“Do you think it will do?” asked Mr. Montrose, full of interest in the project of the motor boys.
“Do? It’s just fine!” cried Ned. “We can’t thank you enough.”
“It is I who am in your debt,” spoke the banker. “You are welcome to the machine. I don’t know anything about them, and you may be taking a big risk to run it, but I hope not.”
“Oh, she’ll run all right,” answered Jerry, looking over the craft with a critical eye. “We’ll give it a try-out now.”
The professor being engaged in capturing specimens, the boys had the test to themselves. They wheeled the aeroplane out in a big field, and, after trying the engine, and finding that it worked almost to perfection, got ready for a flight. Mr. Montrose and his wife, who could sit up in an easy chair, and Gladys, with her wounded doll, watched the lads from a safe distance.
“Of course this isn’t like our Comet,” said Jerry to his chums. “It’s just a straight aeroplane, and if the engine stops we’ve got to volplane down. But I think she’ll enable us to get on Noddy’s trail. We’ll go up for a short flight, and then if she’s all right, we’ll start out, and go as far as we can before dark.”
“Which way?” asked Bob.
“Toward the Grand Canyon,” answered Jerry. “That’s where Noddy and his crew will head for.”
“Get busy then!” cried Ned. “We’re on Noddy’s trail once more!”
Our motor boys were too experienced hands with all forms of airships to have much trouble with the fine one the unfortunate young man had perfected. It worked perfectly, and carried the three with ease. Of course it was nothing like the Comet, and could remain aloft but a comparatively short time. But it was a great help in an emergency.