"O madam! but you should have seen Silver Cloud before we robbed her of her chief ornament, the flagstaff. That was her glory, as a fine head of hair is a woman's," replied Dr. Jones, who had overheard the lady's remark. "I shall never be satisfied until we have replaced it."
The ship, meantime, was hastening at a forty mile gait toward the Capital. The trip was one long thrill of excitement and pleasure to the visitors. The Doctor had settled all symptoms of nausea with his well-selected remedies, and nothing more could be desired to add to their pleasure and comfort.
At the hour of noon they sat down to lunch. They ate but little, the excitement having more or less destroyed their appetites. But they sat a considerable time at the table and talked animatedly upon various topics; principally, though, of the ship and their voyage to and from the Pole. The ladies could not sufficiently admire and praise the beauty, cleanliness, and comfort of the cabin.
Fred was seated beside Grace, the younger of the sisters, and they were discussing music. She praised his North Pole March in unstinted terms, until he blushed to the ears with delight. She and her elder sister, Rose, were musicians of a high order, and had graduated at the leading musical conservatories of America. They had besides spent several years in Europe in the pursuit of knowledge in that line. Fred asked Grace to promenade the balcony with him. She immediately accepted the proposition, and they were soon oblivious to the world in the discussion of their favorite theme—music. No doubt the inspiring scene below and all about them drew out all the finer sentiments of their beings. And what could two handsome, heartwhole, sentimental young beings do but fall——
"Not over the balustrade!"
O no! but into love!
The whole company now came out upon the balcony, and they slowly promenaded about the four sides of the cabin. We cannot describe the witchery and beauty of the fast-flying panorama below. Our pen falters, and the picture must be left to the imagination of the reader.
The mayor was very familiar with the topography of the country, and pointed out the various rivers, mountain ranges, cities, towns, etc. About three o'clock the capitol buildings, Washington monument, and other tall structures about the city hove in sight. They were immediately seen, for the great guns in all the forts about the city fired thundering salutes.
"They are loaded to the muzzle for us, Doctor," said Professor Gray.
"It appears so," he replied. "I only wish it was all over with."
"What park is that?" he asked a few moments later, pointing to one that lay directly in their course. The Professor mentioned its name, and thought it a very convenient place for anchorage. Accordingly, Silver Cloud swooped down upon it with a velocity that fairly took away the breath of the mayor and family. A few moments later, Silver Cloud was safely anchored, after her voyage of many thousands of miles, at her starting point. In a little less than four months they had made the most extraordinary trip known in the world's history, that of Columbus not excepted, and were now safely returned!