CHAPTER VIII
HOME IN THE AIRSHIP
Jerry sat in the cabin of the _Comet_, staring at the fragment of paperbearing the signature of Mr. Bell. Many thoughts were in the mind ofthe lad. He was worried and puzzled. Clews seemed to point to a suddendeparture of the former hermit from the airship. The torn letter wasone of them.
"Of course," reasoned Jerry, "Mr. Bell may have written the letter, andthen, desiring to change something in it, he may have destroyed it, andwritten another, which he sent. But it looks as if he had hurried awayfrom this ship." This was true enough, for, all about, were evidencesof a hasty flight. Bits of paper and string were scattered about, as ifsome one had packed up on short notice.
"But if Mr. Bell wrote to his son that he was coming in an airship tohelp rescue some people in a mysterious valley, why isn't he on handnow?" reasoned Jerry, questioning himself. "Surely a slight accidentto the _Comet_ wouldn't scare him. He ought to be around here, waitingfor Noddy to fix it. But he isn't. Evidently something happened justbefore we arrived on the scene."
Jerry was right in this surmise, but it was not until some timeafterward that he learned what had taken place, and the reason for theletter being torn up and scattered about the cabin.
Still musing on the mute evidence of the mystery, Jerry began a searchfor more fragments, thinking that, if he had the whole letter, he couldpiece it together. He was interrupted in his search by a shout fromwithout, and he hurried out on deck. To his relief he saw Ned and Bobapproaching, carrying as many packages as their arms would hold.
"Are you all right, Jerry?" called Ned, anxiously.
"All right," responded his chum, "and I've made a great discovery."
"Have you found Mr. Bell?"
"No, but something concerning him. Come aboard. Did you get the thingsto fix the airship?"
"Yes; everything."
"Then come here; I've got news for you," and, as his chums crowdedcloser, Jerry told them of finding the scraps of the mysterious letter.They eagerly scanned the fragments, making many comments on them, butagreeing, in general, with Jerry's view.
For some time they talked over the possibilities of what might havehappened, and they concluded that the thing to do was to leave for thewest as soon as possible.
"We'll make a trip over the Rockies," declared Jerry, "and clear upthis mystery. But the first thing to do, is to repair the airship."
The bundles Bob and Ned had brought from town consisted of piano wireand bamboo poles, for strengthening the frame of the aeroplane, stoutcanvas for mending the torn places, some chemicals for making the gas,and other supplies. The packages were opened and the contents spreadout on the deck. Then another inspection of the _Comet_ was made todetermine what to repair first. Jerry made up a sort of schedule,giving himself as well as his two chums enough work to keep them busyall that day.
It was well that the three lads had assisted Mr. Glassford in themanufacture of the airship, for now they were at no loss as to how toproceed. They knew every inch of the craft, and, if necessary, couldhave taken it apart and put it together again.
They worked rapidly, and were about to stop for dinner, in responseto several impatient and pathetic consultations that Bob gave hiswatch, when, across the meadows, quite a crowd was seen approaching thestalled airship.
"Here comes a lot of curiosity seekers," announced Ned.
"Well, we can't help it, and we've got to expect it," answered Jerry."Make the best of it, but don't let any of 'em come aboard. They may dosome damage."
The throng consisted, for the most part, of boys and men, thoughthere were a few young women in it. They all gazed at the airship inopen-mouthed wonder, but they showed a commendable desire to keep somedistance back.
"I guess Noddy's bluff about the gas being likely to explode, or killpeople, was a good thing," announced Ned. "It will keep them back."
The boys made a hasty lunch, and reviewed their work of repairing theship. The crowd grew larger and completely surrounded the stalled_Comet_. Toward the middle of the afternoon the throng was very dense,and some of the lads in it, becoming bold, by the fact that nothing hadhappened, began to run up on the deck when Jerry, Ned and Bob were offto one side.
"There'll be trouble if we don't look out," said Jerry in a low voiceto his chums. "Here, you get out of that!" he yelled to a daringyoungster who had entered the pilot house, and was yanking on thewheels and levers.
Others in the crowd, emboldened by the feat of this lad, began to climbupon the airship, and our heroes would soon have been overwhelmed byeager, if kindly, curious investigators. The trouble, however, wasspeedily over, for several police officers unexpectedly arrived on thescene, and reported to Jerry. They said they had been sent out by thechief, who had instructed them to keep the crowd back.
This they at once proceeded to do, and the lads were not furtherhampered by the throng, but could proceed with the repair work in peace.
That night the most of it was done, and the following day, aftersleeping on board the _Comet_, it was resumed. The crowd was largerthan ever the second day, but more police were on hand and no harmresulted. Late that afternoon Jerry announced that he was ready for atrial flight.
"Are you going to put right for Cresville?" asked Bob.
"No, we'll go up a short distance, circle around, and see how the shipbehaves," answered Jerry. "Then we'll start for home in the morning.We'll need a little time to stock up the cupboard, Chunky," and thetall lad winked at Ned, while Bob blushed at this tribute to his eatingpowers.
"Yes, and we'll have to arrange to have the auto taken care of," addedNed.
"We'll ship that home by freight," decided Jerry.
It was soon circulated through the crowd that the airship was going toascend, and the people crowded up so close that it was with difficultythat the boys could move about. But when Jerry, speaking loudly onpurpose, told Ned and Bob to start the gas generating machine, therewas a sudden movement of the big audience.
"That made 'em skedaddle!" exclaimed Ned with a laugh, though there wasno danger.
In a short time the big gas bag was filled with the powerful vapor, andthe airship began tugging at the guy ropes with which it was fastenedto the earth. The boys looked carefully over every part, and thenentered the cabin, to see that the controlling mechanism was in workingorder.
"I'll steer first," said Jerry. "Ned, you and Bob be ready to cast offthe ropes when I give the word."
The tall lad took his place in the pilot house. The indicator connectedwith the gas machine showed that enough vapor had been made to raisethe ship without the use of the aeroplane feature. Jerry shut off thegas, and pulled the lever to get the planes and rudders in the rightposition.
"All ready?" he asked his chums.
"All ready," replied Bob and Ned.
Everyone in the crowd seemed to be holding his breath.
"Cast off!" cried Jerry, and his chums released the holding ropes. Upshot the big airship, like a bird released from captivity. The crowdyelled and cheered. Up and up went the _Comet_. Then Jerry started thetwo big propellers, and the craft darted forward. Sending it up about athousand feet, Jerry guided the ship about in a series of evolutions,designed to test the various planes and rudders. To his delight, itanswered the helm perfectly. Noddy's possession of the ship had,seemingly, not permanently harmed it any. Back and forth, around incircles and through figure eights, went the _Comet_, while the crowdbelow looked up in wonder.
"I guess it's all right," announced Jerry, after about an hour's test."We'll go down, now."
"Down she goes!" cried Bob.
So perfectly was the airship under control that Jerry landed it inalmost exactly the same spot from where he had arisen. There wasapplause from the crowd at this feat of steersmanship.
There were only a few more adjustments to make before the _Comet_ wouldbe ready for the long trip to Cresville, and from there she would besent over the Rocky Mountains.
The crowd lingered until dark, and the
n dispersed. Jerry went intotown, and arranged to have the auto shipped home, and also paid a visitto the chief of police, thanking him for the services of himself andhis men. Then Jerry went back to where his chums were on the airship.
In the morning, before a curious crowd had time to assemble, the motorboys had started the engines of the _Comet_, and were soon up amid theclouds, heading straight for Cresville.
"And the biggest part of our journey is still to come," observed Ned,gazing down toward the earth.
"Yes, and the most mysterious," spoke Bob, but neither he nor his chumsknew how many wonderful things were before them.