Ned hauled up the bicycle wheels, which were on jointed arms. Bob threw the gears of the water propeller into mesh, while Jerry lowered the toggle-jointed arms to which were attached the hydroplanes.
Down upon the surface of the ocean settled the Comet, and then, as Jerry started the motor which revolved the water propeller, the craft darted forward with an easy motion like some graceful yacht.
“How about it?” asked Bob eagerly.
“Couldn’t be better,” declared Jerry. “The hydroplanes work as well on the ocean as they did on the lake. Boys, it’s a great success. Now if we find Mr. Jackson and his friends we can rescue them in the air or on the water!”
They moved along for a mile or more upon the surface of the sea. Of course their progress was not as smooth as in the air, for there was a rolling, heaving motion to the ocean waves. But as our heroes were used to travel in a big motor-boat, they did not mind the swell.
Professor Snodgrass did not see his singing fish, nor did he have great hopes that he would. He used a small net which was sunk to some little depth by means of weights, but he did not get any valuable specimens. Only one small fish rewarded his efforts.
“I don’t care for it myself,” he said, “but I have a friend who will like it for his collection,” and he put it into a jar of water to save it.
As the afternoon was waning Jerry decided to ascend into the air again, and so, starting the larger propellers, in order to get more speed, they mounted upward, and once more were on their way, searching for the disabled balloon.
But the welcome sight of the Manhattan did not greet them, and darkness was fast coming on. The great searchlight was kindled and with the glowing beam shooting ahead of them they continued on through space.
All night they travelled, one or the other of the boys being on the watch all the while, searching the heavens for a glimpse of a moving light that would indicate the presence of the craft they sought. But morning came with no success.