CHAPTER X
REBUILDING THE COMET
“Where’s that monkey wrench?”
“Say, has anybody seen my ruler?”
“Hand over that hammer, will you, Bob?”
“Look out there, Jerry, or that piece of scantling will be down on your head!”
“Give me a hand here, somebody, I can’t shift this exhaust pipe all alone.”
“Hey! Don’t put your foot through those hydroplanes, Ned. Do you want to break ’em?”
These were only a few of the expressions, commands, entreaties and warnings that could be heard coming from the big barn, back of the home of Jerry Hopkins, where, a few days after the arrival of our heroes from their trip to Durham, they began work at rebuilding the Comet. They had decided on making several minor changes to their motor-ship, in addition to equipping it for work on the water, and they found the task a little harder than anticipated.
But they succeeded in getting the help of Mr. Glassford, who had originally planned the Comet, and such assistance did he give, together with that of some trained mechanics whom he hired, that it seemed possible to make at least a trial trip in about another week.
“And then we’ll sail for the balloon and aeroplane meet at Danforth,” remarked Jerry, pausing in the work of building the hydroplanes, for that was his special feature, and he wanted to have them just right.
“I only hope Mr. Jackson stays there until we arrive,” spoke Ned. “He’s so queer that he may leave at any time, and then we’ll have another chase after him.”
“Oh, he’ll stay until the races start at least, I think, fellows,” said Bob. “You know the secretary of the meet wrote us that Mr. Jackson was going to try for a prize in his new dirigible balloon, and he won’t go away without making a flight. The meet is delayed in opening, you know, and I think we have plenty of time.”
“If we hadn’t, I wouldn’t have proposed going this way,” came from Jerry. “We could go out in a train or by auto, and get to him more quickly than by delaying to rebuild our airship. But I thought, as long as we did have the time we might just as well make an air trip.”
“Sure,” agreed Ned. “Besides I think if we arrive at the meet in the Comet it will create something of a sensation, and if Mr. Jackson is there he’ll be more apt to think we are ‘some pumpkins’ than if we arrived by train or auto.”
“Was your father much disappointed that we didn’t land him in Durham, and get him to sign the papers?” asked Bob.
“He sure was, Chunky,” replied the merchant’s son. “But he knew it wasn’t our fault. He has great hopes from our trip to Danforth, however.”
“Any let-up in his business troubles?” inquired Jerry.
“No, they’re worse, if anything. Dad’s enemies are pressing him hard, but he thinks he can stand them off until we get to Mr. Jackson, and enlist his aid. It’s going to be quite a task, though. Poor dad! I wish I could help him!”
“You are helping him!” insisted the fat youth, as he stopped to rest after carrying a brace across the barn to where it was to be fitted into the airship. “You are doing all you can, and we’re helping you.”
“I realize that, and I can’t thank you fellows enough,” spoke Ned feelingly, for his father’s troubles had made quite an impression on the lad, as, indeed, they also had on his chums, and they were all anxious to see them over. In fact, if they were not speedily remedied it meant the loss of Mr. Slade’s fortune, which he had made by a lifetime of hard work.
So they were anxious to have the Comet refitted, and start off on their trip to a point near New York in order to meet Mr. Jackson. They had learned by telegraph that the eccentric promoter and millionaire was expected to arrive any day, and would take part in the meet. Efforts to intercept him en route, and get in communication with him, had been futile, and they were forced to wait. Mr. Slade grew more and more anxious as the days passed, but he could only fight off his business and financial enemies as best he might.
They were busy days for the motor boys. Early and late they worked on the Comet. The main cabin was enlarged and improved. The engine and machinery was overhauled, and made more powerful. The gas-generating machine, which supplied the lifting vapor, that was used when it was not desired to operate the Comet as an aeroplane, was changed to allow a more powerful gas to be used.
Additional room for carrying provisions and stores was provided, and a number of comforts were added to the motor-ship’s equipment.
But the hydroplane attachments were the most radical. As has been explained they enabled the airship to alight on water and float there, and Jerry even added an auxiliary propeller so that the motor-ship could travel in the water for a short distance.
So that, in reality, the Comet would soon be a craft that could roll along the ground, on the bicycle or starting wheels; it could sail through the air, or skim on the surface of the water.
“Well, fellows,” remarked Jerry one afternoon, when all, including Mr. Glassford and his helpers, had put in a hard day’s work on the craft, “I think we’ll have her in shape in another day. Then we can give her a try-out.”
“Where?” asked Mr. Glassford. “You ought to test her on some water, for you are sure enough that the air features are all right. It’s the hydroplanes that need testing.”
“That’s true,” admitted Jerry, “and I thought of making a trip through the air to Lake Hammond, and dropping down on the surface there.”
“Good idea,” agreed Ned.
They were about to stop, assuring themselves by an inspection of the craft that at least one day more would put her in shape for a trial in the air and on water, when into the barn, that was used as a work-shop, there burst a small chap, with every appearance of great excitement oozing out from almost every pore in his body.
“Jerry! Ned! Bob!” he gasped. “Come quick—he’s out there—stuck fast—can’t get loose—squirming around—down in a hole—sea-serpent I guess—almost dead—Oh, it’s awful—poor man—get a doctor—send for an ambulance—have a trained nurse—come on, everybody! Don’t wait a minute! He’ll disappear under ground! Come quick! Hurry! Run! Run! Come on!”
“Well, for the love of cats, Andy Rush, what in the name of the sacred cow is the matter now?” cried Jerry, as he surveyed the excitable lad who had burst in on them.
“Come on! Come on, quick!” was all the reply Andy made and he turned and hastened from the barn, followed by Ned, Bob and the others.