“Get away with the Albatross?” cried Hiram. “What are you talking about, Dave? How can they——?”
But he did not finish his sentence. At that moment there came another lurch to the craft, and it moved several feet.
“There!” hoarsely whispered Dave. “What did I tell you?”
“Are we going up—a night flight?” asked Hiram.
“I don’t know. I was awakened by the movement, and it’s been going on ever since. Someone is outside, that’s sure. Listen now!”
There was silence for a moment, and then a cautious voice could be heard saying:
“I suah will have t’ done go an’ git another mule critter t’ move this contraption. An’ I ain’t got no mo’ of my own. I’ll have to borrow one off Nate Jackson, an’ then he’ll want me t’ whack up with him. Wa’al, there ain’t no help, fer as I kin see!”
“There!” exclaimed Dave in triumph.
“It sure is strange,” said Hiram. “I guess we’d better wake up the others. Mr. King and Mr. Dale ought to know about this.”
But there was no need for the boys to awaken their companions. The next moment there came such a violent motion to the ship that not a sleeper continued to slumber. With one accord they tumbled out of their berths.