“I guess so,” agreed Jerry. A few minutes later, as everything was in readiness, the signal to start was given. The anchor ropes that had held down the Comet were cast off, and the big craft shot up into the air, dragging the rope after it. Jerry headed it straight across the river, and soon they were directly above the turbulent stream, which boiled and bubbled over the hidden rocks.
“Ned, you watch the rope being paid out,” directed Jerry. “I’ll steer, and Bob can go to the motor room.”
“What shall I do?” asked the stout youth rather dubiously, for Chunky was not very fond of machinery, and a motorcycle or an automobile was about his limit.
“You shut off power when I tell you to,” responded Jerry. “Something may happen and then we’ll want to stop suddenly.”
They were not moving very swiftly for the heavy rope acted as a drag, and besides, Jerry had not turned on full power, as he wanted no accidents to occur. But they crossed the river without accident, pulling over the rope. When a landing was made on the eastern shore, scores crowded up around the craft, almost overwhelming our heroes with their thanks, and all eager to see the airship.
“Here, never mind looking at that circus machine,” called one man, good naturedly. “Let’s get busy and pull the wire rope over. I want to see the ferry running. I haven’t been home in two days, and I don’t know what my wife and children look like,” and he laughed, for the first time in many hours, he told the boys.
It was a comparatively easy matter, now that a large rope was stretched across the river, to haul over the wire cable. This was soon made fast to anchorages, and then, to guard against accidents, an additional cable was strung, for fear the first might break. A broad, flat-bottomed boat was in readiness, and it was so arranged that it could be pulled along by means of the cable and a windlass, worked by two men, the craft being prevented from going down stream by the heavy cable.
The ferry was soon in operation, and the boys watched the first boat load of people being transferred. It worked well, and the lads were overwhelmed with thanks. Some persons even offered them money, but of course our friends would not take it.
“Well, we might as well be on our way again, I suppose,” remarked Jerry, after they had watched the boat go back and forth several times.
“We might send telegrams home before we leave,” went on Bob, “and let the folks know we have gotten this far in safety. There must be a telegraph office around here.”