he remarked with a smile. "Remember the Electric Monarch, and the
flights she took. We may not go as high as we did in her, but it will
answer the same purpose."

The gas was hissing through the big tube as it rushed into the
overhead holder. The gage indicated a heavy pressure. The ship began
to tremble more violently and to sway slightly from side to side.

"I think we shall rise presently," said Mr. Henderson. His voice
showed the pride he felt at the seeming success with which his
invention was about to meet.

Suddenly, with a little jerk, as though some one with a giant hand had
plucked the Flying Mermaid from the earth, the ship gave a little
bound into the air, and was floating free.

"Here we go!" cried Mr. Henderson. "The ship is a success. Now we're
off for the hole in the earth!"

The Flying Mermaid was indeed rising in the air. True it did not go up
so swiftly as had the Monarch, but then it was a much heavier and
stronger vessel, and flying was only one of its accomplishments.

"It's a success! It's a success!" shouted Mark, capering about in his
excitement.

"Now we'll see what the centre of the earth looks like," went on Jack.
"I can hardly wait for the time to come when we are to start on the
voyage."