How the sixty nuggets were found, how the enemies were outwitted, and how Professor Snodgrass located his luminous snakes—all this you will find set down in the book.
After these adventures the boys returned home, and to while away the time they had again put in commission their motorship Comet and gone to the Boston aviation meet. They had taken some part in it, winning two prizes for all-around efficiency.
Perhaps my new readers will like a brief description of the Comet. It was a craft built for comfort, and for long trips rather than for speed, though it could skim along very fast when necessary. The motorship was, as its name indicates, a veritable ship, and the addition of hydroplanes enabled it to navigate on the water as well as in the air. Wheels could be attached, if desired, so that it could also move along on smooth ground, but this was seldom done, and no great speed was attained that way.
As I have said the Comet could be used either as a biplane, or as a dirigible balloon. There was considerable machinery aboard it—motors, dynamos, gas-producing apparatus; and on board the boys and their friends could live comfortably for many days without descending.
There was a main cabin, sleeping berths, the motor room, where most of the machinery was installed, and a pilot house that contained the guiding levers and wheels. The bottom of part of the craft contained heavy plate glass, so observations of the earth could be made through it.
And I must not forget the kitchen and dining room. These places were the especial delight of Bob Baker, for I think I have already indicated that “Chunky,” as Bob was often called, because of his short and plump conformation, was very fond of eating. His chums joked him about it, but he seldom minded that.
And it was in the Comet that our heroes now were, having decided to navigate for a while over the sea after witnessing some sensational flights at the aviation grounds outside of Boston. And it was also in the Comet that danger had now come to the boys as they sought to descend to get a nearer view of what they thought might be a great whale, but which did not act as a whale should.
“How about it, Jerry? Are we gaining any?” cried Ned, as he stood beside the gas machine, trying to hasten the filling of the lifting-bags.
“I think so,” was the answer. Jerry never took his eyes from the pressure gage that told how much gas was being forced out from the containers.
“But we’re still going down!” cried Bob, who was looking at the height-indicator. “And going down fast, too! We’re only five hundred feet up now!”