CHAPTER XX

A GAME IN THE AIR

With a pull on the lever of the ascending rudder, Jerry sent the _Chaser_ shooting upward into the air. He made the craft take a long slant, for he had seen that the _Comet_ was going up more vertically, and Jerry figured on getting under the stolen airship, and then, when once in advance, turning, and so approaching head on.

“They’re going up fast!” commented Ned, watching their own craft narrowly.

“Yes,” assented Jerry. “They’re using all the gas the generator can turn out. I only hope they don’t burst the bag, or ruin the machinery.”

“If they do, we’ll make Noddy pay for it!” cried Bob.

“That would be more bother than it would be worth,” was Jerry’s opinion. “We’ll try to get the machine away from him before he has a chance to do much damage.”

Upward the _Comet_ mounted steadily, for those on board were evidently pushing her to the utmost. On account of the limited facilities on the aeroplane, Jerry and his chums could not go up on such a sharp slant as could their enemies, but this suited our heroes just as well.

The two airships were now comparatively close together. The _Comet_ was still shooting upward, and the _Chaser_ was directly below her.

Suddenly, from the upper craft, came a cry of alarm.

“They’ve discovered us!” was Bob’s opinion.

“No, they did that some time ago,” said Jerry. “I’m afraid something has happened.”

“It does seem so,” agreed Ned. “Look at that smoke!” he yelled. “She’s on fire!”

“No, it isn’t that,” was Jerry’s retort, after a quick glance at their craft through the glasses. “They’ve been using too much lifting gas, and the generator is choked. It’s escaping through the safety valve. She won’t go any higher now, but she can still go forward. We haven’t got ’em yet.”

As if to prove his words, the _Comet_, now that she had reached the limit of her climbing powers, darted forward. But Jerry had made good use of his opportunity, and he was now ahead of the _Comet_, though still slightly below her.

“What are you going to do now?” asked Ned, as he saw his chum put his foot on a pedal that connected with the motor.

“I’m going to use the last notch of speed, and see if I can stop ’em!”

With a rush the _Chaser_ mounted upward and, a few minutes later, she was on the same level as was the _Comet_, and considerably in advance. Both craft were moving with considerable speed, but, owing to the fact that her gas bag was so choked with vapor, causing a big wind resistance, the _Comet_ must necessarily move more slowly than the _Chaser_.

“What are you going to do, Jerry?” asked Ned, as he saw his chum reach for a rudder control lever.

“Turn around, and come back at him head on,” answered the tall lad. “This is going to be a game of tag, and I’m going to make Noddy ‘it.’ To do that I’ve got to head him off. He’ll try to dodge, I expect, but I think I can nab him.”

Then began what was perhaps the most risky and sensational game of “tag” that was ever played--a game in the air, nearly a mile above the earth.

Turning quickly to the left, Jerry sent the _Chaser_ directly at the _Comet_. As he had expected, Noddy, who was managing the craft from the pilot house, tried to dodge to one side. He could go no higher because the gas retort was choked. But Jerry was ready for him, and met the shift quickly. Once more Noddy dodged, this time on the other side, but Jerry was right there.

The two craft were slowly coming nearer each other, for both had reduced their forward speed. They were like two big birds of the air, facing each other, hovering, twisting and turning, dodging this way and that, one seeking to escape, and the other endeavoring to catch her antagonist.

First on one side and then on the other, Noddy dodged, but every time Jerry was there facing him. The _Comet_ could not get past.

“He’ll have to go down soon!” cried Ned.

“That’s what I want him to do,” answered Jerry grimly. “Once they are on the ground, we can deal with ’em.”

“Where’s Bill and that fake doctor?” asked Bob.

“In the motor room, probably,” answered the steersman. “I hope they don’t do any more damage to the machinery.”

The game was nearing an end now. Noddy and his cronies were getting desperate. The bully made one last attempt to dodge past Jerry, but our hero was ever on the alert.

Head on, the two ships of the air were almost nose and nose together. Noddy could not possibly get past.

“Go down! Go down!” yelled Jerry. “Go down before I force you, and, if I do, I won’t be responsible for the consequences!”

There was no help for it. Noddy’s unpleasant face, scowling in anger, peered from the window of the pilot house. Jerry saw him pull the lever of the deflecting rudder, for the bully had sneaked around the shop of the motor boys often enough to learn the rudiments of running the _Comet_.

Down and down she went, fairly forced by the _Chaser_ above her, by the _Chaser_, that frail little craft of the air, compared to which the _Comet_ was like a battleship opposed to a torpedo destroyer. But those on the little ship knew their business, and, after all, brains and skill told.

“Can he get by?” asked Bob.

“I don’t believe so,” answered Jerry, watching every move of his rival. But Noddy had given up the fight. He was beaten at his own game.

Still downward he forced the _Comet_, while Jerry and his chums prepared to alight the moment their craft touched the earth, to drive away their enemies.

Bounding lightly, the _Comet_ landed on the ground. A moment later the aeroplane followed, and Jerry let her run along on the bicycle wheels, the propellers urging her on, until she was almost in contact with the big craft. Then the tall lad yanked on the brake lever, and the _Chaser_ came to a stop.

“Come on!” cried Jerry, leaping out of his seat. Bob and Ned followed.

Noddy Nixon lost no time in leaving the pilot house on the run, and from the motor room emerged Bill Berry and the college man. They leaped over the rail, and joined Noddy in flight.

“If we ever catch ’em!” panted fat Bob, as he ran as fast as he could. “We’ll--make--’em--pay--for--this!”