The boys clambered over the sides of the airship. Washington followed their example. The anchor ropes were cut.
"Hi, there! Stop!" cried a voice from outside. "Don't you dare start that ship!"
"Here we go!" shouted Professor Henderson in a joyful tone. "Now to see if the Monarch fulfills her promise!"
He hurried into the engine room. The noise of the gas generating machine increased. The gasolene engine went faster, and the motors and dynamos added to the noise. There was a loud hissing sound. The professor had opened a valve admitting the full force of gas into the oiled silk bag. Then came a snapping sound as several anchoring ropes that had not been cut, broke.
Up rose the Monarch like some immense bird, through the opened shed roof. Out into the air went the big yellow bag. And then a strange thing happened.
Andy Sudds, the hunter, and Bill Jones and Tom Smith, the two farm hands, who had been peering over the edge of the shed down at the airship, leaned over too far in their anxiety to observe everything. As the gas bag brushed past them they were startled. They lost their balances and the next instant all three toppled right into the bow of the Monarch as she arose, and were lifted up into the air with her.
"Hold on, there! Stop!" cried Taggert, who by this time had come close to the shed.
"It's too late!" shouted back the professor, poking his head from a window in the engine room.
"Hey, there! You're carrying me off in your ship!" yelled Andy Sudds as he scrambled to his feet after his tumble into the bow of the Monarch.
"And me!" ejaculated Bill Jones.