By this time the airship had been taken to a place whence it was decided to make the ascent. The crowd was finally induced to stand far enough back so that the men could get it in position. Mr. Glassford went all around it, looking for possible flaws. He seemed to find none.
“Get in, boys,” he said in a low voice.
Jerry, Ned and Bob, with rather queer feelings, entered the car hanging from the Comet. The car was just off the ground, but by the way the big gas bag was tugging it would evidently shoot skyward as soon as the score of men holding it released their grip and some of the ballast was cast off.
“Now you, professor,” called the inventor, and Uriah Snodgrass took his place in the main cabin.
Mr. Glassford climbed into the operating tower. He tested various wheels and levers. Then he gave a glance over the whole ship. There was a moment’s silence, while those in the crowd looked anxiously on. Were they to see success or failure?
“Let go!” cried Mr. Glassford suddenly.
The men released their holds and leaped back. An assistant pulled on a cord which released the necessary number of ballast bags.
Up into the air, like a frightened bird, shot the Comet. Up and up she went, while to the boys and the professor it seemed as if the earth, the crowd and all below them, suddenly dropped away. To them it was as if they were standing still and the earth was receding.
“There she goes!” cried the crowd, as if there was any doubt of it.
Up and up went the Comet, until it was five hundred feet above the ground. Then it seemed to come to a stop, for Mr. Glassford had so regulated the supply of gas and the weight that no great height would be attained.