“Don’t you bother about that,” answered Bob, with a smile. “We loafed, comin’ across; took it easy and got some sleep. We’re goin’ back on express time. We’re going to be there by two o’clock to-morrow morning,” he added nonchalantly. “I reckon we won’t have much time to sleep—any of us. Will you?”
“I won’t if I’m not sea sick,” answered the older journalist. “But I never miss, going or coming.”
Leaving the two journalists and Mr. Phillips to Roy’s care, Bob hurried to the assistance of Ned and Alan. The latter put him to work on the engines, still hot from the long strain. The supply store representative was a valuable aid. He had brought with him pumps, pipes and strainers and in a few minutes the engine gallery of the airship looked like the oil room of a liner. The gasoline was tested by the airship’s own gauges and then, with the usual precautions, rapidly pumped aboard. Within ten minutes several hundred persons had collected, among them several suburban police. But as these seemed only interested in the details of the big air vehicle and gave no signs of molesting the crew of the airship the preparations for a new flight were continued without excitement.
Buck’s work was the handling and storing of a few new supplies and fresh water. This done he joined the London journalists. He received with thankfulness a package of morning and early afternoon papers and then he assisted Bowman, the photographer, in getting his outfit into the third state room and in checking over the requirements for a dark room. The photographer had brought developing pans, “hypos” and other liquids.
“If you need a lot of water,” suggested Buck, “you’d better lay it in now. After we get goin’ it isn’t easy to run back and forth to the store room.”
“Good,” exclaimed the photographer, “but I won’t need it till dark. I’m goin’ to get every kind of a shot before we leave the land. And you can bet I’ll run back and forth unless we’re standin’ on end. I’ve done pictures in balloons and snapped mountain sheep. Don’t bother about me.”
Neither Ballard nor Clarke seemed to be specially keen about their coming trip but as it was an assignment each went to it as readily as if he had been ordered to the front in battle. Mr. Phillips was joking with them when Ned and Alan reappeared.
“Are you ready, gentlemen?” Ned asked, looking at his watch.
It was six minutes of two o’clock. Mr. Phillips began shaking hands. The other men nervously drew out their own watches and each smiled.
“We are a little ahead of time but the visitors are gettin’ thick. We are ready,” continued Ned.