Then like a bird rising from the waves, or like a flying fish leaping
from the sea to escape some pursuing monster of the deep, the new ship
shot up diagonally from the surface and winged its way into the upper
regions of the air.

"Success! Success!" cried the professor. "This proves all I wanted to
know. Now. we are ready for our great trip!"

Great were the rejoicings in the camp that night. It was like living
over again the days when they were aboard the diving Porpoise or the
flying Monarch. To the recollections were added the anticipations of
what was before them in the trip to the interior of the earth.

Busy days followed, for there was still much to be done to the Flying
Mermaid. The machinery, which was only partly completed, had to be
finished. Besides this the professor was working on some apparatus,
the use of which he did not disclose to any one. It was stored aboard
the ship at the last minute.

Plenty of provisions had to be taken aboard, and many supplies needed
to work the Mermaid and insure that it would go to the end of the
voyage. The materials for generating the gas and negative gravity,
spare parts, records for the automatic piano and other things were
stored away.

Some guns and ammunition were taken along as were a few revolvers,
since old Andy had said it was best to prepare for any thing in the
shape of enemies or wild beasts that might be met with in the interior
regions.