“The professor got his net in the way of the flying blades,” explained Mr. Glassford as he quickly shut off the motor to see what damage had been done.
“There goes the bug,” said the scientist sorrowfully, as if that was all that mattered.
“Yes, and there goes your net,” added Ned. “I hope it doesn’t hit any one down on the earth. That’s one disadvantage of living down there,” he went on. “You’re liable to be struck with things falling from airships.”
“I—I hope I haven’t damaged the craft,” spoke the professor contritely when he realized what had happened.
“Nothing but what can easily be repaired,” said Mr. Glassford. “The net handle must have broken, and a piece of it has become wedged in the sprocket chain that operates the propeller. I will ungear that one, and we’ll see what we can do by simply using the other. It will be a good test.”
The inventor seemed to take advantage of every accident, the boys thought. He started the motor again, and though the ship did not make as much speed as before, it sailed along fairly well. The slight tendency to go around in a circle, caused by using only one propeller, was counterbalanced by changing some of the planes, and they made a flight of a mile or more, sailing in various directions.
“Now I want you boys to get acquainted with the mechanism,” said Mr. Glassford. “You must take turns steering and managing the ship. Jerry, suppose you begin. Come up here in the pilot house and I’ll initiate you.”
Jerry’s knowledge of an automobile stood him in good stead, though he found that the Comet answered her rudders much more readily and quickly than did the auto or a motor boat. When Jerry had been taught the use of all the wheels, levers and appliances, it was the turn of Ned and then of Bob.
While his chums were learning how to steer Jerry took a walk all around the craft. Then he peered over the side, thinking he saw something dangling underneath.
It was a rope, with a stake attached, and he bent over to haul it in. He had just accomplished this when he uttered a cry of dismay: