“Would anybody else like to try?” asked Ned.
“Not on your life!” cried Gimp, as Bob stepped forward, and the cowboy backed away.
“Look here! look here!” and the foreman seemed laboring under the stress of great excitement. “Do you—you gentlemen mean to say you really have been up in that thing? It isn’t one of these—er—slight-of-hand tricks, is it?”
“Hardly,” laughed Jerry, and he noted the difference in the tone of the foreman. “Here, we’ll show you how it’s done.”
In another minute the boys were back in their seats, and the airship, headed down a long, level stretch, was under way once more, the propellers flashing in the sun and the engine spitting fire.
Once more it arose in the air, like a great bird, and then, flying at a low elevation, so the cowboys could better observe them, Ned, Bob and Jerry circled about in the air over their heads. They did figure 8s, they looped the loop, going higher for this, of course, and then, shutting off the engine, they volplaned down, coming to rest in almost the same spot where they had first landed.
“Now do you believe?” asked Jerry as he and his chums advanced toward the marveling throng.
“By stirrups! We just can’t help it—that’s great!” cried the foreman, and the others murmured their assents.
“What do you think of ’em now?” asked Gimp of Hinkee Dee, as they went with the others to get a closer view of the airship.