The Flight of the Silver Ship: Around the World Aboard a Giant DirgibleMcAlister, Hugh
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The Flight of the Silver Ship: Around the World Aboard a Giant Dirgible
McAlister, Hugh
Airships -- Juvenile fiction; Voyages around the world -- Juvenile fiction
The Moonbeam hung low over the city, as though waiting to receive the
homage due her. Then graciously she circled, and crossing the center of
the city, sailed across to Yokohama, where she saluted the outgoing
steamers which were awaiting her there.
Then she turned in the direction of Kasumigaura. Reaching the port, she
made a wide circle, her attendant seaplanes following, then descended.
The ground crew rushed to their places, and with perfect precision the
Moonbeam was drawn down and secured.
The crowd, composed of many nationalities, became wildly excited. The
noise continued while the passengers disembarked. Mr. Hammond and David
were immediately surrounded by a group of bemedalled and gold-laced
officials. Their luggage was put in cars which were to take them to
Tokio, where rooms were reserved for all the passengers and officers at
the Imperial Hotel. Dulcie clung close to Doctor Trigg, with Red Ryan as
a bulwark on the other side, and Cram close in the rear. Soldiers and
policemen tried to hold back the masses of people who seemed to gather
in increasing numbers. Repeatedly the laughing, chattering mobs broke
through the cordons, only to be pressed back.
A large automobile swept up to Dulcie and her escorts, and a Japanese
officer motioned that they were to enter. When they were comfortably
seated, and the door shut, the smiling Oriental bowed and the car rolled
smoothly away in the direction of Tokio.
The great yellow moon came lazily out of the sea, and lanterns twinkled
merrily as they sped along.
“Well, Lafayette, here we are!” said Dulcie, leaning back on the
luxurious cushions. “This is certainly a dandy car. Red, I feel a grand
good time coming on.”
“You betcha, Miss Hammond!”
“I don’t like these Japs,” said Wally, turning around on the front seat,
where he sat beside the chauffeur. “They are two-faced, and
undependable. Wouldn’t trust one an inch.”
“Keep still!” Dulcie cried imperiously. “That man may speak English.
Anyway, I don’t believe one word of it.”
Wally subsided into sulky silence. The little man at the wheel did not
flicker an eyelid. Dulcie decided that he had not understood.
“Did you notice the charming little incident back there when our friend
closed the door?” asked Doctor Trigg delightedly. “Knowledge is indeed
power!” He tapped the little Japanese-English phrase book in his hand.
“I had the pleasure of speaking to the young man in his native tongue. I
wish you had noticed the surprise and interest depicted on his
countenance. He seemed scarcely able to believe his ears. I am rather an
old man to attempt the mastery of a new tongue.”
“What did you say, doctor?” asked Dulcie.
He stared uncertainly at the little book.
“I would refresh my memory, but the light is so bad. Can you read it? It
is the first line on the left-hand page.”
Dulcie snapped on the dome light, and looked. She could well imagine the
amazement of the young Japanese!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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