The Airship "Golden Hind"Westerman, Percy F. (Percy Francis)
General
The Airship "Golden Hind"
Westerman, Percy F. (Percy Francis)
Adventure stories; Flight -- Juvenile fiction; Voyages around the world -- Juvenile fiction
Kenyon and Bramsdean could hardly conceal their astonishment, for
standing just inside the doorway, immaculately dressed in well-cut
clothes, was the man they had hitherto known as Otto Freising, the
fellow who had attempted to shoot Fosterdyke at Alexandria.
"Secret Service," explained the baronet. "Had to keep the affair dark,
even from you two fellows."
"You certainly did us in the eye," said Peter.
"No more than I did Señor Jaures," rejoined Trefusis. "I had a rotten
time cooped up with that bird, but it was worth it."
"So you’ve succeeded?" asked Fosterdyke.
Trefusis nodded.
"Wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t," he remarked. "It took me some time to
get the right side of Señor Enrico, but I managed it. He rather looked
a bit sideways at me when I pitched a yarn about being a Hun. However,
I’ve got it out of him that he was employed by von Sinzig to kipper your
part of the show, and judging by accounts he almost succeeded. You’ll
have enough evidence, Fosterdyke, to disqualify von Sinzig."
"I’ll think about it," drawled the baronet. "After all’s said and done
the Hun is a sport, only his idea of sport differs radically from ours.
It’s his nature, I suppose. But another time you fire at me with blank
cartridges, Trefusis, old son, please don’t aim at my head. Grains of
burnt powder in one’s eyes aren’t pleasant."
"Nor did I feel very pleasant," rejoined the Secret Service man, "when
that officious blighter suggested putting me under arrest and trying me
in a Civil Court. He must have thought you pretty high-handed, rushing
me off in your airship."
"Yes, it was as well I took Colonel Holmes into my confidence," said
Fosterdyke. "Otherwise you might at this moment be cooling your heels in
a ’Gippy’ prison. However, we’ve got evidence against von Sinzig, if
needs be."
"What are you going to do with Señor Jaures?" asked Trefusis.
"Do with him? Nothing much. Fact, I’ll do it now, directly we’ve
finished dinner."
The meal over, Fosterdyke ordered Enrico Jaures to be brought in. The
look on the miscreant’s features was positively astounding when he found
his former companion in captivity revealed in his true colours.
"Now, Enrico Jaures," began Fosterdyke, without further preliminaries.
"You understand English, in spite of your previous denial. Read that.
If you agree to it, you are a free man the moment you’ve signed the
statement."
At the promise of liberty Enrico plucked up courage. He had a wholesome
respect for the word of an Englishman.
The document was in the form of a confession, stating that Enrico Jaures
had agreed, for a certain sum promised by Count Karl von Sinzig, to
hinder, either by crippling or destroying the "Golden Hind," Sir
Reginald Fosterdyke’s attempt to fly round the world.
"I’ll sign," said Enrico.
He wrote his name. Kenyon and Trefusis witnessed the signature.
The baronet folded the document and placed it in his pocket.
"Now you can go," he said.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account