the terrible fogs to contend with, which have since disappeared."

"Well, Jack," Villa said. "Let's head for Cape Horn and the Land of The Guacho."

"All aboard for South America," cried Jack, and the huge ship sailed into the air as gracefully as a bird and headed for Cape Horn. As they neared the Cape they began discussing the early history of South America, particularly the part they were now about to visit.

"The natives of this locality were exploited unmercifully for so many generations; I very much doubt if any of them possessed sufficient vitality to withstand the epidemic," said Villa sadly.

"I have read," replied Black of how in early days the Indians of this locality were very cruel and often murdered whole crews of ship-wrecked sailors."

They were also accused of cannibalism," replied Daisy.

The ship sailed over the Cape and the Straits of Magellan into Argentine, and they did not notice any signs of life until they came to Buenos Aires; when Wistiria who had been looking through the telescope exclaimed: "I see a child walking down there, and he is looking upward; now he is holding out his little arms to us."

This announcement caused great excitement and the ship was lowered. The child came running towards them and Daisy grasped him in her arms. The poor, lonely little fellow broke down and sobbed. After a while he told his story, everybody in that section had perished. He told them how he had wandered about for days looking for some one to keep him company. Whenever he became hungry he entered a kitchen, started the machinery and generated nourishment for himself. At night he laid down wherever he happened to be and cried himself to sleep.

"A great fear and loneliness always came over me when night came on," he said.

"You poor little fellow," cried Daisy. "We'll adopt him Jack." This Jack was glad to do, and the others in the party acquiesced. The child was more than delighted to go with them. He was such a

bright little fellow they all fell in love with him. The ship rose in the air and the journey through South America was continued. They zig-zagged from coast to coast in order to cover the whole territory. They did not land but kept up a sharp lookout for possible survivors. From Para, they followed the Amazon River to its source. The trip through the valley was interesting but unproductive of results. They soared over the highest peaks of the Andes, then followed the coast around to the Caribean Sea.

"Little Miguel is South America's only survivor," said Jack, as he smiled at the child. From South America they headed for the open sea, the West Indies, and the African continent being their goal.

CHAPTER TEN.

The airship party spent several days in the West Indies, then flew across the Gulf of Mexico to the Florida Coast, but in neither of these places did they find any one who had escaped the epidemic.

"Now across the open sea for the Cape Of Good Hope," cried Jack. "We are going a rather round about way, but we have plenty of time and everybody is happy, consequently we need not worry."

They stopped at hundreds of islands on their trip across the ocean, but like other places they had visited the human race had passed out with the great epidemic of Speedomania. They arrived in Cape Town in due time and spent several days there, visiting places of interest, including the diamond mines; they saw evidences of how the effects of the plague had been terrible on the mine workers; and thousands of them had died at their work in the pits.

"At one time," said Jack the native African was black as pitch, but through education, so it is claimed, their skins bleached, and they are as white skinned as any of us."

"And through exploitation they're as dead as the rest of the world," exclaimed Black. "I doubt if we find a single survivor in the whole of Africa."

Leaving Cape Town the airship party headed for Rhodesia, as they all wished to visit the seat of the Great African Empire that was founded by the famous Ce

cil Rhodes, the man who made his fortune in the gold and diamond mines in Africa back in the twentieth century. After this, they journeyed northward zigzagging from coast to coast, the same as they did in South America. The party decided to spend a day in the Lake Nyanza Region in order to view the wonderful falls of that place, the greatest falls in the world, greater than even those of Niagara. These falls at one time generated power for the whole of Africa.

"Now," said Jack. "We'll head for the Great Desert of Sahara." Although a strict watch was kept, no signs of survivors were seen on the trip from the lakes to the Great Desert, which through irrigation had been made into a beautiful spot, it was in reality "The Garden of the Gods."

"Just think," said Villa. "How salt water was piped from the sea to this desert, then condensed in order to freshen it, and afterwards used to irrigate the desert with, and from a wilderness of sand it was transformed into a beautiful garden of shrubs and flowers."

"It's simply shows what has been accomplished through efficiency," replied Black. "But alas efficiency was overdone. Efficiency developed into Speedomania and today we view the results. In the twentieth century the Germans were the most efficient nation on earth; and what happened? They started what turned out to be the most terrible war in the history of the world. They were not to blame, they just had to test their efficiency. For my part I believe moderation in everything is the best policy.

"You're right, Black." They all cried in unison.

They sailed over the "Desert" from east to west, and from north to south; and they all agreed it was a beautiful country, but sad to say, not one of the "Desert" dwellers survived the plague.

After traversing the "Desert" the ship was headed to the Mediterranean Sea, on their way they covered the whole of what was once known as the Barbary States, whose people resisted the advances of civilization until within a hundred years; notwithstanding this they also perished with the great plague of Speedomania.

Previous to their becoming civilized, they had travelled a terrible pace.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

The ship crossed the Mediterranean and headed for the City of Lisbon in Portugal. While flying over the city, they noticed some one waving at them from the upper story of a dwelling house. The ship was immediately lowered, and they found a young married couple, who stated they were the only survivors of the plague in the whole of Portugal. They were both glad to join the party, they said their names were Vierra, the husband's given name was John, and that of his wife was Isabel. This made the fourth family aboard the ship, all were happy and contented, and apparently well mated. It seemed as though "soul mate affinities" had been made possible through the great catastrophe that had recently taken place.

"If we continue to agree as well as the years go by, as we do now," said Jack, "we may possibly transmit this spirit of contentment to our posterity; and in time the world will be populated with a happier and saner race than the one that has just passed out. Who knows but that this epidemic may have been a dispensation of Providence to bring about the survival of the fittest."

"Let us hope it may prove the case," answered Villa.

After leaving Portugal they sailed over Spain and into France, Paris, being their first stop, and up to this time they had observed no signs of life as they sailed over the country. They spent a day looking around Paris, and in this city Daisy recognized many of the mummizied bodies of her former friends who happened to be in Paris when the epidemic broke out.

"I hardly expected to find any one in Paris who survived the plague," said Black; "for here it was necessary to live at a very fast pace to keep up with everything."

Vienna was their next stopping place, and here the same as in Paris, Daisy saw the bodies of a great many of her former friends.

"Let's get away from here as soon as

we can," she cried.

"All right,” replied Jack. "But where will we head for next?"

"Why not make a circuit of the battlefields of the great war of the twentieth century, and then look over the rest of Europe?" asked Vierra. "Good," cried the rest. "Let's do it."

CHAPTER TWELVE.

The big ship rose in the air and headed for Belgium, where they intended to begin their circuit of the theatre of the Great War.

They crossed the Belgian border at the point where the Belgians so gallantly defended their forts against the vastly superior German Army; then shaped their course through Belgium, into France, back into Austria, Poland and Russia. The whole country that had once been the scene of the world's greatest battles was as silent as though it had been invaded and devastated by a modern "Attalia"; no one had escaped the plague.

Very little was said during the time the ship was making the circuit of the battlefields, all were apparently in deep thought.

Wistiria was the first to speak after the circuit had been completed. "It seems sad that the people of the twentieth century after advancing to a high degree of civilization and efficiency should engage in such a terrible and barbarous war. The history of that war is the most terrible thing in print today. The effect of the engines and munitions of war used in those days were far worse than being attacked with Speedomania. The bloodshed, carnage, and putrefying flesh, with the diseases that accompanied those conditions are something too terrifying for my thoughts."

"It was far better that the world perish with Speedomania, if Providence so decreed it should perish; than with such a war as took place here in the twentieth century," replied Black.

"Amen," replied Jack, and the subject was dropped.

"Now let's sail over into Italy," said Black.

"Agreed," cried the rest.

Rome was their first stopping place in

Italy.

"This city," said Jack, "was at one time the seat of government of the whole world; and for many years it was the capital of the religious world as well. After the people of the world adopted a universal system of religion then there was no need of maintaining a large religious establishment, and the Vatican was turned into an art museum."

They traversed Italy from the top to the heel of the boot, visited every large city, and inspected hundreds of beautiful cathedrals and art museums; but not a single survivor did they find in the whole country.

"I am afraid," said Vierra, "that myself and wife are the only two survivors of the Latin race."

After leaving Italy they flew over the Alps into Switzerland.

"This was once a land of glaciers," spoke Villa. "But now instead of fields of ice, we see green grass and flowers."

"I have read," said Isabel, "that the government of Switzerland was the most progressive and most humane in existence; but after the money powers obtained control; it became as corrupt as the other governments and the workers were unmercifully exploited, and, course the Swiss contracted Speedomania, and perished with the rest of humanity."

of

"I doubt," said Daisy, "if we find any survivors in Switzerland." And in this she was right.

"I expect," said Jack, "that we will find some survivors in Germany. The Teutons were a hardy race and some of them may have escaped. Although they began living very fast in the Twentieth century, and the great war they carried on at that time must have taken a great deal out of the race. It was during the war that the Germans demonstrated the feasibility of government control of public utilities, food supplies and other public commodities. This prevented what might have been a burden on the people by having to pay excessively high prices for the necessities of life. Where Germany made her mistake was by not continuing the system. The capitalistic element, of course, objected because they wished to

return to the profit system in order to enrich themselves during the period of reconstruction, which lasted fifty years." They did find someone very much alive in Berlin. She was a handsome German girl who was delighted to look upon some live human beings. She wept like a child in Daisy's arms.

"My name is Gretchen," she said. She proved a very agreeable person.

"I hope we can find Gretchen a husband," said Daisy, for she's liable to be an old maid if she has to wait till little Miguel grows up."

Gretchen nearly laughed herself into hysterics at these remarks. They found a husband for Gretchen in Petrograd, Russia. He was a giant, but as gentle as he was large. His name Ivan Burwen, and Jack joined the two together in the great Cathedral in Petrograd, the church famous because the rulers of Russia had worshiped there for centuries. The airship party being in a festive mood, revived an ancient custom and pelted the bridal couple with old shoes and confetti.

After making a complete circle of Russia and not finding any survivors, the ship headed for the Scandanavian countries. While flying over the northern part of Sweden they spied a woman wandering along the roadside. They lowered the ship, and the young woman, apparently occupied with her thoughts, had not noticed it. She was startled at first, but after seeing so many friendly faces she ran toward them.

Her name was Lena Nelson, she told them, and that every soul in Sweden excepting herself had perished with the plague. Tiring of the loneliness in Stockholm, she decided to walk over into Russia in hopes of finding some survivors. When they invited her to join them, she was delighted to do so, and she stepped aboard the airship, and once more the big craft rose in the air and pointed "her" nose towards Norway.

"Now we must find a husband for Lena," said Gretchen.

"I shall never marry," replied Lena sadly. "My affianced perished with the plague the day before our wedding was to have taken place."

"If we run across a nice young man,

you must marry him in order to follow out the plan we are trying to bring about," said Daisy.

"Well," replied Lena more cheerfully, "if he were real nice I might consider it."

At this they all laughed heartily. They sailed over both Norway and Denmark, then swung north to Iceland, but in neither of these places did they find any sign of life. Two days were spent resting in Iceland and then the ship was headed direct towards England. A landing was made in London, near the famous Tower of London. After exploring the city for possible survivors, of which there were none, they spent their time visiting the wonderful palaces and places of historical interest in the city. After leaving London they journeyed through the Shakespeare country, and the party had an enjoyable time discussing the works of that famous author. They sailed all over England, Wales and Ireland without seeing a single sign of human being.

It was in the highlands of Scotland that they found a husband for Lena. He was a giant Highlander, and, seated on a lonely crag in the mountains, he was singing "Jessie's Dream." How beautiful his mellow tones floated upward to the ship, which was slowly lowering. Never did those phrases, "Hear ye no the Macgregor, the grandest o' them all," and "The Campbells are Kimin'," fall on more appreciative ears. Suddenly he looked up and saw the airship. He sprang to his feet and stretched out his arms to them.

"A husband for Lena," they cried, and the ship began to lower more rapidly. In a few moments they were shaking hands with Scotland's only survivor.

The young Scot's name was Angus McKay, and apparently he fell in love with Lena at first sight, for he said if Lena was willing, he would marry her at once and go to America with them. Lena blushingly consented, and Jack immediately performed the ceremony. Then with great rejoicing the ship was headed for the open sea and America.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"We'll now head for Newfoundland, cross Canada to the Pacific Coast, then zigzag east to Boston, looking over that part of the United States that we missed

when we started on our trip from Boston two months ago."

The trip across the ocean to Newfoundland occupied about twenty-four hours, the sentiment of the entire party was to make the trip at slow speed in order that the rest of the day and the night should be spent over the water. To those who had never crossed the ocean, it proved a novel and interesting experience. While crossing the banks of Newfoundland, shortly after sunrise next morning, the little Guacho, who was looking through the telescope noticed a long, dark object on the water. He thought it some sort of a marine vine, and called Jack's attention to it. Jack looked at it through the glass and he immediately saw it was a huge sea serpent, and that the creature was alive.

When the others heard about the serpent they all insisted in having the ship lowered so they could get a good look at it and try to photograph it. The ship was lowered far enough for them to view the creature. This serpent was a hundred feet long, its body was covered with huge scales, it possessed a pair of large, wicked-looking eyes, set widely apart and well to the top of its head, which was as large as an ordinary water pail, and when the creature opened its mouth they saw it was full of sharp, sabre-like teeth.

"The existence of sea serpents has generally been denied," said Jack. "Some scientists have always maintained that these creatures exist but very seldom some to the surface, and here at last is the proof. I hope we can secure a good picture in order to place it among the archives of the scientific laboratory at Harvard, and place an enlargement of it in the Art Museum in Boston. After we photograph it, perhaps we had better shoot and kill it for, as the world again becomes populated, such creatures as these might do a great deal of harm. Who knows but it might some day take a notion to invade the land; and what consternation it would cause if such a creature should ascend the Charles river, land somewhere up in the 'Back Bay' and be seen crawling down Commonwealth avenue?"

With these words, Jack snapped the

shutter of the camera, which had been exposed for over a minute. He then reached for the radio gun. Up to this time the serpent hadn't paid any attention to the airship. Then suddenly, without any warning whatever, the creature sprang out of the water and threw itself at the airship, with its mouth, full of horrible looking teeth, wide open. The women screamed with fright, but Jack, cool and calm, took a quick aim and sent a bullet from the radio rifle into one of the creature's eyes, and it dropped back into the water, dead, and immediately sank from sight.

"For goodness sake, Jack, let's get away from here before its mate comes up at us," cried Daisy.

Jack started the ship, and within a short time they came in sight of the city of St. Johns, Newfoundland, and here the ship was lowered and the party started to walk around the city, when, much to their surprise, a woman stepped out of a house and confronted them.

"Who, in the name of goodness, are you?" she asked.

"We," replied Jack, "are the neculeus of the world's co-operative community," and he introduced each of them separately and told her their stories, and invited her to join them.

"I shall be delighted to do so," she replied. "Up to now," she said, "I actually thought I was the only person alive in the whole world."

She told them her name was Lucy Thayer, forty-three years of age, and that she had taught school in that city for twenty years.

"Perhaps we may be able to find a husband for Lucy before we reach Boston," said Lena.

"Young woman," answered Lucy rather severely, "I do not wish to marry. I remained single all these years from choice. In my day I have had many flattering offers of marriage. My mission was to teach. Some day I hoped to be president of a college."

"Perhaps, when we reach Boston, you may be able to realize that ambition," replied Jack.

Lucy thanked him for his kind thoughts.