He was only particular and precise as to the firm closing down of the boxes when the tubes were in.

And then in a few minutes the whole machine began to palpitate noiselessly like a living thing with a beating heart,--and to the amazement and almost fear of all who witnessed what seemed to be a miracle, the ship sprang up like a bird springing from the ground, and soared free and away into space, its vast white wings cleaving the air with a steady rise and fall of rhythmic power.

Once aloft she sailed in level flight, apparently at perfect ease--and after several rapid "runs," and circlings, descended slowly and gracefully, landing her pilot without shock or jar.

He was at once surrounded and was asked a thousand questions which it was evident he could not answer.
"How can I tell!" he replied, to all interrogations.

"The secret is the secret of a woman!" A woman! Man's pretty toy!--man's patient slave! How should a woman master any secret! Engineers and mechanics laughed scornfully and shrugged their shoulders--yet--yet--the great airship stared them in the face as a thing created,--a thing of such power and possibility as seemed wholly incredible.