“Something wrong with the air-ship!” echoed Cranny Beaumont, in the greatest astonishment.
“How—in what way?” asked Dick, excitedly.
“Give me a chance, fellows. Mr. Ogden says Major Carroll intended to stay up for only a short time. He was testing a new steering gear. The balloon, after making several turns, began to sail away, apparently unmanageable.”
“Gee whiz!” Tim Lovell stared at the others. “The wind’s just from the direction of Border City. It must be coming this way.”
“Let’s get busy, fellows,” cried Bob, briskly. “We’ll run out the ‘Ogden II.’”
“Why—what’s the use?” asked Tom.
“Because they may need us to stand by ’em.”
“But you wouldn’t dare to try it in a breeze like this!”
“Of course I should—if necessary. It isn’t much worse than yesterday.”
“I’m going to skip up on the roof,” said Dave. “May be able to sight the ‘Border City.’ I’ll take the telescope with me.”