"
The Nihilists were made welcome after Mr. Petrofsky had introduced them.
They had strange and almost unpronounceable names for the ears of our
friends, and I will not trouble you with them, save to say that the one
who spoke English fairly well, and who was the leader, was called
Nicolas Androwsky. There was much jabbering in the Russian tongue, when
Mr. Petrofsky and Mr. Androwsky took the others about the craft,
explaining how it worked.
"I can't show you the air glider," said Tom, who naturally acted as
guide, "as it would take too long to put together, and besides there is
not enough wind here to make it operate."
"Then you need much wind?" asked Nicolas Androwsky.
"The harder the gale the better she flies," answered Tom proudly.
"Bless my sand bag, but that's right!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, who, up to
now had not taken much part in the conversation. He followed the party
about the airship, keeping in the rear, and he eyed the Nihilists as if
he thought that each one had one or more dynamite bombs concealed on his
person.
"Ha!" exclaimed Mr. Androwsky, turning suddenly to the odd man. "Are you
not one of us? Do you not believe that this terrible kingdom should be
destroyed--made as nothing, and a new one built from its ashes? Are you
not one of us?" and with a quick gesture he reached into his pocket.
Pages:
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123