Immediately after that, Jerrold got over the rail and took his seat at the levers. It was impossible to see just what he was doing, but the clank of a lever came from his vicinity and slowly the front of the gas-bag began to point upward.
The popping of a motor began and gradually gathered into a swift murmur.
"And now we're off," added Jerrold. "Stay right where you are and don't change your positions unless I tell you."
The whir of the propeller started, and the house and shrubbery began slipping away from under those in the car.
"Ach, du lieber!" gasped Carl. "Der eart' vas falling avay from us. I vill say my brayers forvarts, packvarts und sidevays, oof it vill helup any."
"I've got a bad case of rattles, myself," admitted Harris. "But it's for your pard, my boy."
"You bed my life!" returned Carl, "aber I never dit anyt'ing pefore for dot bard oof mine dot dook so mooch nerf as vat dis toes. I vill shud my eyes, und you dell me, blease, ven ve reach der svamp!"
Taken at a disadvantage and with two brawny ruffians ranged against him, Motor Matt was unable to make any defense. As he lay on the floor, head and shoulders still swathed in the window-curtain, one of his antagonists held him while the other bound his hands and feet with a rope. He was then lifted and carried for some distance. Naturally he could have no idea where or in what direction he was being carried.
A few steps were descended and he heard a door softly closed. The cool air of outdoors laved his hands--he was sensible of that, although the hot stuffiness of the curtain prevented the night air from reaching his face.
He was lifted over something, he did not know what, and laid down in cramped quarters. A conversation was going on around him, but in tones so low he was not able to distinguish the words. He fancied that he heard the girl's voice, although his head was so muffled he could not be sure.
Presently the unmistakable explosions of a motor came to him.
"Brady is taking me away somewhere in an automobile," he thought, and wondered where Carl was that he could not see the machine.
A moment later he felt a gentle, swaying motion as though he was being gently swung in a hammock.
Several minutes passed, and then Brady's voice spoke, in a tone so loud that Matt was able to hear what he said.