“That’s so. We’ll have to depend on the planes to take us higher. I’ll speed up the motor!”
“But why in the world are they firing at us?” cried Ned. “Hurry, Chunky, haven’t you got that search light out yet? They can see to aim at us as long as it’s going.”
“I can’t seem to shut it off!” cried the stout youth. “The lever is jammed.”
“Give him a hand, Ned,” called the tall lad. “I can manage the motor all right.”
“Look!” suddenly cried Ned, pointing to the rear as he and his chum managed to put out the light. “There is another airship following us!”
They all glanced to where he pointed. In the darkness they could see a long, illuminated shape whizzing swiftly through the air.
“It’s some sort of an aerial craft, all right,” murmured Jerry. “I wonder if Noddy Nixon——?”
“See! They’re firing rockets at her now,” yelled Bob. “Say, the people down below must have some big objection to airships. First they fire at us, and then at the next aeroplane that comes along.”
Jerry, who had set the motor at higher speed to take them out of the zone of rockets, uttered an exclamation.