an' stones at every
step, till suddenly there was quite a light struck my face, and first I
knew I was lookin' right into your lighted windows. I guess we'll have a
pleasant meetin' here of all the folks in town pretty soon--not to
mention the skeeters, which are comin' right early this year!"

"Lands sakes!" cried Rebecca.

"There now!" exclaimed Copernicus, bustling toward the windows, "I must
be a nateral born fool!"

Phoebe laughed in high spirits at thought of her prank, while Droop
closed the tight iron shutters at each window, thus confining every ray
of light.

Rebecca seated herself opposite Phoebe and looked severely straight
before her with her hands folded in her lap. She was ashamed of her
curiosity and much chagrined at being discovered in this unconventional
situation by her younger sister.

Phoebe gazed about her and, having taken in the general aspect of the
antechamber in which they were assembled, she explored the two
state-rooms. Thence she returned for a more detailed survey. Droop
followed her about explaining everything, but Rebecca remained unmoved.

"What's all those dials on the wall, Mr. Droop?" asked the younger
sister.

"I wish't you'd call me Cousin Copernicus," said Droop, appealingly.

Phoebe ran up very close to a large steel dial-plate covered with
figures.

"Now what the land is this for?" she exclaimed.

"Thet," said Droop, slowly, "is an indicator of height above ground and
tells yer direction."

"And what d'ye do with this little handle?"

"Why, you set that for north or west or any other way, an' the hull
machine keeps headed that way until ye change it."

"Oh, is that the rudder?"

"No, that is fer settin' jest one course fer a long ride--like's ef we
was goin' north to the pole, ye know. The rudder's in here, 'long with
the other machinery."

He walked to one of the two doors which faced the state-rooms.

Phoebe followed him and found herself in the presence of a bewildering
array of controlling and guiding handles--gauges--test cocks--meters and
indicators. She was quite overawed, and listened with a new respect for
her distant relative as he explained the uses of the various
instruments. It was evident that he had quite mastered the significance
of each implement.

When Droop had completed his lecture, Phoebe found that she understood
the uses of three of the levers. The rest was a mystery to her.

"This is the starting-lever," she said. "This steers, a