It was no easy matter to get the board off, but they finally managed it, and, after loosening another by the exercise of all their strength, they found they had a place big enough for them to squeeze through. Bob found it hard work, on account of his stoutness, and Ned and Jerry, who got out first, had to pull their chum from in front, while Professor Snodgrass pushed from behind. But it was finally accomplished, though poor Chunky said he felt as though his skin was all scraped off him.
“Now to get out of this place!” exclaimed Jerry eagerly. “It ought to be easy!”
They located a window, by the starlight shining through it, and found that they could slide it back. Then, by standing on boxes, they managed to get out of it, and, a few minutes later they found themselves on the ground, in the shadow of the carriage house--free.
“Oh, but it’s good to be out again!” exclaimed Ned, taking a long breath.
“No time for that now!” warned Jerry. “Hurry to the airship!”
They found the _Comet_ where it had landed. It did not seem to have been touched, but it was fastened to the earth by ropes, attached to several stones as anchors.
“Get in!” ordered Jerry to his chums in a whisper. “I’ll start the gas machine, and we’ll rise like a balloon before starting the propellers. Then they won’t hear us.”
Rapidly they climbed aboard. Soon the hissing of the gas generator told that vapor was being forced into the bag.
“Cast off!” ordered Jerry in a whisper, and the retaining ropes were loosened.
Up shot the _Comet_ as if glad to be free once more. Higher and higher she rose, until she was above the roof of the barn.
Then, just as Jerry was about to turn the power into the motor and start the propellers, there was the sound of a window being thrown up, and a voice they recognized as that of Mr. Muggins’s cried:
“Hold on there! Come back! Ye can’t escape like that!”
There was a flash of fire, and a loud report.
Jerry was working frantically at the machinery. Something seemed to be the matter with it, and he had a fear that perhaps the farmer or his men might have been tinkering with the motor.
“Yes, let’s get out of here, or he’ll have us back in that smoke house again!” yelled Bob.
“Can I help?” demanded the professor, who having placed his precious specimen boxes in a safe place aboard the ship, was scurrying about the deck in the darkness, without any special object in view.