It must not be supposed that the Rover boys neglected their studies. As
my old readers know, whatever they tackled they went at with all their
might, and this applied to their work as well as their play.

"Dad sent us here to get an education," said Dick. "And while I am here
I am going to study all I can. There is no telling how long I'll be able
to remain here anyway."

"Thinking of dad's western affairs?" asked Sam.

"Yes; I may have to take hold and help him and Uncle Randolph out. Both
of them are not as young as they used to be, you know."

"That's true, Dick. I noticed dad's hair getting pretty gray, and
uncle's is almost white."

The boys had written home and also to the Stanhopes and the Lanings, and
soon came letters in return. One, from Mr. Anderson Rover, was of
special importance.

     "I have news out of the ordinary," wrote the parent. "That
     man Crabtree and Tad Sobber have come back to the old mill. I
     got the word from Peter Marley. He says they act very
     suspiciously, and that a boy who works for him overheard
     Crabtree and Sobber talking about us. I have sent for a
     detective to come out from the city and watch them for a
     while. If anything new develops I will let you know."

"Now what in the world can old Crabtree and Sobber be up to?" asked Sam,
after all had read the communication.

"Up to some trick, I'll bet a new hat," declared Tom. "I am glad dad
sent for the detective. I hope he catches them red-handed at something,
and locks them up."

"They certainly ought to be locked up," was Dick's comment.

The boys studied hard that evening and by ten o'clock all were tired out
and ready to go to bed. But, just as they were on the point of retiring,
there came a knock on the door of the room occupied by Tom and Sam, and
Stanley appeared.

"You are wanted in Room 14!" said the student, in a loud whisper. "Come
right along."

"What's up?" asked both boys.

"Feast--ice-cream and cake. Max and Spud were down to the town and they
brought the stuff along. Come on, before it's too late and the ice-cream
melts."

"Me for the ice-cream!" cried Tom, and did a handspring over his bed.
"Are the others invited?"

"Sure--a round dozen," answered Stanley.

Room 14 was at the end of the corridor and occupied by two students
named Lane and Parley, whole-souled fellows who were always ready for a
good time. The room was so located that it had much more privacy than
the other apartments.

Soon the boys had gathered,--as jolly a crowd as could be found at
Brill. Max and Spud had spread themselves, it being the German-American
lad's birthday.

"Say, this is certainly fine!" cried Sam, as he surveyed several big
cakes, two hands of bananas, some grapes, and several bricks of
ice-cream of various flavors.

"How are you going to serve the ice-cream?" asked Dick.

"Oh, we're all prepared!" cried Spud, and exhibited a "nest" of paper
saucers and another of paper plates, and then a handful of tin spoons.
"I thought these would answer better than the real thing, for when we
have finished we won't have to wash anything--we can throw the whole
mess away."

"Say, that's Spud," cried the student named Lane. "Once he had to wash
dishes at a picnic we went to and you ought to see the face he cut."

"Come, git busy alretty!" cried Max, as he flourished a knife and
commenced to cut one of the cakes. "Spud, chop the ice-cream up right
avay!"

"All right, me for the chopping!" cried Spud cheerfully, and soon the
cream was being passed around to the assembled students, and the cake
and fruit followed.

"Fine!" cried Tom, as he smacked his lips over the feast. "Max, you have
my full permission to have a birthday once a week."

"Yes, and when you miss a week let Spud take your place," added Sam.

"One thing I can't understand, Spud," said Dick, with great seriousness,
and everybody present stopped eating to hear what the eldest Rover might
have to say.

"What can't you understand?" asked Spud innocently.

"How you could get up a feast like this and forget to supply such an
important thing."

"What important thing?" demanded Spud, and he suddenly looked a trifle
worried.

"Potatoes," returned Dick.

For an instant there was silence, and then, as the other boys remembered
Will's love of potatoes--a love that had given him the nickname of
"Spud," there was a wild burst of laughter.

"Say, Spud, that's one on you!"

"Too bad we didn't bring a few praties along, son!"

"We might have fried a few over the light, eh?"

"Don't you worry, dis feast ain't done yet alretty!" cried Max. "Here is
something more!" And going to his bureau he brought out a square box
wrapped in white paper. "Spud, he gifes me a big cake,--now I gif him
somethings, yes!" And he handed the box over.

"What's this, another joke?" demanded the other student suspiciously.

"Do you think I play a joke?" asked Max, with a hurt look.

"All right then," said Spud, and proceeded to undo the string around the
box. Then he took off the paper and opened the box.

What a shout went up! For the box was filled with potatoes--plain white
and sweet! There were about a quart of them, mixed.

"Oh, what a sell!" murmured Spud. "I knew you'd do something like this!"
he added, grinning sheepishly.

"Better pass 'em around," suggested Tom.

"All right, have one raw!" returned Spud.

"Hi! ton't gif dem avay so kvick!" cried Max, getting excited and
talking more brokenly than usual. "Besser examine dem first."

"Examine 'em?" murmured Spud. "Oh, I see!" he added, and took up one of
the potatoes. "Why, it isn't a potato at all!" he exclaimed as the
article came apart. "It's only a shell, and it's filled with candy!"

"Chocolate drops!" murmured Sam. "Yum! yum!"

"There are salted almonds in this one," went on Spud, opening an
imitation of a sweet potato. "And here are stuffed dates, and this had
raisins in it--and here are soft gum drops! Say, Max, this is certainly
great! How did you happen to think of it?" And Spud looked tremendously
pleased.

"Oh, I know you lof potatoes," answered the German-American youth,
innocently.

The candy was placed on one of the wooden plates, and the almonds and
raisins on another, and then the good things were passed around.

"I'll keep these as souvenirs of the occasion," said Spud, indicating
the imitation potatoes.

"How about it, Songbird, can't you rise to the occasion?" asked Dick,
who had noticed that the student-poet had been unusually quiet while
eating his cake and ice-cream.

"I have--er--just composed a little poem in honor of Max's birthday,"
answered Songbird. "If you'd like me to recite----"

"Sure thing!"

"Turn on the poetry spigot, Songbird, and let her flow!"

"This is not yet finished. But,--but----"

"Give us what you have," said Spud, and clearing his throat several
times, Songbird began.

          "Once more a year has rolled around--
            As years have rolled before--
          Once more we greet our loving friend--
            A true friend to the core!
          We hope that in the future he
            Will win success and fame,
          And go down in our history
            A noble----"

Bang! came the report of a gun, and the shot was so unexpected that
Songbird forgot what he was going to say, and all those at the feast
sprang to their feet. Bang! came a second report.

"What does that mean?" cried Stanley. "Who is firing a gun this time of
night?"

"I think I know what it means!" exclaimed Dick, leaping for the door.
"Come on, if you want to save the _Dartaway_!" he went on, to his
brothers.




CHAPTER XV

A PERILOUS FLIGHT


Without waiting to get a hat or an extra coat, Dick dashed through the
long corridor and down the broad stairs of the dormitory and Tom came at
his heels.

"What's the matter?" cried Spud, grabbing Sam, just as the youngest
Rover boy was about to follow his brothers.

"I'll tell you when we get back," answered Sam. "Don't stop me now,
please, I may be wanted."

"Want any help?" put in Songbird, who for the moment had forgotten what
he was about to recite.

"I don't know--but I guess not."

"We'll go along anyhow," came from Max, and took after Sam, while
several others did the same.

In the meantime Dick and Tom had gained the lower hallway of the
dormitory. The door was fastened, but the key was in the lock and they
soon had the portal open and they leaped outside. Then both started in
the direction of the gymnasium shed.

"See anybody?" cried Tom.

"No, it's too dark," answered Dick. "But that must have been Abner
Filbury's gun."

The two reports from the shotgun had aroused many in various buildings
around the campus, and windows were being raised and heads thrust out.

"What's the trouble?"

"Who fired those shots?"

"Is it a joke?"

"There go two of the Rovers!"

"Are they up to some trick?"

"More than likely. You can't keep Tom Rover quiet."

So the comments ran on, while Dick and Tom sped in the direction of the
shed. As they came closer they received a sudden challenge from the big
doorway.

"Hi! don't you dare to come back here, or I'll shoot you!" The words
were uttered by Abner Filbury, who stood there, shotgun in hand and
lantern by his side.

"Don't shoot!" ordered Dick. "It is I, Dick Rover! What's the trouble?"

"Oh, so it's you, Mr. Rover!" returned the janitor's son, with a sigh
of relief. "I was afraid them pesky rascals was a-coming back."

"What rascals?"

"The fellers as got at the airship while I was asleep. But I guess they
didn't get no chance to hurt anything," went on Abner, hastily.

"Who were they?" asked Tom.

"I don't know. They had rags tied over their faces, so I couldn't see
'em."

"How many of them were there?" questioned Dick.

"Two."

"Are you sure they didn't harm anything?" went on the eldest Rover boy,
as he entered the shed.

"No, I ain't sure, for when I woke up they was in the shed, right under
my hammock. I got scared and I blazed away at the roof, and then they
got scared, I can tell you! They jumped and let out a yell, and ran for
the door, and I got down and went to the door and fired the other barrel
into the air, as a warning. Then they disappeared in the darkness."

"I guess it was----" began Tom, when Dick caught hold of his arm and
silenced him.

"We'll take a look at the machine," said the big brother, and they went
into the shed. Here they were soon joined by Sam and the others; and
soon a close inspection of the biplane was in progress.

"I don't see any damage," said Dick, presently.

"Most likely they didn't have time to do any," replied Tom.

"I'm glad of it," added Sam, with a sigh of relief.

"Who would be so mean?" questioned Stanley.

"I've got my suspicions, but I won't say anything yet," answered Dick.

A proctor and several instructors had come down to the shed, and the
situation had to be explained to them. All thought it mean that anybody
should try to damage the flying machine.

"Perhaps it was merely a boyish trick," said Professor Blackie. "Let us
hope so."

"Maybe," answered Dick. "Just the same, I am glad that I placed Filbury
on guard." And then he told the young man to keep a closer watch than
before, and this Abner promised to do. Then the boys went back to the
dormitory, finished the feast, and went to bed.

A few days later came word that Dora and the Laning girls had arrived at
Hope Seminary, and the Rovers, of course, made immediate preparations to
visit them.

"We'll give 'em a surprise," said Tom, with a grin. "We'll visit 'em in
the _Dartaway_." And this the other brothers readily agreed to do.

A message was sent to the three girls, requesting them to meet the boys
at a certain hour on the campus of the seminary. Then the Rovers got the
_Dartaway_ in readiness for the trip, polishing up the engine and
working parts until they shone like silver.

"If only it doesn't rain, or blow too hard," said Sam, when all was in
readiness.

"Oh, we'll go anyway," cried Tom.

The boys had purchased regular aviation suits, which looked very neat
and professional-like. The new engine was in place, and they had given
it a good try-out and had found that it worked as well as the other and
gave much more power.

"I think we could carry half a dozen folks now," said Sam, after a trial
with some bags of sand. "She takes up the extra weight without an
effort."

"Perhaps, but there is no use of straining the biplane, or the engine
either," returned Dick.

The morning of the all-important day came and the boys found the wind
blowing steadily from the west.

"Rather breezy for a flight," was Dick's comment.

"Do you think it will rain?" queried Sam, anxiously.

"Not with the wind from that quarter, Sam. But we may get more breeze
than we want."

"Oh, we won't mind the wind a bit," declared Tom, who never wanted
anything to interfere with his pleasure.

The boys had their regular classes to attend during the morning, and
also one recitation after lunch. But by half-past two all were free, and
after donning their aviation suits, they hurried to the shed and rolled
out the _Dartaway_.

"Pretty breezy and no mistake," remarked Dick, as he gazed anxiously at
the sky. "I don't know about this."

"Oh, don't say we can't go, Dick!" pleaded Sam.

"Maybe the breeze isn't so strong high up," came from Tom, hopefully.

"It may be stronger, Tom. We don't want to go up and get wrecked."

"Oh, the _Dartaway_ won't get wrecked--not with that powerful engine."

Dick hesitated. He did not like that strong breeze in the least. Yet he
was just as anxious as his brothers to visit the seminary and meet the
girls, and let them see the biplane. And there was something even more
important on his mind.

"Oh, come ahead, and take a chance!" cried Tom. "We'll get through
somehow!"

"Just what I say," declared Sam.

"Who is to run the machine?" asked the big brother.

"I'll run her, if you want me to," answered Tom, promptly.

"Oh, I was only thinking of the honor, Tom. I'm not afraid to try it."

"Oh, you go ahead and do it," put in Sam, who knew that his big
brother's heart was set on showing Dora what he could do with the flying
machine.

"We'll go up and try it," answered Dick, at last. "If she works all
right, I'll head her for the seminary; otherwise I'll bring her down
again;" and so it was arranged.

A number of the students had come out to see the flight and they gave a
cheer as the big biplane rushed over the campus and then arose like a
bird in the air. As the machine went up, Tom looked to one side and saw
Dudd Flockley standing on the campus, in company with a student named
Andy Yates. Both were sneering at the Rovers and their friends.

"The pair that tried to damage the machine," muttered Tom to himself. He
knew that since Larkspur and Koswell had left Brill, Flockley and Yates
had become quite friendly, and he also knew that Yates was a spendthrift
and had a reputation far from good.

Up and up went the biplane, guided by the steady hand and keen eye of
Dick. The wind rushed over the canvas planes and sang merrily through
the wire stays. The engine banged away steadily, and the propellers left
only a blur in the air as they kept whizzing around and around.

"How is it, Dick?" asked Sam, after a full minute had passed, and they
were turning in a big circle.

"Can't tell yet--pretty gusty and full of holes," was the answer, and
Dick gritted his teeth tightly and took a firmer hold of the steering
wheel. Then the _Dartaway_ came around with a rush.

"Wow!" cried Tom, clutching at his seat. "Say, this is some slant!"

"Hold tight!" yelled Dick.

The warning came none too soon, for a gust of wind hit the biplane and
all but made it "turn turtle," as the saying goes. But Dick was on the
watch, and he sent the tips down, and soon the machine righted itself.
Then they rushed away, over the woods beyond the college buildings.

"Going?" queried Sam.

"Are you game?" asked Dick, grimly.

"Sure!"

"What about it, Tom? Don't go if you don't think it is best."

"We'll try it. Dick. But if you spill us out--well, please choose a soft
spot, that's all!" went on Tom, who had to have his joke, even in such a
time of peril.

To take that trip, with such a wind blowing, was not a wise move, and
all three of the Rovers knew it. But they wanted so much to see the
girls, and show them the biplane, that they were willing to take the
risk.

On and on sailed the _Dartaway_, now in the teeth of the breeze and then
with the wind on the quarter. All of the youths clung fast constantly,
for their was great danger of being pitched into space. They had straps
for fastening themselves, but hated to use these, fearing that they
might get in some position where a quick jump might mean safety. If they
were strapped in, and the biplane fell, they might be crushed to death
under the heavy engine.

Most of the trip was made in the face of the wind, which, every instant,
seemed to grow stronger. The _Dartaway_ acted like a thing of life,
swooping and careening from one side to the other. Dick had to
manipulate the wheel and the levers constantly, to keep anything like
an even "keel."

"Can you keep to the course?" questioned Tom, after about half the
distance to the seminary had been covered.

"I don't know--it depends on the wind," Dick replied. "I may go around
to the westward--it seems to be better sailing that way."

In the end they had to make a wide detour, and Dick was wondering how he
was going to turn in the direction of Hope Seminary, when the wind
suddenly died down. This was his chance, and on the instant he headed
directly for the seminary.

"There it is!" cried Sam, presently. "I see the buildings!"

"There is the campus!" added Tom, a minute later. "And there are the
girls, waving banners at us!"

"I see them!" answered Dick, and then he shut off the engine, and
silently and with the grace of a big, white swan, the _Dartaway_
volplaned to the earth.




CHAPTER XVI

DICK AND DORA


"Oh, Dick, how lovely!"

"Weren't you afraid, Sam?"

"What a big flying machine, Tom!"

Such were the exclamations from Dora, Grace and Nellie, as all rushed
forward to where the boys were alighting from the _Dartaway_. Soon they
were shaking hands all around, and soon other girl students were coming
up, to learn what the arrival of the flying machine meant.

"Well, we certainly had a great trip," said Dick.

"The wind was pretty strong," put in Sam.

"Strongest wind you ever saw!" declared Tom, stoutly. "Turned us over
about 'steen times and rolled us into a regular ball."

"Oh, Tom, what an idea!" exclaimed Nellie, and began to laugh. "But
weren't you afraid?" she went on anxiously.

"What, me? Never! But Sam was so afraid he shook off his shoes, and one
of 'em dropped right on a cow, and----"

"Tom Rover!" burst out Grace. "What a story-teller you are!"

"Well, Grace, if you don't believe it, go and ask that cow," went on the
fun-loving Rover, soberly. "It's lucky Sam has elastics on the shoes--to
pull 'em back by. If he hadn't had----" Tom did not finish but shook his
head mournfully.

"I am so glad you got here safely, Dick," said Dora, in a low voice.
"But oh, do you think it is quite safe?" she went on, anxiously. "I--I
don't want you to get hurt!"

"I guess it is safe enough, Dora," he replied, not wishing to alarm her.
"It's like an auto--you've got to get used to it."

"I don't think I'd ever get used to a flying machine."

"Maybe you would. Some day I'll take you up and you can see how you like
it." But Dora shook her head at this.

The boys had hoped to have a quiet time with the three girls, but this
was not to be just then. The students of the seminary gathered around,
and the lads were kept busy explaining about the biplane, and how the
engine and the steering gear worked. Then, to show that they could run
the _Dartaway_ as well as Dick, Tom took the machine up and Sam
followed him, each making several circles around the campus.

"Any girls want to go up?" questioned Tom. "Now don't please all speak
at once." There was a general giggle, but nobody accepted the
invitation. Then the Rovers turned to those they had come to visit, and,
taking the hint, the other girl students sauntered away.

"Wouldn't you like some refreshments?" asked Dora. "We might get some
hot coffee and some cake."

"No, we'll have to get back before dark," answered Dick. "So we'll just
stay and talk awhile. Any special news from home?"

"No. Mamma is going away for her health, and Mrs. Laning is going with
her."

"I hope they go where old Crabtree and Sobber can't find them."

"That is what they are going to try to do, Dick. Oh, dear, I wish those
people would never come near us again!"

"They are up near our home now," answered the eldest Rover boy, and told
about the old mill.

"Whatever are they up to now, do you think, Dick?"

"I can't imagine. We are all awaiting developments."

"Your folks ought to be on guard."

"They are on guard--and dad has hired a detective to keep his eye on
Crabtree and Sobber."

"What about your father, Dick? You wrote that he was worried over some
business matter."

"He is, and Uncle Randolph is worried, too, Dora. It's some business you
wouldn't understand--something about some western investment. You see
dad and uncle are getting old and they can't watch things as they used
to--and Uncle Randolph is all wrapped up in scientific farming, just as
he always was. I sometimes think it's time I took hold of business
matters and helped them."

"Then you'd have to leave Brill, wouldn't you?"

"Yes; but I'd not mind that--I have a pretty good education even now,
and I could study in my spare moments. I could take a short course,
instead of one of the long ones. And then, Dora, that would help out
another way," went on Dick in a lower voice, and looking over his
shoulder to make sure that the others were not listening. But the others
had walked off to the rear of the big biplane.

"Another way? How?" And Dora looked at him wonderingly.

"Oh, you know well enough."

"No, I don't," she replied; but two bright spots began to show in her
pretty cheeks, making her prettier than ever.

"Well, I made up my mind that as soon as I left college I was going to
get married," Dick went on, looking her full in the eyes.

"Oh, Dick!" And now she cast her eyes on the ground.

"Sure. Don't you think it's a good idea?" he went on, and he caught her
hand and held it.

"Oh, I--I----" She blushed more than ever and could not go on.

"I know we are not so very old, Dora, but, on the other hand, we are not
so very young either, and I think your mother would approve, and I am
sure my father wouldn't object. I know he thinks you are just the finest
girl in the whole world,--he said so."

"Well, mamma likes you, too, Dick,--she's told me that many times."

"Then I'm sure she won't object. And, besides, when I'm her son-in-law
I'll be able to do a good deal more than I can now--about helping her
with her financial affairs, and all that, you know."

"Yes, I know that, too."

"And so I think we ought to get married. But, of course, if you object,
Dora----"

"Did I object?" And she smiled just a little--a smile that set his heart
bounding.

"Then you'll consent?" he asked eagerly. "Will you? Say yes, won't you?"
And now he had hold of both of her hands and was looking her full in the
eyes. "I want you so much, Dora,--I've wanted you ever since I first met
you--on that little steamboat, on the way to Putnam Hall."

"Oh, Dick, what an idea! Why, you hardly knew me then!"

"Never mind, I knew you well enough."

"What a long time ago that was," murmured the girl. She was still gazing
fully into his eyes.

"Yes, it was a long time ago, and yet, somehow, it seems an awfully
short time, too. But, Dora, you haven't said yes yet. Won't you please
say yes?" he pleaded, in a lower voice, as Tom and the others started to
rejoin them.

"Yes," she murmured, her face becoming a rosy red. "Yes. Any time you
say, Dick, if mamma is willing."

"You dear, dear girl!" he cried softly. "Oh, I just wish I had you all
to myself for a moment!" And he gave her a look that spoke volumes.

"Well, we've got to get back, that is all there is to it," came from Sam
loudly. He could not help but notice how confidential Dick and Dora were
becoming.

"I'd like to stay, but we've got to make the trip before it gets too
dark," added Tom.

"Just as you say," answered Dick, although he did not, just then, see
how he was going to tear himself away.

But the boys did not leave for a good quarter of an hour, and during
that time, Dick and Dora somehow managed to walk to the end of the
campus, where there were big clumps of rose bushes and lilac shrubbery.
Once in the shadow of these Dick pulled something from a pocket and held
it out to Dora.

"If we are going to be regularly engaged, you must have this," he said.

"Oh, Dick, a diamond ring!" she cried, as the glint of the jewel caught
her eyes.

"Hold out your hand, dear," he said, and when she held it out he placed
the ring on her finger. Then he took her in his arms.

"Mine, Dora, mine, always and forever mine!"

"Always, and forever, Dick!" she answered. And then they kissed each
other.

When they rejoined the others each felt as if walking on air.

"But the ring--they'll be sure to see it, Dick!" whispered Dora.

"If they don't I shall be disappointed," he answered.

It was Grace who espied the glittering circlet first and she uttered a
slight shriek. Then she pointed it out to her sister.

"A diamond ring--an engagement ring!" she cried.

"Oh, how lovely!" exclaimed Nellie.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the future Mrs. Dick Rover!" said Dick, just a
bit awkwardly, while Dora blushed the color of a peony.

"Oh, Dora!" cried Grace and Nellie, in chorus, and then each kissed her.

"I thought I smelt a mouse," murmured Sam.

"Hail to the bride!" cried Tom. "Say, Dick, isn't it proper to salute
your future sister-in-law?" he went on, with a broad grin.

"I don't know--better ask her," replied Dick, good-naturedly, and then
Tom kissed Dora, and Sam did the same thing. After that Tom declared he
ought to kiss the "bride-to-be's cousins," and started in, and Sam
followed.

"Here, you kids break away!" cried Dick finally. "I thought you said we
had to get back before dark."

"'Kids' indeed!" snorted Tom. "My, how old we've gotten since we're
engaged!" And then he grinned more than ever. "But never mind," he went
on to Nellie, in a whisper. "Just you wait and see the diamond ring I
get you one of these days." And this remark made Nellie blush as
deeply as had Dora. Sam said something, too, to Grace about a ring, at
which she laughed merrily and slapped his face. But when the boys were
in the biplane and ready to sail away, and he held up a finger with a
ring on it and looked at her questioningly--and longingly--she gave a
quick little nod of her curly head.

[Illustration: "OH, DICK, A DIAMOND RING!" SHE CRIED.--_Page_ 161.]

"All ready?" asked Dick, at last.

"All ready!" replied his brothers.

"Then start her up!" cried the oldest Rover boy, and the others gave a
turn to the propellers. Bang! bang! bang! went the engine, and Sam and
Tom rushed to their seats.

"Come again soon!" cried the girls.

"Just as soon as we can!" was the answer.

"Be careful!" pleaded Dora. "Please, please be careful!"

"We'll look out--don't worry," answered Dick. He had to shout, to make
himself heard above the noise of the motor. Then came the usual whizz
and rush, and a few seconds later the Rover boys were once more in the
air and bound for Brill.

Dick would have been pleased could he have allowed his mind to linger on
the conversation he had had with Dora, but he soon found this out of the
question. The wind had come up again, and was now blowing as strongly as
ever, and he had all he could do to manage the _Dartaway_. Soon the big
biplane commenced to pitch and toss like a small boat on the bosom of an
angry ocean.

"Say, this is getting something fierce!" was Sam's comment, after a
particularly thrilling dip. "I thought we were going right down that
time."

"You hold tight!" yelled Dick. "Don't let go for an instant."

"I'm as tight as glue," was the reply.

"Hadn't you better go up a bit, Dick?" came from Tom.

"Just what I thought of doing," was the answer.

The rudders were shifted, and swiftly the biplane mounted through space.
It was now growing dark, and presently the panorama that had been below
them, vanished from view.

"Huh! This won't do!" cried Dick. "I can't see how to steer."

"Steer by the wind for awhile," suggested Sam.

A minute later came a fierce gust of wind, followed by a second and then
a third. Around spun the biplane and then tilted up as if about to go
over. Then came an unexpected ripping and tearing sound.

"It's the left plane--it's torn loose!" yelled Sam. "Let her down, Dick,
before it is too late! If you don't, we'll drop to our death!"




CHAPTER XVII

CAUGHT IN A HAILSTORM


All of the Rover boys realized their extreme peril, yet for the moment
they were powerless to do anything to help themselves. Dick put out his
hand to stop the engine of the biplane, then concluded that it might be
more advantageous to keep the propellers moving.

Around and around spun the flying machine, tossed like a chip on an
angry ocean. All grew dark about the three boys and each gave himself up
for lost. It was useless to attempt to steer, so Dick held the craft as
she was, so far as the wheel was concerned.

Then came a sudden, sickening drop and a tilting to one side. Sam let
out a wild yell, but what he said was drowned out in the roaring of the
wind and the noise of the engine. Then, of a sudden, the _Dartaway_ dove
forward and the gust of air was left behind. They came into a "hole," as
it is termed by aviators, and again they sank. But now Dick was gaining
control once more and he tilted the front rudder and up they went for a
hundred feet, but in something of a circle, because of the broken plane.

"Can't you land?" gasped Tom. "We can't--can't--stand--this!"

"I'll do what I can," replied Dick, between his set teeth. He knew that
their very lives depended on how he handled the biplane.

Slowly and with great caution Dick allowed the _Dartaway_ to get closer
to the earth. Each of the boys strained his eyes, to catch sight of what
might be below. Then came another gust, and this was followed by a
strange rattling on the biplane. Small, white objects were bouncing in
all directions.

"It's hail!" cried Sam. "We've struck a hail squall!"

He was right, and the hail continued to come down all around them,
driven by a sweeping wind that carried the _Dartaway_ hither and
thither. But it was one of those sudden squalls that do not last long,
and soon they were sailing in the clear air again, and now within view
of the ground below.

"There is a fine field--to the right," cried Tom.

Dick nodded and, not without an effort, brought the biplane around. Then
he shut off the motor, and they slid to earth quicker than they had
anticipated. The _Dartaway_ struck the ground and bounced up and down
several times on its rubber-tired wheels and then came to a standstill
in the midst of some brushwood. Poor Sam was thrown out heels over head
into the bushes.

"Are you hurt?" sang out Dick, anxiously. It was so dark he could not
see what had become of his youngest brother.

"I--I guess not!" came back from Sam, and he started to scramble out of
the bushes. "Say, that was some sail, wasn't it?" he continued.

"No more like that for me!" returned Tom, panting like a race horse.
"Are you O. K., Dick?"

"Yes, although that bumping shook me up. But come, fasten the _Dartaway_
down before the wind comes up again and blows it to kingdom come!"

This warning was necessary for the wind was still fitful and there was
no telling how strong it might become. All sprang forward to do what
they could to save the biplane from destruction.

"If there was a barn handy we might use that," said Sam.

They looked around, but the only building nearby was a small cottage,
evidently one used by a farmer's hired hands.

"Run her around between the bushes," directed Dick. "They will protect
her a little, for the bushes are quite high."

They found a spot between the undergrowth and into it forced the
biplane, until the air craft was completely surrounded. The bushes broke
the force of the wind and the lads had little difficulty in tying the
machine fast with the ropes they always carried. It was hailing again,
although not so heavily as before. The wind was gradually going down,
but the sky was as dark and threatening as ever.

"I think it will turn into rain before very long," said Dick, after a
look around. "Too bad it couldn't have held off half an hour longer.
Then we'd have been safe at Brill."

"I'm thankful we got down safely, Dick," said Sam.

"Oh, so am I!"

"It was a narrow escape," was Tom's comment. "Great hambones! Who would
have thought we'd run into such weather as this!"

"Oh, hailstorms like this are not uncommon, even in midsummer," answered
Dick. "Don't you remember the one that came and cut down our corn some
years ago?"

"Yes, and broke all the glass in the hothouse," added Sam. "Say, is the
machine hurt much?" he went on.

"We'll have to make an examination."

They looked the biplane over as best they could in the semi-darkness.
One of the bamboo poles had been split and two of the canvas stretches
were slit from end to end.

"Not as bad as it might be," said Dick. "We can easily mend the canvas.
But I guess we had better get a new pole in place of that one. I'd not
care to trust it, even if it were wired."

"Perhaps we can wire it good enough to get back to Brill with," returned
Tom. "We can't stay here."

"I've had enough sailing for to-day!" cried Sam. "Let us walk back, or
get a carriage, and leave the biplane here until some fine day when
there is no wind."

"Yes, we can't use her any more to-day," said Dick. "Let us cover the
engine and walk to that cottage and find out just where we are, and how
we can get to Brill."

Having arranged everything as well as the means at hand permitted, the
three Rover boys left the vicinity of the brushwood and walked over to
where the small cottage was located. The ground was covered with
hailstones and Tom could not resist the temptation to gather up a
handful and pelt his brothers.

"Stop it!" cried Sam, and then, as Tom would not stop, he rushed in with
some of the hailstones in his hand and allowed them to slide down inside
of Tom's collar.

"Wow!" roared the fun-loving Rover. "Let up, Sam! That feels as if I'd
hit the North Pole!"

"Then you let up," answered Sam, firmly; and after that Tom let the
hailstones alone.

As they neared the cottage they saw that a lantern was lit and set on a
table in the centre of the living room. Around the table sat three
persons, two young fellows and an older man, evidently a farmer. The
three were smoking and playing cards, and on the table lay some
bank-bills.

"Why, look at this!" cried Dick, in astonishment. Then he added quickly:
"Get out of sight, don't show yourselves!" And he caught each of his
brothers by the arm and led the pair to the rear of the building.

"What's up, Dick?" asked Sam. "Who were they?"

"Didn't you recognize those young fellows?"

"I did!" cried Tom, in a low voice. "They were Jerry Koswell and Bart
Larkspur!"

"Koswell and Larkspur!" exclaimed Sam. "Are you sure?"

"Tom is right," replied Dick.

"Who was the third fellow?"

"I don't know. He looked like a farmer to me."

"Did you see the money on the table?" broke out Tom. "They must have
been gambling!"

"It looked that way to me, Tom."

"If they were, all I've got to say, that third fellow better look out
for Koswell and Larkspur," continued Tom. "They are sharpers at cards,
so Dudd Flockley once told me. He said they got him to put up his money
a number of times and each time they won. He was inclined to think they
didn't play fairly."

"Well, knowing them as we do, I'd say they wouldn't be above cheating,"
said Sam. "But what in the world can they be doing in this
out-of-the-way place?"

"That remains to be found out," replied his big brother. "Maybe they
were on the road and ran here for shelter from the hailstorm."

"I'm not afraid of them, Dick," said Tom.

"Neither am I, Tom, you know that."

"Then what's the use of keeping out of sight? I'd rather go in there and
give them a thrashing, like the one we gave them on that island."

"Don't forget we have the _Dartaway_ here and they might take pleasure
in ruining the craft or running off with her. Besides, I'd like to watch
them a bit and find out a little about their plans. Remember, they want
to play us some dirty trick."

"There they go!" burst out Sam, at that instant, and motioned to the
front of the cottage. All looked in the direction he pointed out, to see
Koswell and Larkspur hurrying down a lane that led to a road running
between the trees.

"You come back here! That wasn't fair!" shouted the farm hand who had
been playing cards with them. "Come back!" And he rushed to the front
door of the cottage and waved his arm wildly.

"It was fair!" shouted back Jerry Koswell.

"Sure it was fair!" added Bart Larkspur. "We'd come back, only we are in
a hurry."

"You cheated me!" stormed the farm hand and shook his fist at the pair.
But they paid no further attention, and soon the darkness and a bend of
the road hid them from view.

The Rover boys waited a few seconds and then knocked on the back door of
the cottage. The farm hand, a fellow named Dan Murdock, stamped over to
the door and threw it open.

"What do you want?" he asked surlily. The loss of his money had made him
ill-tempered.

"Why, hello, Murdock!" cried Sam. "I didn't know you lived here."

"Oh, so it's you, Rover," answered the farm hand. He remembered that he
had once given Sam a ride and had been well paid for it. "Caught in the
hailstorm?" he went on, a bit more pleasantly.

"Yes. These are my brothers," added Sam. "We were out and we got lost.
Can you tell us the best road to the college?"

"Of course. Walk through the woods back there. Then take the road to the
left and at the cross roads turn to the right. You'll see the signs, so
you can't go wrong."

"And how far is it?"

"About two miles. You can take the road yonder, too, but that's about a
mile longer."

"Do you live here?" asked Dick, curiously.

"I sleep here--me and two other hands. We get our meals up to Mr.
Dawson's house--the man we work for."

"Oh, then this is the Dawson farm?" Dick remembered that Mr. Dawson
supplied butter and eggs to the college.

"Yes, sir."

"I'm glad to know that, for we need some help. We were out in our
flying machine and had to come down over there. We'll want somebody to
look after the machine until we can fix it up and take it away. Of
course we'll pay for what's done," he added.

"Oh, I heard tell of that flying machine!" exclaimed the farm hand. "You
sailed over this farm a couple of hours ago."

He was much interested and wanted to know all about the trip, and about
the machine. He said Mr. Dawson was away, but that the _Dartaway_ could
be wheeled up into one of the big barns and left there until repaired.
Then he agreed to get out a two-seated carriage and drive the boys over
to Brill. Inside of half an hour the biplane was safely housed, and the
whole party was on the way to the college.

Dick had warned Sam and Tom to remain silent concerning Koswell and
Larkspur, and it was not until they were almost to Brill that he
mentioned the fact that they had seen the pair running away from the
cottage.

"Seen 'em, did you?" cried Dan Murdock. "Say, them fellers are
swindlers, they are! They came in to git out of the hail and then they
started to play cards, just to while away the time, so they said. They
asked me to play, and as I couldn't work just then, I consented, and
then they got me to put up some money,--just to make it interestin',
they said. They let me win a little at first, and then they got me to
put up more and more, and then they cheated me and wiped me out!"

"And how much did they get from you?" asked Dick.

"They got nearly all my savings--eighty dollars!" answered Dan Murdock,
grimly.




CHAPTER XVIII

TOM AND HIS FUN


"Got eighty dollars from you!" murmured Dick. "That's too bad!"

"It would be bad enough if I lost it fairly," answered the farm hand.
"But I am sure they swindled me."

"Well, you ought not to gamble," put in Sam, who had listened to the
talk with interest.

"I suppose that's true," mumbled Dan Murdock. "But they said I might win
a pile. Oh, I was a big fool--I know it now, even if I didn't know it
then. I wish I had stopped 'em from leaving."

"Why didn't you?"

"They went so sudden like--after they had my money. One of 'em took out
his watch and said they'd miss the train, and away they started before
you could say Jack Robinson! But there ain't no train this time o' day."

"It was a trick to get away," said Tom.

"Sure--I know that, now! Oh, if only I had my hands on 'em. Say, they
don't belong at Brill, do they?" went on the farm hand eagerly.

"No, although they used to go there," answered Dick.

"Then you saw 'em?"

"Yes, we saw them running away."

"What are their names?" and when Dick had mentioned them Dan Murdock
shook his head slowly.

"I've heard of 'em before," he said. "They used to hang around at the
tavern. I was a big fool, no two ways about it! I guess they'll keep out
of my sight after this."

"More than likely," answered Dick.

When the boys arrived at the college they found an anxious crowd looking
for them and the biplane. Songbird and Stanley and several others rushed
to the carriage to greet them.

"Were you wrecked?"

"Did you get a bad tumble?"

"Where did you come down?"

So the questions ran on and the boys had to answer as best they could.
Everybody seemed to be glad to learn that they had escaped from the fury
of the sudden hailstorm--that is, everybody but Dudd Flockley and his
new crony, Andy Yates.

"Just like the Rovers' luck," muttered Flockley, sourly. "They'd escape
where everybody else would be smashed up."

"Oh, they'll get a smash, if you give 'em time enough," answered Andy
Yates, heartlessly. He was a student who courted attention and it galled
him to see the Rovers the center of attraction.

As soon as Dick, Tom and Sam could get time to do so, they sent a
message to Hope Seminary, informing the girls that they had gotten back
to Brill in safety. This relieved much anxiety, for with the sudden
coming of the wind and hail the girls had feared that the youths might
be killed.

After such a strenuous adventure, the Rover boys were content to take it
easy for some time. They sent to the city for a man to come and repair
the _Dartaway_ and then settled down to their studies. Then, after the
biplane had been repaired, they went after the machine and brought it
back to Brill, and it was placed in the gymnasium shed, with Abner
Filbury to guard it, as before.

"Don't you want to go up, Songbird?" asked Tom, one afternoon, after
college hours.

"I--er--I don't think so," answered the student-poet, gravely.

"Rather make up verses about flying than fly, eh?"

"I--er--I think so, Tom."

"What have you made up about airships, anything really fine, Songbird?"

"Well, I've written a few little verses, Tom. Would you like to hear
them?"

"Sure!" cried the fun-loving Rover, and then Songbird commenced to
recite:

          "I spread my wings on the balmy air,
          And float and float I know not where.
          I rise, I fall, I fall, I rise,
          For I am monarch of the skies!"

"Bang up, Songbird! Couldn't be better!" cried Tom. "Give us another
dip, like the small boy said of the ice-cream." And the would-be poet
continued:

          "I rush along when skies are blue,
          And when it hails I sail right through!
          I feel----"

"Hold on, Songbird! You've got to change that line. We didn't sail right
through when it hailed--we came down just as quickly as we could."

"Oh, that's only a figure of speech," answered the would-be poet
loftily, and then he continued:

          "I feel I can sail anywhere,
          For I am monarch of the air!"

"Good for you!" put in Sam, who was present. "For A, No. 1, first-grade
poetry apply to Songbird every time."

"There are sixteen verses in all," went on the poet, eagerly. "The next
one begins----"

"Sorry, there goes the supper bell!" interrupted Tom. "Come on, we've
got to eat, even if we miss the finest poem in the universe."

"I--er--I didn't hear any bell," answered Songbird.

"You didn't?" cried Tom, innocently. "Well! well! Come on in and see
anyway!" And he dragged the would-be poet along and forced him into a
crowd of students. "Guess I was mistaken," he said soberly. "Too bad!"
And off he, ran, and Sam ran after him.

"Well, it wasn't half bad," said the youngest Rover.

"That's true, Sam," returned Tom, and then he added with a sudden broad
grin: "But how about an egg that was only half bad--would you want to
eat it? Some day Songbird may write real poetry--but not yet."

It was now ideal football weather and the football elevens, the regular
and the scrub, were out daily for practice. Dick and Tom had been asked
to play but both had declined, for they wished to pay attention to their
studies, and the biplane took up all their spare time. Sam played a
little on the scrub, but soon gave it up.

During those days Dick was more serious than usual, and neither Tom nor
Sam bothered their elder brother. They knew he was thinking of his
engagement to Dora, and also worrying over the business affairs of their
father and their Uncle Randolph.

One day Tom and Sam took a short trip in the biplane and persuaded
Stanley to go with them, and the next day they took out Spud. But nobody
else of their chums cared to go.

"A new arrival to-morrow!" cried Sam, one evening. "Just from a trip to
Paris, too."

"Is it William Philander Tubbs?" queried Tom, looking up from the theme
he was writing.

"You've struck it, Tom. Since you wrote to him about the socks he has
been over to Paris. But he gets back to the grind to-morrow--comes in on
the four-thirty train."

"Say, let us get up a reception in William's honor!" cried the
fun-loving Rover; and as soon as the theme was finished he began to
arrange his plans.

The next afternoon the Rovers and a crowd of their chums took one of the
college carryalls and drove over to Ashton station to witness the sport.
Tom had been to town early in the morning and had arranged matters with
eight colored waiters from the hotel, and also with a local liveryman.

As the train came in the boys and a number of others were on the watch
for Tubbs. As soon as they saw the dudish student alight, dress-suit
case in hand, the Rovers rushed up to him.

"How are you, Sir William!" cried Dick, taking the dude's hand gravely.

"Let me congratulate you, Lord Tubbs!" cried Sam, bowing low.

"Your Highness will find his carriage this way," put in Tom, taking the
dress-suit case and flinging it to one of the colored men.

"Why--er--weally, don't you know, what does--er--this mean?" stammered
poor William Philander, gazing around in astonishment.

And well might he be astonished, for there, before him, in a wide-open
double row, stood the eight colored men, all dressed in black, with
broad red sashes over their breasts and cockades of red paper in their
hats. On the platform between the colored men was a bright red stair
carpet, and this carpet led directly to where a carriage was in waiting.
The carriage had four white horses, all decorated in red ribbons, and on
the seat sat a driver, also decorated in red.

"Such an honor to have your Lordship condescend to come to Brill," went
on Tom, with a low bow.

"What did the Queen say when she decorated you?" asked Dick.

"It was a grand thing for the King to honor you so highly," put in Sam.

"I certainly envy you," came from Songbird, who was in the secret.

"Hope there is a good salary attached to the office," was Stanley's
comment.

"I've heard it vas fife thousand pounds by the year!" vouchsafed Max.

"How the girls will fall in love with you when they hear of this,"
sighed Spud.

"This way, your Excellency!" cried Tom, and led poor, bewildered Tubbs
to the carriage.

"Thomas, my dear fellow, what--er--what does it mean?" gasped the dudish
student, his eyes opening wider and wider.

"Oh, you can't fool us, Tubblets," whispered the fun-loving Rover. "You
were going to keep it a secret, but we read all about it in the London
paper one of the fellows sent over."

"Read about--ah--what, please?"

"Why, how the king and queen knighted you, and all that, Philliam
Whilander."

"William Philander, please, Thomas. But--er--this is a mistake----"

"No, no, Tubby, my boy, no mistake at all, I assure you. This is in your
honor solely. The college faculty did it--they couldn't do less, to one
so decorated, or knighted,--which is it, please? It's the grandest thing
that ever happened to Brill."

"But don't you know, I--er--I haven't been--er--knighted, or anything
else. I wasn't in England, I went to Paris, and----"

"Now, now, my dear boy, don't try that game," said Tom, reproachfully.
"We all know perfectly well that you were knighted and that you are now
Sir Tubbs, P. X. C., and all that. We salute you!" And then Tom took off
his hat. "Three cheers for Sir Tubbs!" he called loudly.

The cheers were given with a will, and a tiger added. Poor Tubbs was
almost stricken dumb, and commenced to mop the perspiration from his
forehead.

"Don't crowd so close!" cried Tom, warningly. "His Lordship must have
air! He isn't used to so much excitement! Stand back! Now then, into the
carriage, if you please!" And into the turnout went poor Tubbs, and the
next instant his hat was snatched from his head and a tall, white beaver
was placed in its stead. Then several medals of tin and brass were
pinned to his coat, and the crowd set up a riotous cheering.

"Hurrah for Sir Tubbs!"

"My, what an honor for Brill!"