Through the Air to the North Pole: Or, The Wonderful Cruise of the Electric MonarchRockwood, Roy
Science
Through the Air to the North Pole: Or, The Wonderful Cruise of the Electric Monarch
Rockwood, Roy
Airships -- Juvenile fiction; Arctic regions -- Juvenile fiction
He poured out a second spoonful. This was administered to the
unconscious man. In a few seconds his face that had been pale showed a
little color. His chest expanded as he drew a long breath. Then the old
inventor opened his eyes and asked faintly:
"What happened? Where am I?"
"You are all right now," spoke Andy in a gentle voice. "You are out of
danger I hope, and safe on the _Monarch_."
"Is the airship all right?" asked the captain eagerly.
"Yes, and sailing along like a bird," was the answer. In fact every one
had forgotten that the craft was forging ahead, and that all the
machinery was working.
A look of relief crossed Professor Henderson's face, and he sat up.
"I remember now," he said. "I was adjusting the dynamo, and I touched a
live wire. The current was very strong. It is a wonder I was not killed.
But how did you bring me around again?"
"Washington happened to remember some medicine you had told him to use
in emergencies."
"Oh, yes: I'm glad I had some on board. It is a remedy for those shocked
with electricity. But I must see to the machinery."
"No, you must not," said Andy firmly. "You are too weak to get up yet,
and you have a bad burn on your hand."
"All right," agreed Amos Henderson, for he felt weak and sick from the
shock. "Some one had better see to the steering now," he added, and then
he leaned back in the bunk and closed his eyes.
Jack ran to the conning tower. He found that the ship, under the
influence of a strong wind, was going due west, instead of to the north.
He shifted the steering wheel and brought the _Monarch_ on her course
again, pointing to the north pole. Then he called for Mark, and the two
boys arranged that between them they would run the ship until Professor
Henderson recovered.
Andy and Washington, who were watching beside the professor's bunk,
where he reclined, seemingly in a deep slumber, were startled as he
suddenly sat upright.
"Hark!" the old man exclaimed. "Listen! Do you hear it?"
"Hear what?" asked the hunter, in a soothing tone, wishing to humor the
sick man.
"Do you not hear a terrible rushing, roaring wind? The ship! The ship is
in danger!"
The thrilling words sent a chill to the hearts of the watchers. There
was no sign of a storm. In fact it was strangely quiet outside, the
only noise heard being that of the engines of the ship.
"His mind wanders," said Andy.
He had no sooner spoken than a cry from Jack, who with Mark was in the
steering tower, startled them. His voice ran out through the cabins as
he cried:
"A whirlwind! A whirlwind! We are running straight into a whirlwind!"
CHAPTER XIV
TOSSED BY A TORNADO
"Shut down de engines!" cried Washington.
"Lower the ship!" exclaimed Mark, who had run back from the tower.
"Close to the earth we may escape the wind!"
"Is it headed toward us?" asked Andy.
"Straight," answered Mark. Jack tried to steer to one side, but the
currents of air sucked the ship right back into the path again!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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