Contents
CHAP. Page
I. THE FAME OF THE ZEPPELIN 9
II. ANDREW PROVOST'S RESOLUTION 25
III. DICKY HAMSHAW, MIDSHIPMAN 42
IV. THE GREAT AIRSHIP 58
V. A TOUR OF INSPECTION 77
VI. CARL REITBERG, SPORTSMAN 94
VII. EN ROUTE FOR ADRIANOPLE 111
VIII. THE BESIEGED CITY 126
IX. DICK HAMSHAW SAVES THE SITUATION 144
X. A THRILLING RESCUE 166
XI. SOME FACTS AND FIGURES 187
XII. CARL ABOARD THE BIPLANE 203
XIII. TO THE NORTH-WEST FRONTIER 222
XIV. A BRUSH WITH PATHANS 243
XV. THE GREAT ATTEMPT 260
XVI. RECORD HIGH FLYING 277
XVII. A DESPERATE SITUATION 297
XVIII. OFF TO NEW GUINEA 313
XIX. SAVED FROM THE NATIVES 331
XX. ADOLF FRUHMANN'S VENTURE 349
Illustrations
Facing Page
"AIRSHIP IN SIGHT, SIR!" Frontispiece
ARRIVED WITH A BUMP FACING COMMANDER JACKSON 80
THE COLLAPSE OF CARL REITBERG 272
THE QUARTET SET OUT FOR THE AIRSHIP 320
THE GREAT AIRSHIP
CHAPTER I
The Fame of the Zeppelin
There are exceptions, we suppose, to almost every rule, and this
particular Friday towards the end of June was such an exception. It was
fine. Not a cloud flecked the sun-lit sky. A glorious blue expanse hung
over a sea almost as blue, but criss-crossed in all directions by the
curling white tops of tiny wavelets, all that remained to remind one of
the atrocious weather which had prevailed. For the North Sea, Europe,
Great Britain, everywhere in fact, had been treated to a succession of
violent gales, to a continuous deluge of rain, to bitter hail, and
squalls of snow in some parts. And here and now, off the mouth of the
river Elbe the sun shone, the sky was a delight, a balmy breeze fanned
the cheeks of the passengers crowding the decks of the Hamburg-Amerika
liner.
