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BRAVE AND BOLD. 21
. “But othairs have seen ze same, but would not believe
in me.”
“They must have been fools, then. But I say, monsieur,
we are headed for America?"
"Oui.”
“Why can't we keep right on? What’s the use of
wasting any time? I've left a few traps in Yokohama,‘
to be sure, but they don’t amount to anything; and as
for any loss you may sustain, I’ll make it good with
pleasure.”
Durand shook his head.
“Eet cannot be."
‘Why not? VVe’ve got a fair start, and ”
‘Non,” interrupted the Frenchman, "eet cannot be, I
tell you, monsieur. I have told you zat I need still five
hundred francs. Ze greater part of zat sum vill be spent
for fuel.”
“For fuel?”
"Oui, Monsieur Peenkney. I haf not yet told you ze
Secret of ze motive power of zis machine. Some day I
Sall do so. You and I, mon ami, vill share ze American
patent of my grande invention. Comprcncz-riour. '
K1 . . I ‘
. Yes, I think I understand you‘, but if your invention
is of the value which it now seems to me to possess, I
Could not accept anything like a half interest for the
trlfling sum which you ask me to advance.”
:I‘lie Frenchman actually burst into tears.
‘You have help me," he said, “when my own country-
me“ laugh at me, and you s’all receive ze reward. One
half of all s'a1l be yours. In America, monsieur, I vill
be appreciate. Zere zey vill not laiigli and say I am mad.
Eef I could not have been born a Iirenchinan. zen I
would be an American, for zey are ze greatest people in
ze world, except ze French.”
Durand went on in this way for some minutes. his
excitement increasing momentarily. At last Tom inter-
rupted him.
“See,” he said, “Yokohama is only a speck in the
distance. We must return. Will you show me how to
turn the machine, monsieur?”
“Eet is steered exactly like a boat, Monsieur Peenkney.
One touch of ze hand, one slight pressure of 2c fingaire,
and eet is turned--so!”
And Durand illustrated his words by heading the
machine for Yokohama.
Its speed had now greatly increased, and the journey
back to the city was made in a very few minutes.
As they neared the spot from which they had started.
the Frenchman reversed the lever, and, when they were
nearly over his house, he pressed a button over the steer-
mg apparatus. Instantly the machine began to descend.
its speed being regulated in some way which Tom could
not understand, until in a few seconds it was deposited in
the little inclosure behind Monsieur Durand's house so
gently that its passengers scarcely knew when it touched
the ground.
“Well, monsieur.” said the inventor. as h .
door and bowed his visitors out, “vat do you HOW tmk
of ze machine?"
“I think that it is the greatest invention of the age,"
e opened the
responded Tom, with enthusiasm that he could not re-
press.
Again the impulsive, einctional Freiicluiiaii wraiig his
hand.
“You have appreciate me, monsieur." he said, in chok-
ing accents. “You have not said: ‘He is mad,’ and
your confidence s’all be reward."
“I wonder,” said Tom, “that I have never heard of
you and the machine. Have you made any experimental
trips before?"
"Oui," replied Durand, with a laugh: “but only at
night; and 2e ignorant natives, zey who haf seen ze
machine in ze air. yez believe zat it was an evil spirit.
In America zey know bettaire, zey are not so foolish.
Is it not so, Monsieur Peenlmey?"
“In the United States,” replied Tom, “you will be hailed
as the greatest inventor of the century. The new motive
power which you have discovered can, I suppose, be used
for other purposes than that for which you have utilized
it in this instance?”
“C("7'ftlZ-Jlflllcflt,' eet can be used verever steam or elec-
tricity are applied, and at "ie cost of not more than one
son an hour. Zat invention alone s'all make both our
fortunes. Monsieur Peenkney; and zere are othairs, too,
in ze brain of Paul Durand. But, monsieur!” Durand
added, half timidly.
“VVell?"
“Ze five hundred francs
“I her: your pardon," said Tom: “I forgot all about
that. Here is double the amount," and he handed his
companion four ten-pound notes. “If you need more,
let me know." '
"You are too liheral, Monsieur Peenkney,” said the
Frenchman. “Zees ees more zan sufficient.”
“Very good. When shall we start .7"
“At sunrise to-morrow morning, monsieur.”
“And we shall reach San Francisco-e-"
“In five days-perhaps less.”
“All right. Ban jaw, inonsieur."
“Wait one moment, Monsieur Peenkney!” cried Du-
1:
rand.
“VVhat is it?"
“Ze machine has yet no name.”
“Well?”
“VViz your permission I vill call it ze ‘Tom Peenkney.'
“Sure, munseer,” said Pat. addressing the Frenchman
for the first time, “that's a good idea, so it is.”
“No-no." said Tom, blushingly, “that won't do. I've
a better name than that for it."
“And w'at ees eet, monsieur P"
“The ‘Nellie,’ after Miss Bly."
“You are as gallant as a Frericliiiian. It s'all be so,
I s‘all paint ze name on ze machine to-day. Au
1)
zen.
re:-air, monsiei-.r.'
"Au rewir.”
“Sure, sorr," said Pat. when he and his master had
taken their departure, “I tlink that Friurthman is the
divil llllllisllf. Aren't ye afraid ter go wid liiiii, sorr ?"
“Not a bit." said Toni. “Are you ?"
“lnda(le. thin, I am." reiiirned l’at: “an' if I T(‘.’lL‘l‘.
Anieriky safe aii' sound, I dont ixpect ter he aloive ter
see it. '