Complete Works of L. Frank Baum

by L. Frank Baum

  “I’m going to try out our new Hy,” she said, with a laugh. “‘Hy,’ you must know, is my abbreviation of the Hydro-Aircraft — too long a word altogether. If you will promise not to criticise us, in case we foozle, you are welcome to watch our performance.”

  “That will be glorious,” returned Madeline. “We have been to the bay to inspect the Salvador, my new yacht, but being anxious to see your new Aircraft and hoping to find you here, we ventured to stop for a few minutes. Forgive us if we intruded.”

  She spoke so frankly and was so evidently unconscious of being unwelcome that the entire group accepted her presence and that of her uncle without murmur.

  Steve took his place in the “Hy” and Orissa sat beside him.

  The motor boat attachment, which took the place of the ordinary running gear, was of sheet aluminum, as light and yet as strongly built as was possible for a thing intended to be practical. Adjustable wheels, which could be folded back when the boat was in the water, were placed on either side, to give the craft a land start. The huge engine was beautiful in appearance, while the planes — a crossed arrangement peculiar to the Kane Aircraft — were immaculately white in their graceful spread.

  “This upper plane,” said Steve, proud to explain the marvels of his latest mechanical pet, “is so arranged that its position may be altered by means of a lever. If you’re on the water and want to save gasoline you adjust the plane as a sail and let the wind drive you.”

  “Clever! Very clever, indeed,” observed Mr. Tupper. “I had no idea these flying machines had been improved so much since I last saw an aviation meet, some six months ago.”

  “The art of flying is still in its infancy, sir,” replied Mr. Cumberford. “It is progressing with wonderful strides, however, and young Kane is one of those remarkable geniuses who keep a pace ahead of the procession.”

  Even as he spoke Steve started the engine, and as the first low rumble of the propeller increased to a roar the machine darted forward, passed the edge of the bluff and, rising slightly, sped over the placid waters of the Pacific, straight out from shore.

  He did not rise very high, but half a mile or so out the aviator described a half-circle and then, as gracefully as a swan, sank to the surface of the ocean. Instantly a white wake of foam appeared at the rear of the boat, showing that the propeller was now churning the water. And now, with speed that to the observers appeared almost incredible, the Hydro-Aircraft approached the shore. A few yards from the bluff it abruptly rose from the water, sailed above the heads of the spectators, and after a circle of the field, came to a halt at almost the exact spot from which it had started.

  This remarkable performance had taken place in so brief a space of time that those on the bluff had scarcely moved during the entire period. They now hastened forward to congratulate the inventor. Mr. Cumberford’s grim features were for once wreathed in smiles; Chesty Todd capered like a schoolboy and flung his hat into the air as he yelled “Hooray!” while Sybil impulsively grasped Steve’s hand in both of her own. As for Madeline Dentry, she eyed the young man wonderingly, asking herself if the marvel she seemed to have witnessed had actually occurred.

  “Do you know,” said Mr. Tupper, his voice trembling with excitement, “I wouldn’t much mind a ride like that myself!”

  Orissa was much pleased with this successful test of the new machine’s powers. As the men wheeled the Hydro-Aircraft back to its hangar she turned to Chesty and said:

  “I forgive you, sir. Really, you were too modest in your promises. Sybil and I will carry out your program to the entire satisfaction of the management and the public, I am positive.”

  “I can hardly wait for Monday, Ris,” exclaimed Sybil. “If father wasn’t so afraid, I would learn to navigate the Hy myself.”

  “Ah, you interest me, my dear,” returned her father, blandly; “you do, really. But as your talents will never enable you to rival Orissa it will be well for you to curb your ambitions. I’ve conceded a lot, to allow you to go with her on that long jaunt Monday.”

  “You have, indeed,” laughed Orissa. “But Sybil and I will have a real joy ride, and be perfectly safe in the bargain. How long a time will the trip take us, Steve?”

  “Oh, a couple of hours, or so; it will depend on whether the current is favorable to your paddling back. In the air you can do forty miles an hour, easily.”

  “We will take some lunch with us,” said Sybil. “Don’t forget to order it, Daddy.”

  Mr. Cumberford nodded. Unimpressionable as this strange man seemed, his daughter was verily the “apple of his eye” and he was not likely to forget anything that might add to her comfort. Sybil’s desire to aviate had been a constant source of disturbance to her father. He had worried a good deal over Orissa, during her first attempts to fly, but was now convinced of the girl’s capability and, although he exhibited nervousness every time she gave one of her exhibitions, he had by degrees acquired supreme confidence in her skill. Still, being thoroughly experienced in all aviation matters, through his connection with the Kane Aircraft, Mr. Cumberford realized that flying is always accompanied by danger, and whenever an aviator met with an accident on the field he was wont to inform Sybil that on no account could she ever accompany Orissa again in a flight. He would even urge Orissa to abandon the dangerous work; but she answered him gravely: “This accident, as well as all others I ever heard of, was the result of carelessness and inexperience. The more flights I make the less liable am I to encounter accident. Perhaps I realize better than you do, Mr. Cumberford, the elements of danger, and that is the reason I am so careful to avoid every hazard.”

  Flying was an intoxication to Sybil. She never had enough of it and always complained to Orissa that their flights were of too short duration. Each time she was obliged to plead and argue with her father for days, before obtaining his consent to let her go, and even now, when he had given his reluctant permission to Chesty Todd to advertise Sybil as the companion of the Flying Girl, he was frequently impelled to forbid the adventure. His only consolation was that the new invention seemed very safe and practical, and with Orissa’s guiding hands at the levers his beloved daughter would be as well guarded as possible under such conditions.

  As a matter of fact, protests from Mr. Cumberford had little value, as Sybil possessed a knack of getting her own way under any and all circumstances. She had really no great desire to operate an aeroplane herself, being quite content to remain a passenger and enjoy the freedom of riding, untrammeled by the necessity of being alert every instant to control the machine.

  Orissa, excusing herself, retired to the hangar to change her costume, and the young inventor was left to listen to the enthusiastic comments of his friends.

  “When will your Hydro-Aircraft be on the market, Mr. Kane?” asked Madeline.

  “In the course of the next three months we expect to complete two other machines,” he replied.

  “I want one of them,” she said quickly. “Will you teach me how to operate it?”

  “Of course,” he answered. “That is part of the bargain. But you have not asked the price, and for all business transactions I must refer you to Mr. Cumberford.”

  “Madeline, my dear! My dear Madeline!” protested Mr. Tupper; “what in the world are you thinking of?”

  “That I would give Mr. Cumberford a check at once,” she calmly answered.

  “But I — we — that is, I can’t permit it; I — I really can’t allow it, my dear!” asserted the gentleman, evidently alarmed by her positive attitude.

  Madeline’s slight form stiffened and her eyes flashed defiantly.

  “Mr. Tupper,” said she to her uncle, “do I employ you to advise me, or to manage my business affairs?”

  That he was greatly humiliated by this attack was evident. His face grew red and he half turned away, hesitating to make reply. Then Mr. Cumberford came to Mr. Tupper’s assistance.

  “Your — eh — friend — is quite right, Miss Dentry; quite right to oppose your —
eh — reckless impulse, if I may put it that way. Your enthusiasm interests me; it — eh — interests me greatly; but for your own welfare and the comfort of mind of your friends, I should advise you to — eh — curb your adventurous spirit, for the present. You have what is known as the ‘Flying Fever,’ which attacks the most conservative people when on the aviation field. Let it alone and it will dissipate, in time; but if you nurse it you — eh — buy a flying machine and become a slave. We have machines to sell, you know; we are anxious to dispose of all we can; but kindly keep your check for three months, and if at the end of that time you are still disposed to purchase, I will deliver the machine to you promptly.”

  “How can you do that? The demand will be greater than your ability to build the Hydro-Aircraft, after the exhibition of next Monday,” she affirmed.

  Mr. Cumberford regarded her thoughtfully.

  “I believe you are right,” said he. “Anyhow, I hope you are right. But I’ll promise to reserve a machine, pending your decision. Young ladies who are seriously determined to become aviators and who — eh — have the means to indulge the fad to any extent, are rare; very rare. Therefore, my dear Miss Dentry, you — eh — interest me, and I’ll keep my promise.”

  Madeline could not refuse to admit the fairness of Mr. Cumberford’s proposition, and Mr. Tupper was grateful to him for his efficient support, so harmony was once more restored. Sybil, indeed, smiled derisively as she exchanged a meaning glance with Madeline — a glance that said as intelligently as words: “How clever these men think themselves, and how helpless they really are to oppose us!”

  Then Miss Dentry invited them all, including Chesty Todd, to dine on board her yacht the next day, which was Sunday, and the invitation being promptly accepted they all motored back to the hotel.

  CHAPTER THREE

  A PRODIGY IN AERONAUTICS

  SAN DIEGO BAY is always interesting, with its shipping from all ports of the world, but on this gorgeous Sunday afternoon there was no prettier sight among the scattered craft than the trim yacht Salvador, lying at anchor just north of the ferry path. The Kane-Cumberford party found a small launch awaiting them at the pier, which quickly took them aboard the big white yacht, where Madeline, attired in appropriate sailor costume, cordially welcomed them.

  “This affair is fully as great a novelty to me as it must be to you,” she explained, as they cast admiring glances over the decks. “I bought the boat of an Englishman several months ago, with the understanding it should be delivered to me here; but I only arrived to claim it the day before yesterday. It has a crew of seven, besides the chef, who, I must admit, is my own selection, as I feared to trust the English taste in cookery. The English crew, however, seems capable and every man jack wants to stay with the boat; so I’ve agreed to keep them. I’ll introduce you to the skipper presently. He rejoices in the title of ‘Captain’ and has quite awed me with his superior manner and splendid uniform. But I’ll introduce you to the creations of my chef, first, for dinner is waiting. Forgive Monsieur Champetre, if he falls down occasionally; he is as unused to the kitchen — or is it scullery? Oh, I know; the ‘galley’ — as I am to the cabin.”

  Really the chef needed no excuses, and after the meal they made a thorough inspection of the beautiful craft, peeping into the staterooms, the men’s quarters and even into the sacred galley. Everyone aboard, including the big, bluff skipper, was so proud of the boat that he delighted to have it exhibited, and when it was understood that the slim, beautiful young lady guest was the famous Flying Girl the deference shown Orissa was amusing.

  “I had intended to test the Salvador to-morrow and make a short run to sea in it,” said Madeline; “but I am so eager to witness the aerial exhibitions that I shall postpone the voyage until later. My yacht is permanent, but this Aviation Meet is temporary.”

  The visitors returned to their hotel early in the afternoon, for Orissa and Sybil had still a few preparations to make for the morrow’s trip, while Steve and Mr. Cumberford decided to pay a visit to the aviation field, to which both the Kane Aircraft and the Kane Hydro-Aircraft had been removed by the mechanicians in charge of them. Chesty Todd’s labors that Sunday evening were perhaps more onerous than those of the others of his party, for he had to meet an aggressive band of newspaper reporters and load each one to the brim with material for a double-header next morning. Having served as a journalist — and an able one — himself, Mr. Radley-Todd understood exactly the sort of priming these publicity guns required.

  The home of the Kanes was a delightful orange ranch near Los Angeles, where the blind mother of Stephen and Orissa — their only parent — lived surrounded by every comfort and devoted attendants, while her boy and girl were engaged in the novel and somewhat hazardous exhibitions of the new Kane Aircraft. Orissa had remained at home with her mother while Stephen was perfecting his latest machine at San Diego, and had not left there until it was necessary to prepare for the Meet, in which she had engaged to take part. Mrs. Kane, perhaps because of her blindness, seemed to have little anxiety on account of her daughter’s ventures, although at the time of Orissa’s first flights her nervousness had been poignant. Assured of her girl’s skill and coolness, the mother had come to accept these occasions philosophically, as far as the danger was concerned, and she was naturally interested in Steve’s inventions and overjoyed at the financial success which Mr. Cumberford’s business ability had already insured the firm.

  This Sunday evening Orissa wrote a long letter to her mother, telling how perfectly her brother’s new machine worked, and assuring Mrs. Kane of her confidence in winning new laurels for Stephen on the morrow. “The latest engine, made for the Hy, is more powerful than were the others,” she added, “but its operation is practically the same and while the combination of boat and aircraft necessitated a more complicated arrangement of the control, I have easily mastered all the details and could take the whole thing apart and put it together again, if obliged to do so.”

  The girl slept peacefully that night and neither she nor Sybil were in the least nervous when they went to the aviation field, over-looking the sea, after an early luncheon on Monday.

  They found the Kane Hydro-Aircraft reposing majestically in its hangar, in perfect order and constantly surrounded by a group of admiring and interested spectators. The little band of professional aviators present at the Meet welcomed Orissa very cordially for every one of them knew and admired the brave girl who had so often proved her ability to manage her brother’s machines.

  The grand stand was packed with spectators, and long rows of automobiles lined the edge of the enclosure reserved for the exhibitors.

  The “Kane Event,” as it was called, was early on the program of the day, for it was understood that the flight over the ocean and the voyage back would consume much of the afternoon. Many had brought binoculars and other powerful glasses to watch the Flying Girl and her chum during their progress.

  Sealskin Island lay a little to the south of the aviation field and was one of a group of barren rocks jutting out of the sea and plainly visible from the mainland. The Coronado Islands, which have little or no value, belong to Mexico, as the Mexican boundary is only twelve miles south of San Diego, and this group, although not appearing to be so far south, is below the line claimed by the United States. Therefore Orissa’s flight would be in a southwesterly direction and most of her journey made in plain view of every spectator.

  As the “Hy” was run out to the center of the field Steve said to Orissa:

  “I’ve anchored an aluminum chest just back of your seats, at the suggestion of Mr. Cumberford. In it are all the tools you could possibly need in case of emergency, a couple of warm blankets to use if your return trip proves chilly, and enough ‘lunch’ — which I think Sybil pleaded for — to last you both a week. The chest enables you to carry all this safely and comfortably, and it won’t be at all in your way. Personally, I think such a precaution wholly unnecessary, but Mr. Cumberford is a good deal of an old woman w
here Sybil is concerned and it is easier to give up to him than to try to argue him out of an idea. Take the trip easy, Ris; we don’t need to make time. What we want to demonstrate is the practicability of the machine, and we ourselves already know that it is thoroughly practical, and we therefore ought to be able to convince the world of the fact.”

  Orissa nodded.

  “How about gasoline?” she asked.

  “Both tanks are filled. There’s enough to run you a hundred miles in air and fifty miles in water, which is far more than you will require. Be gentle with the steering gear; it is such a long connection that it doesn’t respond as readily as the old one, and I guess I’ve made the rods a trifle too light. I mean to rig up a more substantial device as soon as I get time, but this will do you all right if you don’t jerk it. Put a little more strength to the wheel and turn it gradually, that’s all.”

  “I understand,” she replied. “Are you ready, Sybil?”

  “Waiting on you, Ris.”

  “And I think the crowd is waiting on us.”

  The band was at this moment playing its loudest and most stirring tune and as the two venturesome girls, dressed in appropriate aerial costume, appeared on the field, wildly enthusiastic shouts rose from ten thousand spectators. Chesty Todd had decorated the braces of the machine with bunches of fresh violets and the aluminum and nickeled parts shone gloriously in the sun.

  “Be good, Sybil,” said Mr. Cumberford. “Take care of her, Orissa.”

  The girls laughed, for this was the old gentleman’s customary parting warning.

  “All right, Ris,” said Steve.

  She applied the power and one of the mechanicians gave the propeller a preliminary whirl. Then Orissa threw in the automatic clutch that started the machine and it ran forward a few feet and promptly rose into the air. A moment later it was speeding straight out to sea, at an altitude of a hundred feet, and the wonderful voyage of Stephen Kane’s new Hydro-Aircraft was begun — a voyage destined to vary considerably from the program mapped out for it.