HOME IN THE AIRSHIP
Jerry sat in the cabin of the _Comet_, staring at the fragment of paper
bearing the signature of Mr. Bell. Many thoughts were in the mind of
the lad. He was worried and puzzled. Clews seemed to point to a sudden
departure of the former hermit from the airship. The torn letter was
one of them.
“Of course,” reasoned Jerry, “Mr. Bell may have written the letter, and
then, desiring to change something in it, he may have destroyed it, and
written another, which he sent. But it looks as if he had hurried away
from this ship.” This was true enough, for, all about, were evidences
of a hasty flight. Bits of paper and string were scattered about, as if
some one had packed up on short notice.
“But if Mr. Bell wrote to his son that he was coming in an airship to
help rescue some people in a mysterious valley, why isn’t he on hand
now?” reasoned Jerry, questioning himself. “Surely a slight accident
to the _Comet_ wouldn’t scare him. He ought to be around here, waiting
for Noddy to fix it. But he isn’t. Evidently something happened just
before we arrived on the scene.”
Jerry was right in this surmise, but it was not until some time
afterward that he learned what had taken place, and the reason for the
letter being torn up and scattered about the cabin.
Still musing on the mute evidence of the mystery, Jerry began a search
for more fragments, thinking that, if he had the whole letter, he could
piece it together. He was interrupted in his search by a shout from
without, and he hurried out on deck. To his relief he saw Ned and Bob
approaching, 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 things
to fix the airship?”
“Yes; everything.”
“Then come here; I’ve got news for you,” and, as his chums crowded
closer, Jerry told them of finding the scraps of the mysterious letter.
They eagerly scanned the fragments, making many comments on them, but
agreeing, in general, with Jerry’s view.
For some time they talked over the possibilities of what might have
happened, and they concluded that the thing to do was to leave for the
west as soon as possible.
“We’ll make a trip over the Rockies,” declared Jerry, “and clear up
this mystery. But the first thing to do, is to repair the airship.”
The bundles Bob and Ned had brought from town consisted of piano wire
and bamboo poles, for strengthening the frame of the aeroplane, stout
canvas for mending the torn places, some chemicals for making the gas,
and other supplies. The packages were opened and the contents spread
out on the deck. Then another inspection of the _Comet_ was made to
determine what to repair first. Jerry made up a sort of schedule,
giving himself as well as his two chums enough work to keep them busy
all that day.
It was well that the three lads had assisted Mr. Glassford in the
manufacture of the airship, for now they were at no loss as to how to
proceed. They knew every inch of the craft, and, if necessary, could
have taken it apart and put it together again.
They worked rapidly, and were about to stop for dinner, in response
to several impatient and pathetic consultations that Bob gave his
watch, when, across the meadows, quite a crowd was seen approaching the
stalled 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 do
some damage.”
The throng consisted, for the most part, of boys and men, though
there were a few young women in it. They all gazed at the airship in
open-mouthed wonder, but they showed a commendable desire to keep some
distance back.
“I guess Noddy’s bluff about the gas being likely to explode, or kill
people, was a good thing,” announced Ned. “It will keep them back.”
The boys made a hasty lunch, and reviewed their work of repairing the
ship. 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 had
happened, began to run up on the deck when Jerry, Ned and Bob were off
to one side.
“There’ll be trouble if we don’t look out,” said Jerry in a low voice
to his chums. “Here, you get out of that!” he yelled to a daring
youngster who had entered the pilot house, and was yanking on the
wheels and levers.
Others in the crowd, emboldened by the feat of this lad, began to climb
upon the airship, and our heroes would soon have been overwhelmed by
eager, if kindly, curious investigators. The trouble, however, was
speedily over, for several police officers unexpectedly arrived on the
scene, and reported to Jerry. They said they had been sent out by the
chief, who had instructed them to keep the crowd back.
This they at once proceeded to do, and the lads were not further
hampered by the throng, but could proceed with the repair work in peace.
That night the most of it was done, and the following day, after
sleeping on board the _Comet_, it was resumed. The crowd was larger
than ever the second day, but more police were on hand and no harm
resulted. Late that afternoon Jerry announced that he was ready for a
trial 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 ship
behaves,” answered Jerry. “Then we’ll start for home in the morning.
We’ll need a little time to stock up the cupboard, Chunky,” and the
tall lad winked at Ned, while Bob blushed at this tribute to his eating
powers.
“Yes, and we’ll have to arrange to have the auto taken care of,” added
Ned.
“We’ll ship that home by freight,” decided Jerry.
It was soon circulated through the crowd that the airship was going to
ascend, and the people crowded up so close that it was with difficulty
that the boys could move about. But when Jerry, speaking loudly on
purpose, told Ned and Bob to start the gas generating machine, there
was a sudden movement of the big audience.
“That made ’em skedaddle!” exclaimed Ned with a laugh, though there was
no danger.
In a short time the big gas bag was filled with the powerful vapor, and
the airship began tugging at the guy ropes with which it was fastened
to the earth. The boys looked carefully over every part, and then
entered the cabin, to see that the controlling mechanism was in working
order.
“I’ll steer first,” said Jerry. “Ned, you and Bob be ready to cast off
the ropes when I give the word.”
The tall lad took his place in the pilot house. The indicator connected
with the gas machine showed that enough vapor had been made to raise
the ship without the use of the aeroplane feature. Jerry shut off the
gas, and pulled the lever to get the planes and rudders in the right
position.
“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. Up
shot the big airship, like a bird released from captivity. The crowd
yelled and cheered. Up and up went the _Comet_. Then Jerry started the
two big propellers, and the craft darted forward. Sending it up about a
thousand feet, Jerry guided the ship about in a series of evolutions,
designed to test the various planes and rudders. To his delight, it
answered the helm perfectly. Noddy’s possession of the ship had,
seemingly, not permanently harmed it any. Back and forth, around in
circles and through figure eights, went the _Comet_, while the crowd
below 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 in
almost exactly the same spot from where he had arisen. There was
applause from the crowd at this feat of steersmanship.
There were only a few more adjustments to make before the _Comet_ would
be ready for the long trip to Cresville, and from there she would be
sent over the Rocky Mountains.
The crowd lingered until dark, and then dispersed. Jerry went into
town, and arranged to have the auto shipped home, and also paid a visit
to the chief of police, thanking him for the services of himself and
his 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 motor
boys had started the engines of the _Comet_, and were soon up amid the
clouds, 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 chums
knew how many wonderful things were before them.