"How far will one of those cylinders take us, Rittmeister?"
"Ten thousand miles," replied the chief, "that is, one fitted to either engine."
"Good! Let me see, there are ten here, and one already fitted to either motor makes a dozen. Why, they would carry us"--and here he made a rapid calculation--"they would take us twice round the world."
"Precisely, and with a little to spare, when we had completed the double trip."
"And what speed would she pick up, say at a level flight?"
For answer the chief looked at the professor, as though uncertain whether to reply to this question.
"They have taken the oath, sir," he pleaded, "They cannot withdraw," and the great scientist nodded his acquiescence.
"Two hundred and fifty miles without being pushed," he replied at length.
"Donnerwetter! And what if she were pushed?"
"I cannot say, she has never been driven beyond that."