Grit leaped joyfully upon him,
for he and Larry were great friends.
"Going to take her up, Dick? " asked Larry Dexter.
"Going to try," was the cautious answer.
"Want to take a chance?"
"I sure do! It won't be the first chance I've taken. And I may
get a good story out of this. Got orders from the editor not to
let anything get away from me."
"Well, I hope you have a success to report, and not a failure,"
remarked Paul.
"Same here," echoed Beeby.
When the airship had been hauled to the edge of the starting ground,
a smooth, hard-packed, level space, inclining slightly down grade,
so as to give every advantage, a careful inspection was made of
every part of the craft.
As I have explained, all the vital parts of the Abaris were in the
enclosed cabin, a unique feature of the airship. In that, located
"amid-ships," was the big motor, the various controls, the living,
sleeping and dining-rooms and storage compartments for oil, gasolene
and supplies. Naturally there was no excess room, and quarters were
almost as cramped as on a submarine, where every inch counts.
But there was room enough to move about, and have some comfort. On
an enclosed platform back of the cabin there was more space. That
was like an open deck, and those on it would be protected from the
fierce rushing of the air, by means of the cabin. This cabin, I
might add, was built wedge-shaped, with the small part pointing
ahead, to cut down the air resistance as much as possible.
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