Part 14 (1/2)

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 d.i.c.k. He did not fly very high, but he kept in the air nearly ten minutes, which was longer than had either of the others. When he came down he did so with a little b.u.mp, but this was not enough to hurt anything.

”It's the best ever!” was Sam's comment, when the others gathered around. ”Beats autoing all hollow!”

”Wasn't you scared, Ma.s.sa Sam?” asked Aleck, who had watched the flight with wildly-rolling eyes.

”Not in the least, Aleck, after once I got started. Just when I went up I had a little chill down my backbone, that's all.”

”Glory to heaben! Say, yo' know wot I think? I think dare ain't nuffin wot you Rober boys can't natually do, dat's wot!” And with this comment Aleck shuffled off to his work.

”Every one of you did well,” was Captain Colby's comment. He turned to Anderson Rover. ”You can be proud of your sons, sir. They handled the machine in splendid shape.”

”Yes, but I want you to watch them closely, Captain,” answered Mr.

Rover. ”Teach them all there is to know.”

”I'll teach them all I know myself,” answered the aviator.

That evening the boys could talk of nothing but aviation, and many were their plans for flights in the _Dartaway_. All wanted Captain Colby to tell them if the biplane could carry three persons.

”I hardly think so,” answered the aviator. ”It will carry two, though, that I am sure of.”

”Well, if it will carry two men it ought to carry three boys,” insisted Sam.

”The best way to find out is to try it,” went on the captain. ”So long as you run with care, nothing can happen to you because of the extra load. Of course if the weight is too heavy the biplane won't go up, or if it does, it won't stay up.”

The following day came a telegraph message from one of the old Putnam Hall pupils, Hans Mueller. He sent word that he would be in that vicinity and would call on the Rovers.

”Good for Hans!” cried Tom, who scented fun. ”Maybe we can take him up in the _Dartaway_.”

”Hans would be scared stiff,” returned d.i.c.k.

”It would take all the starch out of him,” said Sam.

”In that case, how could he be scared stiff?” asked Tom, dryly.

It was arranged that Sam should run down to the depot with the auto for the German youth. In the meantime Captain Colby and the other boys got out the _Dartaway_ and prepared for more trial flights. Then d.i.c.k went up and remained in the air for twelve minutes, making a number of turns that were very graceful, and taking a little trip over the woods back of the farm.

”It's a sport that can't be beat, Tom,” he said, on coming down. ”I believe everybody will be getting a flying machine before long--just as folks have been getting autos.”

The supply of gasoline had been replenished and the lubricating oil renewed, and then Tom went up. He flew around the cornfield twice, then headed in the direction of Oak Run.

”I guess he has gone off to meet Sam and Hans,” said d.i.c.k. ”I heard the train go through and they must be on the way here by now.”

”Your brother certainly takes chances,” replied Captain Colby.

”He always did. Tom acts first and thinks afterwards,--but he usually comes out on top,” added d.i.c.k, loyally.

In the meantime Sam had reached the depot at Oak Run just as the train came in. He immediately espied Hans Mueller, dress-suit case in hand, and ran to meet him.