"A good idea!" commented Lieutenant Marbury.
Tom then briefly described the principle on which his aerial
warship would work, explaining how the lifting gas would raise
it, with its load of crew, guns and explosives, high into the
air; how it could then be sent ahead, backward, to either side,
or around in a circle, by means of the propellers and the
rudders, and how it could be raised or lowered, either by rudders
or by forcing more gas into the lifting bags, or by letting some
of the vapor out.
And, while this was being done by the pilot or captain in
charge, the crew could be manning the guns with which hostile
airships would be attacked, and bombs dropped on the forts or
battleships of the enemy.
"It seems very complete," observed the lieutenant. "I shall be
glad when I can give it an official test."
"Which ought to be in about a week," Tom said. "Meanwhile I
shall be glad if you will be my guest here."
And so that was arranged.
Leaving Ned and the lieutenant to entertain each other, Tom
went to see the mechanics who had applied for places. He found
them satisfactory and engaged them. One of them had worked for
him before.
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