“All right, Jack. Let us start.”
I climbed up on my seat. Mike started the motor. The machine began to move along the starting rail, and rose like a bird. When we had gone up to about the height of 200 feet we circled around over Cork. In the dawning light we could see the strange tower of the Church of Saint Mary Shandon, St. Patrick’s Street, and the beautiful Cathedral of St. Finbar’s. I could also distinguish Queen’s College.
Turning in a northwestern direction, Mike said to me:
“Now we’re off.”
We were speeding through the air towards Killarney.
CHAPTER II
FLYING OVER KILLARNEY IN AN AIRSHIP
It was just 4:30 by my watch as we started from Cork on that eventful 11th day of July. There was good daylight, but the city was still wrapped in its slumbers.
It was a beautiful summer morning and our spirits rose with the aeroplane. We began the strangest trip through Ireland that was ever made by man. I can never forget the sight of the green fields of County Cork that morning. It was a scene of peaceful loveliness.