TUNING UP THE “LOON”
Knowing that Mr. Mackworth’s plans did not include a trip north of Mt.
Osborne, the boys laid out a program of their own. They knew that Lord
Pelton and Captain Ludington were extremely anxious to get unusual
trophies. Therefore, if they could put both in the way of bagging such
a prize as Husha the Black Ram they would be giving Mr. Mackworth
something approaching adequate return for his trouble.
At the first opportunity they meant, if possible, to get the English
guests in the _Loon_ and then visit “Baldy’s Bench.”
Long before breakfast the next morning the Teton was the center of
new activity. “Grizzly” Hosmer had one of his wagons at the car by
breakfast time and the camp equipage and provisions were stowed away
under his tarpaulin. Guns and ammunition followed. After breakfast the
second wagon arrived. In this, gasoline and aëroplane extra parts were
to be carried.
The _Loon_ sections were then hauled from the baggage compartment.
A few cans of gasoline were stored in a shed near the depot to be
available if it were found necessary to make a voyage back to Michel
during the hunt. Just after breakfast Frank, Phil and Mr. Mackworth
made an examination of Michel. Where the ground was level, switch
tracks make it impossible to use the places for setting up the airship
or for its running start.
“That’s one improvement that must be made in airships before they are
completely practical,” said Mr. Mackworth.
“I don’t see why you say that,” exclaimed Frank. “You might as well say
railroad engines are not perfect because you have to lay tracks for
them.”
“Well, I would,” replied Mr. Mackworth, “if engineers claimed they
could run engines anywhere.”
Disappointed over the situation the investigators turned back down the
one street of the town. The country round about was not more promising
than the town; the mountain slope began on each side and, at each end,
the little valley spread out at once in rough trails, rock covered
undulations and jack pines. Suddenly Phil stopped and began laughing.
“I think we’re like the old woman who couldn’t find her spectacles
because they were on her forehead. Here’s your startin’ place,” he
exclaimed sinking his heel in the street.
“This is the public street and the only one,” said the surprised Frank.
“That’s why it’s just the thing,” answered Phil. “Look at it!”
“It’d do if it wasn’t the street,” said Frank.
“You say you could set up and start flying in the road?” broke in Mr.
Mackworth.
“Sure, if they’d let us,” answered Frank.
“Hurry back and unload your apparatus,” replied Mr. Mackworth. “I’ll
see to the rest.”
“It’ll be just the thing,” insisted Phil. “I’d think they’d be glad to
let us use it――just for the show.”
Mr. Mackworth waved the boys forward and, knowing that he usually got
what he wanted, they started on a run for the car.
The business of Michel related mainly to mining. The houses were small
and all faced the one street. Opposite the depot was the one hotel, two
or three stores and half a dozen saloons. Several yards north of the
hotel was a two-story frame building, the town hall. When Mr. Mackworth
reached this, he stopped. In a half hour he was back at the car with
the mayor of Michel, the hotelkeeper, and the principal storekeeper in
his company. The town marshal was already at the car. The marshal and
Mr. Mackworth’s other guests were ushered into the dining room of the
Teton and for a quarter of an hour Jake Green was busy. Within an hour
two ropes had been stretched across the street. On each hung this sign:
“Take the back trail or hitch. Airship goes up at four P. M. to-morrow.”
From the time the _Loon_ crates began to be unloaded, the vicinity of
the private car resembled a circus lot. More than once the town marshal
had to clear the place of crowding spectators. Frank and Phil, stripped
to their shirts, were busy and happy.
Loungers pulled down their hat brims or sought the shade of the
sidewalk awnings. But Frank and Phil seemed to mind neither heat nor
dust. Mr. Mackworth, Captain Ludington and Lord Pelton had put off
their smart traveling clothes and were in camp togs――flannel shirts,
khaki trousers and laced knee boots.
Hosmer and Sam Skinner worked over the wagon outfits until noon
and then announced all ready. After a hasty luncheon the entire
party, including Skinner and old “Grizzly,” gathered near the boys.
Mr. Mackworth had found nothing missing and there was no need of a
trip to Fernie. For a time this seemed fortunate for, much to their
surprise, the boys found a defect in the apparatus that slowed them up
considerably.
The spruce upright holding the left landing wheel frame and its shock
absorbing spring was discovered to have a fracture. This was the wheel
that had caught in the tree the night the two boys made their perilous
flight through the thunderstorm. The strain of packing or unpacking
this part of the airship had developed a crack in the aluminum paint
covering the upright. This indicated an interior fracture and a new
upright had to be fashioned. The village carpenter was found and,
supplying him with extra spruce, Frank spent two hours in the old man’s
shop contriving a new support.
In spite of this, a little before six o’clock the monoplane had been
completely set up. Disconnected from its shaft the beautiful engine
responded immediately when started. Then a new problem arose. The boys
had no hesitation in leaving the airship out of doors at night――there
was nothing that dew or rain could harm――but they were apprehensive
as to what the curious townspeople might do. But this question was
quickly solved. Sam Skinner asking only for his blanket and permission
to smoke, offered to sleep in the airship, “which,” he remarked, “beats
any sleepin’ car shelf I ever saw.”
The boys were tired. Neither their condition nor Jake’s dinner could
restrain them, however, and before their elders had finished their
coffee the lads were back at the airship. The temptation was too great;
they meant to give the _Loon_ a short trip out in mountain land.
The marshal was busy as usual. At sight of him it occurred to Frank
that an invitation to this official to have a ride in the _Loon_ would
be a proper return for the courtesies extended. The marshal not only
refused but seemed afraid that he was about to be forced to accept the
invitation.
Their own party finally appearing on the scene, each in turn was
invited to make a flight. One after another had some excuse, Sam and
“Grizzly” announcing simply that they were afraid.
Lord Pelton was the only one who had not been positive.
“My arm is pretty stiff,” explained Frank, “and I’m sure Phil wants
company. It’s as safe for two as for one.”
“That may be,” responded Lord Pelton with a weak smile, “as safe for
_two_ as for _one_. What say, Captain?” he asked turning to Captain
Ludington. The latter waved his hand as if in doubt. “I’ll go,”
exclaimed Lord Pelton. “We came for sport and I might as well get my
share of it.”
“I’ll be back in a few moments,” said Phil springing into the monoplane
cabin. “I’ll just take a turn to the north to warm up.”
With Phil in the car arranging for his start, Frank stationed men at
the rear and he and Jake Green took their places at the two propellers.
Turning the wheels off center Frank waited for Phil to start the engine
and, with its first “chug,” he and Jake threw the propellers over. The
engine responded to the cranking and the yellow blades flew into a
whirr.
“Hold on, you fellows,” yelled Frank through his trumpeted hands to
the men at the rear who were already on the ground with their heels
set in the road, “and you fellows get to one side,” he called to the
spectators including Mr. Mackworth and his friends, “she’ll throw the
dust.”
This they had already discovered. Dirt and rubbish were shooting
rearward like a sand blast. And it was a gale that had picked them up
for, as Phil opened up the engine and the propellers reached a greater
speed, the _Loon_ trembled and pulled like a frightened horse. Suddenly
Phil, in his seat, nodded his head.
“All back,” shouted Frank. “Let go,” he cried and the Michel men who
had been acting as anchors fell backwards in the dirt, choked with
dust.
The _Loon_ darted down the empty street, springing a few feet in the
air and then bumping the ground again, for about one hundred feet.
Then, springing upward it did not touch again but went skimming above
the street like the bird for which it was named. This only for a moment
when, checking herself slightly under Phil’s movement of her planes and
rudder, the monoplane began mounting.
“Certainly a beautiful sight,” exclaimed Captain Ludington.
As Phil drove the _Loon_ skyward and the rays of the setting sun
struck the monoplane high in the air, the yells gave place to “Oh’s”
and “Ah’s.” The planes of the ship were aluminum in color, while the
guiding rudders and the horizontal plane and tail were white. On each,
the sun rays cast a different tint and it seemed as if some powerful
golden searchlight had focussed itself to paint a picture on the deep
sapphire, cloudless sky.
As the _Loon_ grew smaller, Mr. Mackworth asked how high it was.
“About 3,000 feet,” answered Frank.
“Three thousand feet!” exclaimed Lord Pelton.
“You’ll like it,” said Frank. “It’s a nice, safe height.”
Just then several hundred spectators saw the _Loon_ veer off to the
west, dip its plane downward and an instant later dash earthward in a
series of spiral whirls. The men gasped and cried out but Frank only
laughed.
“It’s only a quick descent,” he reassured his friends. “He’s all right.”
Almost as he spoke, a thousand feet above the earth Phil, with a wider
sweep, came on an even keel and then headed directly for the center
of the town. A moment later the sound of the whirring propellers came
within the hearing of the spellbound observers and then suddenly ceased.
“He’s gliding now without power,” exclaimed Frank, “stand back
everybody.”
Just as the _Loon_ seemed about to strike with a crash in the street
far beyond the crowd, there was a jump upward, a new glide earthward,
another tilt of the ship skyward and then, the speed of the monoplane
almost checked, a new drop earthward and Phil skilfully landed fifty
feet from where he started.
“Get out,” exclaimed Frank enthusiastically, “my arm feels better. All
aboard, Lord Pelton. I’ll initiate you.”
As Phil climbed out the Englishman hesitated.
“Don’t let her get cool,” called out Phil. “All aboard.”
And almost before he knew it the Englishman had been helped aboard and
into the seat just behind the new aviator.