“Now for a good hot breakfast!” exclaimed Bob, as he stretched out in his wet garments. “Then we’ll feel better.”
“The airship first!” insisted Ned, with a look at Jerry for confirmation.
“Oh, I think we can afford to change our clothes and get on some dry garments,” said the older lad. “If the ship is disabled I don’t fancy Noddy can repair it in a hurry.”
“If it’s damaged he’ll pay for it!” exploded Bob vindictively, and his chums nodded.
They went to a hotel, and arranged for a room, for they could not tell how long they would have to stay. The clerk looked a little askance at the three rain-soaked lads who entered the lobby that early morning, but when he knew that they were autoists a different expression came over his face, and his manner was more cordial.
“Which means that he’ll about double our bill,” commented Jerry, as he and his chums went to their rooms.
They made hasty toilets, and, after a quick breakfast they drove to the office of the chief of police.
“I don’t know whether it’s the machine you want or not,” remarked that official, when they told their errand, “but there’s an aeroplane down in a field about two miles outside of town. It came there yesterday afternoon, and seems to be out of kilter.”
“Did you send a man out to guard it?” asked Jerry, anxiously.
“Man to guard it? No.”