"No, I think I"ll send the airship on ahead to some point in Washington--say Seattle," replied Tom, "put it together there, and start for the Snow Mountains. In Seattle we can get plenty of supplies and stores. It will be a good point to start from, and will save us a long, and perhaps dangerous, flight across the United States."
"I think that will be the best plan," agreed Mr. Swift. "But what about Andy--do you think he"ll try to follow--or try to get ahead of you now that he has a copy of the map?"
"He may," answered Tom. "But I have a little trick I"m going to work on Andy. I will try to learn whether he really has a copy of the map, though I"m practically certain of it. Then I"ll decide what"s best to do."
"In th" meanwhile, will you be gettin" ready?" asked Abe. "I"d like t" start as soon as we can, for it"s awful cold there, the longer you wait, at this time of th" year."
"Yes, I"ll start right to work, getting the RED CLOUD in readiness to be shipped," promised Tom.
CHAPTER VI
ANDY"S AIRSHIP FLIES
"h.e.l.lo, Tom, have you heard the news?" asked Ned Newton, of the young inventor, a few days later.
"What news, Ned? I declare I"ve been so busy thinking out the best plan to ship the RED CLOUD to Seattle that I haven"t been over to town. What"s going on? Have they decided to build a new church in Shopton, or something like that?"
"Oh, this about Andy Foger"s airship."
"Andy"s airship, eh? Is he still working on it?"
"It"s all done, so Sam Snedecker was telling me last night, and to-day Andy is going to try to fly it."
"You don"t mean it!"
"Sure thing. Let"s go over and watch him."
"He might make a fuss, same as he did when we looked in the window of his shed."
"He can"t make any fuss now. He"s got to take his machine out to fly it, and anybody that wants to can look on. Didn"t he watch you make flights often enough?"
"That"s so. Where is the trial flight going to take place?"
"In the big meadow. Come on over."
"Guess I will. I can"t do much more now. I"ve been getting some boxes and crates made in which to pack the RED CLOUD. I"ll have to take her all apart."
"Then you"re really going to hunt for the valley of gold?"
"Sure thing. How about you going, Ned? I spoke to dad about it, and he said he"d see that you could have a leave of absence."
"Yes, that part"s all right. The bank president told me today I could take a vacation any time I wanted it. In fact that"s what I came over to see you about. I want to thank your father."
"Then you"re going?"
"I sure am, Tom! Won"t it be great! I hope I can get a little gold for myself! My folks didn"t take very much to the notion of me going off in an airship, but I told them how often you"d gone on trips, and come safely back, so they finally gave their consent. When are you going to start?"
"Oh, in about two weeks. Did I tell you about Andy and the map?"
"No. What trick has he been up to now?"
Thereupon Tom related his suspicions concerning the bully, and also hinted to Ned of a certain ruse he intended to work on Andy when he got the chance.
"Well, if you"re ready, suppose we go over and see if Andy"s airship will really fly," suggested Ned, after a while. "I"m doubtful myself, and I"d just like to see him come to grief, after the many mean things he"s done to you."
"Well," spoke Tom slowly, "I don"t know as I wish him any bad luck, but I certainly hope he doesn"t use his airship to try to beat us out in the hunt for the valley of gold."
"Do you think he might?"
"It"s possible. But never mind about that now. Come on, we"ll go over to the big meadow."
The two chums walked along together, talking of many things. Tom told of some communication he had had with Mr. Damon, in which letters the eccentric man had inquired as to when the trip for Alaska would be undertaken.
"Then he"s going?" asked Ned.
"Oh, yes, it wouldn"t seem natural to go without some of Mr. Damon"s blessings. But I think he"s going to bring a friend with him."
"Who?"
"Mr. Ralph Parker."
"That gloomy scientist, who is always predicting such terrible things going to happen?"
"That"s the gentleman. You met him once, I believe. Mr. Damon says Mr. Parker wants to do some scientific studying in the far north, so I"ve already counted on him as one of our party. Well, perhaps he won"t do so much predicting this trip."
A little later Tom and Ned came to a big open field. They saw quite a crowd gathered in it, but no sign of an airship.
"Guess Andy hasn"t arrived," spoke Tom.
"No; very likely he"s found out that something is wrong with his machine, and he isn"t going to risk it."
But almost as Ned spoke, there sounded cries of excitement from the crowd, and, a little later, something big and white, with many wing-shaped stretches of canvas sticking out from all sides, was seen turning into the big meadow from the broad highway that led to Andy"s house.
"There she is!" cried Ned.
"There"s something, at any rate," conceded Tom, as he hastened his steps. "It"s a queer-looking aeroplane, though. My! he"s got enough wings to it!"
"Yes, it"s Andy"s sure enough," went on Ned "There he is in front, giving orders like a major-general, and Sam and Pete are helping him. Let"s get closer."
They followed the crowd, which was thronging about the airship that Andy Foger had made, Tom had a glimpse of the machine. It was a form of triplane, with three tiers of main wings, and several other sets of planes, some stationary and some capable of being moved. There was no gas-bag feature, but amidships was a small, enclosed cabin, which evidently held the machinery, and was designed to afford living quarters. In some respects the airship was not unlike Tom"s, and the young inventor could see that Andy had copied some of his ideas. But Tom cared little about this.
"Do you think it will go up?" asked Ned.
"It looks to me to be too heavy, and his propellers seem too small,"