[CHAPTER XVII]
HELD PRISONERS
“Look out or we’ll turn turtle, if we hit the barn!” yelled Bob.
“Yes, we can’t go down this way!” added Ned. “Do something!”
“All right, I’m going to start the gas machine,” said Jerry. “Keep cool now, there’s no danger. By Jinks! But we seem to be having all kinds of bad luck lately. First we kill a calf and now we rip a barn apart. Well, it can’t be helped.”
The gas bag had been partly inflated ready for a landing at the balloon grounds, so that the Comet did not come down as rapidly as would otherwise have been the case. Jerry soon started the vapor machine, forcing more of the lifting gas into the container, and this further checked the descent.
Almost as lightly as the proverbial feather, the Comet came down, resting on the ground near the barn. As soon as she settled to rest, the anchor also dropped beside her, for there being no longer any upward strain on the sharp points to force them into the wood, the weight pulled them out.
The farmer stood there defiantly, covering the boys with his gun, as they lined up on the deck of the airship, with Professor Snodgrass, his arms filled with specimen boxes, behind them, a puzzled look on his face.
“What d’ ye mean, goin’ around th’ country, rippin’ folks’ barn apart?” demanded the farmer in surly tones.