REBUILDING THE COMET
“Where’s that monkey wrench?”
“Say, has anybody seen my ruler?”
“Hand over that hammer, will you, Bob?”
“Look out there, Jerry, or that piece of scantling will be down on your
head!”
“Give me a hand here, somebody, I can’t shift this exhaust pipe all
alone.”
“Hey! Don’t put your foot through those hydroplanes, Ned. Do you want
to break ’em?”
These were only a few of the expressions, commands, entreaties and
warnings that could be heard coming from the big barn, back of the home
of Jerry Hopkins, where, a few days after the arrival of our heroes
from their trip to Durham, they began work at rebuilding the _Comet_.
They had decided on making several minor changes to their motor-ship,
in addition to equipping it for work on the water, and they found the
task a little harder than anticipated.
But they succeeded in getting the help of Mr. Glassford, who had
originally planned the _Comet_, and such assistance did he give,
together with that of some trained mechanics whom he hired, that it
seemed possible to make at least a trial trip in about another week.
“And then we’ll sail for the balloon and aeroplane meet at Danforth,”
remarked Jerry, pausing in the work of building the hydroplanes, for
that was his special feature, and he wanted to have them just right.
“I only hope Mr. Jackson stays there until we arrive,” spoke Ned. “He’s
so queer that he may leave at any time, and then we’ll have another
chase after him.”
“Oh, he’ll stay until the races start at least, I think, fellows,” said
Bob. “You know the secretary of the meet wrote us that Mr. Jackson was
going to try for a prize in his new dirigible balloon, and he won’t go
away without making a flight. The meet is delayed in opening, you know,
and I think we have plenty of time.”
“If we hadn’t, I wouldn’t have proposed going this way,” came from
Jerry. “We could go out in a train or by auto, and get to him more
quickly than by delaying to rebuild our airship. But I thought, as long
as we did have the time we might just as well make an air trip.”
“Sure,” agreed Ned. “Besides I think if we arrive at the meet in the
_Comet_ it will create something of a sensation, and if Mr. Jackson
is there he’ll be more apt to think we are ‘some pumpkins’ than if we
arrived by train or auto.”
“Was your father much disappointed that we didn’t land him in Durham,
and get him to sign the papers?” asked Bob.
“He sure was, Chunky,” replied the merchant’s son. “But he knew it
wasn’t our fault. He has great hopes from our trip to Danforth,
however.”
“Any let-up in his business troubles?” inquired Jerry.
“No, they’re worse, if anything. Dad’s enemies are pressing him hard,
but he thinks he can stand them off until we get to Mr. Jackson, and
enlist his aid. It’s going to be quite a task, though. Poor dad! I wish
I could help him!”
“You _are_ helping him!” insisted the fat youth, as he stopped to rest
after carrying a brace across the barn to where it was to be fitted
into the airship. “You are doing all you can, and we’re helping you.”
“I realize that, and I can’t thank you fellows enough,” spoke Ned
feelingly, for his father’s troubles had made quite an impression on
the lad, as, indeed, they also had on his chums, and they were all
anxious to see them over. In fact, if they were not speedily remedied
it meant the loss of Mr. Slade’s fortune, which he had made by a
lifetime of hard work.
So they were anxious to have the _Comet_ refitted, and start off on
their trip to a point near New York in order to meet Mr. Jackson. They
had learned by telegraph that the eccentric promoter and millionaire
was expected to arrive any day, and would take part in the meet.
Efforts to intercept him en route, and get in communication with him,
had been futile, and they were forced to wait. Mr. Slade grew more
and more anxious as the days passed, but he could only fight off his
business and financial enemies as best he might.
They were busy days for the motor boys. Early and late they worked on
the _Comet_. The main cabin was enlarged and improved. The engine and
machinery was overhauled, and made more powerful. The gas-generating
machine, which supplied the lifting vapor, that was used when it was
not desired to operate the _Comet_ as an aeroplane, was changed to
allow a more powerful gas to be used.
Additional room for carrying provisions and stores was provided, and a
number of comforts were added to the motor-ship’s equipment.
But the hydroplane attachments were the most radical. As has been
explained they enabled the airship to alight on water and float there,
and Jerry even added an auxiliary propeller so that the motor-ship
could travel in the water for a short distance.
So that, in reality, the _Comet_ would soon be a craft that could roll
along the ground, on the bicycle or starting wheels; it could sail
through the air, or skim on the surface of the water.
“Well, fellows,” remarked Jerry one afternoon, when all, including Mr.
Glassford and his helpers, had put in a hard day’s work on the craft,
“I think we’ll have her in shape in another day. Then we can give her a
try-out.”
“Where?” asked Mr. Glassford. “You ought to test her on some water,
for you are sure enough that the air features are all right. It’s the
hydroplanes that need testing.”
“That’s true,” admitted Jerry, “and I thought of making a trip through
the air to Lake Hammond, and dropping down on the surface there.”
“Good idea,” agreed Ned.
They were about to stop, assuring themselves by an inspection of the
craft that at least one day more would put her in shape for a trial in
the air and on water, when into the barn, that was used as a work-shop,
there burst a small chap, with every appearance of great excitement
oozing out from almost every pore in his body.
“Jerry! Ned! Bob!” he gasped. “Come quick--he’s out there--stuck
fast--can’t get loose--squirming around--down in a hole--sea-serpent I
guess--almost dead--Oh, it’s awful--poor man--get a doctor--send for
an ambulance--have a trained nurse--come on, everybody! Don’t wait a
minute! He’ll disappear under ground! Come quick! Hurry! Run! Run! Come
on!”
“Well, for the love of cats, Andy Rush, what in the name of the sacred
cow is the matter now?” cried Jerry, as he surveyed the excitable lad
who had burst in on them.
“Come on! Come on, quick!” was all the reply Andy made and he turned
and hastened from the barn, followed by Ned, Bob and the others.