The Motor Boys in the Clouds; or, A Trip for Fame and Fortune

by Clarence Young

  CHAPTER VII

  IN GREAT PERIL

  The carnival was now in full swing, though not all the exhibits andflying machines had arrived. There was plenty to attract attentionbeside the airships, for there were several amusement enterprises onthe grounds, and the usual devices to catch the dimes and nickels ofthe throng.

  "Well, let's take a look around. I guess we saw all we wanted to ofNoddy," said Bob. "Are there any more queer machines?"

  "Plenty of them," replied Jerry, "to judge by the tents where they arecharging admission."

  "Let's take 'em in," suggested Ned. "We want to get all the ideas wecan."

  "Why?" inquired Andy Rush. "Are you going to build one?"

  "Maybe--some day," replied Ned.

  "So you're getting the fever too, eh?" asked Jerry with a smile."Well, it's not a bad idea. I want to see the aeroplane trials. I'minterested in them."

  "They'll come off at ten o'clock," said Bob, looking at a program hehad purchased. "We've got an hour yet, and likely more, for they'llnever start on time."

  "Then let's look at some more of the freaks," suggested Jerry.

  They found several odd machines housed in tents, or hastily constructedbuildings, where from ten cents to a quarter was charged for viewingthe product of some inventive brain.

  One machine was merely a double bicycle, with a sort of roof overheadmade of canvas, and a motor attached, which revolved a two-bladedpropeller in front. Another was a sort of aeroplane affair, with twopropellers in the rear, and still another was the one modeled after aflying grasshopper, shown by Morris Abernot.

  The boys noticed that, as a general thing, the propeller or propellersof all the machines were mounted in front, to pull the ships throughthe air, instead of acting on a boat principle, and pushing them. But,even with all the power that large motors could impart to the blades,it was difficult to see how some of the machines could rise from theearth, so heavy were they.

  The boys concluded, and they were not far wrong, that the machines weremerely the output of some freakish brain, that was rather warped on theside of air navigation. Some of the affairs had one or more correctprinciples, but as for ever being practical they were so far from it asto be laughable.

  Nor did the crowd hesitate to laugh whenever it saw anything thatseemed grotesque, for some of the affairs were weird in the extreme.There were machines built on the models of birds, fishes and insects,which the inventors had doubtless studied with a firm belief that theycould successfully imitate nature.

  Probably some of the inventors knew their machines would never leavethe earth, but, having gone to the expense of making them, they wantedto get a little money back by charging for a sight of them. And, verylikely, the management of the carnival knew that the machines wouldnot work, but probably reasoned that the crowd would like to look atthem and derive some fun from the crude attempts to navigate the upperregions.

  Certainly Noddy's efforts furnished considerable amusement, and not alittle excitement.

  It was about ten o'clock when, having made the rounds of the "freaks,"as they called them, the boys strolled toward the section devoted tothe aeroplanes. Not all of these machines had arrived yet, but severalwere on hand, and it was announced that at least one inventor wouldgive his a trial, preparatory to the races the next day, when therewere to be competitions for prizes.

  "Let's get good places to see," proposed Bob.

  "The starting platform would be the best place," said Jerry. "We canget up there for a quarter each, and we'll have a good view of how theystart and manage the planes."

  As is well known, aeroplanes need a sort of flying start in order tobecome effective. They must get some distance up into the air, like akite, before they can sustain themselves.

  Some machines accomplish this by gliding forward on wheels until theyhave enough momentum to shoot upward on a plane of air, which catchesunder the big wings, while others are launched from a high platformor framework by means of men pulling on a long rope, or by weights,springs or similar devices.

  At this carnival a high platform had been erected, from which theaeroplanes could shoot off, and once they were started the motoroperating the propellers was depended on to keep them in motion, and soup in the air.

  The platform was made quite large, to accommodate a crowd, and thitherthe boys went, getting good places, as they were among the first comers.

  "Say, we'll get a fine view from up here," declared Bob as he gazedabout.

  "That's right--see everything--watch the human birds skim about--swoopthis way and that--over our heads--up to the clouds--out of sight--downagain----"

  "That'll do, Andy," spoke Jerry. "Save your wind; you'll need it later."

  There were to have been tests of two aeroplanes, but at the lastminute one inventor sent word that his motor was out of order, and hewould have to postpone his trial until the afternoon. There was somedisappointment and murmuring by the crowd, but when the canvas front ofa shed near the platform opened and a curious machine was wheeled intoview, there were exclamations of satisfaction.

  "They're going to have some sort of a test, anyhow," remarked Bob.

  The aeroplane which was being wheeled toward the platform was likemany others which you boys have either seen in pictures or actuallyobserved. It consisted of a structure like an immense box-kite, canvasbeing stretched over a bamboo frame. In front of the main part was asmaller box-kite arrangement, that could be tilted, so as to cause theplane to shoot upward or downward. In the rear was a triangular rudder,and in front, below the device which governed the elevation, were twowooden propellers, worked by a small gasolene motor amidships. Therewas a sort of box in which the operator could sit.

  "This machine," announced the chairman of the arrangement committee,"is the invention of Professor Dundlass----"

  "Seems to me everybody around here is a professor," murmured Ned."We'll have to tack some titles to our names, Professor Hopkins."

  "Listen to what he says," counseled Jerry.

  "He has made successful flights with it," went on the chairman, "and hewill now attempt another. He asks your indulgence, as in a test lastweek he strained some of the guy wires and bent the rudder, but he willdo the best he can. Later he will enter a race."

  "Seems as though there was always some excuse for these airship men,"murmured Ned. "I guess each wants to have something ready to spring onthe crowd in case his machine doesn't work."

  But the boys were now too interested in what was going on to indulge inmuch talk. They watched the inventor and his men wheel the aeroplaneto the foot of the platform, and then, by means of ropes and pulleys,it was hoisted up to where there was a sort of inclined track, whenceit could glide off.

  The machine looked as if it would work. Certainly if a big box-kitecan not only sustain itself in the air but also support heavy flags,banners and even dummy figures, as is often done, a machine built onthe same principle, only much larger, ought to hold up a man and asmall engine.

  "This is more like it," said Jerry when Professor Dundlass wasadjusting his motor. "It's a wonder Noddy didn't try something likethis."

  "Oh, he wanted to be different," observed Bob.

  "Well, he was," commented Ned dryly.

  The aeroplane was now resting on its runners upon the inclined track,which had been made very slippery with soap and grease, as are the wayswhen a ship is launched. Several men were detailed to give it a pushwhen the inventor was ready to glide off.

  But Professor Dundlass seemed in no hurry. He moved slowly about,looking at wires here, braces there, testing his propellers with hishand, looking at the rudder and putting some more oil on the motor.

  "Oh, move the boat!" cried an impatient one.

  "I go pretty soon quick now," replied the inventor, speaking with aGerman accent. "But first I must be sure I am all rights. It iss nojokes to fall down from der clouds."

  "That's right," agreed the throng in a chorus, and thereafter no oneurged him to hurry.

  The
re was a big crowd down on the ground around the platform, and asmany on that elevated place as could get upon it and still leave roomfor the aeroplane. The structure was about sixty feet high.

  At last the professor announced that all was in readiness. There wasnot a little nervous feeling among those in the throng, for though somehad seen balloon ascensions, this was different--to see a man trusthimself to a machine that was much heavier than air.

  "Now, you had betterness stant from under ven I start," called theinventor to those directly in front of the platform. "If I falls on youI might hurt some of you."

  He seemed very cool, in spite of what was evidently a dangerousundertaking that was before him. There were some final instructions tothe men who were to shove the plane off, and then the inventor, takinghis seat in the little box-like car, told one of his assistants tostart the motor. The long-bladed propellers began to whirl around sorapidly that they looked like a yellow haze of light, and the motor,from not being muffled, as that would have made it too heavy, made aterrific racket.

  "Shove!" cried the professor suddenly, as he yanked on a lever, and theten men behind the machine gave a vigorous push.

  With a graceful motion, like some great, white-winged bird sailing on aflight from the sky, the aeroplane swooped from the platform. There wasa yell from the crowd, and those who, in their enthusiasm, had gatheredbeneath where it now was hovering over their heads, scrambled to getout of the way, fearing it was falling down on them.

  But with a wide sweep, the plane began to ascend. The air caught underthe forward box-kite arrangement, and the airship slid upward in along, graceful curve.

  "He's going up! He's going up!" cried Jerry in his enthusiasm. "Thisone works all right!"

  "He's higher than the platform now!" added Ned, and this was so,for the man in the aeroplane was now about seventy feet above theearth. The speed of the motor increased, to judge by the more rapidlyrecurring explosions, and then, with a shift of the rudder, theinventor changed the course of his machine.

  He was now gliding broadside to the platform, and those upon it had anexcellent view. There was a great cheer to gladden the heart of theprofessor.

  Once more he shifted his course and made a complete circle. Then heturned and sailed off, directly away from the platform. When severalhundred yards off he turned again, and came straight for it.

  "He has it under good control," remarked Ned. He had spoken quietly,but so great was the silence maintained by those watching the airshipin flight that his voice almost startled him.

  "He's going to make a landing," observed Jerry. "He's coming right forthe platform. I wonder if he can come down safely. I should think he'drather land on the ground."

  They could see the inventor busy with various wheels and levers. Thedevice for changing the elevation of the plane was lowered. On and oncame the big affair, right for the platform.

  Suddenly there came a powerful gust of wind, which was most unexpected,as there had not been so much of a breeze before that. Those watchingthe aeroplane saw it tilt to one side.

  "It's going to turn over!" cried several.

  Indeed, it did seem so, for it was gliding along at an angle offorty-five degrees. The inventor appeared to be in trouble, and was nowclinging with both hands to the sides of his little car.

  There came a stronger puff of wind. The aeroplane dived downward andthen sailed upward, as does a kite when the tail is not properlyadjusted. Then, with a swoop like some gigantic eagle, hurling itselfupon its prey, the aeroplane dashed right toward the platform, whichwas now thronged with people. The inventor had lost control of it inthe powerful wind that was now blowing.

  "Look out! Here she comes!" was the general cry.

  There was a scramble on the part of the throng to get to a place ofsafety, but there was no place to go. The narrow flight of steps, morelike a ladder than anything else, leading from the ground to the top ofthe platform, was jammed by those seeking to escape.

  "It's going to land right here where we are!" cried Andy Rush. "Let'sjump off!"

  "Stand still!" shouted Jerry. "If you jump you'll be killed. Standstill! He may get control of it again."

  But it did not seem possible, though the inventor was workingfrantically to change the course of his plane, which was now almostupon the platform, over which it appeared likely to sweep, and only afew feet above it.

  In another moment it seemed as if scores of people would be eitherswept off the high place and dashed to the ground, sixty feet below, orwould be hit by the aeroplane. The motor boys and those about them werein great peril.