“Gott in Himmel, he iss a poy, chust a poy! Do you Americans set children, then, to sail your ships?” “Not quite, general,” answered Mr. Hammond, smiling, “but Captain Ellison is one in a million; a genius in his chosen field. We lost the services of our captain and first pilot on the way over. The captain went—well, he became very ill from the effects of an old wound, and the pilot sustained an injury. We are leaving them both here in the hospital. “A terrific storm was approaching at the time, and I was obliged to put young Ellison in charge. He handled the ship like a veteran. I am convinced that his cleverness and good judgment saved it, in fact, and I have made him captain for the entire flight. I have absolute confidence in him.” “Fine, fine!” exploded the general heartily. “I congratulate you. Good bilots are born, and nod mate. You are luggy.” CHAPTER VIII THE CRADLE OF THE ZEPPELIN He watched the retreating back of the young captain under discussion with the wise eyes of a man who can read men. “Yess, he looks goot,” he added. They were driven to a hotel, and escorted to luxurious rooms. The lobby was full of young officers, strutting and clanking around. Mr. Hammond and David looked distinguished in their plain, close-fitting blue with black braid and small gold insignia which had been chosen as the ship’s uniform. They were both very tall men, well over six feet, the muscles of the younger man making up for the middle-age weight of the older. The Germans regarded them with interest and respect. Certainly they were not to be looked down on, at least! Dulcie, watching them, thought with fury of her own fairylike proportions. How she pined to be a Brunhilde, stalking firmly among all these arrogant-looking young men! Having changed her frock, Dulcie went to find her father. She found him in his room struggling with a tie, while at the same time he regarded a long, official-looking document on the chiffonier. “Just look at this, Dulcie.” He handed her the paper. “A state luncheon at one-thirty, for a starter, and from then on not a minute that isn’t taken up. It’s a little better for you, but I bet every last one of these officials has a nice husky wife who will look after you.” “I’ll let ’em look for a while, but sometime I am going to play truant. I want to see Friedrichshafen my own way. Isn’t it beautiful? And it was here that Count Zeppelin lived, and worked out his plans. I want to learn all about him.” “Yes, you ought to learn all you can about him, Dulcie. Of course, Santos-Dumont was the first one seriously to struggle with the problem of the rigid dirigible, but Count Zeppelin went far ahead of him. Come in!” he added in a roar, as a knock sounded at the door. A bell boy, apple-cheeked and rosy, presented a large tray piled with envelopes. Mr. Hammond groaned. “Look ’em over, will you, Dulcie; we only have fifteen minutes, but you are all ready.”