Arthur M. Winfield

“ The Dartaway went up slowly, with Dick in the center, at the wheel, and Sam on one side of him and Tom on the other.
""Hurrah! we are going to make it!" cried Tom, as the biplane arose like some big bird.
"It's a strain though," answered Dick. "We won't be able to fly very high nor very long." ”

“ On and on sailed the Dartaway, now in the teeth of the breeze and then with the wind on the quarter. All of the youths clung fast constantly, for their was great danger of being pitched into space. They had straps for fastening themselves, but hated to use these, fearing that they might get in some position where a quick jump might mean safety. If they were strapped in, and the biplane fell, they might be crushed to death under the heavy engine. ”

“ Four times did Dick sail around the cornfield, the last time making such a wide circle that he went directly over the barn and the wagon shed. Then he shut off the engine and glided slowly to earth, coming down in the middle of the field with scarcely a jar.
"By the great clam chowder of Pocahontas!" cried Tom, rushing up and helping him out of the machine. "Dick, it was fine! Couldn't have been better!"
"It was immense!" put in Sam. "You made the turns beautifully."
"It was very well done," added Captain Colby. "If you do as well in the future you will have no cause to fear. ”

“ All made good records, and the Rover boys became wildly enthusiastic over what they saw.
"Say, this suits me right down to the ground!" cried Tom.
"What fun a fellow could have if he had a flying machine and knew how to run it!" had come from Sam.
"Exactly—if he knew how to run it," had been Dick's words. "But if he didn't know—well, he might have a nasty tumble, that's all."
"Pooh, Dick! If those fellows can run these machines, so can we," had been Tom's confident words.
"We know all about autos and motor-boats," Sam had put in. ”

“ Most of the trip was made in the face of the wind, which, every instant, seemed to grow stronger. The Dartaway acted like a thing of life, swooping and careening from one side to the other. Dick had to manipulate the wheel and the levers constantly, to keep anything like an even "keel."
"Can you keep to the course?" questioned Tom, after about half the distance to the seminary had been covered. ”

“ Are you scared?"
"Of course he is scared," put in Sam.
"I'm not scared!" roared the bullying voice of the youth who had claimed the fortune from Treasure Isle. "I am not scared and you know it."
"So you are really there, Sobber," put in Dick. "I thought as much. Well, you heard what I said to Crabtree. It applies to you as well."
"Bah, Dick Rover, you can't scare me!" returned Tad Sobber savagely. "Just now you think you are on top. But wait, that's all. That treasure belongs to me and I mean to have it. ”

“ Tom was at the wheel of the touring car and, once the farm was left behind, and they were on a fairly good country road, he advanced the spark and the gasoline control until they were running at twenty-five and then thirty miles an hour.
"Now, don't get gay, Tom!" warned Dick. "This road wasn't built for racing."
"Pooh, what's thirty miles an hour!" declared the fun-loving Rover, who just then felt like "letting out." "You know this machine can make fifty and better, Dick." ”

“ The boys needed no further urging. Dick and Tom ran for the flying machine, and soon the explosions of the motor filled the crisp autumn air. Then all the boys leaped on board. Dick was at the wheel, and he sent the Dartaway along at a good rate of speed. Sam looked back, to see Grace hurrying in the direction of Hope Seminary.
"I hope she gets back safely," he said anxiously.
"I think she will," answered Tom. "Those rascals are all further along the road—waiting for Nellie and Dora."
"Keep your eyes open," put in Dick. "Don't let anything escape you. We must spot that auto without fail!" ”

“ We salute you!" And then Tom took off his hat. "Three cheers for Sir Tubbs!" he called loudly.
The cheers were given with a will, and a tiger added. Poor Tubbs was almost stricken dumb, and commenced to mop the perspiration from his forehead.
"Don't crowd so close!" cried Tom, warningly. "His Lordship must have air! He isn't used to so much excitement! Stand back! Now then, into the carriage, if you please!" And into the turnout went poor Tubbs, and the next instant his hat was snatched from his head and a tall, white beaver was placed in its stead. ”

“ The cry came from Tom, as he turned over on the ground and struggled to his feet. He had seen his brother hurled backwards, and he saw that Dick made no move to arise. He had been struck in the head, and blood was flowing from a wound over his left ear.
"Oh, maybe he's killed!" gasped poor Tom, and then, for the moment he forgot all about the flying machine, that was rushing so madly through the air towards the Rover homstead. He hurried to his brother's side, at the same time calling for others to come to his assistance. ”

“ Max and Spud had spread themselves, it being the German-American lad's birthday.
"Say, this is certainly fine!" cried Sam, as he surveyed several big cakes, two hands of bananas, some grapes, and several bricks of ice-cream of various flavors.
"How are you going to serve the ice-cream?" asked Dick.
"Oh, we're all prepared!" cried Spud, and exhibited a "nest" of paper saucers and another of paper plates, and then a handful of tin spoons. "I thought these would answer better than the real thing, for when we have finished we won't have to wash anything—we can throw the whole mess away." ”

“ STARTLING NEWS FROM HOME
"Here the conquering hero comes!"
"Say, but he looks like a real Lord, doesn't he?"
"Don't forget to bow to all the people you pass, Sir Tubbs!"
So the cries rang on, as the carriage and the carryall rolled away from the Ashton depot.
"Say, look here, what does this mean?" stammered the dudish student. "I tell you I'm no lord, or knight, or anything like that! I was over to Paris, not London, don't you know. Weally, this is—er—very embarrassing!" he pleaded, wildly.
"Stand up and make a speech, when you get to the campus, Willie boy!" sang out Tom. ”

“ After that but little was said, for Dick had to watch every movement of the Dartaway with care, and his hands and feet were constantly on the alert, to make whatever shift seemed necessary. Sam and Tom strained their eyes to catch sight of the enclosed touring car, which, they had learned, was painted a dark blue.
The wind kept growing stronger and stronger, coming in fitful gusts that were particularly bad for such a flying machine as the boys possessed. Once came a gust that sent them spinning far out of their course. ”

“ But now Dick was gaining control once more and he tilted the front rudder and up they went for a hundred feet, but in something of a circle, because of the broken plane.
"Can't you land?" gasped Tom. "We can't—can't—stand—this!"
"I'll do what I can," replied Dick, between his set teeth. He knew that their very lives depended on how he handled the biplane.
Slowly and with great caution Dick allowed the Dartaway to get closer to the earth. Each of the boys strained his eyes, to catch sight of what might be below. ”

“ Here it was quite dark, and Dick took the lead, holding the lantern close to the ground, so that he might follow the trail he and his brothers had made on leaving the Dartaway. All were gratified to find that the wind had died down completely.
"I don't know how a run in the darkness will go," said Dick. "But we can try it. But I don't see how we are to steer."
"I've got my pocket compass with me," answered Sam. "That may help some. We know those towns are west of us. We can sail along until we see the lights and then go down and ask about the touring car." ”

“ In a little while after this the swamp was left behind, and then progress through the woods was more agreeable.
"Dick, don't you think we ought to be getting to the Dartaway pretty soon?" asked Tom, after a quarter of an hour more had passed and they were still moving forward.
"Yes."
"It didn't seem so far away as this," put in Sam. "Are you sure you are following the trail?"
"You can see for yourselves," answered Dick, and held the lantern close to the ground.
"Footsteps, sure enough," murmured Tom. Then of a sudden he bent closer. "But look!" he cried. They are not ours!" ”

“ All remained in the field to watch the flight of the youngest Rover. Sam was a little pale, but just as determined as his brothers had been to succeed. He looked over the biplane carefully, then took his seat, and told them to start the propellers.
Once more the Dartaway arose, and as it did Mrs. Rover could not repress a shudder, for Sam was very dear to her, because he was her dead sister's youngest child, and she had never had any children of her own.
But her fears were groundless, for Sam sailed over the cornfield just as well as had Dick. ”

“ We don't want to go up and get wrecked."
"Oh, the Dartaway won't get wrecked—not with that powerful engine."
Dick hesitated. He did not like that strong breeze in the least. Yet he was just as anxious as his brothers to visit the seminary and meet the girls, and let them see the biplane. And there was something even more important on his mind.
"Oh, come ahead, and take a chance!" cried Tom. "We'll get through somehow!"
"Just what I say," declared Sam.
"Who is to run the machine?" asked the big brother.
"I'll run her, if you want me to," answered Tom, promptly. ”

“ One of the bamboo poles had been split and two of the canvas stretches were slit from end to end.
"Not as bad as it might be," said Dick. "We can easily mend the canvas. But I guess we had better get a new pole in place of that one. I'd not care to trust it, even if it were wired."
"Perhaps we can wire it good enough to get back to Brill with," returned Tom. "We can't stay here."
"I've had enough sailing for to-day!" cried Sam. "Let us walk back, or get a carriage, and leave the biplane here until some fine day when there is no wind."
"Yes, we can't use her any more to-day," said Dick. ”

“ Sam and Tom had been trying out the biplane, and they pronounced everything in perfect order for a flight.
"Dick, let me run the machine over," said Sam, and the big brother agreed, for Tom had been at the wheel on a previous occasion.
The boys had no classes to attend after lunch and so got away by two o'clock.
"I trust we can see the girls," said Dick, as they started up the engine of the flying machine.
"Oh, they'll be at liberty after hours," answered Tom. "They always are." ”

“ Previous to leaving, the boys had filled the oil feed and the gasoline tank, so they were prepared for quite a trip.
"Maybe we can get the girls to go up, for just a little sail, you know," said Sam. "I am sure the Dartaway could carry them, on a pinch."
"Where would they sit, in our laps?" asked Tom, with a grin.
"No, they could sit in the seats and we could sit back of them, like on a bob-sled," answered the youngest Rover.
"I don't think they'll care to go up," answered Dick. "They'd be too scared. As yet, flying machines are hardly built for ladies. ”

“ I'll simply follow the road. But I am going up a bit," added Dick. "I don't want to scare any horses, or we may have some damage suits to settle."
"The horses will have to get used to flying machines, just as they had to get used to autos," was Sam's comment.
On and on flew the Dartaway, Dick managing the biplane as skillfully as if he was a seasoned aviator. Over the farms and barns and houses they sailed, creating much astonishment. The inhabitants came rushing forth, some with milk pails, and women with dish cloths and towels in their hands. ”

“ And the hired man blinked in amazement at the sight before him. "Is Sam in there?"
"Nobody is in the machine," answered Tom, who was kneeling beside his brother. "Oh, gracious! Look at that!" he exclaimed.
"There goes the chimbley!" roared Jack Ness, as the biplane swooped just high enough to clear the roof of the Rover homestead. One of the wheels underneath struck a chimney a glancing blow, hurling the bricks in all directions. As they came clattering down, from the house out ran Mrs. Rover, followed by her husband and the hired help. Anderson Rover was away on business. ”

“ Get out of the way, you boys!" cried the old stationmaster, as he brushed past, hitting Tom in the knee with a suit case he was carrying. The train that carried Hans had rolled away, leaving Ricks and the Rovers alone on the little platform.
"Why, Mr. Ricks, what's your rush?" asked Tom, sweetly. "Going to a wedding?"
"No, I ain't going to no wedding!" grunted old Ricks. "I don't want you young fellers to git in my way, that's all."
"Maybe you have to testify in that case in court," went on Tom, with a wink at his brother.
"Ain't got to testify in no court." ”

“ I'll pay you for the calls."
"Sure I'll let you know if I hear anything."
"I might as well tell you that he is down on us and down on some of our friends, and he and a young fellow with him named Tad Sobber may try to play us foul in some way. So, if you hear of anything strange, let us know by all means."
"You can depend on it, I will," replied Peter Marley.
"And now to see if that really was the biplane!" cried Tom, when the party was once more on horseback. "Let us try to forget old Crabtree and Sobber. One trouble at a time is enough. ”