Thus challenged, the aeronaut’s eyes brightened considerably; he seemed, however, as if he were reluctant to give full play to what he really thought, though it was clear that he had sentiments of his own which he was capable of imparting if he were so disposed.
The squire’s daughter seeing this, and being determined to draw him out if possible, said,—
“I hope the day will never come when the anarchists will use these scientific appliances to pour down upon the people’s heads tons of fire and flame in the dreadful way we have read about.”
“Indeed,” said the aeronaut, “I think it much more probable that the constituted authorities may turn upon the heads of the anarchists some kind of check in that form—that is, if ever they combine in such an immense array that the latest types of guns cannot disperse them, as Maxim’s guns did the hordes of Matabeleland.”
“What do you say to that, sir?” asked the squire of his nautical visitor.
“I quite agree with the aeronaut,” replied the mariner; “and I may mention,” continued he, “that balloons, and parachutes as well, have only recently been proposed for use by my friend to illustrate how applicable they are for such purposes in proper hands, and he has shown that they can be advantageously employed without waiting for the aid of flying machines and directable aerostats, which have been so long promised, and yet I doubt, if the sum of £10,000 were offered to any man who could unmistakably demonstrate ‘flight’ before a committee of reliable men, that there would be found anyone able to entitle himself to it!”
“Yes,” said the squire, “that would be a fair enough way of settling these pretensions.”
“But don’t you believe, Miss Dove,” added the aeronaut, “that the continental military balloonists can direct their air ships so that those anarchical foreigners can bombard our coasts, cities and towns with dynamite in the way they propose?”
“You do not think, then, that flying is to be so easily accomplished?”
“Not just yet. Futile attempts may be made, and many narrow escapes recorded.”