Carl helped in the landing so that Harris could give his entire attention to Whipple. All of them breathed easier when they heard a pair of handcuffs snap around Whipple's wrists.
The air ship was moored so the wind could not drive the gas bag against anything in the road, and Matt went forward to the automobile. After a few moments' examination, he turned away with a laugh.
"She's badly shaken up, isn't she?" inquired Harris anxiously.
"Doesn't seem to be, Harris," replied Matt. "She has stood the rough handling she has had remarkably well."
"I don't know much about drivin' a car," admitted Whipple, "an' ye can bet I was puttin' her through fer all she was worth. I was certain nothin' had busted, an' I couldn't understand what made her stop."
"The gasoline tank was empty," said Matt. "You can't run a motor without fuel."
"Hang it all!" snorted Whipple, "an' there was a bar'l o' the stuff right there in Caspar's garage!"
"You were in too big a hurry to get away to make any use of the gasoline supply," said Harris.
"It wasn't that. I jest didn't know enough, that's all, an' this is how I'm payin' fer my ignorance."
"We'd have captured you, anyway, Whipple," declared Harris.