CHAPTER XIX
AT THE BALLOON MEET
Jerry was working frantically at the machinery. Something seemed to bethe matter with it, and he had a fear that perhaps the farmer or hismen might have been tinkering with the motor.
"Why don't we move?" cried Ned.
"Yes, let's get out of here, or he'll have us back in that smoke houseagain!" yelled Bob.
"Can I help?" demanded the professor, who having placed his preciousspecimen boxes in a safe place aboard the ship, was scurrying about thedeck in the darkness, without any special object in view.
"I'm doing the best I can!" cried Jerry. "This lever seems to be stuck!"
"Hold on there!" yelled the farmer again. "I've got th' drop on ye! I'mgoin' t' shoot ag'in!"
There was another flash of fire and a loud report. By the gleam fromthe gun the boys could see Mr. Muggins leaning out of his bedroomwindow, pointing the weapon at them. But they heard the bullet singthrough the air, high over their heads.
"He isn't shooting at us!" cried Bob in a hoarse whisper. "He's aiminghigh!"
"That's just the trouble!" murmured Jerry. "He may put a hole throughthe gas bag! Hang it all. What's the matter with this lever, anyhow?"
As he spoke he gave it another sudden yank. There was a clicking sound,a hum and purr that became a muffled roar and then the motor started.The big propellers whirled around and the _Comet_ shot ahead.
"Now we're safe!" cried Ned. "Shoot away, old man; you can't hit usnow!"
As if taking the lad at his word Mr. Muggins fired again, but they didnot hear the sound of the bullet. Then, faint and far away, for theywere now some distance from the farmhouse, came the threatening voice:
"I'll catch you fellers yet! I know where ye're goin' in that thereballoon machine, an' I'll be right arter ye! Ye can't git away from oldman Muggins that way! I'll have the sheriff on yer trail!"
"Still, we _did_ get away," exulted Jerry, "and I'd like to see youcatch us now, Mr. Muggins!" He turned more power into the motor andthe craft shot ahead faster than ever, while, back in the darkness, anexceedingly angry farmer closed his window with a bang and muttereddire threats against the lads who had gotten the better of him.
Meanwhile our heroes were scudding along through the air. They did notventure to turn on any lights for some time, fearing that perhaps theugly farmer, with a powerful rifle might manage to aim at them, andpuncture the gas bag. But it did not take long to get out of range, andthen they lit up.
"I know what I'm going to do," declared Bob, as he started for thestore room.
"What's that, Chunky?" asked Ned.
"Get something to eat! That stuff Mrs. Muggins sent us was all right,but there wasn't enough of it. Don't you fellows want something? Howabout you, Professor?"
"Oh, you're the limit, Bob!" cried Jerry. "But I suppose there's nostopping you. Go ahead."
"We must be near Danforth," remarked Ned, a little later. "We don'twant to run past it, Jerry, for we can't see it in the dark."
"No, and for that reason I'm going to slow down now, and remain asstationary as the wind will let us. There is no use going a longdistance out of our way. I'll fill the gas bag, and we'll float in theair until morning."
This was soon done, and feeling very tired from the experience they hadjust passed through they all went to bed, leaving the _Comet_ floatingin space, blown here and there by gentle breezes which Jerry knew wouldnot take them far out of their course.
"See anything of the grounds where the balloon meet is being held?"asked Jerry of Bob, who was up early to make coffee.
The stout lad took an observation over the rail of the craft beforereplying.
"Nothing like it in sight," he answered. "We seem to be over a farmingcountry, and I can see two or three men driving their teams along theroad. They're looking up here and waving their hands. That one fellowwill dislocate his neck, if he doesn't look out."
"Well, see to it that the anchor isn't trailing," advised Jerry. "Wecan't afford to rip off any more barn roofs. By the way, I wonder if wehadn't ought to have left some money for Mr. Muggins?"
"He was too mean," declared Ned. "But we must be careful not to haveany more delays. I'm getting nervous about not seeing Mr. Jackson."
"We'll catch him to-day I guess," declared Jerry, as he got up to takean observation. By looking at some maps which he had, he calculatedthat they were within a few miles of Danforth, having been blown alittle out of their course in the night. The motor was started, and the_Comet_ headed in the right direction.
Eagerly the boys kept watch for the first sight of the big park wherethe balloon and aeroplane meet was to take place. They knew it wouldbe visible some distance away, for there would be tents erected as"hangars" for the balloons, and probably the canvas shelters would begay with flags.
They were right. Half an hour later Bob, who had gone away up forward,where he had an unobstructed view, gave a shout.
"There it is!" he cried. "I see it! Crimps! but it's a big one. We'reall right, fellows, let's make a sensational landing, Jerry!"
"How do you mean?" asked the tall lad, "turn a somersault, or somethinglike that?"
"No, but speed around, do some stunts and then come down in the middleof the park."
"All right, we'll try it."
And indeed Jerry was not a little proud of what their craft could do,so he was willing to fall in with Bob's idea.
The _Comet_ was sent up, and then directed downward. Then Jerry put herthrough some intricate evolutions, to show what control he had of her.
Though it was early there was a big crowd on the grounds and they weremuch interested in what was going on. The boys could see thousands ofpersons gazing up at them. They noted numbers of tents and sheds whichevidently housed the big aircraft. There were several balloons withoutshelter, the big bags, partly filled, swaying in the wind.
One dirigible in particular attracted their attention. It was verylarge, and seemed to have a large boat-shaped cabin attached below it.In fact, the lower part was not unlike their own _Comet_.
About this craft there was quite a throng, and men could be seen busilyengaged, evidently in getting it ready for a flight.
"Well, I guess we've done enough," remarked Jerry at length. "We'dbetter go down."
"Yes," agreed Ned. "I'd like to see what sort of a craft that one is,"and he motioned to the big dirigible.
Hardly had he spoken than there came a shout from below, and theballoon rose swiftly in the air.
"They're making an early flight!" cried Bob. "We missed 'em."
"Oh, we can see from here just as well," said Jerry, as he checked thedownward progress of the _Comet_ for a moment.
Upward shot the big dirigible, amid the cheers of the onlookers, andthen, wishing to make as good a landing as possible, and needing goodspeed and control to effect this, Jerry again sent the motor-shipdownward.
A little later the motor boys landed in the midst of a big, green,open space, while the crowd thronged up around them, cheering theirimpromptu exhibition, and asking all sorts of questions.
"Here at last!" cried Ned, with a sigh of relief. "Now to find Mr.Jackson."
Overhead the big dirigible was shooting forward through space, for herpropellers had been set in motion. The boys watched her with greatinterest, little knowing how their own fate was interwoven in that ofthe strange craft.