“Indeed I have, and it is better than ever. I did not fly very far in it before, as one of the wings broke, but I have improved it, and I expect to win a prize. Excuse me now, I must go and see about it,” and the little man hurried off.
“Every one who builds an airship seems to feel sure it will work, and that he will win a prize,” remarked Ned. “I wonder if we are too confident?”
“Well, we know ours will fly,” said Jerry. “Whether it will win a prize is another matter. I wish it would come. It’s time it arrived.”
“Let’s go and make some more inquiries,” suggested Bob.
“I don’t like to bother that agent,” said Ned. “He has so much to do that he’s as cross as one bear and another one.”
“Well, we’ve got to find out,” announced Jerry. “Come on.”
They found the agent seated at a desk, which was so thickly covered with papers that nothing could be seen of the desk itself.
“No, I don’t know anything about your airship Comet,” fairly snapped the agent. “There’s no use asking me. All the express and fast freight stuff is delayed. There’s a Meteor missing, and a Dog Star, a Cyclone, a North Wind and a Hurricane. All of ’em airships—or what passes for ’em. I’ll send out a tracer for yours. Come in the morning. Don’t worry. You’ll get it all right.”
“Yes, but we want to have some practice before the race,” said Jerry. “Well, do the best you can for us.”