CHAPTER III.
A STOWAWAY.
The sun was going down in the west when the Pegasus, as the engine of the clouds was named, rose above Readestown.
Her seven big helices were whirling around with a loud, buzzing sound, and lifting her at the rate of a yard a second.
A shout arose from the people thronging the streets when they observed the flight of the engine, and as the news spread, every one in the city watched the ascension with deep interest.
Barney and Pomp had gone into the deck-house and hastened below to watch the working of the machinery.
Left alone on deck, the detective observed that the Pegasus rode as steadily as if she rested on flanges upon the ground.
At a height of 2,000 feet Frank slackened the speed of the helices until they whirled just fast enough to hold the engine at the desired altitude.
The detective then joined him in the turret.
“Holy smoke! This is a daisy contrivance!” he exclaimed.
“She works just as I designed she should,” replied Frank.