“Excuse me for mentioning it,” said Jack, as Mr. Swaim prepared to leave the cabin, “but you have a chap here named Jerry Chowden? My friends and I used to know him.”
“Is that so?” asked Mr. Swaim in some surprise. “I know little about him. He came to me one day, and asked for work, saying he needed money. As I was short of help I took him on, but I am sorry I did so, for my foreman tells me he is not worth his salt, and is lazy in the bargain. He never said anything to me about meeting you. I shall get rid of him, I think. Is he a friend of yours?”
“Well, I guess not!” exclaimed Jack heartily.
“I’m glad of it, for I don’t like his manners. Now I’ll go and see about taking the ship out. Will may remain with you.”
The boys had plenty to talk about now. Their exchange of experiences of the incidents of the last few hours was interrupted by the appearance of the great aeroplane, as the men wheeled it out of the shed.
“Wow! Petrified pancakes!” exclaimed Nat. “That’s a dandy, though!”
Indeed the Eagle, in spite of the fact that Mr. Swaim had said it was not completed, was a fine example of an aeroplane. The boys crowded up close to it, examining the different parts, while Will’s uncle and some of his men got it ready for a flight. As they started the motor, which worked the great wings, Nat said:
“That accounts for the gasolene smell. I guess the mystery is all explained now.”
“It seems so,” spoke Jack.
The aeroplane was taken to the ice-covered pond, over which the sled had slid on the finish of its perilous trip.