All the learned savants and geographers1 of the day were present, for the subject to be discussed was one of great interest.
For centuries countless2 efforts had been made to reach either the North or South Poles. The country contiguous to these points had ever remained an unexplored tract3.
For many scientific reasons it had been deemed necessary to reach these points. Moreover, man’s curiosity seemed to demand it.
But all attempts by land or sea had proved futile4.
This was accepted as a fact. But the learned savants were disposed to believe the feat5 not impossible.
And this was why the meeting had been called.
The most feasible way to reach the Poles and the organization of a party to attempt it was the topic of discussion.
One man proposed the route through Greenland. Another favored the Behring Sea route. A third, was in favor of approaching it from Siberia.
But none of these projectors6 could substantiate7 their plans with any logical method of procedure.
“Admit that the Greenland route is feasible,” said the chairman, “how will you provide means of travel?”
“With dogs and sledges,” said one man.
“And the supplies?”
Ah, here was the stumbling block. No sledge8 team could hope to carry the supplies for so large a party.
So that plan found chary9 support.
Thus the meeting was in a state of perplexity and much uncertainty10, when an incident happened which put a new face upon matters.
Suddenly a short, broad-shouldered man, with glasses, pushed forward.
“Mr. Chairman!” he said.
“Professor Gaston!” replied the chair.
“I would like to submit a plan for reaching the Poles, which I confidently claim will be successful.”
Instantly a great stir was created.
The savants all pushed forward. All knew Gaston well and favorably.
“Hear, hear!” was the cry.
At once the chairman rapped to order, and then addressed Gaston:
“How do you propose to reach the Poles?” he asked.
The professor looked around as if challenging denial, and said:
“By airship.”
For a moment a pin could have been heard to drop in the hall. Then there was a murmur11, and the members began to laugh.
“Did you hear that?”
“Proposes to go to the Poles by airship!”
“The man is crazy!”
“Where is his airship?”
The chairman rapped for order.
“I trust you will be courteous12 enough to give the gentleman a hearing,” he said.
“Oh, certainly!” said a mocking voice.
Professor Gaston looked angry and made a hot reply:
“I was not aware that there was anything so extremely farcical in my remarks,” he said. “If I can substantiate them with the truth and actual demonstration13, you can ask no more.”
“We will ask for no more,” said one of the crowd. “But can you do it?”
“I can.”
“Where is your airship?”
“It is in existence, though not my property. When I have rendered this mighty14 aid to science, perhaps some of you revilers will be inclined to apologize.”
With this Professor Gaston led the way to the speakers’ platform, and was followed by a young man of remarkable15 appearance.
He, was tall, slender and handsome. His features were clear cut, refined and remarkable for their stamp of intelligence. Every eye was upon him.
“Mr. Chairman,” said Professor Gaston, courteously16, “allow me to introduce to you Frank Reade, Jr., the most famous inventor on earth to-day.”
The young inventor blushed with this glowing eulogy17.
But he bowed to the chairman and exchanged a few pleasant words with him; then Professor Gaston addressed the society:
“Mr. Reade is the foremost inventor of the day. He is the creator of the Submarine Boat and many other wonderful things. He has now come to the front with a new airship with which he offers to travel from zone to zone in the efforts to locate the Poles.
“From one frigid18 zone to the other he will proceed with his airship and accomplish with the greatest ease that which has been since the creation of the world an utter impossibility for man to do.
“Now, brother scientists, what sort of a reception ought we to give to a man who agrees to do such a wonderful thing as this? I appeal to your fairness!”
There was a moment of silence. Then one man said:
“Let him prove his ability to do what he proposes, and: not only the society but the world will bow down before him.”
“I think I can prove that to you very quickly!” said Frank Reade, Jr. “I have solved the problem of aerial navigation long since, and you have only to come to Readestown to see my airship to believe it.”
“Then your airship is a reality?” asked one of the professors.
“It is.”
“And you have taken an aerial ride in it?”
“I have.”
“We would like to see it.”
“If you will come to Readestown in two days from now you will see it fly, and also see me off on my trip from zone to zone!
“That there may be no misunderstanding, let me say that I am here to-night solely19 to please my friend, Professor Gaston, and only at his very urgent request.
“I have no axe20 to grind in coming here. I am seeking no emolument21 or pecuniary22 reward. I have simply offered to this society the privilege of allowing one of their members to accompany me and make valuable scientific data. It remains23 for the society now to act.”
With firmness and with dignity Frank Reade, Jr., spoke24. His speech and manner impressed the learned body of men deeply.
They saw at once that it was no ordinary man that addressed them in this manner. The tide of popular opinion in Frank’s favor became almost overwhelming.
One man leaped upon a chair and cried:
“I move that the society send a representative and that Gaston be the man!”
Cheers filled the hall.
The learned professor looked gratified and pleased. He at once replied:
“I fear there are many much better qualified25. Yet, of course, I would not refuse so important a trust if I am deemed capable.”
The result was that a ballot26 was taken. The result was overwhelming. Gaston was unanimously chosen.
The great undertaking27 was begun.
That night the press of the country resounded28 with exciting reports of the meeting, and the proposed attempt of Frank Reade, Jr., to travel from zone to zone in his airship.
A committee of the Scientific Society went up to Readestown to take a look at the new airship.
Frank Reade, Jr., was always pleased to show his inventions. He led the company into a vast high-trussed building.
There, upon the stocks, was the wonderful airship.
She was just undergoing proper fitting out for the long trip. Two men of rather peculiar29 appearance were working upon her.
One was an Irishman with a shock of red hair and a broad mug. The other was a darky, black as ebony, and jolly as a genial30 Dutchman.
One was known as Barney O’Shea and the other as Pomp.
They had been in the employ of Frank Reade, Jr., for many years and were much devoted31 to him.
The airship as revealed to the visitors was indeed a wonderful machine.
In shape it was long and narrow, and built after the lines of a mackerel. The hull32 was of thinly rolled platinum33, coated with bullet proof steel.
The shell thus formed could easily be lifted by four men, despite its huge proportions.
Along the sides of the shell were slides and a coarse network which could be let up or down so as to inclose the hull or make it open at will.
In these slides were round portholes for observation or to fire at an enemy through. The bow of the airship was sharp and carried a ram34. The stern carried a pair of strong propellers35.
In the stern also was the after cabin and galley36, the quarters of the crew, Barney and Pomp.
Midway in the hull was the cabin and engine-room. The cabin was small, but fitted up exquisitely37 in leather and plush.
The engine-room held the powerful electric engines which formed the motive38 power of the airship.
These were Frank Reade, Jr.’s special invention, and the secret of their construction he would not betray to anybody.
Upon the prow39 of the airship was the wheel-house, and also a mighty powerful searchlight, capable of penetrating40 the darkest night for a distance of two miles.
Now let us turn to the elevating power of the famous invention.
Gas was not employed in any shape. A much stronger and safer medium was used, as the reader will agree.
There were three tall masts rising from the upper deck of the airship.
The mainmast carried a powerful rotascope, which was alone capable of supporting the airship.
The other masts carried four powerful wings of oiled silk and huge proportions. The shape and mechanism41 of these wings Frank had derived42 from the model of the butterfly, an insect noted43 for its airy and swift flight.
By means of various pulleys and sockets44 these wings were made to act as lightly and gracefully45 as the model.
This is a meager46 and incomplete description of the Dart47.
The Scientific Society’s committee were overwhelmed with the wonderful mechanism and the simple practicability of the Dart.
“Mr. Reade, we are delighted,” said the spokesman, “and we feel sure of your success. If you do not fail you will surely put your name upon the topmost scroll48 of fame.”
“I shall hope to succeed,” replied Frank, modestly. “That is my aim.”
The committee took its departure.
Only two days more remained of preparation for the wonderful voyage from zone to zone.
The whole scientific world was agog49. After the sailing of the Dart with their representative, Professor Gaston, aboard, they waited with deepest interest for news from the party. They were destined50 to wait many weeks.
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1
geographers
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| 地理学家( geographer的名词复数 ) | |
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countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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tract
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| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
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futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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projectors
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| 电影放映机，幻灯机( projector的名词复数 ) | |
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7
substantiate
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| v.证实；证明...有根据 | |
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sledge
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| n.雪橇，大锤；v.用雪橇搬运，坐雪橇往 | |
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9
chary
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| adj.谨慎的，细心的 | |
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uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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13
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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17
eulogy
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| n.颂词；颂扬 | |
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18
frigid
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| adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的 | |
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solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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emolument
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| n.报酬，薪水 | |
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22
pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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24
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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25
qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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ballot
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| n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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29
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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31
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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32
hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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platinum
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| n.白金 | |
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ram
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| (random access memory)随机存取存储器 | |
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35
propellers
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| n.螺旋桨，推进器( propeller的名词复数 ) | |
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36
galley
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| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； | |
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exquisitely
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| adv.精致地；强烈地；剧烈地；异常地 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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prow
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| n.(飞机)机头，船头 | |
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40
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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mechanism
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| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
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42
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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44
sockets
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| n.套接字，使应用程序能够读写与收发通讯协定(protocol)与资料的程序( Socket的名词复数 )；孔( socket的名词复数 )；（电器上的）插口；托座；凹穴 | |
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45
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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46
meager
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| adj.缺乏的，不足的，瘦的 | |
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47
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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48
scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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49
agog
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| adj.兴奋的，有强烈兴趣的； adv.渴望地 | |
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50
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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