CHAPTER XVI
THE AIRSHIP GONE
Stopping in the early dawn at a good-sized city, the wounded from theExpress were taken to a hospital for treatment. Though Mrs. Montrosewas not seriously hurt her husband decided that she also had betterstop off, instead of making the trip to Denver. Accordingly, afterhaving bidden the boys good-bye, giving them his address in the Westerncity, and telling them he expected to see them there, Mr. Montrose gotoff the train.
“And I’m much obliged to you, too,” said little Gladys. “So Annabellwould be, if she could talk, and I guess she doesn’t mind her leg beingoff--that is, not very much, for she’s been asleep most of the time,and when you sleep you don’t feel any pain.”
“I guess that’s right,” agreed Jerry with a smile.
The Express went on, but it was much behind time, and had to proceednecessarily slower each hour, on account of the wreck, for all therailroad schedules were set awry.
“But we’ll get there some time,” observed Jerry, though naturally hewas nervous about what Noddy might do to get to Snake Island ahead ofthem.
Noon saw our friends still quite a distance away from Denver, and theyfretted over the delay. They ate dinner at a way-station lunch counter,and, though Professor Snodgrass looked eagerly among the bananas formore rare specimens, he found none.
“But if I get my two-tailed toad I’ll not want anything else,” he said,as they got underway again.
It was late that afternoon, when they reached Denver, and went at onceto a hotel, for a good bath and a change of clothing, for they hadbrought their big valises with them on the train.
“And now for a good hot meal!” cried Bob, as, much refreshed the chumssat together in the hotel parlor. “Railroad lunches are all right, evenwhen a pretty girl serves ’em, but I want to sit down to a table whereI can eat as long as I like.”
“And as much,” added Jerry. “But I guess we’ll have to postpone oureating for a while, Bob,” and the tall lad winked at Ned.
“Postpone it!” cried the fat youth. “Why?”
“Well, we ought to go out to Buffalo Park, and look after ourairship,” went on Jerry. The _Comet_, so Mr. Glassford had writtenthem, was left at one of the hangars in Buffalo Park, where the aeromeet had been held. The craft had not been taken apart for shipmentback east, but had, in accordance with the instructions of the motorboys, been kept in readiness for a quick flight. A watchman, namedBoise, had been left in charge, and Mr. Glassford had told him thatJerry and his chums would soon be on hand to claim their property.
“Go to Buffalo Park!” exclaimed Bob blankly. “Why, that’s about sevenmiles out. It will take more than two hours to go there and back, andlook at the _Comet_. That will make supper awfully late. I guess she’sall right. Can’t we wait until to-morrow, Jerry?”
“Well, that’s what I was going to propose,” remarked the tall lad,after what to Bob was a painful pause. “I guess we’re all too tired tochase out there, and our airship will probably be all right. I tried tosee if I could get Boise on the ’phone, but I couldn’t.”
“We’ll go out there the first thing in the morning!” decided Bob, witha look of relief on his face. “Now, I’m going to the dining-room, andlook at the bill of fare.”
“Don’t eat it,” advised Ned with a laugh.
“No danger. I’m not going to spoil my appetite,” declared the fat one.“I never had a better.”
“Then don’t say anything about it, or they’ll raise the rate on us,”cautioned Jerry. “Jove, but I’m tired!” and he stretched out in an easychair, while Ned took another, and Bob strolled toward the dining-room,to find out how soon supper would be served.
“And we didn’t hear anything of Noddy,” remarked Ned, after a pause.
“Nor see anything,” added Jerry. “I inquired at the station, and theytold me the local, which Noddy and the others must have taken, got inearly this morning. He was several hours ahead of us if he was on that,and he probably was.”
Bright and early the next morning they were on their way to BuffaloPark. The place of the aero meet was deserted, and the hangars lookedgloomy in the big expanse of open field.
“Wonder which is ours?” ventured Ned, as he and his chums alighted fromthe trolley car.
“There it is,” remarked Jerry, pointing to a big shed with the word“COMET” in large letters across the big doors.
“And now for a good flight!” cried Bob. “No more train wrecks forours. Off for Snake Island and the radium!”
“And my two-tailed toad,” added Professor Snodgrass, looking carefullyon the ground as he advanced for a possible rare specimen.
The boys found the hangar, where their craft was housed, closed andlocked. They pounded on the doors, and Jerry remarked:
“This is odd.”
“Why?” asked Bob.
“Because Mr. Glassford said he had instructed Boise to just live outhere until we came--not to go away at all. And yet he isn’t here.”
“Maybe he didn’t expect us, and has gone to town for supplies,”suggested Ned.
“In that case, as Mr. Glassford wrote, he was to have a friend onguard. Yet no one seems to be here.”
“Maybe he’s asleep,” ventured Bob.
Jerry kicked on the door, with enough force to awaken the soundestsleeper, but there was no response from inside. Suddenly, from thefields back of the boys came a hail.
“Hey! What are you fellows doing at that hangar? Get away!”
A man came running toward them. He seemed quite angry.
“Get away!” he ordered.
“Who are you?” asked Jerry, a sudden fear coming into his heart.
“I’m the watchman--Boise is my name--but I’m on my way to Denver now.”
“Why?” faltered Ned.
“Because there’s nothing more here to watch. My job is ended. But whoare you fellows, anyhow; and what do you want here?”
“We’re the owners of the _Comet_,” replied Jerry, “and we came for ourairship, that Mr. Glassford left with you.”
“The--the owners!” gasped Mr. Boise. “Are you the motor boys?”
“We are!” cried Ned. “Where is the _Comet_?”
“It’s gone--gone!” faltered the watchman.
“Gone; where?” Jerry wanted to know.
“I delivered it to a young fellow named Noddy Nixon last night,”answered Mr. Boise. “He had a letter from Mr. Glassford, and onesigned Jerry Hopkins, saying he had been sent to bring the airship toyou--said you couldn’t get this far, as there was a wreck.”
“Noddy--Nixon--has--our--airship!” gasped Jerry. “Fellows, he got aheadof us after all!”