“And you say it will not cost more than six thousand dollars to build it?” asked Jerry.
“I think I can easily do it for five thousand. That is less than you paid for your touring car, you told me.”
“Yes; with the improvements we’ve put on it the cost has run beyond that,” admitted Jerry. “Well, fellows, what do you say? Shall we use part of our income from the gold mine, and build the _Comet_?”
“Every time,” added Bob. “I want a trip through the air.”
“Then the next thing is to tell your folks, and get their consent to spend the money,” went on Jerry. “I have already won my mother over.”
Though the boys had a considerable sum at their disposal, from a gold mine which they had been fortunate enough to help an old prospector to discover on one of their trips, they never spent an unusual sum without obtaining the consent of their parents.
“When can you let me know?” asked Mr. Glassford somewhat anxiously.
“To-morrow,” replied Bob, and Ned nodded to indicate that he too would have an answer by then.
“How long will it take to build it after we provide the money?” asked Jerry.
“About a month. You see, much of the material I will need is already in stock in shops that make a specialty of airship supplies. The motor I can easily get, and the principal work will be putting the ship together. You boys can help me on it, and in a month, at the most, we ought to be able to make our first trip.”
“I’m going home now, and see dad,” said Ned, as he got up. “I’m so anxious I can’t wait.”
“Bring your parents here, and let me explain my plans to them,” proposed Mr. Glassford, and this was voted a good idea.
At first Ned’s and Bob’s folks only laughed at their sons’ pleas, but as the boys insisted that they really meant to have an airship, Mr. and Mrs. Slade and Mr. and Mrs. Baker finally gave in, and accompanied the lads to Jerry’s house. There Mr. Glassford went over all the details again, explaining how it was practically impossible to run any serious risk.
Not without some misgivings, however, did the respective parents give their consent. But they finally did, which was all the boys cared about, and a contract was drawn up and signed by Mr. Glassford and Mrs. Hopkins, Mr. Baker and Mr. Slade, the boys being barred because they were not of legal age.