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In the last of these uneasy visions he iznzigzjiiiqil him-
self to be on board the .Vvll1'v, so far from the earth that
the planet looked like a mere ball of fire in the distance.
The machine was going at a terrific rate of speed. cIe:n'>
ing its way through cloud banks with the rapidity of a
cyclone.
Suddenly a thunderstorm arose. and in the midst of the
tumult of the elements the Frenchman's appearance
"changed, and Tom saw that he was no other than Duf-
fieldghinly disguised.
With a fiendish laugh, he sprang toward the boy, and
then began a struggle for the supremacy.
Nearer and nearer to the edge of the car did he drag
Tom, until at last he succeeded in hurling him down
into space.
Down, down, down, fell the boy. until at last he landed
eon the floor.
“Begorra. Misther Tom,” howled Pat, rushing into
the room, half-dressed. “what is it ye are doin’ now.
sorr? Is that villain, Duffield. annywhere here, sorr ?”
“No.” said Tom, rising to his feet. and looking rather
foolish, “I’ve fallen out of bed, that's all. It's an old
trick of mine. What time is it, Pat?"
“The.sun’ll be up in less nor an hour,’ Misther Tom."
“Is that so? Then we must be getting ready for our
journey."
“An’ ye're fully detarmined ter risk yer
divil's machine, are ye, sorr ?”
“Of course I am. I hope you're not weakening again,
Pat. “lhy, it’s the luckiest thing in the world I0? Y0“
that we happened to run across this inventor. for you are
saved fifteen days’ agony from seasickness, and have
the honor of being one of the first three men who ever
crossed to America. except bv water." .
“Thrue for ye, sorr, but the Lord knows will I iver
get there. Sure, that Frinchman's crazy, an’ there’s no
knowin’ what thrick he may be afther playin' us."
“He is not quite right in his mind, I know. Pat. but
I don’t anticipate any trouble from him. XVliatCVL‘Y 11313“
Pens, I guess we can take care of ourselves."
Pat only shook his head.
The sun was just gilding the eas
Tom and his trusty follower reache
for it was scarcely more.
Durand welcomed them
siveness, throwing his arms around tl
much to Pat's disgust.
“All is ready," he said.enthusiastically, as he lcdntlle
Way into the inclosure. “Seeeis she not beautiful r’
The airship, upon the side of which was now Pamted
the name Nellie, did, indeed, present a pretty 3PPC3r,3”Cei
and Tom thought that Miss Bly would be proud If She
could see her namesake.
loife on that
tern horizon when
d Durand's I]Ut--
both with true French effu-
ze neck of each,
CHAPTER XVIII.
ON THE VVAY TO SAN FRANCISCO.
Tom glanced around him in surprise as he followed
Durand into the airship.
“VVhy. where are our provisions
haven't forgotten them. have you?
something to eat, you know.‘
The Frenchman laughed.
?" he asked. "YOU
we've got to have
x'.'N
.y
l‘.'“.T.I‘:.
to
in
. 2
".".c; are in ::e hold."
"In the hol<l"' exclaimed Tom.
"Lc1'lt'z'1zc’::zc;zt. Zcre ees, undair our feet, monsieur, a
hold zat vonld contain provisions for many veeks. See!”
and he lifted a trap at his feet. “Zere eet ees. Mon-
sieur I"eenkney. and, as you see, zere is food for five
days. VV'en zat time have expire ye shall be in gimerica.”
"Sure, I hope so!" groaned Pat, dolefully.
“Have no fear,Jny boy," returned Durand. who seemed
to be in the best of spirits, slapping the Irishman on the
back. “Vat you fink vill prevent you .7”
“Sure, the machine might burst, munseer, an‘ sphill In
all inter the say."
Durand again laughed heartily.
“Zere is no dangaire of ze bust,” he said, “but zere
are o;:a..ir t'in'1s vat might happen, and in anticipation of
zem I have provide zat.“
And he pointed to an object at the other end of the
cabin. which Tom perceived to be a folding canoe.
"Zat vill lalil us free if ze vorst come to 7.e vorst."
he said, “but have no feare-ye shall not need it. And
now. 1I1CSElL‘l1l'S, are you bot‘ ready
“I am," said Tom.
"Sure, I'm as riddy as
lugubriously.
"Zen ye will start at vonce."
Again Durand took the mysterious bottle of fluid from
his pocket and poured a small quantity of it into the
opening in the machine. He then changed the position
of the lever, and the Nellie arose in the air like a beautiful
bird, eager to revel in the purer regions above.
‘IT at last!" said Tom, with a deep sigh of relief.
“(III at last !" echoed Durand. “Yen ve reach ze height
of about t'ree hundred feet, I vill head ze Nellie east.
Zen I s'all lix ze steering apparatus-so! Now ve need
trouble ourselves no more about it, monsieur, for we
have noting to fear from collisions-zere are no ozair
flying machines."
It was dillicult for Tom to realize that the Nellie was
actually moving, so smoothly did she cleave her way
tln'ou;r;h the air. But they were already over the Pacihc,
and Yokohama was rapidly disappearing in the distance.
"Ye are following ze course of ze Oceanic,” said Du-
rand. “and s’all do so ze entire journey, for eet ees ze
shortest vay."
“When do you think we shall overtake the Oceanic?”
asked Tom, eagerly.
“By noon, monsieur," was the reply.
“So soon 7’
“Sooner, I hope and believe."
"What will they think when they see us, I wonder?”
"l‘erhaps." laughed Durand, “zat ye are evil spirits-
like ze ignorant cauaille of Yokohama."
"I hope I shall have a chance to see my friends on
board."
“You yill, rcr‘2‘aim‘n1rnl, Monsieur Peenkney. I can
make ze Nclllr go slow or fast; I can regulate her speed
at my yill, and eef you would like to speak wiz your
‘friends, I "
“No, no." said Toni: "I wouldii't lose a minute's time
much as I'd like to exchange a word
iver I will be," added Pat.
for a g'00<I deal,
with Miss lily."
“.-X11!" interrupted Durand, “I have forgot to tell you,
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