“Poor Tony!” exclaimed Frank, with emotion. “I declare I almost feel it my duty to go to his rescue.”
“What! leave home again so soon?”
“Yet what is my duty, dear wife? It would seem that my dear friend’s life is at stake. Ought I not to sacrifice something to save him?”
“What? You don’t really think of going yourself?”
“I don’t know,” replied Frank, agitatedly pacing the floor. “I don’t see who else can go and stand the rigors of that climate, dare the dangers of the jungle, the wild beasts and natives, and succeed in rescuing Tony.”
“Are you sure that you can do it?”
“Ought I not to be reasonably sure? Have I not the Steam Man? Barney and Pomp I am sure would go with me.”
“I hope you will not be so foolish as to go.”
“I cannot say yet, my dear. I must satisfy myself completely that it is my duty. But I think I will walk down to the shop and see the Steam Man.”
Frank bent down and kissed his wife and children and then left the house.