Poke wagged his head sagely. “Don’t think, Sam, that I’m going into this thing blindfolded. It’s a scientific scheme, and I’m putting it through scientifically. Just you wait and see!”
“All right—I’ll wait. But isn’t there anything to see yet?”
The others exchanged glances.
“Why—why, no,” said Poke. “You can come in and take a look. Of course, we’re messed up, but maybe you can get an idea of what we’re at.”
Sam followed him into the barn. Because doors were kept closed and horse blankets had been hung at windows to preserve secrecy, the place was somewhat dim; but he made out the motor, set upon a pair of wooden horses, with a confusion of wrenches and other tools about it. In the background was a gaunt framework of bamboo poles and wire.
“For the planes,” Poke explained. “We’re still experimenting. But we’re getting there; we learn something every day.”
Sam made observation as closely as he could, but without great enlightenment.
“Well, live and learn,” he remarked, non-committally. “And when do you expect to have the—er—er—the thing finished?”
“Oh, pretty soon,” Poke told him. “We’re getting along faster than you’d think. Step is a star at a job like this.”
“Well, I do seem to be able to work out Poke’s ideas when he can’t do it himself,” Step admitted.