Neither Ballard nor Clarke seemed to be specially keen about their coming trip but as it was an assignment each went to it as readily as if he had been ordered to the front in battle. Mr. Phillips was joking with them when Ned and Alan reappeared.
“Are you ready, gentlemen?” Ned asked, looking at his watch.
It was six minutes of two o’clock. Mr. Phillips began shaking hands. The other men nervously drew out their own watches and each smiled.
“We are a little ahead of time but the visitors are gettin’ thick. We are ready,” continued Ned.
“I wish you the best of luck,” he said soberly.
“Wish us all the highest speed,” exclaimed Ned with a smile. “We’ve got a job ahead of us that calls for it.”
With another good-bye all around Mr. Phillips clambered down the ladder and instantly it was drawn up with a bang.
“Won’t you gentlemen go into your rooms until we are under way?” asked Ned with something of authority in his voice.
As they did so each member of the crew went to his post. Alan and Buck took the starboard and port galleries and with insistent demands drove the spectators back. Again and again they yelled until all was clear about the _Flyer_.
“All clear forward,” called Alan at last.
Slowly the propellers began to move. Then faster until the great ship began to tremble.
“Good-bye,” came Mr. Phillips’ parting words.
“Good-bye,” answered Alan waving his cap as the _Flyer_ lifted its huge shape into the air. “Report our departure two one P. M.”
The real test of the _Ocean Flyer_ had begun.
EXTRACTS FROM THE LOG OF THE _Ocean Flyer_
“June 22, 2.1´ P. M. Left Acton (London). Fair S. W. wind. Thermometer 88°. Mr. Hope at wheel. Magnetic course, N. 55° 30´ W. (N. W. 7/8 W.) Altitude 800 ft. Speed 176 miles per hour.
“June 22, 6.47´ 12´´ P. M. Finished fourth leg W. bound. Heavy S. W. wind. Thermometer 68°. Mr. Napier at wheel. Magnetic course, N. 62° W. (N. W. by W. 1/2 W.) Altitude 2,800 ft. Speed, 165 miles per hour. East bound speed average of three miles per hour dropped to 2.75 miles. Distance covered, 788 miles. Mr. Napier and Mr. Hope in consultation over loss due to increasing S. W. wind. At 4 P. M., Mr. Ballard was too ill to work. Mr. Clarke busy writing. Mr. Bowman working under difficulties owing to the motion of the ship. Mr. Stewart served dinner at 5.30´ P. M. Mr. Ballard did not appear. Mr. Bowman, the photographer, has been forward many times. Interesting descriptions by him of the royal pageant.