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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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