The adventurers were in the forward part of the ship, and Tom had taken his place at the wheels and levers in the pilot house. As he was about to start the motor he looked toward the road, and saw a horse and carriage. In the vehicle was a girlish figure, at the sight of which Tom blushed and smiled. He waved his hand.
“I came to wish you good luck!” cried Mary Nestor, for it was she in the carriage.
“Thanks!” cried Tom, leaning from the window of the pilot house. “It was good of you to get up so early.”
“Oh. I'm always up early,” she informed him.
“Look out that the motor doesn't scare your horse,” Tom warned her.
“Old Dobbin doesn't mind anything,” was her answer. “I'll see that he doesn't run away with me, as long as you're not on earth to rescue me. Good-by, Tom!”
“Good-by!” he called, and then he pulled the lever that set in motion the motor, and whirled the great propellers about. They whizzed around with a roar, and the Red Cloud, shivering and trembling with the vibration, rose in the air like some great bird.
“We're off for the West and Phantom Mountain!” called Tom to his companions.
As the airship soared upward, Eradicate Sampson ran forward from where he had been standing near his mule Boomerang. He waved his hands, and shouted something.
“Bless my hatband! What does he want?” asked Mr. Damon, watching him curiously.