FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133  
134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   >>  
eighty-one hours since I left London; I've got eighty-seven to get back in." "How will you go?" asked Underhill. "First to Samoa, then Honolulu, then 'Frisco, and straight across the States." "You'll have to beware of interviewers," said Tom. "You may be sure the newspaper men have got wind of you by this time." "I don't know. Barracombe wouldn't say anything; I don't think Johnson in Constantinople would, and--" "My dear fellow, don't make any mistake," said Captain Warren. "Nobody ever does say anything, but the newspaper men somehow or other know what you think about when you're abed and asleep." "They must all be Irishmen, then." "Or Americans. I wouldn't mind betting that they are getting up a reception for you at 'Frisco--" "But they don't know I'm going there." "No matter; the word has gone out to keep a watch for you, and every town in the States will be on the _qui vive_. I'm rather sorry for you when you come down for petrol; you won't get off so easily as you did on the way out." "Of course you won't," said Tom. "I suppose you'll wire ahead for petrol to be held ready for you? That will give you away." "No, I shall chance it. I can get petrol in any town in the States, and I won't risk delay by announcing myself." "You had better have a good sleep before you start," said Underhill. "What time do you want to go?" "Not later than midnight." "Well, you've got nearly four hours. Your man had better sleep, too. I'll see to the engine." "Roddy won't allow that. I see that he has got help. He'll be finished in half-an-hour. By all means put him to bed then, if you'll promise to wake us both in good time." "I'll do that. I won't spoil sport. Go to the further end of the camp, and I'll tuck you up in the tarpaulin, put some food on board, and see that everything is shipshape." Smith was glad enough to avail himself of the opportunity of three or four hours' continuous sleep on land. Rodier showed more reluctance, declaring that he was as fit as a fiddle; but Captain Warren bore him away from the crowd of admirers, and stood over him until he, like his master, was sleeping soundly. A quarter of an hour before midnight the two airmen were awakened. Farewells were said, hands were shaken all round, every one wish them good luck, and precisely at twelve they took their seats and set forth on the two thousand miles flight to Samoa. CHAPTER XV HERR SCHWANKMACHER'S CABBAG
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133  
134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   >>  



Top keywords:

States

 

petrol

 

Captain

 

Warren

 
Frisco
 
Underhill
 

eighty

 

midnight

 

wouldn

 

newspaper


engine

 

promise

 

shipshape

 

finished

 

tarpaulin

 

precisely

 

twelve

 
awakened
 

Farewells

 

shaken


SCHWANKMACHER
 
CABBAG
 

CHAPTER

 

flight

 

thousand

 

airmen

 

quarter

 
showed
 

reluctance

 

declaring


Rodier

 
opportunity
 

continuous

 
fiddle
 

master

 

sleeping

 
soundly
 
admirers
 

fellow

 

mistake


Nobody

 

betting

 

Americans

 

asleep

 

Irishmen

 

Honolulu

 
straight
 

London

 
beware
 

Barracombe