The importance of Joe—The captain of the Resolute—Kennedy's arsenal—Allotment of space—The farewell dinner—Departure on 21st February—The doctor's scientific lectures—Duveyrier and Livingstone—Details of aerial travel—Kennedy reduced to silence

TOWARDS THE END of February the preparations were nearly completed. The balloons, one inside the other, were quite ready and had been subjected to a strong pressure of air, which test provided convincing evidence of their strength and of the care taken over their construction.

Joe felt no exhilaration, but was continually running between Greek Street and Mitchells' workshops, always busy, but always beaming and ready to give details of the exploit to anyone who did not ask for them, and, above all, proud to be accompanying his master. I really believe that by showing the balloon, enlarging upon the doctor's ideas and plans, and pointing him out as he stood at the half-open window or walked through the streets, the worthy servant earned a number of half-crowns. One must not blame him, for he surely had the right to make a little out of the admiration and curiosity of his neighbours.

On the 16th of February the Resolute dropped anchor off Greenwich. She was a fast propeller-ship of 800 tons, and had undertaken the revictualling of Sir James Ross's last expedition to the Polar regions. Her commanding officer, Captain Pennet, was said to be a pleasant man. He took a special interest in the doctor's journey, which he had followed for a long time. He was rather a scientist than a naval officer, which did not prevent his ship from carrying four guns, but they had never harmed anyone and were only used to produce entirely pacific noises.

The Resolute's hull had been adapted to hold the balloon, which was embarked with the utmost care on the 18th of February. It was stowed in the bottom of the ship in such a way as to preclude any accident. The car and its accessories, such as the anchors, ropes, stores, and water containers, which were to be filled on arrival, were all stowed under Fergusson's supervision.

Ten barrels of sulphuric acid and ten of old iron for the production of hydrogen were also taken aboard. This quantity was more than was required, but it was necessary to provide against possible loss. The apparatus for manufacturing the gas, consisting of thirty barrels, was stowed at the bottom of the hold.

These various preparations came to an end during the evening of the 18th of February. Two comfortably fitted cabins were ready for Dr Fergusson and his friend Kennedy. The latter, though still swearing that he was not going, went on board with a veritable sporting arsenal: two excellent double-barrelled breech-loading guns and a carbine that would stand any test, from the workshops of Purdey Moore and Dickson of Edinburgh. Armed with such a weapon, the sportsman would have found no difficulty in lodging a bullet in the eye of a chamois at a range of two thousand yards. He had, in addition, two six-chambered Colt revolvers for emergencies. His powder-bag and cartridge-case, his shot and bullets, of which he had a good supply, did not exceed the limit of weight prescribed by the doctor.

The three travellers went on board on the 18th of February, and were received with great deference by the captain and his officers. The doctor maintained most of his usual calm, and was entirely preoccupied with his expedition. Dick was excited but anxious not to show it, Joe exultant and venting his excitement in comic remarks. He at once became the wag of the boatswain's quarters where a place had been reserved for him.

On the 20th a grand farewell dinner was given in honour of Dr Fergusson and Kennedy by the Royal Geographical Society. Captain Pennet and his officers were also invited to this banquet, which was very lively and marked by many complimentary libations. Enough healths were drunk to assure to every guest the life of a centenarian. Sir Francis M— presided with restrained and dignified emotion. To his great confusion, Dick Kennedy had a share in the bacchic good wishes. After drinking to 'the intrepid Fergusson, the glory of England,' they went on to drink to 'the no less courageous Kennedy, his bold companion.' Dick blushed a good deal, and as this was taken for modesty, the applause redoubled. Dick blushed still more.

During dessert a message arrived from the Queen, who presented her compliments to the two travellers and her good wishes for the success of the enterprise. This called forth fresh toasts 'to Her Gracious Majesty.' At midnight, after touching farewells and fervent handshakes, the guests separated.

The Resolute's pinnaces were waiting at Westminster Bridge. The captain embarked with his passengers and officers, and the swift stream of the Thames bore them towards Greenwich. At one o'clock they were all asleep on board.

The next morning, the 21st of February, at 3 a.m., the furnaces began to roar. At 5 a.m. the anchor was weighed and the Resolute's propeller drove her forward towards the estuary of the Thames. There is no need for us to say that conversation on board turned exclusively on Dr Fergusson's expedition. By his bearing and speech he inspired such confidence that soon, with the exception of the Scotsman, no one questioned the success of his enterprise. During the long unoccupied hours of the voyage the doctor gave a regular course of geography to the officers. These young men were full of enthusiasm for the discoveries made forty years before in Africa. Fergusson told them of the explorations of Barth, Speke, Burton and Grant. He described for them this mysterious country which was entirely given up to scientific investigation. In the north, young Duveyrier was exploring the Sahara, and taking back to Paris the Tuareg chiefs. Two expeditions, inspired by the French Government, were being prepared, which were to make their way from the North to the West, and cross one another at Timbuktu. In the South the indefatigable Livingstone was still going forward towards the Equator, and since March 1862 had been going up the River Rovuma, accompanied by Mackenzie. The nineteenth century would certainly not close before Africa had revealed the secrets that had lain hidden in her breast for six thousand years.

The interest of Fergusson's listeners was especially aroused when he explained to them in detail the preparations for his expedition. They wanted to verify his calculations. They argued, and the doctor entered whole-heartedly into the arguments. What caused general astonishment was the comparatively restricted quantity of provisions he was taking with him. One day, one of the officers questioned the doctor on this point.

'That surprises you?' said Fergusson.

'It certainly does.'

'But how long do you suppose my journey is going to last? Months? You are very much out of it. If it became prolonged we should be lost; we should never come through. You must realise, then, that it is not more than 3500 miles—call it 4000—from Zanzibar to the Senegal coast. Now reckoning it at 240 miles every twelve hours, which is nothing like the speed of our railways, travelling day and night we should cross Africa in a week.'

'But in that case you'd see nothing; you'd collect no geographical information. You wouldn't even see the country.'

'And so,' the doctor replied, 'if I am master of my balloon and can rise and come down at will, I shall stop wherever I like, especially when the air currents are too strong and threaten to take me out of my course.'

'And you'll find they will,' said Captain Pennet. 'There are hurricanes blowing over two hundred and forty miles an hour.'

'You see,' answered the doctor, 'at a speed like that we should be across Africa in twelve hours. We'd get up at Zanzibar and go to bed at St Louis.'

'But,' went on one of the officers, 'could a balloon travel at such a speed?'

'It has happened,' Fergusson replied.

'And the balloon stood it?'

'A balloon, yes, but what about a man?' Kennedy ventured to interpose.

'And a man, too. For a balloon is always motionless in relation to the surrounding air. It's not the balloon that travels but the air itself. You can light a candle in your car and the flame won't flicker. An aeronaut, if there had been one in Garnerin's balloon, would not have suffered from the speed. Besides, I do not intend to experiment with such speeds, and if I can anchor during the night to some tree or declivity, I shall not fail to do so. After all, we are carrying stores for two months, and there will be nothing to prevent our adept sportsman from supplying us with plenty of game when we alight.'

'Ah, Mr Kennedy, you'll have the chances of a lifetime,' said a young midshipman, looking with envious eyes at the Scot.

'Not to mention the fact,' another went on, 'that your pleasure will bring you great glory in addition.'

'Gentlemen,' answered the sportsman, 'I much appreciate your—er—er—compliments, but—er—er—I have no right to them—'

'What!' came from all sides. 'You're not going?'

'I am not going.'

'You are not going with Dr Fergusson?'

'Not only am I not going with him, but my sole reason for being here is to stop him at the last minute.'

All eyes were turned upon the doctor.

'Don't listen to him,' he replied with his usual calm. 'It's a matter you mustn't discuss with him. At heart he knows perfectly well that he is going.'

'I swear by St Andrew—!' Kennedy cried.

'Don't swear anything, my dear Dick. You've been weighed and measured, and so have your powder, guns and ammunition, so we'll say no more about it.'

And indeed, from that day until the arrival at Zanzibar, Dick kept his mouth shut. He talked neither of that nor of anything else. He maintained complete silence. 6GIkdTxMh8S+yiMaD763jnGxb2wjB9S8pPE8xB8uqt+zjz2MytXIRDbF8wxAQAzy