“I’ll catch you fellers yet! I know where ye’re goin’ in that there balloon machine, an’ I’ll be right arter ye! Ye can’t git away from old man Muggins that way! I’ll have the sheriff on yer trail!”
“Still, we did get away,” exulted Jerry, “and I’d like to see you catch us now, Mr. Muggins!” He turned more power into the motor and the craft shot ahead faster than ever, while, back in the darkness, an exceedingly angry farmer closed his window with a bang and muttered dire threats against the lads who had gotten the better of him.
Meanwhile our heroes were scudding along through the air. They did not venture to turn on any lights for some time, fearing that perhaps the ugly farmer, with a powerful rifle might manage to aim at them, and puncture the gas bag. But it did not take long to get out of range, and then they lit up.
“I know what I’m going to do,” declared Bob, as he started for the store room.
“What’s that, Chunky?” asked Ned.
“Get something to eat! That stuff Mrs. Muggins sent us was all right, but there wasn’t enough of it. Don’t you fellows want something? How about you, Professor?”
“Oh, you’re the limit, Bob!” cried Jerry. “But I suppose there’s no stopping you. Go ahead.”
“We must be near Danforth,” remarked Ned, a little later. “We don’t want to run past it, Jerry, for we can’t see it in the dark.”
“No, and for that reason I’m going to slow down now, and remain as stationary as the wind will let us. There is no use going a long distance out of our way. I’ll fill the gas bag, and we’ll float in the air until morning.”
This was soon done, and feeling very tired from the experience they had just passed through they all went to bed, leaving the Comet floating in space, blown here and there by gentle breezes which Jerry knew would not take them far out of their course.