“I thought so,” said Nat, with a laugh, as he caught a twinkle in the consul’s eyes; “I guess it will be one of those to-morrows that never come.”
“I’m afraid so,” said the consul. “There is little law in this country, and it’s a case of every one looking out for himself.”
After some more talk, in which all freely expressed their indignation against the rascals who had decoyed Nat, work on the erection of the dirigible was begun. It proceeded rapidly. By afternoon the lower framework of the craft was in position and bolted firmly in place. This part of the craft merits a somewhat detailed description. It was of an aluminum alloy, of great strength and lightness.
Amidships of the structure, which was shaped not unlike a long sleigh, was a canvas-enclosed cabin. The front part of this was fitted with round windows for the helmsman to see out of, and contained the wheel by which the great rudder was controlled. The various levers and handles for the management of the engine were also manipulated, like the rudder, from this “pilot-house,” as it may be called.
Just aft of the pilot-house the canvas-enclosed framework did duty as a dining, living and sleeping room, being fitted with swinging bunks, which, when not in use, folded up against the ceiling. A collapsible table and other furniture of the same character were also to be found in this chamber, as well as a denatured alcohol stove for cooking, and a complete outfit of plates, knives, forks, etc.
Behind the pilot-house came the heavy frames and stringers, destined to support the engine. This was a six-cylinder motor of one hundred horse power, which drove a big suction propeller attached to the front of the framework. Thus the dirigible was drawn, and not pushed, through the air. The propeller was ten feet from tip to tip, and formed of laminated wood covered with canvas stretched tightly upon the timber.
A sort of gangway, or path, extended from bow to stern of this framework, enabling the aerial navigators to walk to any part of the structure at will.
The entire frame was secured to the vast gas bag by numbered ropes, with steel cores to insure their stoutness. Relief valve-cords and gas controls all ran to the pilot-house, under which structure a steel tank, capable of holding two hundred gallons of gasolene, was suspended. A reserve supply of fuel was also carried, as well as lubricating oil, and what Joe Hartley called “a machine shop full of tools.”
There were other features of the craft, which will be described as occasion arises; but when we say that the Discoverer was, roughly, a hundred and fifty feet from stem to stern, one of the largest airships of her type, constructed in America, had a capacity of 150,000 cubic feet of gas and could lift 6,000 pounds, we have covered the main features of her construction. It may be added that the motor was of the four-cycle type, and, despite its high horse power, weighed but a trifle over 250 pounds. Aluminum alloy had been used freely in its construction.
By nightfall the engine was in place and firmly bolted to its foundation plates. A test showed it to be working perfectly. The cabin provision lockers were then stored with canned goods of all descriptions, and staples, such as flour, beans, bacon, corned beef and preserved butter. Tea was also carried, but no coffee. One feature of the cabin was the “armory.” This was a chest containing rifles and shotguns of the latest automatic type. It was an important feature of the Discoverer’s equipment, inasmuch as the adventurers expected to “live on the country” to a great extent, for Bolivia abounds in game.