Part 13 (1/2)
”Now be careful. Take it easy,--and keep over the cornfield,” said the captain. ”And if you turn, make a wide circle.” He thought a tumble among the corn might not be as bad as one in an open field where the ground was hard.
Those on the ground let go, and with a rush and a whirr the _Dartaway_ sped forward over the ground. Then d.i.c.k s.h.i.+fted the elevation rudder, and up into the air rushed the biplane, gathering speed at every revolution of the propellers.
The eldest Rover boy was in the air at last!
CHAPTER IX
THE NEW ARRIVAL
”Say, that's great!”
”Be careful, d.i.c.k! Don't try too much!”
”He made a very good start,” came from Captain Colby, who was watching the progress of the biplane closely.
Over the cornfield sailed the _Dartaway_ with d.i.c.k Rover the sole occupant. He was up about fifty feet in the air and presently he went still higher.
”He's making the turn!” cried Sam. ”Just look at him coming around!”
”Here he comes back!” exclaimed Tom. ”Hurrah! Who says d.i.c.k can't fly?
Why, he's flying like a veteran!”
”Very good, so far,” murmured Captain Colby. ”If only he keeps his wits about him he'll be all right.”
”Trust d.i.c.k to do that,” answered Sam. ”He knows what he is doing, every time.”
The biplane had now reached a point close to where the three stood in the field. All expected d.i.c.k to come down, but he did not. Instead, he made another graceful turn to the left, and started over the cornfield a second time.
”I wish the others could see him,” murmured Tom. They had not told the folks in the house about the trial flights for fear of scaring them.
Everybody thought the boys would not try to fly for at least a week.
Four times did d.i.c.k 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, rus.h.i.+ng up and helping him out of the machine. ”d.i.c.k, 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. As far as you are concerned, I reckon the worst is over.”
”How did it feel to be up in the air?” queried Sam.
”Oh, I felt kind of funny in my head for a few seconds,” answered the older brother. ”But I knew I had to pull myself together and I did.
After that it was only a question of watching everything closely.”
”Now I guess it's my turn, isn't it?” asked Tom, impatiently.