“Where was you calalatin’ t’ take this here ship when it gits done, Perfesser?” asked Washington, during a lull in the operations.
“Do you remember that big hole in the island we visited on our trip to the south pole?”
“I suah does,” answered the colored man.
“We are going to explore that,” went on the scientist. “We are going to make a voyage to the interior of the earth in our Flying Mermaid.”
“Go down into th’ earth!” exclaimed Washington, his eyes big with fright.
“Certainly; why not?”
“Not for mine!” cried the colored man, dropping the wrench he was holding. “No sir! I’m not goin’ t’ project myself int’ a grave while I’se alive. Time enough when I kicks th’ bucket. No sir! If yo’ an’ the boys wants t’ risk yo’ se’ves goin’ down int’ th’ interior of th’ earth, where th’ Bible says there’s fiery furnaces, yo’ kin go, but Washington White stays on terra cotta! That’s where he stays; He ain’t ready t’ be buried, not jest yet!” and the frightened colored man started to leave the shed.
CHAPTER II
THE FLYING MERMAID
“Here! Stop him!” cried Professor Henderson. “Don’t let him get away. We still need his help to get the ship in shape. He needn’t be frightened. We’re not going to start at once.”
Mark and Jack ran after Washington, whose progress was somewhat impeded because he kept looking back as if he feared the new ship was chasing him.