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diff --git a/4994-h/4994-h.htm b/4994-h/4994-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0d26f33 --- /dev/null +++ b/4994-h/4994-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8891 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> + <title>Five Thousand Miles Underground, by Roy Rockwood</title> + <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> + <meta content="images/cover.jpg" name="cover" /> + <meta name='DC.Title' content='Five Thousand Miles Underground' /> + <meta name='DC.Creator' content='Roy Rockwood' /> + <meta name='DC.Language' content='en' /> + <meta name='DC.Created' content='1908' /> + <style type="text/css"> + body { margin-left:8%;margin-right:10%; } + p { text-indent:0;margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;text-align:justify; } + .sc { font-variant:small-caps; } + .larger { font-size:larger; } + .xlarge { font-size:x-large; } + .smaller { font-size:smaller; } + .imgleft { clear:left; float:left; margin-right:2% } + .imgright { clear:right; float:right; margin-left:2%; } + @media handheld {.imgleft { float:left; }} + @media handheld {.imgright { float:right; }} + hr.pb { page-break-before:always;border:none;border-bottom:1px solid silver; + margin:1em auto; } + @media handheld { + hr.pb { page-break-before:always;display:none; } + } + .container-center { text-align: center; } + .container-left { display: inline-block; text-align: left; } + td { padding-right:0.5em; } + .c000 { text-align:center;margin:1em auto; } + .c001 { width:335px;height:527px; } + .c002 { width:335px;height:525px; } + .c003 { text-align:center;margin:0 auto;width:335px; } + .c004 { vertical-align:top;text-align:right;width:4em; } + .c005 { vertical-align:bottom;text-align:left;width:17em; } + .c006 { text-align:center;font-weight:normal;font-size:1.4em;page-break-before:auto; + margin-top:1em; } + .c007 { text-align:center;font-weight:normal;font-size:1.2em;page-break-before:auto; + margin-top:2em; } + .c008 { text-align:center;font-weight:normal;font-size:1.2em; + page-break-before:always;margin-top:4em; } + .c009 { margin-top:2em; } + .c010 { width:337px;height:525px; } + .c011 { text-align:center;margin:0 auto;width:337px; } + .c012 { width:332px;height:525px; } + .c013 { text-align:center;margin:0 auto;width:332px; } + .c014 { width:338px;height:525px; } + .c015 { text-align:center;margin:0 auto;width:338px; } + .c016 { border:none;border-bottom:1px solid silver;margin-top:0.8em; + margin-bottom:0.8em;margin-left:35%; width:30% } + .c017 { width:20% } + .c018 { width:100% } + .nf-center-c { text-align:center;margin:1em 0; } + .nf-center { text-align:center; } + .nf-block-c { text-align:center;margin:1em 0; } + .nf-block { display:inline-block;text-align:left; } + </style> + </head> + <body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Five Thousand Miles Underground, by Roy Rockwood + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Five Thousand Miles Underground + The Mystery of the Centre of the Earth + +Author: Roy Rockwood + +Release Date: January 26, 2014 [EBook #4994] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIVE THOUSAND MILES UNDERGROUND *** + + + + +Produced by Jim Weiler and Roger Frank + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class='c000'> +<img src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' class='c001' /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='c000'> +<a href='images/illus-fpcf.jpg'><img src='images/illus-fpc.jpg' alt='' class='c002' /></a> +<p class='c003'>THE FLYING MERMAID SANK LOWER AND LOWER TOWARD THE MYSTERIOUS HOLE.</p> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + <span class='xlarge'>Five Thousand Miles Underground</span><br/> + <br/> + Or<br/> + <br/> + <span class='larger'>The Mystery of the Centre of the Earth</span><br/> + <br/> + BY<br/> + <br/> + <span class='larger'>ROY ROCKWOOD</span><br/> + <br/> + <span class='smaller'>Author of “Through the Air to the North Pole,” “Under<br/> + the Ocean to the South Pole,” “The Rival<br/> + Ocean Divers,” Etc.</span><br/> + <br/> + ILLUSTRATED<br/> + <br/> + NEW YORK<br/> + CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY + </div> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + GOOD BOOKS FOR BOYS<br/> + <br/> + By Roy Rockwood<br/> + <br/> + THE GREAT MARVEL SERIES + </div> +</div> + +<div class='nf-block-c'> + <div class='nf-block'> + THROUGH THE AIR TO THE NORTH POLE<br/> + Or The Wonderful Cruise of the Electric Monarch<br/> + <br/> + UNDER THE OCEAN TO THE SOUTH POLE<br/> + Or The Strange Cruise of the Submarine Wonder<br/> + <br/> + FIVE THOUSAND MILES UNDERGROUND<br/> + Or The Mystery of the Centre of the Earth + </div> +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + Cloth. Illustrated<br/> + Price per volume, 60 cents + </div> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + Copyright, 1908, by<br/> + <span class='sc'>Cupples & Leon Company</span><br/> + <br/> + <span class='smaller'>Five Thousand Miles Underground</span> + </div> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + <span class='larger'>CONTENTS</span> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='container-center'><div class='container-left'> +<table summary=''> +<tr><td class='c004'>I</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch01'>WASHINGTON BACKS OUT</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>II</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch02'>THE FLYING MERMAID</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>III</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch03'>WASHINGTON DECIDES</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>IV</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch04'>WHAT DID MARK SEE?</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>V</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch05'>ATTACKED BY A WHALE</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>VI</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch06'>THE CYCLONE</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>VII</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch07'>A QUEER SAIL</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>VIII</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch08'>THE FLYING MERMAID DISABLED</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>IX</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch09'>THE MUTINY</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>X</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch10'>FOOLING THEIR ENEMIES</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>XI</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch11'>MYSTERIOUS HAPPENINGS</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>XII</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch12'>THE BIG HOLE</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>XIII</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch13'>DOWN INTO THE EARTH</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>XIV</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch14'>MANY MILES BELOW</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>XV</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch15'>IN THE STRANGE DRAUGHT</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>XVI</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch16'>THE NEW LAND</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>XVII</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch17'>A STRANGE COUNTRY</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>XVIII</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch18'>CAUGHT BY A STRANGE PLANT</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>XIX</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch19'>THE BIG PEACH</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>XX</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch20'>OVERHAULING THE SHIP</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>XXI</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch21'>THE FISH THAT WALKED</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>XXII</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch22'>THE SNAKE-TREE</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>XXIII</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch23'>THE DESERTED VILLAGE</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>XXIV</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch24'>THE GIANTS</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>XXV</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch25'>HELD BY THE ENEMY</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>XXVII</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch26'>A FRIEND INDEED</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>XXVII</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch27'>A GREAT JOURNEY</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>XXVIII</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch28'>THE TEMPLE OF TREASURE</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='c004'>XXIX</td><td class='c005'><a href='#ch29'>BACK HOME—CONCLUSION</a></td></tr> +</table> +</div></div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<h1 class='c006'>FIVE THOUSAND MILES UNDERGROUND</h1> + +<h2 id='ch01' class='c007'>CHAPTER I<br /><br />WASHINGTON BACKS OUT</h2> + +<p>“Washington! I say Washington!”</p> + +<p>Throughout a big shed, filled for the most part +with huge pieces of machinery, echoed the voice +of Professor Amos Henderson. He did not look +up from a small engine over which he was bending.</p> + +<p>“Washington! Where are you? Why don’t +you answer me?”</p> + +<p>From somewhere underneath an immense pile of +iron, steel and aluminum came the voice of a colored +man.</p> + +<p>“Yas sir, Perfesser, I’se goin’ t’ saggasiate my +bodily presence in yo’ contiguous proximity an’ attend +t’ yo’ immediate conglomerated prescriptions +at th’ predistined period. Yas, sir!”</p> + +<p>“Well, Washington, if you had started when +you began that long speech you would have been +at least half way here by this time. Hurry up! +Never mind tightning those bolts now. Find the +boys. I need them to help me with this engine. +They must be around somewhere.”</p> + +<p>“I seen ’em goin’ fishin’ down by th’ brook a +little while ago,” answered the negro, crawling out +from under what seemed to be a combined airship +and watercraft. “Jack says as how yo’ gived him +permission t’ occupy his indisputatious period of +levity in endeavorin’ t’ extract from th’ liquid element +some specimens of swimmin’ creatures.”</p> + +<p>“If you mean I said he and Mark could go fishing +in the brook, you’re right, Washington,” replied +the professor with a smile. “But you waste +a lot of time and breath trying to say it. Why +don’t you give up using big words?”</p> + +<p>“I reckon I was brought up t’ it,” replied the +colored man grinning from ear to ear. He did +not always use big words but when he did they +were generally the wrong ones. Sometimes, he +spoke quite correctly.</p> + +<p>“Well, I suppose you can’t help it,” resumed +Mr. Henderson. “However, never mind that. +Find the boys and send them to me.”</p> + +<p>“With th’ least appreciatableness amount of +postponement,” answered the messenger, and he +went out.</p> + +<p>Washington White, who in color was just the +opposite to his name, a general helper and companion +to Professor Henderson, found Mark +Sampson and Jack Darrow about a quarter of a +mile from the big shed, which was in the center of +a wooded island off the coast of Maine. The lads +were seated on the bank of a small brook, fishing.</p> + +<p>“Perfesser wants yo’ immediate,” said Washington.</p> + +<p>“But we haven’t caught a single fish,” objected +Mark.</p> + +<p>“Them’s the orders from headquarters,” replied +the colored man. “Yo’ both got t’ project +yo’selves in th’ vicinity of th’ machine shop. I +reckon th’ new fangled contraption that th’ perfesser +is goin’ t’ navigate th’ air an’ sail th’ angry +seas in, am about done. He want’s t’ try th’ engine.”</p> + +<p>“Come on then,” said Jack. “We probably +would not catch any fish, anyhow, Mark.”</p> + +<p>Accompanied by Washington, the youths, each +of whom was about eighteen years old, started toward +the big shed.</p> + +<p>While they are on their way opportunity may +be taken to tell a little about them, as well as about +Washington and the professor, and the curious +craft on which the scientist was working.</p> + +<p>A few years before this story opens Mr. Henderson +had invented a wonderful electric airship. +He had it about completed when, one day, he and +the two boys became unexpectedly acquainted, and, +as it developed, friends.</p> + +<p>Mark and Jack were orphans. After having +rather a hard time knocking about the world trying +to make a living, they chanced to meet, and resolved +to cast their lots together. They boarded a freight +train, and, as told in the first volume of this series, +entitled, “Through the Air to the North Pole; or +the Wonderful Cruise of the Electric Monarch,” +the cars were wrecked near where Professor Henderson +was building his strange craft.</p> + +<p>The boys were cared for by the scientist, and, +after their recovery from hurts received in the +collision, they accepted his invitation to make the +trip through the upper regions in the airship, to +search for the north pole. With them went Andy +Sudds, an old hunter, and Tom Smith and Bill +Jones, two farmers, but who were hired as helpers +on the voyage. The party had many adventures +on the trip, having battles with savage animals and +more savage Esquimaux, and were tossed about in +terrible storms. After making some scientific observations, +which the professor was much interested +in, they started back home.</p> + +<p>Having found he could successfully sail in the +air, Mr. Henderson resolved to try what it might +be like under water.</p> + +<p>He moved his machine shop to a lonely spot on +the Maine coast, and there, with the help of the +boys, Washington, Andy and two machinists constructed +a submarine boat, called the <em>Porpoise</em>.</p> + +<p>In this the professor resolved to seek the south +pole, he having a theory that it was surrounded +by an open sea. After much hard work the <em>Porpoise</em> +was made ready for the voyage.</p> + +<p>What occurred on this great trip is described +in the second book of this series, called “Under +the Ocean to the South Pole, or the Strange Cruise +of the Submarine Wonder.” In that is told how +once more Tom and Bill, with Andy, the boys and +Washington, accompanying Professor Henderson, +had many thrilling experiences.</p> + +<p>They were caught in the grip of the grass of +the terrible Sargasso Sea. Monstrous suckers +grasped the boat in their powerful arms, and had +to be fought off. They were caught in a sea of +boiling water and imprisoned between big fields of +ice.</p> + +<p>By means of strong diving suits they were able +to leave the ship and walk about on the bottom +of the sea. They visited a graveyard of sunken +ships, saw many strange monsters as well as many +beautiful fish in the great depths to which they +sunk. Many times they were in dire peril but the +resources of the professor, the bravery and daring +of the boys, no less than the help Washington and +Andy Sudds, the hunter, rendered at times, brought +them through.</p> + +<p>Those of you who read of their adventures will +recall the strange island which they came upon in +the Atlantic Ocean, far from the coast of South +America.</p> + +<p>When they first drew near this island they were +almost sucked into the depths of a great whirlpool, +caused by water pouring down a big hole that +seemed to lead far into the earth. They reversed +their ship just in time.</p> + +<p>But, on going to another side of the island they +were able to approach safely, as at this point the +great hole was farther from the shore. Then they +landed and investigated.</p> + +<p>They found the island was almost circular, and +the hole was also round, but not in the center of +the land. It was an immense cavity, so wide they +could not see across, and as for the depth they +could only guess at it. Looking down they could +only see rolling masses of vapor and clouds caused +by the water which poured down from the ocean +with the force of a Niagara.</p> + +<p>Gazing down into the big hole Mark suggested +it might lead to the centre of the earth, which some +scientists claim is hollow. The professor admitted +that the cavity looked as though it led to China.</p> + +<p>They had no means of investigating further the +mystery of the opening and returned to their submarine, +completing the voyage to the south pole.</p> + +<p>It was now about two years since they had come +back from that eventful trip. One of the first +things the professor did, after docking the <em>Porpoise</em>, +was to shut himself up in his study and begin +to draw plans. To the questions of the boys he +returned no answer for several days. Then he +announced he was working on a craft which could +both sail on top of the water and navigate the air.</p> + +<p>In time the plans were done, and, in order to +keep the work secret, the shop was moved to an island +which the professor owned.</p> + +<p>Parts of the <em>Monarch</em> and the <em>Porpoise</em> were +used in constructing the new craft, so there was no +need to get other help than that which the boys, +Washington and Bill and Tom could give, since +the two latter accepted an offer of the professor to +remain and work for him. The boys, of course, +would not leave their friend.</p> + +<p>The professor realized that he had a more difficult +task in his new venture than he had set himself +on other occasions. For a ship to be light +enough to rise in the air, and, at another time, and +with no change, to be strong enough to navigate +the ocean, was indeed something to tax Mr. Henderson’s +ingenuity.</p> + +<p>However, in the course of a little over a year +the larger part of the work was done. Inside the +big shed was the huge affair which, it was hoped, +would enable its owner to be master of both air +and water.</p> + +<p>“Did the professor say anything special?” +asked Mark of Washington.</p> + +<p>“Nope. I reckon he were too busy problamatin’ +the exact altitude projected in an inverse +direction by th’ square root of th’ new engine when +operated at a million times inside of a few seconds, +but he didn’t say nothin’ t’ me. I were busy +underneath th’ ship, fixin’ bolts when he tole me t’ +find yo’. I wouldn’t be s’prised if he had th’ thing +goin’ soon.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think he’ll be generating the new gas +to-day?” asked Jack eagerly. “That’s the most +troublesome part; to get that gas right.”</p> + +<p>“He didn’t say nothin’ t’ me 'bout it,” Washington +stated, as he walked along beside the two +boys. “He jest seemed anxious like.”</p> + +<p>“We’d better hurry,” advised Mark. “He +may be at an important part in his experiments and +probably needs us. I hope it will work. He has +spent many days on it, and we all have worked +hard. It ought to be a success.”</p> + +<p>“Perfesser allers makes things work,” declared +Washington stoutly.</p> + +<p>“That’s a good way to feel about it, anyway,” +observed Mark. “Well, we’ll soon know.”</p> + +<p>The three hurried to the shed which they could +see as they rounded a turn of the path through +the wood. They noticed an elderly man approaching +with a gun on his shoulder. On one arm he +carried a game bag.</p> + +<p>“Guess Andy got something for dinner,” remarked +Jack.</p> + +<p>“I hopes so, honey,” put in Washington. “I’se +got a sort of gone feelin’ in my stomach!”</p> + +<p>“Any luck, Andy?” called Mark, when he +came within hailing distance.</p> + +<p>“Fine,” replied Andy Sudds. “Rabbits and +quail. We’ll have a good dinner to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>While Andy entered the living part of the big +shed to put away his gun and game, the boys and +Washington kept on to the engine room. They +found the professor, with Bill and Tom, busy fitting +pipes to the small engine which was set up at +one side of the structure.</p> + +<p>“Come, boys, I need your aid,” remarked Mr. +Henderson as they entered. “Take off your coats +and pitch in. Tighten up these bolts, Jack. +Mark, you mix up those chemicals the way I taught +you, and see that the dynamo is in working order +for Washington to attend to.”</p> + +<p>In a little while the shop was a veritable hive of +industry, and it resounded to the sound of hammers, +wrenches and machinery. In the background +was the big ship, which seemed like two immense +cigars, one above the other, the lower one +the larger.</p> + +<p>“Where was you calalatin’ t’ take this here ship +when it gits done, Perfesser?” asked Washington, +during a lull in the operations.</p> + +<p>“Do you remember that big hole in the island +we visited on our trip to the south pole?”</p> + +<p>“I suah does,” answered the colored man.</p> + +<p>“We are going to explore that,” went on the +scientist. “We are going to make a voyage to the +interior of the earth in our <em>Flying Mermaid</em>.”</p> + +<p>“Go down into th’ earth!” exclaimed Washington, +his eyes big with fright.</p> + +<p>“Certainly; why not?”</p> + +<p>“Not for mine!” cried the colored man, dropping +the wrench he was holding. “No sir! I’m +not goin’ t’ project myself int’ a grave while I’se +alive. Time enough when I kicks th’ bucket. No +sir! If yo’ an’ the boys wants t’ risk yo’ se’ves +goin’ down int’ th’ interior of th’ earth, where th’ +Bible says there’s fiery furnaces, yo’ kin go, but +Washington White stays on terra cotta! That’s +where he stays; He ain’t ready t’ be buried, not +jest yet!” and the frightened colored man started +to leave the shed.</p> + +<h2 id='ch02' class='c008'>CHAPTER II<br /><br />THE FLYING MERMAID</h2> + +<p class='c009'>“Here! Stop him!” cried Professor Henderson. +“Don’t let him get away. We still need +his help to get the ship in shape. He needn’t +be frightened. We’re not going to start at once.”</p> + +<p>Mark and Jack ran after Washington, whose +progress was somewhat impeded because he kept +looking back as if he feared the new ship was chasing +him.</p> + +<p>“Come on back!” said Mark. “There’s no +danger, and if there was we’re not going to start +to-day.”</p> + +<p>“Ain’t yo’ foolin’ me?” asked Washington, +pausing and looking doubtfully at the boys.</p> + +<p>“Of course not,” answered Mark. “You +know Professor Henderson would not make you +do anything you didn’t want to do, Wash. He +wishes you to stay and help him get ready, that’s +all.”</p> + +<p>“Well, Washington,” observed the aged scientist. +“I didn’t think you’d go back on me.”</p> + +<p>“I’d do mos’ anything fer yo’, Perfesser,” said +the colored man, “but I got t’ beg off this time,” +and he looked at the <em>Flying Mermaid</em> as if he +thought the metal sides would open and devour +him.</p> + +<p>“Then help me get things in shape to generate +the gas,” the scientist said. “I want to give the +new vapor the first real test in lifting power to-day. +On the success of it depends the future of +the ship.”</p> + +<p>Seeing there was no immediate danger of being +carried to the centre of the earth, Washington resumed +his labors. The professor, the boys, Bill +and Tom were also hurrying matters to enable a +test to be made before night.</p> + +<p>As will readily be seen, even by those not familiar +with the construction of airships and submarines, +the chief problem was to find some agent +strong enough to lift from the earth a weight heavier +than had ever before been put into an apparatus +that was destined to traverse the clouds. For the +<em>Flying Mermaid</em> was not only an airship but an +ocean voyager as well. It had to be made light +enough to be lifted far above the earth, yet the +very nature of it, necessitating it being made heavy +enough to stand the buffeting of the waves and the +pressure of water, was against its flying abilities.</p> + +<p>Professor Henderson realized this and knew +that the chief concern would be to discover a gas +or vapor with five times the lifting power of hydrogen, +one of the lightest gases known, and one +sometimes used to inflate balloons.</p> + +<p>After long study he had been partially successful, +but he knew from experiments made that the +gas he had so far been able to manufacture would +not answer. What he wanted was some element +that could be mixed with the gas, to neutralize the +attraction of gravitation, or downward pull of the +earth.</p> + +<p>While he was seeking this, and experimenting +on many lines, the construction of the air-water +ship went on. In general the outward construction +was two cigar shaped hulls, one above the +other. Aluminum, being the lightest and strongest +metal that could be used for the purpose, formed +the main part of both bodies.</p> + +<p>The upper hull was one hundred feet long and +twenty feet in diameter at the widest part. It +tapered to points at either end. It was attached to +the lower hull by strong braces, at either end, while +from the center there extended a pipe which connected +with the lower section. This pipe was intended +to convey the lifting gas to the part which +corresponded to the bag of the balloon, save that it +was of metal instead of silk, or rubber as is usual.</p> + +<p>There were two reasons for this. One was that +it would not be liable to puncture, particularly in +the proposed underground trip, and the other was +that it did not have to be so large as a cloth bag +would have had to be. It was also a permanent +part of the ship, and on a voyage where part of the +time the travelers would be in the air and part on +the water, and when the change from one to the +other would have to be made quickly, this was necessary. +It would have taken too long to raise the +ship in the air had a cloth bag been used to contain +the gas.</p> + +<p>The lower hull or main part of the craft was one +hundred and fifty feet long, and forty feet +through at the largest part, in the centre.</p> + +<p>It was divided into four sections. The forward +one contained the sleeping quarters of Professor +Henderson and his crew. There was a small stateroom +for each one. Above was a conning or observation +tower, reached by a small flight of steps. +From this tower the ship could be steered, stopped +and started, as could also be done from the engine +room, which was in the after part of the hull.</p> + +<p>As in the <em>Porpoise</em> and <em>Monarch</em>, electricity +formed the motive power and was also used for +many other purposes on board. Engines operated +by gas produced the current which heated, lighted +and moved the ship, as well as played a part in +producing the wonderful gas.</p> + +<p>The ship moved forward or backward by means +of a novel arrangement. This was by the power +of compressed air. From either end of the lower +hull there projected a short pipe working in a ball +and socket joint, so it could be turned in any direction. +By means of strong pumps a current of +compressed air could be sent out from either pipe. +Thus when floating above the earth the ship was +forced forward by the blast of air rushing +from the pipe at the stern. It was the same principle +as that on which a sky rocket is shot heavenward, +save that gases produced by the burning of +powder in the pasteboard rocket form its moving +impulse.</p> + +<p>In the case of the <em>Flying Mermaid</em>, it could be +made to move backward by sending the air out of +the forward tube. Thus, when in the water, the +compressed air rushing from the pipe struck the +fluid and forced the ship forward or backward as +was desired. It floated on the surface, the deck +being about three feet out of water, while the aluminum +gas bag was overhead.</p> + +<p>The engine room was a marvel of machine construction. +It contained pumps for air and water, +motors, dynamos, gas engines, and a maze of +wheels and levers. Yet everything was very compact +and no room was wasted.</p> + +<p>The use of the air method of propulsion did +away with the necessity of a large propellor such +as most airships have to use, a propellor which +must of necessity be very light and which is easily +broken.</p> + +<p>Next to the engine room was the kitchen. It +contained an electric range and all necessary appliances +and utensils for preparing meals. There +were lockers and a large reserve storeroom which +when the time came would be well stocked with +food. Forward of the kitchen was the living and +dining room. It contained comfortable seats, +folding tables and a small library. Here, also +were many instruments designed to show how the +various machines were working. There were +gages, pointers and dials, which told the direction +the ship was traveling, the speed and the distance +above the earth or below the surface. Similar +indicators were in the conning tower, which had +a powerful search light.</p> + +<p>The ship was lighted throughout by incandescent +lamps, and there was even a small automatic piano +worked by the electric current, on which popular +airs could be played.</p> + +<p>If the gas and the gravity neutralizer worked +as Professor Henderson hoped they would, as soon +as the ship was completed, all that would be necessary +to start on the voyage would be to fill the +aluminum bag and set the air compressor in motion.</p> + +<p>The gas was made from common air, chemically +treated and with a secret material added which by +means of a complicated machine in a measure did +away with the downward pull of the earth. Thus +all that was necessary to carry on a long voyage was +a quantity of gasolene to operate the engine which +worked the electric machines, and some of this secret +compound.</p> + +<p>The professor and his helpers had been working +to good advantage. At last all was in readiness +for the gas test.</p> + +<p>It was proposed to try it on an experimental scale. +Some of the fluid was to be generated and forced +into an aluminum cylinder under the same pressure +it would be used in the air ship. To this cylinder +were attached weights in proportion to the weight +of the <em>Flying Mermaid</em> with its load of human +freight, engines and equipment.</p> + +<p>“This cylinder is just one one-hundredth the +size of the cylinder of the ship,” said the professor. +“I am going to fasten to it a hundred pound +weight. If it lifts that our latest contrivance will +be a success.”</p> + +<p>“You mean if the little cylinder pulls a hundred +pounds up the big ship will take us and the machinery +up?” asked Mark.</p> + +<p>“Certainly,” answered the professor. “If this +cylinder lifts a hundred pounds, one a hundred +times as big (as that of the <em>Mermaid</em> is), will lift +a hundred times as much, or ten thousand pounds. +That is five tons, or more than a ton over what I +figure to be the weight of our ship and contents. +The latest war balloon can lift one ton with ease, +and if my machine can not do five times as well I +shall be disappointed.”</p> + +<p>The last adjustments were made, pipes were run +from the gas generator to the cylinder, and the +hundred pound weight was attached.</p> + +<p>“Everybody look out now,” said Mr. Henderson. +“I am going to start the machine and let +the gas enter the cylinder. It is a very powerful +gas and may break the cylinder. If it does you +must all duck.”</p> + +<p>The scientist gave a last look at everything. +The boys got behind some boards whence they +could see without being in danger. Washington, +who had little fear so long as there was no danger +of going under ground, took his place at the dynamo. +Andy Sudds, with Bill and Tom, stationed +themselves in safe places.</p> + +<p>“All ready!” called the professor.</p> + +<p>He pulled a lever toward him, turned a wheel +and signalled to Washington to start the dynamo. +There was a sound of buzzing machinery, which +was followed by a hiss as the gas began to enter +the cylinder under pressure. Would it stand the +strain? That question was uppermost in every +one’s mind save the professor’s. He only cared +to see the cylinder leave the ground, carrying the +weight with it. That would prove his long labors +were crowned with success.</p> + +<p>Faster and faster whirred the dynamo. The +gas was being generated from the air. The secret +chemical made a hissing which could be heard for +some distance. The gage registered a heavy pressure. +Anxiously the professor watched the cylinder.</p> + +<p>“There!” he exclaimed at length. “It has all +the gas it can hold. Now to see if it works!”</p> + +<p>He disconnected the pipe leading from the generator. +This left the cylinder free. It seemed to +tremble slightly. There appeared to be a movement +to the hundred pound weight which rested on +the ground. It was as if it was tugging to get +loose.</p> + +<p>“There it goes! There it goes!” cried Mark, +joyfully.</p> + +<p>“Hurrah!” shouted Jack. “There she rises!”</p> + +<p>“It suttinly am projectin’ itself skyward!” +yelled Washington, coming from the dynamo.</p> + +<p>Sure enough the cylinder was slowly rising in +the air, bearing the weight with it. It had lifted +it clear from the ground and was approaching the +roof of the big shed.</p> + +<p>“It will work! It will work!” exclaimed the +professor, strangely excited.</p> + +<p>The next instant the cylinder, carrying the +weight, sailed right out of an open skylight, and +began drifting outside the shop, and across the +fields.</p> + +<p>“Quick! We must get it back!” cried Mr. +Henderson. “If it gets away my secret may be +discovered and I will lose all! We must secure +it!”</p> + +<p>But the cylinder was now two hundred feet in +the air and being blown to the east, the weight +dangling below it, making it look like a miniature +airship.</p> + +<p>“We can never catch that!” cried Mark.</p> + +<h2 id='ch03' class='c008'>CHAPTER III<br /><br />WASHINGTON DECIDES</h2> + +<p class='c009'>“We must catch that cylinder!” the professor +exclaimed. “Some one may find it when it comes +down and analyze the gas. Then he would discover +how to make it. The cylinder must come +down!”</p> + +<p>“Don’t see how we can proximate ourselves +inter th’ vicinity of it lessen we delegate th’ imperial +functions of ornithological specimens t’ some +member of this here party,” observed Washington.</p> + +<p>“If you mean we can’t catch that there contraption +unless we turn into birds I’ll show you that +you’re mistaken!” cried Andy Sudds. “I guess +I have a trick or two up my sleeve,” and the old +hunter quickly threw open the breech of his gun +and inserted a couple of cartridges.</p> + +<p>He raised the piece to his shoulder and took +quick aim. There was a sliver of flame, a puff of +smoke and a sharp report. The professor and the +boys who were watching the cylinder saw it vibrate +up in the air. Then there came a whistling sound. +An instant later the metal body began to descend, +and it and the weight fell to the earth.</p> + +<p>“I’m sorry I had to put a bullet through it, +Professor,” said old Andy with a queer smile, “but +it was the only way I saw of bringing it down. +Hope it isn’t damaged much.”</p> + +<p>“It doesn’t matter if it is,” the scientist answered. +“I can make more cylinders, but I don’t +want that secret of the gas to become known. +Your bullet served a good turn, Andy, for it let +the compressed vapor out just in time.”</p> + +<p>“Then we may consider the experiment a success,” +said Mark, as Washington went to where +the cylinder had fallen, to detach it from the +weight and bring both to the shed.</p> + +<p>“It seems so,” Mr. Henderson answered. +“True, it was only an experiment. We have yet +to test the ship itself.”</p> + +<p>“When can we do that?” asked Jack.</p> + +<p>“I hope by Monday,” the scientist answered.</p> + +<p>“Will you try it in the water or air first?” +asked Mark.</p> + +<p>“I’m almost certain it will float in the water,” +the aged inventor said. “It does not require much +work to make a ship which will do that. But the +air proposition is another matter. However, since +the cylinder rose, I am pretty sure the <em>Flying Mermaid</em> +will.</p> + +<p>“But we have done enough work to-day. Let’s +rest and have something to eat. Then, with Sunday +to sit around and talk matters over, we will +be ready for Monday’s test.”</p> + +<p>Some of the game Andy had killed was soon on +the table, for Washington, in addition to his other +accomplishments, was an expert cook. During +the evening the boys and their friends sat in the +living room of the big shed and talked over the +events of the day.</p> + +<p>Sunday was spent in discussing what adventures +might lie before them should they be able to descend +into the big hole. Washington did not say +much, but it was easy to see he had no notion of +going. He even began to pack his few belongings +in readiness to leave the service of Mr. Henderson, +for whom he had worked a good many +years.</p> + +<p>No one remained long abed Monday morning. +Even Washington was up early in spite of the interest +he had lost in the professor’s voyage.</p> + +<p>“I jest wants t’ see yo’ start fer that place where +they buries live folks,” he said.</p> + +<p>In order to properly test the <em>Flying Mermaid</em> +it was necessary to move the craft from the shed +from which place it had never been taken since it’s +construction was started. It had been built on big +rollers in anticipation of this need, so that all which +was now necessary was to open the doors at the +end, and roll the craft out.</p> + +<p>This was accomplished with no small amount of +labor, and it was nearly noon before the big ship +was moved into the open. It was shoved along to +a little clearing in front of the shed, where no trees +would interfere with its possible upward movement.</p> + +<p>Everyone was bustling about. The professor +was busiest of all. He went from one machine to +another; from this apparatus to that, testing here, +turning wheels there, adjusting valves and seeing +that all was in readiness for the generating of the +powerful gas.</p> + +<p>As the airship was half round on the bottom and +as it rested in a sort of semi-circular cradle; it +brought the entrance some distance above the +ground. To make it easier to get in and out while +preparations for the trial were going on, Bill and +Tom had made an improvised pair of steps, which +were tied to the side of the ship with ropes.</p> + +<p>Up and down these the professor, the boys and +Andy went, taking in tools and materials, and removing +considerable refuse which had accumulated +during the building of the craft.</p> + +<p>Finally all was in readiness for starting the making +of the gas. The ship was not wholly complete +and no supplies or provisions for the long voyage +had been taken aboard. The <em>Flying Mermaid</em> +was about a ton lighter than it would be when fully +fitted out, but to make up for this the professor +had left in the ship a lot of tools and surplus machinery +so that the craft held as much weight as +it would under normal conditions. If the gas +lifted it now it would at any other time.</p> + +<p>“Start the generator,” said Mr. Henderson, to +Mark. “We’ll soon see whether we are going to +succeed or fail.”</p> + +<p>The boy turned a number of levers and wheels. +The machine which made the powerful vapor was +soon in operation. The professor had already +added enough of the secret compound to the tank +containing the other ingredients, and the big pump +was sucking in air to be transformed into the lifting +gas.</p> + +<p>The boys and the professor were in the engine +room. Andy Sudds, with Bill and Tom, had taken +their places in the living room, to more evenly balance +the ship, since the things in it were not yet all +in their proper places. As for Washington he was +busy running from the shed to the ship with various +tools and bits of machinery the professor desired.</p> + +<p>The gas was being generated rapidly. Throughout +the ship there resounded a hissing noise that +told it was being forced through the pipe into the +aluminum shell above the ship proper.</p> + +<p>“I wonder how soon it will begin to lift us,” +said Mark.</p> + +<p>“It will take about half an hour,” replied Mr. +Henderson. “You see we have first to fill the +holder completely, since there is no gas in it. After +this we will keep some on hand, so that it will +only need the addition of a small quantity to enable +the ship to rise.”</p> + +<p>He was busy watching the pointer on a dial +which indicated the pressure of the gas, and the +lifting force. The boys were kept busy making +adjustments to the machinery and oiling bearings.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, throughout the length of the craft +there was felt a curious trembling. It was as +though the screw of a powerful steamer was revolving +in the water.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked Jack.</p> + +<p>“I hope it is the lifting power of the gas making +itself felt,” the professor answered. “Perhaps +the <em>Flying Mermaid</em> is getting ready to try +her wings.”</p> + +<p>The trembling became more pronounced. The +gas was being generated faster than ever. The +whole ship was trembling. Tom and Bill came +from the room, where they were stationed, to +inquire the meaning, but were reassured by the professor.</p> + +<p>“Don’t be alarmed if you find yourselves up in +the air pretty soon,” he remarked with a smile. +“Remember the <em>Electric Monarch</em>, and the flights +she took. We may not go as high as we did in +her, but it will answer the same purpose.”</p> + +<p>The gas was hissing through the big tube as it +rushed into the overhead holder. The gage indicated +a heavy pressure. The ship began to tremble +more violently and to sway slightly from side +to side.</p> + +<p>“I think we shall rise presently,” said Mr. Henderson. +His voice showed the pride he felt at the +seeming success with which his invention was about +to meet.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, with a little jerk, as though some one +with a giant hand had plucked the <em>Flying Mermaid</em> +from the earth, the ship gave a little bound +into the air, and was floating free.</p> + +<p>“Here we go!” cried Mr. Henderson. “The +ship is a success. Now we’re off for the hole in +the earth!”</p> + +<p>The <em>Flying Mermaid</em> was indeed rising in the +air. True it did not go up so swiftly as had the +<em>Monarch</em>, but then it was a much heavier and +stronger vessel, and flying was only one of its accomplishments.</p> + +<p>“It’s a success! It’s a success!” shouted Mark, +capering about in his excitement.</p> + +<p>“Now we’ll see what the centre of the earth +looks like,” went on Jack. “I can hardly wait +for the time to come when we are to start on the +voyage.”</p> + +<p>At that instant, when the ship was but a few +feet from the ground, but slowly rising, the boys +and the professor heard a shouting below them.</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” asked the scientist. “Is any +one hurt?”</p> + +<p>Mark ran to a small window, something like a +port hole in an ocean steamer, and looked out.</p> + +<p>“Quick!” he shouted. “Stop the ship! +Washington will be killed!”</p> + +<p>In fact from the agonized yells which proceeded +from somewhere under the craft it seemed that +the accident was in process of happening.</p> + +<p>“Save me! Save me!” cried the colored man. +“I’m goin’ to fall! Catch me, some one!”</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked the professor, making +ready to shut off the power and let the ship settle +back to earth, from which it had moved about +fifty feet.</p> + +<p>“It’s Washington,” explained Mark. “He evidently +tried to walk up the steps just as the boat +mounted skyward. He rolled down and managed +to grab the end of the rope which was left over +after the steps were tied. Now he’s swinging +down there.”</p> + +<p>“Are you going to lower the ship?” asked +Jack.</p> + +<p>“Of course!” exclaimed the professor. “I +only hope he hangs on until his feet touch the +earth.”</p> + +<p>“Keep a tight hold!” shouted Mark, from +out of the small window.</p> + +<p>“That’s th’ truest thing yo’ ever said!” exclaimed +Washington. “You bet I’m goin’ to hold +on, and I’m comin’ up too,” which he proceeded +to do, hand over hand, like a sailor.</p> + +<p>The boys and the professor watched the colored +man’s upward progress. The ship had hardly +begun to settle as, in the excitement, not enough +gas had been let out. Closer and closer came +Washington, until he was able to grasp the edge +of the opening, to which the steps were fastened.</p> + +<p>“I thought you weren’t coming with us,” observed +the professor, when he saw that his helper +was safe.</p> + +<p>“I changed my mind,” said the colored man. +“It’s jest luck. Seems like th’ ship done wanted +me t’ go 'long, an’ I’m goin’. I’ll take my chances +on bein’ buried alive. I ain’t never seen th’ centre +of th’ earth, an’ I want’s to 'fore I die. I’m goin’ +'long, Perfessor!”</p> + +<h2 id='ch04' class='c008'>CHAPTER IV<br /><br />WHAT DID MARK SEE?</h2> + +<p class='c009'>“Well, I’m glad you’ve decided at last,” the +professor remarked. “Now come inside and we’ll +see how the ship works.”</p> + +<p>Once over his fright, Washington made himself +at home on the craft he had helped build. +He went from one room to another and observed +the engine.</p> + +<p>“She certainly am workin’” he observed with +pride. “Are we still goin’ up, Perfessor?”</p> + +<p>“Still mounting,” replied Mr. Henderson. +“We are now three hundred feet above the earth,” +he added as he glanced at a registering gage.</p> + +<p>The great air pump was set going and soon +from the after tube, a big stream of the compressed +vapor rushed. It acted on the ship instantly +and sent the craft ahead at a rapid rate. +By elevating or depressing the tube the craft could +be sent obliquely up or down. Then, by forcing +the air from the forward tube, the <em>Mermaid</em> was +reversed and scudded backward.</p> + +<p>But it was more with the ship’s ability to rise +and descend that Professor Henderson was concerned, +since on that depended their safety. So +various tests were made, in generating the gas +and using the negative gravity apparatus.</p> + +<p>All worked to perfection. Obeying the slightest +turn of the wheels and levers the <em>Mermaid</em> rose or +fell. She stood still, suspended herself in the air, +or rushed backward and forward.</p> + +<p>Of course the machinery was new and did not +operate as smoothly as it would later, but the +professor and his friends were very well satisfied.</p> + +<p>“Now we’ll try something new,” said the scientist +to the two boys as they stood beside him +in the tower. “I only hope this part succeeds, +and we shall soon be off on our voyage.”</p> + +<p>He turned several levers. There was a hissing +sound as the gas rushed from the container, and +the ship began to settle down.</p> + +<p>“What’s th’ matter? Are we goin’ t’ hit th’ +earth?” yelled Washington, rushing from the engine +room.</p> + +<p>“Keep quiet,” ordered the professor. “We +are only going down, that’s all.”</p> + +<p>“But good land! Perfesser!” exclaimed the +colored man. “The ocean’s right under us! You +forgot you sailed away from the island! We’ll +be drowned suah!”</p> + +<p>“Leave it to me,” said Mr. Henderson. “The +<em>Flying Mermaid</em> is going to take a bath!”</p> + +<p>“As long as it swims it will be all right,” observed +Mark in a low tone to Jack. “I’m glad +I can take care of myself in the water.”</p> + +<p>Before Jack could reply the <em>Mermaid</em> seemed +to take a sudden dive through the air. The next +instant she struck the water with a splash that +sent the waves rolling all about. The craft rocked +violently to and fro on the surface of the sea. For +a while there were anxious hearts aboard, for there +was no certainty but that the ship might not sink +to the bottom.</p> + +<p>But the old professor had not calculated and +builded in vain. After rocking about like a vessel +newly launched, the strange craft rode safely and +upright on the water. It set down far enough +to bring the propelling tubes well under, but not +so far but that the conning tower was well out +and there was a small deck available.</p> + +<p>“Now to see if we can conquer the water as +we did the air!” cried the professor. “Mark, +start the air pump. Jack, you steer, for I want +to watch the machinery under the additional +strain.”</p> + +<p>From the rear tube rushed such a volume of +air that the ocean near it bubbled and foamed. +The ship trembled from stem to stern, and then, +after hanging for an instant as if undecided what +to do, it began to move forward as easily as +though it had never sailed any other element than +the sea.</p> + +<p>“She fits her name!” the professor cried. +“She is indeed the <em>Flying Mermaid</em>, for she sails +the ocean as easily as she navigates in the clouds!”</p> + +<p>For a mile or two the craft was sent ahead over +the waves. Then it was reversed and run backwards. +Satisfied that his long months of work +had not gone for naught, the professor after trying +several experiments, decided to try and raise the +ship while in motion.</p> + +<p>With Jack and Mark to look after the air +pumps, while Washington, Tom and Bill busied +themselves in the engine room, Mr. Henderson +began to generate the gas and start the negative +gravity apparatus. All the while the craft was +forging ahead.</p> + +<p>There was again the hissing sound that told of +the aluminum holder being filled. For a few minutes +there seemed to be no change, the <em>Mermaid</em> +plowing forward.</p> + +<p>Then like a bird rising from the waves, or +like a flying fish leaping from the sea to escape +some pursuing monster of the deep, the new ship +shot up diagonally from the surface and winged +its way into the upper regions of the air.</p> + +<p>“Success! Success!” cried the professor. “This +proves all I wanted to know. Now we are ready +for our great trip!”</p> + +<p>Great were the rejoicings in the camp that night. +It was like living over again the days when they +were aboard the diving <em>Porpoise</em> or the flying +<em>Monarch</em>. To the recollections were added the +anticipations of what was before them in the trip +to the interior of the earth.</p> + +<p>Busy days followed, for there was still much +to be done to the <em>Flying Mermaid</em>. The machinery, +which was only partly completed, had to be +finished. Besides this the professor was working +on some apparatus, the use of which he did not +disclose to any one. It was stored aboard the +ship at the last minute.</p> + +<p>Plenty of provisions had to be taken aboard, +and many supplies needed to work the <em>Mermaid</em> +and insure that it would go to the end of the +voyage. The materials for generating the gas +and negative gravity, spare parts, records for the +automatic piano and other things were stored +away.</p> + +<p>Some guns and ammunition were taken along as +were a few revolvers, since old Andy had said it +was best to prepare for any thing in the shape +of enemies or wild beasts that might be met with +in the interior regions.</p> + +<p>It was decided to make the start by sailing along +the surface of the sea for several days, as in the +event of any weakness in the machinery being +discovered there would be less danger. If, at +the end of four days, no trouble developed, the +professor said he would send the <em>Mermaid</em> into +the air and make the rest of the voyage through +the sky.</p> + +<p>The night before the start was to be made the +professor, with the boys, Washington and the +other helpers, went about through the various +shops and buildings, locking them up securely. +For they could not tell how long they would be +away, and they had to leave behind much valuable +material.</p> + +<p>As there were several things that needed attention +they divided the work up. Mark had finished +his share and was walking back toward the +living cabin where they were all quartered, when, +down at the shore, near where the boat was +moored, he fancied he saw, in the gathering darkness, +a moving figure.</p> + +<p>“I wonder who that can be,” he thought. “All +the others are near the machine shop, for I just +left them there. Perhaps it’s some one trying to +spy out how the <em>Mermaid</em> is built.”</p> + +<p>Knowing the professor wanted his secret well +guarded, Mark walked softly toward the little +dock that served as a place whence the <em>Mermaid</em> +could be easily boarded. As he approached he +saw the figure moving. Something struck the boy +as peculiar.</p> + +<p>Though the object had some of the characteristics +of a man it did not walk like a human being, +but shuffled along more like a huge ape or monkey. +It seemed bent over, as if it stooped toward the +ground.</p> + +<p>“Who are you?” called Mark suddenly.</p> + +<p>For an instant the figure halted and then hurried +on faster than before, with a curious, shuffling +walk. It was approaching the ship.</p> + +<p>Somehow it struck Mark as if it was an uncanny +being; an inhabitant of some other world. Then +he laughed at his half-fear, and started on a run +toward the dock.</p> + +<p>“If it’s some tramp trying to find a place to +sleep he’d better not go aboard the ship, he might +do some damage,” the boy thought.</p> + +<p>He could hardly see the figure now as it had +passed into the shadow cast by the boat. He was +about to summon the professor to make an investigation, +when Washington started going the +search light which was placed just over the door +of the living cabin. It was kept there as a sort of +beacon light, as, near the island was a dangerous +ledge of rocks.</p> + +<p>Then, in the blinding white glare from the big +lantern as Washington accidentally swung it toward +the <em>Mermaid</em>, Mark beheld a strange sight.</p> + +<p>The figure he had been watching stood out in +bold relief. Though it was shaped like a human +being it was not like any person the boy had ever +seen. It seemed covered with a skin twice too +large for it; a skin, which, in spite of the clothes +that concealed it, hung in folds about the arms +and legs, dropping pendent like from the neck like +a big garment, and flapping in the wind.</p> + +<p>For an instant Mark was so startled he cried +out, and the professor and the others ran to see +what was the matter.</p> + +<p>“There—by the ship! A horrible creature!” +exclaimed Mark.</p> + +<p>Shouting to Washington to keep the light steady +in the direction of the dock, Mr. Henderson ran +toward the moored <em>Mermaid</em>. Jack, Andy, Bill +and Tom, with Mark in the rear followed him.</p> + +<p>“Nothing here,” said the scientist, after a careful +search about. “Are you sure you saw something, +Mark?”</p> + +<p>“Positively,” replied the lad with a shudder. +He described the vision of the darkness.</p> + +<p>“I guess it was a big otter, or maybe an enormous +turtle,” the professor said.</p> + +<h2 id='ch05' class='c008'>CHAPTER V<br /><br />ATTACKED BY A WHALE</h2> + +<p class='c009'>But Mark was certain it was nothing like that, +though a careful search failed to reveal anything +or any person near the ship. It was too dark to +examine for footprints, and even Mark, after taking +a look all about, felt he might have been deceived +by shadows. Still he was a little nervous, +and could hardly sleep for imagining what the +thing he saw could have been.</p> + +<p>The next day every one was so busy that no +one, not even Mark, recalled the little excitement +of the night before. Shortly after noon, final +preparations having been made, they all got +aboard the <em>Mermaid</em> and started off.</p> + +<p>It was a bright sunshiny day, and the craft, +speeding away from the island where it had been +constructed, over the dancing blue waves, must +have presented a strange sight had there been any +spectators. For surely no such ship had ever +before sailed those waters.</p> + +<p>However, there was no other vessel in sight, +and the island, as far as the professor and his +friends knew, had never been inhabited.</p> + +<p>“We will not try for any great speed,” Mr. +Henderson remarked as he, with Mark and Jack, +stood in the conning tower managing the <em>Mermaid</em>. +“We don’t want to strain any joints at +the start or heat any engine bearings. There will +be time enough for speed later.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and we may need it more when we get +into the centre of the earth than we do now,” +observed Mark.</p> + +<p>“Why so?” asked Jack.</p> + +<p>“No telling what we may run up against underneath +the ground,” went on Mark. “We may +have to fight strange animals and stranger beings. +Besides, the atmosphere and water there can’t be +the same as up here; do you think so, Professor?”</p> + +<p>For a few minutes the scientist was silent. He +seemed to be thinking deeply.</p> + +<p>“I will tell you what I believe,” he said at +length. “I have never spoken of it before, but +now that we are fairly started and may eventually +have a chance to prove my theory, I will say that +I think the centre of this earth on which we live +is hollow. Inside of it, forming a core, so to +speak, I believe there is another earth, similar to +ours in some respects which revolves inside this +larger sphere.”</p> + +<p>They were well out to sea now, as they could +observe when they emerged on the little deck. +Above their heads was the aluminum gas holder, +which served as a sort of protection from the sun +that was quite warm. The <em>Mermaid</em> rode with +an easy motion, being submerged just enough to +make her steady, yet not deep enough to encounter +much resistance from the water. In fact it could +not have been arranged better for speed or comfort.</p> + +<p>“I think we will sail well to the eastward before +making our course south,” Mr. Henderson said. +“I do not care to meet too many ships, as those +aboard will be very curious and I do not want +too much news of this venture to get out. We +will take an unfrequented route and avoid delays +by being hailed by every passing vessel whose +captain will wonder what queer craft he had met +with.”</p> + +<p>The boys enjoyed the sail, for the weather could +not have been better. Even old Andy, who seldom +said much, seemed delighted with the prospect of +having strange adventures. He had his rifle with +him, and, indeed, he seldom went anywhere that he +did not carry it.</p> + +<p>“For there’s no telling when you may see something +you want to shoot or that ought to be shot,” +he used to say, “and it’s always the man without +a gun who needs it most. So I’m taking no +chances.”</p> + +<p>They sailed all that afternoon without meeting +with a craft of any kind. Straight to the east they +went, and when night began to settle down Washington +got supper. It was decided to run slowly +after dark until all hands were more familiar with +the ship.</p> + +<p>Morning found the <em>Mermaid</em> about a hundred +miles from the island where she had been launched. +The night had been uneventful, except that Mark +told Jack he heard some strange noise near his +bunk several times. He was nearest the storeroom +where spare parts, and the curious cylinder +the professor had brought aboard, were kept.</p> + +<p>“I guess it was rats,” said Jack. “They are +always in ships.”</p> + +<p>“Old wooden ships, yes,” admitted Mark. +“But I’ll bet there’s not a rat aboard the <em>Mermaid</em>.”</p> + +<p>“Then you were dreaming,” said Jack, as if +that settled it.</p> + +<p>Mark did not speak further of the noise, but +he did considerable thinking. However, the next +night there was no further disturbance.</p> + +<p>The fourth day out, when everything had +passed off well, the engines doing their best, the +professor decided to speed them up a bit, since +he was satisfied they had “found” themselves as +mechanics term it.</p> + +<p>“We’ll see how fast we can go through the +water,” said Mr. Henderson, “and then I think +we can safely turn our course south. We are well +beyond the ordinary lines of travel now.”</p> + +<p>Having oiled the bearings well, and seen that +everything was in place and properly adjusted, +the professor and the boys took their places in +the conning tower, while Washington, Tom and +Bill remained in the engine room. Andy stayed +on deck with his gun.</p> + +<p>“I might see a big fish, and we could vary our +bill of fare,” he said with a laugh.</p> + +<p>“Here we go!” exclaimed the professor as he +shifted the levers and turned some wheels and +valves. “Now we’ll see how fast we can travel.”</p> + +<p>As he spoke the <em>Mermaid</em> responded to the +added impulse of the compressed air and shot +through the water at a terrific speed. The sudden +increase in momentum almost threw the boys from +their feet, and they would have fallen had they +not grasped some projecting levers.</p> + +<p>“I guess that will do,” said the scientist. “I +think we have speed enough for almost any emergency. +I’ll let her run at this rate for a while, +and then we’ll slack up.”</p> + +<p>Looking ahead, the boys could see the green +waters parting in front of the bow of the <em>Mermaid</em>, +as if to make room for her. Two huge +waves were thrown upon either side.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, dead ahead, there loomed up a big +black object.</p> + +<p>“Look out you’ll hit the rock!” cried Mark +to the professor, who was steering.</p> + +<p>With a turn of his wrist Mr. Henderson moved +the wheel which controlled the tube. It was deflected +and sent the boat to larboard.</p> + +<p>At that instant from the rock two small fountains +of water rose in the air, falling back in a +shower of spray through which the sun gleamed.</p> + +<p>“That’s not a rock! It’s a big whale!” cried +Jack. “And we’re going to hit him!”</p> + +<p>The professor had miscalculated the speed of +the craft, or else had not thrown her far enough +to larboard, for, a second later, the <em>Mermaid</em> was +almost upon the big leviathan.</p> + +<p>With a desperate twirling of the steering wheel +the professor veered the craft as far as possible. +But all he could do did not suffice, for the craft +hit the whale a glancing blow on the side, and the +ship careened as if she would turn turtle.</p> + +<p>At the same time there rang out from upon +deck the sound of a rifle shot. Old Andy had +taken a chance at the enormous creature of the +deep.</p> + +<p>“Hurrah!” the boys heard him shout. “I +give him one plumb in the eye! A fine shot! +And we hit him besides with the boat. I guess +he’s a goner!”</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid not,” muttered the professor. +“That was a bad blow we struck him, but I think +it will only ruffle his temper. We’ll have to look +sharp now, boys.”</p> + +<p>By this time the ship had rushed past the whale, +but the boys, looking through a window in the +rear of the tower could see the huge body. Now +the fountains of water which the whale spouted +were tinged with red.</p> + +<p>“He’s bleeding!” exclaimed the professor. +“I guess Andy hit him in a vital spot.”</p> + +<p>“But not vital enough!” cried Mark. “See! +He’s coming after us!”</p> + +<p>And so it proved. The whale, angered, and, +probably half crazed by the pain of the bullet +and the blow, was coursing after the ship, coming +on with the speed of an express train. Straight +at the <em>Mermaid</em> he lunged his huge bulk.</p> + +<p>“We must escape him!” cried Mr. Henderson. +“If he hits us he’ll send us to the bottom!”</p> + +<p>He had made ready to slow up the <em>Mermaid</em> +to see if it had sustained any damage from the +impact with the whale, but when he saw the monster +coming after the boat he knew the only safety +lay in flight.</p> + +<p>“Let us go up into the air and so escape him!” +cried Jack, with sudden inspiration.</p> + +<p>For an instant neither Mark nor the professor +grasped what Jack meant. Then, with an exclamation, +the professor pulled forward the lever that +generated the gas and set working the gravity +neutralizer, which would enable the ship to rise.</p> + +<p>Faster through the water went the <em>Mermaid</em>, +and faster after her came the whale. Above the +hum of the engines was heard the hiss of the +powerful gas. The ship trembled more violently.</p> + +<p>“We are rising!” exclaimed the professor, as +he looked at a gage.</p> + +<p>The boys could feel the craft lifting from the +waves which clung to her as if they hated to lose +her. The boys knew the gas was beginning to +operate.</p> + +<p>“If it is not too late!” whispered Mark, half +to himself.</p> + +<p>For the monster of the seas was coming on, +lashing the water to foam with his terrible flukes, +and sending aloft a bloody spray. His speed was +awful.</p> + +<p>Now he was but ten feet away from the fleeing +craft—now but eight—now five! Ten seconds +more and the big head, like the blunt stern of a +battle ship, forced forward by the tons of blubber, +flesh, bone and fat behind it would strike the +<em>Mermaid</em> and crush it like an egg shell.</p> + +<p>Now if ever was the need for the <em>Flying Mermaid</em> +to prove herself worthy of the name. Now, +if ever, was the time for her to leave the watery +element and take to the lighter one.</p> + +<p>And she did. With a last tremble, as if to free +herself from the hold of the waves, the gallant +craft soared up into the air, leaving the water, +which dripped from her keel like a fountain’s +spray, and shooting aloft like a bird, escaped her +terrible enemy which passed under her, so close +that the lower part of the <em>Flying Mermaid</em> scraped +the whale’s back.</p> + +<p>“Saved!” exclaimed the professor.</p> + +<div class='c000'> +<a href='images/illus-046f.jpg'><img src='images/illus-046.jpg' alt='' class='c010' /></a> +<p class='c011'>THE LOWER PART OF THE FLYING MERMAID SCRAPED THE WHALE’S BACK.</p> +</div> + +<h2 id='ch06' class='c008'>CHAPTER VI<br /><br />THE CYCLONE</h2> + +<p class='c009'>It was only in the nick of time, for a second +later and the big mammal of the ocean would have +struck the ship and split it from stem to stern.</p> + +<p>Higher and higher into the air mounted the +<em>Flying Mermaid</em>, while in the water below, the +whale, incensed by missing his prey, was lashing +the waves to foam.</p> + +<p>“Well, that was a narrow squeak; as close as +I ever care to come to it!” exclaimed Andy as he +let go of the steel rail to which he was clinging +and entered the conning tower. “I had no idea +of hitting the big fish.”</p> + +<p>“I guess he would have taken after us whether +you had fired at him or not,” said Mr. Henderson. +“He was probably looking for trouble, and took +the first thing that came in his way, which happened +to be us. Some whales are like that, so I +have read; big bull creatures, exiled from the school +to which they once belonged, they get like mad +creatures and know neither friend nor foe. Something +like rogue elephants, I imagine.”</p> + +<p>Now, having thus unexpectedly risen into the +air, the professor decided to continue travel in +that style for a while at least. It would require +less force to propel the ship, and the going would +be more comfortable, since in the upper regions +the <em>Mermaid</em> rode on an even keel, while in the +water there was more or less rolling, due to the +action of the waves.</p> + +<p>Once recovered from their fright caused by the +whale, and having lost sight of the enormous creature, +for they were now far above the ocean, the +adventurers began to think of something to eat.</p> + +<p>Washington lost little time in preparing a meal, +and it was eaten with a relish. The electric cooking +stove worked to perfection, for the colored +man had learned how to use that aboard the <em>Porpoise</em> +and <em>Monarch</em>, and could be depended on to +turn out appetizing dishes.</p> + +<p>“What do you say to traveling through the air +at night?” asked Mr. Henderson, as he arose +from the table.</p> + +<p>“Suits me,” replied Mark. “There’s less +danger than in the water, I think.”</p> + +<p>Bill, Tom and Washington arranged to stand +the night watch, and, when the professor had examined +the engines and given orders about keeping +the ship on her course through the air, he retired +to his bunk. Jack and Mark soon followed.</p> + +<p>It must have been about midnight when Mark +was awakened by a movement that seemed to +come from the storeroom next to where his sleeping +place was located. At first he thought he had +been dreaming, but, as he found he was wide +awake, he knew it was no imagination that had +affected him.</p> + +<p>“I certainly heard something,” he said to himself. +“It sounded just as it did the other night. +I wonder if I ought to investigate.”</p> + +<p>He thought over the matter carefully as he sat +upright in his bunk in the darkness. True the +noise might be a natural one, due to the vibration +of the engine, or to some echo from the machinery. +As Mark listened he heard it again.</p> + +<p>This time he realized it was the slow movement +of some heavy body. He felt a cold shiver run +over him and his hair evinced an uncomfortable +tendency to stand upright. But he conquered his +feelings and resolved to keep cool and see if he +could discover what had awakened him.</p> + +<p>He got up and moved softly about the little +room that contained his bunk. He could hear +better now, and knew it was no echo or vibration +that had come to his ears.</p> + +<p>Once again he heard the strange sound. It was +exactly the same as before; as if some big creature +was pulling itself over the floor.</p> + +<p>“Maybe it’s a snake; a water snake!” thought +Mark. “It may have crawled aboard when we +did not notice it.”</p> + +<p>Then he remembered that the ship had not been +open in any way that would enable a serpent to +come on it, since it had been started on its ocean +trip. Before that, he was sure no snake had +entered the <em>Flying Mermaid</em>. Still it sounded +more like a snake than anything else.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to make a search,” decided the +boy.</p> + +<p>He took a small portable electric light, run by +a storage battery, and, slipping on a pair of shoes +and a bath robe, he left his stateroom.</p> + +<p>He had decided that the noise came from the +storage compartment and so made for that. The +door he knew was not locked, since he had seen +Mr. Henderson go in late that afternoon, and the +professor had used no key.</p> + +<p>Moving softly, Mark left his room and soon +found himself in a corridor, on either side of which +were located the sleeping quarters of the others. +He did not want to awaken them, and, perhaps, +be laughed at for his curiosity.</p> + +<p>To get to the storeroom Mark had to go first +from the corridor into the dining room. He soon +reached the door that guarded what he thought +might be a strange secret. Trying the knob softly +he found it giving under his fingers.</p> + +<p>“I wonder if I had better go in,” he thought. +“Perhaps, after all, it was only rats, as Jack said.”</p> + +<p>But, even as he listened he again heard the odd +sound coming from the room. This determined +him. He would solve the mystery if possible.</p> + +<p>Cautiously he turned the knob. The door was +slowly swinging open when Mark was startled by +a noise from behind him. He turned suddenly +to see Professor Henderson confronting him.</p> + +<p>“What is it, Mark? Is the ship on fire? +What’s the matter? Is any one hurt?”</p> + +<p>“I was just going in this room to——” began Mark.</p> + +<p>“Don’t do it! Don’t do it!” exclaimed the +professor in an excited whisper. “No one must +go in that room. I forgot to tell you and Jack +about it. No one must enter. It contains a +secret!”</p> + +<p>“I heard a strange noise and——” Mark began +again.</p> + +<p>“It could make no noise! It would be impossible +for it to make a noise!” the professor exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“I heard something,” the boy insisted.</p> + +<p>“You were dreaming!” said the professor. +“Now go back to bed, Mark, and don’t let this +happen again. Remember, no one must enter +that room unless I give permission!”</p> + +<p>Somewhat crestfallen at the outcome of his +investigations, but realizing that the professor +could do what he wanted to aboard his own ship, +Mark went back to bed. But he could not sleep. +All the rest of the night he was wondering whether +Mr. Henderson had some strange creature hidden +aboard the <em>Mermaid</em>. He feared lest the old +scientist’s mind might be affected and, in his wildness +he had made some infernal machine that +would, in time, blow the whole ship apart.</p> + +<p>But tired nature asserted itself at last, and, +weary with vain imaginings, Mark fell into a +slumber. The next morning he awoke with a +start from a dream that he was being devoured +by an immense water snake.</p> + +<p>He said nothing to the others about his night’s +adventure, for, as it transpired, no one else had +been awakened by his investigations. The professor +did not refer to his conversation with Mark.</p> + +<p>“There’s something queer going on aboard the +ship this trip,” said Mark to himself. “But I +guess it’s none of my business. Professor Henderson +seems to know what he is doing and I +guess I can trust him.”</p> + +<p>He resolved to think no more of the strange +noises and movements, and, for several nights +thereafter he was not disturbed by them.</p> + +<p>The weather, which, up to this time had been +fair, took a sudden turn for the worse about the +fourth day after Mark’s little night expedition. +One evening the sun sank in a mass of dull lead-colored +clouds and a sharp wind sprang up.</p> + +<p>“We’re going to have a storm,” said Mr. +Henderson. “It’s liable to be a bad one, too, +from the way the barometer is falling.”</p> + +<p>He looked at the glass, and scanned the various +instruments that told how high up the <em>Mermaid</em> +was and how fast she was traveling.</p> + +<p>“We’re pretty high up in the air,” he said, +“and scooting along at about fifty miles an hour. +We are going against the wind, too, but fortunately +it is not blowing hard.”</p> + +<p>At that moment there sounded from without a +peculiar howling sound, as if a siren whistle was +being blown.</p> + +<p>“'Pears like there’s goin’ t’ be a tumultuous +demonstration of sub-maxiliary contortions in th’ +empherial regions contiguous t’ th’ upper atmosphere!” +exclaimed Washington, entering from the +engine room into the conning tower.</p> + +<p>“What’s the trouble?” asked Mr. Henderson.</p> + +<p>“Terrible big black cloud chasin’ us from behind!” +exclaimed the colored man.</p> + +<p>Noting the alarm in Washington’s voice the professor +glanced from the rear window. What he +saw caused him to exclaim:</p> + +<p>“It’s a cyclone! We must drop down to avoid +it!”</p> + +<p>He sprang to a lever controlling the gas and +yanked it toward him. There was a shrill hissing +sound, and a second later the <em>Mermaid</em> began to +sink. The boys watching the gages on the wall +of the tower, saw that the craft was falling rapidly.</p> + +<p>But, with a rush and roar, the terrible wind was +upon them. It caught the craft in its fearful grip +and heeled it over as a ship careens to the ocean +blast.</p> + +<p>“It’s a storm in the upper regions! We’ll find +it calm below!” cried the professor above the +howling of the gale. He opened the gas outlet +wider and the ship fell more rapidly.</p> + +<p>“Are you sure we’re over the ocean?” asked +Mark.</p> + +<p>“Positive!” the professor called back. “We +have been traveling straight south over the Atlantic +for the last week. We will land in the midst +of the waters and float safely.”</p> + +<p>Lower and lower went the <em>Mermaid</em>. The +wind was now blowing with the force of a tornado, +and, as the craft had to slant in order to descend, +it felt the power of the gale more than if it had +scudded before it. But, by skilful use of the +directing tube, the professor was able to keep +the boat from turning over. As they came further +down toward the earth the force of the wind was +felt less and less, until, as they came within two +hundred feet of the water which they saw below +them in the gathering dusk, it died out altogether.</p> + +<p>“Now we are free from it,” said the professor +as the <em>Mermaid</em> came down on the waves like an +immense swan.</p> + +<p>“Are you going ahead or going to stop here?” +asked Mark.</p> + +<p>“We’ll keep right on,” Mr. Henderson answered. +“No telling when the storm may strike +down here. We’ll go as far as we can to-night.”</p> + +<h2 id='ch07' class='c008'>CHAPTER VII<br /><br />A QUEER SAIL</h2> + +<p class='c009'>Now that the fear and worriment was over +they all began to feel hungry, and, while Mark +and Jack took charge of the conning tower Washington +got breakfast. The professor seemed preoccupied +during the meal, and several times, when +Mark spoke to him, he did not reply.</p> + +<p>“I wonder if he is worried about something, +or is thinking of something which seems to be concealed +in the storeroom,” the boy thought.</p> + +<p>But, after a while, the professor seemed to be +more like himself. He was busy over several +maps and charts, and then announced the ship +would try air-sailing again for a while.</p> + +<p>“We can make better time above than we can +on the water,” he said, “and I am anxious to +get to the mysterious island and learn what is in +store for us.”</p> + +<p>Perhaps if the professor had been able to look +ahead, and see what was soon going to happen, +he would not have been so anxious for it to +occur.</p> + +<p>It was shortly after dinner when, the gas container +having been filled, the ship rose in the air, +and began sailing over the ocean, about a mile +up. The day was a fine one, and, as they were +moving south, it was constantly growing warmer. +Down on the water, in fact, it was quite hot, but +in the air it was just right.</p> + +<p>Like some immense bird the <em>Mermaid</em> went +flying through the air. The boys and the professor +sat upon the deck in easy chairs. It was +like being on the top of some tall “sky-scraper” +building which, by some strange power, was being +moved forward. Below them the ocean tumbled +in long, lazy swells.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Mark, who was looking through a +telescope at the expanse of water stretched out +under them, gave a cry.</p> + +<p>“There’s a ship! She’s on fire!”</p> + +<p>“Where?” asked the professor, stretching out +his hand for the glass.</p> + +<p>“Just to the port of the forward tube. See +the smoke!” exclaimed Mark.</p> + +<p>Mr. Henderson looked. Through the lens he +saw a column of black vapor rising skyward. +Mingled with it were red flames.</p> + +<p>“Lower the <em>Mermaid</em>!” he cried. “We must +save those on board if we can!”</p> + +<p>Mark ran to the conning tower, where +Washington was, to give the order. The colored man, +who was looking ahead, intent on guiding the +ship, did not at first hear what Mark called.</p> + +<p>“Lower us! Send the <em>Mermaid</em> down!” Mark +cried again.</p> + +<p>The sudden shout and the excited voice of +Mark so startled Washington, that, fearing some +accident had happened, he pulled the lever, controlling +the gas supply, with more force than necessary.</p> + +<p>There was a loud explosion, followed by a +crackling sound, a flash of light, and the <em>Mermaid</em> +came to a sudden stop.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” cried Mark, feeling that +something was wrong.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know!” Washington replied, as he +dashed toward the engine room.</p> + +<p>The <em>Mermaid</em>, her forward flight checked, hung +in the air, suspended, neither rising or falling.</p> + +<p>“Why don’t we go on down?” the professor +asked, hurrying to the tower.</p> + +<p>“There has been an explosion—an accident!” +exclaimed Mark. “I guess we can’t go down!”</p> + +<p>“But we must!” Mr. Henderson insisted, +seizing the lever which should have produced a +downward motion. The handle swung to and fro. +It was disconnected from the apparatus it operated.</p> + +<p>The ship was now stationary in the air, moving +neither forward nor backward, neither rising nor +falling. Washington had stopped the air pumps +as soon as he learned something was wrong.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Henderson saw the useless lever, +which had controlled the outlet of gas from the +holder, he ran out on deck. One glance told him +what had happened. One of the electric wires +had become short-circuited,—that is, the insulation +had worn off and allowed the current to +escape. This had produced a spark, which had +exploded the gas which was in the pipe leading +from the generator up into the aluminum holder. +Fortunately there was an automatic cut-off for the +supply of vapor, or the whole tank would have +gone up.</p> + +<p>As it was, only a small quantity had blown up, +but this was enough to break the machinery at +the point where the lever in the conning tower +joined the pipe. If it had not been for the automatic +cut-off all the gas in the holder would have +poured out in a great volume, and the ship would +have fallen like a shot.</p> + +<p>“Can we do nothing to save those on the burning +vessel?” asked Mark, pointing to where a +cloud of smoke hung over the ocean.</p> + +<p>“I fear not, now,” answered the professor. +“We are in a bad plight ourselves.”</p> + +<p>“Are we in any danger?” asked Jack.</p> + +<p>“Not specially,” Mr. Henderson replied. +“But we must find a means of lowering ourselves +gradually.”</p> + +<p>“Then it will be too late to save any of those +on the ship,” observed Mark.</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid so,” the scientist made reply.</p> + +<p>The <em>Mermaid</em> rested some distance above the +surface of the waters. She moved slightly to and +fro with the wind, and rocked gently. The professor +was examining the broken machinery.</p> + +<p>“I have a plan!” suddenly cried Mark.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked Mr. Henderson.</p> + +<p>“Can’t we bore a hole in the tank, insert a +small faucet or tap, and let the gas out that way +gradually?” asked the boy. “When we get down +we can rescue those in danger of fire, and, later, +can repair the break.”</p> + +<p>“The very thing!” exclaimed Mr. Henderson. +“I never thought of that! Here, Washington! +Bring me a drill, and a small stop-cock!”</p> + +<p>The drill was obtained from the engine room. +Working rapidly Mr. Henderson bored a hole +in the lower part of the holder. As soon as the +metal was penetrated the gas, which was under +considerable pressure, rushed from the tank with +a hissing sound. At once the <em>Mermaid</em> began to +settle rapidly.</p> + +<p>But the professor was prepared for this. He +thrust the end of the stop-cock into the hole. It +was screwed fast and the valve turned. This +stopped the flow of gas and checked the descent +of the ship. Then, by opening the tap the vapor +was allowed to escape gradually, bringing the <em>Flying +Mermaid</em> gently to the water.</p> + +<p>As the adventurers approached they could see +that the vessel was now a mass of flames. The +wind was driving the fire toward the forecastle, +and the crew had sought refuge aft. But this expedient +could not last long, for, already the +tongues of fire were licking the sides of the craft +and coming nearer and nearer the seemingly +doomed men. The vessel was a large one, and +heavily laden.</p> + +<p>As those in peril caught sight of the <em>Mermaid</em> +settling down into the water, apparently from the +clouds, their fears gave place to astonishment. +So great was this that they ceased their cries of +terror. Then, as they saw that the strange craft +navigated the ocean, for the engines were started +aboard the <em>Mermaid</em>, they began to call for help.</p> + +<h2 id='ch08' class='c008'>CHAPTER VIII<br /><br />THE FLYING MERMAID DISABLED</h2> + +<p class='c009'>“We’ll save you!” shouted Mr. Henderson, +who was on the deck, while Mark was steering the +craft. “Hold on a few minutes longer and we’ll +be alongside!”</p> + +<p>“They’re real! They’re real!” some of those +aboard the burning ship could be heard to shout. +Evidently more than one of them had taken the +<em>Mermaid</em> for a delusion of their fear-crazed brain.</p> + +<p>“They are real persons!” they called again +and again. “They are coming to save us!”</p> + +<p>Mr. Henderson ran his ship as near the burning +craft as he dared. Then he called to the crew +to leap into the water and swim to him. He, with +Washington, Jack, Bill and Tom, stood ready to +haul aboard any who were too weak to help themselves.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes all of those left alive on the +sailing vessel—fourteen in all—had come safely +aboard the <em>Mermaid</em>. The ship was now completely +enveloped in flames.</p> + +<p>“Are there any more left on her?” asked Mr. +Henderson of one who appeared to be a mate of +the burning craft.</p> + +<p>“Not a soul!” was the answer. “The captain +and ten men perished in the flames. The fire +broke out a week ago in the lower hold. We +fought it as well as we could but it got the best +of us. Then it suddenly broke through the decks, +almost like an explosion, a little while ago, and +the captain and others were lost, and so were our +small boats. We managed to get aft but were +about to give up when you appeared.”</p> + +<p>“What ship is it and where are you from?”</p> + +<p>“The <em>Good Hope</em>, laden with logwood, hides, +jute and other materials from South America,” +the mate answered. “We were bound for New +York.”</p> + +<p>“It is more like the <em>Last Hope</em> instead of the +<em>Good Hope</em>,” observed Mr. Henderson in a quiet +voice, as he saw the flames mount higher and +higher over the ship. A few seconds later the +craft seemed rent by an internal explosion. It +appeared to break in two parts, and, amid a +shower of sparks and a cloud of black smoke, the +vessel sank under the water and was seen no more.</p> + +<p>The rescued men turned to behold the final +end of their ship. They betrayed no particular +emotion, and some of them even laughed, which +the professor thought, at the time, was rather +strange. But there was little opportunity for speculation. +The men were in a sad plight. Few of +them had more than the clothes they stood in, +though each one wore about his waist a belt, and +all of them seemed to guard the leather circlets +jealously.</p> + +<p>The professor and his crew were soon busy supplying +remedies for burns, since several of the +men were seared by the flames. Then, as it was +learned they had eaten nothing for many hours, +it having been impossible to use the galley, a meal +was prepared and the survivors of the wreck were +well fed.</p> + +<p>The hunger of the newcomers having been +appeased, they showed much curiosity over the +strange craft that had so opportunely come to their +rescue. Most of the sailors were ignorant men, +and the professor had little fear of them learning +anything concerning his secrets. He explained +briefly about the <em>Mermaid</em>, but said nothing of +whither she was bound.</p> + +<p>The addition of fourteen men to the rather +small accommodations of the <em>Mermaid</em> was a serious +matter to consider. The ship was able to hold +them all, and even to sail through the air with +them, since Mr. Henderson had provided an excess +of power. But it was going to be a problem +to feed so many, and still save enough provisions +for the long voyage which lay ahead.</p> + +<p>However, Mr. Henderson felt his first duty to +be toward his fellowmen, even if his voyage must +be delayed, or given up for a time, while he got +more provisions. There would be no sleeping +quarters for the sailors, but when this was explained +to them they cheerfully said they would +sleep on deck if necessary. In fact some of them +had to, but as the weather was warm and clear +this was no hardship. A few found quarters in +the engine room and other apartments of the <em>Mermaid</em>.</p> + +<p>Finding, after an examination, that his ship was +in good order save for the broken gas apparatus, +Mr. Henderson gave orders to proceed along the +surface of the ocean. The sailors wanted to see +how it felt to mount into the air, but Mr. Henderson, +refused to attempt a flight until he had +made complete repairs, and this would take a day +or more.</p> + +<p>At this there appeared to be some discontent +among the survivors, and they muttered to each +other as they stood in a group on deck. But the +professor and his assistants were too busy with +their preparations for fixing the break to notice this.</p> + +<p>While the men were gathered in a knot near the +after part of the small deck, the mate separated +from them, and, coming close to where Mark was +standing, unscrewing some of the broken parts +of the pipe said, in a low voice.</p> + +<p>“Tell the captain to watch out.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” asked Mark quickly.</p> + +<p>“Hush! Not so loud!” the mate exclaimed. +“If the men hear me talking to you, or see me, +they may kill me. Tell the captain to look out; +that’s all. Be on guard, and watch the engine +room carefully.”</p> + +<p>“But why—?” Mark began, when, turning +suddenly, the mate left him. It was well he did +so, for, at that instant, one of the sailors, who +had observed the two conversing, strolled in their +direction.</p> + +<p>Much alarmed, Mark sought Mr. Henderson +and told him what he had heard.</p> + +<p>“I suppose the fire may have turned the poor +man’s head,” the scientist said. “I wonder if he +thinks the men I rescued would mutiny and take +possession of my ship? If they did they would +not know how to work it, so what good would it +do?”</p> + +<p>“Hadn’t we better look out?” asked Mark.</p> + +<p>“I’m not afraid,” replied the professor. “I +will be too busy the next few days, repairing the +break, to think of anything else. Besides, what +would they want to harm us for? Didn’t we save +their lives?”</p> + +<p>Seeing the scientist placed no faith in what the +mate had said, Mark went back to his task.</p> + +<p>It soon became too dark to work, and it was +decided, after supper, to halt the ship until morning +as it would be less risky.</p> + +<p>Mark did not sleep well, his dreams being disturbed +by visions of pirates and black flags. But +morning came and nothing had developed. The +men seemed to recover their spirits with daybreak, +and most of the crew, after breakfast, greeted +Mr. Henderson pleasantly, and asked to be allowed +to help fix the ship.</p> + +<p>It took the skilled labor of the professor, Washington +and the boys to mend the break, and, even +at that, it was four days in the repairing. But +at last the final bolt was in place, and the <em>Mermaid</em> +was able to resume her trips through the air.</p> + +<p>“We will rise the first thing in the morning,” +said the professor to Mark and Jack that night. +“I am anxious to see how the ship behaves with a +big load aboard.”</p> + +<h2 id='ch09' class='c008'>CHAPTER IX<br /><br />THE MUTINY</h2> + +<p class='c009'>Mark was awakened that night by feeling some +one trying to turn him over. At first he thought +it was Jack, and sleepily muttered that he wanted +to be let alone.</p> + +<p>“Sorry I can’t oblige ye, my hearty!” exclaimed +a rough voice in his ear, “but I got particular +orders t’ tie you up!”</p> + +<p>At that Mark tried to sit up, but he found he +could not. He discovered that he was closely +bound with many turns of a rope, while in front +of his bunk stood one of the rescued sailors.</p> + +<p>“There,” said the man, with a final tightening +of the ropes. “I guess you’re safe.”</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter? What does it all +mean?” asked Mark, much bewildered.</p> + +<p>“It means that we have possession of the ship,” +the sailor answered, “and, if you’re wise you’ll +not make a fuss. It wouldn’t do any good, anyhow, +as all your friends are in the same condition.”</p> + +<p>Then, picking Mark up, as if he was a baby, +the man slung him over his shoulder and carried +him to the living room. There Mark saw Jack, +the professor, Washington, and the others similarly +bound.</p> + +<p>“Do you realize what you are doing?” asked +the professor angrily of his captors. “You are +mutinying, and are liable to severe punishment.”</p> + +<p>“If they ever get us,” added one of the men. +“We’ve got the ship now, and we mean to keep +her. You’ll have to run her or show us how.”</p> + +<p>“Never!” cried the professor.</p> + +<p>“I guess he will when he feels this,” said one +of the men, as he dragged from a recess two wires. +“I happen to know something of electricity, and +when he feels these perhaps he’ll change his mind. +I’ll start the dynamo.”</p> + +<p>The sailor showed that he was acquainted with +machinery, for soon the hum of the electric apparatus +was heard.</p> + +<p>“Now to make him tell!” the man with the +wires exclaimed, advancing toward the professor, +who turned pale.</p> + +<p>“Stop! You must not torture the old man!” +cried a voice, and the mate of the <em>Good Hope</em> +stepped in front of the sailor with the electrified +wires.</p> + +<p>“Who’s going to stop me?” asked the man.</p> + +<p>“I will. It’s not necessary,” the mate went +on quickly. “If we make him weak we may kill +him, and he can not tell us what we want to know. +One of the boys can tell us how to run the ship.”</p> + +<p>The mate came quickly over to where Mark +lay, and whispered:</p> + +<p>“Consent to tell. It is the only way of saving +his life. Tell ’em how to raise the craft. Then +leave all to me. I will save you all and the ship, +too, if I can. But consent.”</p> + +<p>Mark nodded his head, and the mate cried:</p> + +<p>“I knew I could fetch ’em. I have hypnotic +power. This boy will raise the ship for us. +Loosen his bonds, some of you.”</p> + +<p>Satisfied that they were now on the way to experiencing +a new sensation, the sailors took the +ropes off Mark’s arms and legs, and he was allowed +to rise. With a reassuring nod toward the +professor he led the way to the engine room, followed +by half the men. He resolved to start +the gas machine slowly, so as to make the upward +trip last longer, thinking before it had gone far, +some way of escape from the mutineers might be +found.</p> + +<p>While a crowd of the sailors stood near him, +Mark operated the machinery in the engine room +that started the gas generating, and set the negative +gravity apparatus working.</p> + +<p>“You’d better not try any tricks on us,” said +one of the men in an ugly tone of voice.</p> + +<p>“I’m not going to,” replied Mark. “If you +go out on deck you will soon see the ship leaving +the water and mounting into the air.”</p> + +<p>“Some of you go,” ordered a man with a big +bushy red beard. “See if the ship rises. When +she begins to go up sing out. I’m going to stay +here and see how the young cub does it so I can +work it myself.”</p> + +<p>Obeying the red-bearded man, who seemed to +be a leader, several of the sailors went out on the +deck. It was quite dark, but there was a phosphorous +glow to the water which made the rolling +waves visible.</p> + +<p>The gas was being generated, as could be told +by the hissing sound. Mark watched the machinery +anxiously, for he knew much depended on +him, and the professor was not at hand to guide +and instruct him. He watched the dial of the +gage which registered the gas pressure and saw +it slowly moving. In a little while it would be at +the point at which the ship ought to rise.</p> + +<p>Presently a quiver seemed to run through the +<em>Mermaid</em>. Now a shout came from the watchers +on deck.</p> + +<p>“She’s going up!”</p> + +<p>The ship was indeed rising. The red-bearded +man, who was addressed as Tony, ran from the +engine room to the deck. He saw that the ship +was now ten feet above the water. Back he came +to where Mark stood by the gas machine.</p> + +<p>“Lucky for you that you didn’t fool us, lad,” +he said with a leer. “See that you mind me +hereafter. Now show me how the shebang +works.”</p> + +<p>When the ship had risen as far as Tony desired +he made Mark send it straight ahead. The boy +adjusted the air tube to carry the craft toward +the south, but Tony, seeing by a compass in which +direction they were headed, ordered Mark to steer +due east.</p> + +<p>“Fix things so they will stay so, too,” added +Tony. “I don’t want to stop until I get a thousand +miles away. Then we’ll come down, sail to +some sunny island, and enjoy life.”</p> + +<p>Mark locked the steering apparatus so as to +keep the <em>Mermaid</em> headed due east.</p> + +<p>“Now you can go back to your friends,” Tony +said. “When I want you I’ll send for you.”</p> + +<p>With a heavy heart Mark rejoined the professor +and others. He found them with their bonds removed. +But to guard against their escape several +men were on watch outside the door.</p> + +<p>“What are they doing?” asked the professor +eagerly as Mark entered, and the boy told him +what had taken place.</p> + +<p>“They will ruin my ship and spoil the whole +trip,” cried the old scientist. “Oh, why did I +ever go to the rescue of the scoundrels?”</p> + +<p>“Never mind,” said Jack. “Perhaps we may +yet outwit them.”</p> + +<p>Morning came at last. The ship was still shooting +forward at fast speed, in an easterly direction. +The sailors had learned, in their short stay aboard, +where the food and stores were kept, and they lost +little time in getting breakfast. They sent some +in to their captives, including a big pot of hot +coffee, and, after partaking of this the professor +and his friends felt better.</p> + +<p>The mate of the <em>Good Hope</em> came in to help +clear away the dishes. As he passed Mark he +slipped into the boy’s hand a note.</p> + +<p>“Don’t read it until you are alone,” he said +in a low voice, as he hurried from the room.</p> + +<p>As soon as the other sailors had left, Mark +glanced at the slip of paper. It bore these words:</p> + +<p>“Open when you hear three raps, then two, +then three, and keep silent.”</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked Mr. Henderson.</p> + +<p>Mark showed him the paper.</p> + +<p>“I wonder what it means,” the boy said.</p> + +<p>“Do you think he is a friend of ours?” the +professor asked.</p> + +<p>Mark told him of the mate’s conversation the +night previous.</p> + +<p>“I think we can trust him,” the scientist went +on. “He must intend to pay us a visit when the +others are asleep. When we hear the knocks as +he specifies we must open the door and let him in.”</p> + +<p>All that day the captives were kept in the living +room. Once or twice Mark was sent for to make +some adjustment to the machinery, but the apparatus, +for the most part, was automatic, and needed +little attention. The professor, as well as the +others, were all impatience for the promised visit +of the mate. Still they felt he would not come +until night.</p> + +<p>In fact it was long past midnight before Mark, +Jack and the professor, who were anxiously listening, +heard the three raps, then two, then three +more. Mark quickly opened the door, and the +mate stepped inside, holding his finger to his lips +as a sign of caution. Old Andy, Washington, +Bill and Tom had fallen asleep.</p> + +<p>“I have only time for a few words,” the mate +said. “I am closely watched. Tony mistrusts +me. I will save you if I can.”</p> + +<p>“Why have they repaid my kindness with such +actions?” asked Mr. Henderson.</p> + +<p>“Because they are desperate men,” replied the +mate. “They are nothing more than pirates. +They mutinied on the other ship, killed the captain +and those of the crew who would not join them, +and started off to seek their fortunes. I pretended +to join them to save my life, but I have only been +watching for a chance to escape.</p> + +<p>“Because of lax discipline the ship was sent on +fire. We tried to put it out but could not. The +rest you know.</p> + +<p>“I heard them plan to capture this airship, +but could do nothing to stop them. Then I resolved +to pretend to act with them. They fear +pursuit for their other mutiny, and are anxious to +get as far away as possible.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think they will abandon the ship in +a little while?” asked the professor hopefully.</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid not,” answered the mate. “I +think they want to get rid of all of you, so they can +sail about as they please. Tony is a smart man. +He could soon learn to run this ship, he thinks.”</p> + +<p>“I doubt it,” Mr. Henderson answered. “But +how are you going to help us?”</p> + +<p>“I have not fully made up my plans,” the mate +answered. “However I wanted you to know I +would do my best to save you. Now I must go. +Be on the watch and when I can I will let you +know what I have decided on. I will hand Mark +a note when I bring your meals, just as I did to-day. +I think——”</p> + +<p>“Hark! What was that?” asked the professor.</p> + +<p>There was a noise outside the door, as if some +one was listening.</p> + +<p>“Put out the lights!” whispered the mate, and +Jack switched off the electric incandescents.</p> + +<p>A knock sounded on the door and the voice of +Tony called:</p> + +<p>“Mark! Come here! I want you to look at +the gas machine. It has stopped working, and we +are falling!”</p> + +<h2 id='ch10' class='c008'>CHAPTER X<br /><br />FOOLING THEIR ENEMIES</h2> + +<p class='c009'>Mark hurried into the corridor, taking care to +close the door after him, so Tony could get no +glimpse of the mate who had risked so much to +save his friends. But he need not have been +alarmed for the leader of the mutineers was too excited +over the stopping of the gas apparatus to give +any heed to who was in with the captives.</p> + +<p>“Do you think you can fix it?” he asked the +boy.</p> + +<p>“I guess so,” Mark replied confidently. “If +I can’t there is no danger, for we will fall gradually +and land in the water.”</p> + +<p>“But I don’t want to do that,” Tony objected. +“I want to keep on through the air.”</p> + +<p>Mark did not reply. By this time he was at +the gas machine. He soon saw nothing was the +matter save that new material must be placed in +the retort where the vapor was generated. He +refilled it, the gas was manufactured once more, +and the ship began to rise.</p> + +<p>“I will know how to do it next time,” Tony +said with a grin. Mark realized that every time +he showed the leader of the mutineers something +about the ship it was putting the professor and his +friends more and more into the power of the +scoundrels. But there was no help for it.</p> + +<p>The ship was still plunging ahead, and kept +about a mile above the earth. As there was no +further need of Mark, he was told he could go +back to his friends. When he reached the room +where they were held prisoners, he found the mate +had gone away, promising again to do all he +could for them.</p> + +<p>The next night, which it seemed would never +come, for the day, locked as the captives were in +their room, seemed endless, finally closed in. +Mark, Jack and the professor were anxious to +know whether the mate would pay them another +visit. As for Andy, Tom and Bill, while they +were interested in the ship, and wanted to be free +from the power of the mutineers, they did not lose +any sleep over it.</p> + +<p>Shortly after midnight, there came again the +peculiar knock, and the mate entered the room. +He seemed much excited over something, and, as +soon as the portal was securely closed he said to +Professor Henderson:</p> + +<p>“Is there an island any where near here where +men could live for a time?”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” asked the scientist. +“Do you want us to desert the ship and leave these +scoundrels in charge?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing of the sort,” replied the mate, who, +had said his name was Jack Rodgers. “But first +answer my question. A great deal may depend on +it.”</p> + +<p>Seeing Rodgers was in earnest, the professor +looked over some maps and charts, and announced +that they were within a few hundred miles of a +group of islands.</p> + +<p>“When would we reach them?” was Rodgers’ +next question.</p> + +<p>Mr. Henderson made a few rapid calculations +on a piece of paper.</p> + +<p>“At the present rate of sailing,” he said, “we +should be there about ten o’clock to-morrow. +That is, provided the ship does not slacken speed +or increase it.”</p> + +<p>“There is no danger of either of those two +things happening,” said the mate. “Tony is too +afraid of the machinery to do anything to it. So +you may safely figure that our speed will continue +the same.”</p> + +<p>“Then I can guarantee, with all reasonable certainty,” +the professor said, “that about ten o’clock +to-morrow we will be less than a mile from the islands. +They are a group where friendly natives +live, and where many tropical fruits abound. One +could scarcely select a better place to be shipwrecked. +But I hope the plans of Tony and his +friends do not include landing us there.”</p> + +<p>“No, nothing like that,” the mate answered. +“Quite the contrary. But I had better be going. +I will try and see Mark some time to-morrow. +Tony does not mind when I speak to him.”</p> + +<p>With this Rodgers left the captives, as he heard +some of the sailors moving about and did not want +to be discovered. The professor and the boys wondered +what the mate’s plan might be, but they had +to be content to wait and see.</p> + +<p>The night passed without incident. About +nine o’clock the next morning the mate came +to the door of the room where the professor and +his friends were prisoners. He made no secret +of his approach, but knocked boldly.</p> + +<p>“Tell Mark I want to see him,” he said, as the +professor answered. “All of you keep quiet,” he +added in a whisper. “There may be good news +soon.”</p> + +<p>Mark slipped from the room. He followed +the mate to the upper deck which, at that time was +deserted as all the sailors were in the dining room +eating, which practice they indulged in as often +as they could.</p> + +<p>“I have a plan to get rid of these rough men,” +the mate said to Mark. “It may work, and, +again it may not. At any rate it is worth trying. +It all depends on you with what help I can give +you.”</p> + +<p>“I’m willing to do my share,” Mark said, and +for the next ten minutes the boy and the mate +were in earnest conversation.</p> + +<p>It was about thirty-five minutes later when +there arose a sudden commotion in the ship. +Mark had returned to his friends and the mate +had disappeared. The confusion seemed to come +from the engine room where Tony had posted some +of his men.</p> + +<p>“We’re falling down! We’ll all be killed!” +shouted the men. “The ship is falling into the +sea!”</p> + +<p>“What is the trouble?” asked the professor as +he heard the commotion.</p> + +<p>“It is part of the mate’s plan,” said Mark. +“He told me to tell you to do nothing. If Tony +or any of the other men come to you just refer +them to me.”</p> + +<p>Two minutes later Tony came rushing into the +apartment where the captives were held prisoners.</p> + +<p>“Here! Come quickly, Mark!” he exclaimed. +“Something has gone wrong with the gas machine +again, and you must come and fix it before we are +all dashed to pieces!”</p> + +<p>With every appearance of haste Mark rushed +from the apartment, following Tony. The latter +led the way to the engine room.</p> + +<p>“Can anything be done?” he asked.</p> + +<p>Mark took a survey of the machinery.</p> + +<p>“It is too late,” he said as though much excited. +“The ship is falling down toward the sea +with terrific force.”</p> + +<p>It needed but a glance at the height gage to +show this. The pointer was revolving rapidly +about the face of the dial.</p> + +<p>“Will the ship stand the blow?” asked Tony.</p> + +<p>“Not at the rate it is falling,” replied Mark. +“She will go all to pieces when she strikes the +water, and she may explode!”</p> + +<p>“What are we to do then?” asked the leader of +the mutineers.</p> + +<p>“We must save ourselves!” cried the mate, +running in at this juncture. “Let our prisoners +shift for themselves as best they can. Let’s all +leap into the sea. There we at least have a chance +for our lives. But if we stay on this ship we will +all be drowned like cats in a bag.”</p> + +<p>“What do you propose?” asked Tony, his face +white with fear.</p> + +<p>“When the ship comes near enough the surface +of the water to make it safe we should all drop +overboard!” the mate exclaimed. “We are near +some islands, I understand, and we can thus save +our lives by swimming ashore.”</p> + +<p>This plan seemed to meet with instant favor, +and a little later there was a rush for the deck, as +each one wished to be the first to escape from the +boat they believed to be doomed.</p> + +<p>Lower and lower fell the <em>Mermaid</em>. She was +like a wounded bird which the shot of the hunter +has crippled. Down and down she fluttered.</p> + +<p>By this time all the sailors, save the mate were +on deck. He and Mark remained in the engine +room.</p> + +<p>“Don’t let her get too low,” the mate whispered.</p> + +<p>“I’ll watch out,” Mark replied. “I want to +give them a good scare while I’m at it.”</p> + +<p>The ship was now within fifty feet of the water. +There was a cry of terror from the sailors. Some +of them leaped over the rail and started to swim +ashore, as the ship was by this time close to a +group of islands.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, from the engine room the mate rushed.</p> + +<p>“Jump! Jump for your lives!” he exclaimed. +“The ship is about to blow up!”</p> + +<h2 id='ch11' class='c008'>CHAPTER XI<br /><br />MYSTERIOUS HAPPENINGS</h2> + +<p class='c009'>The voice of the mate echoed through the <em>Mermaid</em>. +Those on deck heard it, as did Tony in +the engine room, where he was vainly trying to +understand the complicated machinery.</p> + +<p>An instant later there sounded from beneath the +ship a series of splashes. More sailors were leaping +from the deck of the craft to the ocean. The +distance was not great, particularly as they all +landed in water.</p> + +<p>“Quick!” cried the mate to a group of sailors +that hesitated before taking the jump. “The ship +may blow up any minute now.”</p> + +<p>The men needed no second urging. As soon +as they struck the water they began to swim ashore, +as it was not far away. One after another they +jumped over the rail. Tony was the last to go. +He urged the captives to follow him, but they all +refused.</p> + +<p>A minute later the only one of the pirate crew +left on the ship was the mate. The others were all +struggling in the sea. Eventually they all reached +shore in safety.</p> + +<p>The airship was now within about twenty feet +of the water. It was still falling but not so rapidly.</p> + +<p>“Better send her up, now,” said the mate to +Mark, and the boy turned the necessary levers to +accomplish this.</p> + +<p>Dipping into the water as a sea gull does when +searching for food on the wing, for she had come +quite low, the <em>Mermaid</em> mounted once more into +the air, and was soon sailing along over the heads +of Tony and his gang.</p> + +<p>“What’s it all about?” asked Mr. Henderson, +who seemed in a sort of stupor. “I thought the +ship was broken. How, then, can it rise?”</p> + +<p>“It was only a trick of mine,” Rodgers said. +“The gas machine is not broken. I had Mark fix +it so that only a little vapor would be generated. +When the supply in the holder was not enough, +and no more was being made, the ship had to +sink. Mark and I pretended it was worse than it +really was just to scare the scoundrels.”</p> + +<p>“And you evidently succeeded,” observed Mr. +Henderson. “They have all left us. I am glad +you stayed.”</p> + +<p>“So am I,” said Rodgers. “I was just waiting +for a chance to escape from that crowd. This +was the plan I thought of that night. I wanted to +see the men put on some island where they could +manage to live, and which was not too far away.”</p> + +<p>The <em>Mermaid</em> was now mounting upward rapidly, +as Mark had adjusted the machinery properly. +The craft was well rid of the pirate crew, +and was able to proceed on its way, and enable +Mr. Henderson to carry out his plans.</p> + +<p>When the <em>Mermaid</em> had reached a certain +height her prow was turned the other way, and +she was sent back racing over the ground she had +just covered. But now the ship was in the hands +of friends. Fortunately no great damage had +been done by the sailors, and the professor was soon +able to get things in ship-shape. The engines +had not been molested and were working better +than ever.</p> + +<p>“Now to make another attempt to reach the +big hole in the earth,” the professor cried. “We +will be careful next time, who we rescue from ships +at sea.”</p> + +<p>The island was soon left behind, becoming a +mere speck on the ocean. Those aboard the <em>Mermaid</em> +knew no harm could befall the sailors, as +there were no savage tribes on the little spot of +land. Eventually the sailors were picked up by a +passing vessel and taken to their homes. The +story of their first mutiny leaked out and they were +properly punished.</p> + +<p>It required several days travel before the airship +regained the distance she had lost because of +the plans of the pirates. Also, there were a number +of minor repairs to make, and the professor +and his friends were kept busy.</p> + +<p>“How much longer before we come to the big +hole?” asked Jack, one day.</p> + +<p>“I think we ought to be near it in about two +weeks,” the professor replied. “I only hope we +shall not be disappointed, and will be able to explore +it.”</p> + +<p>“'Tain’t goin’ t’ be no fun t’ be decimated an’ +expurgitated inter a conglomerous aggregation of +elements constituting th’ exterior portion of human +anatomy,” said Washington in dubious tones.</p> + +<p>“You mean you’re afraid of being boiled in the +steam from the big hole?” asked Mark.</p> + +<p>“Jest so,” replied the colored man.</p> + +<p>“You don’t need to worry about that,” put in +the professor. “I will not take the ship down if +there is any danger, though of course there will +be some risk.”</p> + +<p>The ship, having been fully repaired, was now +able to be speeded up, and was sent scudding along +toward her destination. Rodgers proved a valuable +acquisition toward the crew, for he had sailed +many years in the waters over which they were +flying, and was able to give the professor many +valuable hints. He had heard vague stories of the +island with the big hole, but had never been near +it. He did not make the trip however, as, at his +request, he was put off at an inhabited island one +night.</p> + +<p>It was about a week after the sailors were frightened +from the ship, that a curious experience befell +Mark. Washington was on duty in the conning +tower, attending to the apparatus as the ship flew +through the air, and all the others had gone to +bed. Mark had remained up, later than the +others as he was interested in reading a book on +science.</p> + +<p>About ten o’clock he became hungry, and going +to the pantry got some bread and cold meat. He +set these on a table, and then, remembering he +would need some water to drink, started after some +in the cooler, which was in a little room near the +tower.</p> + +<p>Washington heard the boy as he turned the faucet +to draw the liquid, and spoke to him, as the +colored man was rather lonesome at his post. +Mark did not linger more than a minute or two, +but when he returned to where he had left the food +he was much surprised.</p> + +<p>There was not a trace of it to be seen. The +dishes were on the table, but every vestige of +bread and meat had disappeared.</p> + +<p>“I wonder if a cat or dog has been here,” was +Mark’s first thought. Then he remembered that +no such animals were aboard the <em>Mermaid</em>.</p> + +<p>Something on the floor caught his eye. He +stooped and picked it up. It was a slice of bread, +but in such shape that the boy stared at it, puzzled +as to how it could have become so.</p> + +<p>It was flattened out quite thin, but the strangest +part of it was that it bore what seemed to be the +marks of thumb and fingers from a very large +hand. So big, in fact, was the print, that Mark’s +hand scarce covered half of it, and, where the +bread had been squeezed into a putty like mass +(for it was quite fresh) the peculiar markings on +the skin of the tips of the fingers were visible.</p> + +<p>“It looks as if a giant grabbed this slice of +bread,” Mark observed. “There are strange happenings +aboard this ship. I wish I knew what they +meant.”</p> + +<p>He looked all around for the food, thinking +perhaps a rat had dragged it off, but there was +no trace of it.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the boy thought he heard a sound from +the big storeroom. He was almost sure he heard +something moving in there. He started toward +the door when he was stopped by hearing the professor’s +voice call:</p> + +<p>“Don’t open that door, Mark. Have I not +told you that place must not be entered?”</p> + +<p>“I thought I heard some one in there,” Mark +replied.</p> + +<p>“There is nothing in there but some apparatus +of mine,” Mr. Henderson said. “I want no one +to see it. What is the matter?”</p> + +<p>Mark explained matters to the scientist, who +had, as he said later, arisen on hearing the boy +moving about.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it was a rat that took your stuff,” Mr. +Henderson said. “I guess there are some pretty +big ones on the ship. Get some more food and +go to sleep.”</p> + +<p>Mark felt it best to obey, though he was by no +means satisfied with the professor’s explanation. +He listened intently to see if any more noises came +from the storeroom, but none did, and he went to +bed.</p> + +<p>Several times after that Mark tried the experiment +of leaving food about. On each occasion it +was taken.</p> + +<p>“It looks as if the ship was haunted,” he said. +“Of course I know it isn’t, but it’s very queer. +They must be strange rats that can get food from +shelves when there is only the smooth side of the +ship to climb up,” for on some occasions Mark +had tried the experiment of putting the food as +nearly out of reach as possible.</p> + +<p>It took several nights to learn all this, and, +as he did not want to take any one into his confidence, +he had to work in secret. But, with all his +efforts he learned nothing, save that there was +something odd about the ship that he could not +fathom.</p> + +<p>At first he believed the professor had some +strange animal concealed in the storeroom, but he +dismissed this idea almost as soon as he thought +of it. For what could the scientist want with an +animal when they were going to the interior of the +earth? That some beast had slipped aboard was +out of the question. Mark was much puzzled, but +finally, deciding the matter did not concern him a +great deal, gave up trying to solve the mystery, +at least for a time.</p> + +<p>The ship was now in the neighborhood of the +equator and the climate had become much warmer. +So hot indeed were some nights that they slept out +on deck, with the <em>Mermaid</em> flying through the air +at a moderate pace, for it was deemed best not to +go at any great speed after dark.</p> + +<p>One night the professor, after consulting various +charts and maps, and making calculations which +covered several sheets of paper announced:</p> + +<p>“We should sight the mysterious island to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>“That’s good news!” exclaimed Jack. “I’m +anxious to see what’s below inside of that big hole.”</p> + +<p>“Everybody git ready for their funerals!” exclaimed +Washington in a deep voice. “I ain’t got many——”</p> + +<p>“Cheer up,” interrupted Jack, poking Washington +in the ribs. The colored man was very +ticklish, and he began to laugh heartily, though, +perhaps, he did not feel like it.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, above the sound of his shouts, there +came a crashing, grinding noise from the engine +room.</p> + +<h2 id='ch12' class='c008'>CHAPTER XII<br /><br />THE BIG HOLE</h2> + +<p class='c009'>“Something has gone wrong!” exclaimed the +professor as he jumped up. He reached the engine +room ahead of any one else, and when the +two boys got there they found him busy twisting +wheels and shifting levers.</p> + +<p>“Anything serious?” asked Jack.</p> + +<p>“It’s the gas machine again,” Mr. Henderson +replied. “It broke where we fixed it. However +it doesn’t matter. I was going to lower the ship +anyhow, as I want to approach the island from the +water. We will go down a little sooner than I +counted on.”</p> + +<p>The disabling of the gas machine caused the vapor +to escape slowly from the tank, and this made +the ship sink gradually. By means of the emergency +stop-cock the descent could be controlled almost +as well as though the machinery was in working +order. Half an hour later the <em>Mermaid</em> rested +on the water.</p> + +<p>It was a little rough, as there was quite a swell +on, and not so pleasant as floating in the air on +an even keel, but they made the best of it.</p> + +<p>On account of the little accident, and not being +certain of its extent, it was deemed best not to send +the ship ahead. So they laid to until morning.</p> + +<p>For the better part of two days all those on +board the <em>Mermaid</em> had their hands full mending +the break and making other repairs found necessary. +In that time they lay to, floating idly with +the currents, or blown by the wind, for the professor +would not start any of the engines or apparatus +until the ship was in good condition.</p> + +<p>In this time Mark had several times recalled +the curious happenings in regard to the disappearing +food, and the mystery of the storeroom. But +there were no further manifestations, and no other +signs that there might be a strange visitor aboard.</p> + +<p>“I couldn’t have imagined it all,” said Mark, +“but I guess what did happen may have been +caused by natural means, only I can’t discover +them.”</p> + +<p>It was about two days after this, the ship having +sailed scores of miles on the surface of the water, +that Mark, who was in the conning tower exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“That looks like a waterspout ahead of us.”</p> + +<p>“That’s what it is!” Jack agreed. “What +shall we do?”</p> + +<p>“Call the professor!” said Mark. “He’ll +know.”</p> + +<p>When Mr. Henderson came, he looked for a +long time at a cloud of black vapor which hung +low in the east.</p> + +<p>“It may be a waterspout,” he said. “We’ll +rise in the air and see if we can avoid it.”</p> + +<p>The ship was sent up into the air. As it rose +higher and higher, the professor, making frequent +observations from his conning tower, cried out:</p> + +<p>“That is no waterspout!”</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked Mark.</p> + +<p>“It is the steam and vapor rising from the big +hole in the earth! Boys, we are almost there!”</p> + +<p>“Are you sure that’s it?” asked Mark.</p> + +<p>“Almost positive,” Mr. Henderson replied. +“You can see how much warmer it has become +of late, as we approached the equator. We are +almost due at the island, and I have no doubt we +have reached it.”</p> + +<p>As the ship flew forward the mass of dark vapor +became more pronounced. Through the glasses +it could be noticed to consist of rolling masses of +clouds. What lay beneath them no one knew. +The adventurers were going to try to find out.</p> + +<p>Now that they had arrived at the beginning of +the main part of their journey, the travelers felt +their spirits sink a little. It was one thing to plan +to go down into the depths of the earth, but it was +quite another to make the actual attempt. Still, +they were not going to give up the project. The +professor had confidence in his ship and believed +it could safely make the trip. Still it was with no +little apprehension that Mr. Henderson watched +the nearer approach of the craft to that strange island.</p> + +<p>“Perfesser, are yo’ really an’ truly goin’ t’ depress +this elongated spheroid an’ its human consignment +int’ that conglomerous convoluted mass +of gaseous vapor regardless of th’ consequences?” +asked Washington, as he gazed with wide opened +eyes at the sight before him.</p> + +<p>“If you mean am I going to let the <em>Mermaid</em> +go down into that hole you are perfectly correct,” +the scientist answered, “though you could have +said it in fewer words, Washington.”</p> + +<p>“I—I guess I’ll get out an’ walk,” the colored +man made reply.</p> + +<p>“This isn’t any trolley car,” observed Mark. +“Don’t lose your nerve, Wash. Stay with us, and +we’ll discover a gold or diamond mine, maybe.”</p> + +<p>“Is there diamonds down there?” asked the colored +man, his fright seeming to leave him.</p> + +<p>“There are all sorts of things inside the earth,” +the professor answered.</p> + +<p>“Then I’m goin’ along!” Washington +declared. “I always did want a diamond ring, an’ +I knows a little colored gal that wants one, too. +I’m goin’ all right! This suttenly am th’ most +kloslosterous conjunctivity of combativeness that I +ever sagaciated!” and he began to do a sort of +impromptu cake-walk.</p> + +<h2 id='ch13' class='c008'>CHAPTER XIII<br /><br />DOWN INTO THE EARTH</h2> + +<p class='c009'>It was now noon, but the adventurers did not +think of dinner in the excitement of approaching +the mysterious island. The speed of the ship was +increased that they might the more quickly come +to it. As they approached they could see the +masses of vapor more plainly, and it appeared that +some great commotion must be going on inside the +big hole, since clouds of steam arose.</p> + +<p>“I only hope it doesn’t prove too hot for us,” +observed the professor. “However, I provided a +water jacket for the ship, and we may need it, as +well as the vacuum chambers to keep the heat from +us.”</p> + +<p>It was about three o’clock when the flying ship +reached the edge of the island. From there it +was about a mile to the rim of the big hole, over +one side of which the waters of the ocean poured +with a roar that could be heard over half a mile +off.</p> + +<p>“I think we had better halt and see that everything +is in good shape before proceeding,” said +Mr. Henderson. “Jack, you and Mark make a +thorough inspection of the engine room, and see +that all the apparatus is in working order.”</p> + +<p>The two boys prepared to do as they were told. +Mark, who was walking a little ahead of Jack, entered +the apartment from which the storeroom +opened. As he did so he saw, or thought he saw, +the door of the place where the extra supplies were +kept, close. Without saying anything to Jack he +hurried forward, and tried the knob. It would +not turn.</p> + +<p>“That’s funny,” said Mark to himself. “I +could almost swear I saw some one go into that +room. Yet I know the professor did not enter, +for I just left him. And none of the others would +dare to. I wonder if I will ever solve the mystery.”</p> + +<p>But he had too much to do to allow him to +dwell on that matter. Several of the dynamos +needed adjusting and for two hours he and Jack +had all they could do.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile the professor had gone over +the other parts of the ship, and gotten everything +in readiness for the descent. The <em>Mermaid</em> was +lowered to within a few hundred feet of the sea, +and, through a hose that was let down, the compartments, +provided for this emergency were filled +with water. These compartments were between +the outer and inner hulls of the lower part of the +craft, and were designed to prevent the interior +becoming heated in case the travelers found they +had to pass close to fire. There were also vacuum +chambers, and from these the air was exhausted, as +of course every schoolboy knows a vacuum is a non-conductor +of either heat or cold.</p> + +<p>“Now I think we are ready,” the professor announced +at length.</p> + +<p>“Everything’s all right in the engine room,” +announced Jack.</p> + +<p>“Yes, an’ everything’s all right in th’ kitchen,” +put in Washington. “I’ve got a good meal ready +as soon as any one wants to eat.”</p> + +<p>“It will have to wait a while,” Mr. Henderson +remarked. “We are going to start to make the +descent before we dine.”</p> + +<p>The hose was reeled up, and the ship was sent +a few hundred feet higher into the air, as Mr. +Henderson wanted to take a last good observation +before he went down into the hole.</p> + +<p>But having risen some distance above the masses +of rolling vapors he found he was at no advantage, +since the strongest telescope he could bring to bear +could not pierce the cloud masses.</p> + +<p>“We’ll just have to trust to luck,” the scientist +said. “I judge we’re about over the centre of the +opening. Lower away Mark!”</p> + +<p>The boy, who, under the watchful eye of the +professor, was manipulating the levers and wheels +in the conning tower, shifted some handles. The +gas was expelled from the holder, the negative +gravity apparatus ceased to work, and the <em>Flying +Mermaid</em> sank lower and lower, toward the mysterious +hole that yawned beneath her.</p> + +<p>The hearts of all beat strangely, if not with +fear, at least with apprehension, for they did not +know what they might encounter. Perhaps death +in some terrible form awaited them. But the desire +to discover something new and strange had +gripped all of them, and not one would have +voted to turn back.</p> + +<p>Even old Andy, who seldom got excited, was in +unusual spirits. He took down his gun and remarked:</p> + +<p>“Maybe I can kill some new kind of animal, +and write a book about its habits, for surely we +will see strange beasts in the under-world.”</p> + +<p>Lower and lower sank the ship. Now it was +amid the first thin masses of vapors, those that +floated highest and were more like a light fog, than +anything else. By means of a window in the bottom +of the craft, which window was closed by a +thick piece of plate glass, Professor Henderson +could look down and see what was beneath them.</p> + +<p>“The clouds seem to be getting thicker,” he +said, as he peered through the small casement. +“If they would only clear away we could see something.”</p> + +<p>But instead of doing this the vapors accumulated +more thickly about the ship. It was so dark inside +the <em>Mermaid</em> now that the electric lights had to be +switched on. In the room with the floor-window +the lights were not used, as had they shone one +could not have seen down below.</p> + +<p>The professor maintained his position. The descent +was a perilous one, and he wanted to be on +the watch to check it at once if the <em>Mermaid</em> was +liable to dash upon some pointed rock or fall into +some fiery pit. His hand was on the signal levers.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he looked up and glanced at a gage on +the wall. The hand of it was slowly revolving.</p> + +<p>“We are at the earth’s surface,” the scientist +said. “Now we are below it. Now we are fairly +within the big hole! Boys, we may be on the +verge of a great discovery!”</p> + +<p>An instant later it seemed as if a hot wave had +struck the <em>Mermaid</em>, or as if the craft had been +plunged into boiling water.</p> + +<p>“It’s going to be hot!” cried the professor. +“Lucky I provided the water jackets!”</p> + +<p>Then the lights in the interior of the ship went +out, leaving the whole craft in darkness.</p> + +<p>“What has happened?” cried Mark.</p> + +<h2 id='ch14' class='c008'>CHAPTER XIV<br /><br />MANY MILES BELOW</h2> + +<p class='c009'>“Don’t be alarmed,” spoke the calm voice of +the professor. “I have only turned off the electrics. +I want to switch on the search lights, to +see if we can learn anything about our position.”</p> + +<p>As he spoke he turned a switch, and, the gloom +below the ship, as the boys could see by glimpses +from the floor-window, was pierced by a dazzling +glare. In the bottom of the <em>Mermaid</em> were set a +number of powerful electric arc lights with reflectors, +constructed to throw the beams downward. +The professor had built them in for just this emergency, +as he thought that at some time they might +want to illuminate what was below the craft.</p> + +<p>Not that it was of much avail on this occasion, +for, though the lights were powerful, they could +not pierce the miles of gloom that lay below them. +The beams only served to accentuate the darkness.</p> + +<p>“I guess we’ll have to trust to luck,” the professor +said, after a vain attempt, by means of powerful +glasses, to distinguish something. “There +is too much fog and vapor.”</p> + +<p>“What makes it so warm?” asked Mark, removing +his coat.</p> + +<p>“Well, you must remember you are approaching +the interior of the earth,” the professor answered. +“It has been calculated that the heat increases +one degree for every fifty-five feet you descend. +We have come down several hundred feet +and of course it is getting warmer.”</p> + +<p>“Then if we go down very far it will get so +hot we will not be able to stand it,” Jack put in.</p> + +<p>“I do not believe we will suffer any great inconvenience,” +Mr. Henderson went on. “I believe +that after we pass a certain point it will become +cooler. I think the inner fires of the earth +are more or less heated gas in a sort of inner chamber +between two shells. If we can pass the second +shell, we will be all right.”</p> + +<p>“But aren’t we liable to hit something, going +down into the dark this way?” asked Mark.</p> + +<p>“We will guard ourselves as far as possible,” +the scientist answered.</p> + +<p>The <em>Mermaid</em> seemed to be going down on a +side of the immense shaft a good way distant from +the strange waterfall. When they had first +dropped into the hole the travelers could hear +the rush of waters, but now the noise was not +audible.</p> + +<p>“I think the hole must widen out the farther +down we go,” the professor said. “We are probably +many miles from the fall now.”</p> + +<p>“I’m sure I hope so,” put in Jack. “It would +be no fun to have to take a shower bath in this +place.”</p> + +<p>After a meal, the boys and the professor took +some more observations, but with all their efforts +nothing could be seen below the ship but a vast +black void, into which they were steadily descending.</p> + +<p>“I wonder when we’re going to stop,” asked +Mark. “It’s like playing the game ‘Going to +Jerusalem,’ you keep wondering when the music +will cease and you will have a chance to grab a +chair. I only hope we have a chair or something +else to sit on, in case we go to smash.”</p> + +<p>“We’re not liable to have any accidents with the +professor in charge,” Jack answered. “Didn’t +he bring us safe out of some pretty tight holes when +we went to the north pole in the airship, and again +when we found the south pole in the submarine?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but this is different,” objected Mark.</p> + +<p>“Well, I’m not worrying,” Jack went on. “It +doesn’t do any good, and only makes you lie +awake nights. By the way, I wonder what time +it is getting to be.”</p> + +<p>He looked at his watch and found it was close +on to eight o’clock in the evening. So late had +dinner been served, and so varied were the happenings +of the last few hours, that time had passed quickly.</p> + +<p>“Why it’s almost bed-time,” said Jack. “I +wonder if we are to go on dropping into the depths +of nowhere all night.”</p> + +<p>At that moment the professor entered the room +where the boys were. He seemed quite pleased +over something, and was smiling.</p> + +<p>“Everything is going along famously,” he said. +“I have just tested the air and find it is rich in +oxygen. We shall suffer nothing on that score. +The heat too, seems to have decreased. On the +whole, everything favors us.”</p> + +<p>“Are we going on down?” asked Mark.</p> + +<p>“As far as we can,” Mr. Henderson answered. +“Let me see how far we are below now.”</p> + +<p>He went to the gage that indicated the vertical +position of the ship. Because of the changed conditions, +the craft now sinking below the surface +of the earth instead of rising above it, as was its +wont, some calculations were necessary. These +the scientist made as quickly as he could.</p> + +<p>“We are now ten miles underground!” he exclaimed. +“That is doing very well. My theories +are working out. I think we shall land somewhere +before long.”</p> + +<p>“I hopes so!” exclaimed Washington coming +in at this point. “I’m mighty skeered shootin’ +down int’ this dark hole, and no time-table t’ show +when we’s due t’ arrive.”</p> + +<p>“We ought to land in a couple of days more,” +the professor answered. “Never mind about +worrying Washington, I’ll take care of you.”</p> + +<p>“I hopes so, Perfesser,” the colored man said. +“I got a little girl waitin’ for me back in Georgia, +an’ I’d like t’ see her 'fore I git burned up.”</p> + +<p>Accompanied by the professor, the boys made a +tour of the ship to see that all the machinery and +apparatus were in working order. Owing to the +changed conditions the negative gravity engine had +to be worked at faster speed than usual, since the +downward pull of the earth was greater the farther +they descended into the interior and they did not +want to fall too swiftly. But this was easily provided +for, since the professor had made the apparatus +capable of standing a great strain.</p> + +<p>The ten miles had become fourteen when the +professor, finding that everything was in good +shape, proposed that the boys go to bed. They +did not want to, though they were sleepy, and they +feared to miss some strange sights.</p> + +<p>But when the professor had promised to call +them in case anything unusual developed, they consented +to turn in, and Bill and Tom assumed their +duties, which were light enough, now that the ship +was merely falling into the immense shaft.</p> + +<p>When Mark turned into his bunk he could not +go to sleep at once. It may have been the excitement +over their new position, or because he had +eaten too hearty a supper, but the fact was he remained +awake for some time.</p> + +<p>While thus tossing restlessly on his bed, wondering +what ailed him, he thought he heard a noise +in the main apartment out of which the storeroom +opened. He crawled softly from his bed, and +looked from his stateroom door.</p> + +<p>In the light of a shaded electric Mark saw the +figure of some one glide across the floor and take +refuge in the room, which Professor Henderson +always was so particular about.</p> + +<p>“I wonder what or who that was,” reasoned +Mark. “There is some mystery in this. Can +the professor have concealed some one on this +ship whose presence he does not want to admit? +It certainly looks so.”</p> + +<p>Not wanting to awaken the ship’s crew, and remembering +what Mr. Henderson had said about +any one entering the storeroom, Mark went back +to bed, to fall into an uneasy slumber.</p> + +<p>“Breakfast!” called Washington breaking in +on a fine dream Jack was having about being captain +of a company of automobile soldiers. “Last +call for breakfast!”</p> + +<p>“Hello! Is it morning?” asked Jack.</p> + +<p>“Not so’s you could notice it,” Washington went +on. “It’s as dark as a stack of black cats and another +one throwed in. But breakfast is ready jest +the same.”</p> + +<p>The boys were soon at the table, and learned +that nothing of importance had occurred during +the night. The <em>Mermaid</em> had been kept going +slowly down, and about seven o’clock registered +more than fifty miles below the earth’s surface.</p> + +<p>Still there was no change in the outward surroundings. +It remained as black as the interior of +Egypt when that country was at its darkest. The +powerful electrics could not pierce the gloom. The +ship was working well, and the travelers were very +comfortable.</p> + +<p>Down, down, down, went the <em>Mermaid</em>. The +temperature, which had risen to about ninety went +back to sixty-nine, and there seemed to be no more +danger from the inner fires.</p> + +<p>They were now a hundred miles under the surface. +But still the professor kept the <em>Mermaid</em> +sinking. Every now and again he would take an +observation, but only found the impenetrable darkness +surrounded them.</p> + +<p>“We must arrive somewhere, soon,” he muttered.</p> + +<p>It was about six o’clock that night that the alarm +bell set up a sudden ringing. The professor who +was making some calculations on a piece of paper +jumped to his feet, and so did a number of the +others.</p> + +<p>“We are nearing the bottom!” he cried. +“The bell has given us warning!”</p> + +<h2 id='ch15' class='c008'>CHAPTER XV<br /><br />IN THE STRANGE DRAUGHT</h2> + +<p class='c009'>The boys ran to attend to the engines and apparatus +to which they had been assigned in view +of this emergency. The professor, Washington, +Bill, Tom and Andy, who had kept to themselves +since the descent, came running out of the small +cabin where they usually sat, and wanted to know +what it was all about.</p> + +<p>“We may hit something, in spite of all +precautions,” Mr. Henderson remarked. “Slow +down the ship.”</p> + +<p>The <em>Mermaid</em> was, accordingly checked in her +downward flight, by a liberal use of the gas and +the negative gravity machine.</p> + +<p>The bell continued to ring, and the dials +pointed to the mark that indicated the ship was +more than one hundred and fifty miles down.</p> + +<p>Mark, who had run to the engine room to check +the descent, came back.</p> + +<p>“Why didn’t you slow her down?” asked the +professor.</p> + +<p>“I did,” replied the boy. “The negative gravity +and the gas machines are working at full +speed.”</p> + +<p>“Then why are we still descending?” asked the +scientist. “For a while our speed was checked, +but now we are falling faster than before.”</p> + +<p>“I attended to the apparatus,” Mark insisted.</p> + +<p>Just then, from without the ship, came a terrible +roaring sound, as though there was a great cyclone +in progress. At the same time, those aboard the +craft could feel themselves being pulled downward +with terrific force.</p> + +<p>“We are caught in a draught!” Mr. Henderson +cried. “We are being sucked down into the +depths of the earth!”</p> + +<p>He ran to the engine room. With the help +of the boys he set in motion an auxiliary gravity +machine, designed to exert a most powerful influence +against the downward pull of the earth. As +they watched the great wheels spin around, and +heard the hum and whirr of the dynamos, the boys +watched the pointer which indicated how low they +were getting.</p> + +<p>And, as they watched, they saw that the needle +of the dial kept moving, moving, moving.</p> + +<p>“Our efforts are useless! We can’t stop!” +the professor cried.</p> + +<p>Grave indeed was the plight of the adventurers. +In their ship they were being sucked down into +unknown regions and all their efforts did not avail +to save them. It was an emergency they could +not guard against, and which could not have been +foreseen.</p> + +<p>“What are to do?” asked Mark.</p> + +<p>“We can only wait,” Mr. Henderson replied. +“The terrible suction may cease, or it may carry +us to some place of safety. Let us hope for the +best.”</p> + +<p>Seeing there was no further use in running the +engines in an effort to check the downward rush the +machines were stopped. Then they waited for +whatever might happen.</p> + +<p>Now that they seemed in imminent peril Washington +was as cool as any one. He went about +putting his kitchen in order and getting ready for +the next meal as if they were sailing comfortably +along on the surface of the ocean. As for old +Andy he was nervous and frightened, and plainly +showed it. With his gun in readiness he paced +back and forth as if on the lookout for strange +beasts or birds.</p> + +<p>Bill and Tom were so alarmed that they were of +little use in doing anything, and they were not +disturbed in their staterooms where they went when +it became known that the ship was unmanageable.</p> + +<p>The boys and the professor, while greatly frightened +at the unexpected turn of events, decided +there was no use in giving way to foolish alarm. +They realized they could do nothing but await developments.</p> + +<p>At the same time they took every precaution. +They piled all the bedding on the floor of the living +room, so that the pillows and mattresses might +form a sort of pad in case the ship was dashed +down on the bottom of the big hole.</p> + +<p>“Not that it would save us much,” Jack observed +with a grim smile, “but somehow it sort +of makes your mind easier.”</p> + +<p>All this while the ship was being sucked down +at a swift pace. The pointer of the gage, indicating +the depth, kept moving around and soon they +were several hundreds of miles below the surface +of the earth.</p> + +<p>The professor tried, by means of several instruments, +to discover in which direction they were +headed, and whether they were going straight +down or at an angle. But some strange influence +seemed to affect the gages and other pieces of apparatus, +for the pointers and hands would swing +in all directions, at one time indicating that they +were going down, and, again, upward.</p> + +<p>“There must be a strong current of electricity +here,” Mr. Henderson said, “or else there is, as +many suspect, a powerful magnet at the center of +the earth, which we are nearing.”</p> + +<p>“What will you do if the ship is pulled apart, +or falls and is smashed?” asked Mark with much +anxiety.</p> + +<p>“You take a cheerful view of things,” said Jack.</p> + +<p>“Well, it’s a good thing to prepare for emergencies,” +Mark added.</p> + +<p>“If the ship was to be separated by the magnetic +pull, or if it fell on sharp rocks and was +split in twain, I am afraid none of us could do anything +to save ourselves,” the professor answered. +“Still, if we were given a little warning of the +disaster, I have means at hand whereby we might +escape with our lives. But it would be a perilous +way of——”</p> + +<p>“I reckon yo’ all better come out an’ have supper,” +broke in Washington. “Leastways we’ll +call it supper, though I don’t rightly know whether +it’s night or mornin’. Anyhow I’ve got a meal +ready.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t suppose any of us feel much like eating,” +observed Mr. Henderson, “but there is no +telling when we will have the chance again, so, perhaps, +we had better take advantage of it.”</p> + +<p>For a while they ate in silence, finding that they +had better appetites than they at first thought. +Old Andy in particular did full justice to the food +Washington had prepared.</p> + +<p>“I always found it a good plan to eat as much +and as often as you can,” the hunter remarked. +“This is a mighty uncertain world.”</p> + +<p>“You started to tell us a little while ago, Professor,” +said Mark, “about a plan you had for +saving out lives if worst came to worst, and there +was a chance to put it into operation. What is +it?”</p> + +<p>“I will tell you,” the aged inventor said. “It +is something about which I have kept silent, as I +did not want to frighten any of you. It was my +latest invention, and I had only perfected it when +we started off on this voyage. Consequently I +had no chance to try it. The machine works in +theory, but whether it does in practice is another +question. That is why I say there is a risk. But +we may have to take this risk. I have placed +aboard this ship a——”</p> + +<p>The professor was interrupted in what he was +about to say by a curious tremor that made the +whole ship shiver as though it had struck some +obstruction. Yet there was no sudden jolt or jar +such as would have been occasioned by that.</p> + +<p>At the same time Washington, who was out in +the kitchen, came running into the dining room, +crying:</p> + +<p>“We’re droppin’ into a ragin’ fire, Perfesser!”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” asked Mr. Henderson.</p> + +<p>“I jest took a look down through th’ hole in +th’ bottom of the ship!” cried Washington. “It’s +all flames an’ smoke below us!”</p> + +<p>“I wonder if it is the end,” the professor muttered +in a low voice.</p> + +<p>Followed by the boys, the inventor hastened +to the floor-window. The lights were turned off +to enable a better view to be had of what was +below them.</p> + +<p>Leaning over the glass protected aperture the +boys and the professor saw, far, far down, a +bright light shining. It was as if they were +miles above a whole town of blast furnaces, the +stacks of which were belching forth flames and +smoke. The rolling clouds of vapor were illuminated +by a peculiar greenish light, which, at times, +turned to red, blue, purple and yellowish hues.</p> + +<p>The effect was weird and beautiful though it +was full of terror for the travelers. It seemed +as if they were falling into some terrible pit of +fire, for the reflection of what they feared were +flames, could plainly be seen.</p> + +<p>“I wish I’d never come on this terrible voyage!” +wailed Washington. “I’d rather freeze +to death than be burned up.”</p> + +<p>“Washington, be quiet!” commanded the professor +sternly. “This is no time for foolishness. +We must work hard to save our lives, for we are +in dire peril.</p> + +<p>“Mark, you and Washington, with Jack, start +the engines. Turn on every bit of power you can. +Fill the gas holder as full as it will hold, and +use extra heavy pressure. I will see if I can not +work the negative gravity apparatus to better advantage +than we did before. We must escape +if possible!”</p> + +<p>The boys, as was also Washington, were only +too glad to have something to do to take their +mind off their troubles. All three were much +frightened, but Mark and Jack tried not to show +it. As for Washington he was almost crying.</p> + +<p>Soon the whirr and hum of the machinery in +the <em>Mermaid</em> was heard. The craft, which was +rushing in some direction, either downward, ahead +or backwards within the unknown depths, shivered +from the speed of the dynamos and other apparatus. +Soon the boys could hear the professor +starting the negative gravity engine, and then +began a struggle between the forces of nature and +those of mankind.</p> + +<p>Once more the adventurers anxiously watched +the gages and indicators. For a while the ship +seemed to be holding out against the terrible influence +that was sucking her down. She appeared +to hesitate. Then, as the downward force triumphed +over the mechanical energy in the craft, +she began to settle again, and soon was descending, +if that was the direction, as fast as before.</p> + +<p>“It is of no use,” said the professor with a +groan. “I must try our last resort!”</p> + +<p>He started from the engine room where Mark +and Jack had gone. As he did so, he glanced at +a thermometer hanging on the wall near the door.</p> + +<p>“Has any one turned on the heat?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“It’s shut off,” replied Mark, looking at the +electric stove.</p> + +<p>“Then what makes it so hot?” asked the scientist.</p> + +<p>He pointed to the little silvery column in the +tiny tube of the instrument. It registered close +to one hundred degrees, though a few minutes +before it had been but sixty. And the starting +of the machinery could not account for the rise +in temperature, since most of the apparatus was +run by electricity and developed little heat save +in the immediate proximity. The thermometer +was fully ten feet away from any machine.</p> + +<p>“It’s the fiery furnace that’s doing it!” cried +Washington. “We’re falling into th’ terrible pit +an’ we’re goin’ t’ be roasted alive!”</p> + +<p>“It certainly is getting warmer,” observed +Mark, as he took off his coat. Soon he had to +shed his vest, and Jack and the professor followed +his example. The others too, also found all superfluous +garments a burden, and, in a little while +they were going about in scanty attire.</p> + +<p>Still the heat increased, until it was almost torture +to remain in the engine room. Nor was it +much cooler elsewhere. In vain did the professor +set a score of big electric fans to whirring. He +even placed cakes of ice, from the small ice machine +that was carried, in front of the revolving +blades, to cool off the air. But the ice was melted +almost as soon as it was taken from the apparatus.</p> + +<p>“Them flames is gittin worser!” Washington +cried a little later. “We’s comin’ nearer!”</p> + +<p>From the bottom window the professor and the +boys looked down. True enough the curious, +changing, vari-colored lights seemed brighter. +They could almost see the tongues of flame shooting +upward in anticipation of what they were +soon to devour.</p> + +<p>The heat was increasing every minute. The +sides of the ship were hot. The heads of the +travelers were getting dizzy. They could hardly +talk or move about.</p> + +<p>“I must save our lives! I must trust to +the——” The professor, who was muttering to +himself started toward the storeroom. As in +a dream Mark watched him. He remembered +afterward that he had speculated on what might be +the outcome of the mystery the professor threw +about the place. “I will have to use it,” he heard +the scientist say softly.</p> + +<p>Just as Mr. Henderson was about to open the +door there came a fiercer blast of heat than any +that had preceded. At the same instant the conditions +in the <em>Mermaid</em> became so fearful that +each of the travelers felt himself fainting away.</p> + +<p>“Go to—storeroom—get cylinder—get in——” +the professor murmured, and then he fell +forward in a faint.</p> + +<h2 id='ch16' class='c008'>CHAPTER XVI<br /><br />THE NEW LAND</h2> + +<p class='c009'>“What is it? Tell us!” exclaimed Jack, +almost in his last breath, for, a few seconds later +he too toppled over senseless. Then Washington +went down, while Andy, Bill and Tom succumbed +to the terrible heat.</p> + +<p>Mark felt his head swimming. His eyes were +almost bulging from their sockets. He dimly +remembered trying to force himself to go to the +storeroom and see what was there. He started +toward it with that intention, but fell half way +to it.</p> + +<p>As he did so he saw something which impressed +itself on his mind, half unconscious as he was.</p> + +<p>The door of the storeroom suddenly opened, +and from it came a giant shape, that seemed to +expand until it filled the whole of the apartment +where the stricken ones lay. It was like the form +of some monster, half human, half beast. Mark +shuddered, and then, closing his eyes, he felt himself +sinking down into some terrible deep and +black pit. A second later the whole ship was +jarred as though it had hit something.</p> + +<p>How long he and the others remained unconscious +Mark did not know. He was the first to +revive, and his first sensation was one as though +he had slept hard and long, and did not want +to get up. He felt very comfortable, although +he was lying flat on the floor, with his head jammed +against the side of a locker. It was so dark that +he could not distinguish his hand held close to his +face.</p> + +<p>“I wonder if I’m dead, and if all the others +are dead too,” he thought to himself. “What +has happened? Let’s see, the last I remember +was some horrible shape rushing from the storeroom. +I wonder what it could have been? Surely +that was not the secret the professor referred to.”</p> + +<p>Mark shuddered as he recalled the monster that +seemed to have grown more terrible as each second +passed. Then the boy raised himself up from +his prostrate position.</p> + +<p>“Well, at any rate, some one has turned off +the heat,” he murmured. “It’s very comfortable +in here now. I wish I could strike a light.”</p> + +<p>He listened intently, to learn if any of the +others were moving about. He could hear them +breathing, but so faintly as to indicate they were +insensible. Mark stretched out his hand and felt +that some one was lying close to him, but who +of the adventurers it was he could not determine.</p> + +<p>“If only the dynamo was working we could +have light,” he said. “But it seems to have +stopped,” and, indeed there was a lacking of the +familiar purr and hum of the electrical machine. +In fact none of the apparatus in the ship was +working.</p> + +<p>“The storage battery!” exclaimed Mark. +“That would give light for a while, if I can only +find the switch in the dark.”</p> + +<p>He began crawling about on his hands and +knees. It was so intensely black that he ran into +many things and received severe bruises. At last +he came to a doorway, and as he did so his hand +came in contact with an easy chair. It was the +only one aboard, and by that he knew he had +passed into the sitting room. He had his general +direction now, and knew if he kept straight on +he would come to the engine room. There he +was familiar enough with the apparatus and levers +to be able to turn the electric switch.</p> + +<p>Crawling slowly and cautiously, he reached the +room where all the engines were. Then he had +to feel around the sides to locate the switch. At +length he found it. There was a click, a little +flash of greenish fire, and the copper conductors +came together, and the ship was flooded with the +glow from the incandescents.</p> + +<p>Mark hurried back to where the others were +lying. They were still unconscious, but an uneasy +movement on the part of Jack told that he was +coming out of the stupor. Mark got some ammonia +and held it beneath his comrade’s nose. The +strong fumes completed the work that nature had +started and Jack opened his eyes.</p> + +<p>“Where am I? What has happened? Are +any of them dead?” he asked quickly.</p> + +<p>“I hope no one is dead,” Mark replied. “As +to the other question, I can’t answer. I don’t +know whether we are a thousand miles underground, +or floating on the ocean, though I’m more +inclined to the former theory. But never mind +that now. Help me to bring the others back +to their senses. I’ll work on the professor and +you can begin on Bill or Tom. Washington seems +to be all right,” for at that moment the colored +man opened his eyes, stared about him and then +got up.</p> + +<p>“I thought I was dead for suah!” he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“Some of the others may be if we don’t hurry,” +said Mark. “Get to work, Wash!”</p> + +<p>With the colored man to help them the two +boys, by the use of the ammonia, succeeded in +reviving Bill, Tom and old Andy. But the professor, +probably on account of his advanced age, +did not respond so readily to the treatment. The +boys were getting quite alarmed, as even some of +the diluted ammonia, forced between his lips, did +not cause him to open his eyes, or increase his +heart action.</p> + +<p>“If he should die, and leave us all alone with +the ship in this terrible place, what would we do?” +asked Jack.</p> + +<p>“He’s not going to die!” exclaimed Mark. +“Here I have another plan. Washington bring +that medical electrical battery from the engine +room.” This was a small machine the professor +had brought along for experimental purposes.</p> + +<p>Quickly adjusting it, Mark placed the handles +in the nerveless fingers of Mr. Henderson. Then +he started the current. In about a minute the +eyelids of the aged inventor began to quiver, and, +in less than five minutes he had been revived sufficiently +to enable him to sit up. He passed his +hand across his forehead.</p> + +<p>“What has happened?” he asked in a faint +voice.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know; none of us knows,” Mark +answered. “We all lost our senses when it got +so hot, and there seemed to be some peculiar vapor +in the air. The last I remember was seeing some +horrible shape rush from the storeroom, soon after +the ship struck. Then I fainted away. When +I woke up I managed to turn the lights on, and +then I came back here.”</p> + +<p>“I wonder where we are,” the old man murmured. +“I must find out. We must take every +precaution. Washington, go and look at the gage +indicating our depth.”</p> + +<p>The colored man was gone but a few seconds. +When he returned his eyes were bulging in terror.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked Mr. Henderson, who, +thanks to the battery, had almost completely recovered.</p> + +<p>“It ain’t possible!” gasped Washington. “I’ll +never believe it!”</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked Mr. Henderson, while +the others waited in anxiety for the answer.</p> + +<p>“We’re five hundred miles down!” declared +Washington.</p> + +<p>“Five hundred miles!” muttered the inventor. +“It does not seem possible, but it must be so. We +fell very rapidly and the terrible draught sucked +us down with incredible rapidity. But come, we +must see what our situation is, and where we are. +We are stationary, and are evidently on some +solid substance.”</p> + +<p>They all felt much recovered now, and, as the +terrible fright of being consumed in a fiery furnace +had passed, they all were in better spirits.</p> + +<p>At the suggestion of the professor, the boys +and Washington made a tour of the ship. They +found, for some unaccountable reason, that nearly +all the engines and apparatuses were out of gear. +In some the parts had broken, and others were +merely stopped, from the failure of some other +machine, on which they were dependent.</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid this is the end of the <em>Mermaid,”</em> +said Mark, in a sorrowful tone.</p> + +<p>“Nonsense!” replied Jack, who was of a more +cheerful nature. “Things are not so bad as they +look. The professor can fix everything.”</p> + +<p>“I’m sure I hope so,” Mark went on, not much +encouraged, however, by Jack’s philosophy. “It +would be no joke to have to stay five hundred +miles underground the rest of our lives.”</p> + +<p>“You don’t know,” retorted Jack. “Don’t +judge of a country you’ve never seen. This may +be as fine a place as it is on the surface of the earth. +I want a chance to see it,” and Jack began to +whistle a cheerful tune.</p> + +<p>They completed the tour of the ship, and found, +that, aside from the damage to the machinery, +the <em>Mermaid</em> had not sustained any harm. The +hull was in good order, though of course they +could not tell about the gas holder. It was not +possible to see this except by going into the conning +tower or out on the small deck, and this they did +not venture to do. The connections between the +holder and the main ship seemed to be all right, +and there was still a small quantity of gas in the +big tank, as Mark found on opening a stop-cock.</p> + +<p>They went back to the professor and told him +what they had observed. He seemed somewhat +alarmed, the more so as the experience he had +just passed through had weakened him considerably.</p> + +<p>“I hope I shall be able to make the repairs,” +he said. “It is our only hope.”</p> + +<p>As he spoke he looked up at the electric lights +that shone overhead from wall brackets.</p> + +<p>“Who is shutting down the power?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“There is no power on, Professor,” replied +Mark. “I am running the lights from the storage +battery. But something is the matter, for they +are growing dim.”</p> + +<p>The filaments were now mere dull red wires, +and the ship was being shrouded in gloom again.</p> + +<p>“The battery is failing!” exclaimed Mr. Henderson. +“We shall be left in darkness, and there +is no other way to produce light. I ought to have +brought some lamps or candles along in case of +emergency.”</p> + +<p>The next instant the <em>Mermaid</em> became as black +as Egypt is popularly supposed to be, and something +like an exclamation of terror came from the +professor.</p> + +<p>For several minutes they all sat there in the +blackness and gloom, waiting for they knew not +what. Then, suddenly, there sounded throughout +the ship, a creaking as of metal sliding along +metal. Some big lever creaked, and, a second +later the whole place was flooded with light.</p> + +<p>“What has happened?” cried the professor, +starting to his feet in alarm.</p> + +<p>“We are going to be burned up!” exclaimed +old Andy.</p> + +<p>“It’s all right! It’s all right!” yelled Washington +from the engine room where the boys had +left him. “Don’t git skeered! I done it! I +opened the port holes, by yanking on the lever. +Golly, but we’s arrived at the new land! Look +out, everybody!”</p> + +<h2 id='ch17' class='c008'>CHAPTER XVII<br /><br />A STRANGE COUNTRY</h2> + +<p class='c009'>They all ran to the port holes, which were +openings in the side of the ship. They were fitted +with thick, double glass, and covered on the outside +with steel shutters. These shutters were +worked by a single lever from the engine room, +so that one person could open or close them in +a second or two. Washington, by accident, it +appeared later, had slid back the protecting pieces +of steel, and the rest followed.</p> + +<p>As the adventurers looked from the glass ports +they saw that the light which had flooded the +ship came from without. They were in the midst +of a beautiful glow, which seemed to be diffused +about them like rays from a sun.</p> + +<p>Only, in place of being a yellow or white light, +such as the sun gives off at varying times, the glow +was of violet hue. And, as they watched, they +saw the light change color, becoming a beautiful +red, then blue, and again green.</p> + +<p>“Well, this is certainly remarkable!” the professor +said. “I wonder what causes that.”</p> + +<p>“We’ve arrived! We’re here, anyhow!” +Washington cried, coming into the room. “See +the country!”</p> + +<p>Then, for the first time, the travelers, taking +their attention from the curious light that was all +around them, saw that they had indeed arrived. +They were on a vast plain, one, seemingly, boundless +in extent, though off to the left there was a +range of lofty mountains, while to the right there +was the glimmer of what might be a big lake or +inland sea.</p> + +<p>“See, we are resting on the ground!” exclaimed +Jack. He pointed out of the window, +and the others, looking close at hand, noted that +the <em>Mermaid</em> had settled down in the midst of +what seemed to be a field of flowers. Big red +and yellow blossoms were all in front, and some +grew so tall as to almost be up to the edge of the +port.</p> + +<p>“I wonder if we can be seeing aright,” the professor +muttered. “Is this really the interior of +the earth; such a beautiful place as this?”</p> + +<p>There could be little doubt of it. The ship +had descended through the big shaft, had been +sucked down by the terrible air current, and had +really landed in a strange country.</p> + +<p>Of its size, shape and general conditions the +adventurers, as yet, could but guess. They could +see it was a pleasant place, and one where there +might be the means to sustain life. For, as the +professor said afterward, he felt that where there +were flowers there would be fruits, and where both +of these provisions of nature were to be found +there would likely be animal life, and even, perhaps, +human beings.</p> + +<p>But, for the time, they were content to look +from the port on the beautiful scene that lay +stretched out before them. The ship rested on +an even keel and had landed so softly that none +of the plates were strained.</p> + +<p>“We have plenty of air, at all events,” said +the professor as he took a deep breath. “I was +afraid of that, but it seems there was no need. +The air appears to be as good and fresh as that +on the surface of the earth, only there is a curious +property to it. It makes one feel larger. I +imagine it must be thinner than the air of the +earth, which is a rather strange thing, since the +higher one goes the more rarefied the air becomes, +and the lower, the more dense. Still we can not +apply natural philosophy to conditions under the +earth. All the usual theories may be upset. However, +we should be content to take things as we +find them, and be glad we were not dashed to +pieces when the ship was caught in the terrible +current.”</p> + +<p>“What do you suppose caused the awful heat, +and then made it go away again?” asked Jack.</p> + +<p>“I can only make a guess at it,” Mr. Henderson +answered. “There are many strange things +we will come across if we stay here long, I believe. +As for the fire I think we must have passed a sort +of interior volcano.”</p> + +<p>“But what sort of a place do you think we have +come to, Professor?” asked Mark.</p> + +<p>“It is hard to say,” the scientist replied. “We +are certainly somewhere within the earth. Our +gage tells us it is five hundred miles. That may +or may not be correct, but I believe we are several +hundred miles under the crust, at all events. As +to what sort of a place it is, you can see for yourselves.”</p> + +<p>“But how is it we can breathe here, and things +can grow?” asked Bill, who was beginning to +lose his fright at the thought of being practically +buried alive.</p> + +<p>“I do not know what makes such things possible,” +Mr. Henderson replied, “but that there is +air here is a certainty. I can hardly believe it is +drawn from the surface of the earth, down the +big hole, and I am inclined to think this place +of the under-world has an atmosphere of its own, +and one which produces different effects than does +our own.”</p> + +<p>“They certainly have larger flowers than we +have,” said Mark. “See how big they grow, +and what strong colors they have.”</p> + +<p>He pointed to the port, against which some +of the blooms were nodding in the wind that had +sprung up, for, in spite of the many differences, +the under-world was in some respects like the +upper one.</p> + +<p>“Probably the difference in the atmosphere accounts +for that,” the professor said. “It enables +things to grow larger. And, by the way, Mark, +that reminds me of something you said about seeing +some horrible monster fleeing from the ship. +Did you dream that?”</p> + +<p>“I did see something horrible, Professor,” he +answered. “I’m not positive what it was, but +I’ll tell you as nearly as I can what it was like.”</p> + +<p>Thereupon Mark detailed what he had seen.</p> + +<p>“But how could anything, least of all some big +monster, be concealed in the storeroom, and we +not know anything about it?” asked Mr. Henderson.</p> + +<p>“I thought you did know something of it,” +replied Mark.</p> + +<p>“Who, me? My dear boy, you must be dreaming +again. Why should I want to conceal any +being in the storeroom? Come, there is something +back of this. Tell me all you know of it. I can’t +imagine why you think I was hiding something +in the apartment.”</p> + +<p>“I thought so because you were always so +anxious not to have me go near it,” answered the +boy. “Don’t you remember when you saw me +going toward it, several times, you warned me +away?”</p> + +<p>“So I did!” exclaimed Mr. Henderson, a light +breaking over his face. “But, Mark, it was not +because I had hidden some human being or animal +there. I can’t tell you what it is yet, save that I +can say it is merely a machine of mine that I have +invented. For reasons of my own I don’t want +any one to see it yet. Perhaps it may never be +seen. I thought, not long ago, that we might have +to undertake a terrible risk in escaping from this +place. I directed you to go to the storeroom—but +there, I can’t say any more, my friends. Sufficient +that I had nothing in the animal line concealed +there.”</p> + +<p>“But I am certain there was some beast or +human being in there,” insisted Mark. “I heard +curious noises in there. Besides, how do you account +for the food disappearing and the door +being open at times?”</p> + +<p>“It might have been rats,” said Jack.</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe there are rats in the ship,” put +in the professor. “More likely it was one of us +who got up hungry and took the victuals.”</p> + +<p>“I’m sorry I can’t agree with you,” Mark +added respectfully. “I am sure some strange +being was on board this ship, and I believe it has +now escaped. Who or what it was I can’t say, +but you’ll find I’m right, some day.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” spoke Mr. Henderson with a +laugh. “I like to see any one brave enough to +stick up for his opinion, but, at the same time, I +can’t very well imagine any person or thing being +concealed in that storeroom ever since we started. +How could it get in?”</p> + +<p>Mark did not answer, but there came to him +the recollection of that night, previous to the sailing +of the <em>Flying Mermaid</em>, when he had observed +some strange shadow that seemed to glide aboard +the craft.</p> + +<p>“Now let’s forget all about such things,” the +professor went on. “We are in a strange country, +and there are many things to see and do. Let’s +explore a little. Then we must see what we can +do with the ship. We are dependent on it, and +it will not do to allow it to remain in a damaged +state. We expect to travel many miles in the +interior of the earth if it is possible, and we have +only our craft to go in.”</p> + +<p>“I reckon we’d all better assimilate into our +interior progression some molecules and atoms of +partly disentegrated matter in order to supply combustion +for the carbonaceous elements and assist +in the manufacture of red corpuscles,” said Washington, +appearing in the door, with a broad grin +on his good-natured face.</p> + +<p>“Which, being interpreted,” the professor said, +“means, I suppose, that we had better eat something +to keep our digestive apparatus in good +working order?”</p> + +<p>“Yo’ done guessed it!” exclaimed the colored +man, relapsing into his ordinary speech. “I’se +got a meal all ready.”</p> + +<p>They agreed that they might not have another +opportunity soon to partake of food, so they all +gathered about the table, on which Washington +had spread a good meal.</p> + +<p>“Come on, let’s go outside and view this new +and strange land at closer quarters,” the professor +said, when they had satisfied their appetites. +“We can’t see much from inside the ship.”</p> + +<p>Accordingly the heavy door in the side of the +<em>Mermaid</em> was slid back, and, for the first time +the travelers stepped out on the surface of the +land in the interior of the earth.</p> + +<p>At first it seemed no different than the ordinary +land to which they were accustomed. But they +soon found it had many strange attributes. The +queer shifting and changing light, with the myriad +of hues was one of them, but to this the adventurers +had, by this time, become accustomed, +though it was, none the less, a marvel to them. +It was odd enough to see the landscape blood +red one instant, and a pale green the next, as it +does when you look through differently colored +glasses.</p> + +<p>Then, too, they noticed that the grass and +flowers grew much more abundantly than in the +outer part of the world. They saw clover six feet +high, and blades of grass even taller. In some +places the growth of grass was so big that they +were in danger of getting lost in it.</p> + +<p>“If the grass is like this, what will the trees +be?” asked Mark.</p> + +<p>“There are some away over there,” Jack replied. +“We’ll have to take a sail over. They +must be several hundred feet high.”</p> + +<p>“Well, at any rate, here’s a little brook, and +the water looks good to drink,” went on Mark. +“I’m thirsty, so here goes.”</p> + +<p>He hurried to where a stream was flowing sluggishly +between grassy banks. The water was as +clear as crystal, and Mark got down on his face +and prepared to sip some of the liquid up.</p> + +<p>But, no sooner had his lips touched it, than he +sprang up with a cry and stood gazing at the +water.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” asked Jack. “Hot?”</p> + +<p>“No, it isn’t hot,” Mark replied, “but it isn’t +water. It’s white molasses!”</p> + +<p>“White molasses?” repeated the professor, +coming up at that moment. “What are you talking +about?”</p> + +<p>He stooped down and dipped his finger into +the stream. He drew it up quickly, and there ran +from it big drops that flowed as slowly as the +extract of the sugarcane does in cold weather.</p> + +<p>“You’re about right, Mark,” he said. “It’s +water but it’s almost as thick as molasses.” He +touched his finger to his tongue. “It’s good to +drink, all right,” he went on, “only it will be a +little slow going down.”</p> + +<p>Then he dipped up a palm full, and let it +trickle down his throat.</p> + +<p>“It is the strangest water I ever saw,” he +added. “It must be that the lack of some peculiar +property of air, which we have on the surface, +has caused this. I must make some notes on it,” +and he drew out pencil and paper. He was about +to jot down some facts when he was interrupted +by a cry from Washington.</p> + +<p>“Come and see what’s the matter with this +stone!” he cried.</p> + +<h2 id='ch18' class='c008'>CHAPTER XVIII<br /><br />CAUGHT BY A STRANGE PLANT</h2> + +<p class='c009'>“Washington is in trouble!” exclaimed Mr. +Henderson. Followed by the two boys he ran +to where the colored man stood in a stooping +position over a small pile of stones.</p> + +<p>“What is it? Has something bit you?” asked +the scientist, as he came up on the run.</p> + +<p>“No, but I can’t git this stone up!” Washington +said. “Look at what a little stone it is, but +I can’t lift it. Something must have happened to +me. Maybe some one put th’ evil eye on me! +Maybe I’m bewitched!”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense!” exclaimed the professor, “what +did you want the stone for?”</p> + +<p>“Nothin’ in particular,” replied Washington, +still tugging away at the stone, which was the size +of his head. “I was just goin’ t’ throw it at a +big bird, but when I went to lift it this little +stone 'peared t’ be glued fast.”</p> + +<p>Washington moved aside to give Mr. Henderson +a chance to try to pick up the piece of rock. +As the scientist grasped it a look of surprise came +over his features:</p> + +<p>“This is most remarkable!” he exclaimed. +“I can’t budge it. I wonder if a giant magnet +is holding it down.”</p> + +<p>He tugged and tugged until he was red in the +face. Then he beckoned to the two boys, and +they came to his aid. There was barely room +for them all to each get one hand on the rock, +and then, only after a powerful tug did it come +up. Almost instantly it dropped back to the earth.</p> + +<p>“This is remarkable!” the professor said. “I +wonder if the other stones are the same.”</p> + +<p>He tried several others, and one and all resisted +his efforts. It was only the small stones he +was able to lift alone, and these, he said, were +so weighty that it would have been a task to +throw them any distance.</p> + +<p>“The water and the stones are strangely heavy +in this land,” he said. “I wonder what other +queer things we shall see.”</p> + +<p>“I saw a bird a little while ago, when I went +to pick up that stone,” observed Washington.</p> + +<p>“What kind was it?” asked the inventor.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know, only it was about as big as an +eagle.”</p> + +<p>The travelers wandered about a quarter of a +mile from the ship. They avoided the tall grass +and the lofty nodding flowers that seemed to grow +in regular groves, and kept to places where they +could walk with comparative freedom.</p> + +<p>“Have you formed any idea, Professor, as to +the nature of this country?” asked Mark, who +liked to get at the bottom of things.</p> + +<p>“I have, but it is only a theory,” Mr. Henderson +answered. “I believe we are on a sort of +small earth that is inside the larger one we live on. +This sphere floats in space, just as our earth does +and we have passed through the void that lies +between our globe and this interior one. I think +this new earth is about a quarter the size of ours +and in some respects the same. In others it is +vastly different.</p> + +<p>“But we will not think of those things now. +We must see what our situation is, whether we +are in any danger, and must look to repairing our +ship. There will be time enough for other matters +later.”</p> + +<p>The travelers were walking slowly along, noting +the strange things on every side. As they advanced +the vegetation seemed to become more +luxuriant, as if nature had tried to out-do herself +in providing beautiful flowers and plants. The +changing lights added to the beauty and weirdness +of the scene.</p> + +<p>The plain was a rolling one, and here and there +were small hills and hollows. As the travelers +topped a rise Jack, who was in advance, called out:</p> + +<p>“Oh what queer plants! They are giant Jacks-in-the-pulpit!”</p> + +<p>The others hastened forward to see what the +boy had discovered. Jack was too eager to wait, +and pressed on. The hill which sloped away from +the top of the little plateau on which he stood, +was steeper than he had counted on. As he leaned +forward he lost his balance and toppled, head +foremost, down the declivity, rolling over.</p> + +<p>“Look out!” cried Mark, who had almost +reached his comrade’s side.</p> + +<p>The scene that confronted the travelers was a +strange one. Before them in a sort of hollow, +were scores of big plants, shaped somewhat like +a Jack-in-the-pulpit, or a big lily, with a curved +top or flap to it.</p> + +<p>The plants were about eight feet tall, three feet +across the top, and the flap or covering was raised +about two feet. They were nodding and swaying +in the wind on their short stems.</p> + +<p>“He’s headed right for one of them!” Mr. +Henderson exclaimed. “I hope he’ll not fall into +one of the openings.”</p> + +<p>“Is there any danger?” asked Mark.</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid there is,” the inventor added. +“Those plants are a variety of the well-known +pitcher plant, or fly-trap, as they are sometimes +called. In tropical countries they grow to a large +size, but nothing like these. They are filled, in +the cup, with a sort of sticky, sweet mixture, and +this attracts insects. When one enters the cup the +top flap folds over, and the hapless insect is caught +there. The plant actually devours it, nature providing +a sort of vegetable digestive apparatus. +These giant plants are the same, and they seem +large enough to take in a man, to say nothing of +Jack!”</p> + +<p>With anxious faces the adventurers turned to +watch the fate of their comrade. Jack was slipping, +sliding and rolling down the hill. He could +not seem to stop, though he was making desperate +efforts to do so. He was headed straight for one +of the largest of the terrible plants.</p> + +<p>In vain, as he saw what was in front of him, +did he try to change the course of his involuntary +voyage. Over and over he rolled, until, at length, +he struck a little grassy hummock, bounced into +the air, and right into the opening of a monster +pitcher plant.</p> + +<p>“It has him!” cried Mark. “We must save +him! Come on everyone!”</p> + +<p>He raced down the hill, while the others came +closely after him. They reached the plant into +which Jack had bounced. The flap, or top piece, +had closed down, tightly over the unfortunate boy.</p> + +<p>“Quick! We must save him or he will be +smothered to death or drowned in the liquid the +cup contains!” Mr. Henderson exclaimed. +“Attack the plant with anything you can find!”</p> + +<p>“Let’s cut through the side of the flower-cup!” +suggested Mark. “That seems softer than the +stem.”</p> + +<p>His idea was quickly put into operation. +Andy’s long hunting knife came in very handy. +While the sides of the long natural cup were +tough, the knife made an impression on them, and, +soon, a small door or opening had been cut in +the side of the pitcher plant, large enough to +enable a human body to pass through.</p> + +<p>When the last fibre had been severed by Andy, +who was chosen to wield the knife because of his +long practice as a hunter, there was a sudden commotion +within the plant. Then a dark object, +dripping water, made a spring and landed almost +at the feet of the professor.</p> + +<p>It was Jack, and a sorry sight he presented. +He was covered from head to foot with some +sticky substance, which dripped from all over him.</p> + +<p>With hasty movements he cleared the stuff from +his eyes and mouth, and spluttered:</p> + +<p>“It’s a good thing you cut me out when you +did. I couldn’t have held on much longer!”</p> + +<h2 id='ch19' class='c008'>CHAPTER XIX<br /><br />THE BIG PEACH</h2> + +<p class='c009'>Jack soon recovered from his remarkable experience. +The terrible plant that had nearly eaten +him alive was a mass of cut-up vegetable matter +which attracted a swarm of insects. Most of +them were ants, but such large ones the boys had +never seen before, and the professor said they exceeded +in size anything he had read about. Some +of them were as large as big rats. They bit off +large pieces of the fallen plant and carried them +to holes in the ground which were big enough for +Washington to slip his foot into, and he wore a No. 11 shoe.</p> + +<p>But the adventurers felt there were more important +things for them to look at than ants, so +they started away again, the professor telling them +all to be careful and avoid accidents.</p> + +<p>It was while they were strolling through a little +glade, which they came upon unexpectedly, that +Washington, who was in the lead called out:</p> + +<p>“Gracious goodness! It must be Thanksgivin’!”</p> + +<p>“Why so?” asked Jack.</p> + +<p>“'Cause here’s th’ remarkablest extraordinary +and expansionist of a pumpkin that ever I laid +eyes on!” the colored man cried.</p> + +<p>They all hurried to where Washington had come +to a halt. There, on the ground in front of him, +was a big round object, about the size of a hogshead. +It was yellow in color, and was not unlike +the golden vegetable from which mothers make +such delicious pies.</p> + +<p>“I allers was fond of pumpkins,” said Washington, +placing his hand on the thing, which was +almost as tall as he was, “but I never thought +I’d come across such a one as this.”</p> + +<p>The professor and the two boys went closer +to the monstrosity. Mr. Henderson passed his +hand over it and then, bending closer, smelled of +it.</p> + +<p>“That’s not a pumpkin!” he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“What is it then?” asked Washington.</p> + +<p>“It’s a giant peach,” the inventor remarked. +“Can’t you see the fuzz, and smell it? Of course +it’s a peach.”</p> + +<p>“Well I’ll be horn-swoggled!” cried Washington, +leaning against the big fruit, which easily supported +him.</p> + +<p>“Hurrah!” cried Jack, drawing his knife from +his pocket and opening the largest blade. “I +always did like peaches. Now I can have all I +want,” and he drove the steel into the object, cutting +off a big slice which he began to eat.</p> + +<p>“It may be poisonous!” exclaimed Mark.</p> + +<p>“Too late now,” responded Jack, the juice running +down from his mouth. “Taste’s good, anyhow.”</p> + +<p>They all watched Jack while he devoured his +slice of fruit. Washington acted as if he expected +his friend to topple over unconscious, but +Jack showed no bad symptoms.</p> + +<p>“You’d better all have some,” the boy said. +“It’s the best I ever tasted.”</p> + +<p>Encouraged by Jack’s example, Mark thought +he, too, would have some of the fruit. He opened +his knife and was about to take off some of the +peach when suddenly the thing began to roll forward, +almost upon him.</p> + +<p>“Hi! Stop your shoving!” he exclaimed. +“Do you want to have the thing roll over me, +Jack?”</p> + +<p>“I’m not shoving!” replied Jack.</p> + +<p>“Some one is!” Mark went on. He dodged +around the far side of the immense fruit and what +he saw made him cry out in astonishment.</p> + +<p>Two grasshoppers, each one standing about +three feet high, were standing on their hind legs, +and with their fore feet were pushing the peach +along the ground. They had been attracted to +the fruit by some juice which escaped from a bruise +on that side, which was the ripest, and, being fond +of sweets had, evidently decided to take their find +to some safe place where they could eat it at their +leisure. Or perhaps they wanted to provide for +their families if grasshoppers have them.</p> + +<p>“Did you ever see such monsters?” asked Jack. +“They’re as big as dogs!”</p> + +<p>At the sound of his voice the two grasshoppers, +becoming alarmed, ceased their endeavors to roll +the peach along, and, assuming a crouching attitude +seemed to be waiting.</p> + +<p>“They certainly are remarkable specimens,” +Mr. Henderson said. “If the other animals +are in proportion, and if there are persons in +this new world, we are likely to have a hard time +of it.”</p> + +<p>This time the immense insects concluded the +strangers were not to their liking. With a snapping +of their big muscular legs and a whirr of +their wings that was like the starting of an automobile, +the grasshoppers rose into the air and +sailed away over the heads of the adventurers. +Their flight was more than an eighth of a mile in +extent, and they came down in a patch of the very +tall grass.</p> + +<p>“Let’s go after them!” exclaimed old Andy. +“I was so excited I forgot to take a shot at them. +Come on!”</p> + +<p>“I think we’d better not,” counseled the professor. +“In the first place we don’t need them. +They would be no good for food. Then we +don’t know but what they might attack us, and +it would be no joke to be bitten by a grasshopper +of that size. Let them alone. We may find +other game which will need your attention, Andy. +Better save your ammunition.”</p> + +<p>Somewhat against his will, Andy had to submit +to the professor’s ruling. The old hunter consoled +himself with the reflection that if insects +grew to that size he would have some excellent +sport hunting even the birds of the inner world.</p> + +<p>“I wonder what sort of a tree that peach grew +on,” Jack remarked, as he cut off another slice, +when the excitement caused by the discovery of the +grasshoppers had subsided. “It must be taller +than a church steeple. I wonder how the fruit +got here, for there are no trees around.”</p> + +<p>“I fancy those insects rolled it along for a +good distance,” Mr. Henderson put in. “You +can see the marks on the ground, where they pushed +it. They are wonderful creatures.”</p> + +<p>“Are we going any farther?” asked Mark. +“Perhaps we can find the peach tree, and, likely +there are other fruit trees near it.”</p> + +<p>At the professor’s suggestion they strolled along +for some distance. They were now about three +miles from the airship, and found that what they +had supposed was a rather level plain, was becoming +a succession of hills and hollows. It was while +descending into a rather deep valley that Jack +pointed ahead and exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“I guess there’s our peach orchard, but I never +saw one like it before.”</p> + +<p>Nor had any of the others. Instead of trees +the peaches were attached to vines growing along +the ground. They covered a large part of the valley, +and the peaches, some bigger than the one they +first discovered, some small and green, rose up +amid the vines, just as pumpkins do in a corn field.</p> + +<p>“Stranger and stranger,” the professor murmured. +“Peaches grow on vines. I suppose potatoes +will grow on trees. Everything seems to be +reversed here.”</p> + +<p>They made their way down toward the peach +“orchard” as Jack called it, though “patch” +would have been a better name. Besides peaches +they found plums, apples, and pears growing in the +same way, and all of a size proportionate to the +first-named fruit.</p> + +<p>“Well, one thing is evident,” Mr. Henderson +remarked, “we shall not starve here. There is +plenty to eat, even, if we have to turn vegetarians.”</p> + +<p>“I wonder what time it is getting to be,” Jack +remarked. “My watch says twelve o’clock but +whether it’s noon or midnight I can’t tell, with this +colored light coming and going. I wonder if it +ever sets as the sun does.”</p> + +<p>“That is something we’ll have to get used to,” +the professor said. “But I think we had better +go back to the ship now. We have many things +to do to get it in order again. Besides, I am a +little afraid to leave it unguarded so long. No +telling but what some strange beast—or persons, +for that matter—might injure it.”</p> + +<p>“I’m going to take back some slices of peaches +with me, anyhow,” Mark said, and he and Jack +cut off enough to make several meals, while Bill, +Tom and Washington took along all they could +carry.</p> + +<p>As they walked back toward the ship the strange +lights seemed to be dying out. At first they +hardly noticed this, but as they continued on it +became quite gloomy, and an odd sort of gloom +it was too, first green, then yellow, then red and +then blue.</p> + +<p>“I believe whatever serves as a sun down here +is setting,” the professor observed. “We must +hurry. I don’t want to be caught out here after +dark.”</p> + +<p>They hurried on, the lights dying out more and +more, until, as they came in sight of their ship, +it was so black they could hardly see.</p> + +<p>Mark who was in the rear turned around, glancing +behind him. As he did so he caught sight of +a gigantic shadow moving along on top of the nearest +hill. The shadow was not unlike that of a +man in shape, but of such gigantic stature that +Mark knew it could be like no human being he had +ever seen. At the same time it bore a curious resemblance +to the weird shadow he had seen slip +into the <em>Mermaid</em> that night before they sailed.</p> + +<p>“I wonder if it can be the same—the same +thing—grown larger, just as the peach grows +larger than those in our world,” Mark thought, +while a shiver of fear seemed to go over him. “I +wonder if that—that thing could have been on +the ship——”</p> + +<p>Then the last rays of light died away and there +was total darkness.</p> + +<h2 id='ch20' class='c008'>CHAPTER XX<br /><br />OVERHAULING THE SHIP</h2> + +<p class='c009'>“Keep together!” shouted the professor. “It +will not do to become lost now. We are close to +the ship, and will soon be there. Come after +me.”</p> + +<p>It was more by following the sound of the scientist’s +voice, than by any sight which the others +could get of him, that they managed to trail along +behind. They reached the ship in safety, however, +and entered. There was no sound as of +beasts or insects within, and, though Mark felt +a little apprehensive on account of what he had +seen, he and the others as well, were glad to be +again in something that seemed like home.</p> + +<p>“I wish we had some candles, or some sort of +a light to see by,” the professor remarked. “We +can do nothing in the dark, and there is no telling +how long this night is going to last once it has set +in. If I could have a little illumination, I might +be able to fix the dynamo, and then we could turn +on the incandescents. That portable light we had +is broken.”</p> + +<p>“By cracky!” exclaimed Andy. “I believe I +have the very thing!”</p> + +<p>“You don’t mean to say you have a torch or a +candle with you, do you?” asked Mr. Henderson.</p> + +<p>“No, but I have my patent pipe lighting apparatus,” +the hunter said. “I always carry it. It +gives a little light, but not much, though it may +be enough to work by.”</p> + +<p>Not until after several hours work, handicapped +as they were by lack of light, were the repairs +to the ship completed.</p> + +<p>“Now we’ll start the engine and see how we +will come out,” the inventor exclaimed, as he wiped +his hands on some waste.</p> + +<p>It did not take long to generate enough power +to turn the dynamo. Soon the familiar hum and +whirr was heard, and, a few seconds later the filaments +in the lamps began to glow a dull red, which +gradually brightened until they were shining in all +their usual brilliancy.</p> + +<p>“Hurrah!” cried the boys. “Now we can +see!”</p> + +<p>They all felt in better spirits with the restoration +of the lights, and, washing off the grease and +dirt of their labors in the engine room, they prepared +to sit down to the meal which Washington +prepared.</p> + +<p>As soon as the dynamo was working well, care +had to be taken not to speed it too much on account +of a mended belt. The professor turned off part +of the lights and switched some of the current into +the storage batteries, to provide for emergencies. +For there was no telling how long the night might +last.</p> + +<p>Jack was the first one to finish the meal—they +did not know whether to call it dinner, supper or +breakfast. He went into the conning tower, and, +as soon as he reached it he called out:</p> + +<p>“Come on up here, professor! There’s something +strange going on!”</p> + +<p>Mr. Henderson, followed by Mark, hurried to +the tower. As he reached it and looked out of the +forward window, a beautiful white glow illuminated +the whole scene, and then, from below the +horizon, there arose seven luminous disks. One +was in the centre, while about it circled the other +six, like some immense pin-wheel.</p> + +<p>“It’s the moon!” cried Mark.</p> + +<p>“It’s seven moons!” Jack exclaimed. “Why +it’s almost as light as day!”</p> + +<p>And so it was, for the seven moons, if that is +what they were, gave an illumination not unlike +the sun in brilliancy though it was like the beams +from the pale moon of the earth.</p> + +<p>“I guess we need not have worried about the +darkness,” the professor remarked. “Still it is a +good thing I fixed the dynamo.”</p> + +<p>For some time he and the other adventurers +watched the odd sight of the moons, as they rose +higher and higher overhead. The scene was a +beautiful, if weird one, for the whole plain was +bathed in the soft light.</p> + +<p>“I guess we can turn off the incandescents, and +use all the power for the storage batteries,” Mr. +Henderson went on, as he descended into the ship, +and opened the port shutters which had been closed +when they started off on their exploring tour. +The interior of the <em>Mermaid</em> was almost as light +as when the odd colored beams had been playing +over the new earth to which they had come.</p> + +<p>“I think we had better continue with our work +of making repairs,” Mr. Henderson said. “We +can’t count on these moons remaining here any +length of time, and I want to take advantage of +them. So though some of us perhaps need sleep, +we will forego it and fix up the <em>Mermaid</em>. I want +to take a trip and see what other wonders await +us.”</p> + +<p>They all agreed that they would rather work +than sleep, and soon the entire force was busy in +the engine room. There was much to be done, +and the most important things were attended to +first. The motive power was overhauled and +found to be in need of several new parts. These +were put in and then the gas generator, and the +negative gravity machine, were put in shape.</p> + +<p>It would have taken something very substantial +to have awakened any one on board the <em>Mermaid</em> +that night. They all slept soundly and awoke to +find the strange colored lights shining in through +the glass covered port holes.</p> + +<p>“Well, the sun, or what corresponds to it, is +up,” observed Jack, “and I guess we had better +do as the little boy in the school reader did, and +get up, too, Mark.”</p> + +<p>Soon all the travelers were aroused, and the +sound of Washington bustling about in the kitchen, +whence came the smell of coffee, bacon and eggs, +told the hungry ones that breakfast was under way.</p> + +<p>After the meal work was again started on repairing +the ship, and by noon the professor remarked:</p> + +<p>“I think we shall try a little flight after dinner. +That is, if one thing doesn’t prevent us.”</p> + +<p>“What is that?” asked Jack.</p> + +<p>“We may be held down, as were those stones,” was the grave answer.</p> + +<h2 id='ch21' class='c008'>CHAPTER XXI<br /><br />THE FISH THAT WALKED</h2> + +<p class='c009'>It was with no little apprehension that the professor +prepared to take his first flight aboard the +ship in the realms of the new world. He knew +little or nothing of the conditions he might meet +with, the density of the atmosphere, or how the +<em>Mermaid</em> would behave under another environment +than that to which she was accustomed.</p> + +<p>Yet he felt it was necessary to make a start. +They would have to attempt a flight sooner or +later, and Mr. Henderson was not the one to delay +matters. So, the last adjustment having been +made to the repaired machinery, they all took their +places in the ship.</p> + +<p>The boys and the professor went to the conning +tower to direct matters, while Washington +and the others were in the engine room to see that +the machinery worked properly. Mark gave a +last look outside as he closed the big steel cover +over the hole through which admission was had to +the craft. He thought he might catch a glimpse +of the queer shadow, but nothing was in sight. It +was like a beautiful summer’s day, save for the +strange lights, shifting and changing. But the +travelers had become somewhat used to them by +this time.</p> + +<p>The professor turned the valve that allowed the +gas to enter the holder. There was a hissing +sound and a sort of trembling throughout the entire +ship. The dynamos were whizzing away and +the negative gravity machine was all ready to start.</p> + +<p>For several minutes the travelers waited until +the big lifting tank was filled with the strong vapor. +They watched the gages which indicated the +pressure to be several hundred pounds.</p> + +<p>“I think we can chance it now,” remarked Mr. +Henderson, as he threw over several levers. +“We’ll try, at any rate.”</p> + +<p>With a tremor the <em>Mermaid</em> left the surface of +the inner earth and went sailing upward toward +the—well it wasn’t exactly the sky, but it was +what corresponded to it in the new world, though +there were no clouds and no blue depths such as +the boys were used to. At all events the <em>Mermaid</em> +was flying again, and, as the adventurers felt themselves +being lifted up they gave a spontaneous +cheer at the success which had crowned their efforts.</p> + +<p>The ship went up several hundred feet, and +then, the professor, having brought her to a stop, +sent her ahead at a slow pace. He wanted to be +sure all the apparatus was in good working order +before he tried any speed.</p> + +<p>The <em>Mermaid</em> responded readily. Straight as +an arrow through the air she flew.</p> + +<p>“Well, this is almost as good as being on the +regular earth!” exclaimed Jack.</p> + +<p>“It’s better,” put in Mark. “We haven’t seen +half the wonders yet. Let’s open the floor shutter, +and see how it looks down below.”</p> + +<p>He and Jack went to the room where there was +an opening in the floor of the ship, covered by +heavy glass. They slid back the steel shutter and +there, down below them, was the strange new +world they had come to, stretched out like some +big map.</p> + +<p>They could see mountains, forests, plains, and +rivers, the water sparkling in the colored light. +Over green fields they flew, then across some +stretches where only sand and rocks were to be seen. +Faster and faster the ship went, as the professor +found the machinery was once more in perfect +order. Jack was idly watching the play of tinted +lights over the surface of the ground.</p> + +<p>“I wonder what makes it,” he said.</p> + +<p>“I have tried to account for it in several ways,” +said the professor, who had called Washington to +the conning tower and come to join the boys. “I +have had first one theory and then another, but the +one I am almost sure is correct is that hidden volcanic +fires cause the illumination.</p> + +<p>“I think they flare up and die away, and have +become so regular that they produce the same +effect as night and day with us. Probably the +fires go out for lack of fuel, and when it is supplied +they start up again. Perhaps it is a sort of +gas that they burn.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it’s queer enough, whatever it is,” Jack +remarked. “What strikes me as funny, though, +is that we haven’t seen a single person since we +came here. Surely this place must be inhabited.”</p> + +<p>Mark thought of the strange shadow he had +seen, but said nothing.</p> + +<p>“I believe it is,” the professor answered. +“We will probably come upon the inhabitants +soon. I only hope they are a people who will do +us no harm.”</p> + +<p>“If they tried any of their tricks we could +mount up in our ship and escape them,” said Andy.</p> + +<p>“Provided they gave us the chance,” Mr. +Henderson put in. “Well, we’ll not worry about +that now.”</p> + +<p>For several hours the ship traveled on, until it +had come to a different sort of country. It was +wilder and not so level, and there were a number +of streams and small lakes to be seen.</p> + +<p>“Are you going to sail all night?” asked Jack.</p> + +<p>“No,” replied the professor. “I think we’ll +descend very soon now, and camp out for a while. +That lake just ahead seems to offer a good +place,” and he pointed to a large sheet of water +that sparkled in the distance, for by this time they +had all gone back to the conning tower.</p> + +<p>The lake was in the midst of a wood that extended +for some distance on all sides, and was +down in a sort of valley. The ship headed toward +it, and in a short time a landing was made +close to shore.</p> + +<p>“Maybe we can have some fresh fish for supper,” +exclaimed Jack as he ran from the ship as +soon as the sliding door in the side was opened. +“Looks as if that lake had some in it. It is not +thick water like in that stream we stopped at,” he +added.</p> + +<p>“I believe you’re right,” old Andy put in, as +he turned back to look for some lines and hooks +among his traps. He soon found what he wanted, +and gave them to the boys, taking his trusty gun +along for himself.</p> + +<p>While the professor, Washington, Tom and +Bill remained behind to make some adjustments to +the machinery, and to get things in shape for the +night, which, they calculated would soon be upon +them, Jack, Mark and Andy went down to the +shore of the lake. The boys cut some poles from +the trees, and baiting the hooks with some fat +worms found under the bark, threw in.</p> + +<p>“Let’s see who’ll get the first bite,” spoke Jack. +“I’m pretty generally lucky at fishing.”</p> + +<p>“Well, while you’re waiting to decide that there +contest, I think I’ll take a stroll along shore and +see if I can see anything to shoot,” Andy remarked.</p> + +<p>For several minutes the boys sat in silence on +the bank of the lake, watching the play of the +vari-colored lights on the water. Suddenly Jack +felt a quiver on his line, and his pole began to +shake.</p> + +<p>“I’ve got something!” he cried. Then his +pole bent almost double and he began to pull for +all he was worth. “It’s a whopper!” he cried. +“Come and help me, Mark!”</p> + +<p>Mark ran to his friend’s aid. Whatever was +on the other end of the line was strong enough to +tax the muscles of both boys. They could hear +the pole beginning to break. But for the excellent +quality of Andy’s line that would have parted +some time before.</p> + +<p>All at once there came a sudden slacking of the +pull from whatever was in the water. And so +quickly did it cease that both boys went over backward +in a heap.</p> + +<p>“He’s got away!” cried Jack, getting up and +brushing some of the dirt from his clothes.</p> + +<p>“There’s something that didn’t get away!” +cried Mark, who had risen to his knees, and was +pointing at the lake. Jack looked and what he +saw made him almost believe he was dreaming.</p> + +<p>For, emerging from the water, dragging the +pole and line the boys had dropped along with it, +was a most curious creature. It was a big fish, +but a fish with four short legs on which it was +walking, or rather waddling along as much as a +duck, with a double supply of feet, might do.</p> + +<p>“Say, do I see that or is there something the +matter with my eyes?” sung out Jack, making +ready to run away.</p> + +<p>“It’s there all right!” exclaimed Mark. “Hi! +Andy! Here’s something to shoot!” he yelled, +for indeed the creature was big enough to warrant +attack with a gun. It was about five feet long and +two feet through.</p> + +<p>On and on it came, straight at the boys, as if +to have revenge for the pain the fish hook must +have caused it, for the barb could be seen dangling +from its lip. On and on it came, waddling forward, +the water dripping from it at every step. +It had the body and general shape of a fish, save +that the tail was rather large in proportion. As +it came nearer the boys noted that the feet were +webbed, like those of a water fowl.</p> + +<p>“Come on!” cried Jack. “It may attack +us!”</p> + +<p>At that moment the creature opened its mouth, +showing a triple row of formidable teeth, and gave +utterance to a sort of groan and grunt combined.</p> + +<p>This was enough to send Jack and Mark off on +a run up the bank, and did they stop until they +heard Andy’s voice hailing them.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter, boys?”</p> + +<p>“Come here! Quick!” answered Jack.</p> + +<p>The fish-animal had halted and seemed to be +taking an observation. To do this, as it could +not turn its neck, it had to shift its whole body. +Old Andy came up on the run, his gun held in +readiness.</p> + +<p>“Where is it?” he asked, and the boys pointed +silently.</p> + +<p>The hunter could not repress a start of astonishment +as he saw the strange creature. But he +did not hesitate a second. There was a crack of +the rifle, and the thing, whatever it was, toppled +over, dead.</p> + +<p>Andy hurried up to it, to get a closer view.</p> + +<p>“Well, this is the limit!” he exclaimed. +“First we have grasshoppers that can roll peaches +as big as hogsheads, and now we come across fish +that walk. I wonder what we will see next.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t want to go fishing in this lake any +more,” spoke Jack, as he looked at the repulsive +creature. “I never want to eat fish any more.”</p> + +<p>“Same here,” agreed Mark, and old Andy was +of the opinion that the thing killed would not make +a wholesome dish for the table.</p> + +<p>“There don’t seem to be any game in this section,” +he remarked. “Not a sign could I see, nor +have I since we have been here, unless you count +those grasshoppers. But the fruit is good, I’ll +say that.”</p> + +<p>“Come on, we’d better be getting back,” Mark +said, as he noticed it was getting dark. “I’m +hungry.”</p> + +<h2 id='ch22' class='c008'>CHAPTER XXII<br /><br />THE SNAKE-TREE</h2> + +<p class='c009'>They managed to make a good meal of the +food supplies they had brought along, and as a +dessert Washington made some peach short-cake +from the slices of the giant fruit they had found +the day before. Just as they finished supper it +got very dark, but, in about an hour, the moonbeams, +as the travelers called them, came up, and +illuminated the lake with a weird light.</p> + +<p>As the machinery of the <em>Mermaid</em> was now in +working order there was no further alarm because +of the darkness. The ship rested on a level keel +about a hundred yards back from the lake, and, +seeing that all was snug, and the fastenings secure, +the travelers went to bed.</p> + +<p>Though they had to forego fish for breakfast +the travelers made a good meal. After seeing +that the ship was in readiness for a quick start, the +professor suggested they take a walk around and +see what sort of country they might be in now.</p> + +<p>They tramped on for several miles, meeting +with no adventures, and seeing nothing out of the +ordinary. It was a pleasant day, just warm +enough to be comfortable, and a little wind was +blowing through the trees.</p> + +<p>“It would be almost like home if it wasn’t +for the strange lights, and the memory of the +queer things here,” said Jack. “I feel fine. +Let’s see if you can hit that dead tree over there, +Mark.”</p> + +<p>Jack stooped to grab up a stone, but no sooner +had his fingers touched it than he called out:</p> + +<p>“There! I forgot all about the stones here +being heavier than lead. Guess we can’t throw +any of ’em. But come on. I’ll race you to the +dead tree!”</p> + +<p>Mark was willing, so the two boys set off at a +fast pace.</p> + +<p>“Look out where you’re going!” the professor +called after them. “No telling what may be in +those woods,” for the boys were approaching a +little glade, on the edge of which the dead tree +stood.</p> + +<p>Jack reached the goal first, and stood leaning +against the trunk, waiting for Mark.</p> + +<p>“You’d better practice sprinting!” exclaimed +the victor.</p> + +<p>Mark was about to excuse himself for his poor +showing, on the plea of having eaten too much +breakfast, when to his horror he saw what seemed +to be a long thin snake spring out from the +branches of a near-by tree and twine itself about +Jack.</p> + +<p>“Help me! Save me!” cried the unfortunate +boy, as he was lifted high into the air and pulled +within the shadow of the wood.</p> + +<p>For an instant Mark was too horror-stricken to +move. Then with a shout that alarmed the others, +who were coming along more slowly, he made a +dash for the place he had last seen Jack.</p> + +<p>Had old Andy not been on the watch, with +those keen eyes of his, there might have been a +double tragedy. He had seen from afar the sudden +snatching up of Jack, and noted Mark’s rush +to save his chum.</p> + +<p>“Stand still! Don’t go in there for your life!” +yelled the hunter, at the same time running forward +with gun ready.</p> + +<p>His example was followed by the professor, +Washington and the other two men.</p> + +<p>“A snake has Jack!” called Mark, when Andy +was at his side.</p> + +<p>“No! It’s not a snake!” replied the hunter. +“It’s worse. It’s the snake-tree!”</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” asked Mr. Henderson, hurrying +up.</p> + +<p>“The snake-tree has Jack,” the hunter went on. +“It is a plant, half animal, half-vegetable. It +has long branches, not unlike a snake in shape. +They can move about and grab things.”</p> + +<p>“One of them got a grip on Jack as he leaned +against the dead tree trunk. I just caught a +glimpse of it, and called to prevent Mark from +running into danger.”</p> + +<p>“Can’t we save him?” asked Mr. Henderson.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to try!” replied Andy. “Quick! +Gather up some pieces of dry wood. I have some +paper, and my pipe lighter. We must fight the +snake-tree with fire!”</p> + +<h2 id='ch23' class='c008'>CHAPTER XXIII<br /><br />THE DESERTED VILLAGE</h2> + +<p class='c009'>Jack’s cries were growing fainter and fainter. +Peering in through the branches of the dead tree +the professor could see the whip-like limbs winding +closer and closer about the boy.</p> + +<p>“I am afraid we will be too late!” he said.</p> + +<p>Andy had twisted some paper into a rude torch. +He set fire to it with his pocket lighter, and, when +Bill and Mark brought him some little pieces of +dead wood the old hunter added them to his bundle, +which was now blazing brightly.</p> + +<p>“How are you going to do it?” asked the professor.</p> + +<p>“I’ll show you,” replied Andy. He bound the +sticks and paper together with wisps of grass and +then, when it was so hot he could hardly hold it +longer, he ran as close as he dared to the snake-tree +and tossed the torch at the foot of it.</p> + +<p>The blazing bundle fell among some damp +leaves and grass, as Andy had intended it should, +and soon a dense smoke arose, pouring straight +up through the branches of the animal-tree, the +limbs of which were gathered in a knot about the +half-unconscious form of the boy.</p> + +<p>For a few minutes they all waited anxiously. +Would Andy’s trick succeed? Had the terrible +tree not already squeezed the life from Jack?</p> + +<p>But, while they watched, there seemed to come +a change over the tree. The snake-like arms +waved less and less. They seemed to straighten +out, as though deprived of power by the smoke +which was now so dense as to hide Jack from +sight. Then the arms suddenly relaxed and something +rolled from them and fell to the ground. +With a quick movement Andy darted in, crawling +on his hands and knees beneath the limbs, and +brought Jack out. The boy was white and his +eyes were closed.</p> + +<p>“Get some water!” cried the old hunter.</p> + +<p>Mark ran toward a stream a little distance away. +He brought some of the curiously thick liquid in +his hat, and while Andy held the boy the professor +sprinkled some of the drops on his face, and forced +some between his lips. In a little while Jack’s +eyes slowly opened.</p> + +<p>“Don’t let it eat me!” he begged.</p> + +<p>“You’re all right now,” said Andy heartily. +“Not a bit harmed, Jack. But,” he added in a low +tone, “it was a close call.”</p> + +<p>A few whiffs from a bottle of ammonia the +professor carried soon brought Jack’s color back.</p> + +<p>“Do you feel better now?” asked Mark.</p> + +<p>“I guess so. Yes, I’m all right,” replied Jack, +struggling to his feet. “What happened? Feels +as if I had been tied up with a lot of rope.”</p> + +<p>“That’s about what you were,” Andy replied, +“only it was the worst kind of rope I ever saw. +Those snake-trees are terrible things. I’ve read +of ’em, but I never saw one before. The book +that told of them says they squeeze their victims +to death just as a snake does. The only way to do +is to make some smoke and fire at the bottom. +This sort of kills the branches or makes them +stupid and they let go. The trees are half animal, +and awful things. I hope we don’t meet with +any more.”</p> + +<p>“Same here,” added Jack fervently, as he +grasped Andy’s hand, and thanked him for saving +his life.</p> + +<p>“Do you think you can go on, or shall we return +to the ship?” the professor asked.</p> + +<p>“Oh I can trail along, if you move a little +slowly,” Jack replied. “I’m a bit stiff, that’s all.”</p> + +<p>So they resumed their journey. They had +gone, perhaps, three miles when Washington, who +was in the lead, suddenly stopped and called:</p> + +<p>“Sounds like thunder.”</p> + +<p>The others listened. Sure enough there was a +dull rumble and roar audible. It seemed off to +the left, but they could see no clouds in the sky, +nor any signs of a storm.</p> + +<p>“Let’s take a walk over that way and see what +it is,” Mr. Henderson suggested.</p> + +<p>As they walked on the noise became louder, until +in about half an hour it was like the sound from +a blast furnace.</p> + +<p>“What do you suppose it can be?” asked +Mark.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps some new freak of nature,” the professor +replied. “We seem to have a good many +of them here.”</p> + +<p>They were all on their guard now, for there +was no telling into what danger they might run. +As they went up a little hill the noise became much +louder. The professor and Andy, who had taken +the lead, kept a sharp lookout ahead, that they +might not unexpectedly fall into some hidden +stream or lake. As they topped the hill they saw +before them a deep valley, and in the midst of it +was that which was causing the roaring sound.</p> + +<p>From the centre of an immense mound of rock +and earth there spouted up a great column of +water, three hundred feet or more, as straight as +a flag staff. It was about ten feet in diameter, +and at the top it broke into a rosette of sparkling +liquid, which as the vari-colored lights played on +it, resembled some wonderful flower.</p> + +<p>“It’s a great geyser!” the professor exclaimed. +“We have come to a place like Yellowstone Park. +We must be very careful. The crust may be very +thin here, and let us down into some boiling +spring.”</p> + +<p>The others gathered around the professor, and, +from a safe distance watched the ever rising and +falling shaft of water.</p> + +<p>It was not regular in motion. Sometimes it +would shoot up to a great distance, nearly a thousand +feet, the professor estimated. Again it +would sink down, as the power sending it out lessened, +until it was only a few hundred feet above +the rounded top of the mound from which it +spurted. But it never fell below this. All the +while there was the constant roaring sound, as +though the forces of nature below the surface were +calling to be let out.</p> + +<p>“I hope there are not many of those about,” +Mr. Henderson remarked after a pause. “If +the ship should hit one during the night it would +be all up with us. We must keep a careful lookout.”</p> + +<p>The spouting column had a fascination which +held them to the spot for some time. From the +hill they had a good view of the surrounding country, +but did not see any more geysers.</p> + +<p>“Do you think it is hot water?” asked Mark.</p> + +<p>“There is no vapor,” the professor answered, +“but most of the geysers are produced by the action +of steam in the interior of the earth. However +we’ll not take any chances by investigating. +I fear it would not be safe to go into that valley.”</p> + +<p>“Look there!” cried Andy. “I guess we’re +better off here!” He pointed a little to the right +of where the water spouted. The others looked, +and saw, coming from a hole in the ground, some +shaggy black object.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked Jack.</p> + +<p>“It looks like a bear,” replied the hunter, “but +I never saw one like it before.”</p> + +<p>Nor had any of the others, for the creature was +a terrible one. It had the body of a bear, but +the feet and legs were those of an alligator, while +the tail trailed out behind like a snake, and the +head had a long snout, not unlike the trunk of an +elephant. The creature was about ten feet long +and five feet in height.</p> + +<p>“Let me try a shot at it!” exclaimed Andy. +“That is something worth shooting,” and he +cocked his rifle.</p> + +<p>“Don’t!” exclaimed the professor shortly. +“You might only wound it, and it would pursue +us. We are not ready to fight such creatures as +that, and you are the only one armed.”</p> + +<p>“I never missed anything I aimed at yet,” said +Andy, a little hurt that any one should doubt his +ability to kill at the first shot.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps not, but how do you know but what +this creature has a bullet proof armor under its +hide. This is a strange world, Andy. It is better +to take no chances.”</p> + +<p>“I hate to see him get away,” the hunter said.</p> + +<p>But, as it happened, the beast was not to get +away. As they watched they saw the horrible +animal approach the mound from which the water +spurted. Up the sides it climbed.</p> + +<p>“I guess he’s going to get a drink,” said Mark.</p> + +<p>That was evidently the beast’s intention. It +went close to the spouting column of water, and +thrust its head out so that its tongue could lap +from the side. It seemed to have been in the +habit of doing this.</p> + +<p>For once, and for the last time, however, it made +a mistake. The water seemed to veer to one side. +In its eagerness to get a drink the animal took another +step forward. At that moment the direction +of the column changed again, and it tilted over +toward the beast.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, as the travelers watched, the full +force of the big column caught the beast just +under the fore shoulders. Up into the air the creature +shot, propelled by thousands of pounds pressure. +Right up to the top of the column it went, +and this time the water rose a thousand feet into +the air.</p> + +<p>Up and up went the animal, struggling to get +away from the remorseless grip. Then, when the +water had reached its height, it shot the beast off +to one side. Then the brute began to fall, twisting, +turning, wiggling and struggling. Down it +came with a thud that could be heard above the +noise of the geyser.</p> + +<p>“I reckon that finishes him,” observed Andy. +And it had, for there was not a sign of life from +the creature.</p> + +<p>“I guess we have seen enough for one morning,” +the professor said. “Let’s go back to the +airship. It must be nearly dinner time.”</p> + +<p>They started away. Mark gave a last look +at the queer column of water and the dead body +of the strange animal. As he passed down the +hill he thought he saw the creature move, and +stayed to see if this was so. But a second glance +convinced him he was mistaken.</p> + +<p>The others had gone on and were some distance +ahead. Mark hurried on to join them. As he +got a last glance at the top of the column, over +the brow of the hill, he happened to look off to +the left. There was another hill, about the size +of the one they had been on.</p> + +<div class='c000'> +<a href='images/illus-180f.jpg'><img src='images/illus-180.jpg' alt='' class='c012' /></a> +<p class='c013'>UP IN THE AIR THE CREATURE SHOT</p> +</div> + +<p>And, as Mark looked he saw something move. +At first he thought it was another beast. But, to +his terror he saw that the creature had only two +legs, and that it stood upright like a man, but such +a man as Mark had never seen before, for he was +nearly twelve feet tall.</p> + +<p>He was about to cry out and warn the others, +when the thing, whatever it was, sunk down, apparently +behind some tall bushes, and disappeared +as if the earth had opened and swallowed it.</p> + +<p>“I wonder if I had better tell them,” thought +Mark. “I can’t show them anything. I wonder +if I really saw it, or if it was only a shadow. I +guess I’ll say nothing. But it is very strange.”</p> + +<p>Then he hurried on to join the others.</p> + +<p>“What makes you so pale?” asked Jack of his +chum.</p> + +<p>“Nothing,” said Mark, somewhat confused. +“I guess I’m a little tired, that’s all.”</p> + +<p>They reached the ship in safety, and, having +dinner started the machinery and took the <em>Mermaid</em> +up into the air.</p> + +<p>“We’ll travel on and see if we can’t find some +human beings,” the professor said.</p> + +<p>All that afternoon they sailed, the country below +them unfolding like a panorama. They passed +over big lakes, sailing on the surface of some, and +over rivers, and vast stretches of forest and dreary +plains. But they never saw a sign of human inhabitants.</p> + +<p>It was getting on to five o’clock, the hour when +the brilliant lights usually disappeared, when Mark, +who was steering in the conning tower, gave a cry.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked the professor, looking up +from a rude map he was making of the land they +had just traversed.</p> + +<p>“It looks like a town before us,” said the boy.</p> + +<p>Mr. Henderson and Jack looked to where Mark +pointed. A few miles ahead and below them were +great mounds, not unlike that from which the geyser +had spouted. But they were arranged in regular +form, like houses on a street, row after row +of them. And, as they approached nearer, they +could see that the mounds had doors and windows +to them. Some of the mounds were larger than +others, and some were of double and triple formation.</p> + +<p>“It’s a city! The first city of the new +world!” cried Jack.</p> + +<p>“It is a deserted village!” said the professor. +“We have found where the people live, but we +have not found them.” And he was right, for +there was not a sign of life about the place, over +which the airship was now suspended.</p> + +<h2 id='ch24' class='c008'>CHAPTER XXIV<br /><br />THE GIANTS</h2> + +<p class='c009'>“Let’s go down and investigate,” suggested +Jack.</p> + +<p>“Better wait,” counseled the professor. “It +will soon be dark, and, though we will have moonlight, +we can not see to advantage. I think it +will be best to keep the ship in the air to-night, +and descend in the morning. Then we can look +about and decide on what to do.”</p> + +<p>They all agreed this was the best plan, and, +after making a circle above the deserted village, +and noting no signs of life, the <em>Mermaid</em> was +brought to a halt over the centre of the town, and +about three hundred feet above it. There the +travelers would be comparatively safe.</p> + +<p>It was deemed best to keep watch that night, and +so, Mark, Jack, Bill and Tom took turns, though +there was nothing for them to do, as not a thing +happened. With the first appearance of dawn Mr. +Henderson gave orders to have the ship lowered, +and it came to rest in the middle of what corresponded +to a street in the queer mound village.</p> + +<p>“Now to see what kind of people have lived +here!” cried Jack. “They must have been a +queer lot. Something like the Esquimaux, only +they probably had more trouble keeping cool than +the chaps up at the north pole do.”</p> + +<p>Now that they were down among the mound +houses, they saw that the dwellings were much +larger than they had supposed. They towered +high above the boys’ heads, and some of them were +large enough in area to have accommodated a company +of soldiers.</p> + +<p>“Say, the chaps who lived in these must have +been some pumpkins,” said Jack. “Why the ceilings +are about fifteen feet high, and the doors almost +the same! Talk about giants! I guess we’ve +struck where they used to hang out, at any rate.”</p> + +<p>The houses were a curious mixture of clay and +soft stone. There were doors, with big skins +from animals as curtains, and the windows were +devoid of glass. Instead of stairs there were rude +ladders, and the furniture in the mound houses +was of the roughest kind.</p> + +<p>There were fire-places in some of the houses, +and the blackened and smoked walls showed that +they must have been used. In one or two of the +houses clay dishes, most of them broken, were +scattered about, and the size of them, in keeping +with everything else, indicated that those who +used them were of no small stature.</p> + +<p>“Some of the bowls would do for bath tubs,” +said Jack, as he came across one or two large +ones.</p> + +<p>By this time the professor, Bill and Tom had +joined the boys, and the five went on with the +exploring tour, while Washington and Andy remained +in the ship to get breakfast.</p> + +<p>“The inhabitants are evidently of a half-civilized +race,” the professor said. “Their houses, +and the manner in which they live, show them to +be allied to the Aztecs, though of course they are +much larger than that race.”</p> + +<p>“What’s bothering me,” Bill said, “is not so +much what race they belong to, as what chance +we’d stand in a race with them if they took it into +their heads to chase after us. I’ve read that them +there Azhandled races——”</p> + +<p>“You mean the Aztecs,” interrupted the professor.</p> + +<p>“Well the Aztecs, then. But I’ve read they +used to place their enemies on a stone altar and +cut their hearts out. Now I’m not hankerin’ after +anything like that.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t be foolish,” spoke Mr. Henderson. +“Wait until you meet some of the giants, if that +is what they are, and then you can decide what to +do.”</p> + +<p>“It may be too late then,” remarked Bill in +a low tone, and the boys were somewhat inclined +to agree with him.</p> + +<p>However, there seemed to be no immediate danger, +as there was no sign of any of the big people +about the village. The adventurers walked about +for some time, but made no discoveries that would +throw any light on the reason for the place being +left uninhabited. It seemed as if there had been +a sudden departure from the place, for in a number +of the houses the remains of half-cooked meals +were seen.</p> + +<p>“Well, I think we have noted enough for the +time being,” the professor remarked, after they +had traversed almost half the length of what +seemed to be the principal street. “Let’s go back +to the ship and have something to eat. Washington +may have become alarmed at our absence.”</p> + +<p>They made a circle in order to take in another +part of the town on their way back. While passing +through a sort of alley, though it was only +narrow by comparison with the other thoroughfares +that were very wide, Mark came to a place +where there was a circular slab of stone, resting +on the ground. In the centre was a big iron ring.</p> + +<p>“Hello! Here’s something new!” he exclaimed. +“Maybe it leads to a secret passage, or covers +some hidden treasure.”</p> + +<p>“I guess it will have to continue to cover it +then,” Jack spoke. “That probably weighs several +tons. None of us could move it.”</p> + +<p>They made their way back to the ship, where +they found Washington and Andy discussing the +advisability of going off in search of them.</p> + +<p>“Breakfast is mighty near spoiled,” said the +colored man with an injured air.</p> + +<p>But the travelers did full justice to the meal, +notwithstanding this. Deciding there was nothing +to be gained by staying in that vicinity, the professor +started the ship off again.</p> + +<p>They traveled several hundred miles in the air, +and, as the afternoon was coming to a close, Jack, +who was in charge of the conning tower, spied, +just ahead of them, another village.</p> + +<p>“We will descend there for the night,” the professor +said. “Does there seem to be any sign of +life about?”</p> + +<p>“None,” replied Mark, who was observing +through a telescope the town they were approaching. +“It’s as dead as the other one.”</p> + +<p>The airship settled down in a field back of +some of the mound houses.</p> + +<p>“Now for supper!” cried Jack. “I’m as +hungry as——”</p> + +<p>He stopped short, for, seeming to rise from the +very ground, all about the ship, there appeared a +throng of men. And such men as they were! +For not one was less than ten feet tall, and some +were nearly fifteen!</p> + +<p>“The giants have us!” cried Bill, as he saw the +horde of creatures surrounding the ship.</p> + +<h2 id='ch25' class='c008'>CHAPTER XXV<br /><br />HELD BY THE ENEMY</h2> + +<p class='c009'>“Keep the doors closed!” cried the professor. +“It is our only hope! I will send the ship up +again!”</p> + +<p>But it was too late. Washington, who had +obeyed the signal from the conning tower to shut +off the engines, had disconnected most of them +so they could not be started again save from the +main room. At the same time there came a yell +of dismay from the colored man, who had slid +back the steel covering of the main side entrance +to the <em>Mermaid</em>.</p> + +<p>“I’m caught!” cried Washington.</p> + +<p>As the professor and the boys hurried from the +tower, they could hear a struggle from where +Washington was, and his voice calling:</p> + +<p>“Let me go! Let me go!”</p> + +<p>Reaching the engine room, which opened directly +on the side entrance, the professor saw a pair of +enormous hands and arms dragging poor Washington, +feet first, out of the ship. Bill and Tom were +crouched in one corner, pale with fright.</p> + +<p>“Wait until I get my gun!” cried Andy, as he +ran for his rifle.</p> + +<p>“Hold on!” called the professor in a loud voice. +“It will be folly to shoot them! We must try +strategy!”</p> + +<p>Washington’s cries ceased as he was drawn entirely +from the ship, the giant hands disappearing +at the same time.</p> + +<p>“Follow me!” yelled Mr. Henderson, running +out of the door.</p> + +<p>Hardly knowing what they did, the boys went +after him, and their hearts almost stopped beating +in fright as they saw the terrible things, which, in +the glare of the changing lights, were on every +side of them.</p> + +<p>For the men were very repulsive looking. They +were attired in clothes, very similar in cut to those +worn by the travelers, and which seemed to be made +of some sort of cloth. But they were loose and +baggy and only added to the queer appearance of +the giants. Veritable giants they were too. +Their faces seemed as large as kegs, and they were +so clumsy in shape that Mark, even, frightened as +he was, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“They look like men made of putty!” At the +same time he saw they bore a resemblance to the +creature he had observed on the hill top.</p> + +<p>“What shall we do?” asked Andy of the +professor. “They are really carrying Washington +away!”</p> + +<p>Three of the giants were dragging the colored +man along the ground, while the other terrible beings +stood about as if waiting to see the outcome +of the first sally.</p> + +<p>“I will try to speak to them,” Mr. Henderson +said. “I know several languages. They may +understand one.”</p> + +<p>But before he could start on his parley a surprising +thing happened. There was a struggle in +the little group about Washington. The colored +man seemed to be fighting, though the odds, it +would appear, were too great to enable him to accomplish +anything. But, making a desperate effort +to escape, Washington quickly wrenched himself +free from the giants’ hands and then, striking +out with his fists, knocked the three down, one after +another.</p> + +<p>“I never knew Washington was so strong!” exclaimed +Jack.</p> + +<p>“Nor I,” put in Mark. “Why I should think +the men could carry him in one arm as if he was +a baby.”</p> + +<p>The three giants rose slowly to their feet. +They uttered strange cries, and motioned with their +hands toward the professor, the boys, and the +others in the crowd.</p> + +<p>“Look out! They’re goin’ t’ grab yo’!” cried +Washington.</p> + +<p>Three of the giants approached Mark, and a +like number closed in on Jack.</p> + +<p>“Back to the ship!” cried the professor. “We +must defend ourselves!”</p> + +<p>But by this time the big men had grabbed the +two boys. Then a strange thing took place. Mark +and Jack, though they felt that the giants must +overcome them in a test of strength, struggled with +all their might against being captured. They +fought, as a cornered rat will fight, though it knows +the odds to be overwhelming. But in this case the +unexpected happened.</p> + +<p>Both boys found they could easily break the +holds of the giants, and Mark, by a vigorous effort, +pushed the three men away from him, one at +a time violently so that they fell in a heap, one on +top of the other.</p> + +<p>“Hurrah! We can fight ’em!” cried Mark. +“Don’t be afraid. They’re like mush! They’re +putty men!”</p> + +<p>And, so it seemed, the giants were. Though +big in size they were flabby and had nothing like +the muscle they should have had in proportion to +their build. They went down like meal sacks and +were slow to rise.</p> + +<div class='c000'> +<a href='images/illus-193f.jpg'><img src='images/illus-193.jpg' alt='' class='c014' /></a> +<p class='c015'>THE BIG MEN HAD GATHERED IN A COMPACT MASS</p> +</div> + +<p>Jack, seeing how successful his comrade was, +attacked the three giants who were striving to make +him a captive. He succeeded in disposing of +them, knocking one down so hard that the man +was unable to rise until his companions helped him.</p> + +<p>“That’s the way!” cried Washington. +“They’re soft as snow men!”</p> + +<p>The vanquished giants set up a sort of roar, +which was answered by their fellows, and soon +there was a terrible din.</p> + +<p>“All get together!” called the professor. +“They are evidently going to make a rush for us. +If we stand by one another we may fight them off, +though they outnumber us a hundred to one. Besides +it will soon be dark, and we may be able to +escape!”</p> + +<p>Washington, Jack and Mark retreated toward +the ship, in the direction of which the others had +also made their way. The big men had gathered in +a compact mass and were advancing on the adventurers.</p> + +<p>“What do you suppose makes them so soft?” +asked Mark. “I believe I could manage half a dozen.”</p> + +<p>“It must be the effect of the climate and conditions +here,” the professor replied. “Probably +they have to be big to stand the pressure of the +thick water, and the increased attraction of gravitation. +Then too, being without the weight of the +atmosphere to which we are accustomed, they have +probably expanded. If they were to go up to +earth, they might shrink to our size.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think that possible?”</p> + +<p>“Of course. Why do you ask?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing in particular,” replied Mark. But +to himself, he added: “That would explain it +all.”</p> + +<p>It was getting dusk now. The travelers had +reached their ship, and rushed inside and tried to +close the doors in the face of the advancing horde. +But, by this time the giants were so close that one +or two of them thrust their big feet in, and prevented +this movement. At the same time they set +up a great howling.</p> + +<p>“Quick!” cried the professor. “We must +start the ship and get away!”</p> + +<p>“I can’t close the door!” yelled Washington, +who had been the last to enter.</p> + +<p>“Never mind that! <em>Go</em> up with it open! +Drag them along if they won’t let go!” answered +Mr. Henderson, as he ran toward the engine room.</p> + +<p>There was a sudden rush among the giants, and +a sound as if something was being thrown over the +top and ends of the ship. Mark turned the gas +machine on, while Jack worked the negative gravity +apparatus. They waited for the ship to rise.</p> + +<p>“Why don’t we go up?” asked the professor.</p> + +<p>“'Cause they’ve caught us!” called out Washington.</p> + +<p>“Caught us? How?”</p> + +<p>“They’ve thrown ropes over the top and ends +of the ship, and fastened them to their big +houses!”</p> + +<p>Running to a side window the professor saw +that the <em>Mermaid</em> was fastened down by a score +of cables, each one six inches thick. They were +held captives by the enemy.</p> + +<h2 id='ch26' class='c008'>CHAPTER XXVII<br /><br />A FRIEND INDEED</h2> + +<p class='c009'>Though the giants, man for man, were no +match for the travelers, collectively the horde +proved too much. They had swarmed about the +ship, and, by passing the big cables over her, effectively +held her down.</p> + +<p>“Let me get out and I’ll cut ’em!” cried Andy. +“We must get away from these savages!”</p> + +<p>“No, no, don’t go out!” exclaimed the professor. +“They would eventually kill you, though +you might fight them off for a time. We must +wait and see what develops. They can have no +object in harming us, as we have not injured +them.”</p> + +<p>“I’d rather fight ’em,” insisted the old hunter.</p> + +<p>But the professor had his way and Andy was +forced to obey. The giants had withdrawn their +big feet from the side door and Washington had +closed it. But nothing else had been accomplished, +and the ship could not rise. The gas and negative +gravity machines were stopped, as they were +only under a useless strain.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, the colored lights which had been +growing dimmer and dimmer, with the approach +of night, went out altogether. Almost as suddenly, +Mark, who was watching the giants from +the conning tower, as they made fast the loose ends +of the cables, saw them make a dash for the mound +houses.</p> + +<p>“They’re afraid of the dark!” he cried. +“Come on! We can go out now and loosen the +ropes!“</p> + +<p>He hurried to tell the professor what he had +noticed.</p> + +<p>“Good!” exclaimed Mr. Henderson. “Perhaps +we can escape now!”</p> + +<p>They waited a few minutes, listening to the +sound of many big feet running away from the +ship, and then, Bill cautiously opened the side door. +The others were behind him, waiting, with knives +and hatchets in their hands, to rush out and cut the +restraining cables.</p> + +<p>“All ready!” called Bill. “There doesn’t +seem to be a one in sight!”</p> + +<p>He stepped out but no sooner had he set foot +on the ground than there came a thud, and Bill +went down as if some one had knocked his feet +from under him.</p> + +<p>“Go back! Go back!” he cried. “They hit +me with something. I’m being smothered!”</p> + +<p>“Bring a light!” cried the professor, for the +sally had been started in the dark.</p> + +<p>Jack brought the portable electric it having been +repaired and flashed it out of the door. In the +gleam of it, Bill was seen lying prostrate, half covered +by an orange, about half as big as himself. +The fruit was as soft and mushy as some of the +giants themselves, or Bill would not have fared so +easily.</p> + +<p>Then, as the others stood watching, and while +Bill arose and wiped some of the juice from his +face, there came a regular shower of the monstrous +oranges.</p> + +<p>“Get inside quick! We’ll be smothered under +them!” Mr. Henderson cried.</p> + +<p>Pausing only to rescue Bill, the adventurers retreated +inside the ship, and made fast the door. +Outside they could hear the thud as the oranges +were thrown, some hitting the <em>Flying Mermaid</em> and +many dropping all about her.</p> + +<p>“I guess they are going to have things their +own way,” observed Bill, as he gazed down on +his clothes, which were covered with juice from the +fruit.</p> + +<p>The night was one of anxiety. The travelers +took turns standing guard, but nothing more occurred. +The giants remained in their houses, and +the heavy ropes still held the ship fast.</p> + +<p>“We must hold a council of war,” the professor +decided as they gathered at breakfast, which +was far from a cheerful meal.</p> + +<p>With the return of the colored lights the giants +again made their appearance. They came swarming +from the mound houses, and a great crowd +they proved to be. Several thousand at least, Jack +estimated, and when he went up into the conning +tower and took a survey he could see the strange +and terrible creatures pouring in from the surrounding +country.</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid there will be trouble,” he said, +as he came down and reported what he had +seen.</p> + +<p>“We must hold a council of war,” repeated +the professor. “Has any one anything to suggest?”</p> + +<p>“Get a lot of powder and blow ’em up!” cried +Andy.</p> + +<p>“Arrange electric wires and shock ’em to +death!” was Bill’s plan.</p> + +<p>“Can’t we slip the ropes in some way and escape?” asked Jack. +“I don’t believe we can successfully +fight the giants. They are too many, +even if they are weak, individually.”</p> + +<p>“I think you’re right there,” Mr. Henderson +said. “We must try some sort of strategy, but +what? That is the question.”</p> + +<p>For a few minutes no one spoke. They were +all thinking deeply, for their lives might hang in +the balance.</p> + +<p>“I think I have a plan,” said Mark, at length. +“Did we bring any diving suits with us?”</p> + +<p>“There may be one or two,” the professor replied. +“But what good will they do?”</p> + +<p>“Two of us could put them on,” continued +Mark, “and, as they afford good protection from +any missiles like fruit, we could crawl out on the +deck of the ship. From there, armed with +hatchets or knives we could cut the ropes. Then +the ship could rise.”</p> + +<p>“That’s a good plan!” cried the scientist. +“We’ll try it at once!”</p> + +<p>Search revealed that two diving suits were among +the stores of the <em>Mermaid</em>. Jack and Mark +wanted to be the ones to don them, but as the suits +were rather large, and as the professor thought +it would take more strength than the boys had +to do the work, it was decided that Andy and +Washington should make the attempt to cut the +ropes.</p> + +<p>The hunter and colored man lost little time in +getting into the modern armor. In the meanwhile +Jack, who had been posted as a lookout, reported +that there seemed to be some activity among +the giants. They were running here and there, +and some seemed to be going off toward the woods, +that were not far away.</p> + +<p>“Now work quickly,” urged the professor. +“We will be on the watch, and as soon as the last +rope is cut we will start the machinery and send the +ship up. We will not wait for you to come back +inside, so hold fast as best you can when the <em>Mermaid</em> +rises.”</p> + +<p>“We will,” answered Andy, just before the big +copper helmet was fastened on his head, and Washington +nodded to show he understood.</p> + +<p>The two who were to attempt the rescue of their +comrades were soon on deck. In the conning +tower Jack and the professor kept anxious watch, +while Mark, Bill and Tom were at the various +machines, ready, at the signal, to start the engines.</p> + +<p>The giants had now become so interested in +whatever plan they had afoot, that they paid little +attention to the ship. Consequently Washington +and Andy, crawling along the deck in their diving +suits, did not, at first attract any attention.</p> + +<p>In fact they had cut several of the big ropes, and +it began to look as if the plan would succeed, particularly +as they were partly hidden from view by +the upper gas holder. They were working with +feverish haste, sawing away at the big cables with +keen knives.</p> + +<p>“I guess we’ll beat ’em yet!” cried Jack.</p> + +<p>“I hope so,” replied the professor. “It +looks——”</p> + +<p>He stopped short, for at that moment a cry arose +from the midst of the giants, and one of them +pointed toward the ship. An instant later the air +was darkened with a flight of big oranges, which +the queer creatures seemed to favor as missiles. +Probably they found stones too heavy.</p> + +<p>“Well, those things can’t hurt ’em much with +those heavy suits on,” observed Mr. Henderson. +“There, Washington got one right on the head +that time, and it didn’t bother him a bit.”</p> + +<p>Jack had seen the fruit strike the big copper +helmet and observed that the colored man only +moved his head slightly in order to get rid of the +orange.</p> + +<p>In fact the giants, seeing for themselves that +this mode of warfare was not going to answer, +since the two men on the ship continued to cut the +restraining cables, gave it up. There was a good +deal of shouting among them, and a number ran +here and there, seemingly gathering up long poles.</p> + +<p>“I wonder if they are going to try the flailing +method, and beat poor Andy and Washington,” +said Mr. Henderson. “It looks so.”</p> + +<p>The two rescuers were now about a quarter +through their hard task. The throwing of the +oranges had ceased. But the giants were up to a new +trick. They divided into two sections, one taking +up a position on one side of the ship, and the other +on the opposite. There were about two hundred +in each crowd, while the others in the horde drew +some distance back.</p> + +<p>“They’re up to some queer dodge,” observed +Jack. “What are they placing those sticks to +their mouths for?”</p> + +<p>The professor observed the throng curiously for +a few seconds. Then he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“They are using blow-guns! They are going +to shoot arrows at Washington and Andy! We +must get them in at once!”</p> + +<p>He darted toward a door that opened from the +conning tower out on the deck.</p> + +<p>“Don’t go!” cried Jack. “It’s too late! +They are beginning to blow!”</p> + +<p>He pointed to the throng of giants. The professor +could see their cheeks puffed out as the big +creatures filled their lungs with air and prepared +to expel it through the hollow tubes.</p> + +<p>Then there came a sound as if a great wind was +blowing. It howled and roared over the ship, not +unlike a hurricane in its fury. But there was no +flight of arrows through the air, such as would +have come from regular blow guns.</p> + +<p>“That is strange,” said the professor. He +thought for a moment. “I have it!” he cried, +“They are trying to blow Washington and Andy +off the ship by the power of their breaths! They +are not blowing arrows at them! My, but they, +must have strong lungs!”</p> + +<p>And, in truth, that was the plan of the giants. +The hollow tubes, made from some sort of big +weed, sent a blast of air at the two men on the +ship’s deck, that made them lie flat and cling with +both hands to avoid being sent flying into the midst +of the giants, on one side or the other. But the +giants had reckoned without the weight of the +diving suits, and it was those, with the big lead +soles of the shoes, that helped to hold Washington +and Andy in place.</p> + +<p>“Come back! Come back!” cried the professor, +opening the conning tower door and calling to +the two brave men. “Come back, both of you! +Do you hear?”</p> + +<p>As the portal slid back the rush of air was almost +like that of a cyclone. Then it suddenly +ceased, as the giants saw their plan was not likely +to succeed.</p> + +<p>But now there arose from the outer circle of the +horde a shout of triumph. It was caused by the +return of those who had, a little while before, hurried +off to the woods. They came back bearing +big trees, tall and slender, stripped of their +branches, so that they resembled flag staffs. It +took a dozen giants to carry each one.</p> + +<p>The whole throng was soon busy laying the poles +in a row in front of the ship.</p> + +<p>“What can they be up to now?” asked Jack.</p> + +<p>“It looks as if they were going to slide the ship +along on rollers,” the professor replied.</p> + +<p>Sure enough this was the giant’s plan. A few +minutes later those in the <em>Mermaid</em> felt her moving +forward, as the giants, massed behind, shoved. +On to the poles she slid. The ropes were loosened +to permit this, but not enough to enable the boat +to rise.</p> + +<p>Then the travelers felt the ship being lifted up.</p> + +<p>“They are going to carry us away, with the +poles for a big stretcher!” cried the professor.</p> + +<p>Looking from the side windows the boys saw +that a great crowd of the big men were on either +side of the <em>Mermaid</em>, each giant grasping a pole, +and lifting. Farther out were others, holding the +ends of the cables which Washington and Andy +had not succeeded in cutting.</p> + +<p>The ship was being carried along by a thousand +or more giants, as the ancient warriors, slain in +battle, were carried home on the spears of their +comrades.</p> + +<p>“This is the end of the <em>Mermaid</em>!” murmured +Mr. Henderson in sorrowful tones.</p> + +<p>As they looked from the conning tower the professor +and the two boys observed a commotion +among the leaders of the giants. They seemed +to be wavering. Suddenly the forward part of +the ship sank, as those ahead laid their poles down +on the ground. Then those behind did the same, +and the <em>Mermaid</em>, came to a stop, and once more +rested on the earth.</p> + +<p>“What does this mean?” asked the scientist in +wonder.</p> + +<p>All at once the entire crowd of giants threw +themselves down on their faces, and there, standing +at the bow of the ship, was a giant, half again as +large as any of the others. He was clad in a complete +suit of golden armor on which the changing +lights played with beautiful effect, and in his hand +he held an immense golden sword. He pointed +the weapon at the ship as if he had raised it in protection, +and his hand was stretched in commanding +gesture over the prostrate giants.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps he has come to save us!” cried Mark.</p> + +<h2 id='ch27' class='c008'>CHAPTER XXVII<br /><br />A GREAT JOURNEY</h2> + +<p class='c009'>Such indeed, seemed to be the case. The +golden-armored giant, after standing for a few moments +in an attitude of command, waved his sword +three times about his head, and uttered a command, +in a voice that sounded like thunder. Then the +prostrate ones arose, and, making low bows hurried +away in all directions.</p> + +<p>Watching them disappear, the golden one +sheathed his weapon and approached the ship. +He caught sight of the professor and the two boys +in the conning tower, for Mark had gone there +when he found the ship being transported, and +held up his two hands, the palms outward.</p> + +<p>“It is the sign of peace in the language all natives +employ,” said the professor. “I think I +shall trust him.”</p> + +<p>Followed by the boys he descended from the +little platform in the tower, and to the door that +opened on the deck.</p> + +<p>“Shall we go out?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“We can’t be much worse off,” replied Mark. +“Let’s chance it.”</p> + +<p>So, not without many misgivings, they slid back +the portal and stepped out to face the strange and +terrible being who had so suddenly come to their +rescue.</p> + +<p>The giant in the golden armor did not seem +surprised to see them. In fact he acted as though +he rather expected them. He continued to hold +up one hand, with the palm, outward, while, with +the other, he removed his helmet and bowed low. +Then he cast his sword on the ground and advanced +toward the ship. When within ten feet he +sat down on the ground, and this brought his head +nearer the earth, so that his auditors could both +see and hear him to better advantage.</p> + +<p>As soon as the giant saw the travelers were outside +their ship he began to speak to them in a voice, +which, though he might have meant it to be low +and gentle, was like the bellowing of a bull. At +the same time he made many gestures, pointing to +the ship, to himself and to Mark.</p> + +<p>“What is he saying, professor?” asked Jack.</p> + +<p>“I can’t understand all he says,” Mr. Henderson +replied. “He uses some words derived from +the Latin and some from the Greek. But by +piecing it out here and there, and by interpreting +his motions I am able to get at something.”</p> + +<p>“And what is it all about?”</p> + +<p>“It is a strange story,” the scientist replied. +“He has only gone about half way through it. +Wait until he finishes and I will tell you.”</p> + +<p>The golden-armored giant, who had stopped in +his narrative while Jack was speaking, resumed. +His gestures became more rapid, and his words +came faster. Several times Mr. Henderson held +up his hand for him to cease, while he puzzled out +what was meant.</p> + +<p>At one point, the professor seemed much startled, +and motioned for the strange being to repeat +the last part of his discourse. When this had been +done Mr. Henderson shook his head as though in +doubt.</p> + +<p>At length the story was finished, and the lone +giant, for there were no others in sight now, folded +his arms and seemed to await what the professor’s +answer might be. Mr. Henderson turned to the +boys, and to the others of the <em>Mermaid’s</em> company, +who, by this time, had joined him, and said:</p> + +<p>“Friends, I have just listened to a strange story. +It is so strange that, but for the fact that our own +adventures are verging on the marvelous, I could +hardly believe it. In the first place, this man here +is the king of this country. That is why all the +other natives obeyed him.</p> + +<p>“In the second place it seems he has been a +passenger in our boat, and came here from the +earth’s surface with us!”</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” cried Jack.</p> + +<p>“That explains the strange happenings!” ejaculated +Mark. “No wonder I could never solve +the secret of the storeroom.”</p> + +<p>“You are right, it does,” replied Mr. Henderson. +“I will not go into all the details of how +it happened, but it seems the big hole through +which we came is only one of two entrances to this +inner world. Rather it is the entrance, and there +is another, close to it, which is the exit. Through +the latter a big stream of water spouts up, just as +one pours down through the opening we used.</p> + +<p>“Hankos, which is the name of the king, was +for many years a student of science. He longed +to see where the big stream of upward spurting +water went, and wanted to know whence came the +down-pouring one. So he undertook a daring experiment.</p> + +<p>“He constructed a great cylinder, and, keeping +his plans a secret, conveyed it to the spouting +water, entered it, and, by means of pulleys and +levers, after he had shut himself inside, cast himself +into the up-shooting column. He took along compressed +air cylinders to supply an atmosphere he +could breathe, and some food to eat, for it appears +our giant friends are something of inventors in +their way. The current of water bore him to the +surface of the earth, and he was cast up on the +ocean, in what was probably taken for a waterspout +if any one saw it.</p> + +<p>“Then a strange thing happened. No sooner +did Hankos open his cylinder, which served him +as a boat, than he lost his gigantic size, owing to +the difference of the two atmospheres. He became +almost of the same size as ourselves, except +that his skin hung in great folds on him, and he +seemed like a wrinkled old man. His clothes +too, were a world too large.</p> + +<p>“He had a terrible time before he reached shore, +and a hard one after it, for his strange appearance +turned almost every one against him. He was +sorry he had ventured to solve the mystery of the +up-shooting stream of water, for he was worse than +an outcast.</p> + +<p>“Then he began to plan to get back to his own +inner world. But he could not find the downward +stream, and, not knowing the language of the countries +where he landed, he had no means of ascertaining. +He traveled from place to place, always +seeking for something that would lead him back to +his own country.</p> + +<p>“Finally he heard of us, and of our ship, though +how I do not know, as I thought I had kept it a +great secret. By almost superhuman struggles he +made his way to our island. He says he concealed +himself aboard the <em>Mermaid</em> the night before +we sailed, but I hardly believe it possible. It +seems——”</p> + +<p>“He did it, for I saw him!” interrupted Mark.</p> + +<p>“You saw him!” cried Mr. Henderson.</p> + +<p>Then Mark told of the many things that had +puzzled him so, how he had seen the queer figure +slinking aboard the boat, of the disappearance of +food from time to time, and of the strange noises +in the storeroom.</p> + +<p>“That bears out what he told me,” the professor +said. “Hankos says he used to steal out nights +and take what food he could get, and he also mentions +some one, answering to Mark’s description, +who nearly discovered him once as he hurried back +into the apartment.</p> + +<p>“However, it seems to be true, since Mark +confirms it. At any rate Hankos stayed in hiding, +and made the entire trip with us, and, just as we +all became overcome with the strange gas he escaped, +having begun to expand to his original +giant size, and being unable to remain any longer +in his cramped quarters.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so, he did!” cried Mark. “I saw +him come out of the place just before I lost my +senses. It was a terrible sight, and none of you +would believe me when I told you some of the occurrences +afterward.”</p> + +<p>“You must forgive us for that,” the professor +said. “We have learned much since then.”</p> + +<p>“What did Hankos do after he left the ship +when it landed in this country?” asked Jack.</p> + +<p>“He traveled until he came to this village, +which is the chief one of this country,” replied +the professor. “Part of the time he followed +us at a distance, being able to travel very fast.”</p> + +<p>Mark remembered the strange figure of a giant +he had seen on the hill tops several times, and knew +that he had been observing the being who had +played such a queer part in their lives.</p> + +<p>“When he came back among his own people,” +went on Mr. Henderson, “they would not receive +him at first, believing him to be an impostor. But +Hankos convinced them of his identity and was allowed +to don the golden armor, which is the badge +of kingship. He had only been in office for a +little while when he heard of the arrival of the +strange thing, which turned out to be our ship. +He recognized it from the description, and, learning +that we were likely to be sacrificed to the fury +and ignorance of the giants, he hurried here and +saved our lives.</p> + +<p>“He says he can never thank us enough for +being the means whereby he was able to get back +to his own country, and says the freedom of this +whole inner world is ours. He has given orders +that we are to go wherever we like, and none will +molest us. He tells me the land is a wonderful +one, compared to our own, and urges us to make a +long journey. He would like to go with us, only, +now that he has resumed his natural size, he can +not get inside the ship.”</p> + +<p>“Hurrah for King Hankos!” cried Jack and +the others joined him in a hearty cheer.</p> + +<p>The giant in the golden armor evidently understood +the compliment which was paid him, for he +waved his helmet in the air and responded with +a shout of welcome that made the ground +tremble.</p> + +<p>Hankos waited until the professor had translated +all of the story to the other travelers. Then +the genial giant began to talk some more, and the +professor listened intently.</p> + +<p>“He says,” spoke Mr. Henderson to his friends, +“that we will be supplied with all the fruit we +want, and with the best of the houses to sleep in +on our journey. He also tells me he has great +stores of shining stones and piles of the metal of +which his armor is made, and that we are welcome +to as much as we want. If this means unlimited +gold and diamonds, we may make our fortunes.”</p> + +<p>“Jest let me git ma’ hand on a few sparklers an’ +I’ll quit work!” exclaimed Washington.</p> + +<p>“I have told him,” the scientist went on, “that +we will take advantage of his kind offer. We +will start on our trip in a day or so, after we have +looked over the ship to see if it is not damaged. +He tells me the gold and sparkling stones are several +thousand miles away, on top of a high mountain. +We will make that our objective point.”</p> + +<p>The interview between the king and Mr. Henderson +having ended, the former waved his sword +in the air and the swarm of big men came back. +They had been hiding back in the woods. Now +their manner was very different. They carefully, +removed the rollers and ropes, and soon there was +brought to the adventurers an immense pile of fine +fruits. If our friends had stayed there a year they +could not have eaten it all. The giants were judging +the appetites of the travelers by their own.</p> + +<p>That night the adventurers slept more soundly +than they had since entering the strange world. +They felt they had nothing to fear from the giants. +In the morning they were not molested, though +big crowds gathered to look at the ship. But they +kept back a good distance. The machinery was +found to be in good shape, save for a few repairs, +and when these were made, the professor announced +he would start on a long journey.</p> + +<p>For several weeks after that the travelers swung +about in their ship, sometimes sailing in the air and +again on big seas and lakes viewing the wonders +of the inner world. They were many and varied, +and the professor collected enough material for a +score of books which he said he would write when +he got back to the outer world once more.</p> + +<p>One afternoon, as they were sailing over a vast +stretch of woodland, which did not seem to be inhabited, +Mr. Henderson, looking at one of the +gages on the wall, asked:</p> + +<p>“Boys do you know how far you have traveled +underground?”</p> + +<p>“How far?” asked Jack, who hated to guess +riddles.</p> + +<p>“More than four thousand miles,” was the answer.</p> + +<p>“But we haven’t come to that mountain of gold +and diamonds,” said Mark. “I am anxious to +see that.”</p> + +<p>“Have patience,” replied the professor. “I +have not steered toward it yet. There are other +things to see.”</p> + +<p>Just then Washington’s voice could be heard +calling from the conning tower:</p> + +<p>“We’re coming to a big mountain!”</p> + +<h2 id='ch28' class='c008'>CHAPTER XXVIII<br /><br />THE TEMPLE OF TREASURE</h2> + +<p class='c009'>“What’s that?” fairly yelled the professor.</p> + +<p>“We am propelling ourselves in a contiguous +direction an’ in close proximity to an elevated portion +of th’ earth’s surface which rises in antiguous +proximity t’ th’ forward part of our present means +of locomotion!” said the colored man in a loud +voice.</p> + +<p>“Which means there may be a collision,” the +professor said, as he and the boys hurried toward +the tower.</p> + +<p>“Jest what I said,” retorted Washington. +“What’ll I do?”</p> + +<p>“Send the ship a little higher,” answered Mr. +Henderson. “We mustn’t hit any mountains.”</p> + +<p>Washington forced more gas into the holder, +and speeded the negative gravity machine up some, +so that the <em>Mermaid</em>, which was flying rather low, +ascended until it was in no danger of colliding +with the peak which reared its lofty height just +ahead of them.</p> + +<p>As the ship sailed slowly over the mountain, +Mark gazed down and exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“Doesn’t that look like the ruins of some building?”</p> + +<p>The professor took a pair of field glasses from +a rack in the wall and took a long view.</p> + +<p>“It must be the place,” he said in a low voice.</p> + +<p>“What place?” asked Jack.</p> + +<p>“The temple of treasure,” was the answer. +“Hankos told me it was on top of the highest +mountain in the land, and this must be it, for it is +the loftiest place we have seen. But we must be +careful, for there is danger down there.”</p> + +<p>“What kind?” asked Mark.</p> + +<p>“The place was long ago deserted by the +giants,” Mr. Henderson went on. “Ages ago it +was one of their storehouses for treasure, but there +were wars among themselves, Hankos said, and +this part of the country was laid waste. Savage +beasts took up their abode in the temple, and since +then, in spite of the great size of the giants, they +have not dared to venture here. If we brave the +animals we may have all the gold and diamonds +we can take away.”</p> + +<p>“Then for one, I’m willin’ t’ go down an’ begin +th’ extermination at once,” put in Andy. “I’ve +always wanted t’ be rich.”</p> + +<p>“We must proceed cautiously,” the professor +said. “We are ill prepared to fight any such beasts +as we saw at the big geyser. At the same time they +may have deserted this place. I think we will +lower the ship down over the temple, and spend +several hours in observation. Then, if nothing +develops, we can enter and see if the treasure is +there.”</p> + +<p>This plan was voted a good one, and the <em>Mermaid</em> +after having been steered directly over the +ruined temple, was brought to a halt, and enough +gas let out so that it fell to about fifty feet in the +air above it.</p> + +<p>The adventurers began their watch. The afternoon +waned and there were no signs of any beasts +in or about the temple.</p> + +<p>“I reckon we can take a chance,” said Andy, +who was anxious to get his hands on some diamonds.</p> + +<p>“Better wait until morning,” counseled Mr. +Henderson. “It will soon be dark, and it doesn’t +look like a nice place to go stumbling about in by +moonlight.”</p> + +<p>So, though all but the scientist were anxious, +they had to wait until the night had passed. Several +times Washington got up to see if the temple +had, by any chance, taken wings during the long +hours of darkness, but each time he found it was +still in place.</p> + +<p>“Seems laik it’ll never come mornin’,” he said.</p> + +<p>But dawn came at length, and, after a hasty +breakfast, preparations to enter the temple were +made. Andy loaded his gun for “bear” as he +expressed it, and the boys each took a revolver.</p> + +<p>The ship was lowered to as level a place as could +be found, and then, seeing that everything was in +readiness for a quick departure, the professor led +the way out of the <em>Mermaid</em>.</p> + +<p>The entrance to the temple was through a big +arched gateway. Some of the stones had fallen +down, and the whole structure looked as if it might +topple over at any moment.</p> + +<p>“Go carefully,” cautioned Mr. Henderson. +“Watch on all sides and up above. Better let +Andy and me go ahead.”</p> + +<p>The scientist and the old hunter led the way. +Through the arch they went, and emerged into +what must at one time have been a magnificent +courtyard. Before them was the temple proper, +a vast structure, with an opening through which +fifty men might have marched abreast. But the +doors were gone, and the portal was but a black +hole.</p> + +<p>“I hope there ain’t any ghosts in there,” said +Washington, with a shiver.</p> + +<p>“Nonsense!” exclaimed the professor. “There +may be things as bad, but there are no such things +as ghosts. Have your gun ready, Andy.”</p> + +<p>With every sense on the alert, the old hunter +advanced. Every one was a bit nervous, and, as +Mark and Jack afterward admitted, they half expected +some terrible beast to rush out at them. +But nothing of the kind happened, and they went +into the interior of the temple.</p> + +<p>At first it was so dark they could see nothing. +There were vast dim shapes on every side, and +from the hollow echo of their footsteps they judged +the roof must be very high and the structure big +in every way.</p> + +<p>Then, as their eyes became used to the darkness, +they could make out, up front, something like an +altar or pulpit.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps that’s where they offered up the gold +and diamonds as a sacrifice to their gods,” spoke +Mark in a whisper.</p> + +<p>“Sacrifice to their gods!” came back a hundred +echoes and the sound made every one shudder.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” said Washington, in a low voice.</p> + +<p>“Oh! Oh! Oh!” repeated the echoes in +voices of thunder.</p> + +<p>“Well, this is pleasant,” spoke Andy, in his natural +tones, and, to the surprise of all there was no +echo. It was only when a person whispered or +spoke low that the sound was heard. After that +they talked naturally.</p> + +<p>“You stay here, and Andy and I will go up +front and see what there is,” said Mr. Henderson. +“Be on your guard, and if you hear us coming +back in a hurry, run!”</p> + +<p>It was with no little feeling of nervousness that +the boys, Bill, Tom and Washington watched the +two men move off in the darkness. They could +hear their footsteps on the stone flags and could +dimly see them.</p> + +<p>“They must be almost to the altar by this +time,” said Mark, after a long pause.</p> + +<p>Hardly had he spoken than there came a loud +sound from where Mr. Henderson and Andy had +gone. It was as if some giant wings were beating +the air. Then came shrill cries and the voice of +the old hunter could be heard calling:</p> + +<p>“Kneel down, Professor! Let me get a shot +at the brute!”</p> + +<p>Those waiting in the rear of the temple huddled +closer together. What terrible beast could have +been aroused?</p> + +<p>The next instant the place seemed illuminated +as if by a lightning flash, and a sound as of a thousand +thunder claps resounded.</p> + +<p>“I think I winged him!” cried Andy’s voice, +and the boys knew he had fired at something.</p> + +<p>Then there came a crash, and from the roof of +the old temple a dozen stones toppled off to one +side, letting in a flood of colored light.</p> + +<p>By this illumination could be seen, flapping +through the big space overhead, an enormous bat, +as large as three eagles. And, as it flew about +in a circle it gave utterance to shrill cries.</p> + +<p>“Bang!” Andy’s gun spoke again, and the +bat with a louder cry than before, darted through +the hole in the roof made by the falling stones, +which had been loosened by the concussion from +the rifle.</p> + +<p>“Come on!” cried the old hunter. “That was +the guardian of the treasure! We are safe now!”</p> + +<p>Then, in the light which streamed through the +broken roof, the adventurers could see, heaped up +on a great altar, behind which sat a horrible graven +image, piles of yellow metal, and sparkling stones. +In little heaps they were, arranged as if offerings +to the terrible god of the giants. There were bars +and rings of gold, dishes of odd shape, and even +weapons. As for the sparkling stones, they were +of many colors, but the white ones were more plentiful +than all the others.</p> + +<p>“Gold and diamonds! Diamonds and gold!” +murmured the professor. “There is the ransom +of many kings in this ancient temple.”</p> + +<p>“Wish I had a big bag!” exclaimed Washington, +as he began filling all his pockets with the +precious metal and gems. “If I had a-thought +I’d have brought a dress-suit case!”</p> + +<p>“A dress-suit case full of diamonds!” exclaimed +Mark.</p> + +<p>Then he too, as did all the others, fell to filling +his pockets with the wealth spread so lavishly before +them. There was the riches of a whole world +in one place and no one but themselves to take it.</p> + +<p>For several minutes no one spoke. The only +sound was the rattle of the stones and the clink of +gold, and when some of the diamonds dropped on +the floor they did not bother to gather them up. +There were too many on the altar.</p> + +<p>“We will be rich for life!” gasped old Andy, +who had been poor all his years.</p> + +<p>“I can’t carry any more!” gasped Washington. +“I’m goin’ back for——”</p> + +<p>What he was going back for he never said, for, +at that instant, happening to look up at the hole in +the roof, he gave a startled cry:</p> + +<p>“Here come the terrible bats!”</p> + +<p>They all gazed upward. Through the opening +they could see a great flock of the awful birds, +headed for the temple, and they were led by one +which seemed to fly with difficulty. It was the +guardian of the treasure that Andy had wounded.</p> + +<p>“Quick! We must get out of here!” shouted +the old hunter. “They are big enough and strong +enough to tear us all to pieces. Hurry!”</p> + +<p>Down the centre of the temple they rushed, and +not a moment too soon, for, ere they had passed +half way to the entrance, the opening in the roof +was darkened by the coming of the bats, and soon +the flapping of their wings awoke the thundering +echoes in the ruined structure, while their shrill cries +struck terror to the hearts of the travelers.</p> + +<p>Up to the altar circled the bats, and then wheeling +they flapped down the dim aisles toward the +adventurers.</p> + +<p>“Hurry! Hurry!” shouted Andy, who was in +the rear.</p> + +<p>He raised his rifle and fired several shots into +the midst of the terrible creatures.</p> + +<p>A number of the bats were wounded, and the +others were so frightened by the sound of the +shots and the flashes of fire that they turned back. +This enabled the fleeing ones to gain the entrance +to the temple, and soon they were outside.</p> + +<p>“To the ship!” yelled Bill.</p> + +<p>“There’s little danger now!” called Andy, +panting, for the run had winded him. “They will +hardly attack us in the light!”</p> + +<p>And he was right, for, though they could hear +the bats flying about inside the temple, and uttering +their cries, none came outside.</p> + +<p>But no one felt like staying near the uncanny +structure, and little time was lost in reaching the +<em>Mermaid</em>. Then the doors were fastened, and +the ship was sent high up into the air.</p> + +<p>“Which way?” asked Jack, when Mr. Henderson +told him to go to the conning tower and steer.</p> + +<p>“Back to where we first met the giants,” replied +the professor. “We must prepare to start +for our own earth again soon.”</p> + +<p>“I’ve almost forgotten how real sunlight looks,” +thought Jack, as he headed the ship around the +other way. As he turned the levers a big diamond +dropped from his pocket and rolled on the floor.</p> + +<p>“This will be a good reminder of our trip +though,” he added.</p> + +<p>The travelers, even including Mr. Henderson, +were so taken up with their suddenly acquired riches +that they hardly thought of meals. At the professor’s +suggestion they tied their gold and stones up +in small packages convenient to carry.</p> + +<p>“Better place them where you can grab them +in a hurry in case of accident,” the old scientist +went on. “Of course if there should be too bad +an accident they would never be of any use to us +down here, but we’ll look on the bright side of +things.”</p> + +<p>“Do you anticipate any accident?” asked Jack +anxiously.</p> + +<p>“No, Oh no,” replied Mr. Henderson, but +Jack thought the aged man had something weighing +on his mind.</p> + +<h2 id='ch29' class='c008'>CHAPTER XXIX<br /><br />BACK HOME—CONCLUSION</h2> + +<p class='c009'>On and on sped the <em>Mermaid</em>. Now that the +travelers felt their journey accomplished they were +anxious to begin the homeward trip. They made +a straight course for the village where they had so +nearly met with disaster, and where the king of +the giants had saved them. They went in a direct +line, and did not travel here and there, as they +had after they left the town. Consequently they +shortened the route by a great distance. Yet it +was long enough, and when they finally came in +sight of the place the dial registered a trip of +five thousand miles underground.</p> + +<p>It was one evening when they landed almost at +the spot whence they had taken flight eventually +to reach the temple of the treasure. Most of the +giants had betaken themselves to their mound +houses, but Hankos was walking in the fields, and, +when he caught sight of the airship hovering +above him he waved his great sword in welcome.</p> + +<p>He rushed up to shake hands with the travelers +when they came out of the ship, though to greet +him it was only possible for the adventurers to +grasp one of his immense fingers.</p> + +<p>As soon as the greetings were over Hankos +began to speak rapidly to the professor, at the same +time going through many strange motions.</p> + +<p>“It is as I feared!” suddenly exclaimed the +scientist.</p> + +<p>“What is the matter?” asked Mark.</p> + +<p>“The worst has happened!” went on Mr. Henderson. +“The great hole by which we came into +this place has been closed by an earthquake shock!”</p> + +<p>“The hole closed?” repeated Jack.</p> + +<p>“An earthquake shock!” murmured Mark.</p> + +<p>“Then how are we going to get back to earth?” +asked old Andy.</p> + +<p>A terrible fear entered the hearts of the travelers. +The closing of the opening by which they +had come to the strange world meant, in all probability +that they would have to spend the rest of +their lives in this underground place.</p> + +<p>“What good did it do us to get all those diamonds +and that gold?” asked Mark in a sorrowful +tone.</p> + +<p>Hankos began to speak again, using his gestures +which were almost as eloquent as words. The +professor watched and listened intently. Then +there seemed to come a more hopeful look to his +face. He nodded vigorously as Hankos went on +with what seemed to be an explanation.</p> + +<p>“It’s worth trying, at all events!” the scientist +exclaimed. “It is our only hope!”</p> + +<p>“What is?” asked Jack.</p> + +<p>“Friends,” began the professor in solemn tones. +“I must admit our plight is desperate. At the +same time there is a bare chance of our getting +back to our own earth. As you remember, Hankos +went from this place to the upper regions through +the upward spouting column of water.”</p> + +<p>“If we had our submarine we might also,” interrupted +Jack. “But the <em>Mermaid</em> isn’t built +to sail in that fashion.”</p> + +<p>“Nor would the <em>Porpoise</em> have served us in this +emergency,” said the professor. “It would prove +too heavy. But, nevertheless, I think I have a +plan. Now, Mark, you are about to learn the +secret of the storeroom. The real one, not the +hiding of Hankos in there, which you imagined +to be the cause of my desire to keep something +hidden. When we planned a trip to this underground +world I had a dim idea that we might +meet with trouble. So I planned and made a +cylinder lifeboat.”</p> + +<p>“A cylinder lifeboat?” repeated Mark.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” replied Mr. Henderson. “I have +it in the storeroom. I did not want any of you +to see it for fear you would have faint hearts. +I thought there might be no necessity of using it. +But, since there is, we must do our best. I will +admit it may be a fearful ordeal, but we will have +to risk something in order to escape.</p> + +<p>“I have in the storeroom a large cylinder, +capable of holding us all. It will also contain +food and drink for a month, but we will all have +to go, packed almost like sardines in a box. My +plan is to take the <em>Mermaid</em> to the place where +the column of water shoots up. There we will +get into the cylinder, close it, and trust ourselves +to the terrible force that may bring us back to +the upper world. What do you say? Shall we +attempt it?”</p> + +<p>For a few seconds no one spoke. Then Jack +said slowly:</p> + +<p>“I don’t see that we can do anything else. I +don’t want to stay here all my life.”</p> + +<p>“I wants a chance t’ wear some of them sparklers,” +put in Washington.</p> + +<p>“Then we will make the attempt,” the professor +added. “Now all aboard for the place where +the water shoots up!”</p> + +<p>Questioning Hankos, the professor learned how +to reach the strange place. It was in the midst of +a desolate country where none of the giants ever +went, so afraid were they of the strange phenomenon.</p> + +<p>It was a week’s journey. Sometimes the <em>Mermaid</em> +flew through the air, and again it sailed on +vast lakes or inland seas. On the trip they met +with big waterfalls and terrible geysers that +spouted a mile or more into the air. They traveled +by night as well as day, though it was necessary +to keep a sharp watch.</p> + +<p>Sometimes the ship passed through great flocks +of birds that surrounded her and sought to pierce +the aluminum hull with their sharp beaks and talons. +Over the mountains and valleys the ship +sailed until, one evening, there sounded through +the air a strange rumbling sound.</p> + +<p>“It is thunder,” said Old Andy.</p> + +<p>“It is the water column,” replied the scientist. +“We are at the end of our trip. May the remainder +be as successful!”</p> + +<p>The ship was lowered to the surface, as it was +deemed best to approach the column when the +lights were shining. No one slept much that +night, for the roaring and rumbling never ceased.</p> + +<p>In the morning the ship was sent forward +slowly. Ever and ever the terrific sound increased, +until it was almost deafening. They had +to call to each other to be heard.</p> + +<p>Then, as the <em>Mermaid</em> passed over a mountain, +the adventurers saw, in a valley below them, the +up-shooting water.</p> + +<p>It was a vast column, nearly three hundred feet +in thickness, and as solid and white as a shaft <em>of</em> +marble. Up, up, up, it went, until it was lost to +sight, but there were no falling drops, and not +even a spray came from the watery shafts.</p> + +<p>“There is a terrible power to it,” the professor +said. “May it prove our salvation!”</p> + +<p>The ship was lowered about a hundred feet +away from the waterspout. All around them the +ground was vibrating with the force of the fluid.</p> + +<p>“To think that connects with the world above!” +exclaimed Jack.</p> + +<p>“It’s a good thing for us that it does,” Mark +answered.</p> + +<p>“We must lose no time,” the professor put in. +“If the earthquake destroyed the downward +shaft, it may effect this one in time. We must +escape while we can.”</p> + +<p>Then, for the first time, he opened the storeroom +and the big cylinder was disclosed to view. +It was made of aluminum, and shaped like an immense +cigar. The hull was double, and it was +strongly braced. Inside were padded berths for +the occupants, and there was just room enough for +the seven adventurers. Once they had entered +they could not move about, but must stay in their +little compartment.</p> + +<p>Compressed air in strong cylinders furnished a +means of breathing, and there were tiny electric +lights operated by a storage battery. There was +also a chamber to be filled with the lifting gas. +The cylinder was so arranged that it would float +on it’s long axis if thrown into the water. A trap +door hermetically sealed gave access to the interior. +A small propellor, worked by compressed air, furnished +motive power.</p> + +<p>The food supply consisted of compressed capsules +on which a man could subsist for several days. +There was also some water, but not much, since +that can not be compressed and would, therefore, +take considerable room.</p> + +<p>“The only thing for us to do,” said the professor, +“is to get into the cylinder, seal it up, and +trust to Providence. This is what I intended to +use when we were caught in the draught.”</p> + +<p>“How can we get into the column of water +after we shut ourselves into the cylinder?” asked +Mark.</p> + +<p>“The cylinder fits into a sort of improvised +cannon,” said Mr. Henderson. “It is fired by +electricity and compressed air. We will aim it +at the column, press the button and be projected +into the midst of the water. Then——” He did +not finish the sentence, but the others knew what +he meant.</p> + +<p>“When are we to start?” asked Mark.</p> + +<p>“As soon as possible,” replied the professor. +“I must arrange the cylinder, compress the air and +lay out the food supply.”</p> + +<p>It took the rest of the day to do this, as the +inventor found it would be advisable to attach a +weight to the end of the cylinder, to hold it upright +in the column of water. The weight could +be detached automatically when they were shot +up into the midst of the ocean, where, as Hankos +had told them, the column spurted forth.</p> + +<p>Then some food was stored in the tiny ship that +was destined to be their last hope, and some tanks +of water were placed in it.</p> + +<p>“I think we are almost ready,” Mr. Henderson +said about noon the next day.</p> + +<p>“What about our gold and diamonds?” asked +Jack suddenly. “Can we take them with us in +the cylinder?”</p> + +<p>“That’s so!” exclaimed Mr. Henderson. “I +forgot about them. I’m afraid we’ll have to leave +the riches behind. We will not be able to carry +them and the food we need, for it may be a week +or more before we can leave the cylinder. Gold +and diamonds will be a poor substitute for something +to eat.”</p> + +<p>“I’m goin’ t’ take mine!” said Washington +with much conviction. “I might as well starve +rich as starve poor!”</p> + +<p>“We may be able to take a few diamonds,” +the professor answered. “The gold will be too +heavy. Let each one select the largest of the diamonds +he has and put them in his pockets.”</p> + +<p>Then began a sorting of the wealth. It was +strange, as they recalled afterward, throwing away +riches that would have made millionaires envious, +but it had to be done. All the wealth in the world +would not equal a beef capsule when they were +starving, and they realized it. So they only saved +a few pieces of gold as souvenirs, and took the +best of the diamonds. But even then they had a +vast fortune with them.</p> + +<p>At last all was in readiness. The cylinder had +been placed in the tube from which it was to be +shot gently forth by compressed air, so that it +would fall into the upward spouting column of +water. The charge of compressed air was put in +and the electric wires arranged.</p> + +<p>“Are we all ready?” asked Mr. Henderson.</p> + +<p>“I think so,” said Jack, in what sounded like +a whisper, but which was loud, only the noise of +the water muffled it.</p> + +<p>“Then we had better enter the cylinder,” spoke +the inventor. “Take a last look at +the <em>Flying Mermaid</em>, boys, for you will never +see again the ship that has borne us many thousand miles. +She served us well, and might again, but for the freak +of nature that has placed us in this position.”</p> + +<p>For the first time the adventurers realized that +they must abandon the craft in which they had +reached the new world. So it was with no little +feeling of sadness that they climbed up the ladder +that had been arranged and slid down into the +cylinder. One by one they took their places in +the padded berths arranged for them. It was a +snug fit, for the professor knew if there was too +much room he and the others might be so tossed +about as to be killed.</p> + +<p>Mr. Henderson was the last to enter. Standing +at the manhole he took a final look at his pet +creation, the <em>Mermaid</em>. Through the opened windows +the colored lights came, shifting here and +there. Outside the terrible column of water was +roaring as if anxious to devour them.</p> + +<p>“Good-bye, <em>Mermaid</em>!” said the professor +softly.</p> + +<p>Then he closed down the manhole cover and +tightened the screws that held it in place. He +touched a button that turned on the electric lights +and the interior of the cylinder was illuminated +with a soft glow.</p> + +<p>“Are you all ready?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Jest as much as I ever will be,” replied Washington, +who, as the crisis approached, seemed more +light-hearted than any of the others.</p> + +<p>“Then here we go!” exclaimed Mr. Henderson.</p> + +<p>His fingers touched the button that connected +with the electric machine, which operated the compressed +air.</p> + +<p>There sounded a muffled report. Then it +seemed to those in the cylinder that the end of the +world had come. They shot upward and outward, +through the top of the conning tower which +had been removed. The cylinder, launched +straight at the column of water struck it squarely +and, an instant later was caught in the grasp of the +giant force and hurled toward the upper world.</p> + +<p>Up and up and up the mass of metal with its human +freight went. Now it was spinning like a top, +again it shot toward the earth’s crust like an arrow +from the archer’s bow.</p> + +<p>It was moving with the velocity of a meteor, +yet because of being surrounded with water, and +traveling with the same velocity as the column, +there was no friction. Had there been, the heat +generated would have melted the case in an instant.</p> + +<p>For the first few seconds those in the cylinder +were dazed by the sudden rush. Then as it became +greater and greater there came a curious dull feeling, +and, one after another lost consciousness. The +terror of the water column, and the frightful speed, +had made them senseless.</p> + +<hr class='c016' /> + +<p>It seemed like a month later, though, of course, +it could have been only a few hours or a day at +most when Jack opened his eyes. He saw his +companions, white and senseless all around him, +and at first thought they were dead. Then he +saw Mark looking at him, and Washington asked:</p> + +<p>“Is any one livin’ 'sides me?”</p> + +<p>“I am,” replied Jack decidedly.</p> + +<p>Then, one after another they regained their +senses. But they were in a strange daze, for they +were being carried along like a shooting star, only, +as they went at the same rate as did the element +carrying them, they did not <em>realize</em> this.</p> + +<p>“I think I’m hungry,” said Bill, who had the +best appetite of any of the travelers.</p> + +<p>“You’ll find a beef capsule in the little compartment +over your head,” spoke the professor.</p> + +<p>Bill was about to reach for it, when they were +all startled by a sudden side motion of the cylinder. +Then came a violent shock, and a sound as of +splashing water. Next the cylinder seemed to be +falling, and, a few minutes later to be shooting +upward. Following this there was another splash +and the cylinder began to bob about like a cork +on a mill pond.</p> + +<p>“We have reached the sea! We are afloat on +the ocean!” cried the professor.</p> + +<p>Hurriedly he disengaged himself from the +straps that held him to his bunk. He pushed back +the lever that opened the manhole. Into the opening +glowed the glorious sunlight, while to the occupants +came the breath of salt air.</p> + +<p>“Hurrah!” cried Jack. “We are safe at +last!”</p> + +<p>“Safe at last!” the professor answered, and +then they all gave a cheer.</p> + +<p>For their cylinder, which might now be termed +a boat, was floating on the great Atlantic. The +blue sky was overhead and the air of the sea fanned +their cheeks.</p> + +<p>They had shot up from the underground earth, +in the column of water, had been tossed high into +the air, had fallen back when the liquid shaft broke +into spray, had descended into the ocean, gone +down a hundred feet or more, and then had shot +up like a cork to bob about the surface.</p> + +<p>For a week they were afloat, and then they were +picked up by a passing vessel, rather weak and +very much cramped, but otherwise in good shape. +They said nothing of their adventures, save to explain +that they were experimenting in a new kind +of boat. About a month later, for the ship that +had rescued them was a slow sailer, they were back +on the island whence that wonderful voyage was +begun.</p> + +<hr class='c016' /> + +<p>“Well, we solved the mystery of the center of +the earth,” remarked Jack, one evening, when they +were gathered in the old shack where so many wonderful +adventures had been planned.</p> + +<p>“Yes, we did,” said Mr. Henderson. “And +no one else is ever likely to go there.”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“Because the only way of getting there was destroyed +by the earthquake, and no one could ever +force his way down through that upward-shooting +column of water.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so. Well, we have the diamonds, anyway,” +spoke Mark. “They ought to make us +rich.”</p> + +<p>And the jewels did, for the stones proved to be +of great value, even though the adventurers had +saved only a few of the many they found in the +ruined temple.</p> + +<p>But there was money enough so that they all +could live in comfort the rest of their lives. As +the professor was getting quite old, and incapable +of making any more wonderful inventions, he +closed up his workshop and settled down to a quiet +life. As for Washington, Andy, and Bill and +Tom, they invested their money received from the +sale of the diamonds in different business ventures, +and each one did well.</p> + +<p>“I am going in for a good education,” said +Jack to Mark.</p> + +<p>“Just what I am going to do,” answered his +chum. “And after we’ve got that——” He +paused suggestively.</p> + +<p>“We’ll go in for inventing airships, or something +like that, eh?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. We’ve learned a great deal from Mr. +Henderson, and in the course of time we ought to +be able to turn out something even more wonderful +than the <em>Electric Monarch</em>, the <em>Porpoise</em>, or the +<em>Flying Mermaid</em>.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and when we’ve invented something better——”</p> + +<p>“We’ll take another trip.”</p> + +<p>“Right you are!”</p> + +<p>And then the two chums shook hands warmly; and here we will say good-bye.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + THE END. + </div> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + <span class='larger'>NEW ALGER BOOKS</span> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + JOE, THE HOTEL BOY<br/> + <i>Or, Winning Out by Pluck</i><br/> + By HORATIO ALGER, Jr.<br/> + <br/> + Illustrated, 12mo. Cloth, 60 cents + </div> +</div> + +<div class='imgleft c017' > +<img src='images/a251a.png' alt='' class='c018' /> +</div> + +<p>This is one of the last stories penned by that prince of all juvenile writers, +Horatio Alger, Jr., and is one of his best. It describes the adventures of a +youth brought up in the country by an old hermit. When the hermit dies the boy +obtains work at a nearby hotel, and later on drifts to the city and obtains a +position in another hotel. There is a mystery concerning the lad’s identity +and likewise the disappearance of a certain blue box, but in the end all +terminates satisfactorily.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + BEN LOGAN’S TRIUMPH<br/> + <i>Or, The Boys of Boxwood Academy</i><br/> + By HORATIO ALGER, Jr.<br/> + <br/> + Illustrated, 12mo. Cloth, 60 cents + </div> +</div> + +<div class='imgright c017' > +<img src='images/a251b.png' alt='' class='c018' /> +</div> + +<p>This story was penned by Mr. Alger some years before his death, but has never +appeared in book form. Ben was a city newsboy, rather rough, but with a heart +of gold. He did a great service for a good-hearted farmer, and the latter took +Ben home with him. The lad had never been in the country before, and his eyes +were opened to a new world. Then the youth was sent to a boarding school, +where he made his way to the front amid many difficulties. Mr. Alger’s charm +as a juvenile writer is so well known it is needless to mention it here, and +this story is in his best vein.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK + </div> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + <span class='larger'>THE JACK RANGER SERIES</span><br/> + By Clarence Young<br/> + Author of the Motor Boys Series<br/> + <br/> + Cloth. 12mo. Illustrated, Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid + </div> +</div> + +<div class='imgleft c017' > +<img src='images/a252.png' alt='' class='c018' /> +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + JACK RANGER’S SCHOOLDAYS<br/> + Or, The Rivals of Washington Hall + </div> +</div> + +<p>You will love Jack Ranger—you simply can’t help it. He is so bright and +cheery, and so real and lifelike. A typical boarding school tale, without a +dull line in it.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + JACK RANGER’S SCHOOL VICTORIES<br/> + <i>Or, Track, Gridiron and Diamond</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>In this tale Jack gets back to Washington Hall and goes in for all sorts of +school games. There are numerous contests on the athletic field, and also a +great baseball game and a football game, all dear to a boy’s heart. The +rivalry is bitter at times, and enemies try to put Jack “in a hole” more than +once.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + JACK RANGER’S WESTERN TRIP<br/> + <i>Or, From Boarding School to Ranch and Range</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>This volume takes the hero and several of his chums to the great West. +Jack is anxious to clear up the mystery surrounding his father’s +disappearance. At the ranch and on the range adventures of the +strenuous sort befall him.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + JACK RANGER’S OCEAN CRUISE<br/> + <i>Or, The Wreck of the Polly Ann</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Here is a tale of the bounding sea, with many stirring adventures. +How the ship was wrecked, and Jack was cast away, is told in a +style all boys and girls will find exceedingly interesting. There is +plenty of fun as well as excitement.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + JACK RANGER’S GUN CLUB<br/> + <i>Or, From Schoolroom to Camp and Trail</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Jack, with his chums, goes in quest of big game. The boys fall in with +a mysterious body of men, and have a terrific slide down a mountain side.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK + </div> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + <span class='larger'>THE DOROTHY DALE SERIES</span><br/> + By Margaret Penrose<br/> + <br/> + Cloth, 12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 60 cents, postpaid + </div> +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + DOROTHY DALE: A GIRL OF TO-DAY + </div> +</div> + +<p>Dorothy is the daughter of an old Civil War veteran who is running a weekly +newspaper in a small Eastern town. When her father falls sick, and the +newspaper property is in danger of going to pieces, the girl shows what she +can do to support the family.</p> + +<div class='imgleft c017' > +<img src='images/a253.png' alt='' class='c018' /> +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + DOROTHY DALE AT GLENWOOD SCHOOL + </div> +</div> + +<p>More prosperous times have come to the Dale family, and Major Dale resolves to +send Dorothy to a boarding school to complete her education. At Glenwood +School the girl makes a host of friends and has many good times. But some +girls are jealous of Dorothy’s popularity, and they seek to get her into +trouble in more ways than one.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + DOROTHY DALE’S GREAT SECRET + </div> +</div> + +<p>A splendid story of one girl’s devotion to another. Dorothy’s chum +ran away to join a theatrical company. What Dorothy did, and how +she kept the secret, makes a tale no girl will care to miss.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + DOROTHY DALE AND HER CHUMS + </div> +</div> + +<p>A story of school life, and of strange adventures among the gypsies. +Dorothy befriends a little French girl and also a gypsy waif, in +a manner sure to touch the hearts of all readers.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + DOROTHY DALE’S QUEER HOLIDAYS + </div> +</div> + +<p>Relates the details of a mystery that surrounded Tanglewood Park. +There is a great snowstorm, and the young folks become snowbound, +much to their dismay.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK + </div> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + <span class='larger'>BOYS OF BUSINESS SERIES</span><br/> + By Allen Chapman<br/> + <br/> + Illustrated, 12mo. Cloth, 60 cents per volume + </div> +</div> + +<div class='imgleft c017' > +<img src='images/a254.png' alt='' class='c018' /> +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT<br/> + <i>Or, Bart Stirling’s Road to Success</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Bart’s father was the express agent in a country town. When an explosion of +fireworks rendered him unfit for work, the boy took it upon himself to run the +express office. The tale gives a good idea of the express business in general.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + TWO BOY PUBLISHERS<br/> + <i>Or, From Typecase to Editor’s Chair</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>This tale will appeal strongly to all lads who wish to know how a newspaper is +printed and published. The two boy publishers work their way up, step by +step, from a tiny printing office to the ownership of a town paper.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + MAIL ORDER FRANK<br/> + <i>Or, A Smart Boy and His Chances</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Here we have a story covering an absolutely new field—that of the +mail-order business. How Frank started in a small way and gradually +worked his way tip to a business figure of considerable importance +is told in a fascinating manner.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + A BUSINESS BOY<br/> + <i>Or, Winning Success</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>This relates the ups and downs of a young storekeeper. He has some +keen rivals, but “wins out” in more ways than one. All youths who +wish to go into business will want this volume.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK + </div> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + <span class='larger'>MOTOR BOYS SERIES</span><br/> + <span class='smaller'>(Trade Mark, Reg. U. S. Pat. Of.)</span><br/> + By Clarence Young<br/> + <br/> + Cloth. 12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume. 60 cents, postpaid + </div> +</div> + +<div class='imgleft c017' > +<img src='images/a255.png' alt='' class='c018' /> +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + THE MOTOR BOYS<br/> + <i>Or, Chums Through Thick and Thin</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>In this volume is related how the three boys got +together and planned to obtain a touring car and +make a trip lasting through the summer.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + THE MOTOR BOYS OVERLAND<br/> + <i>Or, A Long Trip for Fun and Fortune</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>With the money won at the great motorcycle race the three boys purchase +their touring car and commence their travels.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + THE MOTOR BOYS IN MEXICO<br/> + <i>Or, The Secret of the Buried City</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>From our own country the scene is shifted to Mexico, where the motor +boys journey in quest of a city said to have been buried centuries ago +by an earthquake.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + THE MOTOR BOYS ACROSS THE PLAINS<br/> + <i>Or, The Hermit of Lost Lake</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Unraveling the mystery surrounding an old hermit and a poor boy.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + THE MOTOR BOYS AFLOAT<br/> + <i>Or, The Stirring Cruise of the Dartaway</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>In this volume the boys take to a motorboat, and have many adventures.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE ATLANTIC<br/> + <i>Or, The Mystery of the Lighthouse</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>How the lads foiled the bad men who wanted to wreck a steamer by +means of false lights is dramatically related.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + THE MOTOR BOYS IN STRANGE WATERS<br/> + <i>Or, Lost in a Floating Forest</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Telling of many adventures in the mysterious Everglades of Florida.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE PACIFIC<br/> + <i>Or, The Young Derelict Hunters</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>The derelict was of great value, and the hunt for it proved full of +perils.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + THE MOTOR BOYS IN THE CLOUDS<br/> + <i>Or, A Trip for Fame and Fortune</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>The boys fall in with an inventor and invest in a flying machine. After +a number of stirring adventures in the clouds they enter a big race.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK + </div> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + <span class='larger'>THE BOY HUNTERS SERIES</span><br/> + By Captain Ralph Bonehill<br/> + <br/> + Cloth. 15mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 60 cents, postpaid + </div> +</div> + +<div class='imgleft c017' > +<img src='images/a256.png' alt='' class='c018' /> +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + FOUR BOY HUNTERS<br/> + <i>Or, The Outing of the Gun Club</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>A fine, breezy story of the woods and waters, of adventures in search of game, +and of great times around the campfire, told in Captain Bonehill’s best style. +In the book are given full directions for camping out.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + GUNS AND SNOWSHOES<br/> + <i>Or, The Winter Outing of the Young Hunters</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>In this volume the young-hunters leave home for a winter outing on the shores +of a small lake. They hunt and trap to their heart’s content, and have +adventures in plenty, all calculated to make boys “sit up and take notice.” A +good healthy book; one with the odor of the pine forests and the glare of the +welcome campfire in every chapter.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + YOUNG HUNTERS OF THE LAKE<br/> + <i>Or, Out with Rod and Gun</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Another tale of woods and waters, with some strong hunting scenes and a good +deal of mystery. The three volumes make a splendid outdoor series.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + OUT WITH GUN AND CAMERA<br/> + <i>Or, The Boy Hunters in the Mountains</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Takes up the new fad of photographing wild animals as well as shooting them. +An escaped circus chimpanzee and an escaped lion add to the interest of the +narrative.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK + </div> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + <span class='larger'>THE DAREWELL CHUMS SERIES</span><br/> + By Allen Chapman<br/> + <br/> + Cloth. 12mo. Illustrated. 60 cents each, postpaid. + </div> +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + THE DAREWELL CHUMS<br/> + <i>Or, The Heroes of the School</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>A bright, lively story for boys, telling of the doings of four chums, at +school and elsewhere. There is a strong holding plot, and several +characters who are highly amusing. Any youth getting this book will +consider it a prize and tell all his friends about it.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + THE DAREWELL CHUMS IN THE CITY<br/> + <i>Or, The Disappearance of Ned Wilding</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>From a country town the scene is changed to a great city. One of +the chums has disappeared in an extraordinary manner, and the others +institute a hunt for him. The youths befriend a city waif, who in turn +makes a revelation which clears up the mystery.</p> + +<div class='imgleft c017' > +<img src='images/a257.png' alt='' class='c018' /> +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + DAREWELL CHUMS IN THE WOODS<br/> + <i>Or, Frank Roscoe’s Secret</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>The boys had planned for a grand outing when +something happened of which none of them +had dreamed. They thought one of their +number had done a great wrong—at least, it +looked so. But they could not really believe the +accusations made, so they set to work to help +Frank all they could. All went camping some +miles from home, and when not hunting and +fishing spent their time in learning the truth of +what had occurred.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + THE DAREWELL CHUMS ON A CRUISE<br/> + <i>Or, Fenn Masterson’s Odd Discovery</i> + </div> +</div> + +<p>A tale of the Great Lakes. The boys run across some Canadian +smugglers and stumble on the secret of a valuable mine. Some +curious adventures underground are well told.</p> + +<div class='nf-center-c'> + <div class='nf-center'> + CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK + </div> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Five Thousand Miles Underground, by Roy Rockwood + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIVE THOUSAND MILES UNDERGROUND *** + +***** This file should be named 4994-h.htm or 4994-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/9/9/4994/ + +Produced by Jim Weiler and Roger Frank + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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