He put on a sun helmet, and led the way from the room.  Jumping into the victoria, he ordered the temporary coachman to drive to Harris Road, a quarter of a mile beyond the Custom House.  In the two minutes occupied by the drive, Smith told the Scotsman merely that he had come from Constantinople and was proceeding immediately to Penang on important business.

“It took ye a week, I suppose?”

“No, I left there rather less than twenty-four hours ago.”

“Man, you astonish me; fair take my breath away.  But here we are.”

He alighted at a store kept by a Parsi.  It was a matter of a few moments to purchase the petrol and machine oil, Smith paying for it with English gold.  The tins were rolled out; Mr. Macdonald hailed a closed cab, into which they were put, and then they set off to return to the golf links, Mr. Macdonald accompanying Smith, curious to see the machine which had performed such an astonishing journey.

“I’ve read in the papers about these aeroplanes, but never seen one yet.  Is it your opinion, now, that we’ll have a war in the air one of these days?”

“I shouldn’t wonder.  We shall have cruisers and battleships, air torpedoes and destroyers, air mines and air submarines.”

“Are you pulling my leg, now?” asked Mr. Macdonald, but he received no reply, for Smith had noticed an European provision shop, and remembering that his biscuits and chocolate were running low, he called to the driver to stop, and made some purchases.  He took the opportunity to lay in a dozen bottles of soda-water, and added a few packets of Rodier’s favourite cigarettes, for smoking during the halts, for he would never allow a match to be struck near the engine.

Mr. Macdonald plied him with questions during the remainder of the drive, and Smith was ready enough with his answers except on his personal concerns.  When they arrived at the links they found the aeroplane surrounded by a vast crowd.  The majority were natives, but there was a sprinkling of Englishmen in the inner circle, and some soldiers from the barracks were doing police duty in keeping the onlookers at a distance from the aeroplane.  Two British officers and some civilians were talking to Rodier, who was cleaning the engine with the assistance of a young fellow with the cut of a ship’s engineer.

The arrival of the cabs caused a stir among the spectators.  Smith alighted, asked Mr. Macdonald to see that the petrol and provisions were carried quickly to the aeroplane, and advanced to ask Rodier how he had been getting on.

“Like a house on fire, mister,” replied the man.  “Mr. Jones here is just off the Peninsular, and has helped a lot.”

“I say,” said one of the officers, “is your man stuffing us up?  He says you have come from London in twenty-four hours.”

“Quite true, Hawley,” said Smith, with a smile.  “Remember I googlied you for a duck at Lord’s last year?”