -photographers, both amateur and professional, elbowed their way towards -the forbidden ground; while three brass bands and at least a dozen -individual musicians added to the din. On the outskirts temporary -platforms had been erected, while hirers of telescopes, field and opera -glasses did a roaring trade, people willingly paying to gaze at the -impenetrable barrier of fir-trees in the vain hope of catching a glimpse -of the mysterious airship. - -It took Kenyon and Bramsdean the best part of an hour to literally force -their way through the throng. By dint of shouting "Gangway, please," -they continued to make a certain amount of progress until their arrival, -coupled with the ex-sergeant's efforts to make the crowd stand aside, -attracted the attention of the representatives of the Press. - -For five minutes the latter bombarded the chums with questions, getting -inconsequent replies that put the reporters on their mettle. - -"If we aren't allowed in, we'll take jolly good care you won't be," -shouted one of the Press representatives, evidently mistaking Peter and -Kenneth for favoured spectators. - -There was a rush towards the gates. The half a dozen policemen -assisting Hayward and his men were almost swept off their feet. Things -looked serious. If Kenyon and his companion succeeded in getting past -the gate it would only be in the midst of an excited mob. - -Just then Sir Reginald Fosterdyke appeared. Some of the local -inhabitants recognised him, and the report of his identity quickly -spread. So when he raised his hand to enjoin silence the crowd surging -around the gate ceased its clamour. - -"By preventing my navigating officers you only defer your own ends," he -exclaimed in ringing tones. "The airship is not yet ready for flight, -nor is she open to inspection. A trial flight has been fixed for Monday -next. On that day the aerodrome will be thrown open to public -inspection. And," he added, with a disarming smile, "there will be no -charge for admission." - -Almost instantly the demeanour of the crowd changed. There were calls -for cheers for Sir Reginald Fosterdyke. Someone started singing: "For -he's a jolly good fellow." - -The baronet turned and hurried away precipitately. Publicity he hated. -Kenneth and Peter, taking advantage of this diversion, slipped inside -the barrier and found Fosterdyke awaiting them beyond the bend of the -carriage drive. - -"Good old British public," he exclaimed. "By Jove! They put the wind up -me. I thought that they would be swarming like locusts over the 'Golden -Hind.' We'll have to circumvent them. Only last night some of the crew -found a fellow prowling round the shed. Goodness only knows what for. -He pitched some sort of yarn, and since we aren't under the Defence of -the Realm Act I couldn't detain him. But this crowd scares me. We'll -get out to-night, even if we have to drift, and they can have the run of -the place on Monday, as I promised. But I said nothing about the -airship being here or otherwise. Where's your kit?" - -"Somewhere between here and Blandford railway station," replied Peter. -"We saw we'd have our work cut out to force our way through, so we told -the taxi-driver to take it back to the station. It isn't the first time -we've parted with our kit, eh, Kenneth?" - -"I'll send for it when the crowd thins," decided Sir Reginald. "Now I -suppose you're wondering why I telegraphed for you?" - -"The swarm outside offers a solution," said Kenyon. - -"To a certain extent, yes," agreed Fosterdyke. "Apart from that, -there's a reliable report that Captain Theodore Nye, of the United -States Army, is starting from Tampa, Florida, to-morrow in one of the -large airships of the 'R' type that the Air Ministry sold to America -recently. That forces our hand. We'll have to be at the -starting-point--1100 miles away--by to-morrow mid-day, so as to -replenish petrol and commence the competition flight before midnight." - -"And how about the Boche, sir?" - -"Count Karl von Sinzig? Not a word. He's apparently out of it. Not -even one of the 'also rans.' Our formidable rivals are the Yankee and a -Jap--a Count Hyashi--who will reach his Nadir somewhere in Uruguay. Let -'em all come--the more the merrier." - -All hands, including the workmen and mechanics who were not -participating in the voyage, assembled in the large dining-hall for an -impromptu farewell dinner, and to them the baronet broached the subject -of the hurried departure of the "Golden Hind." - -The meal over, the task of getting the huge airship out of her shed -began. Even though the wind was light the work was by no means simple. -Incautious handling or a sudden change in the direction of the air -currents might easily result in disaster. The operation had to be -carried out after sunset and with the minimum of artificial light, -since, for the present, the "Golden Hind's" departure was to be kept -secret. - -With her ballonets charged sufficiently to give her a slight lift, the -airship rose until the base of the fuselage was a bare three feet from -the ground. The crew were at their stations, Kenyon assisting -Fosterdyke in the wheelhouse, while right aft Peter Bramsdean directed -the movements of the "ground-men" holding the stern, securing, and -trailing ropes. - -Inch by inch, foot by foot, the leviathan of the air emerged from the -shed until her entire length, straining gently at the rope that tethered -her to mother earth, lay exposed to the starlit sky. - -"All clear, sir!" reported Bramsdean through a speaking-tube. - -Curt but precise orders rang out from the navigation-room. The slight -hiss of the brodium being released from the metal cylinders was barely -audible above the sighing of the wind in the pine-tops until the gauges -registering the "lift" of the airship indicated thirty-eight tons. - -Armed with a megaphone, Fosterdyke leant out of the window of the -navigation-room. - -"All ready? ... Let go!" - -Simultaneously the twenty men holding the airship released their hold. -That was where training and discipline told, for terrible to contemplate -would have been the fate of an unwary "ground-man" had he retained his -grip on the rope. But without an accident to mar the momentous event, -the "Golden Hind" shot almost vertically into the air, attaining in a -very short space of time an altitude of six thousand feet. - -Not a cheer rang out to speed the departing competitor for the -stupendous contest. Unheard and unseen save by the loyal band of helpers -at the aerodrome, Sir Reginald Fosterdyke's airship was on her way to -the starting-point of her voyage round the globe. - - - - -CHAPTER V--FIRST AWAY - - -Hanging apparently motionless in still air, although virtually she was -drifting in a southerly direction at a modest ten miles an hour, the -"Golden Hind" maintained her altitude for the best part of half an hour -before any attempt was made to start the motors. She was now to all -intents and purposes a non-dirigible balloon, floating aimlessly in the -air. - -Peter Bramsdean, his work aft accomplished, made his way to the -navigation-room, where he found the baronet and Kenyon watching the -galaxy of lights far beneath them. - -"We're drifting over Poole Harbour," observed Fosterdyke. "That's -prohibited for private owned aircraft; but who's to know?" - -"I often wonder what would happen," said Peter, "if a non-dirigible -drifted over a prohibited area. Hang it all! The balloonist couldn't -control the wind, neither can the Air Ministry, so what's the poor -fellow to do?" - -From their lofty post of observation the officers of the "Golden Hind" -could see the coast-line standing out distinctly in the starlight. Away -to the south-east the powerful St. Catherine's Light threw its beam -athwart the sky in a succession of flashes every five seconds. Nearer, -but less distinct, could be seen the distinctive lights of The Needles -and Hurst Castle. Then a curved line of glittering pin-points--the -esplanade lamps of Bournemouth. To the south-west the lesser glare of -Swanage and beyond the glow of Anvil Point Lighthouse. Lesser lights, -like myriads of glow-worms, denoted scattered towns, villages, and -detached houses ashore, while right ahead and for the most part visible -only by the aid of binoculars, could be discerned the red, green, and -white navigation lights of shipping passing up and down the Channel. - -The three men watched the nocturnal panorama almost without emotion. -The sight would have moved a novice into raptures of delight, but to the -veteran airmen there was little new, except perhaps that in the place of -star-shells, searchlights, "flaming-onions," and exploding shrapnel were -the lights of a nation once more at peace with her neighbours even if -not so with herself. - -Fosterdyke glanced at a clock set upon the bulkhead. - -"Time!" he announced laconically. - -Indicators clanged in various parts of the ship. Within a few seconds -the six motors, started by compressed air, were roaring. Swaying -slightly under the resistance of the gas-bag overhead, the airship -gathered way. In place of complete calm came the rush and whine of the -wind as the "Golden Hind" leapt forward. - -"May as well be on the safe side," remarked Fosterdyke. "Switch on the -navigation lights, Kenyon. I don't fancy another 'bus barging into us." - -He gave an order through a voice tube. Promptly one of the crew appeared -from below. - -"Take her, Taylor," said the skipper, indicating the helm. "Following -wind--no drift. Course S. 3/4 W." - -"S. 3/4 W. it is, sir," repeated the man, peering into the bowl of the -gyroscope compass. - -"Now, you bright beauties, take my tip and turn in," said Fosterdyke, -addressing Peter and Kenneth. "There won't be much doing to-night, I -hope, so you may as well make the best of things. If you'll relieve me -at four, Kenyon? ... Good." - -The chums left the navigation-room and made their way to their cabin. -Here, although adjoining one of the motor-rooms, there was comparatively -little vibration, but the noise was considerable. - -"We'll get used to it," observed Peter, as he proceeded to unpack his -luggage, which had been brought from Blandford station and put on board -only a few minutes before the "Golden Hind" parted company with terra -firma. "Seems like old times. Hanged if I thought I'd ever be up -again." - -"Between ourselves I'd prefer a 'bus," confided Kenyon. "Doesn't seem -quite the right thing being held up by a gas-bag." - -"Be thankful for small mercies, you old blighter!" exclaimed his -companion. "Turn in as sharp as you can, 'cause it's your watch in four -hours' time." - -It seemed less than ten minutes before Kenyon was awakened. His first -impression was that he was being roused by his batman, and that illusion -was heightened by the fact that the man held a cup of tea. - -"Ten to four, sir," announced the airman. "I've made you something -hot." - -Kenneth thanked the man, drank the tea, and slipped out of his bunk. He -was aware as he donned his clothes that the "Golden Hind" was pitching -considerably. Peter, sound asleep, was breathing deeply. There was a -smile on his face; evidently his dreams were pleasant ones. - -On his way for'ard Kenyon stopped to exchange a few words with the -air-mechanic tending the two after motors. - -"Running like clocks, sir," replied the man in answer to Kenneth's -enquiry. "If things go on as they are going now, I'm on a soft job." - -The first streaks of dawn were showing in the north-eastern sky as the -relieving pilot clambered up the ladder and gained the navigation-room. -Fosterdyke, busy with parallel rulers and compass was bending over a -chart. - -"Mornin'," he remarked genially, when he became aware of the presence of -his relief. "Everything O.K. Doing eighty, and there's a stiff -following wind--force five. Altitude 5500, course S. 3/4 W. That's the -lot, I think. We ought to be sighting the Spanish coast in another -twenty minutes." - -Fosterdyke waited until the helmsman had been relieved, then, giving -another glance ahead, he turned to Kenyon. - -"We passed something going in a westerly direction at 1.15 A.M.," he -announced. "An airship flying fairly low. About 2000, I should think." - -"Not a competitor, sir?" - -"Hardly. No one but a born fool would think of taking a westerly course -round the earth if engaged in a race against time. We were passing over -Belle Isle, on the French coast, at the time, and it rather puzzled me -why an airship should be proceeding west from the Biscayan coast." - -"French patrol, possibly," suggested Kenyon. - -"Or a Hun running a cargo of arms and ammunition to Ireland. I -signalled her, but she didn't reply. Right-o! Carry on." - -Fosterdyke went to his cabin, to sleep like a log. He was one of those -fortunate individuals who can slumber almost anywhere and at any time, -but rarely if ever did he sleep for more than five hours at a stretch. -Even after a strenuous day's mental and physical work he would be "as -fresh as paint" after his customary "caulk." - -Left in the company of the airman at the helm, Kenyon prepared to accept -responsibility until eight o'clock. He took up his position at the -triplex glass window, the navigation-room being the only compartment -where celluloid was not employed for purposes of lighting. It was a -weird sight that met his gaze. Overhead and projecting from beyond the -point of the nacelle was the blunt nose of the gas-bag, the port side -tinted a rosy red as the growing light glinted on it, the starboard side -showing dark grey against the sombre sky. A thousand feet below were -rolling masses of clouds, their nether edges suffused by dawn. Between -the rifts in the bank of vapour was apparently a black, unfathomable -void, for as yet the first signs of another day were vouchsafed only to -the airman flying far above the surface of the sea. Already the stars -had paled before the growing light. Wisps of vapour--clouds on a higher -plane to the denser ones below--were trailing athwart the course of the -"Golden Hind," until, overtaken by the airship's high speed, they were -parted asunder, to follow in the eddying wake of the powerful -propellers. - -In the navigation-room, being placed right for'ard, the jerky motion of -the fuselage that was noticeable in Kenyon's cabin was greatly -exaggerated. It was a totally different sensation from being in an -aeroplane when the 'bus entered a "pocket." It reminded Kenyon of a -lift being alternately started up and down with only a brief interval -between. Rather vaguely the pilot wondered what he would be like at the -end of twenty-one days of this sort of thing. - -"Bucking a bit, isn't she, Thompson?" he remarked to the helmsman, who, -relieved of the responsibility of maintaining a constant altitude by the -fact that the airship was automatically controlled in that direction, -was merely keeping the vessel on her compass course. - -"Yes, sir," replied the man. "She'll be steadier when we trim the -planes." - -"Might have thought of that before," soliloquised Kenyon. He remarked -that the six "wings" were secured in a horizontal position. For the -present the "Golden Hind" was kept up solely by the lift of the brodium -in the ballonets. Not until it was fully light would Fosterdyke reduce -the gas in the ballonets and rely upon the planes for "lift." - -A quarter of an hour later, while Kenyon was engaged in making an entry -in the log, the helmsman reported land ahead. - -The "Golden Hind" was approaching the Spanish coast, not in the hostile -way in which her namesake did, but on a friendly voyage across a country -that, if not exactly an ally, is bound by strong ties to Great Britain. - -The airship was soon passing over Santander. Ahead the Cantabrian -Mountains reared themselves so high in the air that the "Golden Hind" -had to ascend another three thousand feet to ensure an easy crossing. - -At eight o'clock Fosterdyke appeared in the navigation-room. Under his -orders the airship's speed had been sensibly diminished. He intended to -put to a practical test the lifting powers of the six planes. - -Close behind him came Bramsdean, on whom the duties of officer of the -watch devolved for the next four hours. - -"Well, old bird," he observed, genially addressing his chum. "How goes -it?" - -"Fresh as paint," replied Kenyon, "but as hungry as a hunter." - -"Then hook it," continued Peter. "The cook's dished up a sumptuous -breakfast." - -Kenyon made a hurried but ample meal. He was anxious to see how the -"Golden Hind" manoeuvred as an aeroplane. - -Upon returning to the navigation-room he found that the six -comparatively small wings were being tilted to an effective angle, while -a large quantity of brodium was being exhausted from the alternate -ballonets into the pressure-flasks, until there was only enough "lift" -remaining in the envelope to prevent it dropping earthwards and thus -disturbing the stability of the fuselage by acting as top-hamper. - -Simultaneously instructions were telegraphed to the air mechanics -standing by the six motors to increase the number of revolutions. - -The change was instantly appreciable. No longer did the "Golden Hind" -pitch. She settled down to a rapid, steady motion, her speed being not -far short of 150 miles an hour. - -"No ailerons," explained Fosterdyke. "Horizontal and vertical rudders -only. Saves a lot of trouble and complication of gear." - -"Stunts not permissible, sir?" asked Kenyon. - -"No," he replied. "They are not. We're out to do something definite, -not to let the Spanish have an exhibition of an airship making a -spinning nose-dive or looping the loop. But we'll do a volplane, just -to test the gliding powers of the 'bus." - -He touched a switch by which a warning bell rang in each of the motor -rooms. This was to inform the mechanics that the electric current would -be simultaneously cut off from the six motors, so that there would be no -need on their part to endeavour to locate faults that did not exist. - -"Cut out!" ordered Fosterdyke. - -Bramsdean promptly depressed a small switch by the side of the -indicator-board. This automatically cut off the ignition. The propellers -made a few more "revs." and then came to a standstill. In almost -absolute silence, save for the whine of the wind in the struts and -tension wires the "Golden Hind" began her long, oblique glide earthward. - -Suddenly Kenyon gripped the baronet's arm. - -"Look!" he exclaimed. "Airship!" - -Fosterdyke did as requested. The "Golden Hind" was manoeuvring high -above La Mancha, the undulating well-watered plain between the Montes -del Toledo and the Sierra Morena. Six thousand feet beneath the airship -the town of Ciudad Real glinted in the slanting rays of the morning sun. - -"Our shadow--that's all," declared Fosterdyke. - -"No, not that," protested Kenneth. "More to the left." - -He grasped a pair of binoculars and looked at the object that had -attracted his attention. It was a somewhat difficult matter, owing to -the refraction of the triplex glass in front of the navigation-room, -where, in contrast to the rest of the windows, fire-proofed celluloid -had not been employed. - -Before Kenyon had got the airship in focus the baronet had also spotted -it. Apparently it had just left its shed and was heading in a -south-easterly direction, differing a good four points from that -followed by the "Golden Hind." - -"By Jove!" exclaimed Kenyon. "It's a Fritz! I can spot the black -crosses on the envelope." - -"In that case," added Fosterdyke, calmly, "Count Karl von Sinzig has -stolen a march on us. He's one up!" - - - - -CHAPTER VI--Z64 SCORES - - -Count Karl von Sinzig was certainly the "first away." Typically -Teutonic, he had succeeded in throwing dust in the eyes of his rivals. -Acting upon the principle "Do others or they'll do you," he was leaving -no stone unturned to pull off the big prize; and, figuratively speaking, -a good many of the stones were too dirty for a clean sportsman to -handle. - -For one thing von Sinzig had obtained his airship by fraud, although -none of the other competitors were aware of the fact. Formerly in the -German Air Service, the count managed to smuggle one of the Zeppelins -out of the shed at Tondern, taking it by night to an aerodrome in East -Prussia. - -According to the terms of the Peace Treaty, Germany was to surrender all -her airships. How she evaded the stipulation is now well known. The -Zeppelins at Tondern and other air stations in Sleswig-Holstein were -destroyed by fire deliberately, to prevent them falling into the hands -of the Allies. This act of bad faith was similar to the scuttling of -the Hun fleet at Scapa; and the tardiness of the Allies to obtain -reparation merely encouraged the Huns to other acts of passive defiance. -But, although the destruction of the airships was taken as an accepted -fact, it was unknown outside certain Junker circles that one of the -Zeppelins had been removed before the conflagration. - -Revolutions and counter-revolutions, in which the fire-eating von Sinzig -had several narrow escapes from death, led the count to seek pastures -new; and about this time the publication of M. Chauvasse's terms for the -international contest suggested to the Junker count the possibility of -making good his financial losses. - -Gathering a crew of airmen who had had experience in Zeppelins during -the war, von Sinzig flew the airship to Spain, crossing Austria and the -north of Italy during the night, and carefully avoiding French territory -on his aerial voyage. - -In a secluded part of the mountainous Estremadura he had practically his -own way. The Alcaldes of the nearest surrounding villages were easily -bribed to leave the mysterious airship and its foreign owner severely -alone. From stores of German war material "sold" to Spain von Sinzig -obtained gas cylinders, petrol, spares, and even a baby "Albatross"--a -small yet powerful monoplane. With folding wings this machine could -with ease be stowed away in the car of the airship. With German -thoroughness the Count, looking well ahead, foresaw that the Albatross -would probably serve a most useful purpose in helping him to win the -coveted prize. - -The honour of being the first man to fly round the world took quite a -subsidiary place in von Sinzig's plans. Since Germany did not own a -square inch of territory outside Europe, he was compelled to make use of -alien lands in which to alight. That was a handicap, and the thought of -it rankled. There was some consolation to be derived from the prospect -of wresting the big prize from a hated Englishman, a despised Yankee, or -a miserable yellow Jap. And he meant to do it--somehow. - -Already Germans had resumed their "peaceful penetration" of Great -Britain and the United States. Commercial travellers, representing -German houses and at the same time potential spies, were able to -ascertain with little difficulty particulars concerning the British and -American competitors for the Round-the-World Flight. The moment von -Sinzig learnt of the date of Sir Reginald Fosterdyke's departure from -England, he anticipated the time by starting the day before the British -airship was supposed to leave Gibraltar. - -This was a comparatively easy matter. According to the terms of the -contest, competitors had to obtain a clearance certificate from an -official of the International Airways Board. Provided the flight were -completed within twenty days of the date of the certificate the -principal condition was complied with, while it was furthermore -specified that the certificate could be post-dated to the extent of -twelve hours to allow for the time taken up in transmission from the -Board's representative to the actual competitor. - -In von Sinzig's case he scored again. Employing a swift motor-car, he -obtained the official _vise_ at Madrid, and was back at the rendezvous -within two and a half hours, the atrocious roads notwithstanding. - -Everything was in readiness for the start, and at ten in the morning Z64 -left her shed and, flying at a comparatively low altitude, made off in a -south-easterly direction. - -The German was counting on forty-eight hours' start of his English -rival--possibly more. He had been informed that the "Golden Hind" -proposed leaving England on the following Monday. Fosterdyke really -meant to have started on that day, and only the exuberant demonstration -of the crowd outside Air Grange had made him alter his plans. It was a -lucky stroke, for Fosterdyke's secret intelligence department was at -fault. According to information received from Germany, Count von Sinzig -was a non-starter. Incidentally it was the count who had set that -rumour afloat. It was but one of the many petty artifices upon which he -built his hopes of carrying off the Chauvasse Prize. - -Chuckling to himself, Count von Sinzig stood beside the helmsman of Z64, -quite in ignorance of the fact that a few thousand feet above him was -the British airship which he fondly thought was resting in her shed in -far-off England. - - - - -CHAPTER VII--DELAYS - - -"Avast stunting!" declared Fosterdyke. "Let's get on with it. Full -speed to Gib." - -Everyone on board realised that every minute was precious. With her six -motors running "all out" the "Golden Hind" quickly worked up to her -maximum speed of 180 miles an hour. At that rate the petrol consumption -was alarming, but Fosterdyke faced the fact cheerfully. While he was -obtaining the necessary certificates and making an official declaration -to the authorities at Gibraltar, the airship could replenish her -somewhat depleted fuel tanks. - -But Sir Reginald had not taken into account the vagaries of red tape and -petty officialdom. - -At 11 A.M. the "Golden Hind" sighted the historic Rock. Five minutes -later she slowed down and turned head to wind off the west side of the -fortress. With the assistance of a dockyard mooring-party, a stout -galvanised steel wire was lowered from the bow compartment of the -fuselage and secured to a large mooring buoy off the Detached Mole. -Then with sufficient gas in her ballonets to keep her buoyant the -"Golden Hind" floated head to wind at 50 feet above the Bay of -Gibraltar. - -Almost before the mooring operations were completed the water in the -vicinity was crowded with boats of all sorts, sizes, and descriptions, -while the water-front was packed with a dense concourse of interested -spectators, representatives of the umpteen nationalities to be found -living on the few square miles of thickly-populated rock. - -"Nothing you want ashore, I suppose?" enquired Fosterdyke as he prepared -to descend a wire ladder, the end of which was being steadied by a -couple of bluejackets in a picket-boat. - -"Thanks, no," replied Kenyon. - -"That's good," continued the baronet, fervently. "Hate having to -execute commissions. Not that I don't like obliging people, but I'm so -deucedly forgetful. Right-o; stand by. I'll be back in less than a -couple of hours, I hope. Come along, Bramsdean." - -Agilely Fosterdyke swarmed down the swaying ladder, followed at a safe -distance by Peter, who carried a parcel of documents and a Mercator's -chart on which the proposed route was marked for the benefit of the -International Air Committee's representative and also the "Competent -Military Authorities" of the various garrisons where the "Golden Hind" -was scheduled to land. - -Peter Bramsdean had plenty of experience of petty officialdom at the Air -Ministry. He well remembered the time--running into hours all told--of -weary waiting in draughty corridors until it pleased certain individuals -holding high places to signify their condescension (conveyed by a pert -damsel in brown overall and a pigtail tied with an enormous bow) to -receive the insignificant lieutenant. - -Here it was much the same. The officials who were considered -indispensable in the matter of signing various documents were "out to -lunch." - -A look of horrified amazement overspread the features of the minion to -whom Fosterdyke suggested that time would be saved by sending for them. -The British Empire might totter; the chance of winning fame by being the -first airman to fly round the globe be lost; but by no possibility must -such trivial details prevent officialdom from having its lunch--a -movable feast occupying normally from one o'clock till three. - -"Hang it all, Bramsdean!" exclaimed Fosterdyke explosively during one of -the numerous periods of forced inaction. Clearly the usually unruffled -baronet was showing signs of annoyance. "Hang it all! It was ever -thus. Petty hirelings whose one idea of efficiency is to raise -obstacles and to quibble over unimportant details; those are the -stumbling blocks. For twopence I'd cut the cackle and carry on." - -"And be disqualified at the winning post," reminded the cautious Peter. -"We're wasting precious time----" - -"It'll be an unofficial competition, then," declared Fosterdyke. "The -honour of achieving the flight will be enough. The money prize can go -hang. Come along, let's make tracks." - -"I vote we look up the Commissioner at his private quarters," suggested -Bramsdean. "After all, the 'Golden Hind' won't have refilled her petrol -tanks yet." - -"'Spose not," growled Fosterdyke. "Someone's illegible signature's -required for the indents, I presume. Right-o, Bramsdean, let's rout out -this indispensable." - -Somewhat to Peter's surprise the official was discovered with little -difficulty. He had just finished his lunch, and as the meal had been a -satisfying one, he was in high good humour. - -"So Count von Sinzig has five hours' start, eh?" remarked the worthy -representative of the International Air Board. "That's nothing. You'll -make that up easily. The documents? Ah--yes--quite so. Unfortunately, -the seals are in my office. I'll be along there very shortly." - -"Isn't your signature enough?" asked the baronet. - -The great one hesitated. On the one hand, he wanted to impress his -callers by admitting that his signature was "absolutely it." On the -other, years of punctilious devotion to the ethics of red tape urged him -to deprecate such a cutting of the Gordian knot. - -"No, Sir Reginald," he replied. "Both are necessary. One is not -conclusively in order without the other. I'll be at the office by -three." - -It was now a quarter-past two. Fosterdyke felt strongly inclined to -enquire pointedly why three-quarters of an hour would be taken up by the -Commissioner in getting from his quarters to his office. - -By ten minutes past three the various documents were sealed and signed. -As the competitors were on the point of taking their departure the -Commissioner spoke again. - -"I don't seem to have seen Form 4456," he observed dryly. "That had to -be obtained before you left England." - -"It wasn't," replied the baronet, bluntly. "An oversight, I admit, but -you don't suggest that I return to England to get it?" - -"It is necessary," was the rejoinder. "Without it the flight would not -be in order. In fact, as an authorised representative of the -International Air Board I can rule you out of the contest." - -"Piffle!" declared Fosterdyke hotly. He was rapidly nearing the end of -his restraint. "This, I may observe, is a contest of aircraft, not a -paper competition. Form 4456 is not an absolute essential. Since you -require it, I presume the case can be met if my representative in -England has the form made out and sent to you by registered post. It -will be in your hands before the 'Golden Hind' completes the circuit." - -The Commissioner consulted a ponderous tome, chock-a-block with rules -and regulations for aerial navigation, written in official phraseology -so confusing that it was possible to have more than one interpretation -for at least seventy-five per cent. of the complicated paragraphs. - -Quoting Article 1071, sub-section 3c, the official made the discovery -that the rendering of Form 4456 could be dispensed with in circumstances -laid down in Article 2074, section 5c, etc., etc. Thereupon he rang a -bell, summoned a head clerk, who in turn deputed a junior to fetch a -certain form. When this was forthcoming a blob of sealing-wax, the -impress of a seal, and the great man's illegible signature, and the -trick was done. As far as the International Air Board was concerned the -"Golden Hind" was a recognised and duly authorised competitor for the -Chauvasse Prize. - -There was still the Recognised Military Authority to be dealt with. -That official was urbanity personified. He did everything in his power -to expedite matters, but red tape was stronger than gold lace. - -The loud report of a gun warned Fosterdyke and his companion that sunset -had descended upon the Rock. The gates of the fortress were closed till -sunrise. - -"Won't affect you," explained the courteous official. "You can get back -by the boat from the Old Mole. I won't keep you very much longer. It -really isn't my fault." - -"Gibraltar was a bad choice of mine for a starting-point," observed -Fosterdyke. - -"'Fraid so," agreed the other. "Ah, here we are. Thank you, Wilson. -Where's my fountain pen? Where's---- Oh, dash it all, where's -everything? ... That's settled, then. Have a drink before you go? No? -Well, cheerio, and the very best of luck." - -Armed with the necessary documents, "sealed, signed, and delivered," -Fosterdyke and Bramsdean found themselves in the open air. Darkness had -already fallen. It was a good two miles from Little Europa Point to the -Old Mole, and not a vehicle of any sort was to be seen. - -Tired, hot, and hungry they reached the spot where a naval pinnace was -supposed to be awaiting them. It was not there. A message erroneously -delivered had sent the boat back to the dockyard. Not to be done, -Fosterdyke hired a native boat, paying without demur a -villainous-looking Rock Scorp the excessive sum he demanded. - -For a quarter of an hour the boat rowed about while the baronet and his -companion gazed aloft in the hope of spotting the "Golden Hind" against -the dark sky. - -"She's gone!" declared Bramsdean. - -"Nonsense!" exclaimed Fosterdyke, irritably. "Why should she?" - -Nevertheless in his mind he was convinced that such was the case. - -Presently the boat ran close to the buoy to which the airship had been -moored. Both men recognised the buoy by the number painted on it. No -wire rope ran upwards to an invisible object floating in the darkness of -the night. - -Unaccountably, mysteriously the "Golden Hind" had disappeared. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII--CAST ADRIFT - - -Enrico Jaures, Spaniard on his father's side and German on his mother's, -with a dash of almost every other Continental nation's blood in his -veins, lived or rather existed in a mean dwelling behind the King's -Bastion, on the west side of Gibraltar. - -Indolent, thriftless, and easy-going on the one hand, crafty and -quarrelsome on the other, he possessed all the bad points that -characterise the criminal classes of the two countries where his parents -first saw the light. What he did for a living and how he earned money -was a mystery even to his polyglot neighbours. Yet, without being well -off, he appeared to be always "flush" with money. - -Contrary to the general demeanour of the Rock Scorps, Enrico Jaures -expressed no astonishment when the "Golden Hind" appeared over the high -ground beyond Algeciras. He was expecting the airship, although he had -to confess to himself that she had certainly arrived prematurely. -Evidently this was not according to plan. - -He sat, smoked innumerable cigarettes, and thought as deeply as a -half-breed Spaniard can. Twice he got up, yawned, stretched himself and -ambled back to the house to partake of a meal consisting principally of -olives, garlic, and maize. Then back he came to his post of vantage and -sat gazing stolidly at the five hundred feet of inflated gasbag riding -easily to her wire cable, while her crew, bringing the airship close to -the surface, were busily engaged in pumping up petrol from a -tank-lighter. - -The shadows were lengthening considerably when a white-robed Moor -approached the reclining Jaures--a dignified, olive-featured man, -wearing a thick black beard and moustache. - -"The Englishman has started," observed the new-comer, speaking in -Spanish with a decidedly guttural accent. - -"That I know," rejoined Enrico. - -"But not so von Sinzig," continued the other in a low tone, giving a -furtive glance over his shoulder. "Until he arrives at Massowah it is -doubtful whether he will know that this English airship is on his heels. -Why is she here so soon?" - -"I know not," replied Jaures. "Two men landed from her. They went in -the direction of Buena Vista." - -The pseudo Moor shrugged his shoulders. - -"Two thousand five hundred pesetas are awaiting you in the Banqua del -Espiritu at Algeciras, friend Enrico," he said in a low voice. "Prevent -that airship's departure even for twelve hours and the money will be -paid you." - -"How can I?" asked Jaures, showing more interest than he had hitherto -displayed. "I cannot place a bomb on board her, like I did on board the -_Henri Artois_ at Barcelona." - -"S'sh! Not so loud," exclaimed the other warningly. "How you earn the -money is your affair." - -The supposed Moor passed on, leaving Enrico Jaures gazing thoughtfully -at the British airship. - -He sat and pondered until the refuelling operations were completed and -the "Golden Hind" allowed to rise a hundred feet above the sea. With -the setting of the sun a gentle breeze sprang up from the nor'east, -causing the hitherto almost motionless airship to sway as she fretted at -her cable. - -He waited until darkness had settled upon the scene, then once more made -his way into the house. This time he did not eat, but fortified himself -with a long drink out of an earthenware bottle. - -Drawing his knife, he carefully oiled the blade and replaced it in its -sheath. Then, having selected a marline-spike from a tool box, he slung -the implement from his neck by means of a lanyard, hiding it under his -coloured shirt. - -These preparations completed, he walked slowly and unconcernedly to the -Old Mole. - -By this time the water-front was almost deserted. A patrol marched -stolidly down the street; Enrico stepped into the shelter of a narrow -courtyard until the khaki-clad party had disappeared; but before he -could resume he had to await the passing of a gaitered and belted naval -picquet. - -The coast cleared, he reached the Mole. A tramp steamer and a few -feluccas were moored alongside. Farther out a tug was engaged in -shepherding a couple of large lighters alongside an East-bound liner, -while changing red, white, and green lights betokened the presence of -swift-moving steamboats in the bay. Standing out against the faint -starlight he could discern the "Golden Hind." Even as he looked a gleam -of light shot through the windows of one of the compartments, and then -another, both being almost instantly screened. - -"Two thousand five hundred pesetas," whispered Jaures to himself. "A -good price for a little swim." - -Without troubling to remove any of his clothes, although he kicked off -his canvas shoes, Enrico cautiously descended a flight of steps until -his feet touched the water. Listening to assure himself that no one was -about, he glided in as noiselessly as an eel, and swam with slow, steady -strokes under the counter of the tramp and close to her wall sides until -he gained her bows. - -Taking his bearings of the airship's mooring-buoy, he resumed his easy -progress cautiously lest feathers of phosphorescent spray should betray -his presence. - -A quarter of an hour's swim brought him up to the mooring-buoy. With -considerable difficulty, for the large barrel-shaped buoy was coated -with barnacles and slippery with seaweed, Enrico contrived to draw -himself clear of the water. - -Again he waited, listening to the sounds emanating from the airship a -hundred or a hundred and fifty feet overhead. The wire hawser, acting -as a conductor, enabled him to hear with great distinctness, and -possessing a good knowledge of English he was able to pick up scraps of -conversation between the crew. That helped him but little, for they -were talking of matters as remote from the topic of the great race as -the Poles. - -Enrico Jaures next devoted his attention to the shackle that secured the -thimble spliced in the end of the cable to the big ring bolt of the -buoy. - -He grunted with satisfaction when he discovered that the shackle was -threaded and not secured by a forelock, but at the same time he found by -the sense of touch that whoever had been responsible for the job had -done his work well by securing the pin by means of a piece of flexible -wire. - -This latter Jaures managed to cast loose, then, with the aid of his -marline-spike, he began to unfasten the shackle-pin, pausing -occasionally as the strain on the wire rope increased. - -At last the deed was accomplished. The shackle-pin clattered upon the -rounded surface of the buoy and rebounded into the water; but almost -simultaneously Enrico Jaures found himself being whisked aloft. A -snap-hook at the end of a wire had caught in his belt, and there he was, -suspended ignominiously like a horse being slung on board a ship, -already a hundred feet or more above the surface of the sea. - -His first impulse was to cut loose his belt and drop, but a downward -glance at the dark unfathomable void made him abruptly change his mind. - -His sole thought was now that of self-preservation. Fearful lest his -leather belt should break and send him hurtling through space he clung -desperately to the wire. - -Fax below him the lights of Gibraltar seemed to be gliding past as the -freed airship drifted towards the strait separating Europe from the -African shore. - -It was bitterly cold aloft. The keenness of the rarefied air was -intensified by the fact that his clothes were saturated with salt water. -A numbing pain crept down both arms. His muscles seemed to be cracking -under the strain, while his fingers closed round the wire until the -nails sunk deep into his palms. - -He shouted for help--his voice sounding more like the yelp of a jackal -than that of a human being. But no response came from the airship a -hundred feet above him. - -"Dios!" he exclaimed in agony. "This is indeed the end." - - - - -CHAPTER IX--THE ESCAPADE OF ENRICO JAURES - - -"What are those blighters doing?" soliloquised Kenyon for the twentieth -time. "Are they buying the place, or are they poodle-faking? They ought -to have been back hours ago." - -It was well after sunset. The "Golden Hind" had taken in stores and -provisions, and had replenished her fuel and oil tanks. An anchor watch -had been set, and having "gone the rounds" in order to satisfy himself -that everything was in order Kenneth Kenyon had gone to his cabin to -write letters that would be sent ashore when the picket-boat brought off -the skipper and Bramsdean. - -A shrill blast of the voice-tube whistle made Kenyon hasten across the -long narrow cabin. There was something insistent about the summons. It -was not the discreet apologetic trill that the look-out man gave when he -wished to report some trivial incident to the officer of the watch. - -"Hello!" replied Kenyon. - -"We're adrift, sir," announced the man, excitedly. - -Telling the look-out to call the duty-watch, Kenyon replaced the whistle -in the mouth of the voice-tube, struggled into his leather, fur-lined -coat, and hurried to the navigation-room. As he passed the various -motor-rooms he noticed that the air-mechanics of the duty-watch were -already at their posts awaiting the order to get the engines running. - -Throwing open one of the windows, Kenyon looked out into the night. -There was no staggering, biting wind. Drifting with the breeze, the -airship was apparently motionless save for a gently-undulating movement, -but the merest glance served to corroborate the look-out man's words. -Already the "Golden Hind," having risen to 6000 feet and still climbing, -was well to the south'ard of Europa Point. He could see the lighthouse -on the south-western point of the peninsula of Gibraltar steadily -receding as the airship approached the African coast. - -Kenyon was on the point of telegraphing for half-speed ahead when he -bethought him of the cable. More than likely, he decided, the wire rope -had parted half-way between the nose of the fuselage and the buoy. -There was danger in the comparatively light, springy wire getting foul -of the for'ard propellers. Stranded wire is apt to play hanky-panky -tricks. - -"Get the cable inboard," he ordered. "Don't use the winch or you won't -get the wire to lie evenly on the reel. Haul it in by hand." - -Two of the crew descended to the bow compartment, which, besides forming -a living-room for the men, contained the cable winch. - -"'Get it in by 'and,' 'e said," remarked one of the men to his -companion. "Blimey! There ain't 'arf a strain on the blessed thing. -Bear a 'and, chum." - -Presently one of the men returned to the navigation-room. - -"Pardon, sir," he said, saluting, "but we can't haul the wire in. It's -foul of something. Shall we bring it to the winch, sir?" - -"Foul of something, eh?" echoed Kenyon. "Does that mean we've hiked up -the blessed mooring-buoy? Switch on the bow searchlight, Jackson." - -The order was promptly obeyed, and the rays of the 10,000 candle-power -lamp were directed vertically downwards. - -Leaning well out of the open window, Kenyon peered along the glistening -length of tautened cable until parting from the converging rays of the -searchlight it vanished into space. - -"Two degrees left," ordered Kenneth. "Good--at that. By Jove! What's -that? A man!" - -Filled with a haunting suspicion that the suspended body might be that -of his chum Peter, Kenyon felt his heart jump into his throat; but a -second glance, as the motionless figure slowly revolved at the end of -the cable, relieved Kenneth's mind on that, score. Still, it was a -human being in dire peril. - -"Heave away handsomely," continued Kenyon. "Stand by to avast heaving," -he added. - -The orders were communicated to the hands at the cable-winch. Steadily -the winch-motor clanked away until the word was passed to "'vast -heaving." The luckless individual at the end of the wire was now -dangling thirty feet below the bows of the fuselage. - -It would have been useless to have hauled him up to the hawse-pipe, -because there would be no means of getting him on board. The only -practical way to reach him was by lowering a rope from a trap-door on -the underside of the chassis midway between the two hawse-pipes in the -bows. - -Meanwhile Kenyon was deftly making "bowlines on the bight" at the -extremities of two three-inch manilla ropes. - -"Jackson," he said, addressing the leading hand of the duty-watch, "I'm -going after that chap. Tell off a couple of men to attend to each of -the ropes. If I make a mess of things and don't get back, keep the ship -head to wind till daylight, and then make for our former mooring. -There'll be plenty of help available." - -Adjusting one of the loops under his arms and another round his legs -above his knees, Kenneth slipped through the narrow trap-hatch, taking -the second rope with him. It was a weird sensation dangling in space -with about 8000 feet of empty air between him and land or sea, for by -this time the "Golden Hind" was probably over the African coast. But -soon the eerie feeling passed and Kenneth, courageous, cool-headed and -accustomed to dizzy heights, had no thought but for the work in hand. - -"At that!" he shouted, when he found himself on the same level with the -man he hoped to rescue. "Take a turn." - -Ten feet from him was the unconscious Enrico Jaures. The question now -was, how was that intervening space to be bridged? - -Kenyon began to sway his legs after the manner of a child on a swing. - -"If the rope parts, then it's a case of 'going west' with a vengeance," -he soliloquised grimly. "Christopher! Isn't it beastly cold?" - -Momentarily the pendulum-like movement increased until Kenneth was able -to grip the arm of the unconscious man. As he did so Enrico's belt, -that had hitherto prevented him from dropping into space, parted like -pack-thread. - -With a jerk that nearly wrenched the rescuer's arms from their sockets, -the deadweight of the Scorp almost capsized Kenyon out of the bow-line. -As it was, he was hanging with his head lower than his feet, holding on -with a grip of iron to Jaures' arms. Thus hampered, he realised that it -was manifestly impossible to make use of the second bow-line. - -"Haul up!" he shouted breathlessly. - -"Heavens!" he added. "Can I do it? Can I hold on long enough?" - -It was a question that required some answering. The strain on his -muscles, coupled with the effect of the unexpected jerk, the numbing -cold, and, lastly, his own position, as he hung practically head -downwards, all told against him. Even in those moments of peril he -found himself thinking he must present a ludicrous sight to the watchers -in the airship in the dazzling glare of the searchlight. - -"Stick it another half a minute, sir," shouted a voice. "I'll be with -you in a brace of shakes." - -Of what happened during the next thirty long drawn out seconds Kenyon -had only a hazy recollection. He was conscious of someone bawling in -his ear, "Let go, sir; I've got him all right." - -Kenneth obeyed mechanically. In any case he was on the point of -relaxing his grip through sheer inability on the part of his muscles to -respond to his will. The sudden release of the man he had rescued -resulted in Kenyon regaining a normal position, and dizzy and utterly -exhausted he was hauled into safety. - -Someone gave him brandy. The strong spirit revived him considerably. - -"Where's the fellow?" he asked. - -"Safe, sir," replied Jackson. "Shall I carry on?" - -"Yes, please," said Kenneth, faintly, and with the clang of the -telegraph indicator bells and the rhythmic purr of the motors borne to -his ears he became unconscious. - -Meanwhile Enrico Jaures, to all outward appearances a corpse, had been -hauled on board. One of the crew, observing Kenneth's plight, had -descended by means of another rope, and had deftly hitched the end round -the Scorp's body, climbing back hand over hand as unconcernedly as if he -had been walking upstairs in his cottage in far-off Aberdeen. - -"Like handling frozen mutton," commented one of the crew as they -attended to the rescued Jaures. "Fine specimen, ain't he? An' what's -he doing with that there marline-spike, I should like to know. 'Tain't -all jonnick, if you ask me." - - - - -CHAPTER X--UNDER EXAMINATION - - -"I'm all right, I tell you. Hang it all, can't a fellow know when he's -all right?" - -Thus Kenyon rather resentfully resisted all efforts on the part of the -men to keep him in his bunk. He came from an indomitable stock that -never readily admits defeat, and on this occasion he steadfastly refused -to recognise the fact that his physical strength had been well-nigh -sapped. - -Donning his leather coat, he made his way to the navigation-room, -staggering slightly as he passed along the narrow alley-way. - -"Wireless message just received, sir," reported Jackson. "'From T.B.D. -_Zeebrugge_ to 'Golden Hind.' Am proceeding in search of you. Show -position lights. Will tranship Sir Reginald Fosterdyke and Mr. Bramsdean -as soon as possible. Make necessary arrangements.' We're steering N. -by W. 1/4 W., but we haven't sighted the destroyer yet." - -"Very good," concurred Kenyon. "Carry on." - -He consulted the altimeter and the speed indicator. The former showed -that the airship had descended to two thousand feet, and the speed was -two thousand revolutions, or approximately thirty miles an hour. The -"Golden Hind" had by this time retraced a good portion of her drift, and -was now three or four miles from Ceuta. - -Ten minutes later a masthead flashing lamp was seen blinking at a -distance of about six miles. The light came from the destroyer -_Zeebrugge_, which, pelting along at twenty-five knots, was on the -lookout for the errant airship. - -Kenneth Kenyon was now on his mettle. For the first time he was in -command of a large airship about to make a descent. As officer of the -watch he had already had opportunities of observing the handling of the -huge vessel, but now he found himself confronted with the problem of -bringing her close to the surface of the sea so as to enable the -destroyer to manoeuvre sufficiently enough to establish direct -communication. - -"Hope I don't make a bog of it," he soliloquised. "I must admit I feel -a bit rotten after that little jamboree just now. Still, I'll stick it." - -Although he was not aware of the fact, Leading Hand Jackson was keeping -a sharp eye on his superior officer, ready at the first sign to "take -on" should Kenyon's physical strength fail him. - -For the next ten minutes the greatest activity prevailed. Gongs were -clanging, crisp orders were issued through various voice-tubes, gas was -being withdrawn from various ballonets, the motors were constantly being -either accelerated or retarded according to the conditions demanded. The -white flashing lamp signals were being exchanged with the T.B.D., which -had now circled sixteen degrees to starboard and was steaming slowly -dead in the eye of the wind. - -In the floor of the bow compartment of the "Golden Hind" the large -trap-hatch had been opened. Close by crouched men ready to lower away a -wire rope, at the end of which a small electric bulb glowed to enable -the destroyer's crew to locate the line in the dark. Throughout the -manoeuvre neither the "Golden Hind" nor the _Zeebrugge_ made use of -their searchlights, since the dazzling rays might baffle the respective -helmsmen and result in a collision. - -Slowly and gracefully the airship dropped until her fuselage was thirty -feet from the surface of the sea. She was now dead in the wake of the -destroyer, and the task that confronted Kenyon was to bring her ahead -sufficiently for the bows to overlap the _Zeebrugge's_ stern. An error -of judgment at that low height would result in the airship's bows -fouling the destroyer's mast. - -Foot by foot the "Golden Hind" gained upon the destroyer until a shout -from the latter's deck announced that the wire rope had been made fast. - -Instantly the airship's six motors were declutched. She was now moving -merely under the towing action of the _Zeebrugge_, which was forging -ahead at a bare four knots. - -From the trap-hatch in the airship's bows a rope-ladder was lowered, its -end being held by a couple of bluejackets on the T.B.D. Without loss of -time Fosterdyke swarmed up the swaying ladder, and was followed by -Bramsdean. - -"Cast off, and thank you!" shouted the baronet. - -"All gone," came an answering voice from the _Zeebrugge_, followed by a -hearty "Best of luck to you!" - -Released, the "Golden Hind" leapt a full five hundred feet into the air -before the propellers began to revolve. - -"Cheerio, Kenyon!" exclaimed Fosterdyke, as he joined Kenneth in the -navigation-room. "All's well that ends well, but you gave me a pretty -bad turn. What happened?" - -"Hardly know, sir," replied Kenyon. "Our wire rope didn't part. -Possibly the shackle on the buoy gave. But we found a man hanging on -the end of the wire." - -"You did, eh?" exclaimed the baronet, sharply. "What sort of man?" - -"You'll see him, sir," replied Kenneth. "He's laid out below." - -"H'm!" ejaculated Fosterdyke, and relapsed into silence. - -He was deep in thought for some moments, then turned to Kenyon again. - -"We're making an official start in a few minutes' time," he announced. -"We have to pass over the Rock and display three red and three white -lights to the official observer on Signal Hill. When we see a similar -signal made from the Rock that will be the actual starting time. Pass -the word for Jackson to get the lamps in position." - -At an altitude of three thousand feet, or fifteen hundred feet above the -summit of the Rock of Gibraltar, the "Golden Hind" received her official -send-off at 3.35 A.M., eighteen hours after the Hun-owned Z64. - -Evidently there was not a minute to be wasted. The contest had -developed not merely into a voyage round the world within the space of -twenty days, but a race in which the British competitor had to make good -her formidable handicap of eighteen hours or approximately three -thousand five hundred miles. - -With the wind abeam on the port side the "Golden Hind" opened out to one -hundred and forty miles an hour. During the earlier stages of the race -Fosterdyke rather wisely decided to keep below the maximum speed, rather -than overtax the motors by running "all out." Within a few minutes of -receiving her official permit to depart the airship lost sight of the -lights upon the Rock of Gibraltar. She was now steering E. by S.--a -course that would take her over the northern part of Algeria and Tunis -and within a few miles of Malta. - -At 4 A.M. Kenyon, who had modestly refrained from giving any details of -the part he had taken in the rescue of Enrico Jaures, and had concealed -the fact that he had been temporarily out of action, was relieved by -Peter Bramsdean. - -As he turned to go to his cabin Kenneth saw that the baronet was -standing in a corner of the navigation-room and studying a nautical -almanac. - -"Sleep well, Kenyon," exclaimed Fosterdyke. "You've some arrears to make -up." - -"Rather, sir," agreed Kenyon. "But we've forgotten something." - -"Eh, what?" - -"That fellow we found hanging on to the wire rope, we didn't put him on -board the destroyer." - -"No," agreed Fosterdyke, grimly. "We didn't. I saw to that. Unless -I'm much mistaken our unwanted supernumerary can and must give us -certain information that will rather astonish us. I'll see him later -on, by Jove!" - -Kenyon nodded knowingly. Evidently Fosterdyke had learnt something. -However, as far as he, Kenyon, was concerned, other things of a more -pressing nature demanded his attention--food and sleep. - -At eight o'clock Fosterdyke ordered his involuntary guest to be brought -before him. - -"There's something fishy about the breaking adrift business," he -observed to Bramsdean as the two sat at a table in the after-cabin -awaiting Enrico's appearance. - -"Where's Jackson? We'll want him. No, don't disturb Kenyon; he had a -pretty sticky time." - -"More than you imagine, sir," added Peter, and proceeded to tell the -baronet the part Kenneth had played in the aerial rescue of the -imperilled Rock Scorpion. - -"Kenyon didn't say a word about it," he added on the conclusion of the -narrative. "He was as mute as an oyster over it all. Frampton and -Collings told me. It was----" - -A knock on the cabin door interrupted Bramsdean's explanation. - -"Come in!" exclaimed Fosterdyke. - -In answer to the invitation entered Leading Hand Jackson, followed in -single file by one of the crew, Enrico Jaures, and two other members of -the "Golden Hind's" company. - -The Scorp was still labouring under the effects of his narrow escape. -He looked, to quote Bramsdean's words, "as if the stuffing had been -knocked out of him." - -Fosterdyke's handling of the situation was a bold one. Without any -preliminaries, without even asking the fellow's name, he demanded -sternly: - -"How much did Count Karl von Sinzig promise you for last night's work?" - -Jaures gave an involuntary start, but almost immediately relapsed into -his imperturbably passive attitude. Then with a slight shrug of his -shoulders he replied: - -"Me no spik Englis." - -"Try again," said Fosterdyke, contracting his bushy eyebrows and looking -straight at the man. "All I can say is that if you don't speak English -it's a case of won't, not can't." - -"Me no spik Englis," reiterated Jaures. - -Without speaking, Fosterdyke looked straight at the fellow for a full -thirty seconds. During that period Enrico attempted three times to meet -the searching gaze of his inquisitor. - -"Now!" exclaimed the baronet at length. - -Enrico Jaures maintained silence. - -Fosterdyke slowly and deliberately unstrapped his wristlet watch and -placed it on the table. - -"I give you thirty seconds," he said in level tones. "Thirty seconds in -which to make up your mind either to answer or refuse to answer my -question. Might I remind you that we are now eight thousand feet above -the sea, and it is a long drop. Jackson, will you please remove that -hatch?" - -"Of course the Old Man was only kiddin'," remarked Jackson when he -related what had transpired to his companions after the affair was over; -"but, bless me, even I thought he meant to do the dirty sweep in. He -looked that stern, that it put the wind up the bloke straight away." - -Absolutely disciplined, the Leading Hand obeyed orders promptly. -Throwing back the aluminium cover in the centre of the cabin floor, he -revealed to the gaze of the thoroughly terrified Jaures a rectangular -opening six feet by four. Far below, glittering in the sunshine, was -the blue Mediterranean. - -"Five seconds more!" announced Fosterdyke, calmly. - -Of the occupants of the after cabin Enrico Jaures now seemed to be the -least interested in the proceedings. His furtive glances had given -place to an expression of lofty detachment, as if he were utterly bored -by the whole transaction. Bramsdean found himself deciding that either -the fellow was an imbecile or else he was a past master in the art of -dissimulation. - -"Time!" declared Fosterdyke. - -Enrico Jaures positively beamed. - -"Me no spik Englis," he babbled. - -Sir Reginald eyed the accused sternly, but even his piercing glance -seemed of no avail. The Rock Scorp continued to smile inanely. - -"Take him away," ordered Fosterdyke with asperity. - -He waited till the door had closed upon the involuntary guest, and then -gave a deprecatory shrug. - -"The fellow's scored this time, Bramsdean," he remarked, "but I'll get -to windward of him yet." - - - - -CHAPTER XI--"WITH INTENT" - - -"Where are we now?" enquired Kenyon on returning to the navigation-room -to relieve his chum as officer of the watch. - -It was now twelve o'clock. Bramsdean had just "shot the sun" and was -reading off the degrees, minutes, and seconds from the arc of the -sextant. - -"Almost over Algiers, old thing," he replied, pointing to the glaring, -sun-baked Algerian coast. "Hark!" - -He held up his hand and inclined his head sideways. Above the bass hum -of the aerial propellers came the distant report of a gun. - -"Reminds a fellow of old times when the Archies got busy," remarked -Kenyon. - -"Our friends the French are evidently treating us to a salute to help us -on our weary way," rejoined Peter. "Goodness only knows how we are to -return it. We can't give gun for gun." - -He focussed his glasses on the white buildings three thousand feet -below. The whole of the water-front of Algiers was packed with figures -with upturned faces--Frenchmen, Algerines, Arabs, and Nubians--all -frantically waving to the huge airship as she sped eastwards. - -In ten minutes the "Golden Hind" had left the capital of France's -African possessions far astern. Unless anything untoward occurred, -another four hours would bring her within sight of Malta. - -"You might cast your eye over the signal log-book before you take on," -remarked Bramsdean. - -Kenyon did so. Evidently the wireless operator had been kept busily -employed, for there were dozens of messages wishing the "Golden Hind" -bon voyage. But amongst them were two of a different nature. One -announced that an American airship "Eagle," under the command of -Commodore Theodore Nye, had left Tampa Town bound for Colon, followed by -a supplementary message that the "Eagle" had left the Panama Canal zone -and was last sighted flying in a westerly direction. Making allowance -for the difference in New York and Greenwich times, both the "Golden -Hind" and her Yankee rival had started practically simultaneously from -their respective points of departure for the actual race. - -The second wireless message, transmitted via Vancouver, Newfoundland, -and Poldu, was to the effect that the "Banzai," the Japanese quadruplane -piloted by Count Hyashi, had started from Nagasaki at a speed estimated -at two hundred and twenty miles an hour. - -"Artful blighter, that Jap," declared Bramsdean. "He's kept his design -carefully up his sleeve till the last moment. We thought he was -attempting the flight in an airship, but he's pinned his faith to a -gigantic quadruplane." - -"Two hundred and twenty miles an hour, too," added Kenyon. "That means -he'll do the whole trip in less than 120 hours of actual flying, unless -something goes wrong with his 'bus. My word, some speed!" - -"What I'd like to know is his petrol consumption, and how much juice -does his 'bus carry," remarked Bramsdean, thoughtfully. "By Jove! -We're up against something, old son." - -"By the by, I see there's no news of Fritz," said Kenneth. - -"Not a word," replied Peter. "Von Sinzig evidently thinks that it's too -early to start bragging. We'll hear either from or of him before night. -Fosterdyke is trying to call him up by wireless and tell him that he has -a friend of his on board." - -"Oh, that greasy merchant!" rejoined Kenneth. "How did he get on?" - -"Played 'possum," answered Bramsdean. "Fosterdyke tried to put the wind -up him, but it was a frost. I'd like to know what he did to the shackle -on the mooring-buoy." - -"You think he cast us adrift?" - -"Without a doubt, old bird." - -Kenyon shook his head doubtfully. - -"He might have been simply fishing when the pin drew and he got whisked -aloft," he suggested. "Did he give his name or any particulars?" - -"Not he," replied Peter. "In fact he wasn't asked. Fosterdyke went for -him bald-headed and tried to make him admit that he was in von Sinzig's -pay. But nothin' doin', even when we made out that we were going to -drop him overboard. Well, cheerio, old thing." - -Left in charge of the airship, Kenyon pondered over the problem of -whether the man he had rescued had really been a secret agent of von -Sinzig or otherwise. If he were, then it would be almost a foregone -conclusion that he spoke German. - -Kenneth had plenty of time for reflection during his "trick." The -"Golden Hind" was making good progress. There was little or no wind, -and her drift was in consequence almost imperceptible; while the -temperature was so constant that there was no necessity to alter the -volume of brodium in the ballonets for hours at a stretch. The motors, -too, ran like clockwork, and beyond attending to the semi-automatic -lubricators occasionally, the air-mechanics on duty had little to do. -Fosterdyke, having paid a brief visit to the navigating room, retired to -his cabin to make up arrears of sleep. - -"Might work," soliloquised Kenneth, reflectively. "I'll tackle -Fosterdyke about it next time I come across him." - -At four in the afternoon Malta was passed at a distance of ten miles to -the south'ard. The "Golden Hind" was doing well, maintaining more than -her normal cruising speed. If she were able to keep on at that rate she -would accomplish the voyage of circumnavigation well under the twenty -days; but that was now but a secondary consideration. At all costs von -Sinzig's Z64 must be overhauled. - -The "Golden Hind's" first stop was at Alexandria, sixteen hours after -leaving Gibraltar. She made a faultless landing on sandy spit that -separates Lake Mareotis from the Mediterranean. The time of her arrival -had been notified by wireless, and all preparations had been made for -her reception. Keenly interested Tommies manned the trail ropes and -secured her firmly to anchors buried in the sand; lorries laden with -petrol and oil were rushed to the spot, and the work of refuelling began -without delay. While Fosterdyke and Kenyon were signing the "control -certificate" and holding an informal reception of almost the whole of -the British Colony at Alexandria, Bramsdean remained in charge of the -airship. - -In order to keep back the dense crowd, composed of fellaheen, Copts, -Arabs, Syrians, and representatives of every nation bordering on the -Mediterranean, strong picquets of British troops were posted round the -tethered airship, no unauthorised person being permitted to approach -within a hundred yards of the "Golden Hind"; while to enable the work of -refuelling to proceed as rapidly as possible, the improvised aerodrome -was brilliantly illuminated by portable searchlights mounted on motor -lorries. - -It seemed as if it would be impossible for any suspicious characters to -approach the airship without being detected. Having once been "bitten," -Fosterdyke was not taking chances in that direction. - -No attempt had been made to get rid of Enrico Jaures. Closely watched -by a couple of the crew, he was even permitted to view the proceedings -from an open scuttle in one of the compartments on the starboard side. - -When everything was in readiness to resume the voyage, Fosterdyke and -Kenyon shook hands with their entertainers and crossed the guarded -square. As they approached the entry port on the starboard side a dark -figure suddenly appeared from behind an unattended lorry, and at a -distance of ten paces fired half a dozen shots in rapid succession -straight at the baronet. - -Almost at the first report Fosterdyke threw himself at full length upon -the sand. Kenyon, without hesitation, rushed upon the would-be assassin, -while two of the crew, leaping from the fuselage, promptly seized the -miscreant and deprived him of his automatic pistol. - -"Hurt, sir?" asked Kenyon, anxiously. - -"Not a bit of it," replied Sir Reginald coolly. "That fellow couldn't -hit a haystack at five yards. Bring him along, men." - -An agitated member of the Egyptian Civil Service, accompanied by a -couple of staff officers, hurried up, and after making inquiries and -learning that Fosterdyke was unhurt, suggested, not without good reason, -that the would-be assassin should be handed over to the civil powers for -trial. - -The baronet airily swept aside the suggestion. - -"Sorry, Vansittart," he said; "but I'm not going to waste precious time -appearing as a prosecutor in this business. No, I'm not exactly -professing to take the law into my own hands, but I propose taking the -gentleman with me. If he tried to shoot me, surely I can jolly well -kidnap him. 'Tany rate, possession's nine points of the law. When I've -done with him you can deal with him." - -"But, dash it all, man!" exclaimed one of the staff officers; "you -aren't going to--to----" - -"Hang him? Not much," declared the baronet. "Return good for evil sort -of thing, you know. Don't get flustered, Vansittart. He's mine, and -we're just off." - -Happening to glance up as he entered the fuselage, Fosterdyke caught -sight of Enrico Jaures, who had seen the whole incident through one of -the windows. - -"Birds of a feather," he soliloquised. "However, I don't suppose we'll -pick up pals of this sort at every place we touch. All ready, Kenyon?" -he enquired, raising his voice. "Right-o; let go." - - - - -CHAPTER XII--CONFIDENCES - - -In one of the store-rooms, the contents of which had been removed in -order to adapt the place to present requirements, sat Enrico Jaures and -the would-be assassin. They were under lock and key and had been -unceremoniously bundled into durance vile without the formality of an -introduction. - -Enrico was feeling fairly content, in spite of being a prisoner. After -all, he reflected, nothing had been proved against him. He had scored -in his encounter with the captain and owner of the British airship, and, -all things considered, he was being well treated. - -He made no remark when his new companion was gently but firmly propelled -through the doorway. The newcomer was equally reticent; so the -ill-assorted pair--one rigged out in the nondescript garments of a -low-class inhabitant of Gibraltar and the other in European clothes and -a tarboosh--sat in opposite corners of the limited space. - -For the best part of an hour neither spoke. Occasionally they regarded -each other furtively. Then the gentleman who had demonstrated so -effectively how not to shoot straight began to slumber. Sitting on his -haunches with his arms clasped round his bent knees, he nodded his -crimson tarboosh until his head found a rather uncomfortable -resting-place on his clasped hands. - -Then in his somnolent condition he began muttering his wandering -sentences, punctuated with many "Achs!" - -Enrico listened intently. Hitherto he had been in ignorance of the -motive that had prompted the would-be murderer. Now he had enough -evidence to form the conclusion that they both had a motive in -common--to wreck the attempt of the British competitor to win the -Chauvasse Prize. - -Nevertheless Jaures was of a cautious disposition, and when his -companion awoke he still maintained his attitude of aloofness. - -Breakfast time came. One of the "Golden Hind's" crew appeared with -quite a substantial meal, and both men were hungry. The pure, cold air, -a striking contrast to the hot, enervating atmosphere of Alexandria, had -given them an enormous appetite, and the fact that they had to share -their meals and were not provided with knives and forks did not trouble -them. - -"Pass the salt," said Enrico's companion, speaking in German. - -Jaures complied without hesitation. The request was so natural that it -took him completely off his guard. - -"So you do speak German," remarked the wearer of the tarboosh. - -Enrico shook his head. - -"Come, come," continued the other. "Do not say that you cannot. I asked -you for the salt. I was not looking at it, so that you have no excuse." - -Jaures swallowed a big chunk of bread and stole cautiously to the door. -For a few seconds he listened lest there should be anyone eavesdropping -without. - -"Yes," he admitted. "My mother was German. But don't speak so loudly." - -"From what town came she?" enquired his companion. - -"From Lubeck," he replied. - -"And I come from Immeristadt. I am a Swabian and my name is Otto -Freising," announced the German. "What are you doing here?" - -"I am not here of my own free will," said Jaures, guardedly. He was -rather inclined to shut up like an oyster, but his semi-compatriot was -persistent. - -"I suppose these Englishmen will hang me," remarked Otto. "My one -regret is that I did not succeed in my attempt." - -"What attempt?" asked Enrico, innocently. As a matter of fact he knew, -having watched the shooting affray. - -Otto told him. - -"The trouble is," he added, "I've been paid for this business. Ten -thousand Egyptian piastres. I have a banker's order for that amount in -my pocket. Will they search me?" - -"Without a doubt," replied Enrico, whose knowledge of British criminal -courts was of a first-hand order. "But in a way you are lucky. You -were paid--I was not. I succeeded--you failed." - -The German raised his eyebrows, but forbore to elicit further -information concerning Jaures' motives. - -"My difficulty," resumed Otto, "is what I am to do with this banker's -order. I undertook the business because I was hard up, and should I be -hanged or even imprisoned my family will not benefit because the money -will be confiscated." - -He paused. Enrico eyed him thoughtfully. He would willingly rob -anybody. Now was a chance of enriching himself at the expense of his -semi-compatriot. - -"These English cannot keep me in captivity much longer," he observed. -"They can prove nothing against me. When I regain my liberty I propose -paying a visit to my mother's relations in Lubeck. Perhaps I might be -able to render you a service by handing that draft to your relatives." - -Otto showed no great eagerness to close with the offer. His hesitation -increased his companion's cupidity. - -"Rest assured that the money will eventually reach a safe destination," -he urged enigmatically. "Better even to run the risk of its being lost -than to let it fall into the hands of these Englishmen." - -"That is so," agreed Otto. "At any rate I can entrust it in your -keeping for the next few days until I know what they propose doing with -me. You will, of course, be paid well for your trouble." - -Enrico waved his hands deprecatingly, swearing by his patron Saint -Enrico of Guadalajara that it would be a pleasure and a duty to assist a -German in distress. - -"Very well, then," agreed Otto, producing a paper from the double crown -of his tarboosh. - -The Rock Scorp, craftily concealing his delight at the success of his -plan, took the document and glanced at the amount written thereon. As -he did so he uttered an exclamation. - -"Dios!" he ejaculated. - -"What is it?" enquired Otto. - -"The signature--Hans von Effrich. I know the man. He was at Barcelona -when the U-boats were busy. I helped him to--" - -He broke off abruptly, realising, perhaps, that there were limits to an -exchange of confidences. - -"Von Effrich--I have never met him," declared Otto. "All I know is that -he is now an agent for Count Karl von Sinzig." - -"Where is he now?" enquired Jaures. - -"Who?--von Sinzig or von Effrich?" - -"Von Effrich." - -"He is usually to be found in Corinth," replied Otto. "Why do you ask?" - -"Because he might also pay me what von Sinzig owes me," replied Enrico. -"We apparently are engaged on similar tasks." - -"To cripple or delay this airship," added Otto. "Up to the present we -have not made much of a success of it. My prospects are not at all -bright, but my one hope is that when we arrive at Singapore von Blicker -will be there. A clever fellow, von Blicker. I met him at von -Effrich's house just before I left Corinth for Alexandria--a month ago." - -"What is he going to do?" asked Enrico. - -"I believe he'll---- S'sh! someone coming." - - - - -CHAPTER XIII--THE TAIL OF A CYCLONE - - -"Hanged if I like the look of things one little bit," declared -Fosterdyke, frankly. "Glass dropping as quickly as if the bottom of it -had fallen out, and on top of it all we get this." - -"This" was a wireless from Point de Galle announcing that a terrific -cyclone was raging west of the Maldive Islands, its path being a -"right-hand circle." That meant that unless the "Golden Hind" made a -radical alteration of course she would encounter the full force of the -wind. - -It was the fourth day of the race. The "Golden Hind" had passed over -Socotra at daybreak and was on her way across the Arabian Sea, her next -scheduled landing-place being Colombo. - -"If we carry on we'll hit the tail of the cyclone," said Kenyon, -consulting a chart of the Indian Ocean. - -"Yes, but what is worse we'd pass through the dangerous storm-centre, -and then more than likely get a nose-ender on the other side, if we were -lucky enough to weather the centre," replied Fosterdyke. "It's too jolly -risky, Kenyon. At fifteen thousand feet it may be as bad or worse than -at five hundred feet up. Call up Murgatroyd, and ask what petrol there -is in the tanks." - -Kenneth went to the voice tube and made the necessary enquiry of the -engineer. - -"By Jove, we'll risk it!" declared Fosterdyke, when he received the -desired information. "We'll go south a bit, and then make straight for -Fremantle." - -Kenyon was taken aback with the audacity of the proposal. The distance -between Socotra and Western Australia was a good 5000 miles, or -thirty-six hours of uninterrupted flight. At 140 miles an hour there -was sufficient fuel on board for forty hours, which meant a reserve of -four hours only in case of anything occurring to protract the run. - -"Oh, we'll do it," said Fosterdyke, confidently, as he noticed his -companion's look of blank amazement. "Better run the risk of cutting -things fine than to barge into a cyclone. Sou'-east by south is the -course." - -"Remarkable thing we haven't heard anything of friend Sinzig 'clocking -in,'" observed Kenyon. "Wonder where he's making for?" - -"We'll hear in due course," replied the baronet. He crossed the cabin -to consult a Mercator's chart of the world, on which were pinned -British, American, and Japanese flags recording the latest-known -positions of the rival airmen. There was a German flag ready to be -stuck in, but nearly five days had elapsed since von Sinzig left Spain, -and the crew of the "Golden Hind" were still in ignorance of his -whereabouts. - -But they had the satisfaction of knowing that they more than held their -own with the others. The American had passed the Azores, while Count -Hyashi's "Banzai," which had made a stupendous non-stop flight to -Honolulu, had developed engine defects that promised to detain him -indefinitely. - -"Two thousand miles in nine hours," remarked Fosterdyke, referring to -the Japanese airplane's performance. "Some shifting that, but Count -Hyashi has evidently gone the pace a bit too thick. He's our most -dangerous rival, Kenyon." - -"Unless von Sinzig has something up his sleeve, sir," added Kenneth. - -"Trust him for that," said the baronet, grimly. "However, time will -prove. Well, carry on, Kenyon. Call me if there's any great change in -the weather." - -Within the next two hours there were indications that even the new -course taken by the "Golden Hind" would not allow her to escape the -cyclone. Right ahead the hitherto cloudless sky was heavy with dark, -ragged thunder-clouds that, extending north and south as far as the eye -could see, threatened to close upon the airship like the horns of a Zulu -impi. - -Roused from his sleep, Fosterdyke lost no time in making his way to the -navigation-room. Although he was not to be on duty for another hour and -a half, Peter Bramsdean had also hurried to the chart-room. - -"We're in for it, sir," declared Kenneth. - -"We are," agreed Fosterdyke, gravely. "Evidently there is a second -disturbance, but judging from appearances it's none the less formidable. -No use turning tail. We'll go up another five thousand feet and see what -it looks like." - -The "Golden Hind" rose rapidly, under the joint action of her six planes -and the addition of brodium to the ballonets; but even then it was -touch-and-go whether the gathering storm would encircle her. As it was -she flew within the influence of the fringe of the cyclone. Shrieking -winds assailed her, seeming to come from two opposing quarters. Her -huge bulk lurched and staggered as she climbed. Her fuselage see-sawed -as the blast struck the enormous envelope above, while the jar upon the -tension wires was plainly felt by the crew. - -For a full ten minutes it was as black as night, save when the dark -masses of cloud were riven by vivid flashes of lightning. Blinded by the -almost incessant glare, Fosterdyke and his companions could do little or -nothing but hang on, trusting that the "Golden Hind" would steer herself -through the opaque masses of vapour. It was impossible to consult the -instruments. Whether the airship was rising or falling, whether she was -steering north, south, east, or west remained questions that were -incapable of being solved, since the blinding flashes of lightning and -the deafening peals of thunder literally deprived the occupants of the -navigation-room of every sense save that of touch. All they could do -was to hold on tightly, clench their teeth, and wait. - -It required some holding on. At one moment the longitudinal axis of the -airship was inclined at an angle of forty-five degrees; at another she -was heeling to almost the same angle, the while twisting and writhing -like a trapped animal. Now and again she seemed to be enveloped in -electric fluid. Dazzling flashes of blue flame played on and along the -aluminium envelope, vicious tongues of forked lightning seemed to stab -the gas-bag through and through; and doubtless had the ballonets -contained hydrogen instead of non-inflammable brodium the "Golden Hind" -would have crashed seawards in trailing masses of flame. - -How long this inferno lasted no one on board had the remotest idea. The -flight of time remained a matter of individual calculation. To Kenyon -it seemed hours; Bramsdean afterwards confessed that he thought the -passage through the storm cloud lasted thirty minutes. In reality only -six minutes had elapsed from the time the "Golden Hind" was enveloped in -the thunder cloud till the moment when she emerged. - -It was much like being in a train coming out of a long tunnel. With -their eyes still dazed by the vivid flashes the men in the -navigation-room became aware that the vapour was growing lighter. They -could distinguish the smoke-like rolls of mist as the sunshine -penetrated the upper edges of the clouds. Then, no longer beaten by the -torrential downpour of hail, the "Golden Hind" shot into a blaze of -brilliant sunshine. - -It seemed too good to be true. For some moments Fosterdyke and his -companions simply stared blankly ahead until their eyes grew accustomed -to the different conditions. - -Then Kenyon, who was still officer of the watch, glanced over the -shoulder of the helmsman and noted the compass. The lubber's line was a -point west of north. The "Golden Hind" had been practically retracing -her course, and might be anything from fifty to a hundred miles farther -away from her goal than she had been when the storm enveloped her. - -Obedient to the action of the vertical rudders the airship swung back on -her former course. The altimeter indicated a height of twelve thousand -feet, and the "Golden Hind" was still rising. Three thousand feet below -was an expanse of wind-torn clouds, no longer showing dark, but of a -dazzling whiteness. The crew of the "Golden Hind" were literally -looking on the bright side of things. - -"We're well above the path of the storm," remarked Fosterdyke, -gratefully. "We've a lot to be thankful for, but the fact remains we -daren't descend while that stuff's knocking about. Once in a lifetime -is quite enough." - -Before any of his companions could offer any remark, Murgatroyd, the -chief air-mechanic on duty, appeared through the hatchway. - -"Sorry to have to report, sir," he announced, "that the two after motors -are both out of action. Blade smashed on the starboard prop, sir, and -the chain-drive on the port prop has snapped. The broken chain is in -your cabin, sir." - -"Who put it there?" asked Fosterdyke. - -"It put itself there, sir," was the imperturbable reply. "Sort of flew -off the sprocket when the link parted and went bang through the side -plate of the fuselage, sir. I'll allow it's made a wee bit of a mess -inside, sir." - -"Take over, Bramsdean, please," said Fosterdyke. "Directly you get a -chance obtain our position. Come on, Kenyon, let's see the extent of -the damage. The cabin doesn't matter. It isn't the first time I've -slept in a punctured dog-box. But the mechanical breakdown--that's the -thing that counts." - -Followed by Murgatroyd, the baronet and Kenyon went aft. From No. 5 -motor-room they could see the motionless propeller, one of the four -blades of which had been shattered as far as the boss, while all the -others bore signs of more or less damage from the flying fragments. - -"Matter of twenty minutes, sir," replied Murgatroyd in answer to his -chief's enquiry as to how long the repairs would take. "We'll have to -stop, and I'll bolt on the new blades. At the same time I'll put a -couple of hands on to fitting a new chain to the starboard drive. I -don't fancy the 'A' bracket's strained, but I'll soon find out directly -we stop." - -It was rough luck to have to stop all the motors and drift at the mercy -of the air currents for twenty precious minutes; but the only option -would be to carry on under the action of four propellers only at a -greatly reduced speed. - -"Right-o, Murgatroyd," agreed the baronet. "Slap it about." - -"Trust me for that, sir," replied the engineer. "I've warned the -break-down gang. I'll give you the all-clear signal in twenty -minutes--less, sir, or my name isn't Robert Murgatroyd." - -Three minutes later the remaining four motors were switched off, and the -"Golden Hind," rapidly losing way, fell off broadside on to the wind at -a height of twelve thousand five hundred feet above sea-level. - -Instantly the mechanics swarmed out along the slender "A" brackets, -Murgatroyd and an assistant setting to work to unbolt the damaged -blades, while other airmen passed a new chain round the sprocket wheels -of the starboard motor and propeller respectively. - -Although there was no apparent wind, and the airship was drifting at -practically the same rate as the air current, it was bitterly cold. The -brackets were slippery with ice, and the difficulty of maintaining a -foothold was still further increased by the erratic vertical motion of -the airship. - -The mechanics, wearing lifelines, went about their work fearlessly. -They were used to clambering about on coastal airships, sometimes under -fire; and although the present task was a simple one from a mechanical -point, it was most difficult owing to the adverse atmospheric -conditions. - -Yet in the space of seventeen and a half minutes Murgatroyd and his band -of workers were back in the fuselage, their task accomplished, and in -twenty minutes the six motors were running once more. - -Murgatroyd flushed with pleasure when his chief thanked and complimented -him. - -"Maybe, sir, you'd be liking to have your cabin repaired?" he asked. -"Just a sheet of metal strapped against the plates will hold till we -land again. Then I'll see that it's well bolted on, sir; but I'll -guarantee you'll not be feeling the draught to-night." - - - - -CHAPTER XIV--THE BOAT'S CREW - - -The state of his cabin hardly troubled Fosterdyke. He never even went -to investigate the extent of the damage, for the moment the airship's -motors were re-started he hastened back to the navigation-room. - -"Got a fix yet, Bramsdean?" were his first words. - -Peter handed him a slip of paper. - -"Well out of our course, sir," he remarked. - -The position was given as lat. 3 deg. 15' 20" S., long. 58 deg. 20' 5" -E. - -"We are," agreed Fosterdyke gravely. "Well to the west'ard. We ought to -be within sight of the Seychelles." - -"Any chance of getting petrol there, I wonder?" asked Bramsdean. -"Judging by the name it seems a likely place to get 'Shell brand.'" - -"Don't prattle, Peter," exclaimed Kenneth, facetiously. - -Fosterdyke laughed at the joke. - -"Rotten puns, both of them," he said. "All the same I wish we had -another two hundred gallons of 'Pratt's' or 'Shell' or any other old -brand of petrol. But it's no use going still farther out of our course -on the off-chance of getting juice, so we'll just carry on." - -With the passing of the cyclone the wind fell light. What little there -was was dead aft. The sea, viewed from an altitude of three thousand -feet, appeared as smooth as glass, although in reality there was a long -rolling ground swell. - -In order to economise the petrol consumption the speed of the "Golden -Hind" was reduced to ninety miles an hour. Should the favouring wind -hold, the airship stood a good chance of making the Australian coast. -If it changed and blew from the south-east, then Fosterdyke's chances of -winning the race would be off. - -Just before eleven o'clock in the morning of the day following the -storm, Frampton, one of the crew on duty in the navigation-room, -reported a boat about three miles away on the port bow. - -By the aid of glasses it was seen that the boat was a ship's cutter -moving slowly under sail in an easterly direction. Her crew were hidden -from view by a spare sail rigged as an awning over the stern sheets. - -"Something wrong there," remarked Bramsdean. "A small boat hundreds of -miles from the nearest land requires some explanation. Inform Sir -Reginald, Frampton; tell him I propose coming down within hailing -distance." - -Before Fosterdyke could reach the navigation-room the noise of the -"Golden Hind's" aerial propellers had attracted the attention of the -occupants of the cutter, and six or seven men, whipping off the awning, -began waving strips of canvas and various garments. - -Slowing down and descending to fifty feet, the airship approached the -boat. The latter was hardly seaworthy. Her topstrake had been stove in -on the starboard side, and had been roughly repaired by means of a piece -of painted canvas. Her sails were patched in several places, while in -default of a rudder she was being steered by means of an oar. - -"Poor chaps! Look at them!" ejaculated Kenneth. "They're almost done -in." - -The boat's crew were indeed in desperate straits. They were ragged, -gaunt, and famished. Their faces and hands were burnt to a brick-red -colour with exposure to the wind and tropical sun. Three of them, -seeing that help was at hand, had collapsed and were lying inertly on -the bottom-boards. - -Viewed from a height of fifty feet the length of the ocean rollers -became apparent. The sea was not dangerous, since there were no -formidable crests to the long undulations, but there was considerable -risk of the lightly built fuselage sustaining damage should the boat -surge alongside. On the other hand, it was almost a matter of -impossibility to get the men on board otherwise than by the airship -descending and resting on the surface. Obviously they were far too weak -to attempt to climb the rope-ladder, while the use of bowlines was open -to great objection both as regards the length of time and the risk of -injury to the rescued men. - -Being a ship's boat the cutter was provided with slinging gear. The -question was whether in her damaged state the boat would break her back -in being hoisted; but Fosterdyke decided to take the risk. - -Accordingly wire hawsers were lowered from the two bow-hawser pipes, and -by dint of careful manoeuvring the shackles were engaged. Then, under -the lifting power of additional brodium introduced into the for'ard -ballonets, the "Golden Hind" rose vertically until the boat was clear of -the water. The motor winches were then started and the cutter hauled up -until her gunwales were almost touching the underside of the airship's -nacelle. - -One by one the exhausted men were taken on board the airship by means of -the hatchway through which Kenyon had gone to the rescue of Enrico -Jaures. This done, two of the "Golden Hind's" men dropped into the boat -and passed slings round her. When these took the weight of the cutter -the wire hawsers were unshackled and the two men clambered back to the -airship, which had now risen to nearly a thousand feet. One end of each -sling was then slipped, and the boat, falling like a stone, splintered -to matchwood as she struck the surface of the sea. - -The seven rescued men were given food and drink in strictly moderate -quantities. Vainly they begged for more, but Fosterdyke knew the danger -of starving men being allowed to eat and drink their fill. Nor did he -attempt to question them at that juncture, beyond ascertaining that -there were no more boats belonging to their ship. They were put into -bunks and made to sleep. - -It was not until ten o'clock on the following morning that four of the -rescued men put in an appearance in Fosterdyke's cabin. The remaining -three were too ill to leave their bunks. - -They were, they said, the sole survivors of the American barque _Hilda -P. Murchison_, thirty days out from Albany, Western Australia, and bound -for Karachi. Three hundred miles east of the Chagos Archipelago an -explosion took place, but whether external or internal the survivors did -not know. One of them thought it might have been a mine. But it was -severe enough to sink the _Hilda P. Murchison_ in less than five -minutes, and the sole survivors were the first mate and six hands of the -duty watch, who managed to scramble into the only boat that had not been -shattered. - -Without food and with only a small barrico of water, they set off to -make their way back to Australia, knowing that with the prevailing winds -they stood a much better chance of making land there than if they -attempted a three-hundred-mile beat to windward, with the risk of -missing the Chagos Archipelago altogether. - -That was eight days ago. They contrived to exist upon raw fish, tallow -candles--which they found in a locker--and half a pint of water per man -per diem. - -Once they sighted a vessel, but their signals for assistance were -unnoticed. Then they encountered a white squall, the tail end of a -storm that ripped their sails before they could stow canvas, and carried -away the rudder. - -The blow was succeeded by a flat calm. For hours the cutter drifted -idly, her roughly repaired sails hanging listlessly in the sultry air. -Almost overcome by hunger, fatigue, and the tropical heat, they were on -the point of despair when the timely arrival of the British airship -snatched them from a lingering death. - -"I hope we'll be able to set you ashore at Fremantle within the next -eight or ten hours," said Fosterdyke. "Meanwhile we'll get in touch -with the wireless station there and report your rescue. Oh, yes, you -may smoke in the for'ard compartment, but you'll find this ship as 'dry' -as the land of the Stars and Stripes." - -During the rest of the day progress was well maintained. The westerly -breeze increased to half a gale, which meant an addition of thirty to -forty miles an hour to the airship's speed. Barring accidents the -"Golden Hind" would reach Fremantle with petrol still remaining in her -tanks. - -"It's not often one gets a westerly wind in the Twenties," observed the -baronet. "South-east Trades are the usual order of things. We're lucky. -Normally we should have to go as far south as 40 deg. to rely upon a -westerly wind." - -"It will help us from Fremantle to New Zealand," said Peter. "I -remember reading in the paper not so many months ago of the skipper of a -sailing vessel who tried for days to beat up from Melbourne to -Fremantle. Finally he gave up beating to wind'ard as a hopeless job, so -he turned and ran before the westerly breeze, sailed round the Horn and -the Cape of Good Hope, and actually arrived at Fremantle several days -before another vessel that had left Melbourne at the same time as he -did." - -"Let's hope we'll find an equally favouring wind to help us across the -Pacific," remarked Fosterdyke. "We'll want it." - - - - -CHAPTER XV--REVELATIONS - - -"Land ahead!" - -The hail brought Fosterdyke and Bramsdean from their cabins with the -utmost alacrity. They had not expected to sight Australia for another -hour and a half, and now there was certainly land far away to the -east'ard. - -During the last three hours the clear sky had given place to a thick -bank of dark clouds. Observations to determine the "Golden Hind's" -position were therefore out of the question. She was steering a compass -course with the wind almost dead aft. It was a case of dead reckoning, -and now no one knew exactly what part of Western Australia they were -approaching--whether it was north or south of the Fremantle aerodrome. - -"We'll do it before dark," declared Fosterdyke, confidently. - -He had hardly spoken when Murgatroyd's head and shoulders appeared -through the hatchway of the navigation-room. - -"We're on the last few gallons of petrol, sir," he reported. "I've me -doubts if the engines'll run another ten minutes. They're slowing down -now," he added. - -"Switch off all but numbers 1 and 2 motors," ordered the baronet. "Keep -these running for twenty minutes if you can, and we'll manage it." - -But before the chief engineer could regain the for'ard motor-room the -six aerial propellers were motionless. The "Golden Hind" no longer -drove through the air, but simply drifted broadside on to the strong -breeze. - -Just as the sun sank in the Indian Ocean the airship crossed the -coastline. Ten miles to the north could be discerned Perth and -Fremantle--ten miles that, as far as the "Golden Hind" was concerned -might have been a thousand. - -"Down with her," ordered Fosterdyke. "Stand by with both grapnels. -We'll have to trust to luck to find a good anchoring-ground." - -It was not until the airship had passed over the railway running -southward from Perth to Busselton that Kenyon noted a hill that might -afford shelter from the strong wind. - -Rapidly several thousand cubic feet of brodium were exhausted from the -ballonets, with the result that the "Golden Hind" dropped to within a -hundred feet of the ground. - -There was just sufficient twilight to make out the nature of the landing -place. It was a wide belt of grassland, dotted here and there with -small trees. Hedges there were none. - -"There are a couple of men on horseback, sir," reported Frampton. - -"Good," replied Fosterdyke. "Let go both grapnels. See how she takes -that." - -Both of the stout barbed hooks engaged the moment they touched the -ground. Even though the wire ropes were paid out in order to reduce the -strain, the jerk was severe. Round swung the giant airship head to -wind, but still she dragged. The grapnels had caught in a wire fence, -and having uprooted half a dozen posts, were doing their level best to -remove a five-mile sheep fence. - -Up galloped the two farmers. The uprooting of their boundary fence -hardly troubled them. The arrival of the airship--the first they had -ever seen--occupied all their attention. - -"Make fast for us, please," hailed Fosterdyke, having ordered another -rope to be lowered. - -"Right-o," was the reply. "We'll fix you up." - -Dismounting and tethering their somewhat restive horses, the two -Australians took the end of the third wire rope to the trunk of a large -tree-the only one for miles, as it so happened. Fortunately they knew -how to make a rope fast--an accomplishment that few people other than -seamen possess. - -"Where are we?" asked the baronet. - -"In Minto County, ten miles from Kelmscott," was the reply. - -"Any petrol to be had hereabouts?" - -"Sure," was the unexpected answer. "How much do you want?" - -"A hundred gallons--enough to take us to Fremantle," replied Fosterdyke -rather dubiously. - -"Two hundred if you want," offered the good Samaritan. "I'll run it -along in less than an hour." - -"Will to-morrow at daybreak do equally as well?" asked Sir Reginald, -knowing the difficulty and possible danger of handling quantities of the -highly volatile spirit in the dark. "We'll be all right here until -morning if the wind doesn't increase." - -"It won't," declared the farmer, confidently. "If anything it'll fall -light. If you're in a hurry, I'll hitch you on to my motor lorry and -tow you into Fremantle." - -Fosterdyke thanked him and begged to be excused on the score that he was -obliged by the terms of the race to make a flight without outside -assistance in the matter of propulsion. - -The two Australians, declining an invitation to go on board the airship, -rode away in the darkness. - -As the farmer had predicted, the wind fell away to a dead calm, so the -airship was able to rest upon the ground, but ready, should the breeze -spring up, to ascend to a hundred feet and there ride it out until the -promised petrol was forthcoming. - -"Now for our first dinner on or over Australian soil," exclaimed -Fosterdyke. "By Jove, I'm hungry! What's going?" - -He scanned the menu card. The cooks on the airship were good men at -their work, and dinner, whenever circumstances permitted, was rather a -formal affair. - -"Hullo!" exclaimed Peter. "Covers laid for four, eh?" - -"Yes," replied the baronet. "I'm expecting a guest. Ah! here he is. -Let me introduce you to my friend, Mr. Trefusis." - -Kenyon and Bramsdean could hardly conceal their astonishment, for -standing just inside the doorway, immaculately dressed in well-cut -clothes, was the man they had hitherto known as Otto Freising, the -fellow who had attempted to shoot Fosterdyke at Alexandria. - -"Secret Service," explained the baronet. "Had to keep the affair dark, -even from you two fellows." - -"You certainly did us in the eye," said Peter. - -"No more than I did Senor Jaures," rejoined Trefusis. "I had a rotten -time cooped up with that bird, but it was worth it." - -"So you've succeeded?" asked Fosterdyke. - -Trefusis nodded. - -"Wouldn't be here if I hadn't," he remarked. "It took me some time to -get the right side of Senor Enrico, but I managed it. He rather looked -a bit sideways at me when I pitched a yarn about being a Hun. However, -I've got it out of him that he was employed by von Sinzig to kipper your -part of the show, and judging by accounts he almost succeeded. You'll -have enough evidence, Fosterdyke, to disqualify von Sinzig." - -"I'll think about it," drawled the baronet. "After all's said and done -the Hun is a sport, only his idea of sport differs radically from ours. -It's his nature, I suppose. But another time you fire at me with blank -cartridges, Trefusis, old son, please don't aim at my head. Grains of -burnt powder in one's eyes aren't pleasant." - -"Nor did I feel very pleasant," rejoined the Secret Service man, "when -that officious blighter suggested putting me under arrest and trying me -in a Civil Court. He must have thought you pretty high-handed, rushing -me off in your airship." - -"Yes, it was as well I took Colonel Holmes into my confidence," said -Fosterdyke. "Otherwise you might at this moment be cooling your heels in -a 'Gippy' prison. However, we've got evidence against von Sinzig, if -needs be." - -"What are you going to do with Senor Jaures?" asked Trefusis. - -"Do with him? Nothing much. Fact, I'll do it now, directly we've -finished dinner." - -The meal over, Fosterdyke ordered Enrico Jaures to be brought in. The -look on the miscreant's features was positively astounding when he found -his former companion in captivity revealed in his true colours. - -"Now, Enrico Jaures," began Fosterdyke, without further preliminaries. -"You understand English, in spite of your previous denial. Read that. -If you agree to it, you are a free man the moment you've signed the -statement." - -At the promise of liberty Enrico plucked up courage. He had a wholesome -respect for the word of an Englishman. - -The document was in the form of a confession, stating that Enrico Jaures -had agreed, for a certain sum promised by Count Karl von Sinzig, to -hinder, either by crippling or destroying the "Golden Hind," Sir -Reginald Fosterdyke's attempt to fly round the world. - -"I'll sign," said Enrico. - -He wrote his name. Kenyon and Trefusis witnessed the signature. - -The baronet folded the document and placed it in his pocket. - -"Now you can go," he said. - -"But how am I to return to Gibraltar?" asked Jaures. - -"That's your affair," replied Fosterdyke, sternly. "You ought to be -thankful you're still alive. Now go." - -At the first sign of dawn the Australian farmer, true to his word, -arrived with a large motor-lorry piled with filled petrol cans. He was -not alone. The seemingly sparsely-populated district now teemed with -people. Hundreds must have seen the "Golden Hind" pass overhead the -previous evening, but how they discovered the airship's temporary -anchorage was a mystery. There were townsmen in motorcars, sturdy -farmers on motor-cycles, waggons, and carts, backwoodsmen on bicycles -and on foot. Even the "sun-downer" class were represented. - -The "Golden Hind" had just completed her preparations for flying back to -Fremantle aerodrome when a motor-cyclist rode up and handed Fosterdyke a -telegram. - -"It was fortunate we didn't make Fremantle last night," observed the -baronet, handing the message to Kenyon and Bramsdean. "The aerodrome -was destroyed by fire at one o'clock this morning." - - - - -CHAPTER XVI--THE OBSERVATION BASKET - - -While the "Golden Hind" was struggling towards the shores of Western -Australia, Count Karl von Sinzig in Z64 was flying almost due south from -Samarang, in the island of Java. - -He, too, had had a taste of the cyclone, which had extended over the -whole of the Arabian Sea and had been severely felt as far north as the -Persian-Turkestan frontier. - -Practically helpless in the grip of the furious blast, Z64 had been -driven far off her course. Passing high over the mountainous districts -of Thibet, the German airship, unseen and unheard, finally encountered a -stiff northerly wind when approaching the China Sea in the neighbourhood -of Hanoi. Already the start von Sinzig had obtained over his British -rival was wiped out. The long detour he had been obliged to take -represented twelve hours' flight under normal conditions, and since he -knew of Fosterdyke's progress by the expedient of picking up the "Golden -Hind's" wireless message, he realised that the latter had made good her -belated departure. - -At Samarang, Z64 took in fresh hydrogen and petrol. Von Sinzig reported -his arrival to the representatives of the International Air Board, and -stated his intention of proceeding via New Guinea, New Caledonia, and -Norfolk Island to New Zealand, where he would be able to fulfil one of -the conditions that required the competitors to touch at a spot within -one degree of the nadir to their starting-point. - -But von Sinzig had no intention of carrying out his declared programme. -Directly he was well clear of Samarang, he shaped a course due south in -order to pick up the prevailing westerly wind south of Australia on -which Fosterdyke counted also. A stiff northerly wind over the Sunda -Sea helped the German to attain his object, and on the evening that the -"Golden Hind" drifted to south of Fremantle, Z64 was skirting the coast -of West Australia, in the neighbourhood of Geographe Bay. - -Von Sinzig was in a bad state of mind. He knew by means of a code -message from Barcelona that one of his agents had made an attempt to -delay the "Golden Hind's" departure. What had actually taken place he -knew not. All he did know was the galling fact that the attempt had -been unsuccessful, and that by this time his rival was practically level -with him. - -"Hans," he exclaimed, calling one of his subordinates, formerly an -Unter-Leutnant in the German Flying Service and before that a Mercantile -Marine officer. - -Hans Leutter clicked his heels and stood to attention. - -"You know Fremantle?" enquired the count, brusquely. - -"Fairly well, mein Herr," was the reply. "I've called there perhaps a -dozen times in cargo boats. The last time was in January, 1914." - -"There was, of course, no aerodrome there then?" - -"Assuredly no, sir." - -"According to my information it is on the right bank of the Swan River -and a couple of kilometres to the east of the town. It ought to be -easily found." - -Hans Leutter agreed that to locate it ought to be a simple matter. - -"Then we'll do so, little Hans," exclaimed the count, grimly. "We might -even make the Englishman Fosterdyke a little present anonymously, of -course." - -The ex-Unter-Leutnant grinned. - -"You wish me to take the Albatross for an airing then?" he said. - -"Ach, no," replied von Sinzig. "If our Albatross were invisible and -noiseless, it would be different. We'll use the observation basket. -Overhaul the mechanism carefully, because you, little Hans, are going to -use it." - -Hans Leutter saluted and went for'ard. He was not at all keen on being -told off for observation work, but his innate sense of discipline made -him accept the duty without outward signs of resentment. Somehow he -didn't relish the idea of being lowered from the Zeppelin and allowed to -dangle at the end of two or three thousand feet of fine wire. - -Shortly before midnight the look-out on Z64 picked up the harbour and -town lights of Fremantle. It was now a fairly calm night. At five -thousand feet was a stratum of light clouds, sufficient to obscure the -starlight. The climatic conditions for von Sinzig's plans were exactly -what he wanted. - -When the German airship was dead to windward of the town her motors were -switched off and she was allowed to drift in and out of the lower edge -of the bank of clouds. - -From her foremost nacelle a circular basket, fitted with a vertical vane -to prevent it from turning round and round like a gigantic meat-jack, -was hanging. In the basket, with a couple of small incendiary bombs for -company, was Hans Leutter. In order to keep in touch with the captain -of Z64 Hans was provided with a wireless telephone. - -"All ready," announced the observer. "Lower away." - -The well-oiled mechanism ran smoothly and noiselessly until a sudden -check in the downward journey told Hans that the observation basket had -reached the limit of its cable. From where he dangled--nearly -two-thirds of a mile below the airship--Z64 was quite invisible. It was -therefore safe to assume that the good people of Fremantle were likewise -not in a position to see the huge gas-bag five thousand feet overhead, -while the insignificant observation basket, although only a thousand -feet or so up, was too minute to be spotted against the blurred -starlight. - -On the other hand, Hans Leutter could command a fairly comprehensive -view of the town beneath him. The tranquil waters of the Swan River -enabled him to fix his position, for even on the darkest night a river -can readily be seen by an aerial observer. The navigation lamps of the -aerodrome almost misled him. At first he mistook them for the railway -station; but when he discovered his mistake he asked himself why the -aerial signalling lamps were still being exhibited. According to the -latest wireless messages picked up by Z64, the "Golden Hind" ought by -this time to be berthed in the hangar. But, perhaps, he argued, the -officials in their demonstrations of welcome had forgotten to switch the -lights off. - -"This reminds me of London in 1916," thought Hans. "London in those -good old days when our Zeppelins came and went almost without let or -hindrance. Now, my beauty, you and I must part." - -He raised the bomb and poised it on the edge of the basket. In his -excitement he had completely forgotten his fears at being suspended by a -steel rope almost the same gauge as a piano-wire. - -The incendiary bomb was quite a small affair, but none the less -efficacious. In order to guard against identification should any of the -metal parts be found, the vanes were stamped with the British Government -marks, which showed that von Sinzig, with characteristic Teutonic -thoroughness, had taken the precaution of covering his tracks. The -British Air Ministry and the Australian Commonwealth Government could -appraise responsibility later--by that time Z64 would be thousands of -miles away. - -Allowing for the slight breeze, Hans Leutter telephoned for the Zeppelin -to steer ten degrees to the nor'ard. Slowly Z64 carried out the -instructions, and seesawing gently the observation basket moved in a -slightly different direction from its previous line of drift until the -crucial moment arrived. - -Hans Leutter released the bomb. For three seconds the observer could -follow its downward passage; then it vanished into the darkness. Five -seconds later the missile hit its objective. - -There was no need for a second bomb. The airship shed was blazing -fiercely. - -The Hun in the basket spoke into the telephone. - -"Direct hit," he reported. "Haul me up." - -Z64 had once more stopped her motors and was rising rapidly above the -bank of clouds. At the same time a motor winch was winding in the -cable, and Hans Leutter's rate of progress as the basket whirred through -the air brought back all his fears concerning his hazardous position. -What if there were a flaw in the wire? It was ex-Government stuff, he -recalled--material that might have been left lying in a neglected -condition for months before von Sinzig acquired it for its present -purpose. And supposing the wire slipped off the drum and got nipped in -the cogs of the winch? A score of thoughts of a similar nature flashed -across the observer's mind. He broke into a gentle perspiration. He -trembled violently as a mental vision of himself hurtling through space -gripped him in all its hideousness. - -But the wire held. Hans Leutter was assisted into the nacelle, where he -promptly fainted. By that time Z64 was several miles away from -Fremantle, but a dull red glare on the horizon unmistakably indicated -the extent of the conflagration. - -Throughout the night Z64 flew at an altitude of not less than fifteen -thousand feet. Dawn found her far to the south'ard of the Great -Australian Bight. - -Von Sinzig had good cause for keeping out of the beaten steamer tracks; -nor did he intend to pass within a hundred miles of the southern part of -Tasmania. He counted upon arriving at Napier, New Zealand, at daybreak -on the day following, and until then he meant to be most careful not to -be reported by any vessel. - -The commander of Z64 had just sat down to breakfast when one of the crew -entered his cabin. - -"Pardon, Herr Offizier," said the man, apologetically, "but the -observation basket is missing." - -"What do you mean?" demanded von Sinzig. - -"We secured it after Herr Leutter had finished with it, Herr Kapitan," -explained the man. "I myself saw that the four bottle-screws were -turned up tightly. Kaspar Graus, who had been told to remove the -remaining petrol bomb, came and reported that the basket was no longer -there. The metal clips were still attached to the bottle-screws. It -would appear that these were torn from the basket itself." - -Count Karl von Sinzig left his breakfast untasted and hurried along the -catwalk to the gondola from which the observation basket was hung. His -informant's news was only too true. Unaccountably the basket had been -wrenched from its securing apparatus. - -"It is of little consequence," he declared. "We would not have required -it again, and, since it will not float, it is at the bottom of the sea -by this time. Perhaps it is as well, in case we are inspected by -inquisitive officials at our next alighting place." - -It was an unlucky day for Z64. About noon two of her motors developed -trouble simultaneously. Three hours elapsed before the sweating -mechanics were able to get the recalcitrant engines in running order -again, and during that period the Zeppelin had perforce to slow down -considerably. Consequently, it was half an hour after sunrise when Z64 -sighted the Three Kings Island to the north-west of Cape Maria van -Diemen. Here she altered course, so as ostensibly to appear as if she -had been flying straight from New Caledonia, and, skirting the west -coast of New Zealand, headed for Napier, where, by the consent of the -New Zealand Government, von Sinzig was permitted to land and thus carry -out one of the conditions of the contest. - -"We'll fly inland when we sight Auckland," decided the count. "No, -don't take her up any higher. There is now no need for concealment. -Let these New Zealanders see and comment upon the fact that their -islands are not beyond reach of a good German airship." - -And so, flaunting her prowess in the rapidly-growing daylight, Z64 -approached the town of Auckland. The Zeppelin was within ten miles of -the place when one of the crew shouted the disconcerting information -that there was an airship on the starboard bow, travelling east by -north. - -Rapping out a furious oath, von Sinzig snatched up a pair of binoculars. -He had never before set eyes on the "Golden Hind," although the British -airship had passed almost immediately above him within a few minutes of -Z64 leaving her Spanish base, but instinctively he realised that this -was his greatest rival, Sir Reginald Fosterdyke's creation. - -"Gott in Himmel!" shouted von Sinzig. "Leutter, you numbskull, you made -a hideous mess of things last night! Look--the 'Golden Hind'!" - - - - -CHAPTER XVII--A SURPRISE FOR CAPTAIN PROUT - - -Captain Abraham Prout, master and part owner of the topsail schooner -_Myrtle_, of 120 tons burthen, came on deck on hearing the mate give the -order "All hands shorten sail!" - -It was six o'clock in the morning, still dark and very cold, for the -_Myrtle_ was on the fortieth parallel of the Southern Hemisphere, and -the month being June it was mid-winter. There were flakes of snow -flying about. For the last three days and nights it had either been -sleeting, raining, or snowing, or else all three together; but the wind -was fair, and there was every prospect of the schooner making a quick -passage from Albany to Hobart. - -"There's something behind this muck, Abe," remarked the mate, who, on -the strength of being the "Old Man's" brother-in-law, was on familiar -terms with Captain Prout. "The old hooker won't carry her topsails with -the breeze a-freshenin'. Best be on the safe side, says I." - -"Quite right, Tom," agreed the skipper. "New topmasts cost a mort sight -o' money in these hard times. Anything to report?" - -"Nothin'," replied the mate, laconically. - -He shook the frozen sleet from the rim of his sou'wester and turned to -inform one of the crew, in polite language of the sea, that "he'd better -get a move on an' not stand there a-hanging on to the slack." - -"There's some tea a-goin', Tom," announced Captain Prout. "Nip below -an' get a mug to warm you up a bit." - -The mate fell in with the suggestion with alacrity. The skipper, having -seen the hands complete their task of "gettin' the tops'ls off her," -went aft to where the half-frozen helmsman was almost mechanically -toying with the wheel. - -Through sheer force of habit Captain Prout peered into the feebly -illuminated compass-bowl. Even as he did so, there was a tremendous -crash. - -The _Myrtle_ trembled from truck to kelson, while from aloft a jumble of -splintered spars, cordage, and canvas fell upon the deck like a -miniature avalanche. - -Captain Prout's first impressions were those of pained surprise. For -the moment he was firmly convinced that the schooner had piled herself -upon an uncharted rock, but the absence of any signs of the vessel -pounding against a hard bottom reassured him on that point. - -Although in ignorance of what had occurred, the tough old skipper rose -to the occasion. - -"Steady on your helm!" he shouted to the man at the wheel. "Don't let -her fall off her course." - -The helmsman obeyed. It was no easy matter, since he was enveloped in a -fold of the mainsail and the _Myrtle_ was towing the main-topmast and a -portion of the cross-trees alongside. - -Alarmed by the commotion, the "watch below"--two men and a boy--rushed -on deck, while the mate, issuing from the after-cabin with a tin -pannikin of tea still grasped in his hand, raised his voice in a -strongly worded enquiry to know what had happened to the old hooker. - -"Get a light, Tom, an' we'll have a squint at the damage," shouted the -Old Man. "One of you sound the well and see if she's making any. Dick, -you just see if them sidelights are burning properly." - -The mate disappeared, to return with a hurricane lamp. - -"Jerusalem!" he exclaimed. "Ain't it a lash up?" - -The mainmast had been broken off five feet below the cross-trees, with -the result that the main and throat halliard blocks had gone with the -broken spars, while the mainsail, with the gaff and boom, had fallen -across the deck. The shroud halliards still held, and the wire shrouds -themselves trailed athwart both bulwarks. Apparently the foremast was -intact, since it was the main topmast stay that had parted under the -strain. - -This much Captain Prout saw, noted, and understood, but what puzzled him -was a telescoped object, looking very much like an exaggerated top-hat, -that lay upon the deck between the mainmast fife-rail and the coaming of -the main hatch. - -"Guess it's a meteorite," hazarded the mate. - -"Meteorite, my foot!" ejaculated Captain Prout, scornfully. "If't had -been, 'twould ha' gone slap bang through the old hooker, an' we'd have -been in the ditch." - -"It's had a good try, anyway," rejoined the mate. "Half a dozen deck -planks stove in." - -He held the lantern close to the mysterious object. - -"Looks like a bloomin' bath," he continued, "and I'm hanged if there -isn't a whopping big bird in it. Rummiest birdcage I've ever set eyes -on." - -The cause of the damage to the _Myrtle's_ top-hamper and deck planks was -Z64's observation basket. Instead of falling into the sea and -decorously sinking to the bottom, as von Sinzig had hoped, the -contrivance had struck the only vessel within a radius of a hundred -miles. With its head and neck driven completely through the aluminium -side of the basket was a large eagle. The huge bird had struck the -suspended basket such a tremendous blow that the impact had wrenched -away the metal clips securing it to the bottle-screws. - -"Standin' an' looking at the blessed thing won't clear away this -raffle," said the Old Man with asperity. "Set to, all hands. Secure -and belay all you can and cut the rest adrift." - -"Heave this lot overboard, Abe?" questioned the mate, kicking the basket -with his sea-boot. - -"Best let 'un stop awhile," decided the skipper. "Pass a lashing round -it. Be sharp with that topmast, or it'll stove us in." - -Quickly the mate and a couple of hands cut away the rigging that held -the topmast alongside. The heavy spar, which had been bumping heavily -against the side, fell clear. The _Myrtle_, no longer impeded by the -trailing wreckage, forged rapidly through the water, although she was -now carrying foresail, staysail, and outer jib only. - -By this time day had broken. The snow had ceased falling, and right -ahead the pale sun shone in a grey, misty sky. - -The crew, having made all ship-shape as far as lay in their power, were -curiously regarding the cause of the catastrophe. They rather looked -upon it as a diversion to break the monotony. - -"There's a log of sorts, sir," exclaimed one of the men, fumbling with -the leather straps that secured the unused petrol bomb. The missile had -been badly dented, but luckily the safety cap was intact. Had it not -been so, the bomb would have ignited on impact, and the _Myrtle_, her -snow-swept deck notwithstanding, would soon have been enveloped in -flames from stem to stern. - -"Don't fool around with it, Ted," said another of the crew, who, an -R.N.R. man, had seen life and death in the Great War. "It's a bomb." - -"Well," observed Captain Prout, "that's more'n I bargained for. I've -taken my chances with floating mines, but it's coming too much of a good -thing when these airmen blokes start chucking bombs haphazard-like." - -"Best pitch the thing overboard," suggested the mate. - -"No," objected the Old Man. "If we do, we've no evidence. Someone's -got to pay for this lash up. Government broad arrow on the thing, too. -That fixes it. When we make Hobart I'll raise Cain or my name's not -Abraham Prout." - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII--UNDER FIRE - - -"It's going to be a close race, Kenyon," remarked Fosterdyke, as Z64 -crossed the "Golden Hind's" bows at a distance of less than a mile. - -"Guess we're top-dog, though," replied Kenneth. "We've wiped out the -Hun's useful lead, and at the half-way point we're practically level." - -"Yes," agreed the baronet; "but we must not ignore the element of -chance. Let me see"--he referred to the large Mercator map--"according -to the latest reports, Commodore Nye's 'Eagle' is at Khartoum. His hop -across the Atlantic and a non-stop run over the Sahara takes a lot of -beating. I'd like to meet that Yankee. And there's the Jap, Count -Hyashi. He's at Panama, after having been hung up for three days at -Honolulu. If he'd been able to carry on without a hitch, his quadruplane -would have won the race. So it appears that all the competitors have -completed half the course at practically the same time." - -"Aeroplane approaching, sir," reported Collings. - -Right ahead a biplane was heading towards the "Golden Hind," followed at -close intervals by three more. Seemingly ignoring the German airship, -which was now on a diverging course, the four machines with admirable -precision turned and accompanied the British airship. - -Two took up station on either side of the "Golden Hind." Each flew the -New Zealand ensign. It was Fosterdyke's preliminary welcome to the -Antipodes. - -Gliding serenely earthwards in perfectly calm air, the "Golden Hind" -entered the big shed prepared for her reception. The civic officials of -Auckland turned out in force, supported by crowds of "Diggers" and a -fair sprinkling of Maoris. - -"We quite understand," was the mayor's remark when Fosterdyke, thanking -him for the warmness of his reception, firmly but courteously refused to -attend a banquet proposed to be given in his honour. "This is a race, -not a ceremonial tour. The prestige of the Empire is at stake, so get on -with it." - -Accordingly, the "Golden Hind's" crew did "get on with it." Aided by -scores of willing helpers, they replenished fuel tanks, took in fresh -water and provisions and necessary stores. A representative of the -International Air Board was in attendance to sign the control sheet, -certifying that the "Golden Hind" had completed half the circuit, and -had touched at a spot within a degree of the opposite point of the globe -to his starting-point. Within an hour and a quarter of her arrival at -Auckland the British airship started on her homeward voyage. - -Although New Zealand had no cause to show any goodwill towards the Huns, -von Sinzig had no reason to complain of his reception. He was received -coldly, it is true, but the New Zealanders, sportsmen all, were not ones -to put obstacles in the way of an alien and former enemy. - -Notified by wireless of Z64's impending arrival at Napier, the -authorities at that town had cylinders of hydrogen and a large stock of -petrol in readiness for the German airship's requirements. Within ten -minutes of the "Golden Hind's" departure from Auckland Z64 started from -Napier. - -The contest had now entered upon a more interesting phase. It was -almost certain that the rivals would take a practically identical -course, crossing the American continent in the neighbourhood of the -Isthmus of Panama. The lofty Andes, extending like a gigantic backbone -from Colombia to Patagonia--an almost uninterrupted range 450 miles in -length--presented a difficult, though not exactly insurmountable -obstacle to the rival airships. - -Vainly the wireless operators of the "Golden Hind" sought to "pick up" -the Zeppelin. Von Sinzig had seen to that, for directly the German -airship left New Zealand he gave orders that on no account were messages -to be transmitted, but on the other hand, the receivers were to be -constantly in use, in order to pick up any radiograms that might throw -light upon the movements of the "Golden Hind." - -Apart from the chagrin at the knowledge that his attempt to burn the -British airship was a failure, von Sinzig felt rather elated. His -deceptive report of the course he had taken from Java to New Zealand had -been accepted by the authorities without question; hence no suspicion -could possibly be attached to him for the burning of the Fremantle -aerodrome. He was also of the opinion that Z64 was a swifter craft than -her rival, and possessed another advantage--that of greater -fuel-carrying capacity. Even if the "Golden Hind" did possess a higher -speed, she would have to alight more frequently to replenish her tanks. - -As far as the "Golden Hind" was concerned the run across the Panama was -almost devoid of incident. With the exception of a distant view of -Pitcairn Island--famous in connection with the mutiny of the -_Bounty_--no land was sighted until Galapagos Group was seen ten miles -on the starboard bow. - -The "Golden Hind" was now re-crossing the equator. Fosterdyke, who had -crossed the line at least a dozen times, in all sorts of vessels from -luxuriant liners to singy tramps, and even on one occasion on board a -wind-jammer, declared that there was nothing to beat an airship for -travelling in the Tropics. - -"For one thing you can keep cool," he added; "another, that will appeal -to a good many people, is the fact that an airship is beyond reach of -Father Neptune and his merry myrmidons. And the Doldrums, instead of -being regarded as a terror, afford an easy passage to aircraft of all -descriptions." - -With the setting of the sun a thick mist arose--one of those humid -tropical mists that are responsible for malaria and other zymotic -diseases peculiar to the Torrid Zone. - -At a couple or three thousand feet altitude, the "Golden Hind" was in -pure clear air, but in the brief twilight the banks of mist as viewed -from above were picturesque in the extreme. - -But to the crew of the "Golden Hind" the picturesqueness of the scene -was in a measure unappreciated. They were nearing land, and a fog was -one of the most undesirable climatic conditions. Not only was time a -consideration, but the petrol supply was running low. But for this, -Fosterdyke would have slowed down and cruised around until the mists -dispersed with daybreak. - -"We'll have to risk it and make a descent," he declared. "Anywhere -within easy distance of Panama will do, because it is a calm night and -there will be little or no risk of the 'Golden Hind' being exposed to a -high wind. Thank goodness we've directional wireless." - -At length Fosterdyke felt convinced that the "Golden Hind" was nearing -Panama. He had arranged by wireless to detonate three explosive -rockets, and the United States Air Station was to reply with a similar -signal, while searchlights, directed vertically, would enable the -airship to locate the landing-ground. - -"Hanged if I can see any searchlights," exclaimed Bramsdean. - -"Killed by the mist," explained the baronet. "I fancy I see a blurr of -light two points on our port bow. What's that, Truscott?" - -The wireless operator had left his cabin and was standing behind -Fosterdyke as the latter was peering through the darkness. - -"There's a jam for some reason," announced Truscott. "For the last five -minutes I've been calling up Panama, but there's nothin' doin'. A -high-powered installation, using the same metre-wave, is cutting in. I -asked them to knock off, but they haven't done so." - -"Inconsiderate blighters!" exclaimed Fosterdyke. "Never mind, Truscott, -we can get along all right now. I fancy I can see the aerodrome -lights." - -"Yes, sir," agreed Kenyon. "One point on our port bow now." - -"Then fire the rockets," ordered the baronet, at the same time -telegraphing for the motors to be declutched. - -Three vivid flashes rent the darkness, their brilliance illuminating a -wide area of the fog-bank a thousand feet below, while the report echoed -over the level line of misty vapour like a continuous peal of thunder. - -Within a minute of the discharge of the third rocket two bursts of -flame, accompanied by sharp reports, occurred at a distance of less than -a quarter of a mile of the "Golden Hind's" port quarter, while after an -interval of fifteen seconds three more exploded simultaneously in the -same direction. - -"Guess Uncle Sam can't count," remarked Kenyon, imitating to perfection -the nasal drawl of the typical New Englander. - -"Looks to me like shrapnel," added Bramsdean. "Judging by the way the -smoke mushroomed, it reminds me of Archies over the Hun lines." - -"Good enough, we'll drop gently," decided Fosterdyke. "Stand by with -the holding-down lines and have a couple of grapnels ready." - -The amount of brodium necessary to more than neutralise the lifting -power of the gas and the dead weight of the airship was exhausted from -the requisite number of ballonets, and the "Golden Hind" began to sink -almost vertically in the still air. - -Within five minutes she entered the belt of mist--a warm, -sickly-smelling atmosphere that reminded Kenyon of a hot-house. - -"I hear voices," announced Peter. - -Not far beneath the airship men were shouting and talking excitedly, but -the crew of the "Golden Hind" were unable to understand what the men -were saying. - -"Ahoy, there!" hailed Fosterdyke. "Stand by to take our ropes." - -Both grapnels were carefully lowered, since there would be grave risks -entailed by throwing them overboard. At the same time half a dozen -holding-down ropes were paid out from each side of the nacelle. These -were caught by unseen hands and the airship was quickly drawn earthwards -at far too great a speed to please Sir Reginald Fosterdyke. - -"Gently," he shouted. "Avast heaving." - -The response was a terrible surprise. Simultaneously two searchlights -were unmasked, their powerful beams at short range punctuating the fog -and impinging upon the enormous envelope of the "Golden Hind," while an -irregular fusillade of musketry assailed the airship on all sides. - -"Up with her!" shouted Fosterdyke. "Charge all the ballonets. We've -struck a revolution." - - - - -CHAPTER XIX--VICTIMS OF A REVOLUTION - - -Above the staccato of rifle-firing rose the roar of the "Golden Hind's" -powerful motors. Volumes of brodium, released from the pressure-flasks, -rushed into the ballonets. The airship rose at an oblique angle, her -nose almost touching the ground. Then, as the aerial propellers went -ahead, the fore-part of the fuselage ploughed over the rough ground. - -With thirty or forty men hanging on like grim death to the guide-lines, -and as many more tailing on to the grapnel ropes, the "Golden Hind," -with gas leaking from numerous bullet holes in her ballonets, was unable -to seek refuge in her natural element. - -Fortunately for the safety of the airship's crew, the rifle-firing -quickly ceased as soon as the attackers realised that they had effected -her capture. Apparently it was their intention to prevent further -damage being done to the huge airship. - -Finding that escape was impossible and unable to offer resistance, -Fosterdyke opened out one of the doors of the nacelle and raised his -hands above his head. It was no disgrace in surrendering thus. Alive -the crew of the "Golden Hind" could offer and receive explanations. -Dead, they could not. - -The appearance of the captain of the "Golden Hind" was greeted by -peremptory orders, shouted in an unintelligible language. It certainly -wasn't American. It seemed to Fosterdyke that it was a kind of Spanish, -and since he was ignorant of that tongue he failed to grasp the meaning -of the volume of directions. - -Covered by scores of rifles, Fosterdyke, Kenyon, and Bramsdean headed -the crew of the airship. Completely bewildered by the aggressive nature -of their reception, and not knowing what fate would befall them, the -position of the British airmen was critical in the extreme. Yet they -bore themselves calmly and bravely, scorning to let their captors know -that inwardly at least they "felt the breeze." - -Deftly, as if they were well used to performing the operation, two -half-breeds searched the baronet for concealed weapons. The rest of the -crew were subjected to the same treatment. Finding nothing in the -nature of arms, the searchers looked rather astonished and disappointed. - -A gorgeously uniformed man, evidently the commandant of the band, walked -up to the baronet and saluted with an elaborate flourish. There was -little doubt about it; he had already come to the conclusion that a -mistake had occurred, and that he rather feared the consequences. - -"Americano, senor?" he asked. - -"No," replied Fosterdyke. "English." - -"Madre de Dios!" ejaculated the commandant in ill-concealed -consternation. He shouted something to his followers. After a brief -interval, a tall, olive-featured follower, whose black oiled locks fell -on his shoulders, slouched forward and announced-- - -"Me speak English. Vot you do here?" - -Mutual explanations took a considerable time; but eventually Fosterdyke -and his companions gleaned the salient facts for the reason of the -attack and capture of the "Golden Hind." - -In the tropical mists the airship had landed not in the Panama Zone but -in a neighbouring republic, which, as is by no means an unusual -occurrence, was indulging in a little political diversion in the shape -of a revolution. Just at present there was no means of ascertaining -which was the predominant faction, but one side had gained possession of -an old airship--purchased at a disposal sale of one of the _Entente_ -countries. This airship, hastily fitted out and provided with bombs and -machine-guns, was known to be on the point of operating against the -Federals. The latter were therefore expecting the raiding airship when -the "Golden Hind," miles out of her course owing to the mists and a side -wind that, unknown to the navigating officers, had blown her well to -leeward, fired her detonating rockets almost immediately over the -Federal party's main force. - -The Federals knew nothing of the Round the World Race; but their anxiety -to make amends was most marked. They offered to provide unlimited -supplies of petrol, and to render any assistance that lay in their -power; but the fact remained that the hasty fusillade had caused -considerable damage to the "Golden Hind." - -At first Fosterdyke thought that the airship was out of the running. -Kenyon and Bramsdean were of the same opinion, for the loss of brodium -through the punctured ballonets seemed a fatal obstacle to the immediate -resumption of the flight. - -Further examination revealed the fact that half the number of the -ballonets were holed. Of these almost every one could be patched and -made gas-tight, since the rifle-bullets, being of small calibre and of -high velocity, had bored minute holes. But what was far more serious was -the shortage of brodium. Even by releasing the contents of the reserve -cylinders it was doubtful whether there was sufficient to lift the -airship. - -"We'll have a good try, anyway," declared Fosterdyke. "Once we get her -up we'll rely on our planes to get us across the Atlantic. Thank -goodness the motors are intact! I wonder if there's much damage done to -the navigation-room. Several bullets came unpleasantly close to our -heads, I remember." - -Examination resulted in the knowledge that although the aluminium sides -of the nacelle had been liberally peppered, most of the nickel bullets -had penetrated both sides without doing vital damage. What was the most -serious injury was caused to the propellers of Nos. 5 and 6 motors, the -feather-edged blades being chipped by bullets. Since the spare blades -had already been used earlier in the voyage replacement was out of the -question. The ragged edges meant at least a reduction of ten miles an -hour, even if the blades did not fly to pieces when the propellers were -running at maximum speed. - -During the rest of the night the crew worked with a will--patching, -mending, and "doping" the holed fabric and carefully testing each -repaired ballonet with compressed air before refilling it with the -precious brodium. - -Meanwhile, the Federals brought quantities of petrol, employing teams of -mules for the purpose, their petrol dump being a good five miles from -the scene of the "Golden Hind's" unfortunate landing. Every drop had to -be passed through a fine gauze strainer before being allowed to enter -the tanks, since foreign matter in the fuel might easily result in motor -trouble. - -Anxious to make amends, the commandant also presented the baronet with a -quantity of excellent tobacco and cigars, several native cakes made of -maize, an earthenware bowl filled with good butter, and a wicker crate -of fresh fruit. - -By dawn the refitting of the "Golden Hind" was accomplished as far as -lay in the power of the dauntless crew. Now came the crucial test: -would the airship rise under the lifting power of the reduced volume of -brodium? - -At seven o'clock the huge fabric showed signs of buoyancy. A quarter of -an hour later the recording instruments showed that only another -thousand cubic feet of gas was necessary to overcome the force of -gravity. - -"We haven't that quantity, sir," reported Chief Air Mechanic Hayward. -"But I would suggest, sir, that we release our reserve gas into the -for'ard ballonets. That will lift her nose clear of the ground, and the -propellers will do the rest. Once we're up, sir, it will be as easy as -shelling peas." - -"We can but try it," replied Fosterdyke. "At any rate, if we can make -Panama we will manage with hydrogen for the remaining ballonets. -Right-o! Pass the word when you're ready." - -At seven-thirty the crew were at their stations. The for'ard portion of -the airship was straining at the guide ropes. The declutched motors, -purring gently at a quarter throttle, were awaiting the order that would -transform them into propulsive forces. Until the planes could be -brought into action the "Golden Hind" was much in the nature of a rocket -soaring obliquely under the influence of a self-contained impulsive -charge. - -Throwing open one of the windows of the riddled navigation-room, -Fosterdyke surveyed the crowd below. The Federal troops, in spite of -their bizarre uniforms and varied equipment, were fairly well -disciplined. Those not actually engaged in holding down the airship -were formed up at about fifty yards from the nacelle, interested -spectators of the largest airship that had ever passed over the -territory of the Central American Republic. - -"Let go!" shouted the baronet. - -The order, interpreted by the Creole who claimed to have a knowledge of -English, was obeyed promptly. The men seemed to have an inkling of what -would happen if they did not, and they dropped the guide ropes as though -they were hot irons. - -Simultaneously, as the bows of the "Golden Hind" lifted, Kenyon -telegraphed for "full ahead." - -With four of the propellers purring in their accustomed way and the two -after ones roaring like gigantic buzzers, as the jagged edges revolved -rapidly in the air, the "Golden Hind" ascended obliquely, with her major -axis inclined at an angle of forty degrees to the horizontal. - -The Federal troops were waving their nondescript headgear and -brandishing their rifles in token of farewell. Doubtless they were -cheering and shouting also, but the noise of the airship's propellers -out-voiced all extraneous sounds. - -At a height of one thousand feet the six planes were trimmed and brought -into action, with the result that the "Golden Hind" settled down on -almost an even keel. - -Four minutes later the scene of the unfortunate "regrettable incident" -was lost to sight. - -"Thanks be, we're up!" ejaculated Fosterdyke. - - - - -CHAPTER XX--WIRELESS REPORTS - - -"Kenyon!" exclaimed the baronet. - -"Sir?" - -"We'll cut Panama," was Fosterdyke's astounding decision. "We'll carry -straight away on. She's doing splendidly, shortage of brodium -notwithstanding. We've plenty of fuel, so it's a dash for Madeira." - -"How about reporting at the Panama control?" asked Kenneth. - -"I'll risk omitting that," replied Sir Reginald. "Being mixed up in a -potty revolution is quite sufficient excuse for non-compliance with -regulations. It isn't as if we were bound to report ourselves, as in -the case of Auckland. Bramsdean, you might ask the wireless operator to -report us to Panama, and enquire if there's any news of our rivals. -Last night's affair has given von Sinzig a very useful lead, I'm -afraid." - -Peter hastened to give the necessary orders. Presently he returned. - -"No news of the Hun, sir," he reported. "The Yankee airship made a bad -landing at Port Denison, Queensland, and was totally destroyed by fire." - -"Hard lines," remarked Fosterdyke, feelingly. "Commodore Nye is a good -sport. I hope he wasn't injured?" - -"Far from it," replied Bramsdean. "In fact he's reported to have cabled -to Melbourne asking the Victorian Government if they can sell him a -Vickers-Vimy, so that he can continue the contest." - -"Good luck to him, then!" exclaimed the baronet. "And the Jap?" - -"Looks like a winner, sir," replied Peter. "The quadruplane is reported -passing over Calcutta." - -"Next to beating Fritz myself, the Jap is the fellow I hope will do it," -remarked Fosterdyke. "By Jove! I'd like to know where von Sinzig is -and what he's doing." - -The "Golden Hind," now virtually a heavier-than-air machine, was doing -her level best to make up for the unlucky contretemps that had delayed -her for eight precious hours. Unaccountably the reduction of the volume -of brodium in her ballonets, although the rigid aluminium envelope had -not appreciably contracted, had resulted in a marked increase of speed. -Judging by the time she took to cover the distance between Panama and -Nevis, in the Lesser Antilles--a distance of 1250 miles--her speed over -the water was not far short of 190 miles an hour. - -"If those two props had not been crippled," lamented Kenyon, "we'd be -doing a good two hundred." - -"I'm content," rejoined Fosterdyke, "provided we can keep it up. If we -don't lap Z64 in another twelve hours, you can jolly well boot me, -Kenyon!" - -A few minutes later the wireless operator appeared and handed Fosterdyke -a long written message. - -The baronet's face was a study of varying emotions as he read the news. -Kenyon, watching him, wondered what had happened. Not that he was -surprised; after the experiences of the last week or so, it would take -something very much out of the common to take Kenneth Kenyon aback. - -"Evidently our friend von Sinzig has butted in where he didn't ought," -remarked Fosterdyke, handing his companion the slip of paper. - -It was a general Marconigram communication to the Press Agency, and read -as follows: - -"Hobart, Tasmania, Thursday. The schooner _Myrtle_, Abraham Prout, -master, arrived here this morning in a damaged condition. Her master -reports that in lat. 43 deg. 15' S., long. 141 deg. 20' E., the schooner -was hit by a falling object, which Captain Prout subsequently brought -into port. Examination showed that the object in question was an airship -observation box or basket. In it, fortunately intact, and with the -safety vane locking the detonator-pin, was an incendiary bomb stamped -with the broad arrow. Experts here agree that the bomb is certainly not -a British Government's missile, and by certain markings on the -observation basket it is safe to assume that it belonged to a German -airship. The basket and the bomb are being forwarded to the -Commonwealth Air Board Headquarters at Sydney." - -Then came another report: - -"Fremantle, Western Australia, Thursday. Investigations amongst the -ruins of the aerodrome destroyed by fire yesterday morning have resulted -in the finding of the remains of an aerial torpedo bearing the British -Government mark. This discovery completely upsets the original theory -as to the cause of the outbreak. Various rumours are afloat, but pending -an official declaration on the subject, the Press is requested to -confine reports to the actual known facts. A further communication will -be made as soon as definite information is forthcoming." - -"Yes, von Sinzig is getting desperate," remarked Kenyon. "It's a dead -cert that he thought we were berthed in the Fremantle aerodrome that -night. But how in the name of goodness did he get so far south? It was -reported he went direct from Java to New Zealand, passing north of -Australia." - -"He reported, you mean," corrected Fosterdyke. "Trying to throw dust in -one's eyes is an old trick of Fritz's. Personally, I don't believe he -took the northern route, and that he picked up our wireless announcing -our intention of making Fremantle, and then tried to do us in." - -"He's done for himself, any old way," declared Kenyon. "I wonder if a -Hun can ever be a sportsman?" - -"I wonder," echoed the baronet. "I've come across a good many Huns -during the last five years, but I'm hanged if I ever met one who knew -how to play the game." - -Half an hour later the "Golden Hind" intercepted a wireless message to -the effect that the British, American, and French Governments had issued -joint instructions for the German airship Z64 to be detained at the next -landing-place. - -"That looks like business," commented Kenyon. "Von Sinzig's out of the -running." - -"Unless he contrives to land in Spanish territory," added the baronet. -"There are the Canary Islands, for instance. He could, and probably -will, claim immunity as a political offender. I don't think he can be -extradited. You see, it has to be proved to the hilt that he actually -and by deliberate intent dropped a bomb on the aerodrome. No, I fancy -we haven't lost our Hun rival yet. He stands a chance of romping home, -so it's up to us to beat Z64." - -"I'd like to know what the blighter's doing now," said Kenneth, -tentatively. "Perhaps he's within fifty miles of us." - -"Provided he's fifty miles behind us, I won't worry my head about him," -declared Sir Reginald. "I'm not particularly keen on coming in touch -with him on a dark night. He might try his hand at another dirty -trick." - - - - -CHAPTER XXI--VON SINZIG'S BID FOR SAFETY - - -Count Karl von Sinzig was in a particularly bad temper. He had just -learned, by picking up various wireless messages, that "the cat was out -of the bag." In other words, the discovery of the lost observation -basket had landed him in a very awkward predicament. - -He blamed everyone and everybody save himself. The luckless -Unter-Leutnant, Hans Leutter, came in for a very bad time because he -hadn't got rid of the second bomb. The petty officer, who had -conscientiously seen that the bottle-screws securing the basket were -properly made fast, was bullied and browbeaten because the basket was -torn away. The rest of the crew, the makers of the airship, and every -person having anything to do with the aerial contest also came in for -abuse. - -The count was also puzzled at not being able to intercept any messages -from the "Golden Hind" after the one announcing her approach to Panama. -Z64 had reported at Colon, when, according to the latest information, -the British airship was hard on the heels of her German rival. - -And now, almost the final straw, came the general wireless message -declaring that Z64 was proscribed and liable to be detained should she -touch at any place belonging to either of the _entente_ nations. - -Fosterdyke had accurately gauged his rival's intentions. The knowledge -that his guilty secret was out compelled von Sinzig to change his plans -and make for Teneriffe, whence, having replenished fuel, he ought to be -easily able to complete the last stage of the round the world voyage. - -When about 300 miles to the westward of the Canaries, but farther to the -north than von Sinzig hoped to be, owing to a strong side-drift, Z64 -encountered a violent storm. In order to try to avoid the worst of the -terrific wind and rain, the airship began to ascend, hoping to find -better conditions in the rarefied atmosphere. - -Z64 was ascending obliquely under the action of her huge horizontal -rudders and was passing through a dense cloud when a vivid flash of -lightning, followed almost immediately by a deafening crash of thunder, -appeared to penetrate the airship through and through. - -Almost every man on board shouted with terror. They were fully -convinced that the hydrogen had ignited. There was a frantic rush for -the life-saving parachutes, until Unter-Leutnant Hans Leutter reassured -the panic-stricken crew with the information that the gas-bag had not -taken fire. - -Meanwhile the airship, left to its own devices, since the helmsman had -abandoned the wheel, had turned eight degrees to port and was travelling -at a rate of 120 miles an hour on a course N. by W. - -Von Sinzig, who "had the wind up" as badly as anybody, was nowhere to be -found for some time. Leutter even came to the conclusion that his -superior officer had leapt overboard when the alarm of fire had been -raised; but after a lapse of twenty-five minutes the count re-appeared, -looking very grey and haggard. - -"I think I must have been stunned, Herr Leutter," he said in -explanation. - -His subordinate accepted the excuse without smiling incredulously. He -had seen his chief bolting for his very life. He certainly did not look -like being stunned. - -"Take charge for a while," continued von Sinzig. "I am not feeling -well. I must go to my cabin and lie down." - -He staggered aft along the narrow catwalk, while the Unter-Leutnant gave -orders for the airship to be brought back on her original course. - -It was easier said than done. The gigantic gas-bag was see-sawing -erratically. She had difficulty in answering to her helm, and in spite -of the fact that the horizontal rudders were trimmed for ascending, the -airship was decreasing her altitude. - -Then reports began to come in from the still "jumpy" crew. The engineer -reported that the after propeller was damaged; another man announced -that there was a large gash in the aluminium envelope, and that several -of the after ballonets were leaking rapidly. - -Further examination revealed the grave fact that one of the propeller -blades had fractured, and the flying piece of metal had penetrated the -gas-bag at about eighty feet from the after-end. So great had been the -velocity of the broken blade that it had practically wrecked every gas -compartment in the stern of the envelope. - -Unter-Leutnant Leutter sent a man to inform von Sinzig. He had to do -that, although he would have preferred to act upon his own initiative. -He was decidedly "fed up" with his arrogant and craven skipper. - -The count arrived quickly. He led off by abusing Leutter in front of -several of the crew for having disturbed him; then, on being told of -what had occurred, he changed completely round and complimented his -subordinate on his sagacity. - -"Z64's done, Herr kapitan," declared Hans Leutter. "She's sinking -rapidly. Half an hour, perhaps, will find her falling into the sea. We -must take steps to safeguard ourselves." - -"Quite true," agreed the count. "Although there will be enough buoyancy -in the envelope to keep it afloat for hours--days even. What do you -propose to do?" - -"Throw overboard everything of a weighty nature, Herr kapitan," replied -the Unter-Leutnant. "We can empty the petrol tanks, since we have no -further use for the motors. Meanwhile we must send out a general -wireless call for assistance to all ships within a hundred or two -hundred kilometres of us." - -Count Karl von Sinzig thought this quite an excellent idea. At least, -he said so. At the back of his mind he had a hazy notion that even now -there was a chance of winning the Chauvasse Prize. There was nothing in -the conditions forbidding a competitor---- - -His ruminations were interrupted by the appearance of the wireless -operator, who reported that both the transmitter and the receiver were -out of action, and that the wireless cabin bore signs of having been -struck by lightning. - -"Can't you effect repairs?" demanded von Sinzig. - -"I am sorry I cannot, Herr kapitan," replied the operator. - -"A useful wireless man you are!" commented the count, caustically. - -The man saluted and backed away from his chief, congratulating himself -that he had come off so lightly. But von Sinzig was rather pleased than -otherwise that the wireless was out of action. It furnished him with a -good excuse to put a certain little plan into execution. - -"Are there any vessels in sight?" he asked. - -A look-out man had been scanning the wide expanse of sea for the last -ten minutes. - -"Nothing in sight, Herr kapitan," he announced. - -By this time Z64 was well beyond the storm-area. The sea, now a bare -3000 feet below, was no longer white with angry crested waves, but by -the aid of binoculars it could be seen that there was a long swell -running. - -"Then there's nothing to be done unless we make use of the Albatross," -declared von Sinzig. "I will go and look for a ship." - -Hans Leutter and those of the crew who heard the count's resolve -received the proposal in stony silence. They all recognised that their -kapitan was violating the traditions of the sea and the air by being the -first to abandon his command. Of the crew at least four were capable of -flying the small but powerful monoplane, so there was no excuse on that -score of von Sinzig being the only man able to take the Albatross up. - -In obedience to a peremptory order the crew hurriedly prepared the -monoplane for her flight. The Albatross, nominally used for starting -from and alighting on the ground, was adapted for marine work by having -three small floats, the lower portions of which were just above the -wheel base line, so that the monoplane could be used either as an -ordinary machine or as a seaplane. - -In the present circumstances von Sinzig elected to start from the air. -The Albatross, suspended by a quick release gear from the underside of -the 'midship gondola, was ready before the airship had dropped to a -thousand feet. - -"You will be quite safe," reiterated the count. "I'll send the first -vessel I meet to your assistance. It may be a matter of a few hours. -All ready? Let go." - -The monoplane's motor was already running slowly. Directly von Sinzig -felt the Albatross had parted company with her gigantic parent he opened -"all out." At a hundred and thirty miles an hour he was soon lost to -sight. - -"He's going east by north, I notice," soliloquised Hans Leutter. "I -will be greatly surprised if he returns to Z64." - -And the count was of the same opinion. He hadn't the faintest intention -of flying back to the airship. Nor was he particularly keen on -reporting Z64's predicament to any vessel he sighted. - -He was out to win the Chauvasse Prize. The sum went to the man who -succeeded in flying round the world in twenty days. There was no -stipulation to the effect that only one airship, flying-boat, aeroplane, -or seaplane must be used throughout the flight. Therefore, since the -goal was within a comparatively easy distance, he hoped to complete the -circuit in the Albatross, and thus win the coveted prize. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII--THE END OF Z64 - - -"By Jove! Kenyon, what's that over on our starboard bow?" exclaimed -Bramsdean. - -Kenneth raised his binoculars and focussed them on a dark object in the -direction indicated. - -"That," he replied after a brief survey, "is a Zepp. There's not much -mistake about that. She is also in difficulties apparently, since Zepps -don't generally assume an angle of forty-five degrees. It is also -reasonable to assume that it is Z64, since we know that von Sinzig was -keeping a course slightly divergent to ours. The southerly wind has -evidently driven her northward." - -Fosterdyke was asleep in his cabin, but upon hearing the news he hurried -to the navigation-room. - -"Are we Pharisees or Good Samaritans, sir?" enquired Kenyon. "Do we -pass by on the other side, or do we stop to render assistance?" - -"It strikes me that something more than assistance is required," replied -the baronet. "Obviously our friend von Sinzig is out of the running. -His airship is down and out. If there are any of the crew on board, -we'll be just in time to prevent them losing the number of their mess." - -Z64 was in a very bad way. The after part of the envelope was half -submerged. The rearmost gondola was entirely so. The foremost car was -rising and falling owing to the slight buoyancy of the for'ard -ballonets. At one moment it was thirty or forty feet above the water, -at another it was smacking the surface and sending the spray far and -wide. - -"Keep to windward," ordered Fosterdyke. - -"There are men still on board," replied Peter. "A dozen more or less -are hanging on to the catwalk." - -"It'll be rather a proposition to get them off," said the baronet. "We -haven't a boat; neither apparently have they, and I don't like the idea -of running alongside a half-submerged gas-bag. With this heavy swell -there's no knowing what might happen." - -"We might run out a hawser and take her in tow," suggested Kenyon. "I -mean, tow her until we get the crew off by means of an endless line." - -"Might do," half agreed Fosterdyke. "It would be decidedly awkward if -our head fell away and we drifted in broadside on to the wreckage. -We'll try it. Tell Jackson to get a hawser ready, and see there is a -slip fitted in case we have to cast off in a hurry." - -Already several of the ballonets that at first sight seemed beyond -repair had been patched up, while the fortunate discovery of two flasks -of compressed brodium gave the "Golden Hind" considerable buoyancy, so -that she was no longer dependent upon the lift of her six planes. Yet -the prospect of having to take on board the weighty Hun crew would -seriously threaten the buoyancy of the airship. - -"Luckily we are within sight of our goal," said Fosterdyke. "We can -sacrifice a quantity of our stores. The reserve fresh water tank can be -started, too. Two hundred and fifty gallons less of water ought to make -a considerable difference." - -Leading Hand Jackson, with the help of four or five of the crew, soon -made the necessary preparations. By this time the "Golden Hind" had -approached to within a hundred yards of the disabled Zeppelin, the crew -of which, half in doubt as to what was going to happen, were signalling -and shouting frantically for help. - -"Rescuing the crew of the _Hilda P. Murchison_ was child's play to -this," commented Kenyon. "Goodness only knows how we are going to -establish communication. Her blessed envelope is in the way." - -Thrice the "Golden Hind" sailed over her crippled rival. The trailing -hawser glided over the rounded surface of the gasbag, but none of the -men made any attempt to leave the gondolas and secure the rope. It -afterwards transpired that the aluminium envelope was sagging and -whipping to such an extent that the vertical shaft through it by which -access could be made to the upper surface of the gas-bag was -impracticable. Anyone attempting to ascend by that way would almost -certainly be crushed to death. - -"Can't the lubbers see the hawser?" asked Fosterdyke, impatiently. "Or -have they all got the wind up so frightfully that they can't lift a hand -to help themselves? Get in that hawser, Jackson. We'll try approaching -to leeward this time and see if they've got the sense to veer a rope." - -The manoeuvre required very careful execution. The "Golden Hind," -descending until her fuselage was but a few feet above the sea, -approached carefully. She had to be kept under control up to a certain -point, when way had to be taken off her. If she stopped too soon, she -would drift away before communication could be established; if she -carried on even a few yards too much, there was a danger of her -overlapping envelope colliding nose on with the wrecked Zeppelin. - -This time the Huns showed decided activity. They bent a line to an -inflated indiarubber lifebelt and threw the latter into the sea. -Unfortunately, they did not take into account the fact that the Zeppelin -was drifting to leeward as fast as the lifebelt. When they realised -what was happening one of the crew jumped overboard and towed the line a -hundred yards or so away. - -"Now there's a chance of doing something," commented Fosterdyke, -telegraphing for a touch ahead with Nos. 1 and 2 motors. - -As the "Golden Hind" passed immediately over the life-buoy a grapnel, -lowered from the after-part of the fuselage, engaged the rope, and in a -remarkably short space of time a stout hawser connected the British -airship with the still buoyant bows of the German. - -Fosterdyke waited until the "Golden Hind" had swung round and was -pointing "down wind," then he ordered easy ahead with the two for'ard -motors. This gave sufficient tension to the hawser, which was now -inclined at an angle of about thirty degrees. - -A "snatch-block" with an endless line was then allowed to run down to -the hawser. - -"Now the rest is easy," declared Fosterdyke, but for once at least he -was greatly mistaken. - -The first of the Huns arrived in a bowline on board the "Golden Hind." - -"How many are there?" asked Fosterdyke. - -"Ve vos dwanty," replied the German, holding up the fingers of both -hands twice in order to make his meaning clearer. - -More Huns emerging from the for'ard gondola of Z64 confirmed the man's -statement. One was evidently an officer, but his features did not in -the least resemble those of Count von Sinzig, whose photograph had -appeared some time back in the illustrated papers. - -Seventeen Huns were transhipped in about as many minutes. The -eighteenth was half-way along the tautened hawser when Fosterdyke -shouted, "Let go!" - -Leading-Hand Jackson obeyed the order instantly. The ring of the -Senhouse slip was knocked clear, and the hawser fell with a splash into -the sea. The "Golden Hind," released from the drag of the partly -water-logged Zeppelin, shot ahead. - -She was only just in time. The baronet had noticed a tongue of flame -issuing from the centre gondola of Z64. How the fire was caused was a -mystery, since had the Huns wished to destroy the wreckage they would -have waited until the last man was clear of the Zeppelin. Possibly the -wiring of the electric stove had short-circuited when in contact with -the salt water. - -In less than fifteen seconds from the time the hawser had been slipped -the hydrogen escaping from the leaky ballonets was ignited. The -aluminium gasbag was surrounded by flames. The heat caused the gas in -the still intact ballonets to expand, affording sufficient lifting power -to heave the wreckage almost clear of the water. The remaining Huns, -keenly alive to the terrible danger, promptly jumped into the sea. - -Then with a terrific glare the remaining ballonets burst, and the -shattered wreckage, sizzling as it came into contact with the cold -water, disappeared beneath the surface, leaving a steadily widening -circle of oil surmounted by a dense pall of black smoke to mark the -scene of the end of Z64. - -Before the evil-smelling vapour had dispersed the "Golden Hind," turning -head to wind, was over the spot searching for possible survivors. For -half an hour she cruised round, but her efforts to rescue the three Huns -were unavailing. The men had either been stunned by the explosion or -had been hit by falling wreckage. Amongst them was Unter-Leutnant Hans -Leutter, who, by resolutely refusing to leave his command until the rest -of the crew were safe, had proved that all Hun officers were not of the -von Sinzig type. - -Several of the rescued Germans could speak English--but they were -decidedly reticent. In the back of their minds they rather feared that -they were in for a bad time. They knew that their late kapitan had been -practically outlawed and that he was "wanted" by the authorities for -having, amongst other misdemeanours, destroyed the Fremantle aerodrome -by means of an incendiary bomb. They rather expected that they would be -blamed for the acts of their fugitive superior. - -On the other hand, they were grateful to their rescuers for having saved -their lives, and with typical Teutonic reasoning they eventually decided -that one way to repay the kindness and to ingratiate themselves in the -eyes of the Englishman would be to give away their former officers. - -The spokesman led off by informing Sir Reginald Fosterdyke that -Unter-Leutnant Hans Leutter was the person who dropped the incendiary -bomb from the observation basket in the hope that it would destroy the -"Golden Hind." - -"He was, of course, acting under Count von Sinzig's orders," remarked -Fosterdyke, drily. "Where is Herr Leutter?" - -"Dead," was the reply. "He was one of the three left on Z64." - -"And Count von Sinzig was one of the other two?" - -The German airman shrugged his shoulders and made a gesture of disgust. -He still rankled over his kapitan's cowardly desertion. It was long -obvious to all the survivors of Z64 that von Sinzig had no intention of -summoning aid. Eight hours had elapsed since he began his flight in the -Albatross. In that time he must have sighted several vessels, since the -scene of the disaster was not many miles from one of the great Atlantic -trade routes. - -"Kapitan Count von Sinzig left Z64 soon after daybreak this morning, -mein Herr," replied the German. "At seven o'clock, to be exact." - -"Left--how?" demanded Fosterdyke, sharply. - -"In an Albatross monoplane. He was last seen going east-north-east." - -Fosterdyke dismissed his informant and turned to Kenyon and Bramsdean. - -"The cunning old rascal!" he exclaimed. "I see his little game now. -He's completing the final stage by aeroplane. I suppose by this time -he's won the Chauvasse Prize; but I don't envy him." - -"Will you enter a protest, sir?" asked Peter. - -"Protest? Not much," replied the baronet, emphatically. "These -seventeen Huns can do the protesting if they want to, and I rather fancy -they will." - -"There's many a slip," quoted Kenyon. "He may not complete the course -after all." - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII--A DUMPING OPERATION - - -The heavily-laden "Golden Hind" resumed her delayed journey. Both -gas-bags and planes had to do their full share of work to keep the -airship afloat. She was flying low, but making good progress; but so -little was her reserve of buoyancy that had the three Huns who perished -in the catastrophe to Z64 been saved, it was doubtful whether Fosterdyke -could have "carried on." - -To make matters worse, some of the patches on the repaired ballonets -were leaking, for owing to the heat of the rubber the solution was not -holding well. - -"I wonder if Drake's 'Golden Hind,' when she arrived in the Thames after -circumnavigating the globe, was patched up like we are," remarked -Kenyon. "It took Drake three long years to do the trick, and we look -like completing our voyage in under seventeen days." - -"If the old 'bus holds out," added Bramsdean. "'Tany rate, no one can -say we haven't done our bit. The 'Golden Hind's' been a regular sort of -aerial lifeboat. That is some satisfaction. I'd rather we did that than -win the race." - -"I suppose our passengers won't get up to any of their Hunnish tricks?" -observed Kenneth. - -"Trust Fosterdyke for that," replied Peter grimly. "He's had 'em placed -in the dining-saloon. (Fortunately, we won't require many more meals.) -They can amuse themselves there without getting into mischief. There's -one of our fellows stationed outside to keep the blighters in order." - -Just then the baronet came upon the scene. - -"Von Sinzig looks like pulling it off," he observed. "A wireless from -the S.S. _Wontwash_ reports that a monoplane passed over the ship at 6 -P.M., flying east. According to the position given, the _Wontwash_ was -only thirty-five miles west of Gibraltar." - -"Then perhaps he's back at his hangar by this time," commented Peter. -"Any news of the others?" - -"Yes; Commodore Theodore Nye has been unable to get hold of another 'bus -yet, although two of the Australian R.A.F. pilots are bringing him a -'Bristol' machine from Melbourne. He's out of the running. That he -admits, but he means to complete the course, even if it takes him six -months." - -"And the Jap?" asked Kenyon. - -"Not a word," replied the baronet. "He's keeping quiet; but mark my -words, that quadruplane will turn up unexpectedly. If his 'bus had had -British motors, he would have romped home in less than a week." - -"What engines has he?" asked Bramsdean. - -"Japanese," replied Fosterdyke. "Passable imitations of ours and good -up to a certain point; but give me British engines all the jolly old -time." - -Although the baronet made frequent enquiries of the operator, no -wireless messages concerning von Sinzig came through. - -"Perhaps he's crashed," suggested Peter. - -"Not he," replied Kenyon. "That Hun's got the luck of a cat with nine -lives. He's playing his own game." - -"It is a game," added Bramsdean. "Loading that crowd of Huns on to us is -like a man in a mile race chucking his gear to another competitor and -telling him to hang on. I don't wish the blighter any harm, but I do -hope that if he pulls off the money prize they'll pay him in German -marks at the pre-war rate of exchange. That'd make him look blue!" - -Although no news came in concerning their Hun rival, the officers and -crew of the "Golden Hind" began to be bombarded with wireless messages -from Britons in every quarter of the globe. All were of the most -encouraging nature, for the story of Fosterdyke's airship and her -adventures and misadventures--all more or less distorted owing to the -lack of authentic detail--had awakened world-wide interest. - -There were cheery messages from patriotic Britons; incentive ones from -sportsmen, to whom the suggestion of a race appealed more than did the -fact that the contest was one of endurance calculated to uphold the -prestige of British flying men. Frenchmen, Dutchmen, Norwegians, -Americans, and Japanese all sent greetings to the intrepid British -airmen. - -"Didn't know we had so many friends," remarked Fosterdyke. -"Sportsmanlike of those Americans and Japs, too, when they have -representatives in the show." - -The "Golden Hind" was now approaching the regular mail line, where -routes to and from the Cape and round the Horn unite in the -neighbourhood of Las Palmas. - -"We'll signal the first vessel we sight," decided Sir Reginald, "and get -her to relieve us of our cargo of Fritzes. The sooner the better, -because several of the ballonets are showing distinct symptoms of -porosity." - -Five minutes later the airship had slowed down and had swung round on a -course parallel to a homeward-bound Dutchman. - -The skipper of the latter, when appealed to by megaphone, stoutly -refused to receive the seventeen Germans. He gave no reason why he -should not do so, and without waiting for further parley rang for full -speed ahead. - -A little later a French auxiliary barque was sighted, bound south. - -Fosterdyke made no attempt to intercept her. - -"There are limits," he observed. "Dumping those Huns on board an -outward-bound Frenchman is one of them. Now for the next vessel. Three -for luck." - -The third was a British tramp, bound from Montevideo for Naples. Her -"Old Man," although ignorant that a Round-the-World aerial race was in -progress or even in contemplation, readily agreed to help the "Golden -Hind" on her way. - -"I'll find use for 'em," he added with infinite relish. "They'll work -their passage, never you fear. Three times I've been torpedoed without -warning, and on two occasions Fritz popped up to jeer at us struggling -in waterlogged boats." - -While conversation was in progress between Fosterdyke and the master of -the S.S. _Diaphanous_, a wire hawser had been lowered from the bows of -the airship and made fast to the tramp's after-winch. Since she was -steaming dead in the eye of the wind there was no necessity for her to -alter helm. The "Golden Hind," pitching slightly, was towed astern of -and thirty feet above the tramp. As the airship's course was almost -identical with that of the tramp Fosterdyke conscientiously kept the -propellers revolving, since, even in the present circumstances, he did -not wish to give his rivals a chance of raising a protest on the score -that the flight of the British airship had been mechanically aided. - -The seventeen Germans showed no great enthusiasm at being placed on -board the tramp. At first they imagined that the _Diaphanous_ was bound -for the Pacific. Even the prospect of being dumped ashore at Naples was -not at all attractive. - -When they did make a move they descended the rope-ladder so slowly and -deliberately that it was obvious they meant to detain the "Golden Hind" -as much as possible. - -"I see through their little game," exclaimed Fosterdyke, angrily. "Make -'em get a move on, Jackson." - -The Leading Hand wanted no further bidding. Ably seconded by Chief Air -Mechanic Hayward, he gave vent to such a flow of forcible language, -accompanied by realistic dumbshow, that the Huns changed their tactics -completely. It was even necessary to check their impetuosity, lest the -ladder should break under the weight of too many men descending -simultaneously. Then, with a joyous toot on her syren as the hawser was -cast off, and a stentorian greeting from the Mercantile Marine skipper, -the _Diaphanous_ gathered way, while the "Golden Hind," almost as -buoyant as of yore, rose steadily and rapidly against the gentle breeze. - -Two hours later land--the Moroccan coast--was sighted on the starboard -bow. Then fifty minutes later Fosterdyke touched Kenyon on the shoulder -and pointed dead ahead to a faint object rising above the horizon. - -"Guess we've done the trick, barring accidents," he observed. "That's -Gibraltar." - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV--WITHIN SIGHT OF SUCCESS - - -Count Karl von Sinzig had not started upon his long solo flight in the -Albatross without studiously calculating his chances. He knew the -machine and its capabilities, and, given ordinary luck, he saw no reason -why he should not make a landing on Spanish soil, replenish fuel, and -carry on to his hangar in Estremadura before his hated rival arrived at -Gibraltar. Even if there were delays in obtaining petrol, he still had a -useful lead, thanks to his twelve hours' start in advance of the "Golden -Hind." The two hundred extra miles he had to cover beyond Gibraltar was -a mere bagatelle--a question of an hour and twenty minutes' flight. - -He rather regretted that the accident to Z64 had not occurred nearer the -African coast; but realising that he was lucky to be able to carry on, -he ran the risk of a prolonged flight over the sea with comparative -equanimity. - -Within an hour of leaving the wrecked Zeppelin he sighted two vessels, -but with callous indifference to his promise to his crew he made not the -slightest attempt to communicate with either of them. He was "all out" -to win the much-needed Chauvasse Prize. Even his indictment by the -various Allied Governments hardly worried him. Time to consider what he -should do in the matter when he was safe on Spanish soil, he decided. - -The Albatross, one of the best types of German machines, was practically -an automatic flier. Von Sinzig could keep her on her course by an -occasional pressure with his feet upon the rudder-bar, thus leaving both -hands free. He was able to eat and drink, to study maps and make -observations without risk of the monoplane getting out of control, while -if needs be he could leave the pilot's seat, knowing that the Albatross -would hold on automatically for several minutes with only a slight -deviation in direction and hardly any difference in altitude. - -Although only ten degrees north of the Tropics, it was bitterly cold at -ten thousand feet; but the count had taken due precautions to combat the -low temperature. He was warmly clad in orthodox flying kit, including -sheepskin boots, fleece-lined leather jacket and trousers, all -electrically heated. He had four thermos flasks filled with hot coffee -and a pocket flask of brandy. For provisions he carried concentrated -food, beef lozenges, and Strasburg sausages. - -Hour after hour passed. The Albatross was flying magnificently, her -pilot holding on to a compass course, after making due allowances for -the "drift" of the air current. He had based this allowance upon the -direction of the wind when he left Z64; but unknown to him the light -breeze had shifted eight points and was now blowing slightly ahead of -his port beam. Then, having backed, it presently veered six points and -blew with increasing force right against the Albatross; but von Sinzig -was for the present in ignorance of the fact. Had he known that instead -of a following breeze of about twenty miles an hour there was a head -wind approaching the neighbourhood of thirty-five miles, he would not -have been so chock-a-block with confidence. - -When, at the end of the time limit he had set, he was not in sight of -land he began to feel anxious. Half an hour later, as he was still -without a glimpse of the coast, his misgivings increased, but ten -minutes later he picked up land on his right. This was a puzzle. He had -expected to make a landfall right ahead, and its appearance in an -unexpected quarter mystified him. In point of fact he was in the -neighbourhood of Cape Blanco, or nearly 250 miles south of Cape St. -Vincent, where he hoped to pass over on his way to Estremadura. - -A knowledge of the Moroccan coast obtained during a cruise in a German -gunboat at the time of the Agadir crisis stood von Sinzig in good stead. -He was able to recognise certain landmarks in spite of viewing them from -a different aspect, and accordingly he turned the monoplane in a -north-easterly direction, keeping parallel to the African coast, The new -direction would take him a little to the eastward of Cadiz; rather -nearer that port than Gibraltar. He had not the slightest inclination -to fly over the latter fortress. Rather vaguely he wondered whether he -would sight the "Golden Hind" making thither, since, sooner or later, -unless a mishap occurred, the rival aviators must cut each other's -routes. - -He was now painfully aware of the change of wind. The direction of the -smoke from several steamers, and the sight of a full-rigged ship running -in a south-westerly direction told him that. Additionally, as he saw by -the aid of his binoculars, that sailing ship was running under topsails -only. That meant something more than a stiff breeze--and against this -he had to contend. - -Suddenly he detected an ominous cough of the motor. He knew that the -petrol supply was running low, but he had no idea that the gauge -registered so little. The tank was practically empty. - -"Himmel!" gasped the dumfounded Hun. "Will she last out?" - -He mentally measured the distance between him and the Spanish coast. A -good ten miles. With a following wind he could glide that distance from -that altitude, but not with this infernal head wind! - -The engine was running jerkily. Clearly its spasmodic coughing -betokened the fact that it would soon cease duty from sheer inanition. -Its life-blood was being cut off at the heart of the machine--its petrol -tank. That head wind. How von Sinzig cursed it! Had it been in his -favour, even if he failed to volplane as far as the shore, the -Albatross, being provided with floats, could have drifted on the -surface. - -In the midst of his incoherent utterances von Sinzig realised that the -motor had at last given out. He trimmed the ailerons and prepared for a -long glide, but, as he had feared, the head wind made it a matter of -impossibility for the Albatross to cover more than two miles before she -alighted. - -It did not take long to complete the volplane, although the pilot nursed -his machine to the best of his ability in the hope of prolonging the -oblique descent. - -The Albatross "landed" badly, her floats striking the water with a -resounding smack. The count, having done his best, could do no more. -He sat smoking a cigarette and keeping a look out for a vessel that -would come to his assistance. There were several away to the south'ard, -for he had alighted well to the north'ard of the regular steamer track -between Gibraltar and Cape St. Vincent. They were too far off to notice -the little Albatross. - -Then von Sinzig made the disconcerting discovery that the starboard -float was leaking. Already, owing to this cause, the monoplane was -listing so that her starboard wing-tip was touching the water. This -fact, combined with the knowledge that he was momentarily drifting -farther and farther away from land, did not tend to improve the Hun's -peace of mind. - -Half an hour later, during which time the monoplane had drifted at least -three miles, and was being considerably buffeted by the rising sea, von -Sinzig noticed that a vessel was bearing down upon the crippled -Albatross. - -As she approached, the count saw that she was a small motor-yacht of -about forty or fifty tons, and that she was flying the burgee of the -"Real Club Mediterraneo" and the Spanish ensign. The sight of the -Spanish colours gave von Sinzig renewed hope. - -The yacht slowed down and lost way a few yards to the wind'ard of the -monoplane. For so small a vessel she carried a large crew. There were -half a dozen men for'ard, clad in white canvas jumpers and trousers and -wearing red woollen caps. Aft were two gorgeously attired individuals -in gold-laced yachting uniforms. - -Von Sinzig, who was a fair Spanish linguist, hailed them. A rope thrown -from the bows of the yacht fell across the nose of the Albatross. This -the count caught and secured. - -"Can you supply me with petrol, senor?" asked von Sinzig. "My tank is -empty. A hundred litres will be enough." - -One of the gold-laced men shook his head and extended his hands, palms -uppermost. - -"I am desolated at being compelled to refuse your excellency's modest -request," he replied, "but we have paraffin engines and carry only a -small quantity of petrol for starting purposes. How far have you come?" - -"Nearly round the world," replied the Hun, grandiloquently. He could -not resist the typically Teutonic trait of self-advertisement. - -"Dios!" exclaimed the Spaniard, twirling his long moustachios. "Then -you are Count Karl von Sinzig, who left Quintanur, in the province of -Estremadura, sixteen or seventeen days ago?" - -"I am," admitted von Sinzig, proudly. - -The Spaniard said a few words in an undertone to his companion. The -other's eyes gleamed and he nodded his head vigorously. - -"We will take you on board and tow your machine," announced the owner of -the yacht. - -"To Cadiz or Huelva?" asked the count. - -"Accept ten thousand regrets, count," replied the Spaniard. "We must -take you to Gibraltar." - -"But I have no wish to be taken to Gibraltar," declared von Sinzig. "I -will give a thousand pesetas to be landed at Cadiz." - -The Don again shrugged his shoulders. - -"No doubt my crew would be glad of your offer of a thousand pesetas, -count," he replied, "but since they know that the English have offered a -reward equal to five thousand pesetas----" - -"You would sell me?" demanded von Sinzig, furiously. - -"I sell you, senor? Not I--a caballero of Spain! You insult me by the -suggestion. I recollect, however, that I once had a brother. He was -lost at sea, while travelling on an English vessel from New York to -Cadiz. Like you, he wanted to land at Cadiz, but he was not able to do -so. For why? Because the ship was torpedoed by one of your -ever-accursed U-boats. Therefore I have a small measure of revenge when -I hand you over to the English authorities at Gibraltar. Be pleased, -senor, to step aboard." - -Covered by an automatic pistol, Count Karl von Sinzig had no option but -to obey. In the race round the world he was down and out. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV--FIRE! - - -Sir Reginald Fosterdyke laid down his pencil and uttered an exclamation -of intense satisfaction. He had just "shot the sun" and had finished -working out his position. - -"Another hour will see us at Gib., lads," he announced joyously. "Then -there'll be some mafficking. What's your programme? Going to pack your -suit cases and back by the Madrid-Paris express?" - -"You are not leaving the 'Golden Hind' at Gibraltar?" asked Kenneth. - -"No," replied the baronet. "But I must certainly get some repairs -executed before I resume my flight to England. I thought, perhaps, you -were in a hurry to get home." - -"There's no immediate hurry, sir," declared the chums, simultaneously. - -"A few more days won't matter," began Kenyon; but before he could -proceed with his explanation the alarm bell rang violently and -continuously. - -"What's wrong now?" exclaimed Fosterdyke, snatching up the voice tube. - -Peter, glancing aft through the window of the navigation-room, which -being raised gave a clear view over the roof of the rest of the nacelle, -saw at once what was amiss. - -Dense volumes of smoke, tinged with dull red flames, were pouring from -the after-end of the fuselage. Fanned by the rush of the airship, the -black vapour was streaming in its wake like a fox's tail. - -Leaving Kenyon to take charge of the navigation-room, and cautioning him -to keep the "Golden Hind" dead in the eye of the wind, and as fast as -she could possibly go, Fosterdyke and Peter hastened aft. - -They found the alley-way thick with smoke, for on the well-known -principle that "the wind follows the ship" the draught was carrying the -fumes within the nacelle in a forward direction. - -A man wearing a smoke helmet brushed past them. It was Hayward going to -find some fire-extinguishers. Others of the crew, who had hastily -donned masks to protect themselves from the choking vapour, were busily -engaged in hurling pyrene into the seat of the conflagration. - -Although the speed of the "Golden Hind" through the air fanned the -flames, Fosterdyke had done well to order speed to be maintained. The -velocity had the effect of compelling the fire to trail astern instead -of spreading upwards and thus destroying the envelope. Even as it was -the heat had caused the non-inflammable brodium to expand, giving the -envelope a tendency to trim down by the head. - -"Petrol tank to No. 5 motor, sir," reported a grimy and perspiring -mechanic, who through sheer exhaustion and being partly gassed by the -noxious fumes had to withdraw from the fray. "Went up all of a sudden, -like. Never saw such a flare up in all my life, sir; but we're getting -it under." - -It was indeed a stiff fight. In a few seconds the area of the fire had -attained such large dimensions that it was impossible to reach the -actual source. The fire-fighters had first to subdue the fringe of the -conflagration, and by the time they had done this several of them were -_hors de combat_ by reason of the suffocating gases thrown off by the -oxygen-exterminating pyrene. Above the crackling of the flames came the -sharp tang of the suspension wires holding the nacelle to the aluminium -envelope as they parted under the terrific heat. - -Not only were the crew faced with the danger of the fire getting the -upper hand; the while there was the chance of a portion of the fuselage -becoming detached from the gas-bag, and the prospect of being hurled -through space from a height of eight or nine thousand feet above the sea -was one that might well in cold blood put fear into the heart of the -bravest of the brave. But in the heat of action the crew, knowing the -danger, faced the risk manfully. Working in relays, they plied the -flames with the fire-extinguishing chemicals. As fast as one man fell -out, temporarily overcome by the fumes and the terrific heat, another -took his place until the fire was overcome. Even then the danger was not -over. There was still a possibility of the smouldering fuselage being -fanned into a blaze. Parts of the aluminium framework and panelling -were warped and twisted into fantastic shapes. Snake-like coils of wire -indicated the fact that several of the highly important connections -between the fuselage and the envelope had been burnt through. Whether a -sufficient number of tension wires remained to adequately support the -afterpart of the nacelle remained a matter of doubt. - -Unaccountably the petrol tank feeding No. 5 motor had taken fire. The -pipes and unions had been frequently examined and found to be in good -order. In fact, Hayward had personally inspected the fittings of that -particular tank less than a quarter of an hour before the outbreak. - -The damage was serious. Both Nos. 5 and 6 motors were out of action, -the former showing signs of crashing through the charred framework of -the fuselage. The flames had spread to Fosterdyke's cabin, completely -gutting it. Only a few aluminium frames were left, and these, blackened -and bent, trailed forlornly astern like a gaunt skeleton. - -With the contraction of the brodium after the fire had been quelled the -envelope, instead of tending to tilt aft, now showed a tendency to -droop. The heat had melted the solder of the union pipes through which -the gas was passed either to or from the metal pressure flasks, and -several thousand feet of brodium had escaped. - -Driven only by four propellers, her preciously scanty supply of brodium -sadly depleted, and with the controls of the two after planes damaged by -the flames, the "Golden Hind" was in a perilous state. She was just -able, and no more, to overcome the attraction of gravity. How long she -would be able to maintain herself in the air was a problem of -supposition. - -Had the "Golden Hind" been supported by hydrogen gas nothing could have -saved her. The overcoming of the flames was a triumph for the -fire-resisting properties of brodium. The patent gas had been put to -one of the severest tests--an actual fire in mid-air--and had emerged -with flying colours. - -From the time of the alarm being raised until the fire was subdued only -half an hour had elapsed. The smoke-grimed and fatigued crew were glad -to rest, while Fosterdyke and Peter returned to the navigation-room, -there to wash and replace their singed and reeking clothes with others -from Kenyon's and Bramsdean's kit-bags. The baronet had to borrow a -suit. The one he was wearing was in holes, while all his others on -board were destroyed when his cabin was burnt out. - -Fosterdyke was cheerful. In fact he was jocular. He realised that -things might have been far worse; he was glad to find that the "Golden -Hind" was still navigable and that none of his crew had sustained -injury. - -"This comes of boasting, Kenyon," he remarked. "I said we'd be in Gib. -in an hour. We stood a chance of being in 'Kingdom Come.' What's she -doing now?" - -"Not more than eighty, sir," replied Kenneth, "and we've a stiffish wind -to contend with." - -"Eighty, eh? Not so dusty, considering we're trailing the wreckage of -my cabin astern, and there's only four props to shove us along. She's -dipping, though." - -"She is, sir," agreed Kenyon, gravely. "I've trimmed the planes to their -maximum. That tends to shove her nose up, but if I didn't she'd sit on -her tail." - -"We'll finish at the tape like an aerial Cleopatra's Needle," declared -Fosterdyke. "Hello! There's Tangier. That strip of blue you can just -see beyond is the Straits of Gibraltar. We're a bit to the east'ard of -our course." - -Another half an hour of strenuous battling against heavy odds brought -the "Golden Hind" immediately to the west of Ceuta. Ahead could be -discerned the famous rock, although viewed from an altitude and "end on" -its well-known appearance as a lion couchant was absent. But the "Golden -Hind" had shot her bolt. "We're baulked at the tape," declared -Fosterdyke. "This head wind's doing us. Hard lines, but we must take -things as we find them." - -Like von Sinzig he had been beaten by the head wind, but Fosterdyke, -instead of raving and cursing like his German rival, accepted the -situation philosophically. It was hard lines, failing within sight of -the goal; but the baronet kept a stiff upper lip. He had done everything -humanly possible to achieve his aim. He could do no more. - -The "Golden Hind," inclined at an angle of sixty degrees, was dropping -slowly but surely. With her remaining motors running all out she was -unable to overcome the pull of gravity. Even as she dropped, her -progress towards her goal was maintained at a rate of a bare five miles -an hour above and against that of the wind. - -Every man on board was holding on like grim death. With the floor as -steep as the roof of a house there was nothing to be done but hold on. -The ballonets were practically empty save the four or five for'ard ones. -The propellers were now virtually helices--whirling screws that strove -valiantly but unavailingly to lift the huge bulk of the airship in an -almost vertical direction. Should the motors fail to function, then the -"Golden Hind" would drop like a stone. As it was she was falling surely -and slowly. - -Already officers and men had donned their inflated indiarubber -lifebelts. There was not the slightest sign of panic. The men, -although keenly disappointed at failure within sight of success, were -joking with each other. - -"Stand by to jump, all hands," shouted Fosterdyke. "Keep clear of the -raffle, and you'll be as right as rain. There are half a dozen vessels -within a couple of miles of us." - -Some of the men slid along the sloping alley-way to the side doors. -Others tore away the large celluloid windows in the cabins and -motor-rooms, so as to be able to jump clear directly the fuselage -touched the water. - -The two chums had drawn themselves through the windows of the -navigation-room and were standing on the blunt bows and steadying -themselves by the tension wires running from the normal top of the -nacelle to the underside of the envelope. - -With the four motors running to the last the "Golden Hind" dropped into -the sea. Her projecting envelope was the first to come into contact -with the water. The ballonets, practically air-tight compartments, -checked the downward movement, while the whole of the hitherto inclined -bulk, pivoted as it were by the water-borne stern, dropped until it -resumed its normal horizontal position. - -Fosterdyke alone had remained in the navigation-room. Directly he saw -that the airship was resting temporarily on the surface and was -beginning to gather way like a gigantic hydroplane he switched off the -remaining motors. - -"Every man for himself," he shouted. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI--"WELL PLAYED, SIR!" - - -Water poured into the open doors and windows and through the charred and -torn stern of the nacelle. - -The aluminium envelope, not built to withstand abnormal stress, began -buckling amidships. Tension wires, no longer in tension but in -compression, were spreading in all directions as the huge gas-bag -settled down upon the already foundering nacelle. - -Every one of the crew realised the danger of being entangled in the -wreckage. In a trice the water was dotted with heads and shoulders of -life-belted swimmers as the crew struck out to get clear of the sinking -airship, and presently Fosterdyke was surrounded by a little mob of -undaunted men. - -"Thank heaven!" ejaculated the baronet, after a hasty count. "None -missing. Keep together, lads, there's a vessel bearing down on us." - -Not one but four craft were hastening to the rescue. Amongst these was -the T.B.D. _Zeebrugge_, which, eighteen days previously, had gone to -search for the derelict "Golden Hind" and had placed Sir Reginald -Fosterdyke on board. - -Fortunately the water was warm, and in spite of a fairly high sea -running the late crew of the "Golden Hind" were taken aboard the -destroyer. - -Fosterdyke and the others, declining to go below, stood on deck and -watched the end of the airship that had taken them safely for nearly -twenty-eight thousand miles, to perish within five miles of the Rock of -Gibraltar, her official starting-point. - -The end was not long delayed. The buckling of the aluminium envelope -resulted in ballonet after ballonet collapsing under the pressure of -water. The fuselage had already disappeared. Bow and stern, nearly -four hundred feet apart, reared themselves high in the air; then, with a -terrific rush of mingled brodium and air that caused a seething cauldron -around each of the extremities of the envelope, the last of the "Golden -Hind" sank beneath the waves. - -"Rough luck losing such a fine airship," commiserated the -Lieut.-Commander of the destroyer. - -"It is," agreed Fosterdyke, feelingly. "Especially as she is my own -design and I superintended every bit of her construction. It was a -pity, too, we didn't hang on for another half an hour. I'd have -jockeyed her over the Rock somehow." - -"It was a brilliant achievement, Sir Reginald," said the naval officer. -"Every sportsman will sympathise with you, but I'm sure they'll shout: -'Well played, sir!'" - -"Any news of the other competitors?" asked Peter. - -"Yes. Commodore Nye, the Yankee, is still stranded in Australia, but I -suppose you know that. Count Hyashi, the Jap, crashed somewhere near -Saigon. He, too, was almost home." - -"Jolly hard lines," murmured Kenyon, sympathetically. "Was he hurt?" - -"No, hardly bruised, but a bit shaken. Engine failure, they say," -continued the Lieut.-Commander. "That leaves only the Hun to be -accounted for." - -"And I suppose he's completed the circuit?" remarked Fosterdyke, -questioningly. - -The naval officer laughed. - -"Completing the circuit of a prison-yard!" he exclaimed. "That's about -his mark. A Spanish yacht brought Count von Sinzig in this morning and -handed him over to the Port Admiral. It'll be a three years' job, I -fancy. Huns must learn that they can't bomb British air stations in -peace time with impunity." - -The destroyer ran alongside the dockyard. Fosterdyke and the rest of -his crew disembarked. On the jetty they were met by several of the -chief Naval, Military, and Air Force officials and two representatives -of the International Air Board. - -Fosterdyke looked puzzled. He didn't want commiseration, but -congratulation seemed a bit out of place. - -"On what grounds, Admiral?" he asked. - -"On winning the Chauvasse Prize for completing the circumnavigation of -the globe," replied the senior International Air Board representative, -speaking instead of the Port Admiral. "Fact! You've won it fairly and -squarely." - -"But----" began the astonished baronet. - -"You have," persisted the official. "Do you recollect when the airship -broke adrift? The destroyer went in pursuit and put you on board. That -was within three miles or so of Ceuta. The same destroyer picks you up -out of the water five miles from 'Gib.' Consequently, you've more than -completed the circuit, and although the official start was from -Gibraltar I don't think there will be any difficulty in obtaining the -International Air Board's decision to the effect that you've won." - -And that was exactly what happened. Had it not been for Count von -Sinzig's underhand work in employing Enrico Jaures to cast adrift the -"Golden Hind," Fosterdyke would not have completed his aerial voyage -round the world. By the irony of fate the Hun had enabled his rival to -score. - -Fosterdyke won the Chauvasse Prize and the honour of being the first man -to fly round the world. Needless to say Kenyon and Bramsdean and the -rest of the crew were not forgotten. Honours were heaped upon the -intrepid airmen. They were lionised, feted, and praised to such an -extent that they were in danger of developing "swelled heads." - -But Kenyon and Bramsdean knew that the achievement would be but a nine -days' wonder. Having attempted and won, they were content to return to -their profession, their financial standing much increased by their -shares in the big prize. They had enough honours and diplomas to -satisfy them, but what they prized most was a certificate from the Royal -Humane Society for saving the crew of the _Hilda P. Murchison_. - -"So, after all," declared Kenyon, "we did do something useful, old son!" - - - - PRINTED BY PURNELL AND SONS - PAULTON (SOMERSET) AND LONDON - - - - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AIRSHIP "GOLDEN HIND" *** - - - - -A Word from Project Gutenberg - - -We will update this book if we find any errors. - -This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/39488 - -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. 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