The oldest Rover boy did as requested, leaning over from the back seat
to do so, and thus leaving Tom free to manipulate the steering wheel.
Dick also set the hand brake a notch tighter, but this did little good,
since it was the bands that were worn.

On and on bounded the touring car, down the long hill. On both sides the
road was bound by rocks and trees, with nasty gullies in several spots.
Here and there were "resting spots" for teams, and over these
indentations flew the automobile with jolts that threatened to break all
the springs at once.

"The turn! Beware of the turn!" cried Sam and Dick together, when about
three-quarters of the hill had been passed.

Tom nodded but said not a word. He had thrown the motive power to the
low gear, and thus the engine was doing something towards holding the
car back.

Suddenly Dick uttered a cry, and the next minute Sam saw him dive down
to the bottom of the tonneau and bring up several long ropes to which
were attached a number of hooks. He had placed these in the automobile
for possible use in getting the _Dartaway_ out of the woods or from
among the rocks.

With care Dick took the hooks and threw them out of the machine. At the
same time he leaned over and allowed the ends of the ropes to catch on
the swiftly-revolving wheels of the machine.

"Maybe they'll hold something--anyway I hope so," he said.

They had now reached the turn. Tom was running as closely as possible
to the inner side and Dick had commenced to toot the horn again. With a
slipping and sliding, the touring car went over the dirt and stones,
rushing nearer and nearer to the gully on the outer edge of the highway.

"Look! Look!" screamed Sam, a second later. "A carriage, and three
ladies in it!"

He was right, and the carriage was less than a hundred yards ahead. But
just now Tom could think of nothing but the turn, for the machine was
running closer than ever to the gully. If they went down in that the
touring car would most likely turn turtle, and they might all be killed.

But they did not go down into the gully. By sheer good luck Tom managed
to throw the automobile back into the roadway, two wheels for a second
spinning in midair. Then he had to reckon with the other danger--that of
hitting the carriage with the three ladies.

The ladies had heard the tooting of the auto horn and had tried to draw
up to the side of the road. But the incline was still steep and the two
horses evidently did not like the looks of that gully.

"You can't pass them!" groaned Sam, and just then came a grinding from
underneath the touring car. This was followed by a series of jerks, and
then came one final jerk that brought the automobile to a standstill and
all but sent the Rover boys flying over the engine hood.

"Well, we've stopped!" panted Tom, when he could catch his breath. "I
guess the brake held somehow."

"No, it didn't," answered Sam. "It's another brake, one that Dick heaved
overboard." And he pointed to the ropes and hooks. One hook, the
biggest, had caught in a rock lining the gully, and the ropes were in a
mess around the wheels and the rear axle.

"Good for you!" murmured Tom. "It saved us from running into that
carriage."

"Are you men going on?" cried one of the ladies, noticing that the
automobile had come to a stop.

"Not just yet!" sang out Dick. "You can go ahead if you wish. We'll wait
until you get down to the bottom of the hill--and maybe we'll wait
longer," he added in an undertone.

"You scared us nearly to death," said another of the ladies, tartly; and
then the carriage went on and was soon lost to sight on a side road.

The three youths alighted, and after blocking the wheels with stones, so
that it might not get away unexpectedly, commenced an inspection of the
car.

"The ropes wouldn't do much damage but the hooks might," said Dick. "But
I couldn't think of anything else to do."

"It was grand of you to do that," answered Tom, warmly. "I was a fool to
let her out as I did," he added bluntly. "I'll know better next time."

That was Tom, often headstrong but quick to acknowledge a fault.

Not without much difficulty did the three youths manage to get the ropes
disentangled from the rear wheels and the back axle. It was found that
one of the hooks had gone into a tire, causing a blow-out that, in the
general excitement, nobody had noticed. But otherwise everything seemed
to be all right, apart, of course, from the broken brake rod, and the
boys were thankful.

"I guess we can manage to run to the nearest blacksmith shop," said
Dick, "and there we can get the rod mended."

"What a lucky thing that big hook caught in the rock!" cried Sam.

"It's the one thing that saved us from going into the carriage,"
returned Tom, and his face was very sober as he spoke. For a time being
he did not feel like running the car further and readily agreed to let
Sam take hold, after another tire had been adjusted. To keep the
automobile from going down the remainder of the hill too rapidly, they
allowed one of the ropes to remain on the rear axle, and to this tied a
small fallen tree, that made an excellent drag.

When the level roadway was gained once more they made good time to
Carwood, and there called on the blacksmith to repair the broken brake
rod. While waiting they ran into Tom Bender, and the boy was very
anxious to know all about the lost aeroplane.

"Say, but you fellows have a cinch!" he said, in admiration. "You get
what you please. Wish I was in your shoes!"

"You'd not want to be in our shoes when that brake rod broke," answered
Sam bluntly. "Eh, Tom?"

"Not much!" replied his brother.

At last they were on the way again. They had telephoned to Peter Marley,
so that the farmer would know the cause of the delay. Sam did the
driving and now the machine went along well, and almost before they knew
it they were at Rayville and asking the way to the Marley farm. This was
on a back road, but the way was good and they reached the farm without
trouble, excepting that they had to slow down to let a herd of cows pass
them.

"Got here at last, have ye!" cried Peter Marley, as he came out to
greet them. "You kin put that 'mobile under the wagon shed if ye want
to," he added.

"Can't we use it to go after the biplane?" questioned Dick.

"No, there hain't no fit road. If ye say so, we can go on hosses--if ye
want to pay fer ridin'," added the farmer shrewdly. He was a good man,
but close, and never allowed a chance to make an honest cent slip by.

"All right, we'll ride," said Dick. "The horses may come in handy for
hauling the biplane,--and besides, we can't carry these ropes and hooks
if we walk."

So it was arranged; and a little later the party of four set off on
horseback, the farmer and Tom carrying the ropes and hooks, and Sam
keeping beside Dick, who looked a trifle pale in spite of his efforts to
appear all right. The knock-down blow from the flying machine had been
harder than the eldest Rover boy was willing to admit.

Rocker's Woods proved to be a large patch of scrub timber, all the large
trees having been cut down to feed the old saw-mill, which still stood
on the bank of a good-sized stream. The saw-mill had not been used for
nine years and the timber was gradually coming up once more.

"This is exactly the way thet airship tuk," said Peter Marley, as he
led the way. "An' as she wasn't runnin' very fast I guess she must
a-come down not very fur off."

"I hope so," answered Dick. "And I hope, too, she came down gently."

"Huh! How could she come down any other way? Ain't much to 'em, is
there, 'ceptin' sticks an' cloth."

"The engine weighs several hundred pounds."

"Gee shoo! Several hundred pounds! Say, if thet's so, it's great how
they kin stay up!" burst out the farmer in admiration. "Ain't no bird as
weighs as much as thet!"

As they advanced through the woods, all of the party looked to the right
and the left for some sign of the missing biplane.

"Here's a tree top down!" cried Tom, when they were close to the river
on which the old saw mill was located. "This looks as if it might have
been done by the machine."

"Gracious, I wonder if the airship went into the river!" burst out Sam.

"That might be a good thing, if it did," answered Dick. "It might save
it from being wrecked, and we might be able to tow it ashore."

In a moment more they came to a halt at the edge of the river, which was
broad and smooth at this point. In the middle the stream was ten to
twelve feet deep, and the bottom was of sand and smooth rocks.

"I don't see anything that looks like a flying machine," said Sam after
a long look around.

"Maybe after all it went over into the woods on the other side,"
returned Dick.

"That must be it," said Peter Marley. "I'm afraid we'll have to go up
the stream a bit to get across. We can't ford here."

"How far to a good ford?" asked Dick.

"About quarter o' a mile tudder side o' the old mill."

"Say, look over there!" cried Tom at this moment. "What does that look
like to you, Sam?"

He pointed with his hand, and all in the party gazed in the direction
indicated, a point close to the opposite shore, where some brushwood
overhung the river.

"Why that looks to me like one of the planes of the flying machine!"
cried the youngest Rover.

"Just what I thought," exclaimed Tom. "What do you say, Dick?"

"It certainly does look like one of the planes," answered the older
brother. "But don't be too sure, or we may be disappointed."

"Too bad we can't get over here," murmured Sam. "Supposing I swim it?"
he continued.

"No, don't bother, Sam," replied Dick. "We'll all go around by way of
the ford. You can't do anything alone anyway."

"But I might make sure if it was the machine," insisted Sam.

"Never mind; we want to get over there anyway--to continue the
search--if that isn't the machine."

Again Peter Marley led the way, along a trail that ran past the old
mill. The boys came close at his heels, and as they advanced Tom
questioned the farmer concerning the place.

"It belongs to a lumber company, but it's been closed up fer years,"
said Peter Marley. "Once in a while tramps hang out there, but thet's
all."

Presently they found themselves close to the mill, which was almost
ready to fall down from disuse and neglect. As they rode up Tom chanced
to glance towards a side window and was surprised to catch sight of a
man looking curiously at them. As soon as he saw that he was discovered
the man stepped out of sight.

"Well, I never!" gasped Tom. "Did you see him?"

"See who?" asked his brothers.

"That man at the window of the mill! Unless I am greatly mistaken it was
Josiah Crabtree!"




CHAPTER VI

TWO OLD ENEMIES


"Josiah Crabtree!" came simultaneously from Dick and Sam Rover.

"Yes," returned Tom.

"How can he be here, in this out-of-the-way place?" demanded Sam.

"You must be mistaken, Tom," came from the eldest Rover boy. "Old
Crabtree must be around Cedarville or in Ithaca. He would have no call
to come to a place like this."

"Did you say Josiah Crabtree?" questioned Peter Marley, curiously. All
had come to a halt on their horses.

"Yes," returned Tom quickly. "Do you know him?"

"I used to know him--fact is, he once stopped at my place to git a
ride--when he was a-visitin' thet old mill."

"Then he visits the mill!" exclaimed Dick. "Tom, you must have been
right."

"But why does he come here?" questioned Sam.

"Why as near as I know, some relative o' his'n used to have an interest
in the lumber company as run the mill," replied the farmer. "It was a
man named Foxwell. He's dead now. Maybe he left his share o' the place
to this man Crabtree. He was a teacher, wasn't he?"

"He was, years ago. Since then he has been a jailbird," answered Tom.

"A jailbird!"

"Yes, he was in jail for a number of years--and since he has been out he
has been trying his best to make trouble for us and for some of our
friends," went on Tom. "Come on, let's go after him, instead of
talking," he added, as he dismounted.

"That's the talk!" cried Sam. "The biplane can wait."

Dick was as willing as his brothers to go after the former teacher of
Putnam Hall, and leaving the farmer to take care of the horses, all
three ran up to the door of the old mill. It was unlocked, and one of
the hinges was broken, and it was an easy matter for them to push their
way into the building.

"Do you think Tad Sobber is with old Crabtree?" asked Sam, in a low
voice.

"It may be--since they were together when the girls saw them," returned
Dick.

"We ought to have armed ourselves," put in Tom. The boys had no weapons
of any kind.

"Here are some old barrel staves," said Tom. "They are better than
nothing." And he picked up a stave and his brothers followed suit.

With caution the three Rover boys advanced through the old mill, which,
because of the closed doors and dirty windows, was a gloomy place in
spite of the brightness of the day outside. All listened intently, but
not a sound reached their ears, excepting Mr. Marley's voice as he
talked to the restless horses.

"Supposing I call to him?" suggested Dick.

"It can't do any harm," answered Sam.

"Hello, Mr. Crabtree!" sang out Tom, without waiting for his brother.
"Where are you? Why don't you show yourself?"

All waited after this call. But no reply came back, and then Dick and
Sam called.

"He's a bit bashful," was Tom's grinning comment. "Wants to be hauled
out by the coattails, I guess. Come on, we'll soon locate him," and he
started forward.

"Be careful, Tom!" warned his elder brother. "He may set a trap for you!
You know he and Sobber are not to be trusted."

"I've got my eyes open," answered the fun-loving Rover sturdily.

With the barrel staves in hand, the three Rover boys advanced further
and further into the old mill, going from one room to another.
Occasionally they stumbled over bits of lumber and piles of sawdust, for
when the place had been shut down no attempt had been made to clean up.
Even some of the machinery had been left and this was now so rusted that
it was practically unfit for use.

"Say, Mr. Crabtree, why don't you show yourself?" called out Dick. "Are
you afraid?"

"You get out of here!" came the unexpected answer, from a small
toolroom, the door to which was split but tightly closed. "You Rovers
have no right on this property!"

The boys recognized the harsh and dictatorial voice of Josiah
Crabtree,--less pleasant now than it ever had been. They saw the former
teacher glaring at them from the split in the toolroom door.

"Mr. Crabtree, come out here and let us talk to you," said Dick, quietly
but firmly.

"I don't want to talk to you--I want you to leave these premises,"
snarled the man.

"Why should we leave?" asked Tom.

"Because this is my property."

"Your property?" cried Sam. "How so?"

"It was left to me by a distant relative. I won't have you on the
place."

"Mr. Crabtree, do you know that we can have you arrested?" said Dick,
sharply.

"Arrested? What for?"

"For the abduction of Mrs. Stanhope."

"I didn't abduct her--she went along of her own free will--I can prove
it."

"You know that statement is false. You carried her off against her
will--and did what you could to hypnotize her into marrying you. Mr.
Crabtree, you are a villain, and you ought to be returned to the prison
from which you came."

"Don't you dare to talk to me like that! Don't you dare!" fairly
shrieked Josiah Crabtree. "I know my rights, and some day I'll have the
law on you boys! You are responsible for my being sent to prison, and
but for you Mrs. Stanhope would have married me long ago. Now I want you
to leave these premises, and don't you dare to come back."

"Is Tad Sobber with you?" asked Tom.

"I am not here to answer questions, Tom Rover. I want to leave, and at
once."

"Mr. Crabtree, you listen to me," said Dick, stepping closer to the
crack in the door. "We are not afraid of you, and we want you and Tad
Sobber to know it. Were it not for the unpleasant publicity for Mrs.
Stanhope and her daughter, we'd have you in the lock-up inside of
twenty-four hours. We understand that you and Sobber have been
threatening the Stanhopes and the Lanings again, and also threatening
us. Now these threats have got to stop, and you have got to behave
yourself. If you don't behave yourself we are going to make it our
business to see that you are arrested, and we'll do our level best to
have you placed behind the bars for a long term of years."

"I--I--will--er----" stammered the former teacher of Putnam Hall. He did
not know how to proceed.

"Ah, don't you get scared!" came in a low voice from inside the
toolroom. "You know what the Rovers are."

"It must be Tad Sobber!" cried Tom. "Sobber, if you are in there why
don't you show yourself? 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. And I mean to square up for the way
you have treated me, too."

"Are you two going to settle down here?" asked Sam, just for something
to say.

"That is none of your business," answered Josiah Crabtree. "Now I want
you to leave."

"Sobber, what has become of Jerry Koswell and Bart Larkspur?" asked
Dick, wishing to know something of those former good-for-nothing
students of Brill College.

"Never you mind what has become of them," answered Sobber. "But don't
think you have seen the last of them, Dick Rover. They haven't forgotten
how you treated them on Chesoque Island and elsewhere, and they mean to
even up that score."

"Are they here with you?"

"No. But I'm going to keep in touch with them, and some day we---- But
never mind now. Just you wait, that's all!" finished Tad Sobber,
meaningly.

"You'll try to play us foul,--just as you tried in the past," said
Dick. "Very well, I'll remember that, Sobber. And you remember what I
told you. The next time there is trouble we'll fight it out to the
bitter end."

There was a moment of silence.

"I want you to go away," said Josiah Crabtree, and there was just a
trace of nervousness in his tones. Evidently Dick's firm words had had
some effect.

"We are going," answered Dick. "Both of you remember what I said." And
then he motioned to his brothers; and all three left the old mill.

"Well, did ye find the feller ye was after?" queried Peter Marley, as
the boys came out to where he stood with the horses.

"We did," answered Dick, and nudged his brothers, to keep them quiet.
"It's Josiah Crabtree all right. And we had quite a talk with him."

"Wot's he going to do here?"

"He says it is his property--left to him by a distant relative. He
ordered us away."

"Must have been Foxwell left him the place. Is he going to start the
mill up ag'in?"

"He didn't say."

"If he's a jailbird I'll hate to see him in these parts," went on the
farmer soberly.

"Well, it won't hurt you to keep an eye on him, Mr. Marley," answered
Dick, and then, struck with a sudden idea, he continued: "And if you
see or hear anything wrong about him, will you do us the favor to let us
know at once, over the telephone, or otherwise? 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. If that was the flying machine,
I hope she isn't damaged much," he added, wistfully, for he had hoped to
get a good deal of sport out of sailing the _Dartaway_.

"Well, if that was the biplane, she must have landed in the river, and
that would break the shock some," said Sam, hopefully.

"Yes, especially if she came down on a slant," added Dick. "Maybe she
struck the water and scaled along like a clamshell."

Along the river they proceeded for quite a distance and then came to
the spot that the farmer said was the ford.

"Not so very shallow either," was Dick's comment. "Mr. Marley, are you
sure of the footing?"

"Yes, I've been across any number of times," was the answer. "I'll lead
the way. Be careful, fer the rocks is slippery an' if a hoss goes down
he might give ye a nasty tumble."

And then Peter Marley urged his steed into the river and one by one the
Rover boys followed him.




CHAPTER VII

THE RUNAWAY HORSES


In the middle of the river the ford was so deep that the water almost
touched the feet of the riders. But fortunately the current was
sluggish, so the horses managed to keep their footing. They were allowed
to take their own time, so it took several minutes to gain the opposite
shore.

"Well, I'm glad we are out of that," was Tom's comment, as they reached
a trail on the other bank.

"We'll have to endure it again, to get back," said Sam. "And what about
the biplane?"

"Just wait till we find the machine first," answered Dick, with a faint
smile. "You know the old saying, 'Don't count your chickens----'"

"Before they are fried," finished Tom, with a grin. "You see, somebody
might lift them from the henroost before you had a chance to cook them,"
he went on soberly.

"By gum! thet ain't no joke nuther!" burst in Peter Marley. "Many a
chicken I've lost through tramps an' wuthless niggers."

[Illustration: "THERE SHE IS!" BURST FROM TOM'S LIPS.--_Page_ 63. _Rover
Boys in the Air._]

They had to go around several walls of rocks and through a tangle of
brushwood, and then came to a small clearing where was located the
remains of a wood-cutter's hut. Not far beyond was the locality where
they had seen the object that looked like one of the biplane's wings.

It must be confessed that the hearts of the three boys beat a bit faster
as they drew closer. Would they find the flying machine, and if so,
would it be in serviceable condition or so smashed up as to be
worthless?

"There she is!" burst from Tom's lips, and he pointed out into the
water.

"Right down between half a dozen big rocks," added Sam. "Is she smashed
much? How about the engine, Dick?"

"The engine is there, but I can't tell if it's broken or not. We'll soon
find out."

The big biplane lay among some rocks and bushes, the latter overhanging
the water, which at this spot was less than two feet deep. By taking off
their shoes and socks, and rolling up their trousers, the boys were able
to wade out to the flying machine and make an inspection.

"One of the planes is broken," said Dick. "But as the bamboo poles are
merely split I think they can be repaired with some fine wire,--just as
we repair a split baseball bat."

"But the engine?" asked Sam, impatiently.

"I think the engine is all right--at least it looks all right to me. Of
course we can't be sure until we clean it up and try it."

"Then she must have struck the water on the slant and that must have
broken the shock," said Tom; and this surmise was undoubtedly correct,
for had the _Dartaway_ come down squarely on the rocks the planes and
the engine must have been broken to bits.

"Do you think we can get her ashore?" asked Sam.

"Sure we can, by the aid of the hooks and ropes, and the horses. But we
want to be careful how it's done. There is no sense in breaking the
machine still more."

"We might get some planks from that old hut and roll the wheels up on
them," suggested Tom. "I don't believe anybody uses the hut."

"No, that ain't been used for years," said Peter Marley. "Ye can tear
down the hull thing if ye want to."

The boys and the farmer set to work, and presently they had several
rough planks taken from the sides of the hut. They had the horses drag
these down to the water, and by hard work managed to get the planks
under the flying machine. As the planks were of wood they aided in
floating the affair.

"By jinks! I've got an idea!" suddenly cried Dick. "We'll want the
machine on the other side of the river. Why not build a raft and float
her over instead of bringing her ashore here? There is plenty of stuff
in that old hut."

"That's the ticket!" answered Tom. "Hurrah for a life on the rolling
deep!"

"It's a good idee," was the farmer's comment. "I was wonderin' how we'd
git over with the contraption. You kin keep on shovin' planks an' logs
under till she floats, an' tie them together with the ropes ye brung
along. A good idee."

It was not until noon that they had the so-called raft built and the
biplane fastened to it. The work had made them all hungry and they were
glad that they had brought along a substantial lunch. They sat down in
the shade of the woods to eat, washing the meal down with some water
from a spring back of the old hut,--or rather of what was now left of
the structure. While the boys ate they talked about Josiah Crabtree and
Tad Sobber and the others who were their enemies.

"They'll surely try to do something," said Dick. "But what it will be I
can't guess. We'll have to keep on guard."

"Who is going to go on the raft?" asked Sam. "It won't carry all of us."

"I'll pole it over," answered Dick. "The rest of you will have to go
around by the ford."

"Don't you want any help?" asked Tom.

"No, I think I can do it alone. If two of us got on the raft it might
sink too deep and get stuck on the rocks."

So it was arranged, and a few minutes later Dick set off. Peter Marley
had cut for him a slender but tough pole, which he was to use in shoving
the novel craft across the stream.

"Don't go overboard!" cried Sam.

"I'm going to take off the most of my clothing," answered the older
brother. "You can carry the things for me--and don't drop them at the
ford."

Soon Dick was on the way, standing behind the biplane and using the long
pole as best he could. He was in water up to his ankles and as the
planks were slippery he had to watch his footing. Once he came close to
going overboard but saved himself by clutching one of the wire stays of
the machine.

In the middle of the stream the current caught the raft and forced it
down the river for quite a distance. But Dick had expected this, and
kept his eyes on a sandy stretch still further below. He poled along
with vigor, and did what he could to avoid the rocks and shallows. Once
the raft caught fast, but soon he had it loose again, and a few minutes
later the sandy stretch was gained and he sent the raft shoreward with
all his force. It came up on the sand and there it stuck; and the voyage
was at an end. Somewhat out of breath, Dick sat down to await the coming
of the others.

"Safe and sound, eh?" cried Tom, as he galloped up from the ford. "Good
enough!"

"Now what's the next move?" asked Sam, who was at his brother's heels.

"We'll let the horses pull the whole concern up into the meadow,"
answered Dick. And as soon as Peter Marley arrived this was done, and
then the biplane was unfastened from the raft and rolled still further
inland, to a level, grassy field belonging to a farm of the vicinity.

The boys were anxious to learn if the engine of the flying machine was
in running order, and all set to work at once, drying and cleaning the
parts. Fortunately the gasoline tank had remained airtight. While Tom
looked over the spark plugs and Sam tried the oil feed, Dick adjusted
the carburetor and magneto.

"Now I guess we can try it," said the eldest Rover boy, at last. "But
we'll tie her down first," he added, with a grin.

"Yes, and good and hard this time," added Tom.

"Rope her to the raft," suggested Sam. "And drive a few stakes in the
ground, too," and this was done.

It was a wonder that none of the propeller blades had been broken, yet
such was a fact. They were scratched and nicked, but a coat of varnish
would soon remedy all that.

Dick turned on the spark, adjusted the gasoline feed, and then he and
Tom took hold of the propeller blades. Half a dozen turns proved
unavailing and the boys looked glumly at each other. Had the engine been
damaged after all?

"Give her another," said Dick, and this was done. Then the engine
suddenly responded, and there followed those gatling-gun like explosions
that set the horses to prancing wildly.

"Hi! hi! let up with thet racket!" yelled Peter Marley. "If ye don't
them hosses will run away!"

"All right, I'll stop her and you can take the horses up into the
field," answered Dick.

He sprang to the front of the biplane to stop the engine, but ere he
could do so one of the horses broke away and galloped madly away in the
direction of the woods. Then another followed.

"There they go!" bawled the farmer, lustily. "Stop 'em!"

Sam and Tom leaped to do as bidden. But they were too late, and so was
Peter Marley. Across the field dashed the horses, badly frightened by
the noise, and in a few seconds they disappeared into the timber.

"Well, by gum! Now what's to be did?" asked the farmer helplessly.

"Let's go after 'em!" answered Tom, running for the horse he had ridden.
"We ought to be able to catch them, Mr. Marley. Dick and Sam can stay
here."

"All right, we'll try it," answered the farmer. "But them critters is
powerful runners, I can tell ye thet! That black don't like no better
fun than to run away."

"Take care of yourself, Tom," called Dick, who had now stopped the
engine. And then he and Sam watched their brother and the farmer as they
went riding away at top speed after the runaway steeds.

"Well, anyway, the engine seems to be O. K.," remarked Sam, after the
others had disappeared. "And the propellers go around like circular
saws. Now all we've got to do is to have those bamboo sticks bound up,
or replaced by new ones. Wouldn't it be great if we could go home in
this machine!" he added, enthusiastically.

The boys inspected the split poles and the canvas, which had been
punctured in several places, and then tried the engine once more.

"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 airship," answered Dick, pleasantly. "I was trying the
engine, that's all."

"Gosh all hemlock! An airship, 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 Dick. "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 airship. Boys, this is one of
them airships 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 Dick. 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 Dick, 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
Dick. "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.

"Do you think she'd be safe here?" whispered Dick, to Peter Marley.

"She will be so far as Snubble is concerned," said the farmer. "He'll
leave her alone, an' so will his sons. But some outsider may come an'
fool with her."

"Well, we've got to take that chance," returned the eldest Rover boy.
"We won't leave the biplane here any longer than necessary."

It was not until nearly supper time that the boys got back to Rayville.
Here Peter Marley was paid for what he had done, and then the youths
lost no time in running out their automobile and going home.

The next day they telegraphed to the aviator who was to give them
lessons in sailing the _Dartaway_, and he came as soon as he could. He
listened with much interest to what the lads had to tell him.

"Well, it was certainly a great try-out!" he declared. "It proves that
the _Dartaway_ is a well-balanced machine, and that means much."

He had brought with him the necessary wire for repairs, and soon all
were on the way to the Snubble farm, taking a road that would land them
directly at the door.

"Glad you come!" cried John Snubble on seeing the boys. "Going to take
the machine right away, ain't you?"

"We hope to," answered Dick. "Why?" For he saw that the farmer had
something on his mind.

"Might have been burnt up last night, that's why."

"Burnt up!" cried Tom. "How?"

"Heard a noise outside about eleven o'clock--my wife did, she ain't well
an' don't sleep good. I came down with my shotgun, thinkin' chicken
thieves might be around. I heard somebuddy at the flyin' machine and
sneaked up to see who it was. Hang my skin if a young feller wasn't
there with a lighted candle an' some loose hay, and wantin' to start a
fire close to the gasoline tank! I gave a yell, an' he dropped the
candle and legged it for dear life."

"Why didn't you stop him, or shoot him?" queried Sam.

"I was too excited, fer the candle dropped into the hay an' it begun to
blaze up. I stamped the fire out, an' by that time the feller was out o'
sight."

"He must have wanted to blow the biplane up!" exclaimed Captain Colby.

"He sure did, an' he might have burnt up the shed an' the barn, an' the
house, too!" added John Snubble.

The three Rover boys looked at each other. The same thought was in the
mind of each.

"Tad Sobber!" murmured Sam.

"Sure as you're a foot high," added Tom. "Oh, what a mean thing to do!"

"He must have watched what we did, and then planned to wreck the
_Dartaway_," said Dick. "It's just like his meanness."

"Let's go down to the old mill after him," burst out Tom. "I'd like
nothing better than to wipe up the ground with him." And he clenched his
fists tightly.

"Humph! Do you think he'd show himself?" asked Sam. "Not much! He'd hide
where you couldn't find him. Now he and old Crabtree know we are around
they'll take good care not to get caught."

"We might burn down the old mill!" murmured Tom. "It would serve 'em
right, for all their meanness."

"Let it go," was Dick's advice. "Some day we'll catch both of them
red-handed at something, and then we can give 'em what's coming to 'em."

The matter was talked over with John Snubble and the aviator, and the
farmer said he would keep on guard against Sobber and Crabtree and
report to Dick if he found out anything unusual. Then the biplane was
brought forth, and Captain Colby made an examination.

"All these breaks can easily be mended," said the aviator. "We'll go to
work at once. Then I'll give the _Dartaway_ a little try-out, and if she
runs as she should I'll take her back to your home."

"Don't you want a passenger?" asked Sam and Tom in a breath.

"Why, do you want to go?"

"Sure!"

"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. I want to try the machine
several times before I risk taking anybody up."

The Snubble boys were delighted to think they could see the _Dartaway_
fly and they assisted the others in making the necessary repairs. For
two hours all were very busy and then Captain Colby announced the
biplane in as good a condition as before the wild flight.

"Now I'll give her a short try-out," he said, and this was done. Up into
the air mounted the _Dartaway_ as gracefully as a bird, and all of the
boys clapped their hands in delight.

"By gum! beats the nation!" said one of the Snubble lads.

"It's grand! I'm going to save up for one!" added the other.

Around the field sailed Captain Colby and then made the figure eight
three times. Then he came down near the spot from which he had started.

"Couldn't be better," he declared. "I could take her a hundred miles if
I wished."

"Wish I could go up," said Sam wistfully.

"Your time will come pretty soon," added the aviator. "The flight to
your home will be a good test."

A little later the aviator arose again in the air, this time headed for
Valley Brook farm. The boys were also ready and started off immediately
in the automobile.

"Come again!" shouted the Snubble boys.

"We will," answered Dick. "Your field makes a dandy landing place."

Dick ran the automobile and put on good speed all the way home. As they
went along they watched the flight of the biplane, but soon the machine
passed from view.

"She certainly can sail!" cried Tom. "Oh, Dick, we'll have to take her
to Brill with us!"

"That's it!" cried Sam. "What's the use of leaving her behind? We can
sail after college hours."

"Yes, and think how quickly we could get over to Hope Seminary," went
on Tom. The place he mentioned was a young ladies' boarding school
located not many miles from Brill. Dora Stanhope went to Hope, and so
did the two Laning girls.

"We'll see about it," replied Dick, briefly. But the idea of taking the
flying machine to Brill pleased him as much as it did his brothers.

When they got home they found that Captain Colby had already arrived. He
and the _Dartaway_ were in the field back of the barn, and surrounding
the aviator were all the members of the Rover household.

"Well, boys, got back, eh?" cried Anderson Rover, as they rolled up in
the automobile.

"Hello, dad!" came from all three. And then they leaped to the ground to
greet their parent. All could not help but notice that he looked a
trifle pale and careworn.

"Was your trip a success?" asked Dick, in a low voice.

"I don't know yet--I hope so," answered the father. "Some business
matters have gotten pretty well twisted up. But never mind now. I see
your new machine can fly." And Anderson Rover smiled.

"Oh, she's a peach!" cried Tom slangily. "We expect to have the
greatest times ever in her!"

"Yes, but you must learn all about the biplane first," added the fond
father anxiously. "You mustn't think of going up until you are sure of
what you are doing."

"Dat am suttenly de greatest bird wot I most eber see!" declared Aleck
Pop solemnly. "If I hadn't dun see it wid my own eyes I wouldn't nebber
believe it nohow!"

"That's a fact," added Jack Ness. "When the boys go up in it there won't
be no holdin' 'em in."

"We're going to take you up, first thing, Jack," said Tom, with a wink
at his brothers.

"Me? Not much!" cried the hired man. "I wasn't built to fly, not me!"
And he began to back away in alarm.

After dinner Captain Colby made another trial flight, and then gave the
three boys a lesson in the manipulation of the biplane, showing them
just how to regulate the engine while running, how to balance the
machine, how to steer, and how to make various turns.

"Do you ride bicycles?" he asked.

"We do, and have for years," answered Dick.

"And do you swim?"

"Of course," came from all of the lads.

"Then just remember how you felt when you first tried to ride a wheel
and when you first tried to swim. You got excited, didn't you? And when
you thought the wheel was going over you gave it a wild twist that did
send you over, and when you thought you were going to drown you thrashed
around in a way that only made matters worse. Well, that's a lesson to
remember in running a flying machine. Don't get excited and lose your
presence of mind, or it may cost you your life. Keep cool, act quickly,
but don't overdo a thing. If the machine is tipping a little to one
side, don't get excited and throw it clean over the other way. And don't
try to make any sharp turns until you know your machine thoroughly."

Then he had them watch him while making several flights close to the
ground, and told them exactly what he was going to do. This lasted for
two days.

"Running an auto and a bicycle will help you," he said. "But sailing a
biplane is, after all, a science in itself. But you'll learn--I see that
by the way you take hold."

There had been a slight breeze blowing during the third afternoon, but
towards sunset this went down, and then the aviator said that Dick might
try a short flight, over a cornfield that was close by.

"Don't go too high," he cautioned. "And if you feel the biplane turning
over try to jump clear of the engine, so it can't crush you."

It must be confessed that Dick's heart beat loudly as he took his seat
in the flying machine. It was one thing to talk about going up and quite
another to really fly. He realized the danger far more than did
merry-hearted Tom, or even Sam. But he was not going to show the white
feather.

The engine was started, the others holding the machine back. Dick
grasped the steering wheel and put his feet on the pedals.

"All ready?" asked Captain Colby.

"Yes. Let go."

"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 Dick shifted 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, Dick! 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 Dick 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 Dick 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 Dick 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 Dick 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 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. 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.

"If you feel equal to it," answered the captain.

"Sure thing."

Once more the biplane was gotten ready, and with another rush and a
whizz the _Dartaway_ shot into the air. For a moment, as the machine
wobbled from side to side, it looked as if Tom would have an accident,
and his brothers gave a shiver. But then he managed to steady the
machine and over the cornfield he flew, and around in a big circle
twice. Then he made a still larger turn, well up in the air, and in a
few seconds more was sailing over the barn and then over the Rover home!

"Gracious, that's Tom!" murmured Sam. "Always bound to go the limit!"

The noise of the engine caused those in the house to rush out and look
at the machine.

"Who is running it, that aviator?" queried Mrs. Rover.

"No, it's Tom," replied her husband.

"Tom!" burst out Anderson Rover. "Impossible! Why he doesn't know
enough about it yet."

"He'll be killed!" moaned Mrs. Rover. "Oh, what a daring boy!" And she
began to wring her hands in despair.

Over the house flew the biplane, and then made another turn and came
back. Then came sudden silence.

"Something is wrong!" cried Anderson Rover. "The engine has stopped
working!"

"He's coming down like a bird!" exclaimed Aleck Pop. "Now jess to look
at dat!"

As he spoke the biplane glided slowly to the ground, landing near the
barn. All rushed to the spot. There sat Tom grinning broadly.

"How was that?" he asked coolly. "Wasn't that a dandy initial flight?"

"Tom! Tom!" cried his aunt. "You'll kill me with your daring! Are you
hurt? Did something break?"

"No, I'm not hurt, aunty, and nothing broke," he answered. "Oh, it was
immense! I could have stayed up an hour if I had wanted to."

"Very good--very good indeed!" said Captain Colby. "You took a risk in
flying over the house, but as nothing went wrong we won't say anything
about that."

"Now it's my turn!" cried Sam.

"Has Dick been up?" queried his father.

"Yes, and he made a splendid flight too," answered Tom. "Oh, dad, your
sons are born aviators."

"Perhaps. But, Sam, do be careful! Don't try to fly so high at first,"
pleaded Anderson Rover.

"I'll be careful, dad," answered his youngest offspring.

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. 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 bump, 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, Massa 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 Dick.

"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 Dick 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.