Everyone in the crowd seemed to be holding his breath.
“Cast off!” cried Jerry, and his chums released the holding ropes. Up shot the big airship, like a bird released from captivity. The crowd yelled and cheered. Up and up went the Comet. Then Jerry started the two big propellers, and the craft darted forward. Sending it up about a thousand feet, Jerry guided the ship about in a series of evolutions, designed to test the various planes and rudders. To his delight, it answered the helm perfectly. Noddy’s possession of the ship had, seemingly, not permanently harmed it any. Back and forth, around in circles and through figure eights, went the Comet, while the crowd below looked up in wonder.
“I guess it’s all right,” announced Jerry, after about an hour’s test. “We’ll go down, now.”
“Down she goes!” cried Bob.
So perfectly was the airship under control that Jerry landed it in almost exactly the same spot from where he had arisen. There was applause from the crowd at this feat of steersmanship.
There were only a few more adjustments to make before the Comet would be ready for the long trip to Cresville, and from there she would be sent over the Rocky Mountains.
The crowd lingered until dark, and then dispersed. Jerry went into town, and arranged to have the auto shipped home, and also paid a visit to the chief of police, thanking him for the services of himself and his men. Then Jerry went back to where his chums were on the airship.
In the morning, before a curious crowd had time to assemble, the motor boys had started the engines of the Comet, and were soon up amid the clouds, heading straight for Cresville.
“And the biggest part of our journey is still to come,” observed Ned, gazing down toward the earth.