While this had been going on, Jupe had been placing a stock of provisions on board, and Captain Andrews had assembled his navigating instruments and chronometers, which he had brought with him from the Sea King. By midnight Jack declared that it was time for the aero-auto’s passengers to get aboard.
A thrill of excitement ran through the whole party at these words; but Tom seemed suddenly to recollect something and stepped to Jack’s side, talking in a low voice.
The young leader nodded his assent to Tom’s proposal, whatever it was, and Tom vanished below, summoning Jupe to help him. When he returned, he had his arms full of mechanical apparatus, and the same was true of Jupe, who grunted under his burdens. All this impedimenta was placed in the tonneau, in lockers under the seats.
It now only remained to bolt on the aerial propeller, adjust the side-planes and fix the rudder. This was speedily done.
At twelve-thirty o’clock the party cast off the lashings which had bound the Flying Road Racer to the Vagrant’s deck. Jack climbed into the driver’s seat, taking his place at the aerial steering wheel. Tom sat beside him.
Captain Andrews, Ned Bangs and Jupe, whose eyes were almost popping out of his head, seated themselves in the broad, roomy tonneau.
The lights had already been switched off on I board the Vagrant and everything made snug. The silver casket, the gas-guns, the ammunition, and the other accessories from the Professor’s cabin which had not yet been opened, were, of course, on board the Flying Road Racer.
Jack bent forward and snapped a button switch. A hooded light above the various gauges and instruments on the dashboard shone out, shedding a soft but bright light on the appliances, but not striking up into the young leader’s eyes.
“All ready?” queried the lad, giving a backward glance.
“Ready as we ever will be, old top,” quoth the slangy Mr. Bangs.