"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 Dick. "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 Dick, 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.

"Hello, Hans, old boy!" he exclaimed. "Glad to see you." And he shook
hands cordially.

"Is dot you, Sam?" replied the German youth, who, although he had been
in this country quite some time, still found a difficulty in mastering
the language. "I vos certainly glad to meet you. How vas der udder
poys?"

"Oh, Tom and Dick are first rate. They couldn't come down just now, for
they are busy with our new biplane."

"A biplane, eh? Vot is dot, some kind of a saw-mill alretty?"

"No, Hans, a flying machine. Hop in, and you'll soon be at the farm and
then you can look it over." And Sam led the way to the automobile, threw
the dress-suit case in the tonneau, and assisted the German youth to a
seat in front.

"A flying machine!" cried Hans, as they started off. "By chimanatics!
Vot you poys going to git next?"

"I don't know."

"First you get a houseboat, den an autermobile, den a steam yachts, und
bicycles, und now it vos a flying machine. Vot you do mid him, Sam?"

"We are learning to fly."

"Vot! you going up by der sky in him?" cried the German youth, aghast.

"Of course--and you can go up with us too."

"Me? Me go up in a airship? Not on your neckties, Sam Rofer! I got too
much regart for my neck alretty yet! Ven I fly I valk on der groundt und
do it, yah!"

"Oh, it's dead easy when you know how, Hans."

"Dead, hey? Chust vot I dink, Sam--put I ton't vonts to pe dead, not
chust yet!"

They soon passed over the Swift River and through Dexter's Corners and
came out on the highway leading to the farm. Looking up into the sky,
Hans suddenly saw something unusual approaching.

"Look, look, Sam!" he bawled. "Vot is dot?"

"Oh, that must be our biplane!" answered Sam. "Yes, it is! Dick or Tom
must be running it. Isn't it great, Hans?"

"_Du meine zeit!_" groaned the German youth. "Of Dick or Dom be in dot
he preaks his neck sure! Tole him to come town, Sam!"

Sam did not answer, but slowed up the automobile, to better watch the
flight of the biplane. Tom was making a graceful curve, so that he might
pass directly over the machine below.

"Hello, Hans!" he cried gaily, and waved his hand, for the noise of the
engine drowned out his oral salute. Then with a rush the biplane sailed
directly over the automobile.

"Sthop! Ton't hit me!" yelled poor Hans, and badly frightened he ducked
his head, although the flying machine was fully twenty-five feet above
him.

Then Tom made another wide circle and again approached the automobile.
But this time he was sailing lower, and even Sam grew uneasy.

"Go up!" he yelled to his brother, and Tom tried to obey. But for some
reason, the biplane refused to respond to the rudder, and with a rush
and a roar it came directly for the automobile and its occupants!




CHAPTER X

FUN WITH OLD RICKS


It was a moment of extreme peril. Sam brought the automobile to a stop.
Had the roadway been wider he might have sheered to one side, but the
highway was too narrow for that, and with a ditch on either side, to
carry off rain water, he did not want to take a chance of going over.

"Go pack! Go pack!" shrieked Hans Mueller. He was crouching down,
looking with staring eyes through the lowered wind shield of the touring
car.

Suddenly Sam acted. While the biplane was still a hundred feet away he
threw his lever into the reverse and allowed the gears to connect with
the engine. Then the automobile began to move backwards, slowly at first
and then faster and faster, as the youngest Rover put on the power.

"He's coming! He's coming! Ve peen busted up in a minit!" roared Hans,
who was shaking as with the ague. "Oh, vy tidn't I sthay home ven I
come to pay dis visit!"

The biplane had slowed down, for Tom had shut off the engine. But the
_Dartaway_ still had headway enough to catch up to the automobile and it
came up like some bird of ill-omen, that made even stout-hearted Sam
quail. But he stuck to his post, sending the automobile backward as fast
as he dared. He knew the roadway behind was straight, so he simply
steered by keeping the wheel as it was.

"Tom, Tom, can't you do something?" he yelled. "Turn her aside!"

"I'm trying!" yelled back his brother. "The steering outfit is jammed!"

Backward went the automobile and on and on came the big biplane, until
the forward part of the machine was almost over the hood of the touring
car.

"Maybe you had better jump out!" cried Sam to Hans.

But even as he spoke there came a sudden snap from the flying machine. A
caught wire had released itself. At once the biplane could be steered
again, and with a dexterous twist of the wheel and a deflection of one
of the tips, Tom brought it around. Over a rail fence it sailed, to
land gracefully in the open field beyond. Then Sam stopped the
automobile.

"Well!" came from the youngest Rover. And that single word meant a good
deal.

"Hope I didn't scare you to death," sang out Tom, as he climbed from his
seat. "Hans, did you get heart failure?"

"Oh, Dom! Dom! vot for you do him?" asked the German youth, in a voice
he tried in vain to steady. "I dink sure you vos going to cut off our
heads off alretty!"

"It was the steering outfit did it," explained Tom. "I'm awfully sorry I
scared you. I was scared myself. I was going to fly over you and then go
back when all at once I found I couldn't budge the rudders. Then I got
alarmed, thinking the machine might turn turtle on me, so I shut off the
engine, intending to glide to earth. But I didn't want to glide right
into the auto. Sam, it's a good thing you thought to run backwards. If
you hadn't there would have been a smash-up sure!"

"So dot is der new flying machine," remarked Hans, as he walked into the
field to inspect the _Dartaway_. "Mine gracious! she vos almost so pig
like a house!"

"Want to go up, Hansy, old boy?" queried Tom.

"Not for a dousand tollers, Dom! No, not for a million!"

"You'll like it, Hans, when you get used to it."

"No, sir; nixy!" returned the German youth firmly. "I sthay py der
ground on. You fellers can fly und I vatch you, yah!"

"How are you going to get the machine back?" asked Sam.

"Sail her back," answered his brother promptly. "But I'll have to look
at that steering apparatus first--and you'll have to help me start."

"Better let Captain Colby inspect it first," advised Sam.

But Tom did not want to wait, and so he and his brother looked over the
flying machine and soon found out what had gone wrong, and fixed it, so
that the same accident might not occur again. Then Tom got in, and Sam
and Hans started the propellers, and away sailed the youth in a manner
that made the German lad stare in amazement.

"Dot's fine!" was Hans's comment. "Say, Dom, he peen a regular
aviadventurer, hey?"

"What's that, Hans?"

"Dom, he peen a regular aviadventurer, or vot you call him?"

"Oh, you mean aviator."

"Yah, dot's him. He peen von sure!"

"Your word was O. K., Hans," was Sam's comment. "Tom is certainly an air
adventurer!"

The two boys got into the automobile once more and were soon at the
Rover homestead, where Hans was warmly greeted by the others, all but
Captain Colby knowing him well. Tom had already arrived and the captain
was inspecting the biplane with care.

"Such things will happen, especially with a new and stiff machine," said
the old aviator. "All you can do is to watch out, and look over the
machine with care every time you plan a flight."

Hans had much news of interest to tell about the boys who were still at
Putnam Hall and about Captain Putnam and George Strong, the head
teacher. He had also seen Mr. and Mrs. Laning, the parents of Nellie and
Grace, and had heard something of the latest trouble with Tad Sobber and
Josiah Crabtree.

"Vy ton't you got dem arrested?" he asked, when he was told that the
evil-disposed pair were in that vicinity.

"We don't want the notoriety," said Dick. "If we had them locked up
they'd be sure to drag Mrs. Stanhope and the girls into court. We are
willing to let them alone if they will only let us alone."

Captain Colby remained at the farm a week and during that time gave the
Rover boys as much instruction as possible in the art of flying in
general and the art of managing the biplane in particular. He had
brought with him several books on flying and recommended that these be
read carefully.

"You all seem to take to it naturally," he said. "I don't believe you'll
have any trouble excepting on rare occasions--and every person who goes
up is bound to have that."

After the captain left the boys took several flights, some of them quite
long. They sailed over Dexter's Corners and the railroad station of Oak
Run, and at the latter place nearly scared old Ricks, the stationmaster,
into a fit, by swooping down close to where he was standing. Dick also
made a flight to the Marley place, and visited the Snubble homestead.

"What did you find out?" asked Sam, when he came back from the
last-named trip.

"Sobber and Crabtree have left the old mill," answered Dick. "The
Snubble boys were over there twice and they couldn't see a sign of
anybody."

"Have they any idea where they went to?" asked Tom.

"No. They said Crabtree sold the mill property."

"Besser you look out for dem scalavags," was the advice from Hans. "I
vouldn't drust dem mit mine eyes open alretty!"

"Oh, we're on the watch!" declared Tom.

The next day the German youth had to leave, and all the boys went down
to the railroad station in the touring car to see him off. Old Ricks was
there and he glared souring at the Rovers when he saw them.

"I guess he didn't like that flying affair," was Sam's comment.

"Oh, he's thinking of the time Tom put the cannon cracker in the bonfire
and made him think some dynamite had gone off," returned Dick, with a
grin.

"Or the time Tom gave him the cigar that turned into a snake!" went on
Sam, with a laugh.

"Get out of the way! Get out of the way, you boys!" cried the old
stationmaster, as he brushed past, hitting Tom in the knee with a suit
case he was carrying. The train that carried Hans had rolled away,
leaving Ricks and the Rovers alone on the little platform.

"Why, Mr. Ricks, what's your rush?" asked Tom, sweetly. "Going to a
wedding?"

"No, I ain't going to no wedding!" grunted old Ricks. "I don't want you
young fellers to git in my way, that's all."

"Maybe you have to testify in that case in court," went on Tom, with a
wink at his brother.

"Ain't got to testify in no court."

"Why, you're in that case--I read all about it in the papers!" cried
Tom.

"Me in a case in court?" asked old Ricks, suspiciously.

"Sure. It was a terrible trouble, wasn't it?" went on Tom. "I am mighty
sorry for you, really I am, Mr. Ricks."

Now as it chanced, Mr. Ricks had had some trouble with a neighbor over a
fence that had blown down between the two properties. The neighbor had
threatened to sue him if he did not put the fence up again. The Rovers
knew nothing about this, but it had been in old Ricks's mind for a week.

"If anybody sues me he'll git the wust of it!" growled the stationmaster
savagely.

"It's a terrible mess, that's a fact," went on Tom. "The papers said he
had threatened to get after you with a shotgun!"

"A shotgun? After me?" exclaimed old Ricks, and turned slightly pale.

"And they say you poisoned the cat," put in Dick.

"And caught the dog and starved the poor animal to death," added Sam.

"It ain't so--I never teched his cat, nor his dog nuther!" roared old
Ricks. "He's a blamed fool, he is!"

"Hush! hush!" whispered Tom, solemnly. "Don't speak so harshly of the
dead."

"Dead!" exclaimed the startled Ricks. "Who's dead?"

"Didn't you know he was found on the railroad tracks dead?" asked the
fun-loving Rover. "Of course they say you let the freight train run over
him. But we know you wouldn't be so wicked, Mr. Ricks."

"Dead? On the tracks? Me let the train run over him?" half-whispered the
stationmaster. "I--I--didn't do it! Say, this is awful! Who told you
this?"

"Haven't you read the newspapers?" asked Dick.

"That comes for being too stingy to buy a morning paper," added Sam.

"Of course the local papers didn't dare to print the truth," said Tom.
"But you'll find a full account in the New York _Blizzard_ and the
Philadelphia _Bazoo_. Your picture on the front page, too, entitled,
'Did He Do It, or Did He Did It Not.'"

"Say, I ain't done nuthin', I tell ye!" almost shouted old Ricks, who
was too excited to realize that the boys were making fun of him. "If
them blamed city newspapers say I did I'll sue 'em fer damages, that's
wot I'll do. I ain't teched Ham Ludd, nor his cat, nor his dog nuther!
And it was the wind blew the fence down, I didn't tech that nuther!" He
paused to catch his breath, "Where was Ham killed? I didn't hear of
anybuddy gitting struck by a train."

"Oh, I don't know who the man was, or where he was struck," answered
Tom, as he started to walk away. "But they are after you, Mr. Ricks. If
I was you, I'd pack my valise and hike for California, or Sing Sing, or
some other place."

"I ain't going to run away, Tom Rover, and you can't make me," was the
wild reply. "I ain't teched Ham, nor his cat, nor his dog, nor the fence
nuther, I tell ye! It's an outrage to say so! I'll sue them newspapers
fer a million dollars damages!"

"I'd make it two millions," answered Tom, calmly, and then started for
the automobile, followed by his brothers.

"But see here," went on the stationmaster. "I want to know----"

"Sorry, but we haven't time now," put in Dick. "Hurry, Tom!" he
whispered.

"It's Ham Ludd coming!" added Sam. "Let's get out--before the fat's in
the fire!"

And off the three Rover boys ran to the automobile and were soon rolling
away from the railroad station. But they did not go far.

"I'm going back and watch the fun," said Tom, and leaped out, and ran up
behind the station, while his brothers followed him.




CHAPTER XI

OFF FOR BRILL COLLEGE


When old Ricks saw his neighbor approaching he could not at first
believe his eyes. Then he ran up to the man, who was a particularly sour
individual.

"Say, I thought you was dead," he gasped.

"Dead?" returned Ham Ludd. "Do I look like I was dead?" And he glared
savagely at Ricks. "I ain't dead, not by a jugful!"

"Humph! Well, if you ain't dead, mebbe you'll explain about that cat,
an' dog," went on old Ricks.

"Wot about 'em?"

"You told folks I poisoned the cat and starved the dog to death."

"I did not."

"You did--it was in the newspapers!" bawled old Ricks, commencing to
dance around.

"I didn't! Where's them newspapers?" asked Ham Ludd, also growing
excited.

"I ain't got 'em, but Tom Rover said----"

And then suddenly old Ricks stopped short. He was commencing to "smell a
mouse," as the saying is.

"Wot did Tom Rover say?" demanded Ham Ludd.

"Never mind wot he said," grumbled the stationmaster. "Only you be
careful o' wot you say about me in the future, Ham Ludd, thet's all!"

"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
Dick, 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 passengers,
Dick 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 Dick.

"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 Dick
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 Dick. "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 Dick, 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 ship 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!"

"Wonder where we could ship it to, so the other fellows wouldn't get on
to what was doing?" mused Dick.

"Why not ship it to Mr. Sanderson?" suggested Sam. The man he mentioned
was a farmer living some distance from the college. The boys had once
done the farmer's daughter Minnie a great favor, saving her from insults
at the hands of Jerry Koswell and Dudd Flockley.

"That's the talk!" cried Tom. "He'll take care of it and let us put it
together in one of his open fields. Then we can make the fellows at
Brill open their eyes."

The new idea pleased all the youths immensely, and the next day a long
letter of explanation was sent to Mr. Sanderson, and he was asked to
telegraph a reply. The biplane was taken apart and packed up for
transportation, and then the boys packed their trunks and dress-suit
cases, and got ready to "go back to the greasy grind," as Tom expressed
it.

It must not be supposed that the lads had forgotten to write to the
Stanhopes and the Lanings, and to their college friends. Numerous
letters had been mailed and about an equal number had been received. The
girls were all going to Hope, but one week later than the boys would
have to depart for Brill. Nothing more had been seen or heard of
Crabtree or Sobber, for which all were thankful.

"Here's a letter from William Philander Tubbs," said Tom. "I sent him a
letter just for fun, asking him the style in socks this fall. Listen to
his reply." And he read the following:

     "I have been making diligent inquiries about the shades in
     socks, my dearest Thomas, but the storekeepers seem to be a
     little undecided. Some think that Rambler Red will prevail
     while others favor Nile Green and a new shade called Baby's
     Breath. Personally I favor Baby's Breath and have purchased
     one dozen of that shade. If I get any more definite news
     about shades I will wire you, because I know what a dreadful
     thing it is not to have the shade that is really and truly
     fashionable."

"Three cheers for William Philander and his Baby's Breath socks!" cried
Sam. "He's the true and only artist!"

"Baby's Breath!" murmured Tom. "Now wouldn't that get your scalp-lock?"
And then there was a merry laugh all around.

There was likewise a letter from Max Spangler, and another from Stanley
Browne, stating they were already on their way to Brill. Then, just
before the boys were ready to leave home, came a letter from Songbird
Powell.

"I'll bet it's in verse," said Dick. "Songbird couldn't write prose to
save his life."

"We'll soon see," said Sam, who held the communication, and he tore it
open. "You win," he added, and then read the following, after the date
line:

          "My dearest boys
          I'm filled with joys
          To think that we
          Together shall be
          In a week or more!
          Oh, the fun in store!
          And also the work--
          Which we can't shirk--
          And the pleasant meetings,
          And pleasant greetings,----"

"He was thinking of Minnie Sanderson when he wrote that," interrupted
Tom.

"Sure thing," returned Dick; for all of the Rovers knew that the
would-be poet was deeply smitten with the farmer's daughter. He had
written several poems about her, and had also given her several
presents.

"Well, there are twelve pages of the doggerel," said Sam, glancing over
the sheets. "Here, you can read over my shoulders," and this was done,
amid much merriment. Songbird had but little news and promised to be at
college when they arrived.

"Oh, I hope the _Dartaway_ carries us there in good shape," murmured
Tom. "It will be an arrival worth remembering!"

Before he left home Dick had a long talk with his father and his Uncle
Randolph. When he rejoined his brothers he was unusually sober.

"What is it, dad's business affairs?" queried Sam.

"Yes, Sam."

"Are they in bad shape?" questioned Tom, quickly. "What's gone wrong?"

"It's something about those mining shares that dad and Uncle Randolph
invested in," answered Dick. "I'll give you the particulars later. They
don't want Aunt Martha to know about it, for it will only make her worry
without doing any good. I'm afraid dad and Uncle Randolph are in it
bad," went on Dick, soberly.

"Can't something be done?" asked Tom.

"Not just now. Dad is going to Chicago about it next week again."

"Does he and uncle stand to lose much?" questioned Sam.

"Yes, a good deal--more in fact than they can afford."

"Phew! That's too bad!" murmured the youngest Rover, and Tom shook his
head soberly, and forgot all about the parting jokes he had intended to
play on Aleck Pop and Jack Ness.

At last came the time for the three Rover boys to leave home. The
biplane had been shipped to Ashton by express and their trunks and suit
cases had been forwarded on their railroad tickets. They were going a
day ahead of time, and Mr. Sanderson had agreed to meet them and take
them to his home.

"Good bye, my boys," said the fond father, on parting. "Take good care
of yourselves."

"We will," they answered as they shook hands.

"Learn all you can," put in Randolph Rover.

"Take care and don't get into trouble," admonished Mrs. Rover, and then
she kissed them tenderly.

"Don't forget to let me know how matters go in Chicago, dad," whispered
Dick, to his parent.

"I'll remember, my son."

"And if I can aid you in any way, let me do it,--even if I have to leave
Brill," went on Dick.

"There is nothing to do at present, Dick. I must wait for that report."

Soon the boys were in the touring car, with Jack Ness to bring the
automobile back from the railroad station, he now being able to run the
machine. Dick was at the wheel. Tom had cranked up, and off they sped,
with a merry shout and with those left behind waving their hands.

"Let her go, Dick!" sang out Tom.

"Good bye!" yelled Sam.

"Good bye!" came back faintly from the homestead.

Then a turn of the road shut out the house from view. Once again the
Rover boys were off for college. Little did they dream of the strange
adventures in store for them.




CHAPTER XII

A GRAND ARRIVAL


"Glad to see you, boys! You're looking prime!"

It was the greeting of Mr. Sanderson, as the Rovers stepped from the
train at Ashton. The farmer was waiting at the platform with a
two-seated carriage to take them to his farm.

"How are you, Mr. Sanderson!" came from the three, and then all
continued in a chorus: "Did the biplane get here?"

"Something got here--two boxes an' several big bundles," answered the
farmer. "I had everything carted over to my place."

"Two boxes and four bundles," said Dick.

"Right you are. One of 'em putty heavy, too."

"That was the engine, Mr. Sanderson," vouchsafed Sam.

"Is that so! Well, times are sure changin', an' bymeby the hosses won't
be in it no more. So you calkerlate to fly over to the college."

"We do, if we can get the machine into shape," answered Tom. "It may be
that something got broke on the way and will have to be mended," he
added, anxiously.

"Well, we didn't break anything, Tom, take my word on that. If
anything's broke the railroad company done it."

The boys were soon seated in the carriage and Mr. Sanderson took up the
reins. As my old readers know, the farmer was proud of his horses and he
had good reason to be, for they started off in fine style, and presently
were passing everything on that long and somewhat dusty road.

"How is Miss Minnie?" asked Tom, on the way.

"Fust rate, Tom. She went drivin' yesterday with that young feller from
Brill that sprouts poetry."

"Oh, then Songbird has really arrived!" cried Tom.

"He has." Mr. Sanderson looked serious for a moment. "Say, is he any
good--or is he all--well, all poetry?"

"Songbird is one of the best and smartest boys in the college, Mr.
Sanderson," said Dick, bound to put in a good word for their chum. "He
likes to make up verses, but that isn't all he can do. Some day he'll be
a good business man."

"Well, I'm glad to hear that," answered the farmer; and the three Rover
boys knew he was thinking of his only daughter Minnie, and of the
attention Songbird Powell was paying to her.

It was not long before they came in sight of the Sanderson homestead,
pleasantly located in a grove of trees. Minnie Sanderson was on the
lookout for them--a round-faced, jolly young lady--and she waved her
hand as the carriage came to a halt.

"Why didn't you come in that wonderful airship!" she sang out gaily.
"I'm dying to see you fly!"

"Because you have the machine here!" answered Sam.

"Oh, we've only got some bundles, and they don't look a bit like a
flying machine," went on the girl. "But, say," she added, her cheeks
dimpling. "What a time I had yesterday, keeping your secret! Mr. Powell
took me out riding,"--she blushed a trifle--"and when we came back he
wanted to know what the bundles contained. I told him it was some kind
of machinery. He saw the canvas and said he guessed pa was going to put
up a windmill!"

"Thanks for keeping it dark!" cried Dick. "We want to surprise everybody
at Brill."

"You'll have to be careful of what you do then," went on the girl. "Some
of the young men have been around, and I--well, I don't like it."

"Who was around?" asked Tom.

"Mr. Flockley, for one," and Minnie bit her lip, for she had not
forgotten how that dudish collegian had once insulted her,--the time the
Rover boys had come to her rescue, as related in detail in "The Rover
Boys at College."

"Did he come to the house?" asked Sam.

"Oh, no, he merely walked through the orchard. But I guess he saw some
of the packages."

"He didn't speak to you, did he?" asked Dick, bluntly.

"I didn't give him the chance. When I saw him, I walked into the house,
and he didn't dare to follow me."

It was almost supper time, and the boys had arranged to remain at the
Sanderson homestead, instead of going to the rather poor hotel at
Ashton. They had a merry time with the others over the repast, and then,
even though it was late, they went down to the barn to inspect the boxes
and bundles comprising the _Dartaway_.

"Everything seems to be all right," said Dick. "We ought to be able to
put her together in a day, if we all work hard enough."

"We'll get up at six in the morning," said Sam.

So it was arranged, and Mr. Sanderson said he would call them. But this
was unnecessary, for all were up and downstairs before the appointed
hour, and before breakfast was served they had the boxes and bundles
open and the various portions of the biplane ready for assembling.

"Can't I help?" asked the farmer, who was much interested in what was
going on.

"You can help us lift the engine," said Dick. "That is rather heavy."

The boys and the farmer worked until five o'clock in the afternoon over
the biplane, knocking off a half hour for dinner. For that meal they had
same fried chicken and fresh vegetables, and an apple pie made by Minnie
which Tom declared was "a dream."

"We'll come and board with you," said Dick, to the girl. "This sort of
food goes away ahead of the college stuff; eh, boys?"

"Indeed it does!" cried Tom.

"Can't be beaten," put in Sam. And these compliments pleased the
farmer's daughter very much.

Gasoline was at hand and also oil, and soon the youths had the engine of
the biplane in working order. But it was not started until the
_Dartaway_ had been rolled off to the middle of a big field.

"I don't want to scare your horses and cattle," explained Dick, to the
farmer. "When the engine starts they'll think Fourth of July has
arrived."

Soon all was in readiness, and with a final inspection of the biplane,
Dick took his seat in the machine and called to his brothers to work the
propellers. Bang! bang! bang! went the cylinders, and around went the
big blades, faster and faster, until only a blur could be seen. Then
over the field shot the _Dartaway_ and up in the air.

"Oh, my, just to look at that!" gasped Minnie. "Just like a big bird!"

"Well, I'll be switched!" cried Mr. Sanderson. "An airship, sure as you
are born! I didn't think I'd live to see one! My! my! just to see that
thing a-sailin' through the air!"

Dick made the circuit of the field and then cut a figure eight. The
machine seemed to work perfectly, and when he came down he was well
satisfied.

"All aboard for Brill College!" he cried. "Through passage only! No
stopovers allowed!"

"Shall we sail over now, or wait until to-morrow?" asked Sam.

"Oh, come on now!" cried Tom, impatiently. "Lots of fellows will be on
the campus at this hour, and we can do some circling around before we
land."

"I'm willing," said Dick. "Who is to do the steering?"

"You do it--you're the oldest," said Sam.

"That's right," added Tom.

"I don't want all the glory," insisted Dick.

"You are not going to have," went on the fun-loving Rover. "See what
I've got for Sam and myself." And he brought out a mysterious package he
had brought from home. It contained two silken American flags and two
tin horns.

"We'll do the patriotic while you run the machine," said Sam.

"And I've got something else--but never mind what it is," went on Tom.

"No fireworks, Tom--they are too dangerous in a flying machine," warned
Dick, who knew his brother's love for things that made a noise.

"Nothing dangerous this time, Dick, I'll give you my word."

The _Dartaway_ was given another inspection and then staked to the
ground with a strong rope, fastened by a slip knot. Then the engine was
started up and the three lads clambered on board.

"Good bye!" they cried to the Sandersons.

"Good bye and good luck!" answered the farmer.

"Let us know how you arrive," added his daughter.

Then the knot in the rope was allowed to slide, and with a rush and a
whizz the biplane sped over the smooth ground and then soared into the
air. By the time Sam had hauled in the dangling rope, the flying
machine had left the Sanderson farm far behind.

"Oh, this is simply glorious!" cried Tom. He had his flag in one hand
and his horn in the other, and Sam was similarly equipped.

"Of course you know the way, Dick," said the youngest Rover.

"Oh, yes, it's easy. I'll simply follow the road. But I am going up a
bit," added Dick. "I don't want to scare any horses, or we may have some
damage suits to settle."

"The horses will have to get used to flying machines, just as they had
to get used to autos," was Sam's comment.

On and on flew the _Dartaway_, Dick managing the biplane as skillfully
as if he was a seasoned aviator. Over the farms and barns and houses
they sailed, creating much astonishment. The inhabitants came rushing
forth, some with milk pails, and women with dish cloths and towels in
their hands. One boy in his excitement shied a dipper at them, the
object falling short of its mark by several hundred yards.

"We are waking folks up," remarked Tom, as he tooted his horn and waved
his flag, and Sam followed suit. Then the fun-loving Rover placed his
horn under his arm and began to fumble at something in his pocket.

"I see Brill!" cried Sam, presently. "There is the main building!" And
he pointed with his hand.

"I see it," answered Dick. "Now for a few circles and a figure eight
before we come down. I hope they'll give us room to land."

In a few seconds more the various buildings belonging to the institution
of learning were in full view. Dick started up the engine with renewed
speed, thereby making more noise, and Tom and Sam added to the din by
blowing the horns with all their might. The two boys also waved the
flags.

The racket had the desired effect. From one building and another ran the
students and the members of the faculty, and also the hired help, and
all gazed up into the sky to learn what the noise meant.

"It's an airship!"

"There are three people on board!"

"Say, doesn't she sail along beautifully!"

"Wonder if they are sailing across the state."

"Maybe they are in the ocean-to-ocean race."

"They look like three boys! See, two of them are waving flags! Now what
do you think of that!"

"I'm going to get my spyglass," said one of the under teachers, and ran
to do so. In the meantime the _Dartaway_ came closer and circled slowly
over the main college building and the broad campus.

"Look! look!" cried several of the students. "What are they up to?"

From the bottom of the craft had suddenly burst a cluster of red, white
and blue tissue-paper streamers. These floated under and behind the
_Dartaway_, producing a beautiful effect. Then suddenly came floating
down through the air a quantity of many-colored confetti--tiny bits of
pretty paper that settled everywhere.

"The Rover boys!" cried the teacher who had brought out his spyglass.
"They are the three Rover boys!"

"The Rover boys!" cried Songbird Powell, who stood near. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Hurrah!" shouted Stanley Browne. "Now, isn't that just like them?
Always up to something new and original."

"Three cheers for the Rover boys!" called out one of the seniors. And
the cheers were given with a will, while the _Dartaway_ continued for
some time to float over the college grounds and then came settling down
like some big white bird, in the very center of the campus.




CHAPTER XIII

SOME INTERESTING NEWS


Before the biplane had come to a complete standstill the students on the
campus made a rush and surrounded the three Rover boys.

"The grandest arrival I ever heard of!" cried Songbird Powell, as he
caught one after another by the hand. "I shall have to write some verses
about this."

"However did you manage it?" queried Stanley Browne. "I didn't know you
could run an aeroplane."

"It's out of sight alretty!" came from Max Spangler. "But we could see
it, yes!" he added hastily.

"Oh, we thought we'd give the fellows a little surprise," answered Dick
modestly. "We purchased the biplane some time ago. It's easy to run
after you get the knack of it."

"But carrying three!" went on Stanley. "I've heard of 'em carrying two
but not more than that."

"It's quite a load," said Tom. "We've got to have a more powerful engine
if we want to carry that many right along."

"And the streamers and confetti!" cried Songbird. "I'll bet those were
Tom's idea!"

"You're right," answered Dick.

"And he thought of the flags and horns, too," put in Sam, bound to place
the credit where it was due.

"I had to do something to let off steam," said Tom lightly. "Dick
wouldn't allow me to fire a bomb, or a cannon, or anything like that,"
he continued dryly.

During this talk many of the students and instructors commenced to
inspect the biplane, and soon the Rover boys were kept busy answering
questions.

"Well, young gentlemen, allow me to congratulate you on your successful
flight to this place!" said a pleasant voice, and turning the youths
found themselves confronted by Doctor John Wallington, the head of the
college. He smiled broadly as he shook hands. "This surely marks an
epoch in the history of Brill," he went on. "First arrival of students
by airship," and he turned to Professor Blackie, who was with him.

"You are right, sir," returned that instructor. "We'll have to make a
note of it." And this was done; and anybody going to Brill can see the
record in the "history book" of that famous institution.

"Look who's here!" suddenly cried a cheery voice, and Will Jackson,
usually called "Spud," because of his liking for potatoes, pushed his
way to the Rover boys' side. "I was upstairs dressing when you arrived,
but I saw it all from the window. Say, that flight couldn't be beaten.
You must have come about three miles a minute, eh? Puts me in mind of
the time I was caught in a Kansas cyclone. The wind carried me off my
feet, and landed me high up on the side of a big building, and there I
had to stick until the wind went down! Fact, and if you don't believe
it, some day I'll show you one of the bricks from that same building. I
keep it to sharpen my penknife on."

"The same old Spud!" cried Dick, while the others laughed outright.
"Telling a yarn before he even shakes hands. How are you?" And he gave
Will's hand a squeeze that made the story-teller wince.

"We'll have to have some place in which to store the biplane," said Sam
to Dr. Wallington. "Do you think we could put it in the boathouse for
the present--or in the shed of the gymnasium?"

"You may use the gymnasium shed, if you can get the machine inside,"
replied the head of the college. "I presume we'll have to build regular
hangars here,--if the students are going to own flying machines," he
added, with a smile.

"Well, they are good advertisements, Doctor," put in Tom. "Nothing like
being up-to-date, you know."

"Perhaps, Rover, perhaps. And it will be instructive to all here, to
watch you and your brothers manipulate the biplane. But do not let the
use of the machine interfere with your studies."

"Oh, we'll use it like we would our bicycles, or a motor boat, or an
auto," said Sam. "We came back to make a record for ourselves."

"I am glad to hear it, Samuel, very glad indeed." And then the good
doctor hurried away to attend to his official duties.

Some of the late arrivals wanted the Rover boys to give another
exhibition flight, and for their benefit Tom took a little sail by
himself, and then Sam went up for five minutes. Then the biplane was
rolled over to the big shed attached to the gymnasium,--a place usually
used for housing carriages and automobiles during athletic contests.
Here one end was cleaned out and the _Dartaway_ was rolled in, and the
engine was covered with a tarpaulin brought from the boathouse.

During the time that all this was being done, one student of Brill had
kept to himself, even though greatly interested in what was going on.
This was Dudd Flockley, the dudish youth who had once been the crony of
Jerry Koswell and Bart Larkspur. There was a sneer on his handsome face.

"Great work, eh, Dudd?" said Bob Grimes, one of the students, in
passing.

"I don't know what you mean," returned Flockley, coolly.

"Oh, yes you do, Dudd," retorted the other. "But I suppose it's sour
grapes for you," he added pointedly, for he was a friend to the Rovers
and knew something about the troubles of the past.

"Bah!" came from Dudd Flockley, and he turned and hurried away. "Now
those Rover boys have come back I suppose they'll try to lord it over
everybody, just as they did before. How I hate them! I wish I could do
something to get them in a hole!" He had forgotten completely the
kindness the Rover boys had shown him, and how they had gone to the head
of the college and pleaded for him, so that he had been allowed to
remain at Brill. Perhaps Flockley was not as wicked at heart as his
former college cronies, Larkspur and Koswell, but he was equally
ungrateful.

Soon the Rover boys and their chums were up in the dormitory where they
had their rooms. As before, Tom and Sam were together, in Number 25,
with Dick and Songbird in Number 26, and Stanley and the others not far
off.

"Home again!" sang out Tom, as he dropped in an easy chair. "My, but
this looks natural!" he added, glancing around.

"I want to tell you something," said Stanley, who had followed the three
brothers and Songbird into one of the rooms. "Maybe we'd better shut the
door," he added, significantly.

"Yes, he's got news," added Songbird. "Say, it beats the nation how some
fellows hold a grudge," he went on.

"What's the trouble now?" demanded Dick, quickly.

"Day before yesterday I was over to Ashton," answered Stanley, after the
door to the room had been closed and locked. "I went by the upper road
and I had to pass that new roadhouse, the place called the Red
Horseshoe. Well, who was sitting on the piazza but Jerry Koswell and
Bart Larkspur. They had been having a gay time, I guess, and both were
talking loudly. When they saw me they called to me to stop, and then
they asked me if you fellows had come back to Brill."

"What did you tell them?" asked Tom.

"I told them no, but that you were expected in a few days. Then both of
them began to brag, and said they had it in for all three of you
Rovers."

"Did they say what they intended to do?" questioned Tom.

"Not exactly, but Koswell intimated that if you didn't look out you
might be blown up."

"Blown up!" exclaimed Dick, and he thought instantly of what Tad Sobber
and Josiah Crabtree had said to Dora and Nellie.

"That's what he said. I wanted to find out what he meant, but Larkspur
stopped him from talking and told him to shut up. But, Dick, I feel sure
they mean something, and all of you fellows better be on your guard,"
added Stanley earnestly.

"This is surely getting interesting," said Tom. "First Sobber and old
Crabtree promise to blow us up and now Koswell and Larkspur propose the
same thing."

"They must be in league with each other!" cried Sam.

"It looks that way--especially after what happened on Casco Bay,"
returned Dick. And then he told Songbird and Stanley of the recent
happenings near the Rovers' home, and elsewhere.

"Well, my advice is, keep your eyes wide open all the time," said
Songbird. "Those fellows are desperate--their actions show it--and
they'll play you foul if they get half a chance."

"And to that advice let me add something more," said Stanley. "Don't
trust Dudd Flockley. He pretended to reform for a while, but behind it
all I think he is as bad as ever. If you gave him any information he may
carry it straight to those others."

"Thank you, Stanley, I'll remember that," said Dick.

"So will I," added Tom, and Sam nodded in approval.

"Well, to let you in behind the scenes," went on Dick, to Stanley and
Songbird, "I am not so much worried about ourselves as I am about Mrs.
Stanhope and Dora and the Lanings. Sobber and old Crabtree want that
fortune from Treasure Isle the worst way and they'll do anything to get
hold of it. Koswell and Larkspur are probably short of funds, and, as
they like to live high, they'll help Sobber and Crabtree all they
can,--for a rake-off of the proceeds."

"I reckon you are right," said Songbird. "But what do all of them mean
by blowing you sky high."

"That remains to be seen," said Sam.

"Or rather felt," added Tom, who had to have his little joke. "Maybe
they'll plant some dynamite under the college and blow us up!"

"Hardly that, Tom," returned his older brother. "But they may try some
kind of a dirty trick along those lines."

"Don't worry, boys, don't worry!" cried Songbird soothingly. "Let the
troubles of the future take care of themselves", and then he murmured
softly:

          "Though the skies be dark and dreary
            And hope be almost dead,
          And hearts are all so weary----"

            "Each one can go to bed!"

finished Tom. "A fine bit of poetry truly, Songbird, old sport."

"Who said anything about going to bed?" snorted the would-be poet. "I
had a finer line than that, Tom. It was--er--it was--a--er--a----Oh,
dear, you've quite driven it out of my head!"

"Never mind, it will come back day after yesterday, or before and
sooner," went on the fun-loving Rover blandly. "Now let us put away our
things and get ready for supper. I'm as hungry as a wolf in a famine."

"That's right," chimed in Sam. "Aeroplaning can give one a wonderful
appetite."

"It's the air," said Stanley.

That evening, after a good meal, the Rover boys had to tell of their
various experiences with the biplane. Not a student of Brill had ever
gone up in a flying machine although several had gone up in balloons at
county fairs and elsewhere. The Rovers had to promise to take up half a
dozen of their chums. So far during the fall, talk of football had
filled the air, but now all became flying and flying machines. Several
of the richer students promised themselves machines in the near future.

"That's the talk!" cried Tom, enthusiastically. "Then we can have some
races!"

"Maybe we can even get up an intercollegiate aeroplaning contest,"
remarked Sam.

"I'm afraid it's a little too early for that yet," answered Dick. "But
such contests may come one of these days."

The Rover boys were tired out from their day of labor and excitement and
ten o'clock found them in their rooms ready to go to bed. Tom and Sam
had started to take off their shoes when there came a faint tap on the
door and Bob Grimes appeared.

"Hello, Bob!" cried Tom. "What can I do for you?"

"Hush! not so loud!" whispered the other student, with a glance over his
shoulder down the corridor. "Listen, both of you," he went on
hurriedly. "Don't ask me any questions, but if you don't want your
biplane ruined be sure and guard it closely!" And having spoken thus,
Bob Grimes hurried down the corridor and out of sight.




CHAPTER XIV

THE BIRTHDAY FEAST


The two Rover brothers looked at each other in amazement, and for a
moment neither spoke.

"What do you suppose he meant?" asked Sam, presently.

"He meant just what he said," returned Tom. "I'm going to tell Dick,"
and he summoned his big brother without delay.

"I think I can piece this together," said Dick. "I saw Bob Grimes
talking to Dudd Flockley this afternoon, and again after supper. Most
likely Bob got on the trail of something Dudd thinks of doing. He
doesn't want to appear as a tattle-tale and at the same time he doesn't
want to see our machine ruined. So that's why he warned you in such a
queer fashion."

"You must be right," answered Tom. "What shall we do?"

"Nothing, Tom."

"Yes, but we don't want the machine ruined, or even tampered with!"
exclaimed Sam.

"I don't think anybody will touch it," went on the eldest Rover boy.
"After you came up here I got to thinking that maybe Flockley, or
Koswell, or Larkspur, or somebody else, might try to injure the
_Dartaway_, and so I went to see Filbury, the janitor, about it. His son
Abner is helping him around the dormitories, and I hired Abner for fifty
cents a night to sleep in the shed and guard the biplane. Abner has got
a shotgun, and he isn't afraid of anybody; so I reckon the _Dartaway_
will be perfectly safe."

"Good for you, Dick!" cried Tom. "Say, I hope if anybody does try to
injure the machine Abner gives him a dose of shot!"

"I told him not to shoot anybody unless it was necessary," answered
Dick. "But he may shoot into the air, just to scare the intruder and
raise an alarm."

The next day was such a busy one for the Rover boys that they had no
time to do more than look at the biplane and see that it was safe. Abner
Filbury reported that he had slept in a hammock slung beside the machine
and that nothing had happened to arouse him. Nobody but the Rovers knew
that he was on guard. The boys wanted to tell Bob Grimes, but that
individual kept out of the way.

After having settled down in their rooms and to their studies, the three
Rover boys made several flights in the biplane, including one to the
Sanderson farm, where they discovered Songbird calling on Minnie. Both
were seated in a hammock between the house and the barn, and both leaped
up in confusion when the biplane, manipulated by Tom, sailed directly
over their heads. When the Rovers came down in the big field, Minnie ran
to greet them, and, later, she treated them to apple pie and some milk.
Then they set sail once more, leaving their college chum to finish his
interrupted visit.

After this flight the boys ordered a new engine for the _Dartaway_, one
which would make sailing safer, especially in a stiff wind. The makers
said they would send the new engine immediately, and a machinist to
install it, and they agreed to take the old engine back at cost price,
since it was practically new.