Chapter

 1 2 |       impatience.” John Strock,” said he, “are you still the man
 2 2 |        me.~“Doubtless you know,” said he, “what has happened down
 3 2 |  interview.~“Mr. Ward sent you,” said he to me in a jovial tone. “
 4 2 |      moments in silence. Then he said, softly, “So at Washington
 5 2 |       the mayor of Morganton.” I said nothing of any earth tremors
 6 3 |          Eyrie. “You are right,” said our host, “until we all
 7 3 |         tempted to take my gun,” said Mr. Smith, “and to go off
 8 3 |      Great Eyrie.”~“That is so,” said the guide, Harry Horn. “
 9 3 |        spur to our attempt. As I said, our guides knew no more
10 3 |       the rocky wall.~“At last,” said Mr. Smith to me, after lighting
11 3 |         As it may happen, then,” said I, “that our excursion will
12 3 |          our attempt”~“You never said a truer word,” declared
13 3 |           We will rest an hour,” said I.~“Yes; after working our
14 3 |       was no roadway.~Harry Horn said to his comrade, “It will
15 3 | insurmountable.~“Rest a minute,” said Mr. Smith, “and we will
16 3 |      this cliff.”~“At any rate,” said Harry Horn, “the great block
17 3 |      crater.”~“Volcano, or not,” said I, “there are no suspicious
18 3 |          you didn’t get inside?” said he.~“No,” responded Mr.
19 4 |    mysterious automobile. It was said to be a supernatural car.
20 4 |     machine among them!~And what said the racers themselves, who,
21 5 |         is not possible, sir,” I said. “Both Mr. Smith, the mayor
22 5 |          you entrusted to me,” I said.~“Nonsense! Do not upset
23 5 |       room for a few moments, he said abruptly, “Yes, what happened
24 5 |            Finish your reading,” said Mr. Ward.~I did so; and
25 5 |       you not observed, Strock,” said he, “that there is a sort
26 6 |     Never mind, my good Strock,” said he, “there will come a chance
27 6 |          has news!”~“Morganton?” said the old woman, “isn’t that
28 6 |         the Mayor of Morganton,” said I.~“Then from whom?” asked
29 6 |     initials of the signature, I said, “I know no one for whom
30 7 |          A joke, without doubt,” said I, shrugging my shoulders.~“
31 7 |     returned.~For some days, she said, she had noticed that two
32 7 |           I promise to do so,” I said, to satisfy her. “And when
33 8 |        Mr. Ward.~“Well, Strock,” said he, “here is a splendid
34 8 |          dropped his jesting and said to me very generously, “
35 8 |         urge.”~“But at present,” said Mr. Ward, shaking his head, “
36 8 |    mechanic!”~“It seems likely,” said I, “that he will never be
37 8 |          That is what I intend,” said the chief, interrupting
38 8 | ante-chamber of hell itself. She said nothing, but went about
39 8 |       therefore addressed to the said inventor, whoever he be,
40 8 |         the aim of acquiring the said machine.~“He is requested
41 8 |         locomotion. As for me, I said emphatically to my old housekeeper: “
42 10|      street to the other.~I have said that this letter appeared
43 10|     signed with three initials,” said he.~“Yes, Mr. Ward, and
44 10|     further reflection, Mr. Ward said, “I will keep your letter,
45 10|         impossible to guard, the said commander of the ‘Terror’
46 10|       leave in an hour, Strock,” said he.~“Where for?”~“For Toledo.”~“
47 11|     approached him. “Mr. Wells?” said I.~“Mr. Strock?” asked he.~“
48 11|           I am at your command,” said Mr. Wells.~“Are we to stop
49 11|        Lake Erie?~“I was alone,” said Wells. “Alone on the edge
50 11|       repair it.”~“Probably so,” said I. “Some damage which made
51 11|         woods.~“No, Mr. Strock,” said he. “We had better leave
52 11|     could well be occupied as he said. Leading the horses by the
53 12|         Nothing new?”~“Nothing,” said John Hart.~“You have explored
54 12|             Let us wait awhile,” said I, unable to resolve upon
55 12|        the swell from a vessel,” said Wells.~“Yes,” said I, instinctively
56 12|      vessel,” said Wells.~“Yes,” said I, instinctively lowering
57 12|      from something underneath,” said Wells, bending forward,
58 12|         occur again!~“At least,” said I to Wells, “we are four.
59 12|         seized my arm. “Listen!” said he.~One of the men hailed
60 14|         dangerous waters.~I have said that the Niagara River flows
61 15|         would be its end?~I have said that at the moment when
62 15|           It was fastened.~“Ah!” said I, “am I to be kept here
63 15|        The machine was as I have said spindle-shaped. The bow
64 16|          can repeat almost as he said them:~“Citizens of the United
65 17|       went up to him. “Captain,” said I, “I have already asked
66 18|           Well, my dear Strock,” said he at last, “you have come
67 18|          hour.~One of the papers said, “Thanks to Inspector Strock
68 18|         many perils.~“Now, sir,” said she, “now—was I wrong?”~“