“If you are able, get the salve first, please.”
“My dear sir, willingly; I see you are very busy, and will reserve my tale, which will make your hair stand—”
“That will do for the present, doctor. We must soon release these workmen. Excuse my offhandedness just now.”
“Certainly, certainly; I will fetch the salve.”
No sooner had the doctor moved away than he noticed Lucy, who came from the cottage, sidling up to Trigger, when a slight freshening of the morning breeze caused the balloon to roll round in a graceful sweep, which afforded the aeronaut a reason for requesting that Lucy should keep farther away, and allow Trigger to do his bidding.
Harry Goodall then joined Tom, Bennet and one or two others, who were attaching his machinery to the side of the car. Then he took Tom Trigger a little aside, and said,—
“Slip your overcoat and things in the car; mine are already there. You have not, I hope, disturbed anything I placed myself therein.”
“No, sir,” said Tom, “and I begin to tumble now as to what you are after, but I wish I had known earlier.”
“It is quite as well as it is, perhaps,” said Mr Goodall. “I do not want to let the gas out in the park, and you see what a fine chance there is for drying her aloft.”
“Drying her, or trying her, which am I to understand, sir?”