The Lost Dirigible Author:Ralph Henry Barbour Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III CAMP STANTON JACK had no further intercourse with either "Sefior Gonzales" or his brother officer while the journey lasted. Some two hours late... more »r the Mexican left the train at the junction and presumably traveled westward. His leave-taking of Jack consisted of a bow and a flashing glimpse of small and very white teeth. Jack's response was decidedly stiff. They were now close to the border, and the platform of the station held many dark-skinned men in picturesque attire. With one of these, Jack thought, he saw "Senor Gonzales" in conversation in the lee of the station as the train crawled on once more. As for the haughty ensign, that young gentleman seemed to have completely forgotten Jack's existence again. He read, dozed, stared from his window and was as thoroughly bored as was Jack. The latter tried hard to peruse his book on aerial navigation, but southern Texas in August isn't just the place in which to combine railway traveland study. To be sure, as the shadows grew long a refreshing breeze blew through the car and brought a degree of animation to the dozen or so occupants. Once, for a brief instant, Jack caught sight of the sparkling waters of the Gulf, but for the most part sun-baked earth and cloudless blue sky met his gaze. After awhile the sky changed its hue to saffron, purple shadows crept over the land and a white star twinkled in the heavens. And then, quite suddenly, as it seemed to Jack, it was evening. The other navy chap began to gather his belongings together, as did several others in the car, and so Jack followed their example, and he had scarcely closed his bag before the end of his journey arrived. A confused impression of twinkling lights and voices and chugging motors and a soft, cool breeze was his as he stood for a moment on the pl...« less