Chapter 8 NODDY'S AEROPLANE

How long the race might have continued no one could have told, but unfortunately several pedestrians got in the path of Andy and he was forced to slacken speed. His youth and fleetness gave him an advantage, but the professor was used to chasing after flitting butterflies and elusive insects, and this training stood him in good stead. So in a few minutes he caught up to Andy, and grasped him by the shoulder.

"Did it get away? Is it still on you?" Jerry and his chums heard the scientist ask the small chap.

"Did what get away? Is what still on me?" gasped Andy. "Didn't you-?" Words failed him. He could only look and pant.

"Ha! I have it!" cried the professor. "The little beauty didn't get away. One moment, Andy, and I'll secure it."

He made a sudden motion, and caught something that had been perched on the small lad's shoulder.

"A red ant, one of the largest of its kind, and a very fine specimen," observed the professor, as he carefully put the insect in a small box that he took from his pocket. "You have unconsciously been a great aid to the advancement of science to-day, Andy. That red ant is worth at least five dollars."

"A red ant! Five dollars!" gasped Andy Rush. "Is that why you were chasing me?"

"Yes, to be sure. What else did you think I was running after you for?" demanded Mr. Snodgrass.

"I thought-that is-the flying frog-I thought that you thought I was-Oh, I guess it's all right!" exclaimed the small chap quickly. "You jumped at me so I was afraid I had offended you."

"Offended me? I guess not, especially when you had a valuable red ant on you!" cried the professor heartily.

"You thought he was going to scalp you; didn't you, Andy?" asked Ned in a low voice.

"That's what I did! I couldn't stand for that green flying frog. I thought he was making a joke, and I was going to say something funny. I'm glad I didn't-but he scared me just the same."

"The professor never jokes," said Bob. "If he says there is a flying frog you can depend on it that there is one."

"Come on in, fellows," invited Jerry to Ned and Bob, as they reached his house. "We'll hear what the professor has to say about his plans for catching the flying frog, and then we'll tell him what we are going to do. We'll have to make up some sort of a program."

The next hour was spent in talk, the scientist giving some facts about the curious frog, which he stated, could glide from the ground to low bushes and down again, in search of its insect food.

"But what about this aviation meet?" asked the professor. "I must not be selfish and monopolize all the talk."

They told him of their plans, and also mentioned meeting the two queer men-Brown and Black.

"If we run across them at the meet I'm going to give them a wide berth," declared Ned. "I don't cotton to 'em."

"Me either," agreed Jerry.

"And so your old enemy, Noddy Nixon, is also to have an aeroplane?" asked the professor, that fact having been mentioned. "Do you expect to race with him?"

"Not if we can avoid it," declared Jerry. "He may enter his craft in the meet though, but we haven't seen anything of it as yet. Perhaps it's only a rumor."

But it was more than that, as our friends found a few days later, when as they went down to the freight office to get some duplicate parts for their motor, which they had ordered from the factory, they saw several large packing cases on the platform. The boxes were addressed to Noddy Nixon, and were marked-"Fragile-Handle with Care."

"Maybe that's his aeroplane that Andy Rush was telling us about," suggested Bob.

"Shouldn't wonder," agreed Jerry. "Let's see if we can tell where it's from. There are several firms making them now."

They saw no harm in looking at the shipping tag to ascertain what type of aircraft Noddy was getting, and they had just located the card, tacked on the end of one of the boxes, when a rough voice exclaimed:

"Here, get away from there! What are you trying to do; damage our machine?"

The boys turned quickly to observe the unprepossessing countenance of Bill Berry gazing at them. He had come up unheard.

"Your machine?" murmured Jerry.

"Yes, mine-mine and Noddy's. I've got an interest in it. It can carry two. You needn't think you're the only ones in town with an aeroplane," and Bill sneered.

"We were just looking to see where it came from," said Bob.

"You needn't give yourselves the trouble," went on the bully's crony. "Just keep away from our property. We can do all the looking that's necessary."

"What's the matter? What were they doing?" demanded the angry voice of Noddy himself, as he came quickly from the direction of the freight office, and mounted the platform. He had gone to sign a receipt for his property. "What were they doing, Bill?"

"Oh, snooping around, as usual."

"That's not so!" cried Ned hotly.

"Say, if you bother with my aeroplane I'll have you arrested!" threatened Noddy, with a bluster. "I intend to make a lot of flights, and if you get in my way there'll be trouble."

"Don't worry; we'll take good care to keep out of your way," said Jerry significantly. "Come on, fellows. And the next time Noddy gets in a mud hole we'll let him stick."

"I guess Noddy means business as far as flying goes," remarked Ned, when they were on their way home. "That firm he bought his machine from makes good aeroplanes."

"Yes, he'll fly if he doesn't break it the first time he goes out," said Jerry. "Well, he needn't trouble us-there's plenty space to fly in. We'll go off on a little trip, and take the professor with us when we get the motor fixed." For the engine of the Comet had developed a slight defect, and it was decided to remedy it before going to the meet.

In the meanwhile the boys worked on other parts of their air machine, while Professor Snodgrass put in his time seeking various insects in Cresville. He had agreed to go to the aeroplane meet with the boys, and later they planned to take a short flight out West, to see if there was any truth in the Professor's theory that the flying frog might be discovered there.

They heard some reports of Noddy's aeroplane. An expert from the factory where it was made had come on to Cresville to assemble it, and also to give Noddy lessons in running it. Noddy knew something of aeronautics, though his first attempt at flight in his tin fly had been most disastrous.

"He means business," said Jerry one day to his chums. "I went past yesterday afternoon, and Andy and Bill were making a trip over Mr. Nixon's big meadow. Noddy will fly all right."

"Did he go up high?" inquired Bob.

"Not very. He was just about snipping the tops off the daisies-regular grass-cutting work. Afraid to go up, I guess. But say, I thought of making a trip to-morrow. Will you fellows come?"

"Sure," agreed Ned. "We'll take the professor, too. He hasn't had a ride since he came."

"Can't we take considerable food along, and stay several days?" asked Bob.

"No, it's too near the time for the meet," decided Jerry. "There are several little changes I want to make in the Comet before we enter her for a prize, and if we go scooting off around the country we can't get them done. Besides, there's always the danger of an accident that might put us out of the race. We'll postpone our trip until after the meet."

His companions agreed with him, and the next morning, in company with the professor, they started off on a day's flight, planning to return to Cresville before nightfall.

"Noddy Nixon went off in his machine early this morning," was the information Andy Rush brought when he appeared at the big shed, for he had been invited to make the trip with our heroes.

"He did, eh?" spoke Ned. "Well, I guess he won't go far. Come on now, Andy, hop in. We're ready to start."

The professor, carrying a number of specimen boxes, and an extra long-handled net with which he hoped to capture insects of the upper regions, entered the cabin of the Comet. Jerry was in the pilot house, with Ned and Bob standing by to give their aid.

"Let her go!" cried the tall lad, as he turned on the power, while Ned turned over the auxiliary fly wheel that was connected with the big propellers. They whirred around with great swiftness, the Comet skimmed lightly over the ground, and a moment later had mounted easily up into the air.

"Whoop! La-la!" cried Andy Rush. "Here we go! Up in the air! Never say die! Never come down! Go on like the Flying Dutchman! Whoop! La-la!"

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