As they were chug-chugging along a quiet road, Jerry saw, just ahead of him, a farmer driving toward them a spirited team of horses.
“Guess I’ll slow up a bit when passing them,” the tall lad remarked to his chums. “I don’t want a runaway.”
The team seemed so skittish as they approached that, for fear of frightening them, Jerry shut off all power, and the auto came to a stop.
“I’m much obliged to you,” called the farmer, as he held in the animals when passing the car. “It ain’t often that automobile fellers is as considerate as you be. I appreciate it. Besides, my team hasn’t gotten over a fright they had early this morning.”
“How was that?” asked Ned, while the farmer pulled up, the two fine horses evincing less fear of the auto, now that it was quiet. “Did a car scare them this morning?”
“Well, not exactly an automobile,” was the answer, “that is, unless autos run overhead in the air.”
“Why just this,” was the unexpected answer. “When I was going to market, about three o’clock this morning, my horses nearly ran away when something about as big as ten automobiles scooted along through the air, over their heads. It was some sort of a balloon.”
“Are you sure it was a balloon?” inquired Jerry.
“Well, some sort of a balloon,” replied the farmer. “You see, there was some moonlight, but I couldn’t make it out very well. It was an airship, I know, because I’ve seen pictures of ’em. It was shaped like a cigar, about a hundred feet long, or more, I guess, and sticking out from the sides, were big white wings. By Golly; but it scared me at first!”
“Your airship?” inquired the farmer, visibly astonished.
“Yes, we are in search of one stolen from us in Cresville,” said Jerry. “The one you saw may have been it. Which way was it going?”
“It come from that direction,” replied the man, pointing back toward Cresville, “and it was headed almost west, along this road you’re on now. First I knowed I heard a humming, buzzing sound, and I took a tight hold on the reins, as I thought an auto was coming. Then when I looked around, for the noise was in back of me, I seen a big light in the air. I thought it must be an all-fired big auto, that had a light so high up, and the next I knew the blamed thing was right over my head, and not more than fifty feet up. Then I knowed it was an airship, but I come near knowing nothing else right after, for my horses started to run, and I had all I could do to hold ’em. Well, the airship, or whatever it was, swooped on out of sight in the darkness, and I didn’t get my animals down to a walk for nearly a mile.”