CHAPTER XIII
OFF TO THE MEET
Jerry Hopkins made up his mind that there was but one thing to do. Itwas utterly out of the question to stop in time now, or to swerve fromthe direct path, in which was the small boat.
"We've got to jump over them!" murmured the tall lad to himself. "We'vehardly speed enough to rise, yet I've got to chance it. If I don't----"
He dared not think of the alternative. With a quick motion he threwthe lever of the motor over as far as it would go. It meant full speedahead, and with a rush and a roar, a rumbling and trembling, thepowerful machine took up the extra fuel that was thrown into it.
"It's now or never!" murmured the steersman, while the occupants ofthe motor-ship gazed ahead with fear-filled eyes. In the small boatcrouched the woman and girl, while on board the sailing yacht a manwas vainly reaching out with a landing hook, endeavoring to pull thelittle craft out of danger.
"Now!" suddenly shouted Jerry as if he was calling to some one, and heyanked the elevation rudder lever toward him.
Like a thing alive the _Comet_ seemed to lift herself from the surfaceof the water. The front end was elevated, the forward hydroplanesemerging dripping from the liquid element. Now they were almost overthe rowboat, in the bottom of which, clinging to each other in terror,were the two trembling occupants.
Would the rear end of the airship--the big after-hydroplanes clearthem; or would they dash them to death?
This was the question that every one on board the _Comet_ was askinghimself, Jerry most anxiously of all, for it was his desperate planthat was being tried. Yet there was no other way.
With a whizzing and a rushing sound the motor-ship lifted herself fromthe lake. Upward and upward she mounted, the rear hydroplanes being nowclear of the water. In another moment the airship passed over the headsof those in the rowboat, clearing them by about five feet, as Jerry andhis chums learned afterward. They could not see what took place belowthem and directly in the rear, but when they were well up in the air,by looking back, they could see the woman and the girl in the boat,unharmed. There was a prayer of thankfulness in every heart.
"Whew!" exclaimed Jerry, as he wiped the perspiration from hisforehead, and slowed down the speed of the motor. "I wouldn't gothrough such an experience again for a million dollars."
"Me either," chimed in Ned. "I thought they were goners, as well asourselves."
"It was a narrow squeak," added Bob. "They came out directly in ourpath."
"Well, they didn't mean to," suggested the tall lad. "I guess they wereas badly frightened as we were. But the _Comet_ did herself proud onthis occasion."
"And you handled your craft most excellently," complimented ProfessorSnodgrass, who, during the recent excitement, had remained a mutespectator. "I never saw better nerve displayed, Jerry, my boy."
"Oh, well, it was the only thing to do," was the modest answer. "Iguess we'll head for home now, and get a nerve-bracer in the shape ofsome ice-cream soda, or something like that; eh, fellows?"
"Sure," agreed Bob and Ned.
"Wow! Nothing like it--scoot along--over the water--up in the air--jumpover their heads--down again--sail along--turn a somersault--rush at'em--scare 'em to death--whoop-de-doodle do! Wow!" Andy Rush was fairlyquivering with poorly-repressed excitement.
They reached Cresville without further incident, made a good landing,and received the congratulation of many friends who gathered around thebarn on Jerry's premises, as soon as it was learned that the _Comet_had returned.
"Did it work all right?" Mr. Slade was anxious to know.
"Couldn't be better, dad," replied his son.
"Then are you soon going--" The merchant did not finish, but they knewwhat he meant.
Mr. Slade was exceedingly anxious to get into communication with Mr.Jackson, and his son, seeing a worried look on his parent's face, asked:
"Are things any worse, dad?"
"Well, they're no better," was the reply, "and I fear there is some newmove afoot on the part of those who are trying to ruin me. If I don'tget help soon it will be too late."
"We'll leave for Danforth day after to-morrow," decided Jerry onhearing this.
"Can we be ready in time?" asked Ned.
"We'll have to," was the grim retort. "I'll let you and Bob attend tothe storing of the provisions and supplies, and I'll tinker with themachinery. We can do it if we hustle, and hustle we will. Meanwhile youmight send a telegram to the authorities of the meet, asking if Mr.Jackson has arrived yet, and if he has, request them to tell him towait until we get there, as we have an important message for him."
Ned did this, and received a reply to the effect that Mr. Jackson hadnot yet arrived. It was stated, however, that his dirigible balloonwas on the ground, and that his employees were getting it in shape fora flight on the opening day of the aeroplane carnival, which was fourdays off.
"Oh, then we'll be in plenty of time," declared Jerry. "There is alwayssome delay in these affairs, and, once we get started in the _Comet_ wecan make all kinds of fast time. You needn't worry about it, Mr. Slade."
But the merchant could not help worrying, for his business affairs werein dire straits.
The adjusting of the machinery, and the fitting out of the motor-shipfor the coming voyage, proceeded rapidly. Bob, to whom was left thepurchasing of the provisions, was in his element.
The last work had been done, the last box put aboard, and the finaladjustment made to the machinery. The _Comet_ was ready to leave.
Early in the morning, before a crowd of curiosity-seekers had had timeto gather, our heroes and Professor Snodgrass entered the cabin. Theparents of the boys were there to say good-bye.
"All ready?" called Jerry to his chums.
"All ready," came the answer.
There was a hissing sound as the gas rushed into the big bag, astraining of the holding ropes, and then, as they were cast off, themotor-ship rose into the air. Jerry started the propellers.
"Off at last!" exclaimed Ned, waving his hand to his father.
"And may we be successful!" murmured Jerry.
A small figure dashed up the street. Off came a hat which was waved inthe air. Then came a shrill cheer.
"There they go! Off in the air--rush along--never say die--blow up--nomatter--on again--that's the stuff! Good luck! Good-bye!"
"No need to look to see who that is," remarked Jerry, as he put on alittle more speed, and the _Comet_ pointed her sharp nose toward theplace of the balloon meet, where our friends hoped to get the aid ofthe man who could save Mr. Slade from ruin.