For a few moments after this unexpected announcement neither of the motor boys knew what to say. Nor did Professor Snodgrass seem able to utter anything in keeping with the seriousness of the occasion. As for Mr. Durkin, and the officers of the meet, who were anxious for our heroes to start on the rescue expedition, they gazed blankly at the sheriff’s officer, whom they correctly guessed the man to be.
“Do you mean that we can’t leave in our own motor-ship?” demanded Jerry, stepping out on deck.
“That’s exactly what I mean,” was the reply. “I’m Deputy Sheriff Morton, and I’ve got an attachment on this airship, or whatever you call it. I’m in possession now, and I forbid you to leave this place with the ship,” saying which Mr. Morton jumped aboard.
“I guess you fellers will sing a different tune now!” exclaimed another voice, and pushing through the crowd came Mr. Muggins himself, a grim smile on his wrinkled features. “You thought you’d git ahead of me, sneakin’ off in th’ night, but I allowed as how you’d point fer this balloon fair. So I jest hitched up, went t’ th’ sheriff an’ swore out an attachment ag’in ye, an’ here I be. Ye don’t stir till ye pay my thousand dollars.”
“But we don’t owe you a thousand dollars!” exclaimed Ned, to whom every moment of delay seemed an hour, so anxious was he to do something to save his father’s business.
“Ye damaged my barn that amount, an’ ye’ve got t’ pay it; ain’t they, Mr. Morton?”
“That’s what th’ law says. I’m in possession,” and the sheriff’s deputy coolly took a seat in the cabin of the motor-ship, and looked through the opened windows at the crowd. There had been murmurs of indignation when Mr. Morton prevented the ship from leaving, but at this explanation several inquiries were made as to how the affair had originated.
Jerry briefly explained the accident, stating that the barn was only slightly damaged, and he told of the shabby treatment accorded him and his chums by Mr. Muggins.
“But you don’t seem to understand the seriousness of this, my dear man,” said Mr. Durkin to the farmer. “Are you aware that you may be the cause of a number of persons losing their lives in the balloon Manhattan, unless these lads are allowed to go to the rescue? Do you realize that?”
“I don’t realize nothin’, but that I want a thousand dollars,” asserted Mr. Muggins.
“No, I guess money is all you ever do realize,” murmured Bob.
“I appeal to you,” pleaded Mr. Durkin, to the sheriff’s deputy. “Can’t you let this airship go? You will be responsible for the deaths of several people if you prevent the rescue.”
“No use appealing to me,” declared Mr. Morton. “I ain’t responsible for anything but my duty. I have to do as the law says, and as I’ve sworn to do. Pay the thousand dollars, and I’ll take off the legal attachment, and the craft can go. But I ain’t allowed to do otherwise.”
Clearly he was within his rights.
“If Mr. Muggins will release his claim temporarily, I won’t say a word,” went on Mr. Morton. “It’s up to him. I can vacate the attachment if he says so.”
“Well, I don’t say so!” cried the disagreeable man. “I know my rights an’ I’m goin’ t’ have ’em! I want a thousand dollars fer damages t’ my barn!”
There seemed to be no way of getting around it, and it looked as if the Comet would have to stay there, for the boys did not have a thousand dollars, and it would take some time to procure it from home, even if they were disposed to allow themselves to be swindled in that fashion.
“Can’t we make a sudden dash, and get away?” whispered Ned to Jerry. “We could take the sheriff’s man with us if we had to.”
Jerry shook his head.
“It would be too risky,” the tall lad decided. “He might draw a gun, and fire at the gas bag, or something. Besides it would mean an extra person on board, and if we rescue Mr. Jackson and his friend and crew, we’re going to be pretty well crowded as it is. I dare not chance it.”
Gloom settled on Ned’s face. Bob did not know what to do. Jerry was at a loss. Professor Snodgrass seemingly had put all thoughts of trouble out of his mind, and was poring over his note-books. Suddenly, however, the little scientist looked up, and, addressing Mr. Morton, asked:
“Couldn’t we give a bond of indemnity for double the amount of the damages—say for two thousand dollars? If we did that, guaranteeing the payment to Mr. Muggins of his claim when it was properly proved, couldn’t we be allowed to go?”
“Yes, that might be done,” admitted the deputy. “I am authorized to accept a good bond. But who would give it?”
“I would,” said Mr. Snodgrass eagerly. Hope showed on the faces of the motor boys. But the sheriff’s man shook his head.
“I don’t know you. You’re a stranger to me,” he declared. “I don’t know whether you’re good for the bond or not.”
“But I tell you that I am, and these boys know it,” said the scientist innocently.
“That won’t do,” declared the officer.
“How about my bond?” suddenly asked Mr. Durkin. “You know me. I’ll sign the bond for two thousand dollars so these boys can go to the rescue. Will you take it?”
“Yes, I’ll take your bond,” agreed the officer.
“Then come over to the office, and I’ll sign it!” went on Mr. Durkin eagerly. “There’s no time to lose. Get started, boys!”
The deputy came slowly down from the airship. Mr. Muggins looked puzzled and disappointed. He did not understand the matter of the bond. He wanted the cash.
“Now’s your time, Jerry!” exclaimed Ned suddenly, as he saw the officer alight on the ground. “Start her up!”
“Sure! Everything is clear!” added Bob eagerly.
Jerry nodded comprehendingly. With a last look to see that everything was in order he yanked the starting lever toward him. The Comet shot forward across the smooth ground on her bicycle wheels, for the boys were going to send her aloft as an aeroplane, saving their lifting gas for emergencies. Faster and faster the craft moved, the crowd parting to make way for her. Mr. Muggins saw his prize getting away from him.
“Here!” he cried. “Here! Come back! I want my thousand dollars!”
After the Comet he ran, his coat tails flying in the wind, while, over and over again, he cried:
“Come back! Come back! I want my money! The money for my barn. Hi! Mr. Sheriff, them fellers is escapin’!”
“Faster Jerry!” cried Ned. “He may catch us, and hang on!”
“Not much!” remarked the tall lad grimly. He put on more speed. Then, seeing that they were going fast enough to rise in the air, he pulled the elevating rudder lever.
Up shot the Comet, while the crowd cheered. Up and up she went, leaving a much chagrined farmer running breathlessly and uselessly after it, meanwhile shaking his fists at our heroes in the air.
“Off at last!” murmured Ned with a sigh of relief. “Off to the rescue!”
“Yes, and I hope we’ll be in time to save them,” added Jerry somewhat solemnly.
“I hope we get the singing fish,” spoke the professor. “That is,” he went on quickly, “after we save those poor people in the balloon!”
Higher and higher into the air went the Comet. The tents and buildings in the aviation park looked like tiny structures now. Soon the grounds had disappeared from sight. The great city of New York and her surrounding boroughs loomed up in the distance.
In a little while they were over the great city, but so high up that the boys could not see the wondering crowds which they knew must be watching their progress.
“Over the Hudson,” remarked Bob, as they flew high above that historic river. Then they proceeded down toward the Battery, out over the Narrows, faster and ever faster, past the forts at the entrance to the harbor, out beyond Coney Island, leaving Atlantic Highlands on their right, out past Sandy Hook, on and on, the water widening more and more until finally Jerry announced.
“Over the ocean at last! Now, fellows, we’ve got to keep up our spunk and courage, and depend on ourselves. This is the riskiest trip we’ve ever undertaken. All hands keep a sharp watch out for the runaway balloon!”
Onward they sped, and they little knew what was before them.