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He referred to a new device of his with which the Wondership was equipped for protecting balloon bags from lightning. In a thunderstorm a balloon, or gas-filled dirigible, is subject to sudden variations of electric charge which, under certain conditions, might produce sparks leading to its annihilation.
As the old black spoke, the Wondership shot up like a rocket, tilting her nose slightly into the air. But the next moment Jack had her on an even keel. In an incredibly short space of time those watching below saw her only as a glinting, golden speck against the blue sky, circling like some strange bird far above their heads. "Now for the tests," said Mr. Chadwick, as he hastened to his workshop.
The roads were deep in mud, and water spurted up from the wheels of the flying car as it raced through the storm. But seated snug and dry in the cabin none of them bothered about this. Little was said. Jack had to concentrate his mind on handling the Wondership, for driving under the conditions, and at such speed, required all the wheel-handler's attention.
"Of course it was an accident," said Jack, "but that fellow who was driving was too busy talking to watch the road, and then going off like that they deserve all they get." Examination of the patch showed that it would hold fast and the bag was refilled. As soon as it was sufficiently inflated, the Wondership sailed over to the road and was brought down alongside the still unconscious man.
It was as well he did so perhaps, for as they shot upward they could see that their presence had been noted. They watched the men scurrying about and pointing upward. But whether the Wondership was too high, or his animosity had cooled after his involuntary ascension, the farmer made no hostile demonstration, and they were soon out of Perkins' sight.
"I guess he wiped that score out when he blazed away at the balloon bag." "Just the same, I think we'd better go pretty high up," advised Tom. "He might fancy trying another shot at us." "That's so," agreed Jack, studying the men moving about far below. He pulled a lever and the Wondership began to rise.
He kept his gun steadily trained on the Wondership. "Move an' I'll bust yer!" he said grimly. A buggy drove out of the yard. It raced through the gate and then struck the highroad leading to Rayburn. "Thar' goes Si arter ther constabule," said the farmer, licking his thin lips as if with relish. "Hi Ketchum is a rare one arter automobubblists.
As the Wondership settled on the roof of the barn the man began shouting angrily. "Phew! looks as if we are in for trouble," exclaimed Tom, as he saw the warlike expression on the farmer's face. "It does that," agreed Jack. "Hop out, will you, Tom, and get that grapple clear? Confound it, I don't see how it came loose."
The run home was made without incident and it was not till the Wondership was safely in its shed that Jack suddenly thought of the odd cylinder of lead that he had picked up by the man's side as he lay on the road. "I ought to have left it at the hospital," he thought, "but I entirely forgot it." He drew it out and looked at it.
The red-headed young reporter descended upon them one day when they were busily packing the Wondership away in big crates, which were labeled in various ways so as to give no inkling of the contents. Of course Dick, being in a way a member of the firm, had to be told what was going on, and the result was that after a lot of hard pleading the boys consented to allow him to come along.
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