Part 4 (1/2)
”Worth much? I should say it was! It's got gold beat now, and the available supply is very small, and it's getting more scarce. Russia has several mines, and the metal is of good quality. I've used some Russian platinum, but the kind Mr. Petrofsky gave me to-day was better than the best I ever had. If we can only find that lost mine we'll be millionaires all right.”
”That's what we thought when we found the city of gold, but the gold wasn't of as fine a grade as we hoped.”
”Well, nothing like that can happen in this platinum deal. It sure is rich ore that Mr. Petrofsky and his brother found. Poor fellow! To think of being an exile in that awful country, not knowing where you may be sent next. No wonder Mr. Petrofsky wants to rescue him.”
”That's right. Well, here we are. I wonder what your father will say when he hears you're thinking of another expedition, Tom?”
”Oh, he'll want me to go when he hears about the exile.”
”And I'm sure my folks will let me go. How about Mr. Damon?”
”I don't believe we can hold him back. It will make a nice party, just you and I, and Mr. Damon and Mr. Petrofsky. That will leave room for the other Russian--if we can rescue him,” and with that Tom shut off the engine and glided to earth.
It may well be imagined that Mr. Swift was surprised when his son told him the latest news, but he did not offer any serious objection to the young inventor going to Siberia.
”Only you must be careful,” he said. ”Those Russian officers are ugly when it comes to trying to take away any of their prisoners. And this air glider--I don't exactly know about that. It's a new machine, and you want to be sure it works before you trust yourself to it.”
”I will,” promised Tom. ”Say, I've got plenty of work ahead of me,--to get my big airs.h.i.+p in shape, and build the glider. You'll have to help me, dad.”
”I will, son. Now tell me more about this Mr. Petrofsky.” Which Tom did.
The days that followed were indeed busy ones for Tom. The young inventor made a model air glider that sailed fairly well, but he knew it would have to work better to be successful, and he bent all his energies in that direction. Meanwhile Mr. Damon had been told of the prospective trip.
”Bless my bank book! Of course I'll go,” he said. ”But don't say anything about it to my wife--that is, just yet. I'll bring her around to it gradually. She has always wanted a diamond ring set in platinum, and now I can get it for her. I know she'll let me go if I break it to her gently.”
It may be mentioned here that many valuable diamonds are now set in platinum instead of gold.
”I want to keep busy,” said Mr. Damon, so Tom set him, Ned and Eradicate at the task of getting the big airs.h.i.+p in shape for the trip.
This air craft has not figured in any of my previous stories, but as it is so nearly like the one that was crushed in the caves of ice, I will not give a description of it here. Those who care to may refer to the book telling of Tom's trip to the caves of ice for a detailed account of the craft.
Sufficient to say that this latest airs.h.i.+p, named the Falcon, was the largest Tom had ever built. It contained much room, many comforts, and could sail for several thousand miles without descending, except in case of accident. It was a combined dirigible balloon and aeroplane, and could be used as either, the necessary gas being made on board. It was large enough to enable the air glider to be taken on it in sections.
It was about a week after their first meeting with him, that Ivan Petrofsky paid a visit to the Swift home. He was warmly welcomed by the aged inventor and Mr. Damon, and, closeted in the library of the house, he proceeded to go more into details of his own and his brother's exile to Siberia, and to tell about the supposed location of the lost platinum mine.
”I don't believe we can start for several weeks yet,” said Tom, after some discussion. ”It will take me that long to make the glider.”
”And I, too, need a little time,” said the Russian. ”I will write to some friends in St. Petersburg and perhaps they can get some information for us, as to where my brother is.
”That will be good,” declared Mr. Damon. ”Bless my icicle! But the more I think of this trip the better I like it!”
It was arranged that the Russian should call again soon, when the plans would be nearer in shape, and in the meanwhile he must learn all he could from revolutionary friends in Siberia.
It was a week after this, during which Tom, Ned and the others had been very busy, that Tom decided to take a trip to see their Russian friend.
They had not heard from him since his visit, and Tom wanted to learn something about the strength of the Siberian winds.
He and Ned went in one of the small airs.h.i.+ps and soon they were hovering over the grounds surrounding the lonely house where Ivan Petrofsky lived.