“Does that mean we’ll have to vacate the tent where the airship is?” asked Bob.
“No; it means that the order Hoswell got, forbidding us to touch our own motor ship, is null, void and of no effect or virtue,” replied Jerry in a whisper. “Come on now, I want to see how the Comet looks.”
“Well, you’ll soon have that pleasure,” said the lawyer. “You can go and take charge now. I will accompany you and serve this court order on the deputy sheriff. He will then leave you in possession. We may find Hoswell there. In case we shall, do you want to make any charge against him, Mr. Glassford?”
“I think not. Let him go. I want to give my whole attention to the coming race. I can’t be bothered by that scoundrel.”
But when they reached the tent they did not find the conspirator there. The deputy sheriff was asleep in the cabin of the Comet, where he had taken his position, very likely, to prevent the ship being removed without disturbing him.
The court order was shown him, and the deputy at once announced that his duties were at an end.
“I’ve kept your ship safe for you,” he said. “It wasn’t my fault that I had to take charge of it. Just look it over. There’s not a thing happened to it.”
“Where is Hoswell?” asked Mr. Glassford. “Has he been here lately?”
“He was here early this morning, but he left in a hurry after that fellow—what’s his name?—Hixon or Dixon——”
“Nixon,” supplied Ned.