Part 7 (1/2)

”I have,” said Jack, ”and I'd like to go along.”

”Good! You shall go!” exclaimed the inventor. ”How about you, Mark?”

”I'll go, too.”

”All right. Now we have plenty to do,” the old professor went on. ”The actions of this man Taggert will hasten my plans. There are a few finis.h.i.+ng touches to put on the s.h.i.+p. Come out into the shed.”

Delighted at the chance of helping about the mysterious _Monarch_, the boys followed the professor. They found the shed lighted by windows in the roof, from which the curtains had been rolled back. The windows on the side were not opened.

By daylight the airs.h.i.+p looked larger than before. It was a wonderful machine. The professor and his colored helper busied themselves in the engine room. Now and then the two boys were allowed to aid.

As he hurried about from one part of the s.h.i.+p to the other the professor told them how he had come to build the _Monarch_. He said he was an old bachelor and alone in the world, and had long desired to sail to the north pole. The failure of many land expeditions had convinced him that an airs.h.i.+p was the only feasible method. Accordingly he had come to this rather deserted part of the country, built his cabin and shed, and then had begun the putting together of his airs.h.i.+p.

The engine parts, the various pieces of apparatus, and the machinery, he bought from many different sources, so as not to excite suspicion. At last after much labor the great undertaking was done.

”The _Monarch_ has never been tested,” said the professor, ”but I know it will sail. I have made many small models and they worked perfectly.”

Several busy hours were spent. Much more machinery was put in the s.h.i.+p, the food lockers were stored with supplies, the gasolene tanks filled, and the supply of fur clothing increased.

”There!” exclaimed the professor at length. ”We are about ready to sail.

I could start in an hour if necessary. All I have to do is to fill the silk bag with my wonderful gas, which is all ready to generate.”

”Den you'd better start to generationess it right off quicker than sooner!” shouted Was.h.i.+ngton, running from the rear of the shed. ”Hurry up, Perfessor!”

”What's the matter?” asked Mr. Henderson anxiously.

”Dat prisoner man has escaped!” cried Was.h.i.+ngton. ”He's clean gone!

Flown away! Jumped his bail!”

”That's bad!” exclaimed the professor. ”He'll work some mischief now! I guess we'll have to start on our trip at once!”

CHAPTER VI

AWAY IN THE AIRs.h.i.+P

”Quick, Was.h.i.+ngton!” cried the professor. ”Jump in the engine room and start the gas generator. Mark, you bring in from the cabin all those wheels and things on the walls! Jack, load those packages there into the locker in the after part of the _Monarch_! But handle them carefully!

They contain explosives and ammunition for the machine gun!”

If there had been hurry and bustle before, there was ten times as much now. The professor gave one look at the place where Taggert had been concealed. The man had worked off his bonds and escaped while his captors were in the airs.h.i.+p's cabin.

Soon there was a queer hissing noise from the engine room of the _Monarch_. The gas bag began to distend.

”She's fillin', Perfessor!” cried Was.h.i.+ngton.

”We must tie her down,” muttered the old man. ”Otherwise she will rise and take the shed with her. I say, Was.h.i.+ngton!”

”Yes, Perfessor.”