"You have some object back of it all," continued the professor. "I do not know what your motive is, but I say, rather than have my plans spoiled, I will make you a prisoner and keep you here until after I have sailed. I am all ready to start,—tonight, if need be!"
"So that's your game, is it?" cried Taggert. He turned toward the old man with an ugly look.
"Washington!" cried the professor. "Bind him! Put him in the little room and see that he does not escape!"
The next instant the big negro had folded his arms around Taggert. The white man struggled, but he was like a baby in the grasp of a giant, for Washington was very powerful. He procured a strong cord, and, before Taggert could resist had him firmly bound. Then, picking the man up in his arms, Washington carried him back into the balloon shed.
"Help! Help!" cried Taggert, and then his cries were smothered.
"Don't hurt him!" cautioned the professor, calling into the darkness to
Washington.
"I only guv him a soft piece ob wood to bite on," replied the negro. "He mustn't expostulate sounds too freely 'cause it might keep us awake."
In a few minutes Washington returned.
"I made him as comfortableness as de existin' circumstanceableness would permit ob," he announced.
"That's right. I did not want to do this, but I was forced to," the inventor said. "I will release him as soon as we are ready to sail. But I am forgetting the boys. Come out," he called, and Jack and Mark, much mystified and somewhat frightened by what had taken place, crawled from under the bed.