“That is a sweeping statement,” he declared; “but you are a truthful man, Captain Beere, and of course you mean what you say.”
“I certainly do,” said the doughty captain in his most positive manner. “What is more, I stand ready to furnish undisputed proof of it.”
The captain cleared his throat and began his story. But before we follow him through its thread let us take a closer look at him.
It could be seen at a glance that he was a man much out of the ordinary.
In figure he was stout and well built, with fair features and a heavy, full beard. His blue eyes twinkled with honesty but a certain irascibility of temper peculiar to sea-faring men.
For many years he had sailed the seas and weathered many a hard voyage in all quarters of the world. But two years previous he had retired with the purpose of spending the rest of his days in ease and comfort on shore.
He had been a warm friend of Frank Reade, Sr., long since passed away, and when he heard of the success of Frank Reade, Jr., the son of the famous inventor, he conceived the notion of paying him a visit.
Frank Reade, Jr., received him hospitably in his beautiful Readestown home.
“My father’s friends are mine,” he declared. “I have often heard him speak of you, Captain Beere.”
The captain visited the great machine shops of Frank Reade, Jr., and inspected his various inventions. Among them the one which claimed his deepest interest was the new air-ship, the Spectre.