“And they’re having a celebration,” added Ned.
“And bombarding us with rockets,” came from Bob. “Look out, here comes a sheaf of them,” and, as he spoke, from somewhere down below on the earth there shot upward a fiery volcano of pyrotechnics, that seemed to be aimed directly at the motor-ship.
“They are shooting at us!” cried Jerry. “Quick! Out with the lights, or they’ll set us on fire! Douse every glim!”
He rushed for the electric switches, followed by his companions, while the Comet forged slowly ahead through the rain of fire, the sparks from the rockets shooting all about her.
[CHAPTER XVI]
AN ANGRY FARMER
With a suddenness that was almost startling the incandescent lights on the Comet went out. The airship shot forward through the darkness shrouded in gloom—no, not completely, for the great search light still glowed, and that offered a mark for the hissing rockets and aerial bombs.
“Quick! Out with the search lantern!” yelled Jerry. “You put that out, Bob, while Ned and I get to work on the engine and send the ship up. Start the gas machine, Ned!”
“Will it be safe, with all this fire around us? It might explode.”