Chapter 7: Chasing the Bomber

Steven the cab driver cracked his whip, and he made his horse gallop as fast as she could go. Jimmy and Emma felt like the cab they were in might fly off the road, at the speed Steven was going.

“Don’t lose them, Steven,” Emma called.

“I’m doing the best I can, miss, but he’s got a four wheeler pulled by two cob horses. I’ve only got my Bess here, and she’s going as fast as she can!” Steven called back. “Don’t worry, ma’am, I won’t lose him.”

“Yeah, but I might lose my lunch,” Jimmy said, while holding his belly. He wasn’t used to fast motion and was feeling a little sick.

The two horse-drawn carriages continued to fly through London, past cathedrals and towers, swerving between bus carriages and people walking along the street. As they traveled, the mad bomber continued to get further and further away. Finally, they moved away from the busy streets of London and out into the countryside. Tree branches smashed against the side of the cab, and Bess gave an occasional loud, “Neigh!” But she didn’t let up. The four wheeler in front of them remained in sight. They swerved along a forgotten, muddy road, and then suddenly, they could see a massive, pointed structure in front of them.

“What is that?” Emma asked.

“I know exactly what it is,” said Jimmy. “It’s a big top tent.”

Steven brought the carriage to a halt with a loud “Whoa!” He made sure they weren’t close to the tent, so no one in the tent would see them. The twins watched the four wheeled carriage, with S.H. on its side, stop right in front of the circus tent. Two big, gruff men got out, opened the doorway flaps, and the carriage disappeared into the tent.

“You did it, Steven!” Emma called out. She climbed out of the cab and gave the thin driver a big hug.

“Now, Miss,” Steve said, turning a little red, “none of that mushy stuff. I owe you two kids for helping me dad out when he was in a jam, and no one else would believe he was innocent. You need something, you just ask me, okay?”

“I do have one more favor,” Emma continued. “I need you to go back to town and tell Sherlock Holmes what we’ve discovered. Tell him about the chase, the tent, everything, and bring him back here.”

“Of course, miss I…Wait a minute,” Steven said, “What are you two up to? I can’t leave you here all alone.”

“We’re just going to keep watch,” Jimmy said, looking up at the 18 year old driver.

Steven’s green eyes twinkled, and he gave a nod. “All right! If I know I can trust anyone, it’s you two.” With that, Steven called out to Bess, and the cab flew off back to London.

The twins watched the cab take off and waved goodbye to their trusted friend. Then, Jimmy said to Emma, “Come on, let’s go see what’s in that circus tent.”

Emma laughed, “But, I thought you said we were just going to keep watch.”

“Of course we are,” Jimmy grinned. “We’ll keep watch as we walk into that tent. And we’ll keep watch as we discover just who that mad bomber is.”

As the twins crept through the woods to the circus tent, they updated each other on what had happened when they were separated. Jimmy told Emma about the news office. In fact, he was still dressed in his outfit.

Emma told Jimmy how they found the mad bomber’s carriage.

“I found Steven, and we started combing the streets of London, looking for that cab. As fortune would have it, we discovered his cab parked in front of an apothecary. Just as I was about to get out and investigate, the mad bomber got back into his carriage, and took off into the streets. Steven was able to follow him, and when he turned past the news office, we stopped to get you.”

“Why would he need medicine?” Jimmy wondered.

“Let’s find out,” Emma said. They had made their way to the circus tent. It was tied down in many spots, but the twins lifted a flap and were able to sneak in.

What they discovered amazed them. There were no lions, no clowns, and no trapeze wires in this tent. Instead, laying out on the big top ground was none other than the barrel shaped airship!