It was between some disused cogs of an extra engine, but nobody but the two, Barney and Pomp, knew this.
It did not in any measure affect the working of the engines, but Barney’s dodge was to pretend that it did.
“What’s the matter with you?” cried Vane, as he appeared in the engine-room. “What’s wrong?”
“Do yez see that bar, sor?” cried Barney.
“Yes.”
“Well, sor, it has fallen into the machinery an’ has been afther stoppin’ it. Shure, we kin niver stop the Kite from goin’ up av we don’t get it out.”
“You don’t mean it! Can’t you pull it out?”
“No, sor.”
“What difference does it make?”
“Shure, sor, the air-ship will go all av the way up to the ind of nowhere av we don’t get it out.”