Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Horror of the Heights
Ifancythattheywereteal,butIamawretchedzoologist.Nowthatwehumanshavebecomebirdswemustreallylearntoknowourbrethrenbysight.
"Thewinddownbeneathmewhirledandswayedthebroadcloud-plain.Onceagreateddyformedinit,awhirlpoolofvapour,andthroughit,asdownafunnel,Icaughtsightofthedistantworld.Alargewhitebiplanewaspassingatavastdepthbeneathme.IfancyitwasthemorningmailservicebetwixtBristolandLondon.Thenthedriftswirledinwardsagainandthegreatsolitudewasunbroken.
"JustaftertenItouchedtheloweredgeoftheuppercloud-stratum.Itconsistedoffinediaphanousvapourdriftingswiftlyfromthewestwards.Thewindhadbeensteadilyrisingallthistimeanditwasnowblowingasharpbreeze—twenty-eightanhourbymygauge.Alreadyitwasverycold,thoughmyaltimeteronlymarkedninethousand.Theengineswereworkingbeautifully,andwewentdroningsteadilyupwards.Thecloud-bankwasthickerthanIhadexpected,butatlastitthinnedoutintoagoldenmistbeforeme,andtheninaninstantIhadshotoutfromit,andtherewasanuncloudedskyandabrilliantsunabovemyhead—allblueandgoldabove,allshiningsilverbelow,onevast,glimmeringplainasfarasmyeyescouldreach.Itwasaquarterpastteno’clock,andthebarographneedlepointedtotwelvethousandeighthundred.UpIwentandup,myearsconcentrateduponthedeeppurringofmymotor,myeyesbusyalwayswiththewatch,therevolutionindicator,thepetrollever,andtheoilpump.Nowonderaviatorsaresaidtobeafearlessrace.
