“But you don’t seem to understand the seriousness of this, my dear man,” said Mr. Durkin to the farmer. “Are you aware that you may be the cause of a number of persons losing their lives in the balloon Manhattan, unless these lads are allowed to go to the rescue? Do you realize that?”
“I don’t realize nothin’, but that I want a thousand dollars,” asserted Mr. Muggins.
“No, I guess money is all you ever do realize,” murmured Bob.
“I appeal to you,” pleaded Mr. Durkin, to the sheriff’s deputy. “Can’t you let this airship go? You will be responsible for the deaths of several people if you prevent the rescue.”
“No use appealing to me,” declared Mr. Morton. “I ain’t responsible for anything but my duty. I have to do as the law says, and as I’ve sworn to do. Pay the thousand dollars, and I’ll take off the legal attachment, and the craft can go. But I ain’t allowed to do otherwise.”
Clearly he was within his rights.
“If Mr. Muggins will release his claim temporarily, I won’t say a word,” went on Mr. Morton. “It’s up to him. I can vacate the attachment if he says so.”
“Well, I don’t say so!” cried the disagreeable man. “I know my rights an’ I’m goin’ t’ have ’em! I want a thousand dollars fer damages t’ my barn!”
There seemed to be no way of getting around it, and it looked as if the Comet would have to stay there, for the boys did not have a thousand dollars, and it would take some time to procure it from home, even if they were disposed to allow themselves to be swindled in that fashion.
“Can’t we make a sudden dash, and get away?” whispered Ned to Jerry. “We could take the sheriff’s man with us if we had to.”