Around the World in Ten Days | Page 5

the air, and
when accidentally ignited fuel will burn itself out with no harm to
either the machine or its occupants. The fact is, Paul and I have some
ideas now as to how to overcome those very troubles, along with other
improvements, and the first chance we get we are going to build an
airplane along these lines and put it to the test, aren't we, Buddy?"
"We surely are," was Paul's enthusiastic response. "One of these fine
days, mother, when we get our patents and sell them, you shall live in
as fine a home as the Giddings's over on Shadynook Hill, and when you
wish to go into the city to do any shopping, John or I will take you in a
beautiful sedan airplane which will be safer than an automobile, and
which will be guaranteed not to raise a dust or wear out tires."

Mrs. Ross laughed heartily at the glowing picture her second son had
drawn, more because he spoke with such seriousness, and because John
too wore a matter-of-fact look during the prophecy.
"Oh, I have some great dreamers here in this little family," she said, as
she arose to resume her household duties. "We will hope that some of
your dreams come true."
Her sons laughed good-naturedly; then Paul turned to his brother.
"Come on down in the basement, John," he said; "I wish to show you
our latest miniature model, the Sky-Bird. Another day's work ought to
finish it."
John followed him downstairs. In one corner of the large basement was
a good-sized workbench, lighted by two windows, and equipped with
several neatly-arranged shelves, which now held a divers collection of
chisels, bits, countersinks, etc. In a splendid oak cabinet attached to the
wall above was a more extensive array of wood- and metal-working
tools, some of which the brothers had bought with money earned at odd
jobs when they were still small boys. Since, they had added to their set
from time to time, as they needed this tool or that, until now few
professional mechanics could boast of a finer assortment.
Suspended from a hook directly over the bench was a beautiful six-foot
model of a racy-looking monoplane of peculiar and striking design. It
was glistening in several coats of spar-varnish, and so light and delicate
was its spidery frame that, as John reached out to take it in his hand, the
exhalation of his breath set it swaying away from him.
"My word, it's a light boy all right!" exclaimed John admiringly, as he
carefully took hold of the pretty thing. "That's just the feature we've
tried to get, too, Buddy,--lightness." He looked closely at the long,
graceful pair of wings, which were of an unusual thickness and a slight
upward thrust like those of a bird, and which widened batlike as they
ran back and joined the rear fuselage or body of the craft. "Have you
put the helium-gas in these wings yet, Paul, as we planned? I see you
have installed the valves. There's a valve in the after-fuselage, too."

"The wings and fuselage are both filled," said Paul; "that is what makes
the Sky-Bird so light. If you had brought more helium the last time you
were here, I could have pumped in twice the quantity, I think, and that
would have made her so light she would rise of her own accord, I really
believe. As it is, she now weighs less than a half-ounce. I had the scales
on her yesterday."
John shared his brother's enthusiasm. "Fine!" he cried, with sparkling
eyes. "Why, that's almost a neutral condition, as she is! Buddy, if we
can apply this principle to a full-size machine--and I don't know why
we can't--we shall have solved the biggest problem facing airplane
designers to-day. With a machine weighing only a trifle more than her
load of fuel and baggage, she will not only fly a lot faster but go a lot
farther, with a given supply of fuel, than the present-day planes. And
what is more, she could attain good speed with a single engine of
reasonable power, where now many machines are handicapped with the
burdensome weight of an extra power-plant. When will she be ready to
test out?"
"I had planned to give her a trial in the old fair-grounds Saturday
afternoon," said Paul. "I've asked Bob Giddings to go along."
"That's all right; Bob is a fine lad," said John; "but since you have set
the trial for Saturday afternoon, and Bob's father is usually at home at
that time, why don't you ask him to view the affair also? I'm sure he
would enjoy it. He's a great sportsman, you know, like most newspaper
men, and considerably interested in aeronautics."
"I had not thought of it; I'll