“Quarter apiece!” exclaimed the practical Sud. “Can’t do it for any less. I’m fishin’ and if I stop to ferry you folks over I may miss a nice mess. Quarter apiece!”
“That’s a go!” cried Jerry, glad of the chance to get to the mainland. “We’ll leave our boat here and come for it to-morrow. I’m sorry,” he said to the two Westerners, “that we couldn’t give you a better trip.”
“Oh, that’s all right,” spoke Jim, with a broad grin.
“Wait until you get in our airship,” suggested Ned. “When we swoop above the clouds——”
“I s’pose then, when anything happens, you just rest on a cloud bank until it’s fixed,” said the miner, grimly.
“Well, we don’t fall, at any rate!” exclaimed Jerry.
Sud rowed up, and soon had them all in his boat. It was rather crowded, but he got them safely ashore, and collected his fee.
The boys lost no time seeking their homes, and Bob was in such a hurry that he left his companions far behind.
“My! he must be hungry!” laughed Ned.
The next day, in a rowboat, they went for their disabled craft. Once more Jerry and his chums tried to start it, but without success, and they had to tow it back.