Suddenly, from the liner's whistle, a great cascade of white steam
spouted.
"Wough-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h!"
It was the vessel's siren blowing a greeting to the young adventurers of
the air. At the same instant a deep-throated roar, a cheer from cabin and
steerage passengers alike, winged its way upward. Roy acknowledged it by a
graceful wave of his cap. Then the cheering broke forth afresh.
The passengers of the newest ocean giant, the _Ruritania_, realized that
they were seeing a spectacle that would remain in their memories all their
lives. Having conquered old ocean with leviathan vessels, man was now
seeking to subdue the air to his utility.
CHAPTER X.
AN AERIAL POST OFFICE.
Peggy addressed half a dozen cards. Two, of course, went to Jess and
Jimsy, another to Aunt Sallie Prescott; one to the captain of the
_Ruritania_, and one other, which bore the address, "Eugene Mortlake,
Esq."
It was a mischievous freak that made Peggy write this last missive, which
read:
TO MR. EUGENE MORTLAKE,
Per Steamer _Ruritania_--in Mid-air:
Greetings from aeroplane _Golden Butterfly_.
R. & M. PRESCOTT.
That was all, but Peggy knew that it would serve its prankish purpose.
All this time the _Silver Cobweb_ had been out at sea, but now, apparently
detecting the maneuvers of the _Golden Butterfly_, she headed about, and
came racing back.
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