"That blackguard, Hart, wants to get me back to London. Pretends I’ve committed a crime by moving the air ship without his consent. Promises forgiveness—the lunatic—if I’ll return; and—of all the gall in creation—says he will pay down a handsome sum, as he calls it, for a half interest in the air ship, if I’ll come back and make it over to him; and then to cap the climax, has the effrontery to threaten me if I don’t do it. The fellow must either be a dolt himself or take me for one. But I’ll make it interesting for him, nevertheless!" "They must take us for a brace of nincompoops," I replied; "but is it in the form of a summons?" "Seems to be a kind of _capias_ for my arrest, but how on earth can they execute their orders while I’m up here?" said Torrence. "You surely don’t intend to return," I said, looking over his shoulder. "Of course not; but I’m determined not to be tracked out of the country. The man has done all he could to thwart me by foul means. He has tried to entrap me in a pretended form of law. He endeavored to prevent my sailing by procuring an injunction issued upon false representations, and if he’s fool enough to suppose that I’d return to London—why let him suppose it, and wait, and sweat!" He now headed the air ship toward London, and rising, sailed away from the town. "Let them think what they please!" he said. Torrence got up on the top deck and waved his hat, and then every one shouted. I think there was some doubt, however, as to whether we really intended to return, until they saw us gradually head about, and point our prow toward London; then there was an unmistakable yell of delight from every throat. We were soon running against the wind, due south. The cloud bank which had been steadily pushing up out of the southwest now nearly covered the sky at an elevation of many thousand feet. The city of Hull was fading in the distance. It would soon be lost to sight. I looked at the earth below, and saw that we were steadily ascending upon an inclined plane. "When we are wrapt in the bosom of the clouds," said Torrence, "I intend to put about, and run directly over their heads, out of sight, and be far to seaward before the sun sets." The clouds were still at a great altitude above us; and to prevent our real intentions being discovered we made the ascent very gradually, still steering south, but on an ascending plane, so that upon entering the cloud bank it would be apparent to all that we were still headed for London. The elevation might be easily accounted for on the hypothesis of air currents, so that no suspicion of insincerity would be aroused on the part of those watching us. "Now," said Torrence, "as we are going up to a great height, we might find it more comfortable to slip on warmer clothing; or at all events to get out some top coats."