There was a peculiar whirring sound like the movement of many wings, and he looked up to behold a stunning spectacle.
A huge ship seemed floating in the air above him. There it was, hull and masts, and bowsprit, decks and all.
For a moment Harding thought it the effect of a disordered mind.
But he pulled himself together and gazed hard at the spectacle.
Then he saw beyond a doubt that it was truly an air-ship, and upon the bow he read in gilt letters:
“THE KITE,
“Frank Reade, Jr.”
A wild, thrilling cry went up from Royal Harding’s lips.
“Saved, saved!” he cried. “It is Frank Reade, Jr., the wonderful young inventor, and one of his air-ships. Saved, thank God!”
Harding had not been so long absent from the world of civilization that he had not heard of Frank Reade, Jr., and his wonderful inventions.