“How about steel, young chap?” asked Dr. Crandon, from the front seat.
“That’s iron,” said Billy, “but I don’t know much about it except that it makes tools and swords.”
“And knives,” said Dr. Crandon, way down in his throat.
“Oh!” said Billy.
But nobody knew whether he said it to Dr. Crandon, or whether it was because the car came to a sudden stop.
“Puncture, sir,” said Joseph.
However Mr. Prescott may have felt, and he probably did have some feelings, he acted as though he didn’t mind in the least.
“That grove looks inviting,” he said. “Suppose we have some lunch.”
Then he unstrapped the lunch basket and, in a few minutes, they were all sitting under the trees enjoying sandwiches and ginger ale.
“Seems rather pleasant,” said Mr. Prescott, “to have a change. Dr. Crandon, what were you saying about knives?”