“Do you think you can get back to this same place in an auto?” Ned questioned, as they looked about for a good field in which to land.
“I think so,” was the answer. “I picked out a few prominent objects by which to plot a return course.”
This was all that could be done under the circumstances, and a few minutes later, noting a broad and level field below them, Tom began to guide the Blackbird downward.
“I hope we meet as good a chap as our farmer friend, Kimball, was,” remarked Ned, as they lightly struck the grass-covered earth and taxied across it.
“I hope so,” echoed Tom. “But we’ll buy our way if we have to. It’s important to get back as soon as we can to where those fellows are.”
This landing of the Blackbird attracted more attention than on the occasion when the travelers landed in Mr. Kimball’s field. No sooner was the machine at rest, and while Tom, Ned and Koku were alighting, than a crowd of men, women, boys and girls began to flock toward it.
“Guess they think we’re giving an exhibition,” laughed Ned.
“Shouldn’t wonder,” agreed Tom. “But the first thing we’ve got to do is to make sure our machine will be all right if we leave it here. Then we’ve got to hire a car to get back to the place where those scoundrels are.”
“A lot of work ahead of us,” commented Ned.
There was little time to say more, for by this time the advance crowd of the curious ones was at the Blackbird. The boys, especially, would have overrun the craft and climbed up on her in their eagerness, but Tom told Koku to act as a guard. Even the sight of the giant was enough to drive back the most venturesome of the lads, while Koku’s actions, in parading around the craft with a big stick he picked up served as a further effective deterrent. Curiosity, too, was about equally divided between Koku and the machine.