My wife--"
"No, we won't have to stay here if we can get a supply of kerosene,"
interrupted Tom. "The motor will burn that. The only trouble is that we
may be detained. The authorities probably know us by this time, and are
on the watch."
"Then get it before they know we are here," advised Ned.
"I'll try," said Tom, and he at once conferred with the elder Petrofsky.
The latter said he was sure kerosene could be had in town, and, rather
than risk going in themselves, they hired a wagoner who agreed, for
liberal pay, to go and return with a quantity. Until then there was
nothing to do but wait.
Meanwhile the crowd of curiosity seekers grew. They thronged around the
airship, some of them meddling with various devices, until Tom had to
order them away with gestures.
One particularly inquisitive man insisted on pulling or twisting
everything, until he happened to touch a couple of live wires, giving
himself quite a shock, and then he ran away howling. But still the crowd
increased, and at last Mr. Petrofsky said:
"I don't like this, Tom?"
"Why not?" They were all inside the craft, looking out and waiting for
the return of the man with the kerosene. The leak in the tank had proved
to be a small one, and had quickly been soldered. It had been open a
long time, which accounted for the large amount of gasolene escaping.
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