Doctor Jones' Picnic Part 27

"You may do better than that, sir. We should be exceedingly pleased to have you and your family accompany us to Washington. We can promise you the sensation and pleasure of your lifetime," returned the Doctor.

"O do come, sir!" cried Mrs. Jones. "Bring your family and give them the greatest treat this world affords."

"I will consult them, immediately. But I fear that they are poor sailors, and can hardly be persuaded to venture a trip in an air-ship."

"I will see that they do not suffer from seasickness," said the Doctor.

"Prevail upon them to come if possible, for I know you will never regret it. Now shall we remain here, or meet you at the globe?"

"Remain here, please, and I will return with all possible expedition."

A half hour later he returned with his wife and two daughters, the latter being stylish, lovely girls of about Mattie's age. All three were in a state of more or less nervousness and trepidation at the idea of a sail through the sky, and yet they could not resist the desire to go.

"O Mrs. Jones! Miss Bronson! don't you feel awfully frightened away up there, thousands of feet from the earth?" asked one of the girls.

"Not the least bit!" replied Mrs. Jones. "So far from that, will you believe me, I feel better and fully as safe in the cabin of our Silver Cloud, five thousand feet from the earth, as I do in this parlor."

"Do you hear that, mamma?" cried the elder girl. "And what an appropriate, beautiful name--Silver Cloud. Well, I am determined to be a good sailor, and enjoy this trip as I never did anything in my life."

"I will meet you within an hour at the ship," said the mayor. "I must attend to some business before I can go," and he hurried away.

An hour later they were all standing upon the balcony of Silver Cloud, excepting Will and Denison. They were standing by the spring motors to hoist and stow the anchors.

The news had spread that the great globe was about to sail, and people were rushing by thousands to witness its departure. The signal was given, and Silver Cloud arose so majestically and beautifully above the great city that the people roared like another Niagara at the transcendently glorious spectacle! It rose to the height of eight hundred feet, and moved rapidly toward the southwest. They maintained this comparatively low alt.i.tude on account of their visitors manifesting symptoms of extreme terror, especially the young ladies. But Mrs. Jones and Mattie soothed and petted them, and a.s.sured them so positively of their perfect safety that by degrees they became quiet, and in a short time were enjoying the scenery, and watching through their gla.s.ses the main objects of interest.

"Mrs. Jones." said the mayor's wife, "I do not wonder that you prefer the cabin of this ship to the parlor of our grandest city hotel. This is the most inspiring scene I ever witnessed, and one that I should never grow tired of. How cool and pure this atmosphere is! I am sure that nothing could add to the beauty of the scenery or your splendid ship."

"O madam! but you should have seen Silver Cloud before we robbed her of her chief ornament, the flagstaff. That was her glory, as a fine head of hair is a woman's," replied Dr. Jones, who had overheard the lady's remark. "I shall never be satisfied until we have replaced it."

The ship, meantime, was hastening at a forty mile gait toward the Capital. The trip was one long thrill of excitement and pleasure to the visitors. The Doctor had settled all symptoms of nausea with his well-selected remedies, and nothing more could be desired to add to their pleasure and comfort.

At the hour of noon they sat down to lunch. They ate but little, the excitement having more or less destroyed their appet.i.tes. But they sat a considerable time at the table and talked animatedly upon various topics; princ.i.p.ally, though, of the ship and their voyage to and from the Pole. The ladies could not sufficiently admire and praise the beauty, cleanliness, and comfort of the cabin.

Fred was seated beside Grace, the younger of the sisters, and they were discussing music. She praised his North Pole March in unstinted terms, until he blushed to the ears with delight. She and her elder sister, Rose, were musicians of a high order, and had graduated at the leading musical conservatories of America. They had besides spent several years in Europe in the pursuit of knowledge in that line. Fred asked Grace to promenade the balcony with him. She immediately accepted the proposition, and they were soon oblivious to the world in the discussion of their favorite theme--music. No doubt the inspiring scene below and all about them drew out all the finer sentiments of their beings. And what could two handsome, heartwhole, sentimental young beings do but fall----

"Not over the bal.u.s.trade!"

O no! but into love!

The whole company now came out upon the balcony, and they slowly promenaded about the four sides of the cabin. We cannot describe the witchery and beauty of the fast-flying panorama below. Our pen falters, and the picture must be left to the imagination of the reader.

The mayor was very familiar with the topography of the country, and pointed out the various rivers, mountain ranges, cities, towns, etc.

About three o'clock the capitol buildings, Washington monument, and other tall structures about the city hove in sight. They were immediately seen, for the great guns in all the forts about the city fired thundering salutes.

"They are loaded to the muzzle for us, Doctor," said Professor Gray.

"It appears so," he replied. "I only wish it was all over with."

"What park is that?" he asked a few moments later, pointing to one that lay directly in their course. The Professor mentioned its name, and thought it a very convenient place for anchorage. Accordingly, Silver Cloud swooped down upon it with a velocity that fairly took away the breath of the mayor and family. A few moments later, Silver Cloud was safely anch.o.r.ed, after her voyage of many thousands of miles, at her starting point. In a little less than four months they had made the most extraordinary trip known in the world's history, that of Columbus not excepted, and were now safely returned!

Two by two they descended to earth, and, as in New York, carriages awaited them. Evidently preparations for their reception had been made upon a colossal scale. The air was thundering and riven with the voices of the innumerable hosts, bra.s.s bands on every hand in full blast, so that it was impossible to hear a word said by the nearest neighbor.

The police, fire, and military forces were out in full strength. The voyagers, mayor of New York and family, were seated in landaus, and with ropes the girls of all the public schools, each dressed in pure white and bearing in her hand an American flag, drew the vehicles through the princ.i.p.al streets of the city. Each of the little maids wore upon her bare head a chaplet of flowers, and the scene was one of indescribable beauty. And as they walked they sang in sweetest harmony,

"See, the conquering hero comes."

Dr. Jones was affected to tears at this sight, and could scarcely contain himself. At last the procession stopped before the grand central entrance of the capitol building. Upon the top steps they were met by the President and his cabinet, many members of both houses, though Congress was not in session at this season. Ministers and plenipotentiaries from nearly every court in the world were also there.

Judges, statesmen, and journalists were in attendance by scores. Nothing was left undone that could in any way add to the honor and glory of the hero of the day. The modesty and unaffected dignity with which he received it all, clothed him as with a garment, and was a marvel to even those who knew him best.

But it would prove tedious to the reader if we were to relate in detail all the speech-making and public receptions tendered our friends. The Doctor and Professor before vast audiences told the story of their journey, the planting of the pole, the scientific value of observations made by Professor Gray, etc. The concert and North Pole March were rendered several times.

In a week or so the furore began to subside, and the company were glad to settle down to a comparatively quiet life in a large furnished house, which the Doctor rented. Callers were coming and going continually during several hours daily, and invitations to parties, dinners, concerts, operas, etc., were very numerous. The mayor and family returned to New York after spending a week with the friends. They declared that they envied them their trip to the South Pole, and should never be satisfied until they had enjoyed another sail in Silver Cloud.

The Doctor and Professor were kept very busy in consultation with governmental officials and scientific men. The naval and military departments were especially interested in the probabilities and possibilities of the use of air-ships in warfare. An arrangement was made to take a party of military men on a trip in Silver Cloud. A very successful and brilliant voyage of several hundreds of miles to the south and return was made, during which the Doctor actually encountered an opportunity to exemplify his theory as to air currents. While they were driving rapidly south at an alt.i.tude of but four or five hundred feet, he rapidly rose several thousand feet and encountered a splendid northerly current that carried them back to their starting point in a way that pleased the little man wonderfully well. This was a great triumph for the Doctor, and impressed the governmental party as of vast importance, and added immensely to the effectiveness of the ship in the art of war.

The Government made Will a very liberal offer to act as architect and constructor of another ship similar to Silver Cloud, with such improvements as experience had suggested to him. He accepted the offer, and would enter upon his duties immediately after their return from the South Pole. The Government had immediately acquiesced to their proposition to seek the South Pole, and even urged that they get out as soon as possible. The aluminum pole, a fac-simile of the one already planted, was being constructed.

One day, a month after their return, Mrs. Jones and Mattie were summoned to the parlor at an early hour for callers. They found there a large elderly gentleman and two ladies.

"O Mattie!" cried the younger, "don't you know us?"

"Why! is it possible that you are our friends from Constance House? It is, Maggie, it is! And this is Jennie Barton!"

"I declare that I was never so surprised and delighted in my life! Can this be Mrs. Barton?" And then such kissing and handshaking.

"And how do you do, Mrs. Barton? I would not have known you. How you have improved!" And Mrs. Jones scanned her face very critically. "Are you entirely recovered?"

"She is so much better that we no longer consider her an invalid. But I was desirous that the Doctor should see her again, and so we have come down. We were in Montreal when I saw in a paper an account of your return to Washington. That was the first we had heard of you since you sailed from Constance House, and you can well believe that we were exceedingly pleased to hear of your safe return. So we made up our minds that we would run down and see you at once," said Mr. Barton.

After they had conversed a few moments and had inquired after Joe and Sam, Mrs. Jones conducted them to two chambers, insisting that they must be her guests while in the city.

The Doctor and other members of the party were delighted to met the Bartons. Dr. Jones was well pleased with the progress that Mrs. Barton had made. He considered her cure but a question of a short time, but insisted, in order that no chances might be incurred, that she should remain during the winter at Washington. He did not antic.i.p.ate that they would be gone more than thirty days on their South Pole expedition, and certainly not more than two months. And so they arranged that they should stay at least until the return of the expedition.

"And that settles it that we are to remain here until next summer, for it is very late even now for us to return to Constance House. So I will write the boys to that effect, and shall settle down to the study of American politics," said John Barton.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Ho! for the South Pole!

Silver Cloud, meantime, had been returned to the place of her birth, the great iron works upon the Potomac river. Another shapely three hundred feet mast had been manufactured and erected. One morning about the middle of September, the globe arose above the glittering mast and slowly settled upon it. The fastenings were soon adjusted, the flag of aluminum nailed to the peak, and Silver Cloud was herself again, ready for another trip to the ends of the earth.

Will had made a number of additions and alterations, among which was an increase in the size and strength of the coiled springs that were used for hoisting purposes and running the dynamo. A powerful searchlight had been added, and the electrical appliances greatly increased. Among other things, he had a two horse power steam engine set up. This was to be used for winding the springs. Good old John Barton was never happier in his life than at this period. His interest in the globe was intense, and he daily spent hours with Will at the iron works. He made several valuable suggestions, and his hard common sense and experience were of no little value to the architect.

"If I were not getting so far along in years, and mother was perfectly well and willing, I should like nothing better than to go with you this trip," said he to Dr. Jones. "But we will stay and keep house for you until your return."

"And that will be but a very few weeks, I am quite sure," answered the Doctor. "It is not likely that we shall be made prisoners three months this trip. And that reminds me that I received a letter from Count Icanovich this morning, Maggie, and it inclosed one from Feodora to you."