The Motor Boys on the Border; Or, Sixty Nuggets of Gold

by Clarence Young

  CHAPTER X

  AN AIRSHIP FLIGHT

  “Well, there’s no use going in now,” said Jerry, after a pause.

  “Going in where?” asked Andy Rush.

  “To consult our lawyer. I was going to see about making a complaintagainst Noddy. But what’s the use, if he’s skipped out?”

  “Maybe he heard what you were going to do,” suggested the small chap.

  “No,” answered the tall lad, “I didn’t tell anyone, except Ned and Bob.I guess Noddy left because--well, because he wanted to,” he concludedquickly, for Andy Rush did not know of the prospective journey of themotor boys. In fact, their intention to seek for the gold was kept asquiet as possible, for they realized how such rumors spread.

  So, as a matter of fact, only the boys, the two Westerners, and theparents of our heroes, knew of the proposed trip.

  “That is unless Noddy has overheard something, and suspects,” murmuredJerry, as he turned back toward home. “And it looks as if he had fromthe way he hurried off. And to Montana, too! What part of Montana washis baggage checked to?” he asked, of Andy.

  “I couldn’t make out the tags very well, but the last part of the namewas ‘Spell,’” spoke the excitable youth.

  “Spell--spell,” murmured Jerry. “I have it--the town of Kabspell--it’snear Flathead Lake, and we were counting on sending our airship thereto make the start! Noddy has gotten on to our plans somehow!”

  “What’s that?” asked Andy, quickly, for Jerry was half talking tohimself.

  “Oh--nothing. I was just wondering what Noddy would do, that’s all.Much obliged for telling me. Here’s a quarter, Andy. Get yourself asoda.”

  “Thanks! I will,” and Andy, forgetting Jerry’s rather strange andworried actions, in the prospective delights of a soda, hurried off.

  “We’ve got to get busy,” decided the tall lad, as he made his wayhome. Quickly he called up his chums by telephone, and when they wereassembled at his house, with Mr. Nestor and Mr. Brill in attendance,while Professor Snodgrass hovered in the background, Jerry told themthe news.

  “That means we’ve got to get started right away,” decided Ned.

  “That’s it,” agreed Jim Nestor. “I know Noddy Nixon of old, and whilehe may not know just where the nuggets are hidden, he’s got just luckenough to stumble on the trail of some of those grub-stakers, who havea general idea. We’d better get off as soon as we can.”

  “The sooner the better, I say,” put in Professor Snodgrass. “I’vecaught about all the rare insects there are in these parts, and I dowant to get some of those luminous snakes. Can we start to-morrow?”

  “Hardly,” said Jerry, with a smile. “If we’re going to take the airshipwe’ll have to give it a trial, and then take it apart for shipment.That will take some time. But in a week I think we could be on themove.”

  “If you have fully decided to go,” said Mrs. Hopkins, who just thenentered the room; “and I suppose that you have, there is no use indelaying, Jerry. Really, I am a little worried about the dangers of thetrip, but since we have invested our money in it, I would rather youthan that Nixon boy get the gold nuggets.”

  “That’s what, momsey!” cried Jerry, kissing her, at which she laughed,for mother and son were great “chums.”

  “Then trot out the airship and let’s give her a trial!” exclaimedHarvey Brill. “I’ve never ridden in one of the shebangs, but I’ll takea chance in one. The papers are all fixed up now, I have telegraphedthe money to take up the option on the mine, and all that’s to be doneis to go get the hidden nuggets.”

  “And the snakes--don’t forget them,” put in the scientist, eagerlywatching a fly on the wall, as if hoping it would prove to be a rarevariety.

  “All right,” agreed Jerry. “There’s just one point to be thought ofthough, and when the professor mentioned snakes it occurred to me.Now we don’t want to start off and arrive on the border as a party ofprospectors looking for gold nuggets. If we do, we’ll have a trail ofmen after us who are always on the lookout to take advantage of news ofa rich strike. And, too, if the grub-stakers are still on the watch,they’ll hear about us and make trouble.”

  “What can we do, though?” asked Bob.

  “Pretend that we’re a party of scientists out for rare specimens ofvarious kinds. In effect Professor Snodgrass will be the head of thescientific expedition, and we will be his assistants. How is that?”

  “Fine!” cried Ned.

  “That ought to fool ’em,” said Bob.

  “I think it will be just the thing,” came from Jim Nestor. “As you say,Jerry, we want to keep this thing as quiet as possible. So, Professor,you can regard us as members of your luminous-snake-hunting expedition.”

  “I am agreeable,” spoke the scientist, with a smile. “And I hope we aresuccessful.”

  The motorship, _Comet_, was floated out of the big shed for a trialflight the next day. Harvey Brill was the only one of the party whohad not seen it, and his astonishment was a sight to behold. At firsthe could scarcely believe that it would mount into the air, for the_Comet_ was of large size.

  “Oh, she’ll go up,” said Jerry; “and you’ll go with her.”

  “I’m game!” exclaimed the miner, grimly.

  As I have already described the motorship in previous books of thisseries I will not go into details now. Sufficient to say that the_Comet_ was a combined aeroplane and dirigible balloon. It had also ahydroplane attachment, enabling it to float on water, and skim over itssurface.

  There was a powerful motor aboard, that whirled the propellers, causingthe ship to advance. This feature could be used when the craft was anaeroplane or dirigible. When it was desired to progress as the latterstyle of craft the bag could be inflated with a powerful gas, generatedaboard the _Comet_.

  There was an engine room, a pilot house, sleeping and eating quarters,and a large living room. Provisions for many days could be carriedaboard, and the kitchen was the delight of Bob’s heart. He spent muchof his time there when on a trip, concocting new and dainty dishes.

  In fact the _Comet_ was a veritable motorship of the air, as much soas a yacht would be on some lake or ocean. In it the boys had traveledmany thousands of miles, and had visited places which would have beeninaccessible but for their unique craft, much of which they had builtthemselves, with the help of a veteran balloonist.

  “Well, get aboard!” called Jerry, when he had seen that everything wasin readiness. The professor took his place with as much unconcern as ifhe was going for an auto ride. He had an insect net with him, for heoften got curious creatures of the upper air on these trips. Jim Nestorhad often ridden in the _Comet_, and of course to Bob and Ned it was anold story. But Mr. Brill hesitated about getting into the cabin.

  “Are you sure she won’t bust and come down with us?” he asked,nervously.

  “Sure,” answered Jerry, with a laugh. “Get aboard,” and the miningprospector did so, but with evident reluctance.

  “Let her go!” cried Jerry to Ned, who was in the engine room, with Bob,while the tall lad held the steering wheel. The big propellers whizzedaround, the motorship quivered from end to end, and then began toshoot across the ground on the starting wheels.

  “Gee whizz! We’re moving!” cried Harvey Brill.

  Jerry yanked back on the lever that adjusted the elevation rudder. Thenose of the _Comet_ was pointed upward and she shot into the air on aslant.

  “We’re going up!” yelled the astonished and almost delighted Mr. Brill.

  “I told you we would,” asserted his partner, as if it was an every-dayoccurrence with him.

  Rapidly the craft soared upward, and in a few minutes it was floatingseveral hundred feet above the town of Cresville. Higher and higher itmounted.

  “How’s she running, Ned?” asked Jerry, from the pilot house.

  “Fine. The motor’s going like a sewing machine. Is she steering allright?”

  “Couldn’t be better. I guess she’ll do.”

  “And it
’s this shebang you’re going to ship out West to go down intothe valley where I’ve hidden my nuggets?” asked the prospector.

  “This is it,” answered Jerry. “If you’ll come up here I’ll show youhow I control her,” and when Mr. Brill entered the pilot house Jerrypointed out the various levers and wheels.

  “What’s this one for?” asked the Westerner, as he touched a smalllever. Quite by accident he moved it a trifle. Instantly there was asnapping and crackling sound in the motor room, and the _Comet_ gave asickening lurch.

  “We’re falling!” cried Mr. Brill. “We’re going down! I know! I fell inan elevator once! We’re falling down!” and he jumped back in terror,and sought to climb out of the window of the pilot house.