THE GO-AHEAD IS LAUNCHED On the following 19th of April, seven months after the unexpected return of Uncle Prudent and Phil Evans, Philadelphia was in a state of unwonted excitement.

There were neither elections nor meetings this time.

The aerostat "Go-Ahead," built by the Weldon Institute, was to take possession of her natural element.
The celebrated Harry W.Tinder, whose name we mentioned at the beginning of this story, had been engaged as aeronaut.

He had no assistant, and the only passengers were to be the president and secretary of the Weldon Institute.
Did they not merit such an honor?
Did it not come to them appropriately to rise in person to protest against any apparatus that was heavier than air?
During the seven months, however, they had said nothing of their adventures; and even Frycollin had not uttered a whisper of Robur and his wonderful clipper.

Probably Uncle Prudent and his friend desired that no question should arise as to the merits of the aeronef, or any other flying machine.
Although the "Go-Ahead" might not claim the first place among aerial locomotives, they would have nothing to say about the inventions of other aviators.