“Where are you bound?”
“We don’t know. We’re looking for a disabled balloon.”
“Do you need any help?”
It was evident that Jerry’s answers were not well understood since before he could reply to the question about aid, a small boat was lowered, and came rapidly toward the Comet.
“Do you want to be taken off?” asked the mate in charge.
“No; we’re all right,” was Jerry’s reply. “We’re going on through the air soon. We just came down here to catch some fish. But have you seen anything of the balloon Manhattan, which ought to be somewhere out to sea?”
The mate had not, nor had the sailors, and it was evident that they hardly knew what to believe about the Comet. Seeing their incredulity, Jerry started the air-propellers, and, getting a flying start, mounted up into the sky, circling over and around the steamer.
There were cries of wonder at this, and a round of applause from the passengers and crew. Then the boys dropped back to the ocean again on the hydroplanes, and, in response to a request from the captain, Jerry and Bob went aboard the Cinnabar, leaving Ned and Mr. Snodgrass on the Comet.
Jerry explained to an admiring and wondering throng the object of their voyage through the air.