Encouraged by his success, he next built a similar but much larger machine, nearly a hundred feet long, holding 30,000 cubic feet of gas, and driven by a petrol motor of twenty-four horse-power. In this case the propeller, instead of being placed at the rear, as in general, is at the front of the airship, thereby pulling it forward through the air instead of pushing it from behind. By this arrangement Mr. Spencer thinks his balloon would have less tendency to double up when urged against a strong wind. The steering is done by a rudder sail at the stern, and to cause his machine to sail higher or lower, the aeronaut points its head up or down by means of a heavy balance-rope. This new airship was ready by the summer of 1903, but the unfavourable weather of that stormy season again and again interfered with the experiments. On the 17th of September Mr. Spencer announced his intention of sailing from the Crystal Palace round the dome of St. Paul’s, and returning to his starting-place. The Cathedral was indeed safely reached, but the increasing breeze, now blowing half a gale, baffled all his attempts to circle round. Again and again, till his hands were cut and bleeding with the strain of the ropes, he brought his machine up, quivering, to the wind, but all to no purpose, until at length, abandoning the attempt, he sailed with the current to Barnet. More favourable results may doubtless be looked for with better weather conditions. In France during 1903 the brothers Lebaudy made some successful trips with an airship of their own construction. Many other airships are now being built in all parts of the world, in preparation for the aeronautical competitions to take place in America on the occasion of the St. Louis Exhibition of this year. CHAPTER VII THE FLYING MACHINE It is now time we turn our attention from the airship to its important rival, the flying machine. At first sight it may perhaps appear that so far the flying machine has accomplished less than the airship, and gives less promise of success, since up to the present time no flying machine has taken a man any distance into the air, or indeed done much more than just lift itself off the ground. Nevertheless those who have made a study of the matter are full of hope for the future. Many experts declare that already the limits of what can be done with the airship, which depends upon the lifting power of its gas to raise it and to sustain it in the air, are being reached. It has indeed been proved that on a calm day, or with only a light breeze, this form of sky vessel can be steered safely about the heavens, and doubtless as engines are constructed yet lighter and more powerful in proportion to their weight, more successful voyages still will be accomplished. But it is extremely doubtful whether an airship can ever be constructed which shall be able to stand against a gale of wind.