“What’s the use of all the energy you have expended on this machine?” demanded the man earnestly. “Is it a dream or do you believe what you have told me? I’m not a millionaire, but I’m sure I could make your services to me worth while. At least you don’t need to hesitate on that score. I think you can do all you have said this machine can do. Anyway, I’ll pay you well for making the attempt, and I’ll undertake to get the consent of your fathers. Of course you can’t go without that. Would you be willing to go if I can arrange this?”
“You bet your life!” announced Roy instantly.
“It’s a pretty serious thing,” began Norman, “and dangerous too—”
“Oh,” broke in Colonel Howell, “then you’d rather have some one else try out your glass cage and electric stoves.”
“But it’s a long way from home,” went on Norman, growing red in the face.
“No farther for you than for me,” explained the colonel, still laughing. “And we’ll all go to Fort McMurray on the flatboats. If you can’t fly back you can at least do what I have done twice—walk.”
“And Moosetooth and La Biche are going to run the boats?” asked Norman.
“They certainly are,” answered Colonel Howell, “and if you’re interested in those things, there’ll be plenty of moose and bear and deer standin’ on the river banks waiting for a shot.”
Norman looked at Roy, who was almost a picture of disgust, and then, in self-defense, he said: “I’d like to go if the folks consent. As for that car, it’ll do everything we’ve said and don’t you forget that.”