[CHAPTER IV]
PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXPEDITION UNDER WAY
Within a few hours after Frank received this astonishing communication, he had collected five opinions concerning it. These were:
Frank: “Next to sailin’ away to a tropic island in the South Seas on an old-fashioned three-masted brig in search of lost treasure, it’s the greatest thing that could have happened.”
Phil: “I’ll go if I lose my job.”
Mrs. Graham: “It’s perfectly ridiculous. I can’t understand what brother Guy means.”
Mrs. Ewing: “I always knew that flying machine would bring us bad luck.”
Mr. Graham: “Talk it over with me, eh? Well, meanwhile, you boys needn’t bother with any preparations. You’re not goin’.”
Mr. Graham’s speech was made about noon. Frank expected that his father would be against Mr. Mackworth’s plan. Therefore, after several futile attempts to introduce reasons in favor of the expedition, he gave up for the time. He had scarcely left the office when Mr. Graham received a letter from Mr. Mackworth.
After repeating what he had written to Frank, Mr. Mackworth went on: