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165
The Aeroplane Speaks. Fifth Edition
·
H. Barber
57
"That's
very
pretty,"
said
the
Observer,
"but
how
about
Mechanical
Difficulties,
and
Efficiency
in
respect
of
Flight?
And,
anyway,
why
hasn't
such
an
obvious
thing
been
done
already?"
"As
regards
the
first
part
of
your
question
I
assure
you
that
there's
nothing
in
it,
and
I'll
prove
it
to
you
as
follows----"
"Oh!
That's
all
right,
old
chap.
I'll
take
your
word
for
it,"
hurriedly
replies
the
Observer,
whose
soul
isn't
tuned
to
a
technical
key.
"As
regards
the
latter
part
of
your
inquiry,"
went
on
the
Pilot,
a
little
nettled
at
having
such
a
poor
listener,
"it's
very
simple.
Aeroplanes
have
'just
growed'
like
Topsy,
and
they
consequently
contain
this
and
many
another
relic
of
early
day
design
when
Aeroplanes
were
more
or
less
thrown
together
and
anything
was
good
enough
that
could
get
off
the
ground."
"By
Jove,"
interrupts
the
Observer,
"I
do
believe
the
fog
is
lifting.
Hadn't
we
better
get
the
engine
and
body
covers
off,
just
in
case
it's
really
so?"
"I
believe
you're
right.
I
am
sure
those
hills
over
there
could
not
be
seen
a
few
minutes
ago,
and
look--there's
sunshine
over
there.
We'd
better
hurry
up."
Ten
minutes'
hard
work
and
the
covers
are
off,
neatly
folded
and
stowed
aboard;
the
picketing
wires
are
cast
adrift,
and
the
Pilot
is
once
more
in
his
seat.
The
Aeroplane
has
been
turned
to
face
the
other
end
of
the
field,
and,
the
Observer
swinging
round
the
propeller,
the
engine
is
awake
again
and
slowly
ticking
over.
Quickly
the
Observer
climbs
into
his
seat
in
front
of
the
Pilot,
and,
the
latter
slightly
opening
the
throttle,
the
Aeroplane
leisurely
rolls
over
the
ground
towards
the
other
end
of
the
field,
from
which
the
ascent
will
be
made.
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