Mike was quick to see the advantage that the Eolus had over other airships and he remarked with enthusiasm:
"Well Jack, it will take a lively hurricane to drive you much from your course, but how in the world will you keep from freezing?"
"Nothing easier," I said, as I touched a button and lighted the electric burners that were placed between the inner and outer walls. In a minute the walls were hot to the touch and the air inside became sultry.
"Gracious!" exclaimed Mike. "You can never stand this. It will roast you."
"Then we will cool it," I said, as I shut off part of the burners, "or if this is not enough, I will shut them all off."
"But," said Mike, "you have it so hot now that it will take an hour to cool off."
"Not so," I replied. "I will open the doors and start the electric fans," and suiting the action to the word, a cool breeze took the place of the sultry air. "But if you want it cooler," I continued, "I will bring the temperature down a point or two more," and closing the doors, I opened the refrigerator compartment and in a moment we were shivering with the cold.
"Well!" exclaimed Mike, "I never knew climate to change so rapidly. I think you have not been dodging up to the Pole and back for nothing. You seem to have provided for every emergency but one, and that is the freezing of the moisture which is already obscuring your lookouts by this manufactured dose of winter."
"That is provided for," I said, as I started the circular lookout glasses into motion under a specially prepared brush which absorbed the moisture. Mike noticed the disappearance of the clouds on the lookouts but did not observe the cause and looked at me inquiringly.