Professor Snodgrass was kept busy catching and classifying many insects, but, though he kept a diligent lookout, he had not yet seen any winged lizards.
“I guess we’re flying too high for them,” observed Jim Nestor, who took a curious interest in the fad of the naturalist. “When we get to that mysterious valley we may find some. I’ll help you hunt.”
“Will you, really?” asked the delighted professor, for he did not often find a kindred spirit.
They ate and slept in the airship almost with as much ease and comfort as they could have done on earth, and Tod and Nestor were soon at home above the clouds. Bob constituted himself the cook, as probably you have already guessed, and he would have served five meals a day if allowed.
“Well, we’re getting there,” announced Jerry, on the afternoon of the third day, as the airship was traveling over a wide desert valley. “We could go faster, but there’s no need. We’ll soon be in Colorado, and over that mountain range; then——”
He was interrupted by a sudden move on the part of Professor Snodgrass. The scientist, who had been seated on a bench in the main cabin of the Comet, poring over a book, jumped up, grabbed a long-handled butterfly net, and rushed aft, exclaiming:
“There! I just saw it! The flying lizard. Look out, everybody! I must have it! The first specimen I’ve ever seen!”
Through the engine room he rushed to get to the after deck of the craft. The boys saw a small insect winging its way past the airship, but whether it was a flying lizard or not was impossible to say.
“I must have it! I must have it!” cried the professor.
As he rushed through the engine room, the long handle of his net knocked from a shelf a large monkey wrench. It fell against one of the cylinders of the motor and rebounded into the large flywheel. The wheel tossed it back against the cylinder with great force. There was a sound of breaking metal, a loud explosion, and the engine suddenly stopped.