Oliphant showed this letter to no one. But the day he received it, he went a long and tedious journey by train across country to the little port of Horleston. He reached home very late, but in much better spirits than might have been expected after such a tiresome experience of slow trains. CHAPTER V—OFF THE BARBARY COAST The week was filled with the bustle of preparation. The airship was divided into sections, the motors and the framework taken to pieces, and the whole packed into large light crates and conveyed to the coast on country carts, their arrival at Horleston being so timed that everything could be put on board very early in the morning. Besides the crew, the company consisted only of Mr. Greatorex, Tom Dorrell, and Timothy Ball. Before the vessel put off, a custom house officer came aboard, and showed himself somewhat inquisitive as to the meaning of the strange platform newly rigged on the after deck, and as to the nature of the bulky packages. Mr. Greatorex explained that they contained a cooling apparatus which he was taking out to Morocco on behalf of an acquaintance, adding that by all accounts the country was pretty hot in all respects. With this explanation the officer had to be content. Clearly the parts of the airship did not come within the description of explosives, firearms or other articles on which he might exercise his powers of detention. Still, being by training suspicious, he was evidently by no means satisfied, and left the yacht somewhat unwillingly. Steam was already up and the officer had barely left the vessel before she put to sea. “Just as well to be clear away before he gets his second wind,” said Mr. Greatorex with a chuckle. In his spotless white ducks and blue cap he was enjoying himself already. “Did that uncommonly well, didn’t I, Tom?” he said. “What could be more useful than cooling apparatus when there’s a chance of getting into very hot water, eh?” He took a run over the vessel as soon as she had made an offing. His yacht was a hobby, and whenever he went for a cruise he liked to examine her in the company of his officers, with whom, as with the crew, whom he knew individually, he was very popular. In the course of his inspection he came to the engine room. “How do, Mr. Mumford!” he said genially to the engineer. “All in good order, eh?” “Tip-top, sir. This is the neatest bit of machinery I’ve ever had to do with.” “Glad to hear that. I _say_, is that a new stoker I see there? What’s become of Byles?” “His mother is very ill, sir, and he had to cry off at the last moment. I was very lucky to get a man to fill the place.” “Ha! Looks rather _young_, doesn’t he? Overgrown, perhaps. Any _good_?” “Can’t tell yet, sir. I’ll let you know later on. He shapes very well. He’s a fine well-made young fellow; very willing, too. Byles said he’d go bail for him to any amount.” “That’s all right. What’s his name?” “M’Cracken, sir; Scotch, by the name. Would you like to speak to him, sir?”