“I vill vager,” said the aeronaut, who stood beside them, gazing upwards at the bright light and the circling birds—“I vill vager my big balloon dat de same idea has struck me myself.”
“Whisper,” said the captain.
The aeronaut did so, and McBain burst out laughing.
“How funny!” he remarked; “but you are perfectly right, De Vere; only keep it dark for a bit.”
“Oh yes,” said De Vere, laughing in turn; “very dark; as dark as—”
“Hush?” cried McBain, clapping a hand on his mouth.
“How tantalising!” said Rory.
“You’ll know all about it in good time,” McBain said; “and now, boys, we’ve got to prepare for winter in right good earnest. Duty before pleasure, you know. Now here is what I propose.”
What he did propose was set about without loss of time. Little Ap was summoned aft.
“Can you build barrows?” asked McBain.