The Rover Boys in the Air; Or, From College Campus to the Clouds

am dat contraption yo' boys dun put

is?" returned Dick Rover, with a smile

ully. "Yo' don't mean to say it am lak a plane a carpenter man uses, does yo', Massa Dick? 'Pears lak to me it was moah lak s

lane, Aleck," answered Dick, with a laugh. "A

y, Massa Dick, yo' ain't gwine to tr

after I have had a few lessons. I hope to

Don't yo' try it! I-I can't allow it nohow-an' yo' aunt won't allo

n the air is getting to be a common thing these days? Tom and Sam and I bought that biplane in New York last week, and a man who knows a

an' not fo' all dat treasure yo' dun brung home from Treasure Isle! No, sah, de ground am good eno

oment, and Tom Rover came into view. "Want to

ob goin' up in dat contraption?"

Think of flying along like a bird!" And Tom Rover spread out

ker-flop!" murmured Aleck, soberly. "Yo'

ed Tom. "This biplane is a first-class ma

fo' you call it a biplane?" a

s, or two surfaces of canvas. This biplane of ours, as you can see, has two surfaces, or decks, an upper a

ail frough de air in dat bicycleplane, or wot yo' call it. 'Tain't safe nohow! Yo' stick to de

an angel, Aleck?"

ll be an angel after yo' fall out, even if yo' ain't one when yo' start

with a broad smile. "Poor Aleck! he ev

r scary," answered Tom Rover, slowly. "I want to see that av

engine, and in steering, and all that. I begin to think running a flyi

ine works. We can do that easily enough, for it's a good dea

e is

nd for Aunt Martha. He said he'd be back as soon as possi

e was a rudder in front and another behind, and in the centre was a broad cane seat, with a steering wheel, and several levers for controlling the craft. Back of the seat was the engine, lightly built but powerful, and above was a good-sized tank of gasoline. The frame

or this machine," remarked

e-er--" And then his big brother stopped

were going to say Dor

k. "Maybe you were go

ght come along and want to name it the Grace. We had better give the girls' names a re

she shall become, if Sam is willing. Now then, we'll fill that gasoline t

ame gasoline as w

a higher grade, so that aviator said. But then yo

not thinking of an air

alked off to the garage, where there was a barrel of gasoline sunk in the ground, with a pipe connectio

e, give me the can and I'll fill the tank while we are at

es putting the engine in running order, and in filling up the lubricating oil box. They

ked Dick, at length. "My, but isn't she a bea

the brother. "If only I knew more about

learn the art of it, just like a baby has got to learn to w

ne anyhow. And maybe we can try the propellers," he ad

'll try the engine, but we'll have to tie the biplane f

rst. It's too gloomy in the shed. I'l

to roll the big machine from the shed to the level field beyond. Then Tom ran back and procured some stakes, several

and the propellers," said he, as he surveyed his work. "Go

, and after another critical inspection he turned on

t the engine by tur

ther wooden blades. "Now then, all ready? Heav

engine refused to respond. It was hard work, and both of the l

l right?" panted Tom, as he

ck had made an inspection. "Th

But come on, let us gi

es of the propellers a vigorous turn. There came a sudden hiss, followed by a crac

, triumphantly. "Say, but she makes

s don't have mufflers, like autos," yelled back

, in deep admiration. "All you can see is a whirr

l give a good account of herself, when she is properly handled. Now, I had better sto

"Hurry up, Dick! See how she is straining t

the ropes flew apart. Then up out of the ground came the stake holding another rope. The big biplane, thus rele

Down went the youth backwards, and as he fell, with a rush and a roar, the biplane sped over the level ground for a distance of