“It’s out of the question for us,” responded Mr. Glassford. “But I have no fear of what the Comet will do. She has proved herself able to do wonders in the air, and though we may not win the race, we will make a good attempt. Now, boys, get busy.”
It was late that afternoon when the inventor pronounced everything in good shape, save the generating of the gas, and this was proceeding as rapidly as possible.
“I think we can take a little rest now,” said Mr. Glassford. “By the way, where is the professor? He is going along to-morrow, is he not?”
“I don’t believe he’d miss it for anything,” declared Jerry. “He said he was going, when I saw him early this morning.”
“And where was that?”
“He was starting for a pond he had heard of, where he said he intended to catch a new species of pollywog—a kind with little horns on its head. But that was before we had located the lever. I don’t know whether he is aware that we will start in the race as soon as possible to-morrow morning.”
“We must tell him to-night, then. If you boys like you may go back to the hotel. Everything has been done here that can be done, and I will watch the gas machine. You might look up the professor.”
As the boys were going toward their hotel, Ned, who was a little in advance, uttered an exclamation as he turned a corner.
“What’s the matter?” asked Jerry. “Slip on a banana peel?”
“No, but I’m almost sure I saw Noddy Nixon dodge into that fruit store over there. It looked just like him.”