"That air ship, Matt!" cried Harris, "we want to use her in a hurry."
"Eferyt'ing goes mit a rush, seems like," said Carl curiously. "Vat's oop, now, Harris?"
"Pete and Whipple have got away in the automobile, and we must follow them."
"The Hawk is fast for an air ship," said Matt, "but she's not fast enough to catch an automobile."
"She's the only thing we have to give chase with," spoke up Burton, "and we've got to do our best with her, or let Whipple and Pete get away."
"And we've got to get the automobile back," stormed Harris. "Hustle up, Matt! The automobile may break down, or something else may happen to give us a chance to overhaul her. We'll try, anyway. Miss Brady had better stay here—one of the boys can remain to look after her."
"That's your job, Dick," said Matt, busily unmooring. "We'll come back here for you after we see how the chase comes out."
"Hoop-a-la!" tuned up Carl, fluttering around the car. "Here's ver I ged a shance ad some oxcidement."
Helen got out of the car as soon as the ropes were cast off, and Matt, Carl, Harris, and Burton jumped in.