Page:My Airships.djvu/273

 air-ship was allowed to leave the aerodrome imperfectly inflated. Imagine, then, what might be the danger of an experimenter with a set of inexperienced subordinates. In spite of their great simplicity my air-ships require constant surveillance on a few capital heads: Is the balloon properly filled? Is there any possibility of a leak? Is the rigging in condition? Is the motor in condition? Do the cords commanding rudder, motor, water ballast, and the shifting guide rope work freely? Is the ballast properly weighed? Looked on as a mere machine the air-ship requires no more care than an automobile, but, from the point of view of consequences, the need of faithful and intelligent surveillance is simply imperious. This very day all the highways of France are dotted with a thousand automobiles en panne, with their enthusiastic drivers crawling underneath them in the dust, oil-can and wrench in hand, repairing momentary accidents. They think no less of their automobile for this reason. Yet let the air-ship have the same trifling accident and all the world is likely to hear of the fact.