They had been making good progress and it had been some time since they had eaten, for the alarming message about the unmanageable dirigible balloon, and the excitement that followed, had driven all thoughts of meals from their minds. Now, however, in spite of Ned’s joking, everyone was glad Bob had mentioned eating.
The Comet was sailing along over the ocean, not making any great speed, for Jerry and his chums had not yet decided what course to follow. It was rather like searching in the dark, for they did not know in which direction to look for the Manhattan. They could only cruise about, trusting to chance to put them on the right path.
Jerry and Ned found that the machinery was working well, and the tall lad, on his return to the pilot house, ventured to speed up the motor slightly. Meanwhile Bob was busy with the meal, which would be a cross between a late dinner and an early supper.
Professor Snodgrass had laid aside his note-books, and had put away his specimen boxes. Now, with a small but powerful telescope he was seated on the forward deck of the motor-ship, eagerly scanning the ocean below him for a sight of the flying singing fish.
“Do you expect to find it so near land, Professor?” asked Ned.
“No, hardly, yet I must not let a chance escape me. Even if I don’t get the fish I want right away, I may see some other specimen I need. You can descend whenever you want to, can’t you?”
“I suppose so, but you’d better talk to Jerry about that part of it.”
The professor lost no time in interviewing the tall lad, for he wanted to be ready to have the Comet drop to the surface of the ocean at a moment’s notice, in case he saw a specimen he desired to catch.
“Yes, we can go down almost any time except when it’s too rough,” said Jerry. “In fact, I was thinking of going down shortly to see how the hydroplanes worked on salt water. They ought to do better than in fresh, as salt water is more buoyant. We’ll go down as soon as we have something to eat.”