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With Airship and Submarine: A Tale of Adventure

by Harry Collingwood · English · Gutenberg #25816 · 603,440 chars · public domain (US)

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Title: With Airship and Submarine: A Tale of Adventure

Author: Harry Collingwood

Illustrator: E. S. Hodgson


        
Release date: June 17, 2008 [eBook #25816]

Language: English

Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25816

Credits: Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England


*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WITH AIRSHIP AND SUBMARINE: A TALE OF ADVENTURE ***




Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England




With Airship and Submarine, by Harry Collingwood.

________________________________________________________________________
This is the second book about the strange vessel, the "Flying Fish",
that can travel on the surface of the waters, or below them, and that
can rise in the air to a great height, and travel to great distances.
All this is achieved by the fact that the vessel is made of the novel
metal aethereum, which is lighter than air, and that the power is
produced by another novel source.  These two books place Collingwood
among the very first authors to explore the science-fiction genre,
which makes this book very important in the history of literature.

The other book about this vessel, "The Log of the Flying Fish", has
several characters in common with this one, and some of their deeds, in
particular the relations with various African chieftains, are
continuations of the same adventures.  However there are plenty of new
episodes in this book.

The book dates from slightly after the Victorian era, though many of the
episodes have a strongly Victorian flavour.  Makes a brilliant
audiobook, great fun to listen to.

________________________________________________________________________
WITH AIRSHIP AND SUBMARINE, BY HARRY COLLINGWOOD.



CHAPTER ONE.

A LUCKY MEETING.

It was late afternoon, on a certain grey and dismal day, toward the
latter part of February, that two men happened to encounter each other,
after a long interval, upon the steps of the Migrants' Club.

The one--a tall, well-built, and exceedingly handsome man, with blond
curly hair, and beard and moustache to match--was entering the building;
while the other--a much shorter and stouter figure, with a cast of
features which rendered his German origin unmistakable--was standing
upon the top step, puffing at a cigar, as he leisurely drew on his
gloves preparatory to his emergence upon the street.

As the two men glanced at each other the light of mutual recognition
leaped into their eyes, and in a moment the right hand of each was
locked in the cordial grip of the other.

"Ach, mine vriendt," exclaimed the shorter of the two, as he beamed up
at the other through his gold-rimmed spectacles, "how are you? and how
is her ladyship?  Both quite well, I hope!"

"Thanks, Professor, yes; we are both as hale and hearty as we can
possibly wish.  But I am sorry to say that my little daughter--by the
way, are you aware that I have a daughter?"

"Ach, yes; I heard of it; zomebody toldt me of it, but I vorget who it
vas, now.  Led me gongradulade you upon the zirgumstance, if it be nod
doo lade."

"Thanks very much, Professor; congratulations upon such an event are
never too late, especially when they are sincere, as I know yours to be.
But condolence is more appropriate than congratulation just now, for I
am sorry to say that the poor child is far from well; indeed, Lady
Olivia and I are exceedingly anxious about her; so much so that we have
brought her up to town to secure the opinion of a medical specialist
upon her case, and he advises complete change of air and scene for her.
And that is what brings me to the Migrants' to-day, where, by the
greatest piece of good luck, I have found the very man--yourself,
Professor--that I was most anxious to find."

"Good!" exclaimed the professor; "you wanted to vind me, and here I am,
quide at your service, my dear Sir Reginald.  Whad gan I do vor you?"

"A very great deal, if you will," answered the baronet,--"or rather, if
you have nothing particular on your hands just now, I ought to say; for
I feel sure that, if you are not otherwise engaged, I may depend upon
your falling in with my scheme, now that I have happily found you."

"Of gourse," replied the professor.  "That goes midoudt zaying.  Well, I
am not engaged at bresend upon anydings bardigular, excepd the
elaboration of a rather Utopian scheme for the benefit of mangind
generally, and esbecially those unfordunate beobles who, in gonsequence
of the over-bobulation of the gread zentres of indusdry, vind themselves
unable to brogure embloymend and earn a living.  Bud this scheme is only
in my brain as yed,"--energetically pointing to his expansive forehead
as he spoke--"and gan be worked oudt anywhere widoud obstruction to
other projecds; so, my dear Sir Reginald, if you require my aid in any
way you may gommand me.  Berhaps we may be able to help each other."

"You are, of course, more than welcome to any aid that I can afford
you," answered the "handsome baronet," as Sir Reginald Elphinstone's
friends sometimes called him--behind his back, of course.  "But where
are you going?" he continued.  "Anywhere in particular?  If so, I will
walk a little way with you.  Or, if you are not bound upon the
fulfilment of any engagement, let us go up into the smoking-room and
have a chat there."

"I am not boundt anywhere in bardigular, and the smoking-room is quide
empty, so led us go there, by all means," exclaimed the professor, as he
linked his arm in that of his companion; and together the strongly
contrasted pair wended their way through the handsome entrance-hall of
the building and up the spacious marble staircase to the cosiest
smoking-room in all London.

The taller and more striking-looking of the two was Sir Reginald
Elphinstone, a baronet, and an immensely wealthy man, with a magnificent
estate in the heart of the most picturesque part of Devonshire, a lovely
wife, and a most charming, lovable little daughter, now just five years
old.  The baronet himself had barely passed his fortieth year, and was a
superb specimen of English manhood, standing full six feet two in his
stockings, with a fine athletic figure, blue eyes that ordinarily beamed
with kindliness and good-humour, but which could, upon occasion, flash
withering scorn or scathing anger upon an offender, and curly golden
hair, with beard and moustache to match, that made him look like a
viking got up in the style of a twentieth-century English gentleman.

His companion, much shorter and stouter of figure, was Professor
Heinrich von Schalckenberg, a German by birth, but a cosmopolitan by
nature and by virtue of his own restless disposition, which would never
permit him to settle down for very long in any one place, however
attractive.  He was a perfect marvel in the matter of learning, a most
accomplished linguist, and an indefatigable delver in the lesser-known
fields of science, wherein he was credited with having made discoveries
of vast importance and value.  If such was the case he was in no hurry
to make his discoveries public property, chiefly, perhaps, because--as
some of his more intimate friends suggested--they were of such a nature
as rendered them capable of disastrous misuse in the hands of the
evil-disposed, especially those enemies of society and the human race,
the Anarchists.  Be that as it may, it was undoubtedly the fact that he
had discovered two hitherto unknown substances, the properties of which
would render them of priceless value whenever he should see fit to make
them known: the one being an unoxidisable metal of extraordinary
strength and tenacity, yet of so little weight that it was the lightest
known solid, to which he had given the name of _aethereum_; while the
other was a new power, derivable from certain chemically prepared
crystals which, treated in one way, yielded electricity in enormous
volumes, while, powdered and treated with a certain acid, they evolved
an expansive gas of stupendous potency, capable of being advantageously
used in place of any of the known explosives, or of steam.  And it was
known to a few of the more intimate friends of the professor and of Sir
Reginald, that the former had designed and constructed of his wonderful
metal a marvellous ship, appropriately named the _Flying Fish_, capable
not only of navigating the surface of the ocean, but also of diving to
its extremest depth, and--more wonderful still--of soaring to hitherto
unapproachable altitudes of the earth's atmosphere.  And it was further
known that in this extraordinary ship--constructed for and at the
expense of Sir Reginald Elphinstone--the baronet, the professor, and two
other daring spirits had already accomplished two voyages; on the first
of which they had actually succeeded in penetrating to the North Pole;
while, on the second, they had visited a hitherto unexplored region of
the great African continent, discovering the site and ruins of ancient
Ophir; and, of course, in both cases meeting with many astounding
adventures.

Such were the two men who unexpectedly met on the steps of the Migrants'
Club, and, after an interchange of greetings, made their way together to
the smoking-room of that rather exclusive institution, whither the
reader is now invited to follow them.

As we enter the apartment, unobserved, we note, with some astonishment,
that it is evidently one of the largest rooms in the building; the
reason being that the Migrants are, almost to a man, ardent devotees of
the goddess Nicotina; and as it seemed probable that the smoking-room
would be the most-used room in the building, they very wisely determined
that it should also be one of the largest.  Another peculiarity which we
notice is that, with the exception of the space over the massive and
elaborately carved black marble mantelpiece--which is occupied by an
enormous mirror--the walls are almost entirely covered with pictures in
oils, water-colours, crayons, photography, ay, and even in pencil; most
of them bearing evidence in their execution that they are the
productions of amateurs, although here and there the eye detects work
strong enough to suggest the hand and eye of the veteran professional
painter.  But, although so much of the work is amateurish, it is
nevertheless thoroughly good, no picture being permitted to be hung upon
the walls until it has been subjected to the scrutiny, and received the
approval, of a Hanging Committee of artistic members.  Looking more
closely at these pictures, we note that--with the exception of the
photographs, which mostly portray scenery of an exceptionally grand or
otherwise remarkable character--they all illustrate some singular
incident or adventure.  Here, for example, is a water-colour sketch of a
rent and collapsed balloon falling to the earth from a height that must
be appalling, if we are to accept as faithfully represented the neutral
tones and dwarfed dimensions of the several features of the landscape
that occupies the lower half of the picture.  And next it we observe a
very powerfully executed oil painting representing a schooner-yacht,
with topmasts struck and all other top-hamper down on deck, hove-to
under close-reefed storm-trysail and spitfire jib, in close proximity to
an evidently disabled and sinking ocean steamer, over whose more than
half-submerged hull the mountain seas are breaking with terrific
violence, sweeping away boats, hencoops, deck-fittings, bulwarks, and
even some of the unfortunate people, who are dimly seen through the
torrents of driving spray and cataracts of pouring water clinging here
and there to the stanchions and rigging: the fury of the gale in which
the great ship is perishing is admirably conveyed in the height and
shape of the huge olive-green seas, their crests torn off and swept away
to leeward in horizontal showers of spindrift, and the black, menacing
hue of the sky, across which tattered shreds of smoky-looking cloud are
careering wildly.  And next to this, again, is a large water-colour,
admirably executed, representing a broad moon-lit river, concealed amid
the tall reeds of which a man is portrayed, picking off the game as it
comes down the opposite bank to drink, the character of the sportsman's
"bag" being indicated by several prone shapes that, indistinctly as they
are seen in the misty moonlight, yet admirably suggest the idea of slain
rhinoceros, buffalo, lion, and giraffe.  And so on, all round the walls,
each picture in fact being a more or less truthful delineation of some
specially thrilling adventure experienced by a member of the club.

The Professor and the baronet, having entered the smoking-room, which
they found empty--as was quite usual at that hour of the day--selected
two of the capacious and exceedingly inviting-looking armchairs that
were scattered about the room; and, drawing them up to the fire--for the
weather was very bleak and chilly--ensconced themselves therein, and
settled themselves comfortably for a chat.

"Well, my dear Professor," began Sir Reginald, as he carefully selected
a cigar from a handsome and capacious case that he drew from his pocket,
"I need scarcely ask how you are, for you appear to be in superb
condition; but where have you been, and what doing, since we parted--
which is it, five or six years ago?"

"Rather over six years," answered the professor, in the strongly
German-accented English which he prided himself upon being
undistinguishable from the genuine British accent, but which it is not
necessary to inflict further upon the reader.  "Rather over six years.
How time flies when a man is busy!  Yet during those six years I have
done scarcely anything.  Would you believe it?  Beyond the writing of my
five-volume treatise on `Ancient Ophir: Its Geographical Situation, and
Story, as revealed in the Light of certain Recent Discoveries';
undergoing eighteen months' imprisonment in the fortress of Peter and
Paul, in Saint Petersburg, as a suspected Nihilist; and a two years'
fruitless exploration of central Mexico, I have done absolutely
nothing!"

Sir Reginald laughed heartily.  "Upon my word, Professor, you are
insatiable," said he.  "Why, the writing of your five-volume treatise--
which, by the way, I have read with the keenest enjoyment--should, of
itself, have found you ample occupation for those six years, one would
have supposed.  But, not content with this, you have experienced for
eighteen months the manifold miseries of a Russian prison; and have
topped off with two years of wandering in Mexico--with more thrilling
adventures and hairbreadth escapes than you can count, I'll warrant--and
still you are not satisfied!"

"Ah, my friend," answered the professor, "it is all very well for you,
who have a lovely wife and a sweet little daughter, to laugh at me.  But
I am a bachelor; I have no wife, no daughter, no domestic ties of any
sort to beguile my restless nature and render me content to settle down
in the monotonous placidity of a home; I must always be occupied in some
exciting pursuit, or I should go mad from very weariness and ennui; and
since our memorable cruise in your _Flying Fish_, I have been unable to
find anything exciting and adventurous enough to suit my taste.  That
cruise has spoilt me for everything else, and I am sometimes inclined to
wish that I had never participated in it."

"Oh, but you must not feel like that," remonstrated Sir Reginald.  "Why,
my dear sir, you were the backbone, the life and soul of the cruise!
Without you the whole thing would have been a dreary failure!  Besides,
I want you to join us in another."

"What!" exclaimed von Schalckenberg, springing to his feet excitedly,
while his broad German visage fairly beamed with delight; "what!
Another cruise in the _Flying Fish_!  My dear sir, of course I will join
you, with the greatest possible pleasure.  But upon one condition," he
added, more soberly, and after a moment's reflection.  "I am at present
engaged, as I told you a little while ago, upon the elaboration of a
colonisation scheme for the relief of those who, although perfectly
willing to work, find themselves unable to obtain employment in
consequence of the present overcrowded condition of every conceivable
avocation.  I can see my way perfectly clearly up to a certain point;
but there I find myself brought to a standstill for want of means--for I
must tell you that although my colony, once fairly launched, would be
self-supporting, the launching of it would be a terribly expensive
operation.  I therefore want money--or money's equivalent--as much as I
can get; and there are enormous sources of wealth accessible to the
_Flying Fish_, and to her alone; if, therefore, you will permit me to
avail myself of such opportunities to acquire wealth as may present
themselves during the progress of the cruise, I will join you with the
utmost pleasure.  But, if not, I must remain where I am, and endeavour
to hatch out of my brain some other method of obtaining the means that I
require."

"No need for that, my dear fellow," exclaimed Sir Reginald.  "If you
will but consent to become one of our party, you may make use of the
_Flying Fish_ exactly as if she were your own--with one reservation
only, namely, that you do not take us to a cold climate.  This cruise is
projected especially with the object of restoring my daughter's health,
and I am informed that pure air and a genial climate are absolutely
necessary for this.  But, keeping this in mind, you have my full
permission to map out our route yourself if you please."

"By no means," answered the professor.  "That would be the height of
presumption on my part.  The wishes and inclinations of all concerned
must be fully considered in the decision of so important a question.
But, of course, I shall be very happy to be allowed to offer
suggestions, or to afford any information that I may happen to possess
in relation to such localities as it may be proposed to visit.  By the
way, how many shall we be, and who are the other members of the party?"

"I have not yet decided," answered Sir Reginald.  "But I should
naturally prefer to have Lethbridge and Mildmay again, if I can find
them and induce them to join us.  Indeed, it was with the object of
ascertaining whether I could learn any news of either of them and of
yourself that I called here to-day."

"Well," said the German, "I can tell you something about them both, for
I saw the colonel only a few days ago, here in town.  I met him in the
Park.  He was looking very ill, and in reply to my inquiries I learned
that he had been down with typhoid fever, and had only been up and out
again about a week.  He said that he was trying to brace himself up to
go away somewhere for change of air, so I have no doubt that you will
find him more than willing to fall in with any proposal you may make to
him.  As for Mildmay, I met a man here only yesterday who had seen him a
few days ago at Cowes, on board his yacht, which I understood he had
retained in commission all through the winter.  But I also understood
that he was now about to lay her up; and, if so, you will probably find
him also disengaged.  A letter addressed to him at the Royal Yacht
Squadron Club House will no doubt find him."

"I will write to him forthwith," said Sir Reginald.  "And, by the way,
do you happen to know Lethbridge's address?"

"No, I do not," confessed the professor, apologetically; "but I dare say
we can discover it by inquiring of the steward, here; and if he does not
know it we shall perhaps be able to obtain it by inquiring at the Army
and Navy, of which he is a member."

It proved unnecessary, however, to seek so far, for, upon inquiry of the
steward of the Migrants', it was ascertained that Colonel Lethbridge had
dropped in at that club every evening regularly for the last four or
five days, and might be expected to put in an appearance there again on
that evening, a few hours later.  Sir Reginald therefore wrote two
letters--one to the colonel, which he left in the hall letter-rack, and
one to Captain Mildmay, which he posted--setting forth the particulars
of his projected cruise, together with the information that von
Schalckenberg had consented to make one of the party; and concluding
with a cordial invitation to the individual addressed to join the
expedition as a guest.  This done, he invited the professor to dine with
him that night and make the acquaintance of his little daughter, as well
as to afford an opportunity for the full discussion of the details of
the projected trip.  On the following day, he journeyed down with his
wife and child to their magnificent Devonshire home, Chudleigh Park.



CHAPTER TWO.

THE FINAL PREPARATIONS.

Chudleigh Park was an estate of some fourteen hundred acres in extent,
situate, as has already been mentioned, in the most picturesque part of
Devon.  It had been acquired by Sir Reginald Elphinstone about six years
before, just prior to his marriage, the area at that time consisting
chiefly of moorland, of so hilly and broken a character that it could
scarcely be cultivated profitably, although for Sir Reginald's purpose
it was everything that could possibly be desired.  Having secured the
land, a site was chosen on a sheltered hillside, overlooking a long
stretch of beautiful valley, through which a fine trout stream
picturesquely meandered; and here, under the superintendence of an
eminent architect, a charming mansion, fitted with every luxury and
convenience of modern life, was erected, the entire estate being
meanwhile laid out to the best advantage by a skilled landscape
gardener, who, with the aid of quite an army of underlings, eventually
so completely changed the aspect of the locality that it became one of
the most lovely and picturesque little bits of landscape to be found
within the confines of the British Isles.

It was about a month after the date of the meeting of Sir Reginald and
the professor, recorded in the preceding chapter, that, late in the
afternoon, the baronet, with his wife and their little daughter,
descended the short flight of broad steps that gave access to the chief
entrance of their stately mansion, built in the Elizabethan style of
architecture, and began to saunter slowly to and fro along the spacious
terrace that graced the front of the building, the weather happening to
be of that delightfully mild and genial character which occasionally in
our capricious British climate renders the early spring the most
charming period of the year.

From the frequent glances cast by the trio along the valley--through
which a splendid carriage-drive wound its way beside the brawling
stream--one might have guessed that they were expecting the arrival of
visitors.  And indeed shortly afterwards two vehicles appeared round the
shoulder of a hill far down the valley, which, as they rapidly
approached, resolved themselves into a smart dog-cart drawn by a tandem
team of thoroughbred bays and driven by an upright soldier-like figure
in a tweed travelling suit, with a groom occupying the back seat, and an
equally smart game-cart loaded with baggage.

"Here they come!" exclaimed Sir Reginald, as, turning in their walk, the
trio first caught sight of the rapidly approaching vehicle.  "At least,
here comes _one_ of them," he corrected himself, "and that one
undoubtedly Lethbridge; there is no mistaking that figure for any other
than that of a soldier!  But where is Mildmay, I wonder?  I hope no
hitch has occurred in the arrangements!"

"I sincerely hope not," agreed Lady Olivia--a lovely brunette, with a
rather tall, superbly moulded figure that yet looked _petite_ beside her
husband's lofty stature.  "I shall be supremely sorry if, after all,
Captain Mildmay finds himself unable to join us."

"Yes," assented the baronet.  "But I do not anticipate anything quite so
unfortunate as that.  My worst fears point to nothing more serious than
a certain amount of delay.  However, we shall soon know; for I dare say
Lethbridge will be able to tell us something about him."

A few minutes later the dog-cart came rattling up the gentle slope of
the winding drive, and pulled up at the foot of the broad flight of
stone steps that led up to the terrace.  The groom dropped lightly to
the ground, and ran nimbly to the leader's head.  The tall,
soldierly-looking figure divested himself of the rug that covered his
knees, and, alighting from the vehicle, made his way slowly up the
steps, at the top of which his host and hostess awaited him.

The newcomer was Cyril Lethbridge, late a colonel in the Royal
Engineers, but now retired from the service.  He had been a successful
gold-seeker in his time, a mighty hunter, a daring explorer--in short,
an adventurer, in the highest and least generally accepted form of the
term.  He had also been one of the quartette of adventurous spirits who
formed the working crew of the _Flying Fish_ in her first two
extraordinary cruises, and was therefore an old and staunch comrade of
Sir Reginald Elphinstone, and an equally staunch, though more recent,
friend of Lady Elphinstone, whose acquaintance he had first made some
six years before under startling and extraordinary circumstances.  He
was a man in the very prime of life; tall, and with a very fair share of
good looks--although certainly not so handsome a man as his friend the
baronet--upright as a dart, and, when in his normal state of health,
singularly robust of frame; but now, as he slowly mounted the broad, yet
easy, flight of steps, there was a perceptible languor of movement and a
general gauntness of visage and figure that told an unmistakable tale of
very recent illness.  Nevertheless, his eye was bright, and his voice
strong and cheery, as he returned the greetings of his friends on the
terrace, and replied to their inquiries as to his comfort during the
long journey from town.

"But where is Mildmay?" inquired Sir Reginald at length, as the party
turned to enter the house.  "How is it that he is not with you?"

"He is with von Schalckenberg," answered the colonel.  "When we met last
night at the Migrants', to make our final arrangements for to-day, we
came to the conclusion that for the professor to go alone in search of
the _Flying Fish_ would entail upon him a great deal of unnecessary
trouble and labour--although von Schalckenberg himself would not admit
it--and therefore Mildmay determined to accompany him.  So they arranged
to meet at Waterloo this morning, and to run down to Portsmouth by the
eleven fifteen, which is a fast train, you know; and I have no doubt
that they are at this moment engaged in getting the bearings of the
_Flying Fish_, in readiness to descend to her as soon as the darkness
has set in sufficiently to conceal their movements from too curious
eyes.  And if the staunch old craft is in the perfect condition that von
Schalckenberg anticipates, we shall probably have them with us by ten
o'clock or thereabouts."

"Ah!" exclaimed Lady Olivia, "that is just the point about which I
cannot help feeling apprehensive.  Do you think, Colonel, that it will
be quite safe to trust ourselves to a ship that has been lying all these
years neglected and uncared for at the bottom of the English Channel?"

The colonel shrugged his shoulders.

"Why not?" he demanded with a smile.  "No possible harm could happen to
her, so far as I can see, beyond the penetration of a certain amount of
dampness into her interior.  But even that the professor will not admit.
He insists that all the openings in the vessel's hull were so carefully
made and accurately fitted as to be absolutely impervious to damp, much
less to any more serious influx of moisture.  And, as to her machinery,
the good man declares that, with the precautions that he took for its
preservation when she went out of commission, it ought to remain in
perfect working order for at least a hundred years."

"Well, we shall soon know, shall we not?" remarked the lady.
"Meanwhile, Colonel, you must come and have a cup of tea before you go
to your room.  I remember your weakness for tea, you see; and a cup will
refresh you after your journey."

Dinner at Chudleigh Hall that night was a very quiet, unostentatious
function; for the numerous guests that were usually to be found beneath
its hospitable roof had now gone their various ways, and Lady Olivia
had, of course, at once ceased to issue further invitations as soon as
the projected expedition had been finally determined upon.  The party,
therefore, consisted merely of Sir Reginald, Lady Olivia, and the
colonel; and when Lady Olivia rose from the table the two men merely
dallied over their wine long enough to smoke a cigar, and then rejoined
her in the drawing-room.

It was then about half-past nine o'clock--time for Sir Reginald and the
colonel to set out, if they wished to witness the arrival of the _Flying
Fish_--and the baronet was altogether of too courteous and hospitable a
nature to allow his expected friends to arrive at their destination, and
make their way to the Hall unwelcomed.  The two men, therefore, after
swallowing their coffee, sallied forth into the park, and strolled off
in the direction of the spot where it had been arranged that the ship
should come to earth.

This was a level, open glade, some ten acres in extent, completely
surrounded and hemmed in by noble forest trees, at a distance of about a
mile from the house; it was the only part of the estate that had been
fully wooded when it came into Sir Reginald's hands, and the trees were
consequently full-grown, thus affording perfect concealment for the huge
and marvellous fabric that was expected so shortly to make her
appearance on the spot.  A carriage-drive led through it; but Sir
Reginald and his friend took a short cut through the quaintly arranged
old English garden that lay at the back of the house.

Arrived at the glade, the two friends settled themselves comfortably
upon a rustic seat, and chatted animatedly upon the prospects of their
forthcoming adventure, as they waited the appearance of the _Flying
Fish_.  Nor had they to wait very long.  They had scarcely been seated
twenty minutes when Sir Reginald, who had kept his gaze fixed steadily
skyward, exclaimed--

"Ah, there they are at last!"

And his companion, glancing in the direction indicated by the baronet,
was just able to see, far up, as it seemed among the stars, a dim, misty
shape that, even as he looked, grew rapidly in bulk and in distinctness
of form as it descended from aloft, until it became an enormous
cigar-shaped structure of such gigantic dimensions that it seemed
doubtful whether there would be space enough in the glade to accommodate
it.  This appearance, however, was to a certain extent delusive, due no
doubt to the semi-obscurity of the starlit night, for when at length it
came to earth, lightly as a snowflake, it was seen that there was
abundance of room for it.

The moment that it had fairly settled down, Sir Reginald and the colonel
rose to their feet and sauntered toward it; but they were still several
yards from it when suddenly two figures emerged from the deep obscurity
under the flying ship's bottom, each carrying a small travelling bag.
One figure, short and stout, was instantly recognisable as that of the
genial Professor von Schalckenberg; while the other, taller, yet of a
sturdy build and an easy swinging carriage, that bespoke the athlete and
the sailor, was, with equal ease, identified as Captain Edward Mildmay,
R.N.

The friends shook hands heartily, and the newcomers handed over their
bags to George, the baronet's valet--who at that moment mysteriously
appeared upon the scene--as Sir Reginald inquired--

"Well, gentlemen, how have you managed? and in what condition did you
find the old ship after her long submersion at the bottom of the Hurd
Deep?"

"Oh!" answered the professor, "we managed well enough.  We reached
Portsmouth at three o'clock, and found the boat all ready for us--that
man, Sparshott, who has had the care of her, is a really good man, and a
thoroughly discreet fellow--so we at once got on board and made our way
very soberly out of Portsmouth harbour, not putting on the speed until
we were well clear of all observation.  We cut ourselves rather too
fine, however, in the matter of time, not arriving at our destination
until it was nearly dark; consequently we had some difficulty in finding
our bearings, and at one moment I almost feared that we should have to
defer our search until morning.  But at length, just as we were
seriously thinking of giving it up for the night, a lucky cast of the
lead showed us to be immediately over the ship; so I at once donned my
diving-dress, went down, turned on my electric light, and found myself
within half a dozen fathoms of the _Flying Fish_.  After that,
everything was easy.  I opened the trap-door in her bottom without the
slightest difficulty, entered the chamber, expelled all the water, and
passed into the diving-room, which I found absolutely dry.  Then I
divested myself of my diving-suit, entered the engine-room, and
forthwith proceeded to charge the generator from the reserve stock of
crystals which we had left on board.  Everything was looking exactly as
we left it six years ago; there was not a sign of damp discoverable
anywhere; and the only objectionable thing noticeable was that the air
in the hull smelt decidedly stale and offensive.  However, I soon had
vapour enough generated to start the dynamo, when I switched on the
light in the pilot-house lantern, as a warning to Mildmay to get out of
the way; after which I slowly ejected the water from the water chambers,
and rose very gently to the surface.  Then, throwing open the door of
the pilot-house--and so letting some fresh air into the hull--I went out
on deck to look for Mildmay, and immediately fell heavily to the deck,
which I found completely covered with a thick growth of slippery
sea-grass.  Ach, my friends, I reproach myself that I did not think of
and guard against that when we sank the _Flying Fish_ to the bottom for
her long rest, six years ago!  But I am only human, you see, after all;
I have not yet acquired the gift of thinking of everything.  It is a
trifle, however, and I will soon put it right to-morrow.  Well, I found
the trap-door in the deck, despite the sea-grass, opened it with some
little difficulty, raised the davits into position, and dropped the
tackles into the boat which Mildmay had by this time brought alongside,
and in a few minutes we had that boat hoisted up and stowed away.  By
this time there was vapour enough in the generator to move the engines,
so we created a partial vacuum, rising in the air to a height of about a
thousand feet, after which we wended our way hither, finding the spot
without difficulty, thanks to the light displayed in the tower of your
house.  And--here we are."

The next three days were devoted to the shipping and storing away of the
enormous quantity of stores of all kinds which Sir Reginald had ordered
for the voyage.  This brought the time up to Saturday evening, it being
about 6:30 p.m., when George, and the chef who was to have charge of the
kitchen on board, reported that the last case had been conveyed on board
the _Flying Fish_, and stowed away.  There was, of course, no reason why
a start should not now have been immediately effected; but, as the
completion of the arrangements had brought them so very close to Sunday,
Lady Olivia expressed a wish that the departure of the expedition should
be deferred until the following Monday, in order that she might have an
opportunity to attend one more service at the quiet little parish church
close at hand.  The wish, of course, had but to be expressed to meet the
ready acquiescence of the other members of the party, and, accordingly,
they all with one consent appeared at the church on Sunday morning; the
afternoon being devoted to a final visit to, and inspection of, the
_Flying Fish_, with the twofold object of making assurance doubly sure
that nothing in the least likely to be wanted during the forthcoming
expedition had been forgotten, and to afford Lady Elphinstone the
opportunity to satisfy herself, before starting, that every arrangement
for her comfort and convenience was complete.

The _Flying Fish_ was still lying concealed in the spot where she had
alighted four nights before; and it happened that, Lady Olivia having
been too fully occupied to visit the ship until now, this was the first
time that she had beheld the wonderful craft for fully six years.  It
was also only the second time--save on one memorable and
never-to-be-forgotten occasion--that she had ever obtained an exterior
view of the vessel, and, upon the first occasion referred to, the
conditions had been such as to impress the appearance of the ship upon
her ladyship's memory only very vaguely.  It is not to be wondered at,
therefore, that upon emerging from the forest path into the open glade,
and catching for the first time a full view of the vast proportions of
the structure, her ladyship should stop short with an exclamation of
astonishment at what she beheld.



CHAPTER THREE.

THE FLYING FISH.

Towering high in the air, and almost filling the glade from end to end
with her enormous length, was an object measuring no fewer than six
hundred feet long, of cylindrical shape, sixty feet in diameter at her
so-called "midship" section, and tapering away fore and aft by a series
of finely curved lines, to the pointed extremities of the bow and stern.
The bow portion of the structure was considerably longer and more
sharply pointed than the after extremity, to which was attached, by a
very ingeniously devised universal joint, in such a manner as to render
a rudder unnecessary, a huge propeller having four tremendously broad
sickle-shaped blades, the palms of which were so cunningly shaped and
hollowed as to gather in and concentrate the air--or water, as the case
might be--about the boss and powerfully project it thence in a direct
line with the longitudinal axis of the ship.  To give this cigar-shaped
curvilinear hull perfect stability when resting upon the ground, it was
fitted with a pair of deep and broad bilge-keels, one on either side of
the ship, extending fore and aft for just a third of her length.  These
bilge-keels contained four grip-anchors--one at either extremity of each
keel--by means of which the ship could, when necessary, be firmly
secured to the ground, as she now was, in fact; and they also formed
chambers for the reception of water-ballast, when such was required.
Immediately over the "midship" section of the hull, and extending one
hundred and fifty feet in either direction fore and aft from this point,
placed upon the "back," so to speak, of the hull, was a superstructure
shaped somewhat like the above-water portion of a double-ended Thames
steamboat, with a deck, thirty feet in width at its broadest part,
protected by an open railing in place of the usual bulwarks.  And in the
exact centre of this deck stood a two-storey pilot-house, the lower
storey of which permitted ingress and egress between the promenade deck
and the interior of the ship, while the upper storey--completely
surrounded by large circular scuttles, or windows, which afforded an
unobstructed view all round--constituted the navigating platform from
which the ship was worked.

The whole of this enormous fabric, with the exception of the planking of
the promenade deck, was built of the wonderful metal called aethereum,
discovered by Professor von Schalckenberg, which, being unpainted, shone
in the sunlight like burnished silver.  There was only one exception to
the rule which appeared to have forbidden the use of paint on the
exterior of this wonderful ship, and that was in the case of the
superstructure supporting the promenade deck and the pilot-house.  This
portion of the hull was painted a light, delicate, blue-grey tint, which
was relieved by an ornamental scroll-work of gold and colours at each
end of the ship enclosing the name _Flying Fish_ on each bow and
quarter, the whole connected by a massive gold cable moulding running
fore and aft along the sheer strake of that portion of the ship.  The
painting and gilding had all been done when the ship was built, nearly
seven years ago, and it had then been coated with a transparent,
protective varnish of the professor's own concoction, which had proved
so absolutely water-tight and imperishable that, although the _Flying
Fish_ had lain submerged at the bottom of the Hurd Deep for more than
six years, the paint and gilding now looked as fresh and clean and
brilliant as though it had been newly applied.  It may be as well to
mention here that all the interior decks, bulkheads, doors, staircases,
machinery, and furniture of every kind, even to the boats, and the guns,
firearms, and weapons of every description with which the ship was
liberally provided, were, like her hull, constructed of aethereum, the
most striking properties of which metal were its extraordinary
lightness, toughness, hardness, strength, and its stubborn resistance to
all tarnishing or oxidising influences.

There were two modes of ingress to the interior of the ship, one, as has
already been mentioned, from the deck, by way of the pilot-house, and
the other by way of a trap-door in the bottom of the ship, behind the
starboard bilge-keel.  This latter was used when it was desired to enter
or leave the ship when she was resting upon the solid ground, either
above or under water, and it was the means of entrance which the party
used upon the present occasion.  The professor, to whose genius was due
the entire design of the wonderful ship, undertook, at Sir Reginald's
request, to point out to Lady Elphinstone a few of the most remarkable
characteristics of the structure; and accordingly, when her ladyship had
exhausted her wonder at the enormous proportions of the _Flying Fish_,
Herr von Schalckenberg conducted his hostess forward and into the space
between the starboard bilge-keel and the bottom of the ship, where there
was just sufficient room for a tall man to stand upright close to the
inner face of the bilge-keel.  At a certain point in the tunnel-like
passage the professor came to a halt, and remarked--

"Now, Lady Olivia, kindly favour me with your attention.  Although you
cannot distinguish it, there is a trap-door here, giving ingress to the
interior of the ship, and as it is possible that you may at some time or
other wish to make use of it when none of us are at hand to help you, I
should like to show you how the door is to be opened or closed.  Now, in
the first place, you will observe that there is a vertical and also a
horizontal joint in the plating, meeting just here--it is the only
junction of the kind in this passage-way, so you cannot possibly mistake
it.  Now, kindly take notice of these vertical and horizontal rows of
rivet-heads, and especially of this particular rivet that is common to
both rows.  There is nothing whatever to distinguish it from the others,
is there?  No.  But if you will place your finger upon it, thus, and
push firmly to the left, thus, you will see what happens."

And, as the professor spoke, a section of the polished silver-like
plating of the ship's bottom folded gently out until its outer edge
rested upon the ground, forming a kind of sloping gangway, by means of
which it was easy to enter the yawning aperture that now appeared in the
ship's bottom.

"Supposing, however," continued the professor, "that you are leaving the
ship, and wish to close the trap-door behind you, all that you have to
do is to push the rivet back into its original position, and the
mechanism operating the door at once responds, closing the flap, thus,
and leaving no indication whatever of its existence.  Now, Lady Olivia,
let me see whether you can open the flap."

Thus invited, Lady Elphinstone laid her finger upon the rivet-head and
gave it a vigorous push to the left, upon which the flap folded out as
before, and von Schalckenberg, taking her ladyship's hand, led her with
old-fashioned gallantry up the gangway, the others following.

As well as the party could discern in the obscurity, they now found
themselves standing in an apartment some ten feet square by seven feet
in height, with no other perceptible means of egress from it than the
trap-door by which they had entered; but upon the professor stretching
forth his arm and groping for a moment about the wall, the room became
suddenly illumined by the radiance of an electric light set in a very
thick and strong glass globe let into the ceiling, and it now became
apparent that there was a door in the bulkhead opposite them as they
entered.

"This small room," said the professor, "is known as the chamber of
egress, because, as is quite obvious, it is from here that one leaves
the ship for the outer world.  But it has also another purpose besides
the mere furnishing of access to the trap-door, as I will endeavour to
explain to your ladyship.  You are, of course, aware that one of the
objects with which the _Flying Fish_ was constructed was to enable her
crew to explore the ocean depths, and to examine and, if necessary,
operate upon the ocean's bed.  Now, in order to leave the ship and walk
out upon the sea floor, an aperture of some kind in the hull is clearly
necessary, through which we may pass; and that aperture you see before
you in the shape of the trap-door.  But you will readily understand
that, with the ship sunk to the bottom, the water will pour violently
through that trap, if it is opened without the observance of proper
precautions; and unless some special means are adopted to prevent such a
catastrophe, the water will quickly invade and fill the entire hull.
Hence this room.  Its use, in actual practice, is this: having donned
our diving-suits in the diving-room, we pass into this small chamber by
means of the door of communication, which you see in that partition,
close the door carefully behind us, and turn on this tap, which admits a
small stream of water into the room from outside.  The pressure of water
being considerable, the room quickly fills; but the partition, with its
water-tight door, effectually prevents the water from penetrating any
farther into the hull of the ship--and we then throw open the trap-door,
and walk forth on to the sea floor.  Upon our return we close the
trap-door behind us, thus, turn on this air tap, and immediately a
stream of densely compressed air rushes into the chamber, expelling the
water through this valve in the floor.  And when the water is all out,
we turn off the stream of compressed air, and open this valve, which
allows the compressed air to pass into the habitable portion of the
ship, quickly reducing the air-pressure in this room to what it is in
the other habitable portion of the ship; then we open this door, and
pass into the diving-room."

The professor then threw open the door and, with a profound bow, stood
aside to allow Lady Elphinstone to pass through.

The room in which the party presently found themselves was an apartment
about twenty feet square, one side of which was wholly occupied by four
cupboards labelled respectively "Sir Reginald Elphinstone", "Colonel
Lethbridge", "Captain Mildmay," and "Von Schalckenberg."

"This," explained the professor, "is the room wherein we shall equip
ourselves for our submarine rambles; and," throwing open the door of one
of the cupboards and disclosing certain articles neatly arranged upon
hooks fastened to the walls, "here is a suit of the clothing and armour
that we shall wear upon such occasions."

"Oh yes," responded Lady Olivia, "I remember having heard Sir Reginald
speak of his `diving-armour'; what a very handsome suit it is,"--as she
touched and thoughtfully opened the folds of a surcoat of scale armour
that looked as though made of silver; "but it seems a queer idea to don
armour for the purpose of walking about at the bottom of the sea.  Yet,
what a man of foresight you must be, Professor!  My husband has often
told Ida the story of your terrible fight with the conger eels, the
first time that the party ever sallied forth from the _Flying Fish_.
You appear to have foreseen and provided against every possible danger."

"No, no!" exclaimed von Schalckenberg, laughingly disclaiming any such
prescience; "I am not nearly as clever as that.  For instance: the
armour was not provided as a protection against the attacks of savage
animals or fish, but for quite a different purpose."

"Indeed!" exclaimed her ladyship; "for what purpose, then, was it
provided?"

"For the purpose of protecting the wearer against the enormous pressure
of the water to which he would be subjected when moving about on the bed
of the ocean at a great depth below the surface," answered the
professor.  "You must understand," he continued, "that water exerts a
pressure upon everything immersed in it; and the deeper the water, the
greater is the pressure upon the immersed body.  So rapidly does this
pressure increase, that divers attired in an ordinary diving-dress are
only able to descend to a depth of about fifteen fathoms, or ninety
feet; there are a few cases where this depth has been exceeded, but they
are few and far between.  Now I have always held the opinion that to
descend into the sea to merely such a trifling depth as this, for the
purpose of scientific investigation, is scarcely worth the trouble; so
when Sir Reginald was good enough to furnish me with the means to
materialise, as it were, in this ship, the fancies and longings that had
haunted me, day and night, for years, I determined that it should not be
my fault if we did not, all of us, completely eclipse all previous
achievements in diving.  The great difficulty that I had to contend with
was the enormous water-pressure of which I had spoken.  Could I but
contrive to encase our bodies in some garment that would receive and
successfully resist this terrible pressure, and yet be flexible enough
to permit of free movement to the wearer, the problem would be solved.
And these diving-suits are the outcome of my efforts; they sustain and
resist to perfection, without permitting them to be transmitted to the
body, the most severe pressures to which we have ever exposed them,
while at the same time they afford complete protection in other respects
to the wearers--as when, for example, we were attacked by the conger
eels."

Lady Olivia thanked the professor for his explanation, and murmured an
additional word or two of admiration for the wonderful armour; whereupon
von Schalckenberg--perceiving perhaps that her ladyship's interest in
what was really one of his masterpieces of ingenuity was not, after all,
particularly keen--opened a door opposite the one by which they had
entered the diving-room, disclosing a small vestibule from which sprang
a spiral staircase made of the same beautiful white metal that was
everywhere to be met with on board this marvellous ship.

Leading the way round past the foot of the staircase, the professor
halted before a door inscribed with the words "Engine-Room."  This door
he threw open, and, as before, with a profound bow, motioned Lady
Elphinstone to enter.  The first emotion of those who entered this
important compartment for the first time was invariably one of
disappointment; for the room, although full of machinery, was small--
disproportionately so, it appeared, compared with the bulk of the ship
and the power required to drive it at the enormous speeds that had been
indisputably attained by the _Flying Fish_.  And this emotion was
further increased by contemplation of the machinery by means of which
these high speeds had been attained.  The main engines, consisting of a
set of three-cylinder compound engines, constructed throughout of
polished aethereum, and consequently presenting an exceedingly handsome
appearance, suggested rather the idea of an exquisite large-sized model
in silver than anything else, the set occupying very little more space
than those of one of the larger Thames river steamers.  But the
impression of diminutiveness and inadequacy of power merged into one of
astonishment nearly approaching incredulity when the professor casually
mentioned that the vapour by which the engines were driven entered the
high-pressure cylinder at the astounding pressure of five thousand
pounds to the square inch, and that, although the engines themselves
made only fifty revolutions per minute, the main shaft, to which the
propeller was attached, made, by means of speed-multiplying gear, no
fewer than one thousand revolutions per minute in air of ordinary
atmospheric pressure!

From the engine-room the professor led the way up the spiral staircase
for a considerable distance, passing landings here and there, with doors
in the bulkheads, giving access, as von Schalckenberg explained, to the
several decks of the vessel.  Arrived at length at the top of the spiral
staircase, the party found themselves in a spacious vestibule extending
the whole width of the ship, and lighted on each side by a large,
circular port.  The vestibule floor was covered--with the exception of a
margin about three feet wide all round--with a magnificent carpet, the
margin of floor beyond the edge of the carpet being occupied by a number
of beautiful flowering plants and shrubs in spacious and ornamental pots
and boxes.  From the centre of the vestibule floor sprang the grand
staircase--a magnificent example of sculptured aethereum--leading to the
pilot-house and promenade deck above; and immediately opposite the foot
of the staircase, forming, in fact, one side of the vestibule, was a
bulkhead of aethereum decorated with a series of Corinthian pilasters
surmounted by a noble cornice, from which sprang the coved ceiling of
the apartment.  The panels formed by the pilaster were enriched with
elegant mouldings of scroll-work and painted in creamy white picked out
with gold.  Two of the panels were occupied by massive, handsomely
mounted doors of frosted aethereum, the panels of which were decorated
with fanciful scroll-work of the polished metal, imparting a very rich
and handsome effect.  These doors, the professor reminded Lady Olivia,
gave admission to the dining and drawing-rooms.

Behind the grand staircase was another bulkhead, similar to the one
already described, but having one door only--and that in its centre--
instead of two, as in the case of the other bulkhead.  This single door
gave access to a long corridor, on either side of which were to be found
the staterooms, or sleeping apartments, the bathrooms, and the domestic
offices generally of the ship.  Lady Elphinstone was tolerably familiar
with this part of the ship already; and as she wished to peep into the
room which she and her husband were to occupy, she now took the lead
and, opening the door leading into the corridor, passed through it,
while the men turned in the other direction and entered the dining-room.

Passing along the corridor, Lady Elphinstone presently reached the
stateroom which she was desirous to inspect, and, turning the handle of
the door, entered.  The room in which she now found herself was an
apartment about twenty feet square, lighted at one end by two very large
circular ports, or scuttles, let into the side of the ship, affording
ample illumination during the daytime, while the hours of darkness were
provided for by half a dozen electric lights disposed about the cabin,
mounted on handsome aethereum brackets, and furnished with opal shades,
shaped and tinted to represent flowers.  The bulkheads were of frosted
aethereum, divided up into panels by fluted Corinthian pilasters of the
same metal, supporting a massive cornice and a coved ceiling, the wall
panels being enriched with graceful designs in polished aethereum
surrounding choice paintings in water-colour, while the ceiling was
painted to represent a cloud-dappled sky, with cupids flitting hither
and thither among the clouds.  Handsome wardrobes, chests of drawers,
wash-stands, toilet tables, couches, and chairs of most exquisite
workmanship in frosted aethereum, upholstered in richest silk and
velvet, were conveniently grouped about the apartment; and in the
centre, automatically balanced on gimbals, hung a spacious and
beautifully carved and chiselled bedstead of aethereum, upon which the
occupant would find luxurious repose.  The deck, or floor, of the
apartment was covered with a thick, rich Turkey carpet, the colouring of
which matched the upholstery of the furniture; and the ports were draped
with costly silk and lace curtains of the finest texture, to soften or
exclude the light when desired.

Finding everything here to her liking, her ladyship joined the rest of
the party in the dining-room, and intimated that her inspection of the
ship was ended, whereupon the spiral staircase was descended, and in a
few minutes the little group once more found themselves outside the ship
and wending their way back to the house.



CHAPTER FOUR.

A MAIDEN IN DISTRESS.

As the party passed in through the principal entrance of the stately
building, laughing and chatting animatedly together upon the
possibilities of the forthcoming expedition, a footman came forward and
announced that a young lady, who most urgently desired to see Professor
von Schalckenberg, had been waiting for fully an hour in the library, to
which apartment she had been conducted.

The professor looked momentarily surprised and disconcerted by this
intelligence; but, quickly recovering himself, and excusing himself to
Lady Olivia, he hurried away to the library, to see who this unexpected
visitor might be.

Entering the apartment, von Schalckenberg at once found himself
confronted with a singularly handsome young woman, closely veiled, and
quietly but richly attired, who, throwing back her veil and stretching
forth both hands in eager, joyous greeting, exclaimed in Russian--

"At last, Professor, at last I have found you, thank God!"

"What?" stammered the professor, as he gazed in astonishment at his
lovely visitor, holding both her hands in his meanwhile.  "Can it be
possible that this is my dear little friend Feodorovna Sziszkinski?
Ach! yes, it must be; there can be no mistaking that charming face!"
And he forthwith kissed his fair visitor on both cheeks, in true
continental fashion.  "Welcome, my dear child, welcome a thousand times
to England," continued the professor, beaming benignantly at his visitor
through his spectacles.  "And how is your father and my dear friend, the
colonel?"

"Ah, Professor, would that I knew!" answered the girl, as tears sprang
to her eyes.  "I fear the worst for him.  I am in bitter trouble about
him; and it is on that account that I have sought you.  My father had a
foreboding that trouble was in store for us, and only a few weeks ago he
said to me, `Child, if anything should happen to me, and you are plunged
into trouble or difficulty, seek out our dear friend, von Schalckenberg.
He will help you, if any man can.'"

"Of course, of course," answered the professor, beaming more
benevolently still, if that were possible, upon his visitor.  "Your
father and I are old, staunch, and tried friends; and he does me no more
than justice in feeling that he, or his daughter, may absolutely rely
upon me to do gladly the utmost in my power for either of them.  Now,
sit down, little Feodorovna, and tell me all about it."

The girl, with a sigh of relief and renewed hope, sank into the chair
that the professor placed for her, and began by asking--

"Did you ever, while in Saint Petersburg or elsewhere, meet a certain
Count Vasilovich, Professor?"

"Often, my dear; much more often, indeed, than I at all desired,"
answered the professor.

"He is a bad man, Feodorovna; a thorough-going scoundrel, without a
single redeeming trait.  Has he anything to do with your trouble?"

"Alas, yes! he has everything to do with it, dear friend," answered
Feodorovna.  "It was my misfortune to meet him last winter at a ball at
the Imperial Palace, and from that moment he began persistently to press
his odious attentions upon me.  My dear father saw, with the utmost
alarm, the unfortunate turn that affairs had taken, and warned me
against the count.  Not that any warning was necessary, for I seemed so
clearly to divine the nature and character of the man at a glance, that
nothing would have induced me to afford him the slightest encouragement.

"For a time the count contented himself with following me everywhere,
and making violent love to me upon every possible occasion; but at
length, about two months ago, finding that his attentions were so
clearly distasteful to me that there was no prospect whatever of his
suit being successful, he began to threaten--vague, covert threats at
first, but afterwards so outspoken that I felt I must fly from Saint
Petersburg, and seek safety in concealment.  I spoke to my dear father
about it, and he--distressed as he was at the prospect of being
compelled to part with me--agreed that my only hope of safety lay in
flight; and twenty-four hours later I was, as I hoped, safe in the house
of a friend at Boroviezi.  But on the day following my arrival at this
refuge, one of my father's servants, named Petrovich, appeared with the
information that on the night of my flight from Saint Petersburg, a
domiciliary visit had been paid by the police to our house, and my
father had been dragged off to the fortress prison of Peter and Paul,
and that search was everywhere being made for me.

"I had not the least doubt that this was the work of Count Vasilovich;
but, feeling myself to be quite safe where I was, and knowing the
count's power and influence at the palace, my whole anxiety was on my
father's account, for Vasilovich is not only unscrupulous, he is
mercilessly vindictive, and I feared that, finding himself baulked in
his desire to get me into his power, he would wreak his vengeance on my
father.  And, oh, Professor, my fears proved to be but too well founded;
for, five days later, Petrovich appeared again with the information that
my father had been convicted of high treason, and was even then being
hurried away south to Odessa, at which port he was to be placed, with a
large number of other unfortunates, on board a convict-ship for
transportation to Sakhalien.

"Oh, my friend, I cannot describe to you the depth of my despair at this
intelligence, which I soon learned was only too true.  In my desperation
I would have returned to Saint Petersburg, sought out the count, and
consented to marry him upon condition of his saving my dear father.  But
my friends denounced such a scheme as utter madness, and would not hear
of it; they asserted that the count, having gone to such extremes, would
not now be at all likely to undo his own work--even if that were
possible--and that if I were so imprudent as to enter into negotiations
with him, he would soon find the means to get me into his power and at
his mercy; while, my father having been convicted of high treason, the
whole of his property would certainly be confiscated, and what I had
always regarded as the count's chief reason for desiring to marry me--
namely, the command of the wealth which I should inherit from my
father--would no longer exist.

"These arguments prevailed with me, and I abandoned the mad idea of
appealing to Vasilovich; but I was in despair for my dear father, until
in a happy moment I remembered the words that he had spoken to me about
you only a short time before this dreadful misfortune befell us; then I
felt that, if I could but find you, something might yet be done.  I
spoke to my friends about it, and they approved of my proposal to seek
you.  But when I mentioned that it would be necessary for me to come to
England in search of you, another difficulty arose.  Count Vasilovich
had no doubt already anticipated and provided against the possibility
that I might endeavour to leave Russia; and to make the attempt openly
would but too surely result in my falling into his power.  But my
friends were very, very kind to me; they were determined that I should
escape, and at length they were fortunate enough to find a lady who was
about to travel from Saint Petersburg to London, and who consented to
bring me with her as her maid.  In this way all difficulties were
overcome; and yesterday I arrived safely in London, and at once went to
the address that my father had given me when he spoke of the possibility
of your being able to help me, should trouble come upon us.  I had some
difficulty in finding the place--being a stranger in London--and when I
did so it was only to learn that you had last been heard of as being
here; so I determined to follow you at once, taking the midnight train
from London, and staying in the village only long enough to get some
lunch--of which I stood sadly in need--before driving over here.  And,
thank God, I have been fortunate enough to find you!"

"Ah, thank God, indeed, my dear child," echoed the professor, "for I
assure you it is only by a combination of the most trifling
circumstances that I did not leave here yesterday; in which case further
pursuit of me would have been equally useless and impossible.  But never
mind that, now; `all is well that ends well,' as they say here in
England; you have found me, and that is enough for the present.  Now,
tell me, are you absolutely certain of the accuracy of Petrovich's
information as to your father being _en route_ for Sakhalien?"

"Oh yes," answered Feodorovna; "there is, unfortunately, no room for
doubt as to that.  The son of one of the under-gaolers at Peter and Paul
happen to be affianced to Petrovich's sister, and it was through this
man that Petrovich obtained the information."

"Just so," assented the professor.  "And in any case," he added, "I
suppose Vasilovich would be certain to possess full and perfectly
accurate information as to the whereabouts and ultimate destination of
your father?"

"Oh yes," answered Feodorovna, "he would be sure to know everything.
But I do not see how that fact is to help us; because, you see, dear
friend, we have no power to compel him to reveal what he knows."

"Have we not?" retorted the professor, good-humouredly.  "Ah, well, we
shall see; we shall see!  Meanwhile, patience and courage, little one; I
think I can already see my way to the bringing of this business to a
satisfactory conclusion.  And now, come with me, and let me introduce
you to a very dear and gentle lady friend of mine; and, later, to three
men friends--who will not only listen to your story with the most
sympathetic interest, but will also--unless I am vastly mistaken--assist
me to right effectually the wrong that has been done to your father and
my friend, Colonel Sziszkinski."

So saying, the professor conducted his young Russian friend to Lady
Elphinstone's boudoir, where, having craved permission to enter, he
forthwith introduced his _protegee_ to his hostess, and briefly
recapitulated the story of wrong to which he had so recently listened.
Lady Olivia listened with deep sympathy to the story, and at its
conclusion, said--

"Of course, my dear Professor, there can be no question as to what you
ought to do; if you really have the power to help your friend, this poor
girl's father, in his present terrible situation, you must go to his
assistance, regardless of everything else, and we must manage as best we
can without you.  We shall heartily wish you the most complete success
in your arduous undertaking, but we shall miss you dreadfully; and your
absence will be a terrible disappointment to us all."

"Ah, dear lady, you will completely spoil me if you talk like that,"
protested the professor.  "But," he continued, "as to my leaving you, I
do not contemplate any such step; indeed, it is only by remaining with
you, and by virtue of the assistance of your good husband and the
others, that I hope to be of any real assistance to my friend.  My idea
is this.  If you all consent, we will, in the first place, go to Saint
Petersburg in the _Flying Fish_, seize Count Vasilovich--I know his
chateau well, and I already have a plan whereby we can obtain possession
of his person without any one being the wiser--and compel him to
disclose everything that he knows respecting the colonel.  Then, armed
with this information, we can easily follow and overtake the
convict-ship, rescue my friend from his gaolers, give them Vasilovich in
his place, and--_voila tout_!"

"That seems simple enough, so far as my limited understanding of such
matters will permit me to judge, and I have not the least doubt that,
when you have laid the facts before Sir Reginald and the other members
of the party, they will one and all help you to the utmost extent of
their ability," answered Lady Olivia.  "Meanwhile, my dear child," she
continued, turning to Feodorovna, "since we seem to be about to attempt
the rescue of your unhappy father, you must do us the favour to become
our guest on board the _Flying Fish_ during the progress of the
adventure.  You will naturally be anxious to know what is happening, and
you can only possess that knowledge by becoming one of our party.  Did
you bring any baggage with you from London?"

"I brought a small portmanteau, so that I might be prepared for any
emergency; but I left it at the village inn," answered Feodorovna,
hesitatingly.

"Very well," said Lady Olivia, "then you had better send for it at once.
The fly that brought you over is still waiting, I see; so you can give
the driver a note to Collins, the landlord, informing him that you are
staying here, and asking him to send over your baggage forthwith."

Gratefully accepting Lady Elphinstone's invitation, the young Russian
lost no time in penning the suggested note to the landlord; and then, as
the first dinner bell had already rung, the trio separated to dress, a
maid conducting the new guest to a room, and assisting her to prepare
herself, as far as was possible, for the impending function.

When, about twenty minutes later, the party re-united in the
drawing-room, Feodorovna--introduced to Sir Reginald, Colonel
Lethbridge, and Captain Mildmay by Lady Elphinstone, who had made a
point of being down early to receive her--created quite a little
sensation by her refined and delicate loveliness, and her perfect yet
unaffected manner; and when they were given to understand by Lady
Elphinstone that the unexpected guest had a tale to unfold that would
enlist their deepest sympathy, they were all impatience to get through
the ordeal of dinner, so that they might be free to listen undisturbed
to the story.  Sir Reginald, of course, took the young stranger in to
dinner, and soon contrived, by the polished courtesy and gentle
kindliness of his manner, to win her entire confidence.  The gentlemen
that night sat over their wine only long enough to enable them to smoke
a single cigarette each, and then hastened to the drawing-room, where
they listened with breathless interest to the story, as told by von
Schalckenberg, of Colonel Sziszkinski's wrongs; and when the history had
come to an end, they were unanimous in their conviction that there was
but one thing to be done--namely, to carry out the professor's scheme
without a moment's unnecessary delay, especially as von Schalckenberg,
in reply to a delicately veiled question by Lethbridge, declared himself
ready to stake his life upon Colonel Sziszkinski's absolute loyalty and
fidelity to the Tsar.

"But, of course," continued the professor, "loyalty and fidelity are not
allowed to count in Russia; while Justice finds but few worshippers, at
least among the nobility.  There exists an unwritten law among the
Russian nobles that they, as a class, are to stand by each other through
thick and thin, under all circumstances and conditions, quite
irrespective of any considerations as to what may be right or just;
hence the stubborn tenacity with which Nihilism maintains its grip upon
the middle and lower classes.  If the `Little Father' wishes to stamp
out that terrible scourge of secret and deadly conspiracy which is the
bane and menace of his existence, he must purge the Russian nobles of
their present lust of cruelty and oppression, and must render it
possible for every one of his subjects, from the highest to the lowest,
to obtain absolute justice.  When he has accomplished _this_ herculean
task, he may go where he will, unarmed, unguarded, and unhurt; but not
until then."

"Meanwhile," remarked Sir Reginald, "until the consummation of that
much-to-be-desired reform, wrong must either remain unrighted, or be
righted by the only process which appears to be possible in `Holy
Russia'--namely, a resort to physical force.  And so, my dear young
lady," he continued laughingly, addressing himself to Feodorovna, "we
three respectable and responsible Englishmen--to say nothing of our
amiable friend, the professor, there--are about to become abductors and
pirates, on behalf of your father--since there seems to be no help for
it.  But do not let that very trivial circumstance distress you in the
least; we mean to deliver your father; and when we make up our minds to
do a thing, we generally do it.  And now, Professor, as to details.  If
I understand your scheme aright, our first step must be to kidnap your
very estimable friend, Count Vasilovich?"

"Ach! do not call him my friend; he is no friend of mine!" exclaimed the
professor, with such indignant energy as to provoke the whole party to
hearty laughter, at which the worthy man first stared at them in
amazement, and then, perceiving that he had allowed himself to be
"drawn," joined heartily in the laugh against himself.  "Yes," he
continued, suddenly becoming grave again, "we must kidnap the count, for
two reasons; first, because it is necessary that we should obtain the
fullest and most complete information as to Colonel Sziszkinski's
whereabouts and movements; and, secondly, because it would not satisfy
me merely to release my friend.  He has been beggared, rendered an
outlaw in his own country--to which it will be impossible for him ever
to return--and his career destroyed by this unscrupulous scoundrel,
Vasilovich; and justice cries aloud for the punishment of such
wickedness; therefore Vasilovich must be punished.  Moreover, the
mysterious fate which I have in store for him may possibly exercise a
salutary influence upon such of his fellow scoundrels as happen to be
aware of the wrong that he has wrought upon poor Sziszkinski; for I will
make it a part of my business to leave behind me a statement to the
effect that Count Vasilovich has been `removed' as a punishment for his
conduct to Colonel Sziszkinski."

"That is all right; such a statement _may_ do good, while I cannot see
that it is likely to do any harm, so we will prepare a conspicuous
placard, worded to that effect, and will place it where it is certain
that it will be found," remarked Sir Reginald, cheerfully.  "There is
one point, however, upon which I should like a little enlightenment,
Professor; and that is as to the course you propose to pursue in order
to obtain possession of Vasilovich's person in this awe-inspiringly
secret fashion."

"I do not anticipate much difficulty as to that," answered the
professor.  "When I was in Saint Petersburg a year ago, Vasilovich held
a post of responsibility at the War Office, and it was his habit to ride
into Saint Petersburg from his chateau at Pargolovo in the morning, and
out again at night, arriving home about seven o'clock, in time for
dinner at eight.  And I imagine we shall find that he does so still.
The chateau stands in a park of considerable extent, and is approached
by a drive nearly a mile and a half long, up which Vasilovich usually
rides at a foot-pace.  Now, at this time of the year, it will be quite
dark in the park at seven o'clock, and nobody will then be likely to be
out about the demesne.  I know the place well, and happen to be aware of
a spot, about midway between the chateau and the lodge gates, where the
_Flying Fish_ can be effectually concealed for the moment, close to the
road, and near which it will be easy for us to secure our man and convey
him on board the flying ship, where we will simply put him in irons and
lock him up in the tank room; he will be perfectly safe there, without
the power to do the slightest harm."

"And, having got him, how do you purpose to make him speak, Professor?"
demanded Mildmay.

"I shall simply tell him what information it is that I require of him;
and if he evinces any disinclination to speak, I shall add that he will
be kept without food or drink until he communicates it," placidly
answered the professor.

"And supposing that he should tell you a pack of lies?" suggested
Lethbridge.

"Oh, he will not do that, I think," replied von Schalckenberg.  "He is a
cruel, unscrupulous, and absolutely selfish man, but, if I have read his
character aright, we shall also find that he is far too much of a coward
to attempt to deceive us."

"But what if he should?" persisted the colonel.

"In that case, as soon as I make the discovery that he has deceived me,
I shall tell him that he will be kept without food or drink until
Colonel Sziszkinski has been found and is actually in our hands,"
answered the professor, triumphantly.

"It appears to me," remarked Mildmay, reflectively, "that unless Count
Vasilovich keeps his weather eye lifting, there is rather a rough time
ahead of him."

"There is, in any case," observed von Schalckenberg, "but it will be no
part of my plan to tell him so until I have obtained from him all the
information that I require."

"Well," said Sir Reginald, "having secured our man, and compelled him to
divulge all the information we require of him, what will be our next
step?"

"We shall proceed forthwith to Odessa, and ascertain, first of all,
whether the convict-ship has sailed," answered the professor.  "If she
has not, I shall make it my business to see her, and to take such
particular notice of her name and appearance that I may be able to
identify her again at sight; but if, as I anticipate, she has sailed, I
shall find out, if possible, the date of her sailing, her name, rig,
tonnage, and any other particulars that will help us to recognise her
when we see her.  If she has not sailed, it will be necessary for us to
lie in wait for her either in the Black Sea or wherever else may be
deemed a suitable spot at which to effect her capture; while, if she has
sailed, we shall simply go in pursuit of her."



CHAPTER FIVE.

THE BEGINNING OF A STRANGE VOYAGE.

"Just so," remarked Sir Reginald.  "And here," he continued, "it seems
to me that we reach the most important point in the whole adventure.
This convict-ship will, of course, carry a small detachment of troops as
a guard over the convicts; do you think that we four are sufficient to
capture a ship carrying a crew of, say, thirty or forty men, with
probably, a like number of soldiers?"

The professor seemed to be rather taken aback at this question.

"It has not occurred to me that there will be any difficulty in the
matter," he answered.  "What do our military friends say?"

"Well," responded the colonel, "the task you propose to set us seems to
be, at first sight, rather a tall order.  Remember, we have thus far had
no experience of the capabilities of the _Flying Fish_ as a fighting
ship; and, to tell you the truth, I have almost forgotten the details of
her armament, and how it is worked."

"I have not," answered Mildmay.  "She is fitted with a torpedo port
for'ard, for firing what the professor called `torpedo-shells'; two
10-inch breech-loading rifled guns, fired through ports in the
dining-saloon, and six Maxim guns, fired from the upper deck, to say
nothing of small-arms.  Such an armament is ample for every occasion
which is at all likely to arise; and if the professor will only furnish
me with the particulars of which he has spoken, as to the sailing and so
on of the ship, I will undertake to find and capture her.  But I presume
you are all fully aware that such capture will be an act of piracy?"

"Y-e-es," replied Sir Reginald, hesitatingly; "but thus far I have been
influenced by the conviction that the end justifies the means.  Still,
if you, Mildmay, or you, Lethbridge, have any qualms of conscience--"

"`Nary a qualm,' as our cousins, the Yankees, would say," answered
Mildmay, cheerfully; "only, remember this, we must take the whole onus
and responsibility of the act upon our own shoulders; we must show no
colours--unless you feel disposed to sport a `Jolly Roger' for this
occasion only.  What I particularly mean is, that we must take care not
to betray our nationality, and so involve Great Britain in a difficulty
with Russia.  So long as that contingency is avoided, I shall be ready
to become a pirate of as deep a dye as you please."

"We will take whatever precautions you may deem necessary in that
respect," answered Sir Reginald; "in fact, I thought it was quite
understood by us all that every such precaution _would_ be taken, or I
would have especially mentioned the matter.  And now, Professor, as to
the disposal of Vasilovich--when we have caught him.  Your idea, I
believe, is to hand him over to the authorities aboard the convict-ship,
in place of Colonel Sziszkinski; but will the authorities accept him,
think you?"

"Yes," said the professor, "I believe they will.  So long as they are
able to account satisfactorily at Sakhalien for the full number of
convicts placed in their charge, I do not think they will care whether
one of them declares himself to be Count Vasilovich, or not; they will
simply assign to him the number which Colonel Sziszkinski now bears, and
that will end the matter.  If not, we must maroon the fellow upon some
spot from which it will be practically impossible for him to escape, as
he is altogether too wicked a man to be permitted the opportunity to
perpetrate further wrong."

"Oh, we will find a means of satisfactorily disposing of the fellow,
never fear," rejoined Sir Reginald.  "And now, our plan of campaign
being complete, when do we start?  To-night?"

"That is for you to say," answered the professor.  "So far as the
capture of Vasilovich is concerned, if we arrive within sight of his
chateau by nightfall, or in time to berth the _Flying Fish_ in his park
with the last of the daylight, we shall be quite early enough.  And if
the weather happens to remain calm, as it is at present, we can
accomplish the run from here to Saint Petersburg in eight hours; while,
with a moderately fresh breeze against us, we can do the distance in
about nine and a half hours.  But we must not forget that Saint
Petersburg time is two hours and five minutes fast on Greenwich time,
and we must make our dispositions accordingly.  Taking everything into
consideration, I am of opinion that if we leave here to-morrow morning
about seven o'clock, it will be early enough.

"There is, however, one other point to consider: I presume you will
desire to attract as little attention as possible; in which event I
would suggest that a start from here should be made, say, about two
hours before daylight to-morrow morning, which will afford us time to
make a long circular sweep in a north-easterly direction, clearing the
British Isles before dawn.  After that we shall almost certainly meet
with weather which will enable us to conceal our movements by remaining
all day above the lower cloud level, a mode of procedure which will
possess the further recommendation of being advantageous to your
daughter's health by keeping her in a dry, pure, bracing atmosphere."

"Such an arrangement would mean that we must all take up our quarters on
board to-night," remarked Sir Reginald.  "How would that suit your
convenience, dear?" he inquired of Lady Olivia.

"Quite well," answered her ladyship.  "Everything that Ida or I shall
require is already on board, and, so far as we are concerned, it makes
no difference whether we go on board immediately, or some time
to-morrow.  Only, if you should decide to accept Professor von
Schalckenberg's suggestion, I should like to know soon, as it is nearly
Ida's bedtime; and if we are to start early to-morrow morning, I will
send her and Nurse on board at once."

And so it was presently arranged, the whole party making their way to
the ship together, and there and then taking possession of their
quarters.

It wanted a few minutes of four o'clock the next morning, when Professor
von Schalckenberg rose from his couch and, wrapping himself in a
gorgeous dressing-gown, made his way quietly to one of the luxurious
bathrooms with which the _Flying Fish_ was fitted, where he took his
matutinal cold tub, returning, a quarter of an hour later, to his cabin,
fresh and vigorous, to find that, according to orders, George, the chief
steward, had already brought a cup of coffee for his delectation while
dressing.  And punctually at a quarter to five the professor might have
been seen making his way, on slippered feet, into the pilot-house.
Arrived there, he turned on an electric light of moderate power and,
with the assistance of the illumination thus furnished, peered about him
as he satisfied himself that everything was in perfect order.  Then he
laid his hand upon the crank of a large wheel within reach, and gave the
wheel three or four turns, directing his gaze, meanwhile, upon two large
dials which were attached, side by side, to the wall of the pilot-house.
Each of these dials was provided with an index hand, both of which
began to move almost simultaneously with the first movement of the large
wheel by the professor.  One of the dials was simply a very sensitive
and accurate pressure gauge; the other was an instrument for registering
the weight of the ship, or the pressure with which she bore upon the
ground.  The index hands of both dials were travelling backwards towards
zero along their respective graduated arcs; and simultaneously with the
registration by the pressure gauge of a pressure of six pounds--which
indicated the air-pressure in the air-chambers of the ship--the other
dial registered zero, thus indicating that the partial exhaustion of the
air in the air-chambers had rendered the ship so buoyant that she was
now deprived of weight and was upon the point of floating upward,
balloon-like, in the air.  Another moment, and the incredible was
happening; the ship had become converted into a gigantic metallic
balloon, and the professor, extinguishing the electric light which
illuminated the interior of the pilot-house, peered out through one of
the circular ports in the walls of the structure, to see by the
starlight that the _Flying Fish_ had already left the earth, and, in the
still air, was rising in a perfectly horizontal position past the tops
of the trees in the park.

"Good!" muttered the lonely scientist to himself.  "Everything works
just as sweetly as it did that night, six years ago, when we backed out
of the building-shed on the banks of the Thames, and started upon our
first memorable journey!"

He reversed the great wheel controlling the valve which admitted the
vapour that drove the air out of the air-chambers of the great ship,
thus creating a vacuum there by the subsequent and almost instant
condensation of the vapour, and, softly made his way out on deck where,
walking to the rail, he looked forth upon the landscape that was dimly
widening out beneath him as the _Flying Fish_ continued to float gently
upward.

It was a beautifully fine, clear, starlit night, without the faintest
suspicion of a cloud anywhere in the soft, velvety blue-black dome of
the sky; and presently, when the professor's eyes had grown accustomed
to the dim, mysterious radiance of the twinkling constellations, he was
able to see the landscape steadily unfolding around him like a map, in a
rapidly widening circle, as the great ship steadily attained an
ever-increasing altitude in the breathless atmosphere.  For some ten
minutes the scientist remained thoughtfully leaning upon the rail,
watching the noble expanse of park beneath him dwindle into a mere dark,
insignificant blot upon the face of the country, dotted here and there
with feebly twinkling lights, until the sleeping waters of the Channel
came into view to the southward.  Then he returned to the pilot-house,
turned on the electric light once more, and glanced at the barometer.
It registered a height of nearly six thousand feet above the sea-level.
This seemed to satisfy the professor; for he opened a valve which
admitted air into the hull, leaving it open until the mercury ceased to
fall in the tube.  Then he drew from his pocket a paper which he had
obtained from Mildmay a few hours before, carefully studied for a few
moments the instructions written thereon, and, refolding the paper,
began to manipulate certain of the levers and valves by which he was
surrounded.  As he did so a gentle, scarcely perceptible thrill stirred
the gigantic structure which bore him--a humming sound, low at first,
but rapidly increasing in intensity, arose and came floating in through
the pilot-house windows--all of which the professor thereupon closed--
and, seizing the tiller, the lone watcher thrust it gently over, fixing
his gaze meanwhile upon the illuminated compass card of the binnacle.
Presently a certain point on the compass card floated round opposite the
"lubber's mark," whereupon the professor pulled toward him a small lever
upon which he had laid his hand, and two slender steel arms forthwith
slid in through a slit in the side of the compass bowl, one on each side
of a slender needle that projected up through the edge of the compass
card.  This ingenious piece of mechanism at once caused the ship to
become self-steering.  Then the professor gave three or four turns to a
wheel which controlled the valve admitting vapour to the engine,
throwing the valve wide open, whereupon the humming sound suddenly rose
to a loud and rather high, but pleasing, note as the huge propeller
whirled round at its full speed of one thousand revolutions per minute.
At the same moment the professor noted the exact time by a clock that
formed a portion of the complicated furniture of the pilot-house, and
then, seating himself in a comfortable deck chair, he proceeded to make
certain calculations upon a leaf of a notebook which he drew from his
pocket.  At the expiration of a period of twenty minutes the professor
threw the self-steering apparatus out of gear for a moment, altered the
course a trifle to the eastward, threw the self-steering apparatus into
gear again, and waited another twenty minutes, when the same process was
repeated a second time, and so on, a slight alteration of the ship's
course being effected at intervals of twenty minutes.  The professor was
causing the ship to make the long, circular sweep of which he had spoken
to Sir Reginald a few hours earlier.

At length, as the lonely scientist sat there in the pilot-house, plunged
in deep thought, and mechanically performing the simple operations
necessary to enable him to alter the course of the ship from time to
time, the mirror-like discs of the scuttles in the walls of the
pilot-house gradually underwent a subtle change of colour--from deepest
black, through an infinite variety of shades of grey, to a pure, rich
blue which, in its turn, merged into a delicate primrose hue, while the
incandescent lamp in the dome-like roof of the structure as gradually
lost its radiance until it became a mere white-hot thread in the growing
flood of cold morning light.  Meanwhile the moment arrived for a further
alteration in the course of the ship; and as the professor rose to his
feet to effect it he realised that not only had the day broken, but also
the sun was about to rise, for long, spoke-like shafts of clear white
light were radiating upward into the blue from a point broad on the
starboard bow.

As he realised this, he reached forward, turned a button, and the
glowing film of the electric lamp overhead dulled into blackness and
disappeared.

Then, stepping to one of the scuttles, the professor looked out through
the thick disc of plate-glass, and beheld a sight of beauty that is
given only to the adventurous few to look upon--a sea of dense, opaque,
fleecy cloud, white as the driven snow in the high lights, with its
irregular surface, some sixteen hundred feet below, broken up into a
thousand tender, delicate, pearly shadows that came and went, and
momentarily changed their tints as the _Flying Fish_ swept over them at
a speed of one hundred and twenty miles an hour.

"Ha, ha!" exclaimed the professor, as he gazed forth upon the wondrous
sight.  "Good!  I expected as much.  Now we are safe from observation so
long as this cloud-bank intervenes between us and the earth; when it
passes away we must--But what am I thinking about?  The sun is about to
rise.  I must call her ladyship, and my little friend Feodorovna--it
will be far too splendid a sight for them to lose!"

So saying the worthy man turned and hurried down the staircase toward
what may be termed the main, or principal, deck of the ship.  As he
descended he became aware of the sound of gay voices, male and female;
and when he reached the vestibule he found one of the doors of the
dining-saloon wide open.  It was from this apartment that the voices
proceeded, and, entering, he found the entire party--with the exception
of little Ida and her nurse--seated at the table, warmly attired, and
partaking of coffee.

"Hillo, Professor, good morning!" shouted Sir Reginald, as his eyes fell
upon the newcomer.  "You are just in the nick of time.  George, a cup of
coffee for Herr von Schalckenberg!  So you have made a start, Professor;
but you must have done it very gently, for none of us was awakened by
the movement of the ship.  Where are we now?"

"If it is as calm now as it was when we started, we ought to be over the
mouth of the Humber, and just leaving the shores of England behind us,"
answered the professor.  "But I cannot tell for certain," he continued,
"because, as you may have noticed, there is a dense sea of cloud below
us, through which we can see nothing.  My object in leaving the
pilot-house was to call Lady Elphinstone and my young friend,
Feodorovna, to come up and see the sun rise over the clouds.  But you
must come up at once, or you will be too late."

"Where are we to go, Professor--out on the deck?" asked Lady
Elphinstone.

"Certainly not, dear lady," answered the professor, earnestly.  "You
must witness the phenomenon through the closed windows of the
pilot-house.  If you were to go out on deck, you would be swept away in
a moment by the hurricane force of the wind created by the ship as she
rushes through the atmosphere.  And if perchance you were fortunate
enough to escape being blown overboard, you would be made seriously ill
by the sudden change, from the dense air which you are now breathing, to
the highly rarefied air outside.  For this same reason it is also
necessary that, while the ship is in flight, all ports and doors
communicating with the exterior atmosphere should be kept tightly
closed.  But come, the sun is rising," he said, as a flash of golden
light darted in through the scuttles; "you must not miss this sight."

With one accord the whole party rose and followed the professor, as he
eagerly led the way up the double flight of steps into the upper storey
of the pilot-house; and in another moment the two ladies were
advantageously placed at two contiguous scuttles whence they could
obtain the best possible view of the phenomenon, while the men grouped
themselves elsewhere.

It was a magnificent spectacle upon which the party looked out.  Beneath
them, and as far as the eye could reach on every hand, stretched the
vast, unbroken sea of cloud, heaped together in gigantic masses of the
most extraordinary shapes, as though some giant hand had strewn a
boundless plain with great, carelessly heaped piles of light, soft,
fleecy, snow-white cotton wool, over the eastern edge of which the sun
was just rising into view, while his brilliant, lance-like beams darted
and played over and through the piles of vapour in a glory of prismatic
colour that beggared description.  The beauty and glory of the scene
consisted indeed solely in the shimmering and shifting play of every
conceivable shade and tone of richest and purest and most brilliant
colour; and its most charming effect lasted only a brief minute or two,
when the colours gradually became lost in an all-pervading white of
dazzling purity.

"It was lovely, Professor; the most beautiful sight I have ever beheld,"
exclaimed Lady Elphinstone, as she presently turned away from the
ice-cold glass of the scuttle.  "What did you think of it, dear?" to
Feodorovna.

"I can only say, with you, dear Lady Elphinstone, that it was the most
beautiful sight I have ever beheld," answered Feodorovna.  "It was as
wonderful, too, as it was beautiful, but an even greater wonder, to me,
is the undoubted fact that this huge--ship, I suppose I must call it--is
actually floating in the air at a greater altitude than the clouds
themselves.  Although I know it to be the case, from the evidence of my
own senses, my imagination is scarcely powerful enough to realise the
circumstance as a sober fact.  And I am lost in wonder, too, at the
magnificence of everything around me.  The ship is literally a palace;
and everything is so solid and substantial that, although I know myself
to be hundreds--perhaps thousands--of feet above the earth, I have not a
particle of fear!"

"Fear?" exclaimed the professor, with a laugh.  "You would not be
Colonel Sziszkinski's daughter if you were afraid.  But in very truth
there is nothing to be afraid of, here; this ship is as safe as any ship
that ever rode the sea; and for precisely the same reason.  In the case
of an ocean ship, she will float upon the sea so long as the water is
excluded from her hull; and, in the same way, _this_ ship will float in
the air so long as the air is excluded from her vacuum chambers.  The
same natural law applies in both cases."



CHAPTER SIX.

THE CHATEAU VASILOVICH.

"How long do you think we have been flying over this sea of cloud,
Professor?" demanded Mildmay, as the party turned to leave the
pilot-house.

"I am ashamed to say that I cannot reply to that question," answered the
professor.  "The fact is," he continued, "that I have been so busily
thinking about our adventure of to-night, and endeavouring to arrange
for every possible contingency, that I failed to notice when we first
encountered the cloud.  Why do you ask?"

"Well, I heard you tell Sir Reginald, when you came down into the
dining-saloon a little while ago, that, according to your reckoning, we
ought to be somewhere off the mouth of the Humber.  Now, don't you think
it would be a good plan for us to dip below this cloud-bank for a minute
or two, just to verify our position?"

"Certainly; we will do so, if you wish," answered the professor, with
the utmost readiness.  And therewith he manipulated a lever and a valve,
and turned to the ladies, who were now in the act of descending the
pilot-house staircase.

"If you care to wait a minute or two, ladies," said he, "you will have
an opportunity to go out on deck and take a look round, while the
Captain, here, is making his observations.  I have stopped the engines,
so that there will be no danger of your being blown overboard; and we
are now sinking rapidly, so that presently we shall be low enough to
enable you to breathe without difficulty."

Even as von Schalckenberg spoke it became evident that the _Flying Fish_
was descending, for she now plunged suddenly into the very heart of the
sea of cloud, where she was in a moment enveloped in a dense mist
through which nothing could be seen, not even the two ends of the
promenade deck.  For nearly a minute the airship remained wrapped in the
fleecy whiteness of the cloud stratum, then she emerged as suddenly as
she had plunged into it.  At the same moment the professor manipulated
another valve, intently watching the barometer-tube meanwhile; and
presently it became apparent that the descending movement had ceased,
and that the _Flying Fish_ was hanging suspended in mid-air, about a
thousand feet below the vast cloud-veil that now obscured the heavens.

"Now," he remarked, as he joined the party, who were standing at the
foot of the pilot-house staircase, "we may venture outside; we are only
three thousand feet above the sea-level, and the ship is almost
motionless.  Permit me."

So saying, the professor threw open the door giving egress to the deck,
and the whole party passed outside into the raw, nipping morning air.

With one consent the whole party made straight for the rail, and looked
downward, past the bulging sides of the ship, until their gaze rested
upon the grey sea below, the sight of which proved that the professor's
calculations could not be very far wrong.  The first glance at the
far-spreading sheet of water at which they were gazing sufficed to show
that, thus far, the calm of the preceding night still continued
unbroken, for the surface was as smooth and lustrous as that of
plate-glass, save where, here and there, a steamer or two--dwindled to
the dimensions of toys--ploughed up a ripple on either bow that swept
away astern, diverging as it went, until it gradually faded and was lost
a mile away.  In addition to the steamers, there were perhaps a dozen
sailing craft--colliers and fishing-smacks, mostly--in sight, the
wrinkling canvas of which, as they rolled gently upon the invisible
swell, with their bows pointing all round the compass, afforded further
confirmation, if such were needed, of the absolute stillness of the
atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Mildmay, after a single glance over the side, walked aft to
the extremity of the promenade deck, whence he levelled a pair of
powerful binoculars into the misty distance for a minute or two.  Then,
apparently satisfied, he closed the glasses, and walked forward to where
von Schalckenberg was chatting to the others, and directing their
attention to such objects as happened to be in sight.  As Mildmay
approached, the professor turned to him and said--

"Well, Captain, have you succeeded in identifying our position?"

"Thanks, yes," answered Mildmay.  "The air is not very clear this
morning, but I have just managed to make out Spurn Point and the mouth
of the Humber in the far distance, astern.  I have no doubt, therefore,
that your reckoning is absolutely correct.  It is just in the single
matter of keeping a `dead reckoning' that an ocean ship has the
advantage of this craft.  In the ocean the currents flow in fairly
well-defined courses, and at moderate and pretty well-known rates; it is
therefore an easy matter to make proper allowance for them.  But up
aloft, here, the speed and direction of the air-currents are so
uncertain that it is impossible to take them into one's calculations;
hence it becomes necessary to check one's reckoning by means of frequent
observations."

"Do you think that any of the people in those ships down there will see
us?" asked Feodorovna.  "We can see them very plainly, and it is only
reasonable, therefore, to suppose that they can see us equally plainly.
Yet, when I looked at them just now through Sir Reginald's telescope, I
could not detect any indication that we were seen.  One would suppose
that the sight of such an enormous object as this, floating in the air,
would occasion tremendous excitement among the beholders."

"And no doubt it would; indeed, we have had proof that such is the case
whenever we happen to be seen," replied the professor.  "But we have
also had the best of reasons for believing that this polished hull of
ours, perfectly reflecting, as it does, every hue and tint of the
surrounding atmosphere, renders it difficult, if not impossible, to
distinguish the ship when she is afloat among the clouds.  Nevertheless,
you have reminded us that some keen-eyed individual may by chance
discover our presence, so, as we are really anxious not to attract
attention, we may as well get above the clouds again, when you have all
looked your fill."

This hint proved sufficient, and five minutes later the _Flying Fish_
was once more above the clouds, with the pilot-house door and every
scuttle closed, sweeping to the northward and eastward at full speed.

At length, well on in the afternoon, the professor announced that,
according to his reckoning, they had reached their destination, and the
engines were stopped.  It had remained cloudy all day, and after that
one brief descent early in the morning, nothing had been seen.  Mildmay,
after studying the clouds attentively, was of opinion that a breeze had
sprung up, and had been blowing for some two or three hours--a
circumstance that, if his opinion proved correct, would have an
important influence upon their position--and he was anxious to ascertain
how far his surmise was verified by facts.  A descent was therefore
effected until the ship was once more below the cloud curtain, when it
was found that, instead of being immediately over the city of Saint
Petersburg--as she should have been, according to the professor's
reckoning--the _Flying Fish_ was floating almost exactly over a town of
considerable size situate on the northern shore of a lake of somewhat
triangular shape, measuring some forty-five miles long by about twenty
miles wide.  This town the professor, who knew this part of Russia well,
at once identified as Novgorod, nearly a hundred miles south of Saint
Petersburg.  Captain Mildmay's suspicions were thus confirmed, and a set
of observations that were at once taken revealed the fact that the
_Flying Fish_ was drifting southward with the wind at the brisk pace of
close upon thirty miles an hour.  This, however, was a matter of no
great consequence, since the travellers had plenty of time in hand.  The
direction and speed of the wind having been ascertained, due allowance
was made for it, the engines were once more sent ahead, the course was
altered, and in a trifle over an hour the _Flying Fish_ was within sight
of the towers and spires of the Russian capital.  The engines were then
slowed down again until the ship was just stemming the fresh breeze that
was now blowing, and an ascent was made until the cloud canopy had been
once more placed between the ship and the earth, thus preventing any
possibility of premature discovery.

This altitude was maintained until the sun had set magnificently beneath
the cloud horizon, when the four men entered the pilot-house and, the
professor taking charge as pilot, the descent to Pargolovo was very
leisurely commenced.

The chateau of Count Vasilovich was situate on the western side of the
lake and on the northern slope of the hills that stretch away in the
direction of Konnaia, at a point as nearly as possible eight miles from
the northern bank of the Neva; and as soon as the _Flying Fish_ emerged
from the stratum of cloud that shrouded the landscape, the professor
went out on deck with his binoculars to look for the spot at which he
had decided that the great ship was to be brought to earth.  He soon
found it, and shouted his instructions to Mildmay, who was tending the
helm and the engines; and twenty minutes later the descent was quietly
and safely accomplished, the _Flying Fish_ finding a very easy berth
among some trees, within a hundred yards of the road leading from the
park entrance to the chateau, and within a mile of the latter.

It was by this time a quarter to seven, Russian time.  The professor,
therefore, and Mildmay, who had volunteered to accompany him, quickly
made their way down the spiral staircase to the trap-door in the bottom
of the ship, and let themselves out, carefully closing the trap behind
them.

The night was overcast, dark, and inclined to be stormy, a cold, bleak,
blusterous, northerly breeze was blowing off the lake and roaring
through the branches of the leafless trees, and the look of the sky
threatened rain; yet the wide, white carriage-drive loomed up ghostly
through the darkness, and presently, when the eyes of the watchers grew
accustomed to the gloom, they found that it would be easy for them to
discern a mounted figure on the road at a distance of a hundred yards or
so.  They sheltered themselves under the lee of a giant elm, and set
themselves patiently to await in silence the approach of their
unsuspecting prey.

The minutes sped slowly away, until at length it seemed to the two
watchers that they must have been in ambush for a full hour, yet neither
Vasilovich nor any other person had put in an appearance.  They began to
compare notes in a low voice, and at length Mildmay determined to run
the risk of striking a match for a moment to ascertain the time.  This
he did, von Schalckenberg assisting him to observe such precautions as
should insure the tiny, momentary flame against being seen.  Mildmay's
watch declared the hour to be a quarter to six, British time.

"Why, that makes it about ten minutes to eight, Russian time!" murmured
the captain, as he blew out the vesta.  "Do you think he has been
detained, Professor? or is it possible that he is no longer residing
here?  He may be away on a visit somewhere, you know."

"True, he _may_ be; but I do not believe he is; he is not a sufficiently
sociable man to render it at all likely that he is visiting, either in
Saint Petersburg or elsewhere," answered the professor.  "Of course," he
continued, "the man may have been detained, as you suggest; indeed, that
is probably the explanation of his non-appearance.  Or he may be
unwell--too unwell to leave his chateau.  Those are the only two
alternative explanations I can suggest to account for his
non-appearance."

"Well, what is to be done under the circumstances?" demanded Mildmay.
"Is it any use to wait here any longer, think you?"

"No," answered the professor, "I do not think it is; he is not likely to
pass here now, as he has not done so already.  I will go up to the
castle and ascertain his whereabouts."

"All right," returned Mildmay, "I will go with you.  It is scarcely safe
for you to go alone.  The fellow may--"

"Have no fear on my account, I beg," interrupted von Schalckenberg.  "I
assure you it will be quite safe for me to go alone; more safe, indeed,
than were two of us to go together, because in the latter case he
might--assuming that he is in the castle--suspect something, while if I
go alone he will suspect nothing."

"Very well," assented Mildmay, "let it be as you will.  But I will, at
all events, accompany you to the castle, and stand by, outside, to lend
you a hand if needful."

"You sailors are very masterful men," observed the professor; "you must
have your own way, I suppose.  But be careful that you are not seen by
anybody, as the suspicions of these Russians are easily aroused, and it
would then, perhaps, be very awkward for us both.  Shall we go at once?"

"Yes, certainly," answered Mildmay.  "But I think we had better return
to the ship for a moment, and acquaint Sir Reginald with our non-success
thus far, and what it is that we propose to do.  It is always well to
provide against contingencies as far as possible."

"Right!" assented the professor.  "Let us go at once.  I am chilled to
the bone with so long a waiting."

A quarter of an hour sufficed the pair to return to the ship, explain
the state of affairs to the rest of the party, and make their way back
to the spot at which they had been so patiently maintaining their watch;
and another half-hour of steady walking took them within sight of the
chateau, where Mildmay snugly ensconced himself behind a big clump of
laurels, through the boughs of which he was able to maintain a close
watch upon the main entrance of the building.

The chateau did not, in this instance, belie its designation, being, in
fact, a massive, gloomy-looking, castellated, stone building, with
battlements, turrets, small windows, a moat, a drawbridge, and a
portcullis, the lower portion of which showed in the head of the archway
that gave access to the interior of the building.  The drawbridge was
lowered, and, from his coign of vantage, Mildmay saw the professor
boldly cross it and walk up to the gate, through which, after a brief
parley with the gate-keeper, he disappeared.

Von Schalckenberg's inquiries were of a very prosaic and commonplace
nature.  He simply asked whether Count Vasilovich happened to be at
home; and upon being informed--somewhat to his surprise--that he was, he
scribbled a word or two in Russian upon one of his cards, and directed
the gate-keeper to send it up to the count at once.  The gate-keeper
very civilly invited the professor into his lodge, a small room formed
in the thickness of the castle wall, and, ringing a bell, sent in the
card by a servant who appeared some three or four minutes later.

An interval of some ten minutes now elapsed, during which the professor
warmed himself at the gate-keeper's fire, contriving meanwhile, by a few
skilfully put questions, to extract the information that, the count's
horse having fallen lame that day in the streets of Saint Petersburg,
Vasilovich had returned home by rail, and had reached the castle by way
of the other gate, which sufficiently accounted for the watchers having
missed him.

At length the servant who had taken in von Schalckenberg's card returned
with the information that the count would see the professor; and
forthwith the pair set out across the courtyard, entering the building
by way of a heavily studded oaken door, which the servant carefully
locked and barred behind him, to the momentary dismay of the visitor,
who was scarcely prepared to find the observance of so much precaution
on the part of the man whom he had come to take prisoner.  However, he
slipped his hands into the side pockets of his heavily furred overcoat,
and then withdrew them again with a quiet smile of renewed confidence;
he was essentially a man of resource, and his faith in himself quickly
reasserted itself.

The professor's conductor led him through a long, stone-vaulted passage,
dimly lighted at intervals by oil lamps, that flared and smoked in the
draughts that chased each other to and fro, until at the very end he
paused before a door, at which he knocked deferentially.  An
inarticulate growl answered from the other side, whereupon the servant
flung open the door, motioned von Schalckenberg to enter, and promptly
closed the portal behind him.

Pushing aside a heavy curtain, or _portiere_, that stretched across the
doorway, the professor found himself in a large and lofty room, ceiled
and wainscoted in oak, the walls hung with oil pictures so completely
darkened and obscured with smoke and grime that it was impossible to
distinguish what they were meant to depict.  The stone floor was
carpeted with skins, and a long, massive oak dining-table ran the length
of the room, which was lighted during the day by three heavily curtained
windows, and now by a solitary lamp.  At the far end of the room stood
one of the enormous porcelain stoves, which are such a feature of
Russian interiors, balanced at the other end by an immense sideboard.
The table was undraped, save at the far end, where sat, with his back to
the glowing stove, a burly, thick-set man, attired in an undress
military uniform.  He appeared to be about forty years of age; he wore
his hair cropped short, and his face was partially hidden by a heavy,
unkempt beard and moustache.  He had evidently just dined, for the
draped extremity of the table was littered with the remains of a repast,
he was smoking an immense pipe, while a tumbler of steaming vodki stood
close to his hand upon the table.  This individual was Count Vasilovich;
and he was alone.  He made no movement to rise at von Schalckenberg's
entrance, but stared intently at his visitor, twisting the card in his
hand in a nervous, impatient way.



CHAPTER SEVEN.

THE PROFESSOR BRINGS IN A PRISONER.

"I have met you before, I think, Herr Professor," Vasilovich at length
remarked.  "And your card says that you have important business with me.
What can I do for you?"

"You can do a great deal for me, Count," answered von Schalckenberg,
composedly.  "But first of all," he continued, "I have a little thing
here that I wish to show you; you are a connoisseur in such things, and
it will interest you."

So saying, the professor slipped his hand into his pocket, and produced
a pistol, made apparently of polished silver, but really of aethereum.
He held it by the barrel and offered it to the Count, remarking--

"There, Count, that is a simple enough weapon, to all appearance, is it
not?  Kindly examine it, and see if you can discover anything remarkable
about it."

A sudden look of terrified anxiety leapt into Vasilovich's eyes as the
professor produced the handsome little weapon; but the placid manner of
the latter as he tendered the pistol for examination seemed to reassure
him, and grasping the butt, he looked at it intently.

"Is the pistol an invention of yours which you wish the Russian
Government to adopt?" he demanded, as he turned the weapon about in his
hand, eyeing it curiously.

"That is as it may be," answered von Schalckenberg.  "At present,
knowing you to be, perhaps, as good a judge as any man in Russia of such
tools, I merely wish to obtain your unbiassed opinion of its merits."

"Its merits?" demanded Vasilovich, impatiently.  "What _are_ its merits?
I see nothing peculiar about it excepting this cylinder from which the
barrel projects.  Is that a magazine?"

"It is," answered the professor; "it accommodates twenty cartridges.
But that is not the most extraordinary thing about it.  Can you discover
the method of firing the weapon?"

"No," answered Vasilovich, "I cannot.  I was about to ask you as to
that."

"It is perfectly simple.  Permit me," remarked the professor, in the
easiest and most matter-of-fact tone imaginable.  And, so saying, he
took the pistol from Vasilovich's unresisting hand.

"There are still two other peculiarities connected with this weapon,"
remarked von Schalckenberg; "namely, the marvellous rapidity with which
it can be fired, and the fact that it is absolutely noiseless when
discharged.  Please observe, Count.  You see those two decanters upon
the table?  Kindly fix your eyes upon their stoppers."

The decanters referred to were standing upon the table, some twelve
paces distant from von Schalckenberg, and some eight feet apart, where
they had been carelessly placed by the servant before leaving the count
to the solitary enjoyment of his tobacco and vodki.  As the professor
spoke, he suddenly raised his hand and levelled the pistol with
lightning quickness first at one decanter and then at the other.  There
was a sharp _clink-clink_, and the tops of the smashed stoppers fell
upon the table all but simultaneously.

Vasilovich looked astounded.  He stared first at the decanters, then at
von Schalckenberg, then back again at the decanters.

"Did you break those stoppers by firing at them with that pistol?" he at
length demanded, in a tone of mingled apprehension and rage.

"Certainly," answered the professor, placidly.  "Did you not see me do
it, or was I rather too quick for you?  Shall I do the trick again?
Just watch the _necks_ of the decanters this time--"

"Stop!" shouted Vasilovich, springing from his chair in a paroxysm of
fury.  "How dare you, you scoundrel!  What do you mean by coming here
and destroying my property in this insolent way, eh?"  And he reached
towards a hand-bell that stood near him on the table.

"Sit down, and keep your hand from that bell," retorted von
Schalckenberg, sternly, levelling the pistol, quick as light, at the
count's head.  "Utter a sound above a whisper, or move so much as an
eyelid, and I will riddle your worthless brain with bullets.  My little
exhibition just now was simply intended to convey to you, in a
thoroughly practical manner, some idea of the capabilities of this
weapon of mine.  I have fired two shots from it, and there are
consequently eighteen left; furthermore, I have another weapon of the
same kind in my other pocket, fully loaded.  I have, therefore,
thirty-eight shots at my disposal, and, if I please, I can kill you so
silently that no one shall be any the wiser.  And I will do it, too,
without a moment's hesitation, if you refuse to give me the information
I require.  Do you understand me?"

"Yes, I understand you," answered Vasilovich, slowly and reluctantly, as
his fascinated gaze peered down the barrel of the pistol with which von
Schalckenberg relentlessly continued to cover him.  "What is it you
want?"

"I want the _truth_ as to the present whereabouts of Colonel
Sziszkinski.  I know all about his imprisonment, at your instigation, in
the fortress of Peter and Paul.  Is he there still?" demanded the
professor.  "Consider before answering," he continued, "and remember
that I want the _truth_.  I shall not trust to your statements, I shall
verify them through other sources of information; and I caution you to
be very careful indeed in what you say, because if you dare to lie to
me, or to withhold from me the smallest scrap of information, or to
deceive me in any way, you will simply be pronouncing your own
death-sentence."

"There is no need to caution me so elaborately," retorted the count.  "I
have no objection to giving you the information you require, and I give
it the more readily that it will not be of the slightest use to you.
You are a friend of Sziszkinski's, I presume, and your anxiety to
ascertain his present whereabouts leads me to suppose that you may have
planned some mad scheme to effect his rescue.  If so, it will perhaps be
a disappointment to you to learn that he left Odessa this afternoon, as
a convict, bound to Sakhalien, on board the convict-steamer _Ludwig
Gadd_, from which ship, and from the officials in charge of her, no
human power can now deliver him."

"Have you any proof of the truth of what you say?" demanded von
Schalckenberg, still keeping his pistol levelled at the count's head.

"Yes," answered Vasilovich, with a ring of triumph in his voice; "I
received a telegram this afternoon from Odessa, informing me of the
departure of the _Ludwig Gadd_, with Sziszkinski on board."

"Is that telegram still in your possession?" inquired von Schalckenberg.

"Certainly it is," answered Vasilovich; "it is in my breast pocket.
Would you like to see it?"

"Yes," replied the professor, "I should.  Produce it, if you please.
But," he continued, warningly, "be very careful what you are about; bear
in mind that I am covering you, and I warn you that if I detect the
slightest appearance of haste in your movements, or if you produce
anything except the telegram from your pocket, I shall shoot you,
without a particle of compunction."

The count, keeping a wary eye upon von Schalckenberg, proceeded, with
much care and deliberation, to feel in his pocket for the telegram,
which he presently produced, in its envelope, and placed upon the table
before him.

"Are you sure that is it?" demanded von Schalckenberg.

"Quite certain," responded Vasilovich.

"Then, have the goodness to take it out of the envelope and spread it
open on the table," commanded the professor.

Without a word, Vasilovich did as he was ordered.

"Now," resumed the professor, "rise from your chair, turn your back to
me, and march slowly forward until you are against the wall.  March!"

"Confound you!" exclaimed Vasilovich, his eyes gleaming with fury, "you
will not give me a chance!"  And he rose, obedient to von
Schalckenberg's command, faced about, and moved forward to the wall, the
professor following him until the telegram was within his reach, when he
stretched out his hand, took possession of the document and, still
watching his prisoner out of the corner of his eye, read as follows, in
Russian--

"Convict-steamer _Ludwig Gadd_ just sailed for Sakhalien with
Sziszkinski safe on board.

"Tchernigov."

The message was dated that same day, and timed as having been despatched
from Odessa at four-forty.

"Thank you; that will do," remarked von Schalckenberg, as he thrust the
paper into his pocket.  "Now," he continued, "I want you to take a walk
with me in the park.  We shall pass out through the principal entrance
of the chateau.  But I wish to warn you again to be extremely careful,
for I assure you that your life hangs by a hair, and if I see that there
is even a possibility of anything going wrong I shall shoot you at once,
taking my chance with your servants afterwards.  So, in the event of our
encountering any of your domestics on our way out, you will instantly
order them to retire.  Now, sir, have the goodness to lead the way."

And, as the professor spoke, he laid upon the table a document setting
forth the fact that Count Vasilovich had been "removed," as a punishment
for the many crimes of which he had been guilty.

The glitter of deadly hate in Vasilovich's eyes as he faced round and
began to move, in obedience to von Schalckenberg's order, warned the
latter to be on his guard; but the professor was not the man to be taken
unawares in the prosecution of such an adventure as he had now
undertaken, and no doubt Vasilovich saw it, for he led the way so
circumspectly as to show plainly that he fully appreciated the imminent
peril of his situation.  Fortunately for both, perhaps, no one was
encountered, either in the house or in the courtyard, as the pair made
their way toward the park; and a whispered reminder from von
Schalckenberg proved sufficiently effectual to carry them safely past
the gate-keeper's room.  Once clear of this point, the rest was easy,
and a few minutes later, as the pair passed a clump of laurels, Mildmay
stepped forward from his place of concealment and stationed himself on
the other side of the prisoner remarking cheerfully--

"So you have captured your man, eh, Professor?  Had you any trouble with
him?  I was beginning to feel a trifle anxious about you."

Thereupon the professor proceeded to relate briefly his experiences at
the chateau, thus beguiling the way until the curiously assorted trio
reached the _Flying Fish_, at the vast bulk of which Vasilovich stared
in stupefied amazement.  His captors, however, afforded him but scant
time for indulgence in surprise or conjecture, conveying him forthwith
to the tank chamber, wherein they securely locked him, taking the
additional precaution of placing his hands and feet in fetters and
attaching him thereby to a ring-bolt, thus rendering it absolutely
impossible for him to do the slightest mischief.  Having made everything
secure, they hastily changed their attire and joined the rest of the
party in the drawing-room, preparatory to sitting down to dinner.

The chief topic of conversation at the dinner-table that night had,
naturally, more or less direct reference to the professor's capture of
the tyrant, Vasilovich, and everybody was keenly anxious to learn from
von Schalckenberg the full details of the feat.  There was nothing for
it, therefore, but for the hero of the adventure to describe the
incident _in extenso_.  When the relation came to an end Colonel
Lethbridge remarked--

"Well, all I can say, Professor, is that it was an exceedingly plucky
thing to attempt, and you appear to have carried it through with the
most admirable nerve and _sangfroid_.  Were you not afraid that the
fellow would raise an alarm and bring all his retainers about you, like
a nest of hornets?  Had he done so, you would have been a lost man!"

"No doubt," assented von Schalckenberg, imperturbably.  "And of course I
had to take the risk of his doing so.  But I succeeded in thoroughly
convincing him that any attempt of that kind, however successful it
might be, would not help him in the least, because I should shoot him
dead at the first indication of such an intention, and long before
assistance could possibly arrive.  And, as I had anticipated, his regard
for his own life was sufficient to deter him from throwing it away for
the sake of the very doubtful posthumous gratification of knowing that
he had placed mine in jeopardy.  In a word, he was simply too great a
coward to risk so much for the sake of mere revenge."

"Well," observed Mildmay, "it was as magnificent an exhibition of
`bluff' as I have ever heard of.  You have been completely successful
thus far, Professor; and now, the most difficult part of your scheme
being accomplished, I see no reason whatever why we should not be
equally successful in the other part; in which event," turning to
Feodorovna, "I shall hope to have the pleasure of witnessing your
reunion with your father to-morrow."

"Oh, Captain--oh, Sir Reginald!" she exclaimed, the tears starting to
her eyes, "if you can but compass that I will for ever bless and pray
for you all!"  And, springing to her feet, the poor girl retreated
precipitately to her cabin to conceal her emotion.

"The next question that arises," remarked Sir Reginald, discreetly
ignoring the young lady's hurried retreat, "is: At what time ought we to
start in pursuit of the convict-ship?"

He seemed to address this question to the professor, who shrugged his
shoulders expressively as he replied--

"That is for our friend Mildmay to say; he will know better than any of
the rest of us what will be the most favourable hour at which to
overtake her."

Thus appealed to, Mildmay replied--

"Oh, I should say about daylight; call it half-past six to-morrow
morning.  That will necessitate our starting from here at--um!  Before I
can determine that I must see which way the wind is, and at what
strength it is blowing.  I will have a look round on deck after dinner,
and let you all know."

Accordingly, as soon as Lady Olivia had retired from the table, Mildmay
rose from his seat, went on deck, and returned in about five minutes
with the information that a bitterly keen, northerly wind was blowing at
a strength of about twenty miles an hour.

"That," he remarked, "is a dead fair wind for us, and will enable us to
progress at the rate of one hundred and forty miles an hour over the
ground, if we proceed at full speed, and we shall therefore--Stop a
moment; I must work this out on paper."

He drew an envelope from his pocket and proceeded to make a few rapid
calculations upon it.

"Yes," he resumed at length, as he ran over his figures a second time,
"that is right.  If we start at midnight we shall--assuming the wind to
hold all the way as it is now--overtake the convict-ship about half-past
six o'clock to-morrow morning at a point, say, one hundred and
sixty-five miles south of Odessa, which is practically halfway across
the Black Sea.  The time and place are both suitable, and I do not think
that we can do better."

As this was essentially a point for a sailor to decide, the other
members of the party at once fell in with this virtual proposal of
Mildmay's, and it was forthwith agreed, without further discussion, that
a start should be made at midnight.  The men then rose and joined the
ladies in the drawing-room, or music-room, as the apartment was
indifferently called.

This music-room was a most noble chamber, both as to dimensions and
appearance, being the largest room in the ship.  It was situated
immediately abaft the dining-saloon, from which access to it was gained.
It was, however, a much larger apartment than the other, being, like
the dining-saloon, the full width of the ship, and forty feet in length
between the fore and after bulkheads, its height being ten feet to the
lower edge of the massive and richly moulded cornice from which sprang
the coved and panelled ceiling.  The walls were divided up into panels
by a series of fluted pilasters surmounted by elegantly and fancifully
moulded capitals upon which rested the above-mentioned cornice.
Centrally between the pilasters, the side walls of the apartment were
pierced with circular ports, or windows, about eighteen inches in
diameter, glazed with plate-glass of enormous thickness that had been
specially toughened, by a process invented by the professor, to enable
it to withstand the terrific pressure to which it would be subjected
when the ship should be submerged to great depths in the ocean.  The
frames of these ports consisted of foliated wreaths of polished
aethereum, presenting the appearance of burnished silver, and were
exceedingly decorative in effect.  A light rod of aethereum above each
port carried a number of burnished rings from which drooped handsome
lace curtains, that could either be looped back or allowed to veil the
window, according to the fancy of the occupants.  Above these, again,
were hung a number of exquisite pictures in water-colour.  The floor was
covered with a very rich and handsome Turkey carpet, into which one sank
almost to the ankles, as into a thick bed of soft moss; chairs, couches,
and divans of exquisite shape and seductive capacity were scattered here
and there about the apartment, and at its fore or wider end stood, close
together, a grand piano and a chamber organ, both in superbly modelled
aethereum cases, and both, it need scarcely be said, of the finest
quality and workmanship obtainable; while the narrower or after end was
almost filled by a capacious electric stove, or fireplace, with a most
singularly handsome mantelpiece, supported on either side by a
beautifully modelled female figure.  The centre of the mantelpiece was
occupied by a handsome clock, having a set of silvery chimes for the
quarters and a deep, rich-toned gong for the hours, and on either side
of it were a number of elegantly shaped vases, full of choice hot-house
flowers.  But the most striking feature of the whole apartment was its
beautiful coved and panelled ceiling, with its exquisitely moulded
interlacing ribs, the choice and dainty paintings that adorned its
panels, and the magnificent skylight that occupied its centre.  This
skylight, it may be mentioned, was such only in appearance, as it did
not pierce the deck or derive its light from the outside; it was merely
a fanciful and decorative device of the professor's, the light emanating
from a series of electric lamps shaded by coloured glass screens, so
tinted as to permit, by the simple manipulation of certain concealed
mirrors, the effect of every description of light, from that of the
unclouded midday sun, through every gradation of morning or afternoon
light, to that of sunset, the softest dusk of evening, or even the light
of the full moon.

The apartment presented a charmingly cosy and comfortable as well as
attractive appearance as the four men entered it, the electric stove
emitting a cheerful glow and diffusing just the right degree of warmth,
while an afternoon effect of brilliant sunlight streamed richly down
through the magnificent stained-glass of the skylight in the centre of
the ceiling.  Lady Olivia and her guest, the young Russian girl, were
sitting together on a large divan, in close contiguity to a handsome
music cabinet, turning over books and sheets of music, for Feodorovna
had consented to sing, and was now searching her hostess's stock of
music in quest of something with which she was familiar.

"Ach, that is good!" exclaimed the professor, as he noted the occupation
of the ladies and guessed its import.  "My little Feodorovna is about to
sing?  Then we shall all have a treat, for let me tell you, Lady Olivia,
that my young friend possesses the voice of an angel, and the knowledge
how to use it properly.  Now, what is it to be?  Tschaikowski,
Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Handel, Mozart?  Ah, here is something that
will suit your voice, little one, `Caro mio ben!' by Giuseppe Giordani--
quaint, delicate, old-fashioned.  Come, I will play your accompaniment
for you."  And, taking the girl's hand, von Schalckenberg, who was an
accomplished as well as an enthusiastic musician, led her to the piano,
at which he forthwith seated himself and at once proceeded to play, with
crisp yet delicate touch and manifest enjoyment, the prelude to the
song.

And then, indeed, as the professor had promised, the listeners had a
treat, for Mlle. Sziszkinski's voice was of a rare quality, rich, pure,
flexible, clear as a silver bell, under perfect control, sympathetic,
and peculiarly adapted to render with precisely the correct feeling the
pleading words--

"Caro mio ben, credimi almen, senza di te languisce il cor," etcetera.

Tears gathered in her fine eyes as she sang, and the final note of the
song was almost a sob; for she possessed the comparatively rare ability
to evolve the feeling and sentiment of the words she sang and make them
her own, thus bringing them home to the hearts of those who listened.
Yet she laughingly apologised for herself the next moment, as she turned
away from the piano, upon receiving the hearty thanks of her little
audience; for, although she was a true artist, she was entirely free
from any morbidity of feeling, being, in fact, a perfectly natural,
light-hearted girl.  And her gay and cheerful disposition was already
reasserting itself now that, if she might accept the assurances of the
professor and her new-found friends, her father's troubles were nearing
their end, and his deliverance from persecution was a matter of but a
few hours more.

Then the professor sang a rollicking German students' song.  He was
followed by Lady Olivia, who sang Gounod's "Ave Maria," accompanied by
her husband on the piano, and the professor on the organ.  Then Mildmay
produced his violin.  And so the time slipped rapidly on until the clock
upon the mantelpiece struck the hour of midnight, when "Good-nights"
were said, and the ladies retired to their respective cabins; while the
four men wended their way to the pilot-house to indulge in a final
smoke, and incidentally to raise the _Flying Fish_ into the air and
start her upon her long flight across Russia, from north to south.



CHAPTER EIGHT.

THE RESCUE.

It was a matter of but a few moments to raise the _Flying Fish_ five
thousand feet into the air, start her engines, and head her on her
course for Odessa, which lies practically due south of Saint Petersburg.
Then, there being no mountains in the way--nothing, in fact, that, at
the height of five thousand feet, could possibly interfere with their
flight--the little party retired to their respective cabins and turned
in, leaving the great ship to take care of herself and pursue her way
unwatched; Mildmay and the professor undertaking to rise betimes in the
morning and call the other two early enough to assist in the capture--
for that was what it amounted to--of the convict-ship.

Mildmay possessed the very useful faculty of being able to awake at any
prearranged moment, and, in the exercise of this faculty, he rose from
his cot as the first faint streaks of dawn filtered in through the port
of his berth, and proceeded forthwith to the bathroom, growing
conscious, as he went, of the fact that the temperature had become very
much milder during the last few hours.  This, however, was only what
might be naturally expected, since the ship had been speeding to the
southward all through the night at the rate of one hundred and twenty
miles per hour, in addition to such further speed as she might have
derived from the favourable gale that had been aiding her flight.

The rise of temperature, however, had not perceptibly communicated
itself to the water of the bath, which the gallant captain found to be
icy cold.  There was, therefore, no temptation for him to linger, and a
few brief minutes sufficed him to complete his ablutions and return to
his cabin, rousing the professor as he went.  Then, dressing with the
expedition of a seaman, he wended his way to the pilot-house, where,
some ten minutes later, he was joined by von Schalckenberg, who in his
turn was quickly followed by George, bearing on a tray two cups of
scalding hot coffee and a small plate of biscuits.

The light of the coming day had by this time so far increased that the
occupants of the pilot-house were enabled to see somewhat of their
surroundings.  The first discovery made by them was that they had outrun
the gale of the previous night, and were now sweeping through an
atmosphere that, judging from the appearance of the few small shreds of
cloud that floated about and above them, must be nearly or quite
motionless.  And the next was that, as a result of this change of
weather, the _Flying Fish_ was fully one hundred miles from the spot
where, in accordance with their calculations of the previous night, she
ought at that moment to have been.  According to those calculations she
ought then to have been clear of the land and well out over the Black
Sea, whereas the land was still beneath the ship, although, so clear was
the atmosphere, the gleam of sea could just be detected on the extreme
verge of the southern horizon, some eighty-five miles ahead.  But this,
after all, was a matter of very trifling import; it would defer the
capture of the _Ludwig Gadd_ to the extent of about an hour only, which
Mildmay and the professor agreed was "neither here nor there."
Meanwhile, there was just one trifling item of preparation to be
attended to, and, having leisurely imbibed their morning coffee and
munched a biscuit or two, they stopped the engines of the _Flying Fish_,
and retired from the pilot-house to attend to it.  Treading noiselessly
in their india rubber-soled shoes, they descended to one of the
storerooms, throwing open the door giving access to the deck on their
way, and there loaded themselves with a number of queer-looking objects
constructed of aethereum, with which they wended their way to the deck.
Arrived here, they sought out a certain spot on the deck, about midway
between the pilot-house and the fore end of the superstructure, and
quite close to the port rail; and, having found it, they at once
proceeded to remove three small aethereum discs from the deck,
disclosing three sunk bolt-holes so arranged as to form the angles of an
equilateral triangle measuring eighteen inches along each side.  The top
ends of the bolts in these holes revealed themselves about a quarter of
an inch below the level of the deck, and were easily grasped by the
fingers and drawn upward by about a couple of inches.  Over these three
bolts a base-piece was next carefully arranged, which done, the nuts
were put on to the bolt-ends and screwed up tight by means of a spanner.
Then, upon this base-piece was rapidly built up the component parts of
what, upon completion, proved to be a Maxim gun, constructed entirely of
aethereum, with an aethereum shield or turret, cylindrically shaped in
such a manner as to protect completely the entire person of the gunner,
the whole affair being so arranged that the gun could be trained in any
direction by the inmate of the shield.  The mounting of this gun and
shield, and the placing in position of an entire case of cartridges in
readiness for firing, occupied the two men but a bare quarter of an
hour, at the expiration of which time they returned to the pilot-house,
closed the door, and once more sent the engines ahead at full speed.
Meanwhile the pause, that had been necessary to enable them to execute
this task in comfort to themselves, had enabled them to determine the
fact that the atmosphere was practically in a state of calm, the ship
having revealed no perceptible drift in any direction, when once she had
lost her "way" or momentum through the air after the stoppage of her
engines.

The pair had scarcely settled themselves again comfortably in the
pilot-house when the sun rose, and they found themselves sweeping at
headlong speed over a vast plain intersected by a perfect network of
streams and rivers, and dotted here and there with towns and villages, a
few of which they were able to identify by means of a map which they
opened and spread out upon the table before them.  Minute by minute the
sea, gleaming like a polished mirror in the light of the new-born day,
spread itself ever more broadly before and to the left of them, and soon
the indentation of Odessa Bay, with the town stretching along its
southern margin, came into view.  They now decided that the moment had
arrived when the remaining male members of the party ought to be called.
The professor accordingly retired to perform this service, and
presently returned with the information that Sir Reginald and Colonel
Lethbridge were already astir and taking their coffee in the
dining-room.  A few minutes later these two gentlemen made their
appearance in the pilot-house with a cheery "Good morning" to Mildmay.

"The professor tells us that Odessa is in sight," remarked Sir Reginald,
peering ahead through one of the ports.  "Is that the place, right
ahead, on the far side of the bay, with the two lakes beyond it?"

"Yes," answered Mildmay, "that is Odessa.  But what you take to be the
second lake--the more distant and larger sheet of water--is Dniester
Bay, the estuary of the river Dniester; and if you will look away there
into the far distance on our right, you will catch glimpses here and
there of the stream winding through the landscape."

"Yes, of course; I see it quite distinctly," returned Sir Reginald; "and
the broad sheet of water ahead and on our port bow, I take it, is the
Black Sea.  When do you expect to sight the convict-ship?"

"In the course of the next hour I hope to be alongside her," answered
Mildmay.  "Fortunately for us, the weather is gloriously clear, and we
ought, therefore, to sight her at a very considerable distance.
Furthermore, since we know, within a very few miles, precisely where to
look for her, I think we need not anticipate any difficulty in the
matter of identification.  And, once alongside her, I propose to make
short work of the job, even should she happen to be in company with
other ships.  For, in such an event, no other craft--unless, indeed, she
should happen to be a Russian man-o'-war--will be in the least degree
likely to interfere with us."

"Have you decided upon your plan of operation?" demanded Lethbridge.

"Yes," answered Mildmay.  "I propose that as soon as we have sighted and
identified the steamer, we sink to the surface of the water, and
approach our quarry in the character of an ordinary ship of more or less
mysterious appearance, for by so doing we shall render our own
identification all the more difficult.  It will be necessary that the
professor and I should remain here in the pilot-house--I to manoeuvre
the _Flying Fish_, and the professor, prompted by me, to do the hailing
part of the business, since he is the only man among us who can make
himself thoroughly intelligible in the Russian language.  We have
mounted one of our Maxims, as you have, doubtless, already observed; for
it is improbable that the skipper of the other craft will concede our
demands until we have convinced him of our power to enforce them, and I
shall therefore be obliged to request one of you two gentlemen to take
charge of the gun, while the other stations himself in the torpedo-room
for'ard, and stands by to fire a torpedo-shell if necessary."

"Very well," said Sir Reginald.  "I will take the Maxim, and Lethbridge
will no doubt attend to the torpedo part of the business.  But I hope,"
he added, "it will not be necessary to use one of those terrible shells,
for, if it is, the loss of life will be frightful."

"Not necessarily," said the professor.  "Mildmay and I have talked the
matter over together, and our gallant friend is confident of his ability
to manoeuvre the _Flying Fish_ so that the firing of a shell shall
result in nothing more serious than the destruction of the
convict-ship's rudder and propeller, thus completely disabling her
without imperilling her safety."

"Very well," rather reluctantly assented the baronet; "if that can be
done, well and good, but for pity's sake, Mildmay, be very careful what
you do."

"I will," responded Mildmay.  "I am not altogether without hope that we
may be able to accomplish our purpose without the necessity to resort to
so stringent a measure as the firing of a shell; and in any case I
promise you that I will only do so after all other means have failed.
But here we are, clear of the land at last; and we must alter our course
a point and a half to the westward to intercept the chase."

It was exactly thirty-six minutes later, by the clock in the
pilot-house, that Mildmay, peering out through one of the port-holes,
pointed straight ahead, and exclaimed--

"There she is!  There cannot be any mistake about it, for yonder steamer
is exactly where the _Ludwig Gadd_ ought to be; and there is no other
craft anywhere in sight."

The other three men forthwith stepped to the nearest port that would
afford a view of the chase, and gazed eagerly ahead.  And there,
immediately over the long, tapering, conical-pointed bow of the _Flying
Fish_ they beheld, some ten miles distant, a small, faintly denned grey
blotch on the mirror-like surface of the sea, with a trail of black
smoke issuing from it, as though the furnaces on board her had just been
freshly stoked.

"We will descend and take to the water at once," remarked Mildmay.  "The
conditions could not possibly be more favourable for the success of our
plans; and I take it that we shall all be glad to get this business over
as soon as possible, and our suspense brought to an end."

Therewith he laid his hand upon a small wheel, and gave it two or three
turns, thus partially opening the main air-valve and admitting a thin
stream of air into the vacuum chambers of the _Flying Fish_, with the
result that the huge craft at once began to settle down toward the
surface of the sea, upon which, a few minutes later, she floated
buoyantly as a soap-bubble.  Then the main air-pumps were set to work,
forcing compressed air into the vacuum chambers, and causing the ship to
sink very gradually in the water, while at the same time, to facilitate
the operation of sinking, water was admitted into certain of the ballast
chambers in the ship's bottom until she floated at her ordinary trim for
cruising on the surface of the sea--that is to say, with the whole of
her immense propeller completely submerged, and her conical-pointed bow
buried to the depth of a foot or so.  During this operation of
submergence the engines had been stopped, but they were now sent ahead
again at full speed; and some ten minutes later the singular-looking
craft ranged up on the weather quarter of a big black-hulled steamer of
about three thousand tons register, the round stern of which bore the
name of _Ludwig Gadd_ in large, yellow-painted Russian characters.  This
alone was sufficient to identify her beyond question as the convict-ship
of which they were in search; but if further evidence had been needed it
was to be found in the "pen"--a stout, substantially built wooden
structure of closely set palings, about ten feet high, that occupied
nearly the whole of the fore-deck, except a narrow alley-way on each
side of it to allow of the passage of the crew fore and aft, and which
included the great main hatchway, the covers of which had been replaced
by a stout grating, with a small aperture in it just large enough for a
man to squeeze through, and at which a soldier with a loaded rifle stood
guard.

There were not many people visible about the convict-ship's decks, for
the hour was still early, and the business of the day had not yet
begun--although, had she been British, her crew would already have been
at the job of washing the decks and scouring the paint and brass-work.
But here a solitary seaman slouched to and fro on the topgallant
forecastle, keeping a perfunctory lookout; two or three others lolled
over the rail forward, staring in stupid, open-mouthed wonderment at the
silver shape of the _Flying Fish_; and the officer of the watch paced
the bridge athwartships with an air of great importance, pausing for a
moment every time he passed the compass, to glance into its bowl, or
murmur a word to quicken the vigilance of the helmsman.

As the _Flying Fish_, her name temporarily masked by tarpaulins
carelessly dropped over it, ranged up on the other craft's starboard
quarter, close enough to heave a biscuit aboard her, this man paused in
his strutting march, and, standing at the extreme end of the bridge,
gazed with quite visible perturbation at the strange apparition that
seemed to have sprung from nowhere in particular within a very few
minutes; and presently, having meanwhile seemingly made up his mind that
what he beheld was really a ship, hailed in Russian--

"Ho, the ship ahoy!  Port your helm, and sheer off a bit; you'll be
aboard me if you are not careful!"  At the same time he waved his hand
to his own helmsman to starboard his helm.

But Mildmay was a British naval officer--a man who, by training and the
tradition of the Service, had acquired the habit of prompt resolution,
and an equal promptitude of action in the conversion of such resolution
into an accomplished fact.  The helmsman of the _Ludwig Gadd_,
therefore, had scarcely begun to revolve his steering-wheel ere the
_Flying Fish_, with her speed accurately reduced to that of the other
vessel, had sheered still closer, while von Schalckenberg, prompted by
his companion, hailed in Russian, through one of the pilot-house ports--

"_Ludwig Gadd_, ahoy!  Is your captain on deck?"

"No, he is not," bawled back the Russian officer.  "Why should he be on
deck at this unearthly hour of the morning?  And if you do not instantly
sheer off, I will give orders to my men to open fire upon you!  What do
you want? and what do you mean by sheering up alongside me in this
manner?"

The professor rapidly translated this communication to Mildmay, and at
once, again prompted by the latter, replied--

"Be good enough to stop your engines at once, sir, and send a message to
your captain that his presence is required on the bridge.  I have an
important communication to make to him.  And, for your own sake, you
will do well to say nothing about opening fire upon us; for, as you may
see for yourself, our machine-gun is already trained to sweep your
decks, while a single torpedo would suffice to blow you out of the
water.  I beg to assure you that resistance is quite useless; you are
absolutely at our mercy, and you will therefore be well advised to yield
prompt obedience to our request!"

The Russian stood staring with mingled fury and bewilderment for a few
seconds; and then, having apparently arrived at the conclusion that
discretion would perhaps in this case prove the better part of valour,
he laid his hand upon the engine-room telegraph apparatus.  A tinkling
of bells in the ship's interior was distinctly heard by those aboard the
_Flying Fish_, and presently the churning of water about the
convict-ship's rudder suddenly ceased, showing that her engines had been
stopped.  At the same moment the officer on her bridge called a sailor
to him, and, with a few brief words, undistinguishable to those in the
_Flying Fish's_ pilot-house, dispatched him to the interior of the
vessel.

It is probable that the skipper of the _Ludwig Gadd_ had already been
awakened by the hailing that had passed between the two craft, for in
less than five minutes he emerged from the cabin under the poop, and,
making his way forward, leisurely ascended to the bridge, where he was
at once accosted by the officer in charge.  He listened gravely to this
individual's communication, glancing with much curiosity meanwhile at
the strange glittering shape that floated quietly close alongside, and
then, striding to the starboard extremity of the narrow structure upon
which he stood, he hailed, in true nautical fashion--

"Ship ahoy!  What ship is that?"

"Are you the captain of the _Ludwig Gadd_?" hailed back the professor,
ignoring the previous question.

"Ay, ay," answered the skipper, waving his hand impatiently.  "Who are
you, and what do you want?"

"You have on board your ship a certain Colonel Sziszkinski, who is being
transported as a convict.  Is it not so?" answered the professor.

"How do you suppose _I_ should know?" yelled back the skipper, savagely.
"I know nothing whatever about the convicts aboard here.  If your
business has to do with any of them, you had better see the officer who
is going out in charge of them."

"Of course," commented Mildmay, when this had been translated to him.
"I ought to have thought of that.  Ask him to send for the fellow to
come up on to the bridge."

This was done; and about a quarter of an hour later a man attired in a
green military uniform, with a sword belted to his side, and spurs
screwed to the heels of his boots, ascended to the bridge and was
promptly engaged in conference by the skipper.  Presently the latter
came to the starboard end of the bridge, accompanied by the soldier, and
hailed--

"This is Captain Popovski, the officer in charge of the convicts.  He
desires to know what is your business with him."

"Tell him," returned von Schalckenberg, "that we have on board a
prisoner to be exchanged for Colonel Sziszkinski, who has been unjustly
condemned."

The Russian soldier and sailor conferred together for a moment, and then
the latter hailed--

"You have, of course, a proper warrant for this exchange?"

"No," answered the professor; "we have no warrant beyond our power to
enforce our demands.  Yet I think this should be sufficient, since we
can sink you in an instant if you are foolish enough to prove
contumacious.  Be good enough, therefore, to bring Colonel Sziszkinski
on deck at once, and send him, unhurt, aboard us.  In exchange for him
we will hand you over a man who calls himself Count Vasilovich."

The two Russian officers again conferred together for several minutes,
frequently directing their glances at the _Flying Fish_, as though
searching her for confirmatory evidence of her power to enforce her
crew's demands; and at length the Russian skipper, facing about, waved
his hand and shouted--

"All right; we are willing to make the exchange.  One prisoner is as
good as another to us, so long as we can show the number contained on
our list.  We will send the colonel to you forthwith."

And thereupon he faced about and gave certain orders to his subordinate
officer, who in his turn bawled an order to the boatswain to pipe away
one of the quarter boats.  The soldier, meanwhile, descended from the
bridge and went below, doubtless to issue his own orders for the release
of the prisoner.  A minute later some Russian sailors were seen to go
shambling aft aboard the convict-ship and busy themselves upon the task
of lowering a boat, which they presently got afloat and took to the
_Ludwig Gadd's_ gangway.  And at this point in the proceedings Mildmay
shouted through the speaking-tube to Lethbridge that no torpedo-shells
would be required; and would he be good enough to bring Vasilovich up on
deck, in readiness to hand the fellow over in exchange for the colonel.

Lethbridge proved much more prompt in action than the people on board
the convict-ship, and within three minutes of the receipt by him of
Mildmay's communication he stood upon the deck of the _Flying Fish_, in
the company of von Schalckenberg and Vasilovich, awaiting the arrival of
the boat by means of which the exchange of prisoners was to be effected.

The amazement of Vasilovich was profound at finding himself afloat in
the open sea, with the convict-ship--the name on the bows and stern of
which was easily decipherable by him--close alongside.  He stared
alternately about him and at the steamer that lay gently heaving upon
the slight swell within a biscuit-toss of him with an expression of
mingled bewilderment and incredulity that proved highly diverting to the
two men between whom he stood; and presently, turning to the professor,
he gasped--

"Why, Herr Professor, what does this mean?  When you last night called
upon me I was in my own chateau at Pargolovo; and when you compelled me
to enter this ship--if ship it is--it was stationary on dry land.  Now
it is afloat, upon the waters of the Black Sea, if I am to believe my
eyes!  I cannot understand it!  What does it mean?"

"It means, Count," replied von Schalckenberg, "that what you deemed an
impossibility has been accomplished.  When you received that telegram
yesterday, announcing the departure of the _Ludwig Gadd_ from Odessa,
with Colonel Sziszkinski on board her as a convict, you believed that a
man who had dared to oppose certain nefarious plans of yours had at
length been effectually removed from your path, and was at the same time
undergoing a wholesome punishment for his temerity.  Instead of which,
you and he are about to change places; you to go on board the _Ludwig
Gadd_ as a convict, there and in the island of Sakhalien to pay the
inadequate penalty of your countless offences, and the colonel to come
here, as our honoured guest, until we are able to place him and his
daughter, finally and for ever, beyond the reach of other tyrants like
yourself."

"Sziszkinski and I to change places?" ejaculated Vasilovich.  "That
shall never be!  I know not who you are--you people who have perpetrated
this monstrous outrage upon a faithful servant and personal friend of
the Tsar--but I know this, that ere long you will curse the day upon
which you planned it.  Think you that his Majesty will allow such
colossal insolence as yours to go unpunished?  I tell you that--but
enough; I will not degrade myself by further bandying of words with
you."

The professor duly translated this blustering speech to Colonel
Lethbridge, causing the latter to smile, at sight of which Vasilovich
ground his teeth, and cursed the two men roundly in Russian.  But he was
biding his time.  He saw that a boat from the convict-ship was about to
visit the strange craft on board which he found himself; he noted the
fact that his abductors apparently consisted of four men only; and he
confidently believed that upon the arrival of the boat alongside it
would but be necessary for him to declare himself to her crew, and issue
to them his orders, to insure the capture of the strangers and their
extraordinary ship, out of hand.  Meanwhile the convict-ship's gig, with
four oarsmen and a coxswain in her, was hanging on to the foot of her
parent vessel's gangway-ladder; and presently a file of Russian
soldiers, with bayonets fixed, were seen to approach the gangway,
escorting between them a prisoner.  Arrived at the gangway, one of the
two soldiers descended the ladder and seated himself in the stern-sheets
of the gig; the prisoner, heavily ironed, was next assisted down the
ship's side into the boat, where he seated himself beside the soldier
already there; and the second soldier then followed, placing himself on
the other side of the prisoner.  A few minutes then elapsed, at the
expiration of which the officer who had been presented as Captain
Popovski appeared at the gangway, and with much care and circumspection
lowered himself gingerly down the side-ladder into the gig, where he
seated himself square in the centre of the stern-sheets.  He then gave
an order to the coxswain, who repeated it to the boat's crew.  The bow
oarsman bore the boat off from the ship's side, the oar-blades flashed
into the water, and a minute later Captain Popovski was standing on the
deck of the _Flying Fish_, exchanging the most elaborate and ceremonious
of bows with von Schalckenberg and Lethbridge, as his small deep-set
eyes flashed fore and aft in inquisitive scrutiny of the few visible
details of the extraordinary ship on board which he found himself.  He
appeared as though about to speak, but the professor forestalled him.

"Captain Popovski," said von Schalckenberg, in Russian, "I have to
tender to you my most profound apologies for having thus somewhat
unceremoniously interrupted the progress of your voyage; but
unfortunately the information upon which I have acted came to me too
late to render any other course possible.  Knowing, however, how
unpleasant this delay must be to you, I propose to render it as brief as
may be.  Perhaps, therefore, you will have the goodness to give
instructions to your men to bring Colonel Sziszkinski up the side to us,
here, forthwith; and we can then proceed with and complete the exchange
at once."

The captain bowed, though the expression of his features betrayed the
disappointment he experienced at such extreme promptitude of action on
the part of the strangers in whose company he found himself.  His
curiosity had been very keenly aroused by the mysterious appearance of
the _Flying Fish_ upon the scene, by the peculiar and indeed unique
model and structure of the ship herself, and by the singular blending of
politeness with autocratic authority that characterised the demeanour of
her crew; and he had hoped that an offer of hospitality by the strangers
would have afforded him an opportunity to view the interior of the
strange craft, and thus perhaps have enabled him to pick up some few
scraps of information concerning her.  But clearly this was to be denied
him.  He therefore proceeded to the head of the gangway-ladder and gave
an order that presently resulted in the appearance of Colonel
Sziszkinski, accompanied by the two armed guards.

A single glance at the prisoner sufficed to satisfy von Schalckenberg
that Captain Popovski was acting in good faith.  He bowed to the
officer, and said--

"Yes, that is the man we want.  Will you have the goodness, Captain, to
direct your men to remove his fetters and put them upon this man,"--
indicating Vasilovich.

"Stop!" shouted Vasilovich, suddenly stepping forward a pace from the
position he had hitherto passively occupied between the professor and
Lethbridge, and throwing out his arm with an authoritative gesture
towards Captain Popovski.  "Stop!  I forbid you to take the slightest
notice of what that man says.  I am Count Vasilovich, a personal friend
of his Majesty the Emperor--you have no doubt often heard my name, and
are fully aware of the power and influence that I possess.  In the name
of his Majesty I command you to seize this ship and make prisoners of
these men whom you see here, and any other persons whom you may find on
board.  There are but four unarmed men here to oppose you, as you may
see, while there are four of us, three being armed.  Soldiers,
attention!"

He paused suddenly, for von Schalckenberg's hand was on his collar, and
von Schalckenberg's pistol-barrel was making its presence uncomfortably
felt as the muzzle pressed coldly against his scalp just behind the left
ear.

"What?" ejaculated the professor.  "Is it possible that you have so soon
forgotten the capabilities of this little toy of mine?  Be silent, man,
if you do not wish your sinful, misspent life to come to a sudden and
violent end.  I give you your choice: Will you die where you stand, or
will you go peaceably aboard yonder ship?"

"I will go," sullenly answered Vasilovich, through his clenched teeth.

"Good!" remarked von Schalckenberg, cheerfully.  "Proceed, Captain
Popovski, if you please."

The Russian officer, who had been watching this little scene with a
kindling eye and swiftly changing emotions, waved his hand to his men,
who at once stolidly proceeded to remove the fetters from the limbs of
Sziszkinski, and place them upon those of the savagely scowling count.

"You shall pay dearly for this outrage, Captain Popovski," hissed
Vasilovich, as he felt the cold iron being clamped round his wrists.
"Only wait until his Majesty--"

"Silence!" exclaimed Popovski, angrily.  "Remember that you are my
prisoner, and learn to treat me with proper respect.  If you give me the
least trouble I will have you flogged.  I have broken many a prouder
spirit than yours, my man, and doubt not that I can break yours also,
should it be necessary.  Now, march!"  And he waved his hand imperiously
toward the gangway, through which Count Vasilovich and the two soldiers
who had him in custody promptly disappeared.

"I trust, Captain, that your new prisoner is not going to give you
trouble," remarked the professor, blandly.

"I trust not--for his own sake," grimly replied Popovski.  "If he does,
I shall know how to deal with him."

He lingered for a moment, to afford the strangers an opportunity to
invite him below; then, perceiving that no such invitation was to be
forthcoming, he resumed--

"Well, monsieur, I presume that the exchange which you have forced upon
me is now completed, and I may go?"

"Undoubtedly," answered von Schalckenberg, with much suavity of manner.
"And take with you, Captain, the expression of our profound appreciation
of the extreme courtesy wherewith you have acceded to our request.
Believe me, monsieur, we shall never forget it, but shall consider
ourselves as for ever indebted to you.  I very deeply regret that the
exigencies of the situation render it impossible for me to invite you
below, but if you will allow me to summon a steward--"

"On no account whatever, monsieur," answered the captain, hiding his
chagrin in a grim smile.  "You are doubtless as eager as I am to
proceed.  I have, therefore, the honour to bid you a very good morning!"

And therewith, bowing low, he turned and passed through the gangway,
down the ladder, and so into his boat, which a few minutes later was
once more dangling at the davits of the convict-ship, while Count
Vasilovich was being inducted into his new quarters among his fellow
convicts.



CHAPTER NINE.

COLONEL SZISZKINSKI JOINS THE PARTY.

Meanwhile, during the progress of the foregoing scene, Colonel
Sziszkinski, so full of amazement at what was transpiring that he found
it difficult to persuade himself that he was not the victim of some
fantastic hallucination, stood silent and watchful where he had first
halted upon the deck of the _Flying Fish_.  He had, of course, upon the
instant of his arrival, recognised among the strangers who, for some
mysterious reason, were thus interfering with his affairs, the somewhat
remarkable personality of his old friend von Schalckenberg, and he was
also aware, from the exclamation of the professor, that the latter had
recognised him.  But the colonel had recently, in the course of his
prison experience, undergone a course of hard discipline that had
speedily impressed upon him the wisdom of keeping his eyes wide open and
his mouth close shut until he was absolutely sure of all the details of
any situation in which he might find himself.  Moreover, he had observed
that, although von Schalckenberg had unquestionably recognised him, the
professor had vouchsafed no sign indicative of the existence of such a
sentiment as friendship for him.  So, believing that there was doubtless
good reason for this, he remained an impassive but none the less
profoundly interested spectator of what was happening.  But no sooner
were Captain Popovski and his satellites fairly clear of the _Flying
Fish_ than von Schalckenberg darted forward and, seizing the colonel by
both hands, while his eyes beamed ardent friendship through the lenses
of his gold-rimmed spectacles, exclaimed--

"Ach! mein friend, now that that prying Russian has gone we may act and
speak freely!  Welcome, thrice welcome, my dear Boris; and all hearty
congratulations on your escape from a fate that, to a high-spirited
fellow like yourself, would have been far worse than death.  But come
and let me present you to my friends.  This,"--indicating the baronet,
who, seeing that he was no longer needed behind the Maxim, came
sauntering up--"is Sir Reginald Elphinstone, an Englishman, and the
owner of this good ship, the _Flying Fish_.  You have to thank your
daughter first, and Sir Reginald next, for your deliverance from the
hold of yonder convict-ship.  This is Colonel Lethbridge, late of the
British Army; and this is Captain Mildmay, whose retirement from the
British Navy has deprived his country of the services of one of her most
brilliant sailors.  This, gentlemen," he continued, "is my very
excellent friend, Colonel Sziszkinski, one of the Tsar's most faithful
and zealous officers, had his Majesty but known it!"

The party shook hands all round, and Sir Reginald, in a few well-chosen
words, bade the newcomer heartily welcome to the unique shelter afforded
by the _Flying Fish_ for as long a time as he chose to avail himself of
it.  Then the baronet led the way below, saying to his guest--

"Let me conduct you down into the saloon.  I rather fancy you will find
a quite agreeable little surprise awaiting you there."

The "agreeable little surprise"--in the shape of the colonel's
daughter--was indeed found, alone, awaiting the arrival of the newly
released convict in the music-room.  But we will imitate the delicacy of
those on board the _Flying Fish_, and leave father and daughter to
exchange greetings and confidences in private.

Meanwhile, Sir Reginald, having conducted his guest below, and witnessed
the first rapture of the meeting between father and daughter, returned
to the deck, where he found his three male companions standing together,
discussing the events of the last few hours, and watching the receding
convict-ship, which had resumed her voyage, and was by this time nearly
a mile distant.

"Well, Professor," he said, as he joined the group, "having happily
accomplished the rescue of your friend, what is to be our next move?"

"I have been thinking of that," answered von Schalckenberg; "and in view
of the fact that this expedition has been undertaken for the benefit of
your daughter's health, I would suggest that we work our way slowly
southward.  We are now exactly on the meridian of 30 degrees East
longitude, so our friend Mildmay informs me; and by following this
meridian southward we shall cross Asia Minor, hitting the coast some
fifty miles to the eastward of the Black Sea entrance to the Bosporus,
shave past the head of the Gulf of Ismid--which is the easternmost
extremity of the Sea of Marmora--and leave the coast again about halfway
between the island of Rhodes and Gulf of Adalia.  Then, crossing the
easternmost extremity of the Mediterranean Sea, we shall strike the
African coast at Alexandria--sighting the historic Bay of Aboukir--
passing over Lake Mareotis, and plunging into the Libyan Desert.  Then,
if you please, we can turn off at this point and follow the course of
the Nile, visiting the Pyramids, Memphis, Luxor, the ruins of ancient
Thebes, and all the rest of the interesting places that are to be found
on the borders of the grand old river.  But I do not advise this latter
course, for the Egypt of to-day simply swarms with tourists; and I
imagine that you, Sir Reginald, are not anxious to attract that
attention to this ship of yours which it would be practically impossible
for you to avoid by following up the course of the Nile."

"You are quite right, Professor.  We must avoid attention--that is to
say, the attention of civilised folk--as carefully as possible,"
answered Sir Reginald.  "Besides, I think we have all done Egypt pretty
thoroughly already.  Therefore I am in favour of continuing due south
into the very heart of Africa.  We can penetrate into solitudes that
ordinary travellers dare not attempt to reach, and I shall be rather
surprised if we do not find ourselves amply rewarded by some very
interesting discoveries, as was the case during our last cruise.
Furthermore, there are those unicorns to be hunted for afresh.  I shall
never be entirely happy until I have secured a perfect specimen or two
of those beautiful creatures."

"Ach, doze unicorns!" exclaimed von Schalckenberg, throwing out his
hands excitedly; "the very mention of them sets me longing to be after
them again.  Yes--yes, we certainly must not return home until we have
obtained a few specimens of so wonderful an animal.  Fortunately, the
record of our previous voyage enables us to know exactly where to search
for them."

"Quite so," assented Sir Reginald.  "I think, however, Professor, that
before we proceed further we ought to ascertain from your friend,
Colonel Sziszkinski, what are his views respecting the future of himself
and his daughter.  Of course, I hope it is scarcely necessary for me to
say that, as friends of yours, they are most heartily welcome to the
hospitality of the _Flying Fish_ for as long a time as they may care to
accept it; but it is just possible that the colonel may have some plan
that he would wish to put into operation without delay.  In that case it
appears to me that the greatest kindness on our part would be to convey
him forthwith to the scene of his new sphere of action."

"Ach! yes, that is true," agreed von Schalckenberg.  "We might discuss
the matter with Sziszkinski at the breakfast-table--the mention of which
reminds me that I am hungry, while my watch,"--withdrawing the article
mentioned from his pocket and glancing at it--"tells me that breakfast
ought now to be ready."

He glanced round the horizon, which was bare save for the rapidly
receding shape of the convict-ship, and continued--

"I see no reason why, with the approval of Captain Mildmay as our
navigator, we should not remain where we are until after breakfast, by
which time yonder ship will be out of sight, and there will be no one to
note our next movement.  There is no particular object in moving from
here, I think, until our point of immediate destination is fixed.  What
say you, Mildmay?"

"We can remain here perfectly well," agreed Mildmay.  "As you say, there
is no object in moving until we shall have decided in what direction the
movement is to be made, unless, indeed, Sir Reginald has an amendment to
make to your proposition."

"Not I," asserted the baronet.  "I quite agree with the professor.  Ah,
thank goodness, there is the breakfast bell!  This early morning air is
a most wonderful sharpener of the appetite.  Come, gentlemen, let us go
below; _the Flying Fish_ is quite capable of taking care of herself for
the next hour or so."

As the four men filed into the dining-saloon from the vestibule, they
were confronted by Lady Elphinstone and her little daughter, Ida, who
were entering the apartment at its other end, from the music-saloon,
where they had already made the acquaintance of Colonel Sziszkinski,
who, with his daughter, followed them a moment later.

The colonel--who since we saw him last, on the deck of the _Flying
Fish_, had exchanged his exceedingly ugly convict garb for a suit of
clothes sent to his cabin by Colonel Lethbridge, who was about the same
height and build as the Russian--was a decidedly good-looking man, still
in the very prime of life, tall and well set up, as a soldier should be,
with ruddy-flaxen hair, moustache, and beard, and a pair of deep blue
eyes that looked one straight and honestly in the face, and could, upon
occasion, flash very lightnings of righteous indignation.  The professor
could remember the time when it had been an easy matter to bring a
twinkle of rich humour into those same eyes; but, for the present, at
all events, all sense of humour had disappeared in face of the constant
humiliation and petty tyranny to which he had been subjected ever since
his arrest.  For the rest, he was an educated, polished, accomplished
gentleman, with the absolutely perfect manner that seems to come quite
naturally to so many of his countrymen of his own class.

Breakfast, as may be supposed, was an exceptionally cheerful meal that
morning, for Feodorovna Sziszkinski was exuberantly happy in the fact of
her father's marvellous rescue from a fate too dreadful for calm
contemplation; the colonel was happier still, if that were possible, for
the same reason, and because his release had come to him absolutely
without a second's warning or preparation; and the others were in
buoyant spirits at the knowledge that they had been able to make two
very worthy people happy, and that, too, with no trouble beyond what had
brought to them a little pleasant and exhilarating excitement.  The
conversation consisted, for the most part, in a recital by the colonel,
at von Schalckenberg's request, of his experiences while in prison, and
although he touched lightly upon some, and glossed over others, he still
told enough to arouse the deep indignation of his hearers and cause them
to rejoice further at having been the means of delivering him from a
condition of such acute and continuous misery.

At the conclusion of the meal the entire party adjourned to the deck to
take a look round and enjoy the deliciously soft and balmy air.  There
was nothing in sight, and therefore no particular reason why the _Flying
Fish_ should make an immediate move.  Sir Reginald, therefore, deftly so
arranged matters that, while Mildmay undertook to entertain Mlle.
Sziszkinski, and Lethbridge alternately chatted with Lady Olivia and
played with Ida, he got the lately liberated Russian and von
Schalckenberg to join him in a promenade at the other end of the deck
from that occupied by the rest of the party.  Colonel Sziszkinski, who
had, of course, already learned from his daughter the leading
particulars of the circumstances that had led up to his rescue, eagerly
seized this opportunity to reiterate to the baronet his most heartfelt
thanks for his astonishing and most unexpected deliverance, and this
afforded Sir Reginald the opening for which he was looking.

"My dear Colonel," he said, "I beg that you will not say another word
about it, for I assure you that it afforded us unmixed pleasure to
circumvent the plans of that scoundrel Vasilovich and deliver you from
his toils.  Had you been a total stranger to us all, it would still have
been a pleasant task to have done what we have done, in the somewhat
unlikely event of the facts of the case becoming known to us.  But you
happen to be a friend of our dear professor, here, and to be the friend
of one is to be the friend of all of us; and, that being the case, we
all felt bound to help you, even before we had heard the particulars of
your story from your charming daughter.  Now it happened that, just
before breakfast, while you were below, we four adventurers were
discussing the question of the direction in which we should next head
the _Flying Fish_--for I must explain to you that, although we have a
programme of a sort, it is a very elastic one, and subject to alteration
at short notice for any good and sufficient reason,--and we eventually
decided to settle nothing until we had consulted you.  It may be that,
having recovered your freedom, there are certain things that you would
desire to do; and if so, it will afford us the greatest possible
pleasure to assist you to the utmost of our ability.  If, on the other
hand, however, you have as yet no definite plans, let me now say that it
will give us _all_ the greatest possible satisfaction if you and your
daughter will afford us the pleasure of your society during our cruise,
or for so much of it as may be agreeable to you."

"Sir Reginald," exclaimed Sziszkinski, with some emotion, as he grasped
the baronet's extended hand, "I am completely at a loss for words in
which to express adequately the gratitude I feel for your most kindly
and generous offer.  You will, perhaps, the better be able to appreciate
the depth of my feeling when I explain to you that, through the
machinations of that villain Vasilovich, my daughter and I are, save for
your kindly hospitality, homeless, and--with the exception of any money
or jewellery that my daughter may possibly happen to have upon her
person--penniless.  Furthermore, apart from yourselves, we have not a
friend on the face of the earth to whom we can turn for help or
shelter--or rather, who would dare to risk the anger of the Tsar by
affording us either?  Nor have I, at this moment, any plans; for I know
only too well that any attempt to secure the reversal of my sentence and
the return of my confiscated property would be worse than useless, since
it would not only end in failure, but also put me for the second time in
the power of the Tsar.  I therefore accept your most kind invitation to
join your party as frankly as it was offered, and with my most hearty
thanks.  Doubtless, with the advantage of a few days' calm reflection, I
shall be able to evolve some scheme for our future."

"No doubt," assented Sir Reginald.  "But please do not be in any hurry
about it, for the longer you can find it convenient to remain with us,
the better shall we all be pleased.  And if you happen to be anything of
a sportsman, I think we may venture to promise you some sport quite
worth having, and of a rather unique kind?  Eh, Professor?"

"Aha," agreed the professor, "yes, that is so; those unicorns, for
instance."  And forthwith von Schalckenberg plunged animatedly into a
description of the wonderful animals, followed by a recital of the
exciting circumstances under which they had first been seen.

Shortly after this the three men rejoined the rest of the party at the
other end of the deck, Sir Reginald remarking--

"Good friends all, I have a little bit of pleasant news for you.  You
will be glad to learn that von Schalckenberg and I have, between us,
succeeded in inducing Colonel Sziszkinski to give us the pleasure of his
own and his daughter's company during a considerable portion, if not the
whole, of our cruise.  There is, therefore, no need for any alteration
of our arrangements, and we may proceed to carry out our original plan
of travelling slowly southwards.  The question now is whether we shall
continue our journey on the surface of the sea, or take to the air.
What say the ladies?"

Travelling upon the surface of the sea, it appeared, had no terrors for
the ladies; _mal de mer_ never troubled either of them; they were in no
hurry; they found the present conditions exceedingly pleasant, but had
no doubt that it would be equally pleasant to be flying through the air;
and so on, and so on; in short, they were in that pliant state of mind
that predisposed them to assent cordially to any proposal.  It was
therefore agreed to potter along on a due southerly course all day, at a
speed of about ten knots, giving a wide berth to any craft that they
might encounter on the way, and take to the air after nightfall,
availing themselves of the hours of darkness to accomplish their journey
across Asia Minor.  This arrangement was carried out in its entirety,
the party spending a very enjoyable day on deck, although there was
little or nothing to be seen, only two craft--both of them steamers--
being sighted during the day.  They were steering north, and were
hull-down, so that they probably failed to notice the presence of the
_Flying Fish_.  The Maxim gun, being no longer needed, was dismounted
again and stowed away, in accordance with a recognised rule that the
ship was always to be kept in condition for either mounting into the
air, or descending beneath the surface of the sea, at a moment's notice.

Nightfall found the voyagers about sixty miles distant from the southern
shore of the Black Sea, at which point they took to the air, rising to a
height of ten thousand feet, and, with a light air of wind from the
southward against them, increasing their speed to thirty-five knots.

Asia Minor is distinctly a hilly country, but there are no very lofty
elevations under the meridian of the thirtieth degree of east
longitude--along which the _Flying Fish_ was then running--nor, indeed,
in its immediate vicinity, until the southern coast is approached,
where, at a distance of about forty miles from the point at which the
travellers would again pass out over the water, and some twenty-five
miles to the left of their proper course, the Bei Dagh peak rises to a
height of ten thousand four hundred feet, while, a few miles farther on,
and quite near to their track, the highest peak of the Susuz Dagh range
rises still higher by one hundred and fifty feet.  The _Flying Fish_,
therefore, skimming along at a height of ten thousand feet only, was
liable to dash into either of these peaks if it so happened that she
chanced to encounter an air current to deflect her to the eastward of
her proper course.  This, however, was exceedingly unlikely, for at the
height of ten thousand feet above the earth she was in what is known as
"the calm belt" of the atmosphere, where the air-currents--when such
exist at all--are very sluggish.  The danger of collision with either of
the peaks above-mentioned was therefore so remote as to be hardly worth
consideration, and in any case it could not arise until the early hours
of the following morning.  It was therefore decided that there was no
need for the maintenance of an all-night watch in the pilot-house,
Mildmay undertaking to be up in good time to obviate any possibility of
danger.

The first flash of sunrise next morning found the _Flying Fish_ just
passing over the border between land and sea on the southern coast of
Asia Minor, with the Casteloriza Islands practically beneath her, the
Susuz range safely astern, the island of Rhodes, like a pink cloud,
broad abeam on the western horizon, and a soft, delicate purple outline
broad on the port bow, which Mildmay informed them all was the upper
portion of Mount Troados, the highest peak of the mountain range which
forms, as it were, the backbone of the island of Cyprus.  The ship was
still maintaining her height of ten thousand feet above the sea-level,
and her speed of thirty-five knots through the air, both of which
circumstances rendered it necessary for those on board her to make such
observations as they desired from the interior of the ship, the outside
air being too rarefied and keen, and the ship's speed through it too
rapid for exposure to it to be at all agreeable.  It was therefore
arranged that, as their passage across the Mediterranean was likely to
prove uninteresting, and there would therefore be no inducement for any
of them to go out on deck, that passage should be accomplished at full
speed.  The voyagers would then have time to dress and take breakfast at
leisure, and be ready to go out on deck to witness their arrival on the
African coast.

Accordingly, at a quarter to ten o'clock, ship's time, the _Flying Fish_
having been lowered to a distance of three thousand feet above
sea-level, and her speed reduced to about ten knots, the pilot-house
door was thrown open, and everybody passed out on deck, where they found
the air dry and pleasantly bracing, with a temperature of about
fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit.  They were still over the sea, but the
African coast was in plain view some five miles ahead, with the towers
and minarets of the city of Alexandria broad on their starboard bow,
showing quite distinctly in the lenses of their telescopes; while, at
about the same distance, on their port beam, Aboukir castle could be
distinguished, with the historic Bay of Aboukir beyond it.  Half an hour
later the great African continent was beneath them, and they were
looking down upon the ruins of Nicopolisisoi, the line of railway from
Alexandria to Rosetta, and the island-dotted Lake Mareotis.
Thenceforward, for the rest of the day there was but little of interest
to attract the attention of the travellers, apart from the fact that
during the afternoon they caught a distant glimpse of the Pyramids, with
Cairo beyond, on the far eastern horizon.  Finally, at the end of a very
pleasant day's progress across the desert, accomplished at a low rate of
speed on Ida's account, in order that she might not be subjected to a
too rapid change of temperature in their southward progress, after
enjoying the spectacle of a superb desert sunset, they came to earth for
the night some twenty-five miles west of Lake Birket el Keroon.

Progressing thus quietly, at the rate of about a hundred miles per day,
and coming to earth at sunset every evening, the fifth day of their
journey over Africa terminated in the immediate neighbourhood of a patch
of rocky outcrop, some ten miles long by about three miles in width.
Hitherto the travellers had observed no signs of wild life during their
exceedingly leisurely progress southward; but the sight of a water-hole
or two, and a few patches of scanty herbage dotted here and there among
the rocks, led them to hope that here they might at last possibly get
the chance of a shot at game of some sort; and their hope became a
practical certainty when, as the men of the party were promenading the
deck after dinner, and enjoying their tobacco, a hoarse, coughing roar
reached their ears from the direction of the rocks.  The roar was
answered at intervals from other points, and the spirits of the party
rose high in anticipation of sport for the morrow, for the roars were at
once identified as those of lions, and it was forthwith arranged that at
least a portion of the next day should be devoted to hunting the brutes.



CHAPTER TEN.

AN EXTRAORDINARY SIGHT.

The chief topic of conversation at the breakfast-table on the following
morning was, as might be expected, big game shooting; and it then
transpired that the Russian colonel had never faced anything bigger or
more formidable than bears or wolves.  He was consequently much elated
at the prospect of encountering the lordly lion in his native wilds;
especially with so effective a weapon as the magazine rifle firing
twenty shots without reloading, upon the merits of which Colonel
Lethbridge expatiated eloquently.  His elation was of the kind that
easily becomes contagious, and the party were in high spirits when at
length they rose from the table and proceeded to the gun-room to select
their weapons and provide themselves with a supply of cartridges.  These
cartridges, it should be explained, were, like almost everything else
connected with the _Flying Fish_, of quite a unique character, and
totally unlike those used in the ordinary weapons of sport or warfare,
in that they were not charged with gunpowder, but with a preparation of
the singular substance employed for generating the motive power of the
ship's engines.  This substance was so tremendously powerful that a very
minute quantity was all that was needed to take the place of the usual
powder charge, hence the possibility of stowing away as many as twenty
cartridges in a magazine of only ordinary size.  Furthermore, the
cartridges were loaded with several different kinds of missiles.  There
was, for instance, the cartridge charged with shot of various sizes--
from dust-shot for the killing of humming-birds and such like, up to
ordinary buck-shot--enclosed in a case so fragile that the friction of
its passage along the rifling of the barrel destroyed it, causing it to
crumble to dust as it emerged from the muzzle of the weapon, and leave
the charge of shot free to do its work in the same manner as though
fired from an ordinary shot-gun.  Then there was the cartridge charged
with the usual sporting bullet employed for shooting such game as buck
and antelopes; the cartridge with a soft-nosed bullet for war purposes
and the shooting of the larger game, such as giraffes, lions, tigers,
leopards, and the like; and, finally, the cartridge charged with a
thick, heavy steel shell that exploded and blew to pieces upon striking
its mark, thus inflicting so terrible a wound as usually to prove
instantly fatal.  This last was intended for use in the shooting of
elephant, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, and other animals with exceptionally
thick hides, and for any case of exceptional emergency.  It was, of
course, the Numbers 2 and 3 cartridges with which the sportsmen provided
themselves on the present occasion.

The weapons having been selected and a sufficient supply of cartridges
slipped into each man's pocket, the hunters ascended to the deck to take
a preliminary look round with their binoculars, upon the off-chance that
they might catch a glimpse of something that would help them to a
decision as to the point to which to direct their steps.  And here they
discovered that the ladies had preceded them, Lady Olivia, Mlle.
Sziszkinski, and Ida being already there and intently searching the
rocks with their glasses.

"Well, Ida," demanded Sir Reginald, "how many lions have you already
seen?"

"None at all, papa," answered the child, in a playfully aggrieved tone
of voice.  "I saw a deer standing upon that highest rock, a few minutes
ago, but he did not stay there long.  As to lions, I think we are not
very likely to see any; we cannot see very much of the rocks from this
place, and I should like to be able to watch you when you go out to
shoot the lions.  Cannot we move the ship to a place nearer the rocks,
where we can see everything?"

"Of course we can, little woman," answered Sir Reginald, genially.
"And, while we are about it," he added, turning to the others, "we may
as well make a complete circuit of the entire patch--execute a
reconnaissance, in fact; it may enable us to discover some trace of our
quarry, and so save us a long, toilsome tramp in the heat."

And, thereupon, he returned to the pilot-house to put the big ship in
motion.

A few seconds later, with a gentle and almost imperceptible jar, the
_Flying Fish_ rose from the ground to the height of about two hundred
feet, and, with her engines only just turning, began to circle slowly
round the somewhat extensive outcrop, while the party on deck keenly
searched with their binoculars the several irregularities of its surface
as they swung into view.  For some twenty minutes or so the search
proved unsuccessful, and the men were beginning to feel just a trifle
anxious when Lethbridge exclaimed, with a sigh of relief--

"Ah! now we are getting `warm,' as Ida would say.  Do you see that small
bunch of gazelle drinking at the pool yonder?  Where they are, there
also--or not very far off--will our friend Leo be, I fancy."

In a moment every glass was directed full upon the half-dozen or so of
graceful animals that were now in full view scarcely a quarter of a mile
distant, but which had hitherto been hidden by a huge intervening mass
of rock.  It appeared as though Lethbridge's assumption would probably
prove correct, for the animals betrayed evident signs of uneasiness, as
though suspicious of danger, though unable to determine the point from
which to expect it.  They drank hesitatingly, taking small sips of water
and then throwing up their heads with a startled air, their ears
twitching incessantly, and their bodies braced as though in readiness to
bound off like a flash at the first suspicious sign.  The party who
watched them with such interest were at first disposed to attribute the
uneasiness of the animals to the presence of the _Flying Fish_, which
was now in full view; but von Schalckenberg, who was a good deal of a
naturalist as well as an experienced _shikari_, confidently asserted
that it was not, that it was something very much nearer that was
disturbing them; and presently, while the elders of the party were
discussing the matter, and intently watching the gazelles through their
binoculars, Ida cried out--

"Oh, look, mamma; look, Colonel; what is that great thing like a spotted
cat that is crouching behind that long ledge of rock to the left of
where the gazelles are standing?  Is it a leopard?  Surely it must be!
And, oh dear, I believe it is trying to get near enough to the gazelles
to spring upon one of them!  Please, _please_ don't let him do it; shoot
him, somebody, quick!"

"Whe

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