The boys found Professor Snodgrass, prowling about the big corridor of the hotel, with an intent look on his face.
“Are you looking for any one, professor?” asked Ned.
“I am looking for a very rare species of moth that I saw flying about here a while ago,” replied the scientist. “I had one specimen, but it was so small that it escaped through the meshes of my net. I went back to my room, made a net of a handkerchief, and now I expect to capture the moth. Only it seems to have flown away.”
“Did you get any horned pollywogs?” asked Jerry.
“Not a one. I fished around in the pond all day, but I caught a new kind of dragon fly, so I am just as well pleased.”
The professor was told to be on hand in the morning, and then, as they knew they had to be up early, the boys went to bed. Mr. Glassford came in about midnight, having left a man on guard in the airship tent.
After a hasty breakfast the little party, who soon expected to be sailing through the air, went to where the Comet was kept. They found the gas bag fully distended, and the big ship was tugging and swaying away, almost lifting the extra heavy ballast that had been attached to counterbalance the added lifting power of the gas.
“How about food?” asked Bob rather anxiously as he walked about the motor ship. “We’re likely to be in the air for some time, aren’t we?”
“If everything goes well we shall be,” replied Mr. Glassford. “But the pantry is well stocked, Bob; don’t worry.”
“I won’t, if that’s the case,” was Chunky’s answer.