It was broad day when the boys awoke. At first they could not realize where they were. They saw a colored man moving about and cooking something on the gasolene stove.
"Did yo' gen'men obtain a sufficient percentage of restful slumberation?" he asked with a broad grin.
"We slept fine," said Mark.
"Washington, is breakfast ready?" asked Mr. Henderson, coming in from the balloon shed.
"It am prepared," was the reply.
"Hello, boys! How did you sleep?" asked the inventor, observing that
Mark and Jack were awake.
"Fine!" they said in a chorus and with a smile.
"Well, wash up and we'll have something to eat. You'll find soap, water and towels out in the shed," and he pointed to where he had just come from.
The boys found two big tubs full of cool water. In an instant they had stripped and were splashing around like ducks. It was a treat to get a good bath. They came back into the cabin glowing. Not even a reminder of the soreness and stiffness of the railroad accident remained. They did full justice to the meal of coffee and ham and eggs Washington had prepared.
"Now, Washington, you had better take the prisoner something, and get your own breakfast," the professor said. "I want to have a talk with the boys."