[CHAPTER VIII]
ANDY FIRST HEARS OF KING CAJOU
Before ten o’clock the next morning, Andy, with the savage-looking Ba rowing the little Red Bird, had been to the Leighton cottage on Goat Creek, and was back with the model of the bird-tail guide and a box of special metal-working tools. By noon the projected aeroplane was under way.
While daylight lasted, Captain Anderson and his assistant applied themselves to selecting timber, roughing out the frame of the flying machine, with frequent conferences. From Andy’s handbook, dimensions were readily secured, and that evening a working sketch of the car was made.
The following morning, Andy began a search for batteries. Those found at his uncle’s cottage were practically exhausted. There was much that the boy would have to do at the forge in his uncle’s shop in the way of metal work, but he was anxious that the batteries should be secured to test the engine.
“We’ll have to get cloth, too, for covering the planes. We ought to have balloon silk, but that is out of the question. Good muslin will do—we’ll waterproof it—I know how—alum and sugar of lead, equal parts in warm water—”
“I’m afraid we haven’t muslin enough,” interrupted the captain.
“Certainly not,” exclaimed the boy, “nor alum, nor sugar of lead, nor batteries. So I’ll go to Melbourne this afternoon and get ’em—it’s only eight miles. I can be back this evening—”
“There’s a nice breeze,” volunteered the captain, “and it’s abeam. We’ll have Ba sail the Valkaria, and you can take your mother and Mrs. Anderson.”
“Won’t you come along?” asked the boy, overjoyed, but feeling a little guilty.