Part 11 (1/2)
”Makes a lot of noise,” was Sam's comment. ”You'd think it was half a dozen Fourths of July rolled into one.”
Presently they saw a farmer approaching, accompanied by two boys. The farmer had a shotgun in his hands, and each of the boys carried a club.
”Wot's this noise about, an' wot's that thing?” demanded the farmer, and he showed his nervousness by the way he handled his gun.
”This is an airs.h.i.+p,” answered d.i.c.k, pleasantly. ”I was trying the engine, that's all.”
”Gosh all hemlock! An airs.h.i.+p, eh? I thought it was a company o'
soldiers firin' their rifles! Wot be you a'doin' here in my pasture lot?”
”Is this your lot?”
”It sure is, an' has been for forty years.”
”We came here with Mr. Marley, of Rayville, to get the machine. It got away from us and landed in the river. We dragged it over here,”
explained d.i.c.k. ”We'll make it right with you for using the lot,” he added, with a smile.
”Oh, so thet's it, eh? Well, you're welcome to use the lot,” said John Snubble. ”I'm glad o' the chanct to see an airs.h.i.+p. Boys, this is one of them airs.h.i.+ps you read about in the papers,” he went on to his two sons.
”Ain't no danger o' an explosion, is there?” he asked anxiously, as he slowly drew closer.
”I don't think so,” answered d.i.c.k. And then he explained to Mr. Snubble how the two horses had become frightened and run away, and how Mr.
Marley and Tom had gone after the runaway steeds.
”It's too bad it's broke,” said one of the farmer's sons. ”I'd like to see her go up.”
”So would I,” added the other.
”Perhaps you'll see her go up when she's mended,” said Sam.
”If this is your farm, could you rent me a shed in which to store this biplane until she is mended?” said d.i.c.k, to the farmer.
”Maybe I can,” was the slow answer. ”But we'd have to keep the thing out o' sight o' the hosses an' cattle, or they'd cut up wuss nor them hoses did wot run away,” the man added soberly.
CHAPTER VIII
TRIAL FLIGHTS
It was a full hour before Tom and Peter Marley came back and even then they did not bring the runaway horses in the field where the biplane was located.
”Won't take no more chances,” said the farmer. ”I kin tie 'em down here on the edge o' the woods jest as well.” And this was done.
”Well, we may as well store the machine here for the present,” said d.i.c.k. ”We'll have to get some piano wire for those broken poles.”
”Aren't you going to try to take it home?” asked Tom, in surprise.
”What's the use? This is a good field to fly from. We can mend the _Dartaway_ here and then, if Captain Colby is willing, he can sail her from here to our farm.”
A big wagon shed was cleaned out, and John Snubble and his sons aided the others in rolling the biplane under the roof. Some old blankets were thrown over the engine.