Jack nodded and prepared to send greetings to his father, hundreds of miles away. They were out in the country now. As the Wondership glided through the air, the professor, in viewing the villages, farms, green pastures, and stretches of woodland, regretfully shook his head as the thought occurred to him that he was missing many a precious stone. He looked over to Jack with the idea of suggesting a descent, but he saw the boy inventor patiently adjusting the tuning knob, and waited, realizing how anxious Jack was to test the Coloradite.
The little professor, extremely interested, saw Jack place his lips to the receiver, and for the second time in his life, send out the distinct call:
"Hullo, High Towers!"
Many minutes passed without an answer. Jack's face became grave. Was part of the machinery not properly adjusted? He went over the instrument very carefully. In so far as he could see, everything was just as it should be. Then a thought came that made him dizzy—was it possible that the Coloradite was not suited for the work, that Mr. Chadwick had been misinformed?
"What's up?" inquired Tom, glancing up from his engines.
"By the ghost of Guzzlewits!" gasped Dick. "Don't say it won't work, Jack!"
The professor, ordinarily cool and very calculating, was strangely stirred. He watched the young inventor's face. Did it mean failure?
"I don't know," said Jack at last with forced calmness. "I will try again."
Once more Jack, oppressed by a vague fear, sent out the words:
"Hullo, High Towers!"