登陆注册
5234100000011

第11章 CHAPTER V. THE PROFESSOR'S UNKNOWN LAND.(1)

There was neither time nor opportunity for taking notes, for that long rope straightened out in the fraction of a second, throwing all prostrate as the flying-machine was jerked upward with awful force.

All around them raged and roared the mighty winds, while missiles of almost every deion pelted and pounded both machine and inmates during those few seconds of extraordinary peril.

Fortunately neither the professor nor his nephews could fairly realise just what was taking place, else their brains would hardly have stood the test; and fortunately, too, that ordeal was not protracted.

A hideous experience while it lasted, those vicious currents dragging the aerostat upward out of the air-chamber by means of grapnel and rope, then casting all far away in company with wrecked trees and bushes, and even solider materials, all shrouded for a time in dust and debris, which hindered the eyesight of both uncle and nephews.

Through it all the brothers were dimly aware of one fact uncle Phaeton was shrilly bidding them cling fast and have courage.

All at once they felt as though vomited forth from a volcano which alternately breathed fire and ice, the clear light of evening bursting upon their aching, smarting eyes with actual pain, while that horrid roar of warring elements seemed to pass away in the distance, leaving them--where, and how?

"We're falling to--merciful heavens! Hold fast, all!" screamed the professor, desperately striving to regain full command of their air-ship. "The tiller is jammed, but--"To all seeming, the aerostat had sustained some fatal damage during that brief eruption caused by the professor's little experiment, for it was pitching drunkenly end for end, refusing to obey the hand of its builder, bearing all to certain death upon the earth far below.

Half stupefied with fear, the brothers clung fast to the life-line and glared downward, noting, in spite of themselves, how swiftly yonder dark tree-tops and gray crags were shooting heavenward to meet them and claim the sacrifice.

With fierce energy Professor Featherwit jerked and wrenched at the steering-gear, uttering words such as had long been foreign to his lips, but then--just when destruction appeared inevitable--a wild cry burst from his lungs, as a broken bit of native wood came away in his left hand, leaving the lever free as of old!

And then, with a dizzying swoop and rapid recovery, the gallant air-ship came back to an even keel, sailing along with old-time grace and ease, barely in time to avoid worse mishap as the crest of a tall tree was brushed in their passage.

"Saved,--saved, my lads!" screamed the professor, as his heart-pet soared upward once more until well past the danger-line. "Safe and sound through all,--praises be unto the Lord, our Father!"Neither brother spoke just then, for they lay there in half stupor, barely able to realise the wondrous truth: that their lives had surely been spared them, even as by a miracle!

That swooping turn now brought their faces towards the tornado, which was at least a couple of miles distant, rapidly making that distance greater even while continuing its work of destruction.

"And we--were in it!" huskily muttered Bruno, his lids closing with a shiver, as he averted his face, unwilling to see more.

"Heap sight worse than being in the soup, too, if anybody asks you," declared Waldo, beginning to rally both in strength and in spirit. "But--what's the matter with the old ship, uncle Phaeton?"For the aerostat was indulging itself in sundry distressing gyrations, pretty much as a boy's kite swoops from side to side, when lacking in tail-ballast, while the professor seemed unable to keep the machine under complete control.

"Nothing serious, only--hold fast, all! I believe 'twould be as well to make our descent, for fear something--steady!"Just ahead there appeared a more than usually open space in the forest, and, quite as much by good luck as through actual skill, Professor Featherwit succeeded in making a landing with no more serious mishap than sundry bruises and a little extra teeth-jarring.

As quickly as possible, both Bruno and Waldo pitched themselves out of the partially disabled aeromotor, the elder brother grasping the grapnel and taking a couple of turns of the strong rope around a convenient tree-trunk, lest the ship escape them altogether.

"No need, my gallant boy!" assured the professor, an instant later. "All is well,--all IS well, thanks to an over-ruling Providence!"In spite of this expressed confidence, he hurriedly looked over his pet machine, taking note of such injuries as had been received during that remarkable journey, only giving over when fairly satisfied that all damage might be readily made good, after which the aerostat would be as trustworthy as upon its first voyage on high.

Then, grasping the brothers each by a hand, he smiled genially, then lifted eyes heavenward, to a moment later sink upon his knees with bowed head and hands folded across his bosom.

Bruno and Waldo imitated his action, and, though no audible words were spoken, never were more heartfelt prayers sent upward, never more grateful thanks given unto the Most High.

Boy, youth, and man alike seemed fairly awed into silence for the next few minutes, unable to so soon cast off the spell which had fallen upon them, one and each, when realising how mercifully their lives had been spared, even after all earthly hope had been abandoned.

同类推荐
  • 晋中兴书

    晋中兴书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 黄龙四家录

    黄龙四家录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 摩诃般若波罗蜜钞经

    摩诃般若波罗蜜钞经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 噶玛阑志略

    噶玛阑志略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 五灯严统目录

    五灯严统目录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 茵为爱:女追男大逆转

    茵为爱:女追男大逆转

    懵懂淘气的小女子周成茵,初中还没毕业就暗恋上了表哥老婆的表弟,大自己五岁的杨帆,这段既不是近亲,也不是禁断的爱,潜伏十年后终见天日。表白当晚,皓月当空,寒风刺骨,英俊潇洒的杨帆温柔地削断了成茵的情思,让成茵从兴奋的云端直接掉到了冰冷的河里——明明是自己不小心,却被扬帆误以为是自杀……情场难淡定,职场当劳模。成茵一门心思事业爱情双丰收,寻回尊严,报仇雪恨。殊不知,那命运的推手又开始东扯西拽了……
  • 一本书读懂24种互联网思维

    一本书读懂24种互联网思维

    本书整合的改变世界的24种互联网思维,让我们对互联网新思维的认识变得立体、系统起来;同时深入浅出、通俗易懂地从技术和实践分析互联网新思维与传统思维相比较的优势,医治互联网焦虑症。未来属于既能深刻理解传统商业的本质,同时又具备互联网思维的人。
  • 金光明最胜王经

    金光明最胜王经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 穿越废材:毒妃惊华

    穿越废材:毒妃惊华

    王牌杀手,倾世毒医,一朝穿越,竟成了懦弱夏府嫡女?姨娘陷害,庶妹夺夫?王者之魂穿越而来,斗倒恶婆娘,手撕白莲花;无能废柴?你见过七星天赋,全能属性的废材?貌似无盐?姑奶奶我回眸一笑,多少死心塌地的桃花?太子欺凌?一包毒药让你断子绝孙!穿越一回,手撕渣男贱女;全能天赋,契约神兽;高调做人,低调杀人;走上强者之路。只是那什么战神王爷,能从我床上下去不?
  • 谋圣鬼谷子

    谋圣鬼谷子

    鬼谷子作为兵家的著名代表之一,他通天彻地,兼顾数家学问,是战国历史上极具神秘色彩的显赫人物。是当下读者都比较感兴趣的人物之一,本书采用了大量纪实手法更全面和客观地观察鬼谷子。《谋圣鬼谷子》与大型历史谋略情节剧《谋圣鬼谷子》同名,是由著名导演郭宝昌倾心打造的一部史诗级电视盛宴。本剧由段奕宏、戚薇、倪大红、等著名演员联袂主演,号称2014年最好的战争史诗大篇,本书讲述了战国时期诸侯纷争、百家争鸣、异彩纷呈的历史。谋略家鬼谷子集儒、道、墨、法、兵、阴阳等思想于一身,融会贯通,运用自如。在乱世中,用“奇计”创造奇迹,用谋略推动时代发展的传奇故事。
  • 永恒九天

    永恒九天

    一个世界,一个玄幻。少年若绎,数年归来,废物依旧,冷眼翻倍。唯有一种丹药可替天改命,重塑玄脉。当他吞下这颗丹药之时,也便掉入一个蓄谋已久的阴谋之中。人,应不辜此生一遭,既来之则该之!信念不死,此生不败!九天世界,精彩尽在。
  • 问剑至尊

    问剑至尊

    大千世界,千秋鼎盛。苍穹中央,有神皇执天意,盖千秋,抚苍生太平。太古神山,有武皇冰帝弈棋上苍,卷四方风云,笑天下英雄。天宫琼楼,有观星老人,册立天下奇榜,屹轮回之巅,众生敬仰。更有幽冥深渊,帝域山河,道尽千古沧桑......各方帝主掌天地造化,神榜骄子名动万古,他们袖藏青云,谱写一卷大千盛世。于是,来自苍茫海域的少年,仗剑而立,开启了一段笑问苍穹的热血传说!
  • 岩幽栖事

    岩幽栖事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 回猫之我是灰球酱

    回猫之我是灰球酱

    《回到过去变成猫》官方同人——作为一个不愁吃喝的房二代,苏幕遮用某种最恶俗的方式(触电)穿越到了《回猫》一书中某只刚出场就要领盒饭的老鼠身上。且看他如何自救,如何在黑炭的手下混的风生水起!“有黑炭老大罩着,小柚子主人抱着,此生无憾鸟~~~”
  • 十日谈

    十日谈

    《十日谈》是欧洲文学史上第一部现实主义巨著,作品开头有个序曲,叙述了在佛罗伦萨瘟疫流行的背景下,十名青年男女在乡村一所别墅里避难时所发生的事情。十个青年每人每天讲一个故事,十天共讲了一百个故事,故名《十日谈》。每篇故事长短不一,内容包罗万象,而人文主义思想是贯穿全书的一条主线。据薄伽丘讲,《十日谈》中的故事都是有理有据的。作品中描写和歌颂了现世生活,赞美爱情是才智的高尚的源泉,歌颂自由爱情的可贵,肯定人们的聪明才智等。作品也揭露封建帝王的残暴,基督教会的罪恶,教士修女的虚伪等等。