of the
vessel, touching every disc that lined the walls as with the sparkling
point of a jewel. The wings of the ship palpitated as with life and
began to spread open....

"Let her go!" cried Morgana--"Away to your place, pilot!" and she waved
a commanding hand as Rivardi sprang to the steering gear--"Hold her
fast! ... Keep her steady! Straight towards the sun-rise!"

As she spoke, a wonderful thing happened--every disc that lined the
interior of the ship started throbbing like a pulse,--every little
white knob in the centre of each disc vibrated with an extraordinary
rapidity of motion which dazzled the eyes like the glittering of
swiftly falling snow, and Gaspard, obeying Morgana's sign, drew down at
once all the rose silk covering which completely hid the strange
mechanism from view. There was absolutely no noise in this intense
vibration,--and there was no start or jar, or any kind of difficulty,
when the air-ship, released from bondage, suddenly rose, and like an
actual living bird sprang through the vast opening gateway of the
aerodrome and as it sprang, spread out its wings as though by its own
volition. In one moment, it soared straight upright, far far into
space, and the men who were left behind stood staring amazedly after
it, themselves looking no more than tiny black pin-heads down
below,--then, with a slow diving grace it righted itself as it were,
and as if it had of its own will selected the particular current of air
on which to sail. It travelled with a steady swiftness in absolute
silence,--its great wings moved up and down with a noiseless power and
rhythm for which there seemed no possible explanation,--and Morgana
turned her face, now delicately flushed with triumph, on the pale and
almost breathless Gaspard, smiling as she looked at him, her eyes
questioning his. He seemed stricken dumb with astonishment,--his lips
moved, but no word issued from them.

"You believe me now, do you not?" she said--"We have nothing further to
do but to steer. The force we use re-creates itself as it works--it
cannot become exhausted. To slow down and descend to earth one need
only open the compartments at either end--then the vibration grows less
and less, and like a living creature the 'White Eagle' sinks gently to
rest. You see there is no cause for fear!"

While she yet spoke, the light of the newly risen sun bathed her in its
golden glory, the long dazzling beams filtering through mysterious
apertures inser