KING OF THE AIR Or, To Morocco on an Aeroplane

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
I. Mr. Greatorex is Astonished 9
II. Herr Schwab 20
III. Tom makes Experiments 34
IV. A Prisoner in Zemmur 51
V. Off the Barbary Coast 63
VI. Salathiel ben Ezra 81
VII. The Hills of Zemmur 98
VIII. The Swordsmith of Ain Afroo 116
IX. A Bolt from the Blue 133
X. The Kasbah 148
XI. Prison Breakers 167
XII. A Hitch 182
XIII. Diplomacy 196
XIV. The Troglodytes 218
XV. View Halloo! 233
XVI. Icarus 248
XVII. Compliments and Thanks 262

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

“He clutched at the grapnel, let go his hold
of the mast, and swung clear” 79

“His sword flew from his grasp, and he reeled
dizzily to the ground.” 130

“Tom, seizing a big stone, threw it with all his
force into the black room beneath” 187

“Abdul bent over the brink and smartly rapped his
knuckles with the butt of Tom’s revolver” 222

KING OF THE AIR

CHAPTER I—MR. GREATOREX IS ASTONISHED

Mr. John Greatorex was very wealthy, and very obstinate. He had made a
large fortune as a manufacturer of chemicals, but disclaimed any
knowledge of chemistry. He had dabbled a little in mechanics, and was
convinced that he possessed an accurate practical knowledge of its
applications. Consequently, when his new motor-car arrived, he saw no
necessity to take a chauffeur with him on its trial spin. He was like a
child with a new toy, jealous of participation.

“My dear,” said Mrs. Greatorex, as she handed him his motor goggles,
“are you sure you will not take Timothy? What if it breaks down?”

“My _love_,” said Mr. Greatorex in his emphatic way, “I do not _want_
Timothy. It will not break down. If it _does_, I flatter myself I am
_competent_ to make any _necessary_ repairs. I shall be back at
seven-thirty—in good time for dinner; and I _hope and trust_ the soup
will _not_ be cold.”

He gave a preliminary _honk! honk!_ looking round with a smile that
plainly said, “There! you see that _everything_ is in order!” Then he
steered the car accurately down the drive to the road.

His house lying in the heart of the country, Mr. Greatorex did not fear
to meet milestones in the shape of policemen with stop-watches, who
would take his number and afterwards confront him in court. In a minute
or two the car was whirling along the road at a rate which, it is to be
feared, gravely exceeded the speed limit. All went merry as a
marriage-bell, and Mr. Greatorex was at the height of exhilaration and
satisfaction, when, just as he was mounting the acclivity of Five Oaks
Bridge, without even a click in warning, the machine came to a dead
stop. Mr. Greatorex put the engine out of gear, then tried to start it
by turning the starting handle; but finding this of no avail he clapped
on the brake, skipped out of the car, removed his goggles and his
gloves, and set about making an examination.

On the other side of the bridge, sitting on the bank of the stream, was
a boy, gazing with round eyes at a float that hung from a line attached
to a long home-made rod of yew. He had heard the clatter of the
motor-car as it came along the road; he was aware that the noise had
suddenly ceased; but, being a lad of great concentration, he did not
give a thought to what was happening out of sight at the further end of
the bridge. He had come out for an afternoon’s fishing; two or three fat
carp lay beside him on the bank; and noticing at this moment a slight
movement of the float, he was soon oblivious of everything except the
fish on his hook.

KING OF THE AIR Or, To Morocco on an Aeroplane