“The first appearance of such an unusual craft,” the editor argued, “would certainly attract wide attention. Publicity is bound to follow. The car ought never to appear by day until the real flight is made.”
This being conceded, Bob immediately sent a wireless message to New York notifying the engineer to report that night at the factory. The chef at the factory was not an unskilled one. The day was hot and a cooling drink he had invented and served received so many compliments that Chef Jasper was summoned from the kitchen. To be openly and personally congratulated by such a celebrity as the director of the New York Herald disconcerted Jasper. For a time he could not explain the composition of his unique beverage. But at last the pleasant mystery was revealed.
“Mah wife Lindy,” Jasper finally made plain, “she jes’ done git a bucket o’ fine, ripe, sweet churries an’ she pits ’em and biles ’em till de juice is jes lak ’lasses, puttin’ plenty o’ sugar in ’em till de surup is sweet ’nough an’ not too sweet. An’ dats all. When yo’ desiahs to make a churry coolah you done take a big col’ glass an’ fill it plum up full o’ crush ice, dry an’ powdah lak. Den yo’ takes a half a cup o’ de juice and dreen it down trew de white ice. When de ice ’gins to melt yo’ pour de glass full o’ ginger ale an’ let her fizz an’ bile. But not no Jersey City ginger ale. You wants English ginger ale cause Jersey ginger is sweet lak ’lasses.”
“I suppose,” said the delighted editor to the boys, “that you won’t really need one of Jasper’s ‘cherry coolers’ on your ocean voyage.”
“We’ve made several trips in the air,” laughed Ned shaking his head, “in which we had to do a good deal of figuring on the food supply. This time this will give us little trouble. Sandwiches, bread and butter, some tinned beans, meats and made coffee for heating over an alcohol stove will be about our only supplies. It’ll be such a short voyage and such a busy one that eating will be the least of our troubles.”
“Wait till the regular transatlantic service begins,” laughed Bob. “You ought to see the sketch of the passenger car with its dining compartments. No ‘short order’ service; soups, roasts, salads, ice cream. And the sleepin’ car—”
“But that’s to come,” interrupted Alan. “Meanwhile, we have a rather comfortable car out here in the setting-up room. It’s ready for inspection.”
“Just one minute,” suggested Major Honeywell. “Your guest asked you a question on the way out here that has not yet been answered. He wants to know the duties of the four members of the operating crew.”
As they arose from the table Ned volunteered to explain.
“First, we must have a pilot constantly at the wheel. But his duties are not simply to keep a lookout ahead. His chief concern is to watch the control of the machine by counteracting the influence of unexpected air currents and those atmospheric obstructions that Bob calls ‘ruts.’ It can’t be denied that there are unexpected and indistinguishable puffs of air that will bump an aeroplane just as a rock or a piece of wood will bounce an automobile in the air.”