Chapter III: Vox Populi

“In my morning’s walk I culled a handful of flowers, some with
thorns, which I found made the smooth stalks easier to carry.”
(+Giranoli.+)

From time immemorial it has been the custom to celebrate every special occasion with a more or less gorgeous feast, at which, especially from the eighteenth to the twentieth century, men drank to intoxication, and not only those who had over-indulged but the majority of those who were sober, were not considered sociable or properly educated if they could not narrate coarse, trivial and lewd stories, and turn every innocent expression to obscenity during the whole course of the evening; but in these times, when everything is chemically made and repasts partaken of under hygienic conditions both as regards morals and intellect, the food is wholesome and sustaining, and the conversation, instead of leaving a sear on the minds of those obliged to sit and listen to it, is good and elevating, and leaves no objectionable taste and feeling. Thus, when Dennis, Gilbert and Ross followed the usual custom and celebrated the discovery by a banquet, at which all the subjects of the harmless joke in the shed were present, the gathering was a great success and those who sat down rose again afterwards with thoughts and lips as pure as before dining, and the event recalled nothing but pleasant and wholesome memories later.

In all the years of the world’s history human nature has on the whole gradually improved, but there are certain traits which are embedded in the hearts of men and do not reflect happily on an otherwise enlightened age. One of these quickly asserted itself. Directly it became known that the lost secrets of the _Regina_ had at last been found, many people belittled them, and though they knew how important was the discovery they held up the matter to the most unseemly ridicule. Even when faced with the question of the proof in the validity of history, they averred positively that gravity could not be overcome; that nothing could travel through limitless space and be under perfect human control, and because these cavillers had no part or share in the discovery, they sneeringly declared there was neither discovery nor honour in the resuscitation of the ship, and they had many followers, for people are like sheep and must be led; such as these cast slights and doubts on the honours and attainments of others as being beneath their notice till perchance similar honours come within their own reach, to be grasped with delight and paraded before all men as being exclusive, difficult of attainment, and having the hall-mark of high honour.

Thus it came about that sceptics innumerable rose up and discounted all proofs of the _Regina’s_ power. No proof could be sufficiently strong to convince them, short of making them a present of the vessel, for which they could not very well ask though they wanted it all the same; others also professed incredulity unless the whole of the secrets were laid bare before them, and when this proposal was treated with derision, they said the owners were afraid of the consequences, knowing the matter would not bear investigation.

In former times—particularly about the nineteenth and twentieth centuries—the British government dealt with matters so slowly that in many cases the need for action had passed long before the decision to act had been arrived at, and when this action was by time rendered unnecessary or perhaps impossible, further consideration was indulged in to countermand the previous decision, the pros and cons of which took up so much time that when the fiat had gone forth that no action was necessary, the time had then come round for a decisive move to be made. All this used to please the heads of the government in those days, for they gloried in what was then called ‘red tape,’ which was a term understood to mean refusing to grant what was needed when wanted, and compelling acceptance when neither wanted nor necessary. This was the essence of parliament in times past and business of world-wide importance would readily be put aside indefinitely, in order that some hundreds of members could debate at length on more urgent questions, such as “When expecting friends to tea on the Terrace, are members compelled to take a parliamentary bath first, and are towels a suitable costume in which to vote or entertain?”

Fortunately ‘red tape’ had rolled away with the old order of things; the government was now alive to the country’s interests, and the officials were almost always first in the field, often before the ordinary people had realised the necessity for action. This was proved by the hurried meeting that was called after the discomfited deputation had left Dennis, when one of the chief officials was deputed to go alone, on the assumption that one might find out more and be more confidentially treated than a deputation. Solomon Magson was therefore selected because he was one of the smartest of officials, though he suffered from _caput inflatum_, which is a disease especially prevalent amongst the young though it has been known to attack those of maturer age, as in this case.

Solomon at once called upon the friends at the shed and introduced himself, demanding full particulars or forbidding the use of the vessel. At this Dennis laughed derisively, saying, “My dear Solomon Magson, as you put it that way we can only point out to you that not all the opposition in the world could prevent it, as I will prove to you. Will you kindly take hold of this bar?” and he handed a bar of steel to his visitor and asked Gilbert to de-atomise it; instantly the bar dropped like a melting candle and became a pool of liquid steel. The visitor was visibly astonished, but remarked, loftily, “Ah, yes! gentlemen, but that is a trick; it is, of course, steel specially prepared for the experiment; it is very pretty!”

“No, it is the ordinary best steel, as you will find if you analyse it. Take a bottleful of it; you will notice it runs like quicksilver, but there is this difference, that neither by heat, cold, nor anything you can bring to bear on it will it alter and become solid again; till we give it the power of cohesion,” said Dennis, “it will remain fluid as water.”

“You _say_ so, but it is obvious I cannot test it here,” and he gave a superior smile.

“You are still unconvinced?” asked Ross.

“I have seen no substantial proof as yet,” he replied; “gravity is not affected.”

“Here is another bar,” said Dennis, “we will cut this in two and make one half light and the other heavy,” saying which the bar was broken and the roof being open, it was placed on end, instantly to shoot up like a rocket with a whizzing scream, to become white-hot and fall into dust; the other portion was placed on the same spot and the current reversed, when the bar sank into the earth like water and vanished. Again the supercilious official smiled and observed: “Very entertaining, very! I see you have plenty of pretty experiments for visitors.”

“Not convinced yet?” asked Dennis, brusquely.

“I fear not!” the visitor smiled.

“Just stand here, please, opposite the vessel,” said Dennis, drawing him from the end of the shed, at the same time giving a nod to Ross, who passed up the ladder and inside. “You shall have full proof,” he continued, as he walked away.

Instantly the visitor rose like a lark half-way up the shed, when several vessels passing in the air slowed up in curiosity, so Ross closed the roof and steel shutters and then sent the sceptical Magson up to the top, where he floated about gently, bobbing his head against the glass after the manner of a gas balloon.

“How dare you take such a liberty!” he cried, angrily.

“You asked for proof, and you’ve got it!” replied Ross, now on the outer deck, where Gilbert and Dennis joined him.

“I will have your vessel destroyed!” Magson shouted, shaking his fist towards them in a fury, which exertion brought his back up to the roof and he narrowly escaped turning upside down. With a struggle, he got the right way up again, and the effort to keep so absorbed most of his attention.

“You must see, Solomon Magson,” said Ross, “that if everything and every living soul approached the ship, one and all could be made so light as they came within its zone, that they would float off into space or, if we reversed the current, so heavy that they would be disintegrated or de-atomised into powder with the shock, and sink through the ground. We don’t do that to you as it would kill you, whereas we only wish to give you the positive proof you ask for, and if we made you lighter still and opened the roof, you would continue to rise until we had sent you out of the earth’s atmosphere, long before which you would be asphyxiated, as you are aware.”

“Let me down, instantly!” he bellowed.

“And as it is,” continued Ross, ignoring the interruption, “we have merely altered your specific gravity by scientific means and unless we restored it you would remain that distance from the ground all your life; even when you were dead and your body became less buoyant, you would have to be buried on the top of a monument, or it would be difficult to keep you down.”

“I insist on coming down!”

“You do not understand me. I was trying to prove that you cannot insist on anything.”

“But I will come down!”

“You still fail to grip the point of the argument,” said Ross, imperturbably; “you cannot insist, you have no will, you are powerless.”

For some minutes there was no sound save the slight tapping of Magson’s head against the roof, as he bobbed up and down and felt his way all round the shed, floating like a swan. Ross was quite unmoved, and his two friends were enjoying the situation too much to make any remark, and wondered what Ross would do next, for he was not the man to submit to insolence. However, after waiting a few minutes he descended the ladder and resumed his interrupted work, Dennis and Gilbert doing the same, all apparently unconscious of their floating audience of one, who was obtaining a splendid bird’s-eye view of everything.

“Please let me down!” at length came a submissive voice from above.

“That’s decidedly better!” commented Ross, stopping work and looking upward; “and you are quite convinced that the _Regina_ has some semblance of power, and that notwithstanding your dictum?”

“Perfectly!”

Ross did not reply, but went inside and a few moments later, Solomon Magson was standing beside them, a milder and wiser man, and by tacit consent the escapade was not alluded to, but a very different representative of the government was now present; the new Solomon Magson paid the three owners considerable deferential respect.

“What do you intend doing?” he began; “you surely will not let such a beautiful vessel be unused.”

“By no means,” replied Gilbert, “we have already arranged a voyage aloft.”

“You will give the results to science, of course?”

“That is our intention,” replied Gilbert.

“Have you decided on your destination?” asked Magson.

“We thought that after being unused for so long, it would be best to take only a short voyage this time,” replied Dennis, “so we have decided to go to Bona.”

“Would it be too much for me to ask permission to be one of the party?” inquired Magson, eagerly.

“I fear it would not be possible,” said Dennis. “We shall make a few trials in the earth’s atmosphere, but that will necessarily limit the speed, or we should suffer from the heat of friction, but in the journey beyond there might be danger. We cannot be sure that everything will be in working order for rapid transit outside the atmosphere, so we three are taking our lives in our hands and risking it, but we dare not endanger others.”

“I will gladly take my chance with you,” said the former sceptic, all his resentment gone and now as enthusiastic as they.

“We dare not,” answered Dennis.

“Three are few to negotiate a vessel of this size; I should be useful,” he persisted.

“I am very sorry, but it would not be possible,” replied Dennis.

Magson was deeply disappointed but accepted the decision and continued,—

“When you start you will make it known, I suppose, as many people will follow your course with glasses.”

“And many will say we have not been, but have merely hidden ourselves,” laughed Ross, scornfully, instantly regretting having put it that way, fearing Magson might perhaps take the remark as personal; but the latter responded, “No doubt of that. It would be better if you could state your course first and then by adhering to it, you would substantiate your statements.”

“We shall do that, certainly,” assented Dennis; and after a little more conversation Magson left, feeling that his visit had not been entirely unprofitable in that he had added to his circle of friends and also considerably reduced the swelling in his head.

The three friends discussed the projected journey at great length, referring to the papers in the _Regina’s_ safe in order to compare the arrangements made and the stores required on the previous expeditions, but these did not help them very materially, for since that time many of the things taken had become obsolete, and many improvements had been made for curtailing labour.

The engines having been built for petroleum would answer for the newer ‘breezol,’ which is made from waste products and has an enormous explosive force, with the advantage of being non-explosive and non-inflammable under the ordinary conditions of storage. The older compressed petroleum was taken away and cubes of ‘breezol’ substituted; these cubes were very small, each representing one gallon, which was equal to twelve or fourteen gallons of petroleum, and sufficient cubes were stored to give ten years’ continuous work on all the engines, even with extravagant use.

In the cuisine of the vessel several alterations had to be made, for cooking was now almost obsolete, so the ranges and other former appliances and fittings were taken out to adapt the galley to the present wants, the modern food requiring little or no preparation, being composed almost entirely of the chemical constituents necessary to maintain the body in full health and vigour. Few people, therefore, need the same kind of food, each person’s formula being in the hands of a medical man. The doctors are responsible to the public, each practitioner having a limited number of patients in a certain district, in which he must reside, each person paying him an annual fee regulated by statute. For this the doctor has to examine the person at fixed periods, and analyse his blood when necessary in order to supply the lacking chemicals to re-establish his health. Both doctor and patient have their obligations; if the patient becomes worse the case can, if desirable, be reported to a referee who, if he finds the illness is not running its course but has been aggravated by a wrong formula, gives the patient an order to deduct a certain amount from the doctor’s fee. On the other hand, if the patient is at fault, by neglecting his doctor’s orders, or by such actions on his part as tend to bring on avoidable illness, or reduce his mental or physical strength, or minimise his chances of recovery, or in any way make him an unhealthy citizen, he is fined and put upon a rigid course of living till he recovers, during which he has to pay his doctor an extra heavy fee. By these means doctors understand their patients, who work so well with them as a rule that serious illness is now unknown, for toxins are met with antitoxins, and chemistry has become such a fine art that at the first sign of failing health chemicals can be given to counteract the illness and restore the normal conditions, and doctors can cure almost everything short of actual dissolution.

These chemicals are given in the place of food, in the form of wafers or flexible capsules which are easily swallowed, or if actual meals are wanted, these are supplied chiefly in various kinds of chemical eggs, meat, fruit, vegetables, etc., all in air-tight capsules which are only broken just before use.

All goods formerly of linen, being now made of wood pulp, very soft yet exceedingly strong, and white, and capable of great compression, are burnt when soiled, and three or four changes of this highly antiseptic clothing can be carried in a small, thin, very light box in the vest pocket. Each member of the expedition, therefore, carried his own food, toilet and wardrobe about with him, all suited to his own particular taste and requirements. Consequently, after getting their formulæ corrected, our travellers-to-be laid in a store of such things as they needed, which left much unoccupied space in the vessel. They did not require a crew, as the vessel was now capable of being controlled by one person if necessary, and their united knowledge was such as to enable them to keep everything in excellent order with little expenditure of time and labour.

In this instance it was fortunate for science that none of the three was married, or unforeseen difficulties would have arisen, for it is doubtful if their wives would have consented to their hubbies jaunting off to other worlds, and it is equally doubtful if they would have accompanied their partners, in which case this story would never have been written. Women are not the meek, down-trodden creatures historians would have us believe they had been some decades back. Long ago they had risen as one woman in revolt at their so-called slavery and subjection to man. Demanding and obtaining an active part in the government of the country they had, to some extent, lost much of that womanliness and feminine lovableness which had formerly been considered amongst the chief attributes and attractions of the sex.

They had also so strongly resented the relinquishing of their own names for that of the men they married that few of them could be persuaded to marry at all. The men, however, insisted, and sought help from the state, and it was made an indictable offence for a woman to refuse to marry the man she loved if he offered her marriage. Even that did not answer, and the whole world was agitated; men became frantic whilst women stood by, pensive, longing, loving and lovable, but resolutely refusing to hear the voice of the charmer, charmed he never so wisely. Finally, the difficulty was to a certain extent overcome by the men owning that for the woman to sink her name in that of a husband on marriage really _did_ show a marked inferiority to him and was a gross libel on the universal belief that she was in every way the ‘better half.’ From this time matters improved, and on the passing of a special law entitling wives to retain their maiden names, a few of them here and there were induced to marry, mostly against their will, when a fresh difficulty arose which stopped all further marriages. The wives declared they were the better halves, and that married couples should be named “wife and husband”; their partners as firmly contending that as they were by nature constituted bread-winners the expression should be “husband and wife.”

It often happens that when disputants are right, yet both at opposites, and neither will give way, the only bridge is a compromise; so in this case the difficulty was bridged by the husband saying “husband and wife,” whilst the wife referred to a married couple as “wife and husband.”

This important matter settled, all went amicably, and the terms “Mrs.” and “Mr.” were dealt with in the same manner, though these have now fallen almost into disuse, whilst the mention of man—as a mere man—being the “lord and master of creation,” was attended with so much angry discussion as to have sunk into oblivion long ago. Formerly also, for ages, every newspaper and book was filled with stories of how poor, deluded, unwilling and powerless men were dragged by women to the altar, but for some time past the true statement of things has prevailed—as truth always will prevail eventually—and instead, it is painfully evident every day how deceitful men are, and how they get women so into their toils as to marry the men out of sheer goodness of heart, merely to put an end to their manly importunities.

As our three heroes were ignorant of the joys of running in double harness, they were reckless of their lives, no one would have them, so what happened affected no one; they did not shrink, therefore, from risking themselves in the _Regina_, which had already absorbed all their affections. So one night, without any public warning, they entered the shed, fastened the door and slid aside the roof; boarding the vessel, they made all secure, and amidst great excitement, the switch was moved and in uncanny obedience the vessel slowly rose.

Several airships had for some days been hovering over the shed in the hope of finding out how the vessel was manipulated, and now, as she rose silently and steadily like some majestic thing of life, these watching craft drew nearer, telepathing the news that the _Regina_ had at last risen as though from the dead. Quickly others approached, but nothing was to be seen on the outside save her well-known form, her silver-like plates glistening in the moonlight. Higher and higher she rose, the other vessels also rising till they reached their limit and the air became so rarefied that their vanes could no longer meet the proper resistance. Then a strange thing happened, about which all the people had heard and read, but which needed to be seen to be appreciated fully; the great ship remained quite stationary, uninfluenced by gravity. Then she came a little lower and stopped; then again lower, as the owners were testing her condition.

All the ships around were kept in position only by the full power of their motors, many slowly sinking, unable to sustain the high altitude; yet here was the _Regina_ actually repeating before their very eyes what had made her famous in history; actually playing with gravity, silent as a bird on its nest.

Throughout all creation there seems to be instilled a dread of that which is not understood; and this awful stillness in mid-air quickly spread a great fear and dread amongst the craft around, and the watchers became first nervous, then alarmed and finally in a panic, when their motors suddenly stopped and the ships slowly sank, gradually becoming heavier till they nearly reached the earth, when each occupant received this message, telepathed from the _Regina_: “We are proving to you that the _Regina_ can overcome gravity, and we could force you disintegrated through the earth to your destruction. In one minute from now, your weight will be made normal, so prepare your vanes and motors for the plane you are now in, lest your machinery break and you shoot upward to the plane you left on the release of pressure.”

True to promise the ships found themselves released, and most of them sailed away to what they considered a safe distance, but they were brought back by the _Regina_, then let go again, as her repulsive forces were reversed and became attractive.

Then the _Regina_ put on her whole six search-lights, almost blinding every one by the sudden glare, and soared upwards, shedding long trails of light like a meteor; smaller and smaller she grew, then vanished. Then again the light was seen in the distance and then darkness; and again the vessel was seen travelling outside the earth’s atmosphere like a falling star and was gone; round she came again and then encircled the earth within the atmosphere, then traversed the length and breadth of England, finally hovering over Derwent for a few moments, lighting up the whole city with a blinding glare, and, with her lights still on, she slowly settled into her shed. For a few minutes the brilliant lights shot upward for miles into the sky through the top of the building, when the roof slid over and all was hidden from view.

Ten minutes later the three occupants came out of the shed to be received by crowds of curious folk who, late as it was, had been drawn to the spot and who asked all manner of questions, and as they looked upward they saw fast-racing airships gathering from all quarters of the sky, their lights forming a miniature milky-way.

This flight had been anticipated by the government, who had whetted everybody’s curiosity, for with commendable business despatch, the instant the news of the discovery became known, the whole history of the _Regina_ was set up in type and printed in pamphlet form, the brochures being on sale within twenty-four hours, and enormous quantities were disposed of by the government booksellers, the later ones containing Solomon Magson’s official report, which was so eulogistic that people purchased fresh copies and the printers could scarcely keep up with the demand.

Even before the flight, almost every child in the street knew the story, yet to find the vessel had actually departed and was already in space, kept people up to watch and roused those already sleeping to excited wakefulness, for every one wanted to see the actual exploiting of the wonder of ages.

Almost overcome by their experiences, the three men of the hour made their way with difficulty through the throng to their home, giving instructions that none were to be admitted, for though no one could enter the grounds by the gates, many airships had deposited their occupants inside and all wanted to have a few words, but once in the shelter of the house, the three were safe from the crowd of inquirers.

“My dear friends,” exclaimed Dennis, with much feeling, “what a lucky day it was when we entered on this business!” and he could say no more.

“What an awful power there is in that ship! It is overwhelming to think of!” said Gilbert, fervently. “And how awe-inspiring to travel outside this blessed earth and air, where angels are supposed to dwell. Oh! Dennis, it is good to live and I thank you from my very soul!”

“And I, too, Dennis!” concurred Ross. “I thought I should have died with awe or fear or joy—I don’t know which it was—to see our own old earth revolving, and the atmosphere throbbing and moving like a sea. I can never be sufficiently thankful!”

“Nor I!” agreed Dennis. “It has been the dream of my life! and to think that generations should have been passed over and that _I_ should be the one to see the long-lost secrets laid bare. We have a good deal to be thankful for, our present sanity even, and we ought to thank Him who made us and all creation, for giving us the privilege of seeing outside this wonderful world and bringing us home again in safety with our reason unimpaired, for this last is perhaps the greatest blessing of all!”

“I feel as if I had been dreaming!” exclaimed Ross; “it is difficult to realise that the _Regina_ has really taken us so far; it is not yet morning. How beautifully she acts! a child could work her, once the force and switches are understood, thanks to your revered ancestor—may his bones rest in peace—for writing all down so clearly.”

“Yes,” agreed Gilbert, “now we have got it at our fingers’ ends we can keep the description in the safe where it was, for we could manipulate her blindfold. It was a capital idea of yours, Dennis, for us to take turns at everything, because we are able to fit in anywhere in an emergency and relieve each other.”

“It is much the best, I think,” assented Dennis, “for as our interests are now one, we are bound, in justice to ourselves and each other, and in view of our united safety, to be able each to manage the whole business right through.”

“We must have gone through the atmosphere at a great speed,” said Gilbert. “I tested the casing and it was not even warmed, so we are fairly heat-proof. We will have the ship stored with food for a long time and then sail off to Bona. Shall we risk ourselves straight there, or have a few shorter flights first in order to get our heads a little?”

“I should say, go straight away,” said Ross, eagerly. “I think we can work her in perfect safety and she is as good and manageable a ship as could be.”

“I think so, too,” agreed Dennis, “and we are all almost childishly anxious to go off again.”

“I am, anyway!” said Ross, laughing, “so we’ll turn in and sleep the sleep of the just, if not too tired and excited, and begin preparation to-morrow.”

With that they all retired to rest; but the experiences of the evening had been too sensational for quiet slumber, and the following morning each had to confess to having had but fitful sleep.

The arrangements went on apace, and a few days later, the stores being packed safely, all was ready for the flight to beautiful and beneficent Bona.

“I think it would be a good plan to use ether-wave every day, say at six o’clock p.m., and let all our messages be sent to every wave-apparatus on the whole earth,” said Dennis, when discussing final arrangements.

“But we shall have them all sending to us, and that would be a nuisance,” objected Ross.

“That won’t do!” replied Dennis. “We can have a set earth-time for general news, and the instruments so arranged that only Greenwich and the chief government newspaper can communicate with the ship, between which and these two points there should be facilities for news at any time if necessary. The _Times_ would therefore be able to publish such of the special information as they and Greenwich might consider of interest to the general public.”

This being arranged, a special photograph was taken of Bona in order that the adventurers could decide as to which portion of the planet they should alight upon, so that their progress could be watched from earth. After much consideration it was decided to aim straight for the valley called the “Kidney,” because of its shape. This was unmistakable, and according to careful calculation, the airship should be visible in London till some time after they had landed on Bona, for they would go straight, uninfluenced by the earth’s rotation, and thus, providing glasses could distinguish what would in comparison be a speck on Bona’s disc, her flight and settling might be seen by almost every one in England.

It was decided that plenty of notice should be given, so that those who wished to note the flight should have opportunity for preparation, and the 13th of June, fourteen days later, was fixed for the journey, particulars being at once sent all over the world by the ship’s wave-apparatus, the code used being that issued by the government for universal use.

By the 10th of June, air-craft began to assemble from all parts, and large as Derwent was, the whole resources of the city were taxed to the utmost to provide for the visitors.

Most of the modern ships are, of course, adapted for remaining in the air at various altitudes if anchored, their vanes revolving at sufficient speed to keep them fairly stationary. The anchors are of various forms, the more usual being attached to a flexible steel cord, giving a fine line of enormous strength; the anchors being small tubes which give out their air on contact, thus instantly creating a perfect vacuum; atmospheric pressure on the outside of the tube and an automatic grip inside, pin the tube with very great force to the ground or any other object on which it falls, more than sufficient to restrain any airship from straying; a light current transmitted on the wire moves a slide, allows air to enter the tube, and instantly the whole is released without injury to the object on which it has been allowed to fall.

On the 12th of June, so many ships had arrived in Derwent that the business of the city was seriously incommoded; there was scarcely a free stratum of sky-space left for traffic, the sky was so wedged with ships of all forms and sizes that the city beneath was completely darkened, and scores of anchor-lines were constantly snapping by the moving ships below cutting them, and there was heard on all sides the twang of breaking wires, some emitting deep, sonorous tones, whilst others gave out a shrill scream. Often would come fresh arrivals on one of the higher planes, and on all sides the little suction-tubes were sinking, to be pushed aside by the vigilant owners of other ships, when they would sink still lower, perhaps to settle on another vessel, when the tube would be immovable. If not noticed in time and the line cut, a second later it would be drawn taut and the double strain would snap the line of the lower ship, when both vessels would be set adrift. It was important that some one should be momentarily alert, for tubes were constantly descending and tubeless lines hauled up to be refitted, any one of which might injure another craft.

Below the effect was even worse, for the taut wires rose from the ground every few feet, and in the vicinity of the shed passage between them was impossible. Hundreds of the aëronauts descended to sleep in the houses in Derwent and found it impossible to return to their ships, then too closely packed to descend, and hundreds wished to come down but were unable to do so and had perforce to stay aloft.

On the morning of the 13th, all traffic in Derwent was stopped, the lines forming such a network in the streets that passage between them was actually dangerous, for many of the owners, in order to protect themselves and their craft from being cast adrift, or providing anchorage for some other vessel, had placed their lines and steel decks in electric circuit of sufficient strength to fuse any other line or tube touching them; and if any person below touched such a line, certain electrocution followed, and their removal from it was equally dangerous to those who went to their assistance, so the authorities ‘waved’ to the shed, asking for the _Regina_ to be cast off, the three friends having taken the precaution of removing there a few days before, which was a piece of admirable forethought, or the _Regina_ could not have sailed to time, for all approach to the shed had by then been cut off for twelve hours or more.

It was just before dawn on the 13th, when the message arrived and a few minutes later the first ‘wave’ was emitted from the _Regina_, telling all the people that the ship would sail five minutes later. Instantly all anchors were released and there commenced such a crush in the air as had never been seen before and, for humanitarian reasons, it is to be hoped will never be seen again. All rules of right of way, passing, and air-plane laws went by the board; some powerfully electrified vessels fused all others that touched them, throwing the weaker vessels out of action and precipitating them on the vessels below, which in turn were rendered impotent by the crushing weight and broken gearing, or by being thrown in sudden contact with others by the shock. Fortunately only two lives were lost in this dreadful crush, but the damage was terrible; all but the most powerfully electrified vessels were scraped clean and smooth as unpainted ships.

In four minutes came a message to clear all space above the shed; but so tight was the pack that none could get away laterally, and many of the ships over the shed were already at the highest altitudes to which their engines had power to lift them, so that they were unable to go over the others, and the lower ones, though capable of doing so were equally unable to pass above those wedged higher; but they were soon to see a demonstration of the _Regina’s_ power which made the aërial navigators blanch with fear, seasoned to danger as they were.

Punctually to time the roof of the shed slid back, and in the dim twilight there streamed aloft a blinding light.

In these days of high-voltage electricity, brilliant lights are common enough, but no one in that vast throng had ever seen so powerful a glare as that which belched upwards from the shed. It lit up the keels of the lower vessels, sending their shadows, black as pitch, for miles into the sky, as it penetrated the higher planes where an opening permitted, blinding everybody with its awful glare. Nothing could be seen as yet of the source of light, which was below, and this gave the shed the semblance of being the opening to the bottomless pit, or as if a damper had been drawn from the flue of some awful subterranean furnace.

For a great height above the shed there lay a solid mass of airships in a closely wedged belt. Over this living, throbbing pack, spotted with innumerable lights like diamonds, the stars were paling for the dawn and a faint streak of light showed itself on the eastern horizon. Below the stratum of ships lay the country, fields and trees made blacker by the throng of vessels above. Blackest of all was the enormous shed, the steel-covered walls of which rose up sheer and menacing to a great height, but now this dark and forbidding-looking building was rendered doubly black by the awful glare pouring out of its roof.

The message to clear the way not being complied with, the people held their breath and clutched tightly at one another, or the first thing which gave them substantial grip, for all the ships’ motors stopped as though magnetised, whilst the vessels remained perfectly poised and steady, in their exact positions of the moment. Scarcely had this been realised when it was seen that all the ships over the shed were rising bodily, without their relative positions changing by so much as a hair’s-breadth; becoming lighter and still lighter they rose still higher as from a well, leaving all those outside them in a solid wall like a shaft.

Several tried to sail out and rise in the shaft to a higher plane, but their ships were still immovable, their engines and motors unable to make a single revolution. Those who were sufficiently near to look up the shaft could see the vessels rise and then float aside over those of the highest plane, leaving the shaft clear to the sky.

The fact that the _Regina_ had not yet appeared made this demonstration of her power all the more eerie, for all felt that some awful influence, more mysterious because unseen, was using the natural force of gravity with wonderful and irresistible strength in some simple yet secret manner, and the steady and certain way in which the forces of nature were used made thousands of the watchers nearly frantic to find out by what means it was done.

The course clear, very slowly the glittering vessel rose above the roof of the shed, as steadily as if on wires, and when just above the building, the roof slid back automatically; up the shaft of ships the _Regina_ rose, sending out a light so blinding that all the people were dazzled by it, yet they could see that she had no machinery outside, and save for a dome and an outer deck round it, her sides were smooth and free from anything which could hinder her swift passage through the air.

Not a sound was heard from the vessel, not a tremor disturbed her poise, as she rose gently and regally like the Queen she was. When at the top of the shaft she paused, and in forced obedience to her silent will, the vessels that had previously occupied the shaft re-entered it and took up their former position exactly, their previous gravity being restored. The instant the last vessel had floated into place, all the ships were relieved of that mysterious tension that had stopped all movement, and there was heard the din of the screams of hundreds of motors, as the vessels started from where their movements had been arrested. As those on the upper planes rose and separated to follow the _Regina_ the lower ones were set free, and sailed out of the dangerous crush. A few minutes later the _Regina_ was surrounded by scores of inspecting ships, and as her lights were now out, her beautiful lines were the admiration of all. Still she stood, motionless as a dead body, so still and stately, with not a throb or tremor on her gigantic form, that the people became awed by the uncanny silence and the strange, mysterious power of gravity-control which she used so perfectly.

So she stood, silent and dignified, her sides dazzlingly white in the paling twilight. Suddenly, the sun, which had not yet risen to those on the ground below, came into view at that high altitude, and a ray of sunlight caught the _Regina’s_ dome, and that same instant, as though it were the good-bye kiss from earth she had been waiting for, and was now satisfied, she rose; so slowly that she had gone above them before those around noticed it. Higher and higher she went, the ships gradually falling back as their utmost altitudes were reached, till at last only one remained and watched the _Regina_ mount higher and still higher till she became a mere speck, then was lost to view in the rapidly brightening sky, and the solitary attendant commenced its descent. At that moment a sheet of paper fluttered down from the _Regina_ close to the ship and there remained perfectly still, gently floating on the air as on water. Securing it they read,—“Good-bye! good luck. Keep an eye on us if possible. This is a souvenir of the _Regina_; may you be able to keep it!”

Of course they could keep it! what an absurd thing to write about! and it was handed round as they descended, but just as the owner was passing it to his wife it slipped out of his hand and went fluttering upwards, then suddenly stopped and remained floating, as before. Elevating the vessel again they took it in and descended, and again it floated back the instant the close grip on it was relaxed. Again they secured it and this time took it into the cabin to examine more closely, but it flew up to the ceiling and getting in the current of air there, was wafted out of the window and they saw it float up to its former position. This was most annoying, and the owner was not going to trouble further when his wife, recalling the chief secret of the _Regina_, suggested that the gravity of the paper had been altered to coincide with the particular pressure of the atmosphere at which it was found. This being the case, and his being the highest ship afloat, it was no longer a mere slip of paper, but a precious souvenir. He therefore rose, and just when he could rise no more he saw the paper a few yards away, floating as before. This time he placed it under glass, which he screwed to his table and, descending, proudly exhibited it to his friends.

In the meantime, the _Regina_, once away from her audience, increased speed rapidly, and in a few minutes was outside the earth’s atmosphere, when she shot forward straight at Bona, watched by thousands of eyes; and through the most powerful telescopes she was seen to settle down as a tiny spot of light, like a mote in sunbeam, in the very centre of the still-luminous Bona, in the ‘heart’ of the “Kidney.”