“By the way, professor,” asked Nat, “what is the airship’s name?”
“Why, bless my soul, I hadn’t thought of that,” remarked the man of science, “she ought to have one, too. What would you suggest?”
“I think Discoverer would be a good name,” said Joe.
“Dd-d-d-dish coverer?” inquired Ding-dong mildly.
In the scuffle that ensued, the lively young engineer of the Nomad was almost toppled overboard.
When quiet was restored, the professor said that he thought that Discoverer was a very good name. And so it was decided upon.
“You may come ashore with me, if you like,” said the professor to Nat.
“If I like,” echoed that lad; “of course I’d be delighted to,” he added.
Accordingly, a few minutes later they set out in one of the shore boats for the city, leaving behind them two youths with rather long faces. Ding-dong and Joe would have dearly loved to share in the expedition, but their presence on board was necessary, as the Nomad, after her long, rough cruise, was badly in need of a “general housecleaning.”
“I guess the consul will be astonished when he learns of the manner in which I have traveled here,” remarked the professor; “naturally he was expecting me on the schooner.”