While Andy entered the living part of the big shed to put away his gun and game, the boys and Washington kept on to the engine room. They found the professor, with Bill and Tom, busy fitting pipes to the small engine which was set up at one side of the structure. “Come, boys, I need your aid,” remarked Mr. Henderson as they entered. “Take off your coats and pitch in. Tighten up these bolts, Jack. Mark, you mix up those chemicals the way I taught you, and see that the dynamo is in working order for Washington to attend to.” In a little while the shop was a veritable hive of industry, and it resounded to the sound of hammers, wrenches and machinery. In the background was the big ship, which seemed like two immense cigars, one above the other, the lower one the larger. “Where was you calalatin’ t’ take this here ship when it gits done, Perfesser?” asked Washington, during a lull in the operations. “Do you remember that big hole in the island we visited on our trip to the south pole?” “I suah does,” answered the colored man. “We are going to explore that,” went on the scientist. “We are going to make a voyage to the interior of the earth in our _Flying Mermaid_.” “Go down into th’ earth!” exclaimed Washington, his eyes big with fright. “Certainly; why not?” “Not for mine!” cried the colored man, dropping the wrench he was holding. “No sir! I’m not goin’ t’ project myself int’ a grave while I’se alive. Time enough when I kicks th’ bucket. No sir! If yo’ an’ the boys wants t’ risk yo’ se’ves goin’ down int’ th’ interior of th’ earth, where th’ Bible says there’s fiery furnaces, yo’ kin go, but Washington White stays on terra cotta! That’s where he stays; He ain’t ready t’ be buried, not jest yet!” and the frightened colored man started to leave the shed. CHAPTER II THE FLYING MERMAID “Here! Stop him!” cried Professor Henderson. “Don’t let him get away. We still need his help to get the ship in shape. He needn’t be frightened. We’re not going to start at once.” Mark and Jack ran after Washington, whose progress was somewhat impeded because he kept looking back as if he feared the new ship was chasing him. “Come on back!” said Mark. “There’s no danger, and if there was we’re not going to start to-day.” “Ain’t yo’ foolin’ me?” asked Washington, pausing and looking doubtfully at the boys. “Of course not,” answered Mark. “You know Professor Henderson would not make you do anything you didn’t want to do, Wash. He wishes you to stay and help him get ready, that’s all.” “Well, Washington,” observed the aged scientist. “I didn’t think you’d go back on me.” “I’d do mos’ anything fer yo’, Perfesser,” said the colored man, “but I got t’ beg off this time,” and he looked at the _Flying Mermaid_ as if he thought the metal sides would open and devour him.