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llonsieur Peenkney, zat your friend call at my house
last evening.”
“My friend," exclaimed Tom, in astonishment.
friend? I know no one in Yokohama.”
“Did you not send a gentleman to see ze machine last
evening ?"
‘(No.3,
“But one have called, monsieur. He say he is your
dear friend, and zat you ask him to go to my house and
zat I shall show him ze machine. I have done so. He
talk wiz me for a long time, but he give me no name.”
“Describe him, monsieur.” said Tom, excitedly.
The Frenchman did so.
“Dufi‘ield!” exclaimed our hero and Pat, in one breath.
Durand stared at them in bewilderment.
“Was he not, zen, your friend?”
"No, he is my worst enemy. What could have been
nis motive in visiting you? Are you sure he did the
machine no injury, monsieur?”
"Oui; I am too careful for zat. He touch not’ing."
“Be jabers!” cried Pat; "I know what he kein fer.
It’s buildin’ a flyin’ machine av his own the vagabone is,
an’ the first ting yez know he'll be overtakin‘ an mur-
therin’ us all.”
Both Tom and Durand laughed at this, much to the
Irishman’s indignation.
Some time was spent in speculation as to Duflield's pur-
pose in visiting the airship, but no conclusion was reached.
Our hero and the Frenchman both forgot in their ex-
citement that they had had no breakfast. but Pat's mem-
ory on such subjects was always good. and he presently
interrupted their conversation to remind them of this
important fact.
“Yes. we must eat, I suppose." said Tom; “but I don't
feel as if I could touch a mouthful. However, I’ll try."
The meal that Monsieur Durand spread on a little fold-
ing table which he took from a rack on the wall proved
so appetizing that Tom’s appetite returned in very short
order.
Pat also ate heartily, and remarked at the conclusion of
the repast:
“Shure, this bates say thravel, afther all. I niver tuk
a bite on boord ship that I wasn’t sorry fer it, but begorra
I c’u’d. ate me breakfast all over again now."
It was only a few minutes after eleven o’clock when
they overtook the Oceanic. There were not many persons
on the deck, but among the few Tom recognized Nellie
Bly. .
Durand slackened the speed of the Nellie, and Tom
shouted a greeting. but the young lady did not hear.
Then Durand increased the speed of the airship. and
away they flew again, soon leaving the Oceanic far in
the distance.
No other event worth recordiiig occurred during the
day.
When the shadows of night fell. the three travelers
could not but acknowledge that the N('l[I'c had fulfilled
their most sanguine expectations.
“What
“VVe must alternate in watcliiiig during: the night."
said Tom. “I'll take the first watch. if yrui like."
Durand shrugged his slioulders and lauglierl.
“VV'at ees zere to watch for he said. "Ye can meet
BRAVE AND BOLD.
wiz no collision. Go to sleep, man ami; ze .Yu[.'[u rill
take care of herself."
But Torn insisted upon keeping watch. Our licr-i wis
brave, but not foolhardy, and he felt that the pi'ci‘.i:”: ‘in
was a wise and necessary one.
Durand and the Irishman stretched tlieniselves in in
the benches and were soon asleep.
Pat was presently awakened by a loud cry. Ile iipxml
his eyes, and it is no wonder that the sight wliieh
his gaze thrilled him with horror. -
Durand had disappeared, and Tom was striiggiiii. ii:
the grasp of Burton Dufheld, who was CndeClVt‘.l‘lll.,. ‘-
force him over the edge of the car. K
CHAPTER XIX.
DUFFIELD cars HIS DESERTS.
At first Pat could not believe his eyes; he triwl tw
persuade himself that he was dreaming.
And it is no wonder that he almost succeeded in d i-iii:
so, for how could it be possible that Burton l)iil‘i":171.
whom he was certain that they had left in Yokohania, ii
on board the Nellie?
“Aither it's dhramin’ I am or ilse that divil has a llxin‘
machine av his own!” reflected the startled II'l9l1Iii.lIl.
“We1l,"‘he added, “av it's a dhrame it's a moighty H111
wan, an I tink I’ll take a hand in it mesilf."
H9 5l3“1“8' t0 his feet, but as he did so his liriin
whirled, and he reeled, and almost fell.
Then the suspicion seized him that he had been (lriij.‘i<Cd"i
or chlorofornied. But he realized that a moment's Welllx"
ness now might cost him and his companions their lives.
and he strove with all his might to shake off the feelif1;‘.l'
of lethargy that oppressed him.
‘At this moment Dufheld turned and saw that P31 had
arisen to his feet. An expression of almost fiendish rage
distorted his evil face, and he redoiibled his efforts ft‘
hurl Tom from the car. i
In another moment he would have succeeded for he had
the boy at‘ a decided disadvantarre but Pat rushed YVT‘
ward, seizing Duft"ield's arm, aiidlforcing him to relin-
quish his hold of Tom. I
‘With an oath the villain turned upon his new assailant.
Curse 30“ l, he )'9ll6(l. “I’ll settle you both I"
H15 flUSh6d face and the fumes oflhis breath revealcd
to Pat the fact that he had been drinking until he was
in a state verging on delirium tremensp
‘He fought like a madman ;' he seemed to be cndowctl
with the strength of two n
man had all they could
him.
Once more he succeeded in forcing our hero to the k.,1.Jg
of the car. and while Pat was starrgerincr under 3 Mmr
on the forehead he made a last desher teh tt it to hurl
the boy into the darkness below D a 3 Cml
Once more the merciful Providence that had 50 long:
.<l1l<l<‘d Tom's footste < int - om
(imth -P “Posed to save him if
Duftield suddenlv uttered
hold of the hm‘, and prccqod b
llie next inomont he reeled’ the Victim of an att,,,C1‘- ot
Yt‘l'llI't). and liefrire Tor .
. -‘ 11 mix] . ;:ivt
rum‘ M1 hcmnmm from “R N d lIlZ1lxC an attempt to x
' M V ‘ rr
do to defend themselves against
a cry of pain. relea.<C<l hi‘;
oth his hands to his templc‘;
ien. and Tom and the l1'l-‘ll’ '
all
sh