“I think the same,” added Harvey.
“You feel sure he intends to try to cross the Atlantic?”
“He is certain to make the venture unless prevented.”
“How can you hold a madman in check?” asked Dick; “I almost regret that I didn’t send a bullet through the tank of his machine.”
“It wouldn’t have taken him long to repair the fracture,” said Hunter.
“It would have delayed him several days, and in the meantime we could lay the case before the authorities and ask them to interfere.”
“I doubt it,” replied Hunter thoughtfully; “I can’t see on what ground the law could prevent him from going on with his experiments. Suppose he proved—what I believe is true—that the chemical combination which he has made will buoy his aeroplane two days or more and that he can travel a hundred miles an hour, what right would any one have to interfere with him? No; there must be other plans tried, or we shall have to leave him to his fate.”
“What do you mean by other plans?” asked Harvey.
“I’ll be hanged if I know; can’t you think of something?”
Harvey made an evasive answer; for in truth, he was turning over a scheme in his mind which he was afraid to make known. Dick, taking advantage of his commanding position as an older brother, would likely put a veto upon it. Besides, Harvey was not yet certain he would try it even with their assent.