"A fearful pain," he went
on.
Jack and Mark looked at each other. They did not understand the
man's strange talk and actions.
"You don't believe me, do you?" the stranger asked. "Well, if
you want a good machinist, hire me. I know all about airships
and traveling through space. Why, I once did a dance on the tail
of a comet, only the comet got mad and shook me off. I'll show
you how I danced."
He threw a somersault, lighted on his hands, and began to waltz
about in the somewhat contracted space of the living-room of the
projectile. Then he set up a loud shout as he regained his feet.
"That's how!" he cried.
The boys were alarmed. The man was evidently crazy, or perhaps
he might be doing this for effect, in order to disarm their
suspicions, so that he could discover Mr. Roumann's secret.
They did not know what to do.
"Come on, we'll all have a dance!" cried the man. "My name is
Axtell--Fred Axtell. I used to live on the moon--tra-la-la!"
His loud voice attracted the attention of Mr. Henderson, who was
working at the far end of the shop. The professor ran toward the
place where the strangely acting man was, the latter having now
emerged from the ship, followed by the boys.
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