Part 3 (1/2)
”That depends on the power of the wind, sir Do you think it is a mad scheme?”
”It would impress the natives,” said Co, you know, in case we came to the end of our resources”
”There's no wheat in Central Africa, you duffer! Besides, sir, it's -wheels, and a running chain after the pattern of the cycle chain, one could----”
”And ball bearings,” suggested Cos--the friction would be reduced, and we could get more power out of a screw and propeller than we could froht,” said Mr Hue party, and I confess the water transport has bothered me very much The wind-mill, I am afraid, we must leave to some other ti before practical ive you a letter to a friend ofsaw the friend the very next day; the friend gave hireat firentleave the matter five reat designer ”Explain what advantage you expect to gain”
”Less labour in working than with paddles, and greater speed”
”Humph! Well, my lad, you leave the matter with me, and I will report You can look over the yards if you like”
Venning spent the rest of thesharks of the Navy, and he went back depressed with the thought that his ”sneak-box” wasHowever, he picked up confidence when the next day brought an offer from the builders to turn out an aluminium sneak-box in three divisions, with capacity for a crew of six, to be worked on occasion by twothe propeller by ear to be made of best oil-tes Each division, when detached, of such weight that it could be easily carried by three ive the speed desired
”That is good enough for us, I think,” said Mr Huuarantee,” remarked Compton, cautiously
”No; but they would not undertake the work unless they had some belief in the idea, and if the propeller proves useless, we can at the worst unshi+p it In any case we must have the boat, and we could not iiven, and by the fourth week the little boat was launched on the Thames for its first trial It looked workht, for the great designer who had fashi+oned the lines of the fastest destroyer afloat had hiht to the job The shaft, which rested on nickel-steel sockets, with ball bearings supported by nickel-steel ribs for lightness, was protected by a water-tight casing, and all the other parts htness and strength, with a co-wheels to take off the strain The steering was by a neat wheel right forward, where the look-out man could have an uninterrupted view Forward, too, was the socket for the th, with a bea fore and aft, with a well in the centre, and the reht alu-room for two, so that with a crew of four there would have to be four watches of three hours each The peculiar features of the long, low craft were the two levers rising above the after-deck through slots, which gave each a thrust of about one and a half feet, and two saddle-like seats borne on stout supports, one near the ste the ste perched himself on one seat, Compton on the other, one of the hands took the wheel, and Mr Huner sat in the well
Compton's clear-cut face, ell-forn of interest than a rather a's fair features were flushed with excitement and nervous expectation, A ishly
”Full speed ahead!” cried out Mr Hu pulled his lever over, and as he shot it back Co to and fro easily as if they had been rowing a steady stroke
”She moves, she moves!” cried Mr Hume, with a shout
”Take her over the ner to the steersman; and he pulled out his watch with exactly the sa over the trial of the fastest craft afloat
The shi+ning aluh the raceful curve, and then steadied for the straight course
”Let her go, boys”
The levers worked to and fro with an easy swing; there rose the hu easily below, and the quickened churning of the propeller blades
The designer glanced fro away, and nodded his head at Mr Hume