He got the phonograph placed to suit him and ready for action at a moment's notice. Bob also prepared one of the small paper balloons so he could light the alcohol sponge on the wire on its bottom without igniting the tissue paper. A perforated asbestos globe he had himself designed, enabled him to do this with facility.
The native village slept. No sound broke the silence of the mystic midnight hour.
Bob again consulted his watch. The hour prescribed by Stoodles had passed.
"Everything must have worked smoothly with Pat," thought the young engineer. "I'm due to start the ball rolling all right. Here goes!"
CHAPTER XXIV
IN THE ROYAL PALACE
Bang, bang, bang, bang!
Such a vivid, unfamiliar racket had seemingly never before disturbed the native town of the Island Windjammers.
The whole settlement seemed to wake up at once. Bob Vilett was fairly startled at the result of his sharp rapid fusillade.
He had a heap to do, however, and he had no time to observe what was going on outside.