No other incident worthy of note occurred until one morning Barney from the pilot-house shouted:
“Land ho!”
At once Frank and the professor were on deck with powerful glasses. A few moments of study revealed the character of the distant land.
It was the southern coast of Africa, and soon the settlement of Cape Town could be seen.
White-sailed ships were in the bay, and as they passed a few thousand feet above the town it could be seen that there was much excitement below.
The people were out in force, and were shouting and waving banners. But Frank Reade, Jr., had no intention of making a stop.
“Not this time!” he declared. “I have other matters on hand. Besides, it would be hardly safe to land there.”
“Safe!” ejaculated Gaston, in amazement. “Why not?”
“Easy enough. A vast concourse of people like that are apt to lose their heads and do the airship much damage.”
“That could not be among civilized people!”