Part 17 (1/2)

”Huh! I guess that Rover boy has been a'jokin' you ag'in, Ricky,” said Ludd, with a grin. ”How about thet busted-up bonfire, an' that snaky cigar? Ha! ha! he had you them times, didn't he?”

”You shet up, Ham Ludd!” roared the stationmaster. ”Don't you say another word!”

”I'll say all I please! An' you'll put up that fence, too, or I'll have the law on ye!” retorted Ham Ludd; and then went on his way.

”Hang them Rover boys anyway!” muttered old Ricks, as he gritted his teeth. ”I'll be glad when they go off to college ag'in. Wish they would stay away!” And he went about his work.

”Ricks and Ludd will have it in for each other from now on,” remarked d.i.c.k, as he and his brothers got into the automobile to go home.

”Yes, and he'll have it in for us--me especially,” returned Tom, with a broad grin. ”Never mind; I can stand it,” he added, carelessly.

Troubles, past or to come, never set heavily on that fun-loving youth's shoulders.

The boys had given the biplane one trial in carrying two pa.s.sengers, d.i.c.k and Sam going up together while Captain Colby was present. On the day following the departure of Hans, they rearranged the seats on the _Dartaway_ and got ready to go up three strong, provided the biplane would carry the load.

”I know she will do it if we get a more powerful engine,” said d.i.c.k.

”Then we'll get the engine,” returned Sam.

They made the start with care, all the others at the homestead being present to witness the trial. The _Dartaway_ went up slowly, with d.i.c.k 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 d.i.c.k. ”We won't be able to fly very high nor very long.”

”But it's great to be up together!” murmured Sam.

They flew for nearly ten minutes, making wide circles and a big figure eight. They went over the house and the barn, and in plain sight of several surrounding farms, men, women and children coming out to look at them. Once more the Rover boys were the talk of the whole country-side.

”Ain't nothing they can't do,” said one of the farmers living near. ”If they tackle a thing it's plumb bound to go through, every time!”

”It's because they are so full of grit and push,” answered his wife.

”Wish our Jed was like 'em,” she added, wistfully.

”Jed ain't never had no chanct, Mirandy.”

”Boys like them Rovers make their own chances, Silas,” she retorted.

That evening it was Tom who made a proposal that met with instant approval from his brothers.

”Let's go to the college in the biplane,” he said.

”Hurrah! just the cream!” returned Sam. ”Say, won't the fellows stare when they see us!”

”Very nice, but we can't very well fly all the way from here to Ashton,”

put in d.i.c.k, mentioning the town near which Brill College was located.

”Oh, I didn't mean that,” explained Tom. ”I meant to fly from Ashton to Brill. We could s.h.i.+p the biplane to Ashton in secret, put it together on the sly, and create a big sensation by coming down right on the college campus.”

”Tom, you're a wonder!” cried Sam. ”It's the best plan ever! Oh, let's do it!”