“To-morrow,” replied Bob, and Ned nodded to indicate that he too would have an answer by then.
“How long will it take to build it after we provide the money?” asked Jerry.
“About a month. You see, much of the material I will need is already in stock in shops that make a specialty of airship supplies. The motor I can easily get, and the principal work will be putting the ship together. You boys can help me on it, and in a month, at the most, we ought to be able to make our first trip.”
“That’s the stuff!” cried Bob.
“I’m going home now, and see dad,” said Ned, as he got up. “I’m so anxious I can’t wait.”
“Bring your parents here, and let me explain my plans to them,” proposed Mr. Glassford, and this was voted a good idea.
At first Ned’s and Bob’s folks only laughed at their sons’ pleas, but as the boys insisted that they really meant to have an airship, Mr. and Mrs. Slade and Mr. and Mrs. Baker finally gave in, and accompanied the lads to Jerry’s house. There Mr. Glassford went over all the details again, explaining how it was practically impossible to run any serious risk.
Not without some misgivings, however, did the respective parents give their consent. But they finally did, which was all the boys cared about, and a contract was drawn up and signed by Mr. Glassford and Mrs. Hopkins, Mr. Baker and Mr. Slade, the boys being barred because they were not of legal age.
It was arranged that Mr. Glassford should have the use of a big loft in a storage building owned by Mr. Slade, where he kept some of the goods sold in his department store. There the work of building the airship could be started. When it had progressed as far as was possible in there, it was to be taken out and a large tent erected in a vacant lot. There the gas bag could be inflated, the planes and car attached, and all made ready for a flight.