“Neither one,” said Bob. “But I was going to say I didn’t see why we couldn’t go in our motor boat as far as Pittsburg, pick up the auto there, when it’s finished, go on in that to Denver, get the airship and then keep on to Snake Island. I think——”
“Say, that’s all to the ice cream!” burst out Ned. “Bob, you have got a head on your shoulders after all. That’s a fine idea, I think.”
“So do I,” agreed Jerry. “But can we go all the way to Pittsburg by water?”
“Sure,” declared Bob. “Where’s a map? Ned, hunt up a geography.” One was soon found and then the boys, bending over it, saw that by using the river that flowed past their town for a number of miles, getting into a little lake, and thence into another river, they could, by means of a small canal get into a small river flowing into the Alleghany.
“We’d have to have the boat carted about five miles, but all the rest of the way we can go by water,” explained Bob. “As soon as we hit the Alleghany we’ll be all right. What do you say, Professor?”
“Anything you boys decide on will suit me,” answered the scientist, who was still busy making notes. “I want to get that two-tailed toad, and I’ll do anything in reason to secure a specimen. It strikes me that Bob’s plan is a good one.”
“It won’t be monotonous, at any rate,” commented Ned. “A motor boat, an auto and an aeroplane and dirigible balloon combined, ought to furnish a variety of travel that would suit almost any one. I think it’s just the cheese, myself.”
“Then we’ll do it,” decided Jerry. “I’ll write to Mr. Glassford, and the auto firm right away, and we can mail the letters on our way home, Bob. I’ve got to be going soon. I told mother I’d go calling with her this afternoon, but I’ve been here nearly all day.”
The letters were soon written, and then Jerry and Bob taking leave of Ned, started for their homes. Professor Snodgrass also sent word of the prospective trip to the college authorities by whom he was engaged. The scientist arranged to stay at Ned’s house until the time of starting.
“Let’s go have a look at the broken dam,” proposed Bob when Jerry had dropped the letters in the box. Accordingly they went a short distance out of their way, down to the river. The excitement of the morning had passed, and there was only a small crowd watching the mill men at work. The waters had now subsided, but it would be some time before the dam would be in shape to again hold back the stream, and provide power for the turbine.