“What’s the matter?” asked Ned.
“We’ve been hit! One of the hydroplanes is smashed and a bicycle wheel crushed! We’ve got to go up right away! Start the gas machine, Ned. Bob, you come in the pilot house with me, and help. Professor, you see that the motors get plenty of oil; will you? We’ll need all the power we’ve got.”
Instantly the interior of the Comet was a scene of activity. The effect of the damage was at once apparent, for the craft had settled on one side. But as soon as the gas began flowing into the bag she began to lift, until she was once more on a level keel.
“All ready now?” called Jerry to Ned, in the motor room.
“All ready—let her go! But what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to land on the high ground near the tower of sandstone. I can see a good level place there, and the water can never get as high as that. Besides, I want to make some repairs before we try to make the mainland, and we can make ’em there. We’ll stay on top of the hill until the flood goes down. Give me full speed, Ned. Tell the Professor to use lots of oil.”
As Ned turned to convey the request to the scientist, Uriah Snodgrass, who had been looking from a side window out on the flood, uttered a cry of delight. The next instant he caught up a small fish net, attached to a long handle, and thrust it out of the window, into the swirling water. Then he cried:
“I’ve got it! I’ve got it! Oh, you little beauty! I’ve got you almost at the last minute, when I least expected you. Oh, what a rare find!”
“What is it?” cried Ned.
“The two-tailed toad! I saw it floating down on a log, and I made a grab for it. I have it!” and holding out the net he displayed a queer-looking object—a hideous toad, covered with “warts,” but having two unmistakable tails.