CHAPTER X

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.