“Are you all ready?” asked Mr. Durkin.
“All ready,” replied Jerry. “Get aboard, Professor, we are going to start.”
Everything had been done that human foresight could think of to make the rescue a success. Jerry took his position in the steering tower.
Slowly he pulled the starting lever toward him. In another instant the Comet would dart forward. But, before the tall lad could pull the handle, a man pushed his way through the crowd, laid his hand on the rail of the aircraft and exclaimed:
“I forbid this balloon to leave the grounds!”
“Why?” demanded Jerry, leaning out of the window of the pilot house.
“Because I’ve got an attachment against it for a thousand dollars, and it can’t go until that amount is paid to Mr. Silas Muggins for damage you did to his barn. You and your machine are in the grip of the law!”