"Is he a doctor?" asked Jack. "He speaks wid a Germannes aceetnuation," said Washington. "He suttinly uses de most ogilistic conglomerations--" "If he can beat you, he's a wonder," said Jack. "But where did he come from?" "I 'clar t' goodness I doan't know. All I knows is dat he jest comed. One day he wasn't dere, and come next day he was." "Does the professor know him?" "Suah! He's a friend ob de perfesser," added Washington. "De perfesser was pow'ful glade t' see him." "'Then he must be some scientist," said Mark. "Dat's it! He's chock full obscientistical bombasticness an' labiodentalisms," said the colored man. "I guess the professor wanted us to meet him and learn something that we couldn't in college," spoke Mark. "Well, we'll soon be there." "Yes," assented Jack. "I want to find out what it's all about. Santell Roumann--that's an odd name." "An' he's a mighty odd man," supplemented Washington. They reached the house a few minutes later, and went in the front door. The sounds of two voices came from the library. One of them was that of Professor Henderson. He was saying: "I tell you it can't be done! It is utterly impossible! It is madness to think of such a terrible trip!" "And I tell you it can be done--it shall be done and you are the very man to accomplish it," insisted the other. "You and your young assistants will succeed. I know you will. You will go with me, and we will make the longest journey on record." CHAPTER IV WONDERFUL PLAN "I wonder what they can be talking about?" asked Mark of Jack, as they paused outside the library door. "I don t know, but it concerns us." "What makes you think so?" "Because, didn't you hear the stranger speak of us as the 'young assistants'? That's us." "Very likely. But who is the man in with Professor Henderson, and what is the wonderful journey he is talking about?" "Dat gen'man in wid de perfesser am also a perfessor." Explained Washington in a whisper. "He's Perfesser Santell Roumann. Now I 'spects I'd better saggasiate mahself inter proximity t' de culinary reservation." "You mean you've got to go to the kitchen?" asked Jack with a smile. "Dat's what I approximated to yo'," replied the colored man. "I wonder if we'd better go in now, or wait until Professor Henderson is through talking to Mr. Roumann?" asked Mark. "Yo' am to go right in," remarked Washington. "Dem's de orders I got when I went t' de statione t' meet yo'." "All right," assented Jack. "Come on, Mark. We'll find out what's wanted of us." The two boys entered the library, whence the voices of Professor Henderson and Mr. Roumann could still be heard in earnest discussion. Mr. Henderson looked up as his proteges advanced to the middle of the apartment.