“I knew you had your Colt and that each chamber was loaded, but before you could have drawn and fired, I should have thrown away my rifle and leaped upon him. His build and looks show he is a lithe, wiry fellow, but I should have mastered him. It might have been a hard struggle and some ugly blows would have been struck and they would have been a cause of keen regret, for you can’t feel enmity against an irresponsible person. But by keeping up the bluff I headed him off.”
This brief extract from the conversation of the group at the tent by the lake was closed by the following curious remark of the elder Hamilton:
“If it hadn’t all turned out as it did, I never should have appreciated the wit and brightness of this handsome brother of mine. What he did afterward was as much ahead of my performance as the United States of America is ahead of every other nation in the world.”
Which remark compels us to return to the scene of the meeting near the cavern where Bohunkus Johnson was waiting for the Professor to take him on his aerial voyage to Africa.
Harvey was still laughing over the frenzied flight of the colored youth when he suddenly sobered at the fear that the inventor would follow with his machine and pick up Bunk before he could be prevented; but the crazy aviator did not seem to have such a thought, for, as has been said, he sailed straight for his workshop.
There was no reason for the brothers remaining and they started after the lad, who was found by the canoe still bewildered and scared almost out of his wits.
“Whar’s—whar’s de Perfesser?” he asked in a tremulous voice.
“Didn’t you see him going back to his shop in his monoplane?”
“I seed de machine but I didn’t know he war in it.”
“Suppose he had come here for you?” inquired Dick.