On the following 19th of April, seven months after the unexpected
return of Uncle Prudent and Phil Evans, Philadelphia was in a state
of unwonted excitement. There were neither elections nor meetings
this time. The aerostat "Go-Ahead," built by the Weldon Institute,
was to take possession of her natural element.

The celebrated Harry W. Tinder, whose name we mentioned at the
beginning of this story, had been engaged as aeronaut. He had no
assistant, and the only passengers were to be the president and
secretary of the Weldon Institute.

Did they not merit such an honor? Did it not come to them
appropriately to rise in person to protest against any apparatus that
was heavier than air?

During the seven months, however, they had said nothing of their
adventures; and even Frycollin had not uttered a whisper of Robur and
his wonderful clipper. Probably Uncle Prudent and his friend desired
that no question should arise as to the merits of the aeronef, or any
other flying machine.

Although the "Go-Ahead" might not claim the first place among aerial
locomotives, they would have nothing to say about the inventions of
other aviators. They believed, and would always believe, that the
true atmospheric vehicle was the aerostat, and that to it alone
belonged the future.

Besides, he on whom they had been so terribly--and in their idea so