AN AIRSHIP FLIGHT
“Well, there’s no use going in now,” said Jerry, after a pause.
“Going in where?” asked Andy Rush.
“To consult our lawyer. I was going to see about making a complaint
against Noddy. But what’s the use, if he’s skipped out?”
“Maybe he heard what you were going to do,” suggested the small chap.
“No,” answered the tall lad, “I didn’t tell anyone, except Ned and Bob.
I guess Noddy left because--well, because he wanted to,” he concluded
quickly, for Andy Rush did not know of the prospective journey of the
motor boys. In fact, their intention to seek for the gold was kept as
quiet as possible, for they realized how such rumors spread.
So, as a matter of fact, only the boys, the two Westerners, and the
parents of our heroes, knew of the proposed trip.
“That is unless Noddy has overheard something, and suspects,” murmured
Jerry, as he turned back toward home. “And it looks as if he had from
the way he hurried off. And to Montana, too! What part of Montana was
his baggage checked to?” he asked, of Andy.
“I couldn’t make out the tags very well, but the last part of the name
was ‘Spell,’” spoke the excitable youth.
“Spell--spell,” murmured Jerry. “I have it--the town of Kabspell--it’s
near Flathead Lake, and we were counting on sending our airship there
to make the start! Noddy has gotten on to our plans somehow!”
“What’s that?” asked Andy, quickly, for Jerry was half talking to
himself.
“Oh--nothing. I was just wondering what Noddy would do, that’s all.
Much obliged for telling me. Here’s a quarter, Andy. Get yourself a
soda.”
“Thanks! I will,” and Andy, forgetting Jerry’s rather strange and
worried actions, in the prospective delights of a soda, hurried off.
“We’ve got to get busy,” decided the tall lad, as he made his way
home. Quickly he called up his chums by telephone, and when they were
assembled at his house, with Mr. Nestor and Mr. Brill in attendance,
while Professor Snodgrass hovered in the background, Jerry told them
the news.
“That means we’ve got to get started right away,” decided Ned.
“That’s it,” agreed Jim Nestor. “I know Noddy Nixon of old, and while
he may not know just where the nuggets are hidden, he’s got just luck
enough to stumble on the trail of some of those grub-stakers, who have
a general idea. We’d better get off as soon as we can.”
“The sooner the better, I say,” put in Professor Snodgrass. “I’ve
caught about all the rare insects there are in these parts, and I do
want to get some of those luminous snakes. Can we start to-morrow?”
“Hardly,” said Jerry, with a smile. “If we’re going to take the airship
we’ll have to give it a trial, and then take it apart for shipment.
That will take some time. But in a week I think we could be on the
move.”
“If you have fully decided to go,” said Mrs. Hopkins, who just then
entered the room; “and I suppose that you have, there is no use in
delaying, Jerry. Really, I am a little worried about the dangers of the
trip, but since we have invested our money in it, I would rather you
than that Nixon boy get the gold nuggets.”
“That’s what, momsey!” cried Jerry, kissing her, at which she laughed,
for mother and son were great “chums.”
“Then trot out the airship and let’s give her a trial!” exclaimed
Harvey Brill. “I’ve never ridden in one of the shebangs, but I’ll take
a chance in one. The papers are all fixed up now, I have telegraphed
the money to take up the option on the mine, and all that’s to be done
is to go get the hidden nuggets.”
“And the snakes--don’t forget them,” put in the scientist, eagerly
watching a fly on the wall, as if hoping it would prove to be a rare
variety.
“All right,” agreed Jerry. “There’s just one point to be thought of
though, and when the professor mentioned snakes it occurred to me.
Now we don’t want to start off and arrive on the border as a party of
prospectors looking for gold nuggets. If we do, we’ll have a trail of
men after us who are always on the lookout to take advantage of news of
a rich strike. And, too, if the grub-stakers are still on the watch,
they’ll hear about us and make trouble.”
“What can we do, though?” asked Bob.
“Pretend that we’re a party of scientists out for rare specimens of
various kinds. In effect Professor Snodgrass will be the head of the
scientific expedition, and we will be his assistants. How is that?”
“Fine!” cried Ned.
“That ought to fool ’em,” said Bob.
“I think it will be just the thing,” came from Jim Nestor. “As you say,
Jerry, we want to keep this thing as quiet as possible. So, Professor,
you can regard us as members of your luminous-snake-hunting expedition.”
“I am agreeable,” spoke the scientist, with a smile. “And I hope we are
successful.”
The motorship, _Comet_, was floated out of the big shed for a trial
flight the next day. Harvey Brill was the only one of the party who
had not seen it, and his astonishment was a sight to behold. At first
he could scarcely believe that it would mount into the air, for the
_Comet_ was of large size.
“Oh, she’ll go up,” said Jerry; “and you’ll go with her.”
“I’m game!” exclaimed the miner, grimly.
As I have already described the motorship in previous books of this
series I will not go into details now. Sufficient to say that the
_Comet_ was a combined aeroplane and dirigible balloon. It had also a
hydroplane attachment, enabling it to float on water, and skim over its
surface.
There was a powerful motor aboard, that whirled the propellers, causing
the ship to advance. This feature could be used when the craft was an
aeroplane or dirigible. When it was desired to progress as the latter
style of craft the bag could be inflated with a powerful gas, generated
aboard the _Comet_.
There was an engine room, a pilot house, sleeping and eating quarters,
and a large living room. Provisions for many days could be carried
aboard, and the kitchen was the delight of Bob’s heart. He spent much
of his time there when on a trip, concocting new and dainty dishes.
In fact the _Comet_ was a veritable motorship of the air, as much so
as a yacht would be on some lake or ocean. In it the boys had traveled
many thousands of miles, and had visited places which would have been
inaccessible but for their unique craft, much of which they had built
themselves, with the help of a veteran balloonist.
“Well, get aboard!” called Jerry, when he had seen that everything was
in readiness. The professor took his place with as much unconcern as if
he was going for an auto ride. He had an insect net with him, for he
often got curious creatures of the upper air on these trips. Jim Nestor
had often ridden in the _Comet_, and of course to Bob and Ned it was an
old story. But Mr. Brill hesitated about getting into the cabin.
“Are you sure she won’t bust and come down with us?” he asked,
nervously.
“Sure,” answered Jerry, with a laugh. “Get aboard,” and the mining
prospector did so, but with evident reluctance.
“Let her go!” cried Jerry to Ned, who was in the engine room, with Bob,
while the tall lad held the steering wheel. The big propellers whizzed
around, the motorship quivered from end to end, and then began to
shoot across the ground on the starting wheels.
“Gee whizz! We’re moving!” cried Harvey Brill.
Jerry yanked back on the lever that adjusted the elevation rudder. The
nose of the _Comet_ was pointed upward and she shot into the air on a
slant.
“We’re going up!” yelled the astonished and almost delighted Mr. Brill.
“I told you we would,” asserted his partner, as if it was an every-day
occurrence with him.
Rapidly the craft soared upward, and in a few minutes it was floating
several hundred feet above the town of Cresville. Higher and higher it
mounted.
“How’s she running, Ned?” asked Jerry, from the pilot house.
“Fine. The motor’s going like a sewing machine. Is she steering all
right?”
“Couldn’t be better. I guess she’ll do.”
“And it’s this shebang you’re going to ship out West to go down into
the valley where I’ve hidden my nuggets?” asked the prospector.
“This is it,” answered Jerry. “If you’ll come up here I’ll show you
how I control her,” and when Mr. Brill entered the pilot house Jerry
pointed out the various levers and wheels.
“What’s this one for?” asked the Westerner, as he touched a small
lever. Quite by accident he moved it a trifle. Instantly there was a
snapping and crackling sound in the motor room, and the _Comet_ gave a
sickening lurch.
“We’re falling!” cried Mr. Brill. “We’re going down! I know! I fell in
an elevator once! We’re falling down!” and he jumped back in terror,
and sought to climb out of the window of the pilot house.