“It’s eight minutes after two,” was Alan’s anxious reply.
“Don’t worry,” called back Ned as he advanced, “feeling” the direction of the breeze with his raised hand. “I’d rather be a little late than too early.” Then, at the foot of the ladder, he turned to Mr. Latimer again. “As I was saying,” he continued, addressing the night city editor, “when we get back, if you’ll take about ten days off, I’ll show you the best fishin’ spot in Wisconsin.”
If those congregated near the airship had the impression that Captain Napier would start with some ceremony or formality they were disappointed. Although Alan, Bob, Roy Osborne and Buck were now on the gallery above, each in some stage of excitement or concern, Ned made his way up the ladder as calmly as if preparing for one of the nightly tests.
His first words aboard were, “Buck, you seem to have less to do than any one else. We’d better make you purser as well as steward. Here’s a thousand dollars,” and he shoved the bills into the reporter’s hands. “Take care of it till we need it. And now a last word to everybody: the rolling and plunging of a vessel on the water is steadiness itself compared with some of the sudden motions the Flyer may make; do not pass from one part of the ship to another except when necessary and do not fail, on the galleries or top deck, to keep a hand on the rail. It’s a few minutes after two o’clock. All hands stand by their stations for the signal and we’ll be off.”
Just as Alan and Roy sprang up the store room ladder to reach the pilot house and Bob and Buck were entering the engine room, an employee rushed from Mr. Atkinson’s office.
“The Herald wants Mr. Latimer,” he shouted.
The latter glanced at Ned inquiringly and the boy nodded his head.
“Go ahead,” exclaimed Ned. “It’s probably an O. K. message for us. We’ll wait.”
Within two minutes—Ned’s associates having once more appeared on the upper and lower galleries with no attempt to conceal their impatience—the night city editor hurried toward the car again.
“From the office,” he said in a low tone to the boys above him, for as yet none of the spectators were advised of the mission of the aeroplane. “They’ve just received word that the English government authorities have prohibited airship flights over London during the coronation exercises.”