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Updated: June 5, 2025
"And an accident at night, especially when most of us are asleep, is not so easily handled as when it occurs in daylight. So slow her down, Dick." The motor was set to take them along at thirty miles an hour, and they descended until they were fifteen hundred feet above the earth, so in case of the Abaris becoming crippled, she would not have to spend much time in making a landing.
The Abaris had been given her last trial flight. All the supplies and stores were aboard. Jack Butt had taken his departure, for he was not to make the trip. His place would be taken by the army lieutenant. A special kennel had been constructed for Grit, who seemed to take kindly to the big airship.
"If he's had more than two he's out of it, anyhow, and I wouldn't strain my engine." "We'd better keep on," advised Mr. Vardon, and they all agreed to this. Toward the close of the afternoon the Larabee, which they were all sure was the name of the craft in the rear, came on with a rush. Her speed seemed increased by half, and she would, it was now seen, quickly pass the Abaris.
There was another feature of the Abaris that was new and one which added much to the comfort and safety of those aboard her. This had to do with the starting of the motor and the operation of the big wooden propellers. In most aeroplanes, whether of the single or double type, the propeller, or propellers, are directly connected to the motor.
It had been some distance in the rear when first sighted, but now the three figures aboard were plainly discernable with the naked eye. "Speed her up!" called Dick. "We've got to leave him if we can." Gradually the Abaris forged on more rapidly. But it seemed as if those in the other craft were waiting for something like this.
"We're going right toward a hill, and I can't raise her any more." "In she goes!" yelled Lieutenant McBride, as he pulled on the lever. There was a grinding of gears as the toothed wheels meshed, and the big wooden propellers began to revolve. "There she goes!" cried Mr. Vardon. The Abaris, which had almost touched the earth, began to soar upward under the propelling influence.
The craft was vibrating with the strain of the great power, but the vibration had been reduced to a minimum by means of special spring devices. "Now we'll try a spiral ascent," said Dick, as he moved the lever of the horizontal rudder. The Abaris responded instantly, and began a spiral climb, which is usually the method employed by birdmen.
"Sir Frederick Leighton, the President of the Royal Academy, is with me, sir, if I may judge by his picture of Dædalus." "Every sensible man must be with you," answered Barton. "Well, sir, I won't detain you with other famous flyers of antiquity, such as Abaris, mounted on an arrow, as described by Herodotus. Doubtless the arrow was a flying machine, a novelty to the ignorant Scythians."
"I don't think I'd better, until I learn how to run an airship that isn't in trouble," said Larry Dexter. "Well, perhaps not," said Mr. Vardon. "But the others may." Meanwhile the Abaris had been slowly nearing earth, and it was this slowness, caused by the gradual "sifting" down that would make it possible to land her with scarcely a jar.
An electric self-starter did this for him, though in case of emergency the engine could be started by hand. In fact everything aboard the Abaris was most up-to-date, and it was on this that Dick counted in winning the big prize. "Well, I guess everything is as ready as it ever will be," remarked the young millionaire, as he and the aviator made a final inspection of the craft.
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