CHAPTER XV
THE MOTOR SHIP SAILS
Though Jerry had told Professor Snodgrass that the _Comet_ would have atrial flight in about three days, it was not until five had passed thatall was in readiness. Almost at the last moment Mr. Glassford decidedon changes which took some time to make.
However, the professor was in no hurry, if the boys were. He was aguest at Jerry's house, and his time was fully occupied in catchingstrange insects, or getting new specimens of old ones. For theprofessor was employed by a prominent museum to gather materials forexhibit and for experimental purposes. His latest exploit had been toaccompany the boys on their trip to California, where he went in searchof a horned toad, which he captured after considerable trouble.
"Well, professor, are you all ready for a flight through the air?"asked Jerry one evening.
"I think so. Why?"
"We are scheduled to make our first trial trip to-morrow. That is,if Mr. Glassford doesn't find something else that needs changing. Isuppose you'll be on hand?"
"Oh, yes. I have had a new style of net made, with a very long handle,to enable me to reach out and capture any curious insects I may seein the upper regions. How high do you think you will go; two or threemiles?"
"Mercy, Jerry, I hope you don't go as high as that!" exclaimed Mrs.Hopkins, who was listening to the talk.
"Don't worry, mother. We're not likely to go more than a few hundredfeet in the trial."
"Oh, Jerry, I wish I had never consented to this. I am afraid somethingwill happen."
"Don't be alarmed, Mrs. Hopkins," said Uriah Snodgrass. "There isreally little danger with such a competent person as Mr. Glassfordmanaging matters. It is practically impossible for the balloon to fall,with its gas bag and the planes in addition. That is a very novelcombination."
"But they may get caught in the upper air, and not be able to get down."
"Then all we'd have to do would be to let out a little gas, mother. Oh,we have all emergencies provided for."
"I'm sure I hope so," murmured Jerry's mother. "I shall be nervousuntil I hear that the ascent is safely made."
"Well, you'll know by this time to-morrow," said Jerry. "Now Ithink I'll go to bed. I want to get up early, for there'll probablybe something unexpected to do at the last minute. How about you,professor?"
"I think I shall stay up a while yet. I want to get a new specimen of alightning-bug I noticed in the garden. It was a rare kind, and I almosthad one when a mosquito bit me and I had to let the lightning-bug go.But I shall catch it. I will be with you in the morning."
Jerry once more reassured his mother that there was no danger in whathe and his chums were about to undertake, and then he retired.
There was a big crowd about the tent early the next morning, for newshad spread that the _Comet_ was to be "launched," if that is the properterm for floating an airship. Probably "floated" would be better.
"Well, is everything in good shape?" asked Jerry of Mr. Glassford, ashe greeted the inventor in the canvas shelter.
"I think so. The motor seems to work perfectly. That was my greatestanxiety. I will now proceed to generate the gas necessary to completelyfill the bag. I suppose all three of you boys are coming along?"
"Of course; and so is Professor Snodgrass."
"That will make a nice party, and we will not have to carry so muchballast. Just go over all the cords, see that none are tangled, andtest the wire stays and the braces. We don't want any accident tohappen."
The boys were a trifle nervous, now that the time was at hand for thegreat test. Would the airship rise? Would she sail through the upperatmosphere--or come down like a stone?
The big gas bag seemed to promise that at least they would go up,but whether they could advance, and whether the _Comet_ would allowherself to be directed in response to the influences of her propellersand the rudders was another matter. Mr. Glassford was busy at thegas-generating machine. The long, cigar-shaped bag began to distendmore and more. The frame of the ship quivered as the lifting power ofthe gas began to make itself felt. But for the weight of many bags ofsand, attached to the lower part of the car, it might have risen rightin the tent.
"Oh, it'll go up, all right," declared Bob earnestly.
"That's what it will!" exclaimed Andy Rush. "Gee, but I wish I wasgoing!"
"Perhaps next time, Andy," spoke Jerry kindly to the little fellow."It's too much of a risk yet."
Mr. Glassford hurried about, looking at the various parts. He seemed asnervous as did the boys. Outside could be heard the murmur of a vastthrong.
"Well, I guess we may as well take it out of the tent," remarked theinventor at length, as he shut off the supply of gas and closed thevalves. "Open the tent, men."
A number of helpers had been engaged, and these now busied themselvesopening the whole front of the tent, which was so arranged that theairship could be easily taken out.
"Here they come!" yelled a score of voices as the blunt nose of the_Comet_ was seen emerging from the tent. The lifting power of the gaswas so great that even with all the ballast on, and men holding themotor ship down, it evinced a tendency to sail aloft.
"I guess we'll go up, all right," murmured Mr. Glassford, a hopefullook coming into his face. "Get ready, boys. Keep the crowd back, men.I don't want any one to get hurt."
The ship was now completely out of the tent. On all sides were heardmurmurs of admiration.
"She's a dandy!" was the general opinion of the boys in the crowd,while the men could be heard speaking words of praise.
"Them motor boys do beat the Dutch!" exclaimed an old resident. "Whenthey had them there motor cycles I thought that was about as fur asthey'd go, but land o' Goshen, look at 'em now! About t' sail in th'air like eagles! Well, well, it's a great age!"
"That's a hot airship!" exclaimed Noddy Nixon to Jack Pender, one ofhis old-time cronies. "I'll bet it won't go up."
Little Andy Rush heard what the bully said.
"You wait and see," he said. "It'll beat your tin fly all to pieces."
"You mind your business," retorted Noddy, but he could not conceal hisenvy at the fine motor ship which the boys possessed. He disliked themmore than ever.
"You wait here," Andy heard Noddy say in a low voice to Jack. "If thatthing gets up in the air, maybe I can make it come down again. Wait forme."
"What are you going to do?" asked Jack in a whisper.
"You wait," was all Noddy replied. "I'll get even with 'em."
"I guess I'll keep my eye on you, Noddy Nixon," said Andy to himself."You'll bear watching."
By this time the airship had been taken to a place whence it wasdecided to make the ascent. The crowd was finally induced to stand farenough back so that the men could get it in position. Mr. Glassfordwent all around it, looking for possible flaws. He seemed to find none.
"Get in, boys," he said in a low voice.
Jerry, Ned and Bob, with rather queer feelings, entered the car hangingfrom the _Comet_. The car was just off the ground, but by the way thebig gas bag was tugging it would evidently shoot skyward as soon as thescore of men holding it released their grip and some of the ballast wascast off.
"Now you, professor," called the inventor, and Uriah Snodgrass took hisplace in the main cabin.
Mr. Glassford climbed into the operating tower. He tested variouswheels and levers. Then he gave a glance over the whole ship. There wasa moment's silence, while those in the crowd looked anxiously on. Werethey to see success or failure?
"Let go!" cried Mr. Glassford suddenly.
The men released their holds and leaped back. An assistant pulled on acord which released the necessary number of ballast bags.
Up into the air, like a frightened bird, shot the _Comet_. Up and upshe went, while to the boys and the professor it seemed as if theearth, the crowd and all below them, suddenly dropped away. To them itwas as if they were standing still and the earth was receding.
"There she goes!" cried the crowd, as if there was any doubt of it.
Up and up went the _Comet_, until it was five hundred feet above theground. Then it seemed to come to a stop, for Mr. Glassford had soregulated the supply of gas and the weight that no great height wouldbe attained.
Suddenly the stillness all about the ship was broken by the rattlingexhaust as the motor started. The big propellers began to revolve,whirling around like streaks of light. Faster and faster they went.
"We're moving! We're moving!" cried Jerry, looking from a side windowin the cabin down toward the earth.
"I thought we would," replied Mr. Glassford quietly.
He began to steer the ship. There was scarcely any wind, and the_Comet_ moved from right to left at will. The inventor went around ina circle, and cut a figure eight above the heads of the crowd. Then hedescended a little by tilting the elevation rudder, and when some criedout in fear that he was dropping upon their heads, he shifted a lever,and the balloon aeroplane shot upward again. It seemed to be underperfect control.
All at once, above the rattle of the motor was heard another sound. Thecabin windows were open, and Jerry heard something whizz past his earwith a curious, singing tone.
"What's that?" cried Professor Snodgrass, who had not said a word sincethey started, seeming to take it all as a matter of course. "Is that anew kind of mosquito? I must catch it. Where is my net?"
"It sounded more like a bullet," said Ned.
"That's what it was," declared Jerry. "A bullet or a shot. Some one isfiring at us!"
He looked down. There seemed to be some commotion in the crowd. Theycould hear shouting.
Then came another of those curious, whining, whizzing sounds. Jerryleaped to his feet.
"They're shooting at us, Mr. Glassford!" he cried.
At that moment the motor stopped, and the airship began to descendrapidly.
The Motor Boys in the Clouds; or, A Trip for Fame and Fortune Page 16