“Not him,” chuckled Ned. “He ain’t that kind. He’s been promoted already to the position of chef. Don’t worry about that boy. I wouldn’t be surprised if he turned out an able ‘birdman’ before we get away.”
As Ned was to leave the next morning for Chicago, not to return until Monday morning (the Flyer was to sail Wednesday, June 21, at 2:10 P. M.,) he took a taxicab to the New York-Chicago office after leaving the editor. It was his intention to have a look at his mail, a talk with Major Honeywell, and then catch the three o’clock train for Newark to see how Alan and Bob were progressing with the alterations. To his surprise he found the engineer in his office. He had followed Alan’s suggestion at once and reached New York some time before noon.
“I thought I’d make your new chart to-day,” he explained, “so that you could see it before you leave for Chicago.” The lieutenant’s big flat drafting table was covered with United States hydrographic Atlantic Coast charts and English Admiralty maps of the Irish and English sea lines and harbors. The officer himself was at another table busy with logarithms, trigonometry and almanacs of latitude and longitude.
“Fine,” exclaimed Ned, to whom such details were always fascinating. “What have you found?” In another instant he had thrown off his coat and was perched on a corner of the lieutenant’s desk.
“I’ve found something that may surprise you,” answered the engineer laying down his pencil. “The continuation of the other St. Johns, Newfoundland and Fastnet Light, Ireland, course won’t do at all. A great circle course from New York is going to take you miles north of St. Johns. And it’ll pass far to the north’ard of Fastnet Light.”
“Is that so?” responded Ned, not a little amazed. “What’s the distance?”
“Something over 3,200 miles.”
“Good,” exclaimed Ned. “That’s fine. Much over?”
“Exactly three thousand two hundred and eighteen and one-tenth miles. And that beats a steamer course about two hundred miles. It figures eleven hundred and sixty miles from New York to where you leave the American shore line and it’s two thousand and fifty-eight and one-tenth miles from that point to the center of London, three thousand two hundred and eighteen and one-tenth miles of traveling.”
“Better and better,” exclaimed Ned.