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Page 35
After talking over several hypotheses more or less plausible they
came to the conclusion that this country encircled with mountains
must be the district declared by an Act of Congress in March, 1872,
to be the National Park of the United States. A strange region it
was. It well merited the name of a park--a park with mountains for
hills, with lakes for ponds, with rivers for streamlets, and with
geysers of marvelous power instead of fountains.
In a few minutes the "Albatross" glided across the Yellowstone River,
leaving Mount Stevenson on the right, and coasting the large lake
which bears the name of the stream. Great was the variety on the
banks of this basin, ribbed as they were with obsidian and tiny
crystals, reflecting the sunlight on their myriad facets. Wonderful
was the arrangement of the islands on its surface; magnificent were
the blue reflections of the gigantic mirror. And around the lake, one
of the highest in the globe, were multitudes of pelicans, swans,
gulls and geese, bernicles and divers. In places the steep banks were
clothed with green trees, pines and larches, and at the foot of the
escarpments there shot upwards innumerable white fumaroles, the vapor
escaping from the soil as from an enormous reservoir in which the
water is kept in permanent ebullition by subterranean fire.
The cook might have seized the opportunity of securing an ample
supply of trout, the only fish the Yellowstone Lake contains in
myriads. But the "Albatross" kept on at such a height that there was
no chance of indulging in a catch which assuredly would have been
miraculous.
In three quarters of an hour the lake was overpassed, and a little
farther on the last was seen of the geyser region, which rivals the
finest in Iceland. Leaning over the rail, Uncle Prudent and Phil
Evans watched the liquid columns which leaped up as though to furnish
the aeronef with a new element. There were the Fan, with the jets
shot forth in rays, the Fortress, which seemed to be defended by
waterspouts, the Faithful Friend, with her plume crowned with the
rainbows, the Giant, spurting forth a vertical torrent twenty feet
round and more than two hundred feet high.
Robur must evidently have been familiar with this incomparable
spectacle, unique in the world, for he did not appear on deck. Was
it, then, for the sole pleasure of his guests that he had brought the
aeronef above the national domain? If so, he came not to receive
their thanks. He did not even trouble himself during the daring
passage of the Rocky Mountains, which the "Albatross" approached at
about seven o'clock.
By increasing the speed of her wings, as a bird rising in its flight,
the "Albatross" would clear the highest ridges of the chain, and sink
again over Oregon or Utah, But the maneuver was unnecessary. The
passes allowed the barrier to be crossed without ascending for the
higher ridges. There are many of these canyons, or steep valleys,
more or less narrow, through which they could glide, such as Bridger
Gap, through which runs the Pacific Railway into the Mormon
territory, and others to the north and south of it.
It was through one of these that the "Albatross" headed, after
slackening speed so as not to dash against the walls of the canyon.
The steersman, with a sureness of hand rendered more effective by the
sensitiveness of the rudder, maneuvered his craft as if she were a
crack racer in a Royal Victoria match. It was really extraordinary.
In spite of all the jealousy of the two enemies of "lighter than
air," they could not help being surprised at the perfection of this
engine of aerial locomotion.
In less than two hours and a half they were through the Rockies, and
the "Albatross" resumed her former speed of sixty-two miles an hour.
She was steering southwest so as to cut across Utah diagonally as she
neared the ground. She had even dropped several hundred yards when
the sound of a whistle attracted the attention of Uncle Prudent and
Phil Evans. It was a train on the Pacific Railway on the road to Salt
Lake City.
And then, in obedience to an order secretly given, the "Albatross"
dropped still lower so as to chase the train, which was going at full
speed. She was immediately sighted. A few heads showed themselves at
the doors of the cars. Then numerous passengers crowded the gangways.
Some did not hesitate to climb on the roof to get a better view of
the flying machine. Cheers came floating up through the air; but no
Robur appeared in answer to them.
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