"Why, what in the world is the matter?" asked Dick. "Is something going to blow up?"
CHAPTER XVII
OFF FOR THE START
Uncle Ezra Larabee stood fairly glaring at his nephew. The crabbed old man seemed strangely excited.
"No, there ain't nothing going to blow up," he said, after a pause. "But don't you come in here. I warn you away! You can go in any other part of my factory you want to, but not in here."
"Well, I certainly don't want to come where I'm not wanted, Uncle Ezra," said Dick, with dignity. "But I hear you are building an airship, and I thought I'd like to get a look at it."
"And that's just what I don't want you to get—none of you," went on Mr. Larabee, looking at Dick's chums. "I don't want to be mean to my dead sister's boy," he added, "but my airship ain't in shape yet to be inspected."
"Well, if it isn't finished, perhaps we can give you some advice," said Dick, with a smile.
"Huh! I don't want no advice, thank you," said Uncle Ezra, stiffly. "I calkerlate Lieutenant Larson knows as much about building airships as you boys do."