CHAPTER XIV

PROFESSOR SNODGRASS ON HAND

The trick with the dummy and the box-kite proved very effective, as far as Sid Joffy was concerned. The boys heard later that he arrived in town all out of breath, and much frightened.

He told a queer tale of a flaming figure hovering over his cabin, and wanted some of the town police to go back to his hut and exorcise the spirit. But no one paid any attention to Joffy, as he was known as a worthless character. He was so frightened that he would not go back home, but remained in the village all night, sleeping under the hotel shed. Nor did he ever again approach the tent where the airship was being constructed.

As for Noddy, inquiries showed that he had left town for a few days, giving out that he had gone to visit relatives in the country. They did not realize how bitter the bully felt toward them, nor what he hoped to do in the future to injure them.

“I guess he caught on to the fact that we were at the bottom of the affair,” suggested Jerry. “Very likely he knew he’d be laughed at for running from a dummy figure, and so he sneaked away. Well, I’m not sorry. We’ll soon want to try the _Comet_, and if he was around he might make trouble for us.”

“That’s so,” agreed Ned.

“When do you think we’ll be in shape for a trial flight, Jerry?” asked Bob.

“I don’t know for sure. In a few days, I expect. We’ll ask Mr. Glassford.”

The boys were discussing the happenings of the previous night as they walked toward the big tent. They found the inventor busily engaged, having arrived before them. They asked when he thought the machine would be completed, and received the encouraging news that a few days more would see the finishing touches put on it.

“I’m going to change the propellers somewhat,” said Mr. Glassford. “I’ve been doing some calculating, and I think with a three-bladed one, instead of two, as at present, we could make better progress. We must provide for going against as stiff a breeze as we’re likely to encounter, and that is no small item, for with the large area of the gas bag for the air currents to act upon, it will need all the power of our motor to send the ship ahead at times. There is no use disguising the fact that a motor ship is at more of a disadvantage in a wind than is any other kind of a craft. However, with the planes, I hope to overcome many difficulties that now beset machines of this kind.”

The boys soon busied themselves at their tasks on the construction of the _Comet_, for each one had certain allotted work to do, Mr. Glassford, in addition, laboring himself, overseeing what the lads did.

While they were all thus busily engaged, Jerry was aware of a dispute going on at the entrance to the tent. He heard the voice of Tom Johnson, the man hired to remain on guard, raised in protest against the approach of some one.

“I tell you that you can’t go in!” exclaimed Tom. “They don’t allow it. No one is allowed inside while they’re working.”

“I tell you I must go in. I want to see them on a very particular matter,” was the reply.

“Is it that old nuisance, Sid Joffy, coming back to bother us?” asked Mr. Glassford. “If it is we’ll have him arrested. I thought you said, Jerry, that you scared him so that he wouldn’t come around again.”

“And so I did. That isn’t Joffy’s voice. I think I know who it is. Wait a minute.”

Jerry laid aside the work he was engaged upon, and strode toward the tent flap. As he approached he heard Johnson saying:

“If you try to go in I’ll stop you.”

“Don’t you dare touch me!” was the indignant answer. “If you do--but excuse me, my dear man, just a moment now--don’t stir, that’s a good fellow. I’ll have him off you in a minute. Don’t stir, I beg of you, as you value----”

“Is it a snake?” cried the guard. “If it is take him off, quick! I’m terrible afraid of snakes!”

“No, it’s not a snake; it is a most perfect specimen of a horse-fly. I have long desired to catch one. Stand perfectly still.”

There was a little movement outside the tent. Jerry heard Johnson give a startled exclamation, and then he heard another voice triumphantly cry out:

“I have it! It is a very valuable specimen. I am a thousand times obliged to you.”

Jerry threw back the tent flap, and saw standing beside Johnson a small man, with a very large pair of spectacles on; and the little man was carefully putting into a box a big, buzzing fly. Jerry knew, almost before he had left the tent, whom he was going to see. I presume my readers have already guessed who it was, but, if not, Jerry’s excited exclamation will tell you.

“Professor Snodgrass!” he cried. “Where did you come from? I haven’t seen you since you captured the horned toad in California.”

“That’s so, Jerry. It has been quite a while. But I was just fortunate enough to capture the most perfect specimen I have ever seen of a green horse-fly.”

“I didn’t know green horses were ever bothered with flies,” remarked Jerry, a twinkle in his eyes, while he shook hands with the professor, an example which was followed by Ned and Bob, who came outside when they heard the mention of their scientific friend.

“Ah, Jerry, you will have your joke, I see. You know what I mean. But wait. There! now I have him safely put away,” and the scientist thrust into a small box the protesting insect.

“Did you get that off me?” asked Johnson.

“I did, my man. You may consider that you have been a great aid to science to-day,” added Uriah Snodgrass.

“I don’t want to be so no more,” retorted the man energetically. “If any more of the nasty flies gets on me I’ll--I’ll smash ’em--that’s what I’ll do.”

“Please don’t,” begged the professor. “They are too valuable to kill. Save them for me.”

“Were you looking for us?” asked Jerry.

“I was,” replied Professor Snodgrass. “I happened to be in this part of the country, searching for a new variety of tree-toad I have heard about, and having a few hours to spare I called at your house, Jerry. Your mother was not at home, but the girl said you and your chums were down camping in this lot. Seems to me you have chosen rather a public place to go camping. And why you have such a large tent is more than I can imagine.”

“We’re not camping, professor.”

“No? What are you doing, then?”

“We’re building an airship.”

“Building--an--airship!”

The professor’s voice indicated his astonishment.

“That’s what we are,” went on Ned. “Come on in and see it. We’ve got it almost done. We’ll have a trial flight soon.”

“An airship! Building an airship!” repeated the scientist, as if unable to believe what he had heard.

He was led inside the tent. The big proportions of the _Comet_ seemed to amaze him.

“It really is an airship,” he said, as if, up to that moment, there had been some doubt about it.

“Of course it is, and we’re going to take a long trip in it,” went on Jerry. “What do you think of the idea?”

“Excellent! Most excellent!” cried the professor enthusiastically. “I hardly knew what to think at first, but it is most excellent. That is better than the motor boat or the automobile. You will be able to go where you please now. How did you come to think of it?”

Jerry related the outcome of their visit to the Broadlands carnival, telling of how they met Mr. Glassford. The inventor was introduced to the scientist, and they seemed to be on friendly terms at once.

“A trip through the air,” mused the professor. “That is a great idea--a great idea. Most excellent. There, I have it!” he cried suddenly.

“What? Another green horse-fly?” asked Johnson, thrusting his head in through the tent flap.

“No!” exclaimed the professor. “Boys, I have an idea--an excellent idea. I will sail with you in your airship. I’ll go with you in the interest of science--science and--and bugs. I’ll write a volume on the insects of the upper air, and gather all the specimens I can for illustrations. My! but I’m glad I happened to come here to-day. I have a rare fly, and now comes the chance to do what I always wanted to--sail in the air!”

“You’re just in time, then,” said Jerry. “We are going to have a trial in about three days.”