CHAPTER XIV
A RISKY CLIMB
"That race wasn't won fair!"
"That's right, Noddy, we'll protest it!" This from Bill Berry, who withhis crony had hurried to the office of the secretary after alightingfrom the _Winner_.
"What's that?" asked the official, looking from Noddy to our threefriends who, in response to the request, had come up to headquarters toreceive the prizes they had so pluckily won.
"I say that race wasn't won fair!" insisted the bully. "The engine ofthe _Comet_ stopped and they coasted over the line. That's not right."
"Oh, I think it is," replied the secretary gently. "You read thearticles of agreement which you signed. They are alike for allcontestants. The first machine to cross the line wins, engine or noengine."
"Well, it's not fair!" grumbled Noddy.
"Course it ain't!" declared Bill. "We wouldn't have raced if we'd knownthat."
"Oh, get out!" exclaimed the operator of the Wright machine who hadfinished a close second to Noddy. "You make me tired. If your enginehad stopped you'd have tried to win the same way. Get out! JerryHopkins and his chums won the race fair, and I never saw a more pluckyfinish! I'm proud to shake hands with you," and he extended his palm tothe tall lad.
"It gives me pleasure," spoke the secretary, "to hand you this trophy,and the thousand dollars, and to congratulate you boys on yoursuccess," and he passed over the gold loving cup, and a crisp thousanddollar bill.
"Speech! Speech!" came the cry from the crowd that had gathered; butJerry, blushing furiously made his way through the press of people,followed by Ned and Bob, and sought seclusion in the hangar. But themob was not to be denied and followed there, to gaze at the successfulaviators. They insisted so on being talked to that, to get rid of them,Jerry did make a few remarks, thanking them for their appreciation, andtelling something of how the race was run.
As for Noddy, like a bear with a sore head, he and Bill sulked intheir tent, grumbling at the action of the officials in awarding therace to our heroes. But no one paid much attention to them. Jerry andhis chums were much relieved to learn that of the two operators onthe Curtiss biplane, which fell to the earth, one was only severelybruised, while the other sustained a broken arm. Their escape fromdeath was almost miraculous.
"What was the matter with our motor that it stopped?" asked Ned,looking at the _Comet_ which had been wheeled into the big tent.
"I don't know, we'll make an examination," replied Jerry, who wasgazing at the gold loving cup. "Do you know, fellows I'm prouder ofthis than some of the other trophies we've won, and we have quite afew."
"What did you do with the thousand dollar bill?" asked Bob with a laugh.
"Oh, it's somewhere around," and Jerry pulled it, all crumpled up, fromhis trousers pocket.
"What makes you think so much of this cup?" asked Ned.
"Because we've won it against some of the best birdmen in the world,and against some of the speediest machines. You must remember thatour craft isn't primarily a racer. The _Comet_ is more like a touringauto--built for pleasure, and since we put on the hydroplanes it'sconsiderably heavier than it was. This is the first race we've wonsince we attached them, and it goes to show that we've got a fine andpowerful motor. That's why I'm so proud of this cup."
"Aren't you going to try for the elevation prize?" inquired Bob.
"Sure, but as I said I prefer distance racing. Now we'll look to seewhat the trouble was."
"And I'll take care of this thousand-spot," added Ned, as he carefullyput the bill in his pocketbook. "You'd use it to clean a brass pipewith, Jerry."
It was found that a broken wire in the ignition system was responsiblefor the stopping of the motor, and the defect was soon remedied. Whilethe boys were at this, a message came from the secretary, asking themif they would not oblige the big crowd by doing some special stuntslate that afternoon, following the regular events. These latterincluded some monoplane flights, and some qualifying ascensions by menwho wanted to get a pilot's license.
"Shall we do it?" asked Jerry of his chums.
"Might as well," replied Ned, and word to that effect was sent to thesecretary.
"We ought to take the professor along if we're going to give anexhibition," remarked Bob a little later. "The _Comet_ goes better withfour aboard, especially when we're doing stunts."
"That's right," agreed Jerry. "I wonder where he is? I haven't seen himsince early morning."
"Oh, he's off after bugs, you can depend on it," declared Ned.
They were engaged in cleaning and oiling the motor, in anticipation ofthe flight they were to make later in the day, when a series of shoutsoutside their big tent caused them to stare at each other in surpriseand some apprehension.
"What's that?" asked Ned.
"Maybe some one else is falling," suggested Bob.
Jerry hurried out, and immediately called to his chums:
"There's something wrong over at Noddy's hangar. Maybe he and Bill arehaving a fight."
It needed only such a mention as that to bring Ned and Bob out on therun. They looked to where Jerry pointed and saw a big throng gatheringabout the tent set aside for the use of Noddy and his _Winner_.
"Come on!" cried Ned, springing in that direction. Bob and Jerryfollowed, and when they got near enough they could hear shouts andcalls like the following:
"He must be crazy!"
"Perhaps it's the heat!"
"Did he fall from an aeroplane and land on his head?"
"What's he trying to do, anyhow?"
"Give it up. Maybe he's a snake charmer and one of his reptiles gotaway."
There were screams from several women at this.
Now Jerry, Ned and Bob had pushed their way in, and, just as they halfexpected when they heard the remarks, they saw Professor Snodgrass onhis knees at the edge of the canvas shelter. He was evidently trying tocapture some bug.
"Might have known he'd create some excitement before the day was over,"remarked Bob.
Hardly had he spoken than the little scientist jumped up as if he wereshot.
"Look out!" he cried. "There he goes! Don't let him get away! Oh, therehe goes on top of the tent!"
In an instant the professor had pushed his way through the crowd, andseeing a rope hanging from the top of the front pole of the hangar hebegan to climb up it, the frail structure swaying with his weight.
"Come back! Come back!" yelled Jerry. "That won't hold you!" But thescientist kept on up the rope.