THROUGH THE AIR TO THE NORTH POLE OR The Wonderful Cruise of the Electric Monarch BY ROY ROCKWOOD AUTHOR OF "THE RIVAL OCEAN DIVERS," "A SCHOOLBOY'S PLUCK," ETC. 1906 CONTENTS CHAP. I. DRIVEN FROM TOWN II. THE RUNAWAY TRAIN III. A STRANGE RESCUER IV. THE AIRSHIP V. A PLAN TO SEEK THE NORTH POLE VI. AWAY IN THE AIRSHIP VII. HELD BY ELECTRICITY VIII. SURROUNDED BY EAGLES IX. THE FROZEN NORTH REACHED X. LOST IN AN ICE CAVE XI. ATTACKED BY SEA LIONS XII. A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE XIII. FORWARD ONCE MORE XIV. TOSSED BY A TORNADO XV. PRISONERS OF THE ESQUIMAUX XVI. THE STRANGE WOMAN AIDS XVII. FIGHTING FOR THE SHIP XVIII. NORTHWARD ONCE MORE XIX. A BLINDING SNOWSTORM XX. AT THE NORTH POLE? XXI. LOST IN THE SNOW XXII. MAGNETIC FIRE WORSHIPPERS XXIII. A STRANGE SACRIFICE XXIV. SAVED BY DIROLA XXV. ADRIFT ON THE ICE XXVI. FIGHTING WILD DOGS XXVII. BACK TO THE SHIP XXVIII. ATTACKED BY THE NATIVES XXIX. THE ESCAPE XXX. HOMEWARD BOUND THROUGH THE AIR TO THE NORTH POLE. CHAPTER I DRIVEN FROM TOWN "Come now, you boys git out of here! No tramps allowed in Freeport while Ezra Jenkins is constable! Move along, now, or I'll arrest ye! Here's my badge of authority!" And a crabbed old man, wearing a faded blue suit, with a big shining star of metal on his coat, tapped the emblem with his club. Two boys, who had just joined each other, after having called at houses on the main street of the little New York village, where Constable Jenkins held sway as the entire police force, started at the sound of the harsh voice. "Come; are ye goin' to move?" snapped the constable. "I suppose we'll have to," answered the larger and stouter of the two lads, "but we haven't done anything." "Ye're tramps, ain't ye?" inquired the constable. "Course ye are! Been beggin', ain't ye? Course ye have! I kin see the victuals stickin' out of yer pockets now! Move on an' git out of Freeport! We don't want any tramps here!" "Come on, Mark," said the heavier of the two boys; "if our room is better than our company, they can have the room. I hope you'll get richer boarders than we are," the youth went on, turning to the constable. "We are going to shake the dust of Freeport from our feet. I think they ought to call this town Closedport instead of Freeport!" "None of yer sass, now!" warned the constable, tapping his badge again. "Jest you move on out of town!" "I think we had better go," murmured the other boy, who was thin and small. "Don't make any trouble, Jack." "All right," assented the other. "Ta-ta, Mr. Chief of Police! See you later!" "Here, you young rascals!" cried the constable. "Come back here an' I'll lock ye up!"