At noon it could be seen through the glass that they were over the
outskirts of some large place, and after the Russian had taken an
observation he exclaimed:
"The environs of Paris! We must not land there!"
"We won't, if the wind holds out," remarked Tom and this good fortune
came to them. They succeeded in landing in a field not far from a small
village, and though several farmers wondered much as the sight of the
big airship, it was thought by the platinum-seekers that they would be
comparatively safe.
"Now to get the first train for Paris and get the things I need,"
exclaimed Tom. He set to work taking off the broken pieces that they
might be duplicated, and then, having inquired at an inn for the nearest
railroad station, and having hired a rig, the young inventor set off.
"Can you speak French?" asked Mr. Petrofsky. "If not I might be of
service, but if I go to Paris I might be."
"Never mind," interrupted Tom. "I guess I can parley enough to get along
with."
He had a small knowledge of the tongue, and with that, and knowing that
English was spoken in many places, he felt that he could make out. And
indeed he had no trouble. He easily found his way about the gay capital,
and located a machine shop where a specialty was made of parts for
automobile and airship motors.
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