"I knew you'd do it," exclaimed Major Honeywell, beaming. "Now we'll have my friend Senor Oje up and get right at the details."
"One moment, Major Honeywell. It is easy to say what I just told you. But it means I've got to do something no one has ever done. I've got to take with me—in the balloon, of course—the material to replace the gas I lose."
"I guess you don't know much about ballooning," laughed Ned.
"Will money enable you to do it?"
"I hope so! Other experimenters have tried to carry materials to make gas. I'm going to take the gas itself in a glass jar."
"In a glass jar!"
At that moment Senor Pedro Oje, who had been summoned by Major Honeywell, entered the room. An almost Indian complexion3 and cast of countenance4 indicated his Mexican origin. What had taken place was related to Senor Oje, and he left no doubt that he was thoroughly5 in sympathy with the project. He soon put matters on a business basis.
"We are to share alike in what is found, I understand," he said. "Major Honeywell will have a third interest because the secret is his. This young man is to have a third because the risk is his. And I am to have a similar portion for furnishing the capital. And that brings us to the real starting point," the Mexican capitalist continued. "What is it to cost?"
"Ten thousand dollars at least," answered Ned instantly.
"Phew!" exclaimed Major Honeywell.
Senor Oje, not unused to speculative6 investments, gave no sign of surprise.
"How shall it be arranged?" was his only comment.
"Put that amount to my personal credit in the First National Bank—if you care to trust me."
"We are trusting you with more than that," replied Major Honeywell with earnestness.
"It will take me six weeks to make my arrangements. In that time, as I need the money, I will draw on the account," said Ned.
"Very good," said Senor Oje; "I will draw up the agreement."
"Now," continued Ned, addressing Major Honeywell, "what is your interpretation7 of the message of the Spaniard?"
"Of course Vasquez's words must be modernized8. What he termed the Tune9 Cha Mountains begin in New Mexico and extend northwesterly into Arizona and Utah. In many places their plateaus rise eight thousand feet above the sea. Their thousands of peaks and canyons10 are fit rivals of the wonders of the Grand Canyon11 of the Colorado. Nowadays they are known by many names—the Sierra Chusca, the Lokaeboka, the Carrisco. 'Thirty days' travel west of north' is not very definite, but it certainly locates the palace in the far northwestern part of these mountains.
"The Rio de Chuco can only mean the Chusco river. The only place in its winding12 course that is six days' journey from the mountains is where it joins the Amarilla. This is south and east of Wilson's Peak, which is our landmark13."
"Very good," exclaimed Ned, briskly. "Now, what is the nearest point in civilization?"
"Clarkeville, Arizona."
"Then that is my starting point. This is June twentieth. I shall be ready by the last day of July. Of course I shall need a special car."
"Very well," responded the capitalist. "I see you know what you want."
"Incidentally," exclaimed Ned, "I shall, of course, be permitted to carry my own assistants."
"Assistants? Yes, of course," replied Major Honeywell, "but they must be persons of discretion14."
"My chum, Alan Hope, who will make the ascension with me, will be one, and a colored boy, Elmer Grissom, who has helped me prepare for all my flights, will be the other."
"When shall I make my report?" Ned added.
Major Honeywell and his friend conferred a moment.
"Will five weeks be enough time for your exploration?"
"I think so; perhaps less."
"Then we will meet you at the Coates House in Kansas City on the first day of August."
Senor Oje arose and lit a fresh black cigar.
"It will be well for you and Major Honeywell to talk over these things while I see my Chicago banker," said he. And with a good-natured "Adios, Senores," he left the apartment.
"Now, about this liquid hydrogen?" began Major Honeywell at once.
"Well," said Ned, "instead of ballast, I'm going to carry reserve hydrogen with me."
"And is that so difficult?" asked the Major.
"Impossible, if you try to carry material to make the gas," answered the boy.
"And so you are going to carry it in liquid form?"
"I'm going to try, although the making of liquid hydrogen is, so far, pretty much a theory. It has been made only under tremendous pressure and at minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit16."
The Major whistled.
"That is so cold that ice is red hot comparatively," explained Ned. "This work must be done, in Washington."
They discussed the balloon itself, and the car and the engine for propelling it; where these were to be made in the East, and how they were to be forwarded to Chicago as they were completed. Ned himself was to go East at once and remain there until the last thing was accomplished17.
Ned's chum, Alan Hope, had just taken employment for the school vacation in a large sporting goods store not far from the hotel. A few minutes later Ned walked leisurely18 into this store and sought out the fire-arms department, where Alan was on duty.
"Hello, Ned," exclaimed Alan, "what do you think of this?" And with a smile he handed him an automatic pistol he was inspecting.
Restraining himself, Ned looked it over carefully.
"It holds ten cartridges19 and it's a beauty," declared Alan.
Ned weighed it carefully in his hand. "What's it worth?" he asked with dignity.
"Eighteen dollars."
"I think we'll need three of them!"
Alan laughed.
"And there are a good many other things I think we shall need," went on Ned, soberly.
"This hot weather is pretty bad on some people," laughed Alan. "But, by the way, who are 'we?"'
"You and Elmer Grissom and I," answered Ned carelessly.
"And where are we going?" continued Alan, who was not unused to Ned's joking.
"On a little run in a private car down into New Mexico."
Alan looked at him a moment and then determined20 to have the joke out.
"Then what are we going to do?" he asked, still laughing.
"Make a trip through an unexplored mountain region in the best dirigible balloon ever built."
Alan wondered just where the joke came in. "And then?" he continued.
"Discover enough hidden treasure of jewels and silver and gold to make us rich."
"Shall I get you a cabbage leaf and some ice water?" asked Alan.
"Get your father's consent that you can go; that'll be all," announced Ned and then, breaking into a laugh, he relieved the perplexed21 Alan by explaining what had just taken place. In ten minutes Alan had secured permission to be off for the remainder of the day and the two boys hurried away for luncheon22, to revel23 in dreams of their great opportunity.
By night Mrs. Napier had consented, though with tears, to Ned's going, and later Alan's father reluctantly did the same. As Ned was to leave the next afternoon and had to see Major Honeywell and Senor Oje in the morning it was a busy evening that the two boys spent in Ned's workshop.
At one o'clock in the morning Alan's work in Chicago was outlined and Ned's needs in the East were all listed.
"And now," exclaimed the tired but exuberant24 Alan, "it is all arranged but the name. What are we to call the air ship?"
"The 'Cibola,'" answered Ned without hesitation25, "the dream of the Spanish invaders26 and our hope of success."
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1
qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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speculative
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| adj.思索性的，暝想性的，推理的 | |
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interpretation
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| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
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modernized
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| 使现代化，使适应现代需要( modernize的过去式和过去分词 )； 现代化，使用现代方法 | |
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9
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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canyons
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| n.峡谷( canyon的名词复数 ) | |
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11
canyon
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| n.峡谷，溪谷 | |
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12
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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13
landmark
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| n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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dissent
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| n./v.不同意，持异议 | |
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16
Fahrenheit
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| n./adj.华氏温度；华氏温度计(的) | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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19
cartridges
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| 子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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revel
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| vi.狂欢作乐，陶醉；n.作乐，狂欢 | |
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24
exuberant
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| adj.充满活力的；（植物）繁茂的 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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