“No, not a hen-coop,” said Harry.
“Huh. Thought ye was. Well, ye can’t use them long strips for a boat.”
“You have one more guess,” said Harry.
“How’s that?”
“We’re building an airship,” said Harry; “that is, a glider—for gliding.”
The man stared at them, amazed.
“Well, you’ll all break your necks,” said he.
But he condescended to tell them that Marty Forbes might have what they wanted down at his boat-yard. So they sought out Marty, who, on hearing their wishes, was still more discouraging. He had prophesied, he said, that half the boys would go crazy after seeing Goodwin fly, and he guessed he was about right. But he was willing to be a party to their rashness to the extent of selling them some thin strips, which he agreed to steam and curve according to Harry’s directions. So Harry cut a piece of stiff wire to the proper length and bent it as a pattern. “There, that’s a parabolic curve,” he said.
“Paregoric?” said Marty.
“No, parabolic.”