A QUEER SAIL
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.
"I wonder if he is worried about something, or is thinking of something
which seems to be concealed in the storeroom," the boy thought.
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.
"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."
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.
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.
Like some immense bird the _Mermaid_ 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.
Suddenly Mark, who was looking through a telescope at the expanse of
water stretched out under them, gave a cry.
"There's a ship! She's on fire!"
"Where?" asked the professor, stretching out his hand for the glass.
"Just to the port of the forward tube. See the smoke!" exclaimed Mark.
Mr. Henderson looked. Through the lens he saw a column of black vapor
rising skyward. Mingled with it were red flames.
"Lower the _Mermaid_!" he cried. "We must save those on board if we
can!"
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.
"Lower us! Send the _Mermaid_ down!" Mark cried again.
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.
There was a loud explosion, followed by a crackling sound, a flash of
light, and the _Mermaid_ came to a sudden stop.
"What's the matter?" cried Mark, feeling that something was wrong.
"I don't know!" Washington replied, as he dashed toward the engine room.
The _Mermaid_, her forward flight checked, hung in the air, suspended,
neither rising or falling.
"Why don't we go on down?" the professor asked, hurrying to the tower.
"There has been an explosion--an accident!" exclaimed Mark. "I guess we
can't go down!"
"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.
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.
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.
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.
"Can we do nothing to save those on the burning vessel?" asked Mark,
pointing to where a cloud of smoke hung over the ocean.
"I fear not, now," answered the professor. "We are in a bad plight
ourselves."
"Are we in any danger?" asked Jack.
"Not specially," Mr. Henderson replied. "But we must find a means of
lowering ourselves gradually."
"Then it will be too late to save any of those on the ship," observed
Mark.
"I'm afraid so," the scientist made reply.
The _Mermaid_ 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.
"I have a plan!" suddenly cried Mark.
"What is it?" asked Mr. Henderson.
"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."
"The very thing!" exclaimed Mr. Henderson. "I never thought of that!
Here, Washington! Bring me a drill, and a small stop-cock!"
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 _Mermaid_ began
to settle rapidly.
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
_Flying Mermaid_ gently to the water.
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.
As those in peril caught sight of the _Mermaid_ 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 _Mermaid_, they began to call for help.