CHAPTER IX
PROFESSOR SNODGRASS ON HAND
Cresville was reached, without incident, in much less time than thejourney had taken our friends in the auto. They had but one slightaccident. A leak was discovered in one of the compartments of thegas bag, but no stop was made to repair it, as the ship could beused independently of the bag, as an aeroplane. The leak was ofsmall importance from the fact that the bag was divided into severalsections, so that if one or two were emptied of gas the _Comet_ wouldstill be buoyant.
"Here we are!" announced Ned, the same afternoon that they had leftPlatville, and he looked toward a town that was looming up into sight."There's Cresville."
The boys' parents were anxiously awaiting their arrival for, thoughthey had been informed by telegraph of the success of the quest, theydid not know all that had taken place. The story of the chase, and thedisappearance of Mr. Bell, was soon told.
"Is Noddy Nixon back in town?" inquired Bob, of his father.
"I don't know," replied Mr. Baker. "But I wouldn't have anything to dowith him, if I were you."
"We don't intend to," spoke Ned, "only we'd like to get on the track ofthat mystery."
Inquiries, however, showed that Noddy had not come back. Nor had JackPender, and as Mr. Nixon was a man who never considered that his sondid wrong, there was little use in appealing to him.
"We'll work this out ourselves," decided Jerry, and his chums agreedwith him. The airship was housed in the shed, and, when the brokenbolts on the big front doors had been repaired, Sud Snuffles was againplaced in charge, with strict orders to admit no one except the motorboys, or some one accompanied by them.
"And you can make up your minds that I'll be careful," declared Sud,feeling of the lump on his head, which swelling was still in evidence."They'll have to get rid of me first, before they get in this shednow."
That night there was a consultation among the motor boys and theirparents. Jerry showed the letter Noddy had dropped, which seemed toindicate that an attempt would be made on the part of Noddy and hiscronies to get control of the gold mine in Arizona.
"I think we ought to go out there," declared Jerry, "to protect ourmine, and also to see if we can't locate Mr. Bell and his mysteriousfriends, whom he is so anxious to aid."
"Oh, Jerry, are you going on another one of those dangerous trips?"exclaimed Mrs. Hopkins, in much anxiety.
"It's not so dangerous, mother. We always come safely back from them."
"You have, so far," remarked Mr. Slade. "But there is no telling. Idon't much fancy airships."
"They are safer than automobiles," declared Bob. "You can't hitanything in the air."
"No, but you can come down and hit the earth pretty hard," observed hisfather, grimly.
"Oh, but we don't intend to come down," said Ned. "Can't we go, dad?"
The parents considered the matter in a sort of executive session, theboys being barred. Finally the lads were called into the library ofMrs. Hopkins's home, where the conference was taking place. The boyslooked anxiously at the faces of the older folks.
"Well?" inquired Jerry nervously.
"You may go," replied his mother, with a little catch in her voice."But you must promise to be very careful. You are going on a longtrip--across the Rocky Mountains, as I understand it--and there may beall sorts of dangers."
"Oh, we'll be careful," readily promised Jerry, and his chums eagerlyassented.
Once all objections to their trip were removed, the boys lost no timein making their preparations. There was little to do to the _Comet_ asit was nearly ready for a flight across the continent, but suppliesand provisions must be put aboard and these took some time. At length,however, all was in readiness.
"I think we'll give it a trial to-morrow," said Jerry to his chums onenight. "I want to see how the deflecting rudder works since I changedthe angle. Then, if all is well, we'll start the next day."
As the three chums were about ready to start on the little test tripthe following day, having run the airship out of the shed, they heardvoices in conversation on the side of the gas bag opposite to them.
"Oh, would you dare take a trip?" asked some one, evidently, from thetones, a young lady.
"I would if they asked me, but I don't suppose they will," was thereply.
Jerry looked under the bag, and caught a glimpse of three girls.Without changing his position, he called out:
"You may consider that you are asked, Mollie. Would you and Helen andAlice like to take a little trip?"
"Oh, my goodness me! I didn't s'pose anyone was around!" exclaimedMollie Horton, who lived near Ned Slade.
"Don't you dare go one step in it!" cried Alice Vines, while HelenGale, another chum, joined her protest.
"How are you, girls?" greeted Jerry, as he and his companions wentaround where they could see the young ladies. "You may come for a trip,if you like. We're not going very high, and there's not the slightestdanger."
"Will you go, girls?" asked Mollie, of her friends.
They hesitated. Clearly they would like the experience, yet they hardlydared. While they were debating with themselves they were startled byhearing some one exclaim:
"Here we go--up in the air--above the clouds--down again--sail like abird--turn a somersault--hit a star--bound for the moon--whoop! May Igo?"
"You may if you will say that all over again, and repeat it slowly,backwards, Andy," stipulated Jerry, as he caught sight of the excitablelittle chap. Andy tried, but it was of no use. His tongue got all"twisted" as Bob said. However, the small lad was so enthusiastic overa chance for a trip, and he seemed so fearless that the terrors ofAlice and Helen were overcome, after a little more persuasion, in whichMollie did her share. The three girls and Andy Rush entered the cabin,not, however, without many exclamations, half of anxiety and half ofpleasure. Then Jerry and his chums started the power, and they weresoon sailing through the air. Owing to the timidity of the young ladiesno very great height was reached, though Andy was constantly urgingJerry to go above the clouds. They descended without anything havinghappened.
"Why, how simple it all is!" exclaimed Alice Vines, as she stepped onthe ground again.
"Yes, it's easier than managing an automobile," added Helen Gale.
"Except in a big wind," said Jerry. "We'll take you out in a storm,sometime."
"No, thank you," objected Mollie. "We're much obliged as it is," andthen the girls waved a farewell to the boys.
The weather the following day proved all that could be desired. Theboys were up early, for there were several small matters to attend to,but finally all was in readiness for the start over the Rockies.
Jerry had safely put away the letter Noddy had dropped, and he had thetorn fragments of the one written by Mr. Bell. He thought he might needthem as evidence.
There was quite a crowd assembled at the airship shed to see the start,and the parents of our heroes were there.
"Be sure and drop a letter occasionally," called Mrs. Hopkins, to herson, and Jerry promised, while Ned and Bob also agreed to write totheir parents.
"Is everything all right?" asked Jerry of his chums. He was in thepilot house, and his two companions were on deck.
"All ready to cast off," announced Bob.
"Then let her go!" cried Jerry. "Good-bye, everybody!"
"Good-bye! Good-bye!" shouted their friends and parents.
"Good-bye!" cried Bob and Ned in a chorus.
They were about to release the ropes holding the airship to the earthwhen there was a sudden commotion in the crowd. It seemed to separateinto two parts, and through the middle came running an odd figure.
It was that of a small man, with a bald head, which was easilydiscernible since his hat had fallen off. He was running as fast as hecould.
"Hold on! Hold on, boys!" he cried. "Wait for me. I want to go withyou!" His coat tails were flying out behind him like sails. Over oneshoulder was a long-handled butterfly net, and slung on his back was agreen box. The cover of the box had come o
pen, and from it were fallingall sorts of bugs, toads, lizards and insects. "Wait! Wait!" criedthe little man. "Don't go without me! I want to capture a new kind offlying lizard. Wait! Wait!"
Ned and Bob held on to the partly loosened guy ropes. The little manlooked at the departing airship, and glanced back along the route hehad traveled through the crowd--a route marked by all sorts of flying,creeping and hopping things.
"Wait, oh, wait, I beg of you!" he pleaded. "Am I too late? I must getthat flying lizard!"
"Professor Snodgrass!" gasped Jerry, as he caught sight of the oddfigure. "You're just in time, Professor!" he shouted, leaning from thewindow of the pilot house. "Hold the ship for a minute, Bob and Ned,until the professor gets aboard. We never could go without him!"