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diff --git a/2065.txt b/2065.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a45606a --- /dev/null +++ b/2065.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8763 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dick Hamilton's Airship, by Howard R. Garis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Dick Hamilton's Airship + or, A Young Millionaire in the Clouds + +Author: Howard R. Garis + +Posting Date: November 19, 2008 [EBook #2065] +Release Date: February, 2000 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DICK HAMILTON'S AIRSHIP *** + + + + +Produced by Pat Pflieger. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + + + + + +DICK HAMILTON'S AIRSHIP; + +OR, A YOUNG MILLIONAIRE IN THE CLOUDS + + +BY + +Howard R. Garis + + + + +CONTENTS + + I THE FALLING BIPLANE + II THE COLONEL'S OFFER + III DICK'S RESOLVE + IV THE ARMY AVIATORS + V SUSPICIONS + VI DICK'S FIRST FLIGHT + VII A QUEER LANDING + VIII AT HAMILTON CORNERS + IX UNCLE EZRA'S VISIT + X BUILDING THE AIRSHIP + XI A SURPRISE + XII LARSON SEES UNCLE EZRA + XIII UNCLE EZRA ACTS QUEERLY + XIV THE TRIAL FLIGHT + XV IN DANGER + XVI DICK IS WARNED + XVII OFF FOR THE START + XVIII UNCLE EZRA FLIES + XIX UNCLE EZRA'S ACCIDENT + XX IN NEW YORK + XXI OFF FOR THE PACIFIC + XXII UNCLE EZRA STARTS OFF + XXIII AN IMPROMPTU RACE + XXIV GRIT'S GRIP + XXV A FORCED LANDING + XXVI ON LACK MICHIGAN + XXVII A HOWLING GALE + XXVIII ABLAZE IN THE CLOUDS + XXIX THE RIVAL AIRSHIP + XXX AN ATTACK + XXXI THE WRECK + XXXII SAVING UNCLE EZRA + XXXIII WITH UNCLE EZRA'S HELP + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE FALLING BIPLANE + +"She sure is a fine boat, Dick." + +"And she can go some, too!" + +"Glad you like her, fellows," replied Dick Hamilton, to the remarks of +his chums, Paul Drew and Innis Beeby, as he turned the wheel of a new +motor-boat and sent the craft about in a graceful sweep toward a small +dock which connected with a little excursion resort on the Kentfield +river. + +"Like her! Who could help it?" asked Paul, looking about admiringly at +the fittings of the craft. "Why, you could go on a regular cruise in +her!" + +"You might if you kept near your base of supplies," remarked Dick. + +"Base of supplies!" laughed Innis. "Can't you forget, for a while, +that you're at a military school, old man, and not give us the sort of +stuff we get in class all the while?" + +"Well, what I meant," explained the young millionaire owner of the +motor-boat, "was that you couldn't carry enough food aboard, and have +room to move about, if you went on a very long trip." + +"That's right, you couldn't," agreed Paul. "And of late I seem to have +acquired the eating habit in its worst form." + +"I never knew the time when you didn't have it," responded Dick. "I'm +going to give you a chance to indulge in it right now, and I'm going to +profit by your example." + +"What's doing?" asked Innis, as he straightened the collar of his +military blouse, for the three were in the fatigue uniforms of the +Kentfield Military Academy, where Dick and his chums attended. Lessons +and practice were over for the day, and the young millionaire had +invited his friends out for a little trip in his new motor-boat. + +"I thought we'd just stop at Bruce's place, and get a sandwich and a +cup of coffee," suggested Dick. "Then we can go on down the river and +we won't have to be back until time for guard-mount. We'll be better +able to stand it, if we get a bite to eat." + +"Right you are, old chap!" exclaimed Paul, and then he, too, began to +smooth the wrinkles out of his blouse and to ease his rather tight +trousers at the knees. + +"Say, what's the matter with you dudes, anyhow?" asked Dick, who, after +glancing ahead to see that he was on the right course to the dock, +looked back to give some attention to the motor. + +"Matter! I don't see anything the matter," remarked Innis in casual +tones, while he flicked some dust from his shoes with a spare pocket +handkerchief. + +"Why, you two are fussing as though you were a couple of girls at your +first dance," declared Dick, as he adjusted the valves of the oil cups +to supply a little more lubricant to the new motor, which had not yet +warmed up to its work. "Innis acts as though he were sorry he hadn't +come out in his dress uniform, and as for you, Paul, I'm beginning to +think you are afraid you hadn't shaved. What's it all about, anyhow? +Old man Bruce won't care whether you have on one tan shoe and one black +one; or whether your hair is parted, or not." + +Then Dick, having gotten the motor running to his satisfaction, looked +toward the dock which he was rapidly nearing in his boat. The next +moment he gave a whistle of surprise. + +"Ah, ha! No wonder!" he cried. "The girls? So that's why you fellows +were fixing up, and getting yourselves to look pretty. And you let me +monkey with the motor, and get all grease and dirt while you-- Say, I +guess we'll call off this eating stunt," and he swung over the steering +wheel. + +"Oh, I say?" protested Innis. + +"Don't be mean?" added Paul. "We haven't seen the girls in some time, +and there's three of 'em--" + +Dick laughed. On the dock, under the shade of an awning, he had caught +sight of three pretty girls from town--girls he and his chums knew +quite well. They were Mabel Hanford, in whom Dick was more than +ordinarily interested, Grace Knox, and Irene Martin. + +"I thought I'd get a rise out of you fellows," the young millionaire +went on. "Trying to get me in bad, were you!" + +The boat swerved away from the dock. The girls, who had arisen, +evidently to come down to the float, and welcome the approaching +cadets, seemed disappointed. One of them had waved her handkerchief in +response to a salute from Paul. + +"Here, take some of this and clean your face," suggested Paul, handing +Dick some cotton waste from a seat locker. + +"And here's a bit for your shoes," added Innis, performing a like +service. "You'll look as good as we do." + +"What about my hands?" asked Dick. "Think I want to go up and sit +alongside of a girl with paws like these?" and he held out one that was +black and oily. + +"Haven't you any soap aboard?" asked Innis, for he, like Paul, seemed +anxious that Dick should land them at the dock where the girls were. + +"Oh, well, if you fellows are as anxious as all that I s'pose I'll have +to humor you," agreed Dick, with a grin. "I dare say Bruce can let me +wash up in his place," and he turned the craft back on the course he +had previously been holding. A little later the motor-boat was made +fast to the float, and the three cadets were greeting the three girls. + +"Look out for my hands!" warned Dick, as Miss Hanford's light summer +dress brushed near him. "I'm all oil and grease. I'll go scrub up, if +you'll excuse me." + +"Certainly," said Mabel Hanford, with a rippling laugh. + +When Dick returned, he ordered a little lunch served out on the end of +the dock, where they could sit and enjoy the cool breezes, and look at +the river on which were many pleasure craft. + +"Where were you boys going?" asked Grace Knox, as she toyed with her +ice-cream spoon. + +"Coming to see you," answered Paul promptly. + +"As if we'd believe that!" mocked Irene. "Why, you were going right +past here, and only turned in when you saw us!" + +"Dick didn't want to come at all," said Innis. + +"He didn't! Why not?" demanded Mabel. + +"Bashful, I guess," murmured Paul. + +"No, it was because I didn't want to inflict the company of these two +bores on you ladies!" exclaimed Dick, thus "getting back." + +There was much gay talk and laughter, and, as the afternoon was still +young, Dick proposed taking the girls out for a little jaunt in his new +craft He had only recently purchased it, and, after using it at +Kentfield, he intended taking it with him to a large lake, where he and +his father expected to spend the Summer. + +"Oh, that was just fine!" cried Mabel, when the ride was over, and the +party was back at the pier. "Thank you, so much, Dick!" + +"Humph! You have US to thank--not him!" declared Paul. "He wouldn't +have turned in here if we hadn't made him. And just because his hands +had a little oil on!" + +"Say, don't believe him!" protested the young millionaire. "I had +proposed coming here before I knew you girls were on the dock." + +"Well, we thank all THREE of you!" cried Irene, with a bow that +included the trio of cadets. + +"Salute!" exclaimed Paul, and the young soldiers drew themselves up +stiffly, and, in the most approved manner taught at Kentfield, brought +their hands to their heads. + +"'Bout face! Forward--march!" cried Grace, imitating an officer's +orders, and the boys, with laughs stood "at ease." + +"See you at the Junior prom!" + +"Yes, don't forget." + +"And save me a couple of hesitation waltzes!" + +"Can you come for a ride tomorrow?" + +"Surely!" + +This last was the answer of the girls to Dick's invitation, and the +exclamations before that were the good-byes between the girls and boys, +reference being made to a coming dance of the Junior class. + +Then Dick and his chums entered the motor-boat and started back for the +military academy. + +"You've got to go some to get back in time to let us tog up for +guard-mount," remarked Paul, looking at his watch. + +"That's right," added Innis. "I don't want to get a call-down. I'm +about up to my limit now. + +"We'll do it all right," announced Dick. "I haven't speeded the motor +yet. I've been warming it up. I'll show you what she can do!" + +He opened wider the gasoline throttle of the engine, and advanced the +timer. Instantly the boat shot ahead, as the motor ran at twice the +number of revolutions. + +"That's something like!" cried Paul admiringly. + +"She sure has got speed," murmured Innis. + +On they sped, talking of the girls, of their plans for the summer, and +the coming examinations. + +"Hark! What's that?" suddenly asked Paul, holding up his hand for +silence. + +They were made aware of a curious, humming, throbbing sound. + +"Some speed boat," ventured Dick. + +"None in sight," objected Paul, with a glance up and down the river, +which at this point ran in a straight stretch for two miles or more. +"You could see a boat if you could hear it as plainly as that." + +"It's getting louder," announced Innis. + +Indeed the sound was now more plainly to be heard. + +Paul gave a quick glance upward. + +"Look, fellows!" he exclaimed. "An airship!" + +The sound was right over their heads now, and as all three looked up +they saw, soaring over them, a large biplane, containing three figures. +It was low enough for the forms to be distinguished clearly. + +"Some airship!" cried Dick, admiringly. + +"And making time, too," remarked Innis. + +Aircraft were no novelties to the cadets. In fact part of the +instruction at Kentfield included wireless, and the theoretical use of +aeroplanes in war. The cadets had gone in a body to several aviation +meets, and once had been taken by Major Franklin Webster, the +instructor in military tactics, to an army meet where several new forms +of biplanes and monoplanes had been tried out, to see which should be +given official recognition. + +"I never saw one like that before," remarked Paul, as they watched the +evolutions of the craft above them. + +"Neither did I," admitted Dick. + +"I've seen one something like that," spoke Innis. + +"Where?" his chums wanted to know, as Dick slowed down his boat, the +better to watch the biplane, which was now circling over the river. + +"Why, a cousin of mine, Whitfield Vardon by name, has the airship craze +pretty bad," resumed Innis. "He has an idea he can make one that will +maintain its equilibrium no matter how the wind blows or what happens. +But, poor fellow, he's spent all his money on experiments and he hasn't +succeeded. The last I heard, he was about down and out, poor chap. He +showed me a model of his machine once, and it looked a lot like this. +But this one seems to work, and his didn't--at least when I saw it." + +"It's mighty interesting to watch, all right," spoke Paul, "but we'll +be in for a wigging if we miss guard-mount. Better speed her along, +Dick." + +"Yes, I guess so. But we've got time--" + +Dick never finished that sentence. Innis interrupted him with a cry of: + +"Look, something's wrong on that aircraft!" + +"I should say so!" yelled Paul. "They've lost control of her!" + +The big biplane was in serious difficulties, for it gave a lurch, +turned turtle, and then, suddenly righting, shot downward for the river. + +"They're going to get a ducking, all right!" cried Innis. + +"Yes, and they may be killed, or drowned," added Paul. + +"I'll do what I can to save 'em!" murmured Dick, as he turned on more +power, and headed his boat for the place where the aircraft was likely +to plunge into the water. + +Hardly had he done so when, with a great splash, and a sound as of an +explosion, while a cloud of steam arose as the water sprayed on the hot +motor, the aircraft shot beneath the waves raised by the +rapidly-whirling propellers. + +"Stand ready now!" + +"Get out a preserver!" + +"Toss 'em that life ring!" + +"Ready with the boat hook! Slow down your engine, Dick." + +The motor-boat was at the scene of the accident, and when one of the +occupants of the wrecked airship came up to the surface Dick made a +grab for him, catching the boat hook in the neck of his coat. + +The next instant Dick gave a cry of surprise. + +"Larry Dexter--the reporter!" he fairly shouted. "How in the world--" + +"Let me get aboard--I'll talk when--when I get rid of--of--some of this +water!" panted Larry Dexter. "Can you save the others?" + +"I've got one!" shouted Paul. "Give me a hand, Innis!" + +Together the two cadets lifted into the motorboat a limp and bedraggled +figure. And, no sooner had he gotten a glimpse of the man's face, than +Innis Beeby cried: + +"By Jove! If it isn't my cousin, Whitfield Vardon!" + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE COLONEL'S OFFER + +Two more surprised youths than Dick Hamilton and Innis Beeby would have +been hard to find. That the young millionaire should meet Larry +Dexter, a newspaper reporter with whom he had been acquainted some +time, in this startling fashion was one thing to wonder at, but that +Innis should help in the rescue of his cousin, of whom he had just been +speaking, was rather too much to crowd into a few strenuous moments. + +"Whitfield!" gasped Innis, when his cousin had been safely gotten +aboard. "How in the world did you get here? And was that your craft?" + +"Yes. But don't stop to talk now!" gasped the rescued aviator. "My +machinist, Jack Butt, went down with us! Can you see anything of him?" + +Eagerly the eyes of the cadets searched the waters that had now +subsided from the commotion caused by the plunging down of the wrecked +aircraft. Then Dick cried: + +"I see something moving! Right over there!" + +He pointed to where the water was swirling, and the next moment he +threw in the clutch of his motor. The propeller churned the water to +foam, and the craft shot ahead. + +The next instant a body came to the surface. A man began to strike out +feebly, but it was evident he was nearly drowned. + +"That's Jack! That's my helper!" cried Mr. Vardon. "Can you save him?" + +"Take the wheel!" shouted Dick to Paul. And then, as the motor-boat +shot ahead, the rich youth leaned over the gunwale, and, holding on to +a forward deck cleat with one hand, he reached over, and with the +other, caught the coat collar of the swimmer, who had thrown up his +arms, and was about to sink again. + +"I'll give you a hand!" cried Innis, and between them the cadets lifted +into the boat the now inert form of Jack Butt. + +"Stop the motor!" + +"First aid!" + +"We've got to try artificial respiration!" + +In turn Innis, Paul and Dick shot out these words. And, seeing that +the other two rescued ones were in no need of attention, the cadets +proceeded to put to practical use the lessons in first aid to the +drowning they had learned at Kentfield. + +And, while this is going on I am going to take just a few moments, in +which to tell my new readers something about the previous books in this +series. + +The only son of Mortimer Hamilton, of Hamilton Corners, in New York +state, Dick was a millionaire in his own right. His mother had left +him a large estate, and in the first volume of this series, entitled, +"Dick Hamilton's Fortune; Or, The Stirring Doings of a Millionaire's +Son," I related what Dick had to do in order to become fully possessed +of a large sum of money. He had to prove that he was really capable of +handling it, and he nearly came to grief in doing this, as many a +better youth might have done. + +Dick's uncle, Ezra Larabee, of Dankville, was a rich man, but a miser. +He was not in sympathy with Dick, nor with the plans his sister, Dick's +mother, had made for her son. Consequently, Uncle Ezra did all he +could to make it unpleasant for Dick while the latter was paying him a +visit of importance. + +But Dick triumphed over his uncle, and also over certain sharpers who +tried to get the best of him. + +My second volume, entitled, "Dick Hamilton's Cadet Days, Or, The +Handicap of a Millionaire's Son," deals with our hero's activities at +the Kentfield Military Academy. This was a well-known school, at the +head of which was Colonel Masterly. Major Henry Rockford was the +commandant, and the institution turned out many first-class young men, +with a groundwork of military training. The school was under the +supervision of officers from the regular army, the resident one being +Major Webster. + +Dick had rather a hard time at Kentfield--at first--for he had to get +over the handicap of being a millionaire. But how he did it you may +read, and, I trust, enjoy. + +In "Dick Hamilton's Steam Yacht; Or, A Young Millionaire and the +Kidnappers," Dick got into a "peck of trouble," to quote his chum, +Innis Beeby. But the rich youth finally triumphed over the designs of +Uncle Ezra, and was able to foil some plotters. + +"Dick Hamilton's Football Team; Or, A Young Millionaire On the +Gridiron," tells of the efforts of Dick to make a first-class eleven +from the rather poor material he found at Kentfield. How he did it, +though not without hard work, and how the team finally triumphed over +the Blue Hill players, you will find set down at length in the book. + +"Dick Hamilton's Touring Car; Or, A Young Millionaire's Race for a +Fortune," took our hero on a long trip, and in one of the largest, +finest and most completely equipped automobiles that a certain firm had +ever turned out. + +I have mentioned Larry Dexter, and I might say that in a line entitled, +"The Young Reporter Series," I have give an account of the doings of +this youth who rose from the position of office boy on a New York +newspaper to be a "star" man, that is, one entrusted with writing only +the biggest kind of stories. Dick had met Larry while in New York, and +Larry had profited by the acquaintanceship by getting a "beat," or +exclusive story, about the young millionaire. + +On the return of Dick and his cadet chums from a trip to California, +the rich youth had again taken up his studies at Kentfield. + +And now we behold him, out in his motor-boat, having just succeeded in +helping rescue the master and "crew" of the aircraft that had plunged +into the river. + +"There; he breathed." + +"I think he's coming around now." + +"Better get him to shore though. He'll need a doctor!" + +Thus remarked Dick, Paul and Innis as they labored over the unfortunate +mechanician of the biplane. They had used artificial respiration on +him until he breathed naturally. + +"I'll start the boat," announced Dick, for the craft had been allowed +to drift while the lifesaving work was going on. "We want to make time +back." + +"This certainly is a surprise," remarked Larry Dexter, as he tried to +wring some of the water out of his clothes. + +"More to me than it is to you, I guess," suggested Dick. "I suppose +you birdmen are used to accidents like this?" + +"More or less," answered the cousin of Innis Beeby. "But I never +expected to come to grief, and be rescued by Innis." + +"Nor did I expect to see you," said the cadet. + +"We were just speaking of you, or, rather I was, as we saw your craft +in the air. I was wondering if you had perfected your patent." + +"It doesn't look so--does it?" asked the airship inventor, with a +rueful smile in the direction of the sunken aircraft. "I guess I'm at +the end of my rope," he added, sadly. "But I'm glad none of us was +killed." + +"So am I!" exclaimed Dick. "But how in the world did you come to take +up aviation, Larry?" he asked, of the young newspaper man. "Have you +given up reporting?" + +"No indeed," replied Larry Dexter. "But this air game is getting to be +so important, especially the army and navy end of it, that my paper +decided we ought to have an expert of our own to keep up with the +times. So they assigned me to the job, and I'm learning how to manage +an aircraft. I guess the paper figures on sending me out to scout in +the clouds for news. Though if I don't make out better than this, +they'll get someone else in my place." + +"Something went wrong--I can't understand it," said the aircraft +inventor, shaking his head. "The machine ought not to have plunged +down like that. I can't understand it." + +"I'd like to send the story back to my paper," went on Larry. + +"Always on the lookout for news!" remarked Dick. "We'll see that you +send off your yarn all right. There's a telegraph office in the +Academy now. I'll fix it for you." + +The run to the school dock was soon made, and the arrival of Dick's +motor-boat, with the rescued ones from the airship, which had been seen +flying over the parade grounds a little while before, made some +commotion. + +"We've missed guard-mount!" remarked Innis, as he saw the other cadets +at the drill. + +"Can't be helped. We had a good excuse," said Dick. "Now we've got to +attend to him," and he nodded at Jack Butt, who seemed to have +collapsed again. + +With military promptness, the mechanic was carried to the hospital, and +the school doctor was soon working over him. Meanwhile, dry garments +had been supplied to Larry and Mr. Vardon. A messenger came from +Colonel Masterly to learn what was going on, and, when he heard of the +rescue, Dick and his chums were excused from taking part in the day's +closing drill. + +"He's coming around all right," the physician remarked to the young +millionaire, on the way from the hospital, where he had been attending +Jack Butt. "It seems that he was entangled in some part of the +aircraft, and couldn't get to the surface until he was nearly drowned. +But he's all right now, though he needs rest and care." + +"I wonder if he can stay here?" asked Dick. "Oh, yes, I'll attend to +that for you," the doctor promised. "I'll arrange with Colonel +Masterly about that. And your other friends--I think they should +remain, too. They probably are in rather an unpleasant plight." + +"I'll look after them," said Dick. "I can put them up. One is a +newspaper man, and the other a cousin of Beeby's. He's an airship +inventor." + +"Is that so? Colonel Masterly might be interested to know that." + +"Why?" asked Dick. + +"Because I understand that he is about to add a course in aviation to +the studies here. It has been discussed in faculty meetings, so it is +no secret." + +"An aviation course at Kentfield!" cried Dick, with shining eyes. + +"Yes. Are you interested?" the doctor asked. + +"Well, I hadn't thought about it, but I believe I should like to have +an airship," the young millionaire went on. "Down, Grit, down!" he +commanded, as a beautiful bulldog came racing from the stables to fawn +upon his master. I used the word "beautiful" with certain +restrictions, for Grit was about the homeliest bulldog in existence. + +But his very hideousness made him "beautiful" to a lover of dogs. He +jumped about in delight at seeing Dick again, for he had been shut up, +so he would not insist on going out in the motor-boat. + +Quarters were provided for Larry Dexter, who sent off a brief account +of the accident to the airship, and Mr. Vardon was looked after by +Innis. Butt, of course, remained in the hospital. + +Dr. Morrison was right when he said that Colonel Masterly would be +interested in meeting the luckless aviator. Innis took his cousin to +the head of the school, and Mr. Vardon told of his invention, briefly, +and also of the mishap to his biplane. + +"Perhaps this is providential," said the colonel musingly. "For some +time I have been considering the starting of an aviation course here, +and it may be you would like to assist me in it. I want the cadets to +learn something about the fundamentals of heavier-than-air machines. +Will you accept a position as instructor?" + +"I will, gladly," said Mr. Vardon. "I might as well admit that I have +no further funds to pursue my experiments, though I am satisfied that I +am on the right track. But my machine is wrecked." + +"Perhaps it can be raised," said the colonel, cheerfully. "We will +talk about that later. And we may find a way to have you conduct your +experiments here." + +"I can not thank you enough, sir," returned the aviator. "And I am +also deeply indebted to my cousin's chum--Dick Hamilton. But for him, +and the other cadets in the boat, we might all have been drowned." + +"I'm glad we were on hand," said Dick, with a smile. + + + +CHAPTER III + +DICK'S RESOLVE + +"What do you know about that?" + +"A regular course in aviation!" + +"And birdmen from the United States Army to came here and show us how +to do stunts!" + +"Well, you fellows can go in for it if you like, but automobiling is +dangerous enough sport for me." + +"Ah, what's the matter with you? Flying is pretty nearly as safe now +as walking! Not half as many birdmen have been killed as there have +railroad travelers." + +"No, because there are more railroad travelers to be killed. No cloud +flights for mine!" + +A group of cadets, Dick, Innis and Paul among them, were discussing the +latest news at Kentfield. + +It was the day following the accident to the biplane. After a brief +consultation with Mr. Vardon, and a calling together of his faculty +members, Colonel Masterly had made formal announcement that a course in +aviation would be open at Kentfield for those who cared to take it. + +"I think it will be great!" cried Dick. + +"Are you going in for it?" asked Paul. + +"I sure am--if dad will let me." + +"Oh, I guess he will all right," spoke Innis, "He lets you do almost +anything you want to--in reason. But I know a certain person who WILL +object." + +"Who?" asked Dick, fondling his dog. + +"Your Uncle Ezra!" + +"I guess that's so!" laughed Dick. "He'll say it's expensive, and all +that sort of thing, and that I'll be sure to break my neck, or at least +fracture an arm. But we saw one accident that came out pretty well. I +think I'll take a chance." + +"So will I!" cried Paul. + +"I guess you can count me in," agreed Innis, slowly. + +"How about it, Larry?" asked Dick, as the young reporter came across +the campus. "How does it feel to sail above the clouds?" + +"Well, I haven't yet gone up that far. This is only about my fifth +flight, and we only did 'grass cutting' for the first few--that is +going up only a little way above the ground. I had to get used to it +gradually. + +"But it's great! I like it, and you're only afraid the first few +minutes. After that you don't mind it a bit--that is not until you get +into trouble, as we did." + +"And I can't understand that trouble, either," said Mr. Vardon, who had +joined the group of cadets. "Something went wrong!" + +"You mean something was MADE to go wrong," put in Jack Butt, who had +now recovered sufficiently to be about. + +"Something made to go wrong?" repeated Dick Hamilton, wonderingly. + +"That's what I said. That machine was tampered with before we started +on our flight. I'm sure of it, and if we could get it up from the +bottom of the river I could prove it." + +"Be careful," warned the aviator. "Do you know what you are saying, +Jack? Who would tamper with my machine?" + +"Well, there are many who might have done it," the machinist went on. +"Some of the mechanics you have discharged for not doing their work +properly might have done it. But the fellow I suspect is that young +army officer who got huffy because you wouldn't explain all about your +equalizing gyroscope, or stabilizer." + +"Oh--you mean him?" gasped the aviator. + +"That's the man," declared Jack. "He went off mad when you turned him +down, and I heard him muttering to himself about 'getting even.' I'm +sure he's the chap to blame for our accident." + +"I should dislike to think that of anyone," said Mr. Vardon, slowly. +"But I am sure something was wrong with my aircraft. It had worked +perfectly in other trials, and then it suddenly went back on me. I +should like a chance to examine it." + +"We'll try and give you that chance," said Colonel Masterly, who came +up at that moment. "We are to have a drill in building a pontoon +bridge across the river tomorrow, and I will order it thrown across the +stream at the point where your airship went down. Then we may be able +to raise the craft." + +"That will be fine!" exclaimed the airship man. "I may even be able to +save part of my craft, to use in demonstration purposes. I may even be +able, to use part of it in building another. It was a fine machine, +but something went wrong." + +"Something was made to go wrong!" growled Jack Butt. "If ever we raise +her I'll prove it, too." + +"Well, young gentlemen, I suppose you have heard the news?" questioned +the colonel, as the aviator-inventor and his helper walked off to one +side of the campus, talking earnestly together. + +"You mean about the airship instruction we are to get here, sir?" asked +Dick. + +"That's it. And I am also glad to announce that I have heard from the +war department, and they are going to send some army aviators here to +give us the benefit of their work, and also to show some of you cadets +how to fly." + +There was a cheer at this, though some of the lads looked a bit dubious. + +"Are you really going in for it, Dick?" asked Innis, after there had +been an informal discussion among the colonel and some of the boys +about the aviation instruction. + +"Well, I am, unless I change my mind," replied Dick, with a smile. "Of +course, after I make my first flight, if I ever do, it may be my last +one." + +"Huh! You're not taking a very cheerful view of it," retorted Innis, +"to think that you're going to come a smash the first shot out of the +locker." + +"Oh, I didn't mean just that," replied Dick, quickly. "I meant that I +might lose my nerve after the first flight, and not go up again." + +"Guess there isn't much danger of you losing your nerve," said Paul +Drew, admiringly. "I've generally noticed that you have it with you on +most occasions." + +"Thanks!" exclaimed Dick, with a mock salute. + +Strolling over the campus, Dick and his chums talked airships and +aviation matters until it was time for guard-mount. + +During the next day or two it might have been noticed that Dick +Hamilton was rather more quiet than usual. In fact his chums did +notice, and comment on it. A number of times they had seen the young +millionaire in a brown study, walking off by himself, and again he +could be observed strolling about, gazing earnestly up at the clouds +and sky. + +"Say, I wonder what's come over Dick?" asked Paul of Innis one +afternoon. + +"Blessed if I know," was the answer, "unless he's fallen in love." + +"Get out! He's too sensible. But he sure has something on his mind." + +"I agree with you. Well, if he wants to know he'll tell us." + +So they let the matter drop for the time being. But Dick's abstraction +grew deeper. He wrote a number of letters, and sent some telegrams, +and his friends began to wonder if matters at Dick's home were not +altogether right. + +But the secret, if such it could be called, was solved by the +unexpected arrival of Mr. Hamilton at Kentfield. He appeared on the +campus after drill one day, and Dick greeted his parent +enthusiastically. + +"So you got here, after all, Dad?" he cried, as he shook hands, Paul +and Innis also coming over to meet the millionaire. + +"Well, I felt I just had to come, Dick, after all you wrote and +telegraphed me," replied Mr. Hamilton. "I thought we could do better +by having a talk than by correspondence. But, I tell you, frankly, I +don't approve of what you are going to do." + +Dick's chums looked curiously at him. + +"I may as well confess," laughed the young millionaire, "I'm thinking +of buying an airship, fellows." + +"Whew!" whistled Paul. + +"That's going some, as the boys say," commented Innis. "Tell us all +about it." + +"I will," said Dick, frankly. "It's been on my mind the last few days, +and--" + +"So that's been your worry!" interrupted Paul. "I knew it was +something, but I never guessed it was that. Fire ahead." + +"Ever since your cousin came here, Innis, in his craft, and since the +colonel has arranged for aviation instruction, I've been thinking of +having an airship of my own," Dick resumed. "I wrote to dad about it, +but he didn't seem to take to the idea very much." + +"No, I can't say that I did," said Mr. Hamilton, decidedly. "I +consider it dangerous." + +"It's getting more safe every day, Dad. Look how dangerous +automobiling was at the start, and yet that's nearly perfect now, +though of course there'll always be accidents. But I won't go in for +this thing, Dad, if you really don't want me to." + +"Well, I won't say no, and I'll not say yes--at least not just yet," +said Mr. Hamilton slowly. "I want to think it over, have a talk with +some of these 'birdmen' as you call them, and then you and I'll +consider it together, Dick. That's why I came on. I want to know more +about it before I make up my mind." + +Mr. Hamilton became the guest of the colonel, as he had done on several +occasions before, and, in the following days, he made as careful a +study of aviation as was possible under the circumstances. He also had +several interviews with Mr. Vardon. + +"Have you decided to let your son have an airship of his own?" the +colonel asked, when the millionaire announced that he would start for +New York the following morning. + +"Well, I've been thinking pretty hard about the matter," was the +answer. "I hardly know what to do. I'm afraid it's only another one +of Dick's hare-brained ideas, and if he goes in for it, he'll come a +cropper. + +"And, maybe, on the whole, it wouldn't be a bad idea to let him go in +for it, and make a fizzle of it. It would be a good lesson to him, +though I would certainly regret, exceedingly, if he were even slightly +injured. + +"On the other hand Dick is pretty lucky. He may come out all right. I +suppose he'll go in and try to win some prizes at these aviation meets +they hold every once in a while." + +"Yes, there are to be several," spoke the colonel. "I heard something +about the government offering a big prize for a successful +trans-continental flight--from the Atlantic to the Pacific, but I know +nothing of the details." + +"Well, I suppose Dick would be rash enough to try for that, if he hears +about it," murmured Mr. Hamilton. "I guess, taking it on all sides, +that I'll let him have an airship, if only to prove that he can't work +it. He needs a little toning down, most young chaps do, I fancy. I +know I did when I was a lad. Yes, if he makes a fizzle of it, the +lesson may be worth something to him--throwing his money away on an +airship. But I'll give my consent." + +And when Dick was told by his parent, not very enthusiastically, that +he might secure an aircraft, the young cadet's delight was great. + +"That's fine!" he cried, shaking hands heartily with his father. + +"Well, I hope you succeed in flying your machine, when you get it, but, +as the Scotchman said, 'I have my doubts,'" said Mr. Hamilton, grimly. + +"Humph!" mused Dick later. "Dad doesn't think much of me in the +aviator class, I guess. But I'll go in for this thing now, if only to +show him that I can do it! I've done harder stunts, and if the +Hamilton luck doesn't fail, I'll do this. I'll make a long flight, and +put one over on dad again. He thinks I can't do it--but I'll show him +I can!" exclaimed Dick, with sparkling eyes. + +Dick communicated his father's decision to Paul and Innis. + +"I'm going to have an airship!" he cried. "It wasn't easy to get dad's +consent, but he gave it. Now, how about you fellows coming on a cruise +in the clouds with me?" + +"Say, how big a machine are you going to have?" Paul wanted to know. + +"Well, my ideas are rather hazy yet," admitted the young millionaire, +"but if I can get it built, it's going to be one of the biggest +airships yet made. We'll travel in style, if we travel at all," he +said, with a laugh. "I'm thinking of having an aircraft with some sort +of enclosed cabin on it." + +"Say, that will be quite an elaborate affair," commented Innis. + +"The question is, will you fellows take a chance with me in it?" asked +Dick. + +"Well, I guess so," responded Paul, slowly. + +Innis nodded in rather a faint-hearted fashion. + +"Now," said Dick, "I want to see--" + +He was interrupted by shouts in the direction of the river. + +"There she is!" + +"She's floating down!" + +"Let's get her!" + +A number of cadets were thus crying out. + +"Come on!" yelled Dick. "Something's happened! Maybe my motor-boat is +adrift!" + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE ARMY AVIATORS + +Dick, Paul and Innis set off at a quick pace toward the stream which +flowed at the foot of the broad expanse of green campus and parade +ground. As they hurried on they were joined by other cadets in like +haste. + +"What is it?" asked the young millionaire. + +"Don't know," was the answer. "Something happened on the river, that's +all I heard." + +Dick and his chums were soon in a position to see for themselves, and +what they beheld was a curious sort of raft, with torn sails, or so at +least it seemed, floating down with the current. Then, as the waters +swirled about the odd craft, a piece, like the tail of some great fish, +arose for a moment. + +"What in the name of Gatling guns is it?" asked Paul, wonderingly. + +"It's the airship!" cried Innis. "My cousin's wrecked airship! It +must have been stuck in the mud, or held by some snag, and now it's +come to the surface. We ought to get it. He'll want to save it. Maybe +he can use part of the engine again, and he's out of funds to buy a new +one, I know." + +"Besides, he wants to see if it had been tampered with by someone so as +to bring about an accident," suggested Paul. + +"We'll get it!" cried Dick. "Come on! In my motor-boat!" + +The speedy watercraft was in readiness for a run, and the three cadets, +racing down to her, soon had the motor started and the bow of the boat +pointed to the floating airship. The latter was moving slowly from the +force of the current, which was not rapid here. The affair of wings, +struts, planes and machinery floated, half submerged, and probably +would not have sunk when the accident occurred except that the great +speed at which it was travelling forced it below the surface, even as +one can force under a piece of wood. + +But the wood rises, and the buoyant airship would have done the same, +perhaps, save for the fact that it had become caught. Now it was freed. + +"Make this rope fast to it," directed Dick, as he guided his motor-boat +close to the airship. "We'll tow it to the dock." + +Paul and Innis undertook this part of the work, and in a few moments +the Mabel, Dick's boat, was headed toward shore, towing the wrecked +airship. A crowd of the cadets awaited with interest the arrival. + +When the Mabel had been made fast to the dock, other ropes were +attached to the aircraft that floated at her stern, and the wrecked +biplane was slowly hauled up the sloping bank of the stream. + +"Some smash, that!" + +"Look at the planes, all bent and twisted!" + +"But the motor is all there!" + +"Say, she's bigger than I thought she was!" + +Thus the young cadets commented on the appearance of the craft as it +was hauled out. Word had been sent to Mr. Vardon and his helper to +come and look at the salvaged wreck, and they were goon on the scene, +together with Larry Dexter, who, as usual, was always on hand when +there was a chance to get an item of news. + +"I'll get another scoop out of this for my paper!" he exclaimed to +Dick. "Then I guess I'd better be getting back to New York. They may +want to send me on some other assignment, for it doesn't look as though +I'd do any more flying through the air in that machine." + +"Say, don't be in too much of a hurry to go away," remarked Dick, as he +ceased from pulling on the rope attached to the wrecked airship. + +"Why not?" asked Larry. "What do you mean?" + +"Well, you're not on any regular news stunt just now; are you?" +inquired Dick, of the young reporter. "That is, you don't have to +report back to the office at any special time." + +"No," replied Larry. "I'm a sort of free lance. I'm supposed to be +learning how to run an airship so I can qualify, and get a license, and +be able to help out the paper on such a stunt if they need me. They +assigned me to this Mr. Vardon because it looked as though he had a +good thing. Now that it's busted I suppose I'll be sent out with some +other aviator, and I'd better be getting back to New York and find out +what the paper wants me to do." + +"Well, as I said, don't be in too much of a hurry," went on Dick with a +smile. + +"You talk and act as though there was something in the wind," remarked +Larry. + +"There is, and there's going to be something more in the wind soon, or, +rather, in the air," said Dick. "I might as well tell you, I'm going to +have an airship, and--" + +"You are!" interrupted Larry. "Good for you! I'll give you a good +write-up when you make your first flight." + +"I wasn't thinking so much of that," proceeded the young millionaire. +"But when I do get my airship I'd like to have you make some flights +with me. That might serve your end as well as going with some other +aviator, and you could be getting in the practice that your paper wants +for you." + +"Fine and dandy!" cried Larry. "I'm with you, Dick. I'll send off a +wire at once, and let the managing editor know I'm going to get right +on the flying job again. This will be great!" + +"I don't know that there'll be such an awful lot of news in it at +first," went on Dick, "for I've got to learn this art of flying, and I +don't expect to do any hair-raising stunts right off the reel. + +"But, Larry, there may be other news for you around this Academy soon." + +"Real news?" + +"Yes. You probably heard what Mr. Vardon said about his machine being +tampered with." + +"I sure did. And I think the same thing myself. It worked to +perfection the day before, and then, all at once, she turned turtle. +The gyroscope equilibrizer must have broken." + +"Well, you can see what happened, for we've got her out of the water +now," said Dick. "And there may be more news when the army aviators +arrive." + +"Are they coming here? I hadn't heard. I've been so busy getting +straightened out after my plunge into the river." + +"Yes, they're coming here to give us instructions, and there may be all +sorts of stunts pulled off. So you'd better stick." + +"I will, thanks. But I'm mostly interested in your airship. It sure +will be great to take a flight with you. But there's Mr. Vardon. I +want to hear what he says." + +The aviator, and his helper, who had almost fully recovered from their +narrow escape from death, were carefully examining the airship which +was now hauled out on a level spot in the campus, just above the river +bank. Eagerly the cadets crowded around the machine. + +"Come here, Grit!" called Dick to his prize bulldog. "First you know +someone will step on you, and you'll just naturally take a piece out of +his leg. You don't belong in a crowd." + +Grit came at the word of command, and Dick, slipping on the leash, gave +the animal in charge of one of the orderlies to be taken to the stable. +Grit whined and barked in protest at being separated from his master, +but Dick wanted no accidents. + +"Do you find anything wrong?" asked Innis of his cousin, as the latter +went carefully over each part of the wrecked airship. + +"Well, it's hard to say, on account of there being so many broken +places," was the answer. "The engine is not as badly smashed as I +expected, but it will take some time to examine and test the gyroscope +attachment. I shall remove it and set it up separately." + +"Well, it's my opinion that it was monkeyed with, and done on purpose, +too!" declared Jack Butt. "And I could almost name the fellow who did +it. He was--" + +"Hush! No names, if you please," interrupted the aviator. "We will +investigate first." + +"All right, sir! Just as you say," grudgingly agreed the other. "But +if ever I get my hands on him--!" + +Jack Butt looked rather vindictive, and probably with good reason. For +had he not been near to death; and, as he thought, through the evil +work of some enemy. + +The wrecked aircraft was hauled to one of the barrack sheds, which Mr. +Vardon announced would be his temporary workshop for possible repairs. + +The rest of that day, and all of the next, was spent by Mr. Vardon in +taking his wrecked machine apart, saving that which could be used +again, and looking particularly for defects in the gyroscope +stabilizer, or equilibrizer. Larry and Jack Butt helped at this work, +and Dick, and the other cadets, spent as much time as they could from +their lessons and drills watching the operations. + +For the students were much interested in aviation, and, now that it was +known that the army aviators were to come to Kentfield, and that Dick +Hamilton, one of the best liked of the cadets, was to have a big +airship of his own, many who had said they would never make a flight, +were changing their minds. + +It was one afternoon, about a week following the wrecking of Mr. +Vardon's machine, that, as the cadets in their natty uniforms were +going through the last drill of the day, a peculiar sound was heard in +the air over the parade ground. + +There was a humming and popping, a throbbing moan, as it were, and +despite the fact that the orders were "eyes front!" most of the cadets +looked up. + +And they saw, soaring downward toward the campus which made an ideal +landing spot, two big aircraft. + +"The army aviators!" someone cried, nor was there any rebuke from the +officers. "The army aviators!" + +"At ease!" came the order, for the commandant realized that the +students could hardly be expected to stand at attention when there was +the chance to see an airship land. + +Then a few seconds later, the two craft came gently down to the ground, +undulating until they could drop as lightly as a boy's kite. And, as +they came to a stop with the application of the drag brake, after +rolling a short distance on the bicycle wheels, the craft were +surrounded by the eager cadets. + + + +CHAPTER V + +SUSPICIONS + +Casting aside the straps that bound them to their machines, the army +aviators leaped lightly from their seats. The big propellers, from +which the power had been cut off, as the birdmen started to volplane to +the ground, ceased revolving, and the hum and roar of the powerful +motors was no more heard. + +In their big, leather helmets, and leather jackets, and with their +enormous goggles on, the birdmen looked like anything but +spick-and-span soldiers of Uncle Sam. But dress in the army has +undergone a radical change. The "fuss and feathers" are gradually +disappearing, and utility is the word. It was so in regard to the +aviators. They were not hampered by uniforms. + +"Kentfield Military Academy?" inquired one of the officers, evidently +in command. He looked about for someone in authority. + +"Kentfield Academy, sir," replied Colonel Masterly who had come up. "I +am in charge here," and he introduced himself. The army man, who wore +a captain's shoulder straps, saluted and remarked: + +"I am Captain Grantly, in charge. That is Captain Wakefield, in the +other machine. With him is Lieutenant McBride, and my companion is +Lieutenant Larson. I presume you expected us?" + +"Oh, yes," said Colonel Masterly, as he shook hands with the visitors. +"I'm sure we are all glad to see you." + +Dick and his chums looked on with interest. The army aviators seemed +efficient and pleasant men--that is all but one. The first sight he +had of the face of Lieutenant Larson, after the latter had removed his +protecting helmet and goggles, made Dick say to himself: + +"That fellow will bear watching! I don't like the look in his eyes." + +But Dick said nothing of this to Paul or Innis. He made up his mind he +would learn their impressions later. + +"We thought we might as well come on in the machines, as to have them +taken down, shipped here, and then have to assemble them again, would +take too much time," went on Captain Grantly. "Though we expect, +later, to give your students a practical demonstration in how the +biplanes are put together, so they may understand something of how to +make repairs. + +"We came on from the nearest army aviation grounds, and had a most +successful flight. I must send back word to Major Dalton." + +"Our telephone, or telegraph service, is at your disposal," said +Colonel Masterly. "If you will come with me--" + +"Excuse me, but we carry with us our own means of communication," said +Captain Grantly with a smile. "We are going on the assumption, +constantly, that we are in an enemy's country. + +"Consequently we go prepared as though there were a state of war. We +shall communicate with our base by means of wireless." + +"I am afraid we can't accommodate you there," went on the head of the +military school. "We are installing a wireless outfit, but it is not +yet completed," the colonel said. + +"Oh, we carry our own!" was the unexpected retort. "Lieutenant Larson, +if you and Lieutenant McBride will get the balloon ready, Captain +Wakefield and myself will work out the cipher dispatch, and send it. + +"We use a code in our wireless," he went on to explain, "and it takes a +few minutes to make up the message." + +"But I heard you speak of a balloon," said Colonel Masterly. "I don't +see how you carry one on your machine." + +"Here it is," was the answer, and a deflated rubberized silk bag was +produced from a locker back of the pilot's seat. "This is the latest +idea in airship wireless," went on Captain Grantly, as he directed the +lieutenants to get out the rest of the apparatus. "We carry with us a +deflated balloon, which will contain about two hundred cubic yards of +lifting gas. The gas itself, greatly compressed, is in this cylinder. +There's enough for several chargings. + +"We fill the balloon, and attach to it our aerial wires. The balloon +takes them up about four hundred feet--the wires weigh about twenty +pounds, I might say. Then we carry a light sending instrument. It has +a considerable range, though we can receive messages from a much +greater distance than we can send, as our force for a sending current +is limited." + +As he was talking the others were working, and the cadets looked on +interestedly. The drill had been abandoned, and officers and students +crowded up near the army aviators to see what was going on. + +With a sharp hiss the compressed gas rushed from the containing +cylinder into the deflated balloon. The silken sides puffed out, +losing their wrinkles. The balloon gradually assumed larger +proportions. + +"Ready with the wires?" asked Captain Grantly. + +"All ready, sir," replied Lieutenant Larson. Dick now heard him speak +for the first time, and did not like his voice. There are some persons +who make a bad impression on you at the first meeting. Often this may +he unjustified, but Dick's first impressions were seldom wrong. + +The wires, forming the wireless aerial, were carried up on two light +spreaders, hanging down from a network that went over the balloon bag. +From the aerials depended the wires that were attached to the receiving +and sending apparatus. These wires were on a reel, and would he +uncoiled as the balloon arose. The earth-end would be attached to the +telephone receivers and to the apparatus, consisting of a spark-gap +wheel and other instruments designed to send into space the electrical +impulses that could be broken up into dots, dashes and spaces, spelling +out words according to the Morse or Continental code--whichever was +used. + +Captain Grantly looked over everything. His assistants signified that +every connection was made. + +"Send her up," ordered the commander, and as the catch, holding the +balloon, was released the spherical bag of gas shot into the air, +carrying with it the aerials, and unreeling the connecting wires. + +Quickly it rose to nearly five hundred feet, and, when it had been +anchored, all was soon in readiness. + +Meanwhile a code dispatch had been written out, and as it was handed to +Captain Wakefield, who was to operate the wireless, he began depressing +the key that made and broke the electrical current. The current itself +came from a small, but powerful, storage battery, and it had been +switched on. The current also set in motion a toothed wheel of brass. +This wheel revolved on its axis with the points, or teeth, passing +rapidly in front of a platinum contact point. + +As each tooth thus came in opposition to the point, a blue spark of +electricity would shoot out with a vicious snap; that is if the +connection key were pressed down. If the key were not depressed no +current flowed. + +I presume most of you understand how the wireless works, so I will not +give you a complete description save to say that it is just like a +telegraph system, in fundamentals. The only difference is that no +connecting metallic wires are needed between stations. + +A group of wires in parallels, called "aerials," are hung in the air at +one point, or station, and a similar set is suspended at the other +station. The electrical current jumps through the air from one group +of wires to the other, without being directly connected, hence the name +"wireless," though really some wires are used. + +The electrical impulse can be sent for thousands of miles through the +air, without any directly connecting wires. And the method of +communication is by means of dots, dashes and spaces. + +You have doubtless heard the railroad or other telegraph instruments +clicking. You can hold your table knife blade between two tines of +your fork, and imitate the sound of the telegraph very easily. + +If you move your knife blade up and down once, quickly, that will +represent a dot. If you move it more slowly, holding it down for a +moment, that would be a dash. A space would be the interval between a +dot and a dash, or between two dots or two dashes. + +Thus, by combinations of dots, dashes and spaces, the letters of the +alphabet may be made and words spelled out. For instance a dot and a +dash is "A." + +In telegraphing, of course, the operator listens to the clicking of the +brass sounder in front of him on the desk. But in wireless the +electrical waves, or current received, is so weak that it would not +operate the sounder. So a delicate telephone receiver is used. This is +connected to the receiving wires, and as the sender at his station, +perhaps a thousand miles away, presses down his key, and allows it to +come up, thus making dots, dashes and spaces, corresponding clicks are +made in the telephone receiver, at the ear of the other operator. + +It takes skill to thus listen to the faint clicks that may be spelled +out into words, but the operators are very skillful. In sending +messages a very high tension current is needed, as most of it is +wasted, leaping through the air as it does. So that though the clicks +may sound very loud at the sending apparatus, and the blue sparks be +very bright, still only faint clicks can be heard in the head-telephone +receiver at the other end. + +"You may send," directed Captain Grantly to Captain Wakefield, and the +blue sparks shot out in a dazzling succession, as the spiked wheel spun +around. This was kept up for some little time, after the receiving +operator at the army headquarters had signified that he was at +attention. Then came a period of silence. Captain Wakefield was +receiving a message through space, but he alone could hear this through +the telephone receiver. + +He wrote it out in the cipher code, and soon it was translated. + +"I informed them that we had arrived safely," said Captain Grantly to +Colonel Masterly, "and they have informed me that we are to remain here +until further notice, instructing your cadets in the use of the +aircraft." + +"And we are very glad to have you here," replied the commandant of +Kentfield. "If you will come with me I will assign you to quarters." + +"We had better put away our biplanes, and haul down our wireless +outfit," suggested Captain Grantly. + +"Allow me to assign some of the cadets to help you," suggested the +colonel, and this offer being accepted, Dick, to his delight, was one +of those detailed, as were Innis and Paul. + +Giving his instructions to the two lieutenants, Captain Grantly, with +the junior captain, accompanied Colonel Masterly to the main buildings +of the Academy. + +"Well, let's dig in, and get through with this job," suggested +Lieutenant Larson, in surly tones to his companion. "Then I'm going to +ask for leave and go to town. I'm tired." + +"So am I, but we've got to tighten up some of those guy wires. They +are loose and need attention. They might order a flight any time," his +fellow lieutenant said. + +"Well, you can stay and tighten 'em if you like. I'm not," was the +growling retort. "I'm sick of this business anyhow! Let some of the +kids do the work." + +"They don't know how," was the good-natured answer of Lieutenant +McBride. + +"There is a professional aviator here now," said Dick, as he recalled +Mr. Vardon. "We might get him to help you." + +"I don't care," said Lieutenant Larson, as he began hauling down the +suspended balloon. "I only know I'm sick of so much work. I think +I'll go back into the artillery." + +Dick and his chums naturally did not care much for the surly soldier, +but they liked Lieutenant McBride at once. He smilingly told them what +to do, and the boys helped to push the machines to a shed that had been +set aside for them. The wireless apparatus was taken apart and stored +away, the gas being let out of the balloon. + +The work was almost finished, when Larry Dexter, with Mr. Vardon and +the latter's helper, Jack, came across to the sheds. They had come to +see the army airships. + +By this time Lieutenant Larson had finished what he considered was his +share of the work, and was on his way to get a brief leave of absence +from his captain. At the entrance to the shed he came face to face +with Mr. Vardon and Jack. + +"Oh, so you're the professional aviator they spoke of," said Larson, +with a sneer in his tone. + +"Yes, I'm here," replied Mr. Vardon, quietly. "I did not expect to see +you here, though." + +"The surprise is mutual," mocked the other. "I read about your +failure. I suppose now, you will quit fooling with that gyroscope of +yours, and give my method a trial." + +"I never will. I am convinced that I am right, and that you are wrong." + +"You're foolish," was the retort. + +Jack Butt stepped forward and whispered in the ear of his employer, so +that at least Dick heard what he said. + +"I believe HE did it!" were the tense words of the machinist. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +DICK'S FIRST FLIGHT + +Mr. Vardon gave his helper a quick and warning glance. + +"Hush!" he exclaimed, as he looked to see if Lieutenant Larson had +heard what Jack had said. But the army man evidently had not. He gave +the machinist a glance, however, that was not the most pleasant in the +world. It was evident that there was some feeling between the two. +Dick wondered what it was, and what Jack's ominous words meant. + +Having put away the two biplanes, and requested the cadets to look at +them as much as they liked, but not to meddle with the apparatus, the +two lieutenants left the sheds, to report to their respective captains. +Mr. Vardon and his helper remained with Dick and his chums. + +"Very fine machines," said the aviator. "Compared to my poor pile of +junk, very fine machines indeed!" + +"But part of yours is good; isn't it?" asked Dick. "You can use part +of it, I should think." + +"Very little," was the hopeless reply. "The damage was worse than I +thought. My gyroscope attachment is a total wreck, and it will cost +money to build a new one." + +"Yes, and that gyroscope was tampered with before we started on this +last flight!" declared Jack, with conviction. "And I'm sure HE did +it!" he added, pointing an accusing finger at the retreating form of +Lieutenant Larson. + +"You must not say such things!" cried the aviator. "You have no proof!" + +"I have all the proof I want as far as he is concerned," declared Jack. +"Maybe he didn't intend to kill us, or hurt us, but he sure did want to +wreck the machine when he tampered with the gyroscope." + +"What is the gyroscope?" asked Dick. + +"It is an invention of mine, and one over which Lieutenant Larson and I +had some argument," said Mr. Vardon. + +"You probably know," the aviator went on, while Dick, Paul, and Innis, +with several other cadets, listened interestedly, "you probably know +that one of the great problems of aviation is how to keep a machine +from turning turtle, or turning over, when it strikes an unexpected +current, or 'air pocket' in the upper regions. Of course a birdman +may, by warping his wings, or changing the elevation of his rudder, +come out safely, but there is always a chance of danger or death. + +"If there was some automatic arrangement by which the airship would +right itself, and take care of the unexpected tilting, there would be +practically no danger. + +"I realized that as soon as I began making airships, and so I devised +what I call a gyroscope equilibrizer or stabilizer. A gyroscope, you +know, is a heavy wheel, spinning at enormous speed, on an anti-friction +axle. Its great speed tends to keep it in stable equilibrium, and, if +displaced by outside forces, it will return to its original position. + +"You have probably seen toy ones; a heavy lead wheel inside a ring. +When the wheel is spinning that, and the ring in which it is contained, +may be placed in almost any position, on a very slender support and +they will remain stable, or at rest. + +"So I put a gyroscope on my airship, and I found that it kept the +machine in a state of equilibrium no matter what position we were +forced to take by reason of adverse currents. Of course it was not an +entire success, but I was coming to that. + +"In the biplane which was wrecked in the river I had my latest +gyroscope. It seemed to be perfect, and, with Jack and Harry, I had +made a number of beautiful flights. I even flew alone upside down, and +had no trouble. + +"Before that I had made the acquaintance of Lieutenant Larson, who is +also an expert aviator. He worked for me before he went in the army. +He had his own ideas about equilibrium, and his plan, which he wanted +me to adopt, consists of tubes of mercury that can automatically be +tilted at different angles. I do not believe they will ever work, and +I told him so. I refused to use them, and he and I parted, not the +best of friends. He wanted his invention exploited, but I refused to +try it, as I thought it dangerous. + +"When my gyroscope worked fairly well, I presume Lieutenant Larson was +professionally jealous. At any rate he, left me, and I am glad of it." + +"But he was around our workshop just before we made this last flight!" +insisted Jack. "He came in pretending he had left some of his +important drawings behind when he went away, but I noticed that he hung +around the airship a good bit. I saw him looking at, and running the +gyroscope, and I'm sure he did something to it that caused it to fail +to work, and so wrecked us." + +"You should not say such things," chided Mr. Vardon. + +"Well, I believe it's true," insisted Jack. "And you found something +wrong with the gyroscope, when you took it from the airship; didn't +you?" + +"Yes, but that may have occurred in the wreck." + +"No, that gyroscope began to act wrong before we started to fall," went +on the helper. "I noticed it, and I believe that mean lieutenant +monkeyed with it. He wanted you to think your plans were failures." + +"I should dislike to believe that of anyone," spoke Mr. Vardon, +seriously. + +"Well, I'm going to keep my eye on him," said Jack. "He won't get +another chance at any of our machines." + +It was a day or so after this conversation that Dick came upon his chum +Innis, talking to Mr. Vardon. They seemed very much in earnest, and at +Dick's approach the aviator strolled away. Innis stood regarding him a +moment, and remarked, in a low tone: + +"Poor chap!" + +"What's the trouble?" asked Dick, quickly. "Has anything happened to +him?" + +"Yes, Dick, a whole lot of things!" replied Innis earnestly. "I feel +mighty sorry for him. You know how his airship was wrecked, but that's +only one of his troubles. He's practically lost every cent he has in +the world, and he's deeply in debt, for he borrowed money to build his +aircraft, and perfect his stabilizer. He's just about down and out, +poor chap, and he feels mighty blue, I can tell you. + +"When you came up I was just trying to figure out a way to help him. +But I don't see how I can. My dad hasn't any too much money himself, +since some of his investments failed, or he'd pull my cousin out of +this hole. But, as it is, I don't see what's to be done. And his +gyroscope stabilizer will work, too, only he won't get a chance to +prove it, now." + +Dick was silent a moment, and then he asked: + +"Say, Innis, would it help your cousin any if he had a contract to +build airships, and could install his stabilizer on one of them?" + +"Why, of course it would, Dick! That would be just the very thing he'd +want. But who'd give him such a contract, especially after this +accident? And he hasn't any money to back up his claims. In fact he's +a bankrupt. Nobody would give him such a chance." + +"Yes, I think someone would," said Dick, quietly. + +"Who?" asked Innis, quickly. + +"I would. It's this way," the young millionaire went on. "I've fully +made up my mind to have an airship, since dad consented, though I +believe he's secretly laughing at me. Now the kind of craft I want +doesn't come ready made--it will have to be built to order. + +"So why can't I contract with your cousin to make my airship for me? +I'd be willing to pay all expenses and whatever his services were +worth, so he could make some money that way. I'd a good deal rather +give him a chance on the work, than some stranger. Besides, I like his +idea of a gyroscope, and, even if he doesn't want to build my craft, +I'd like to arrange to buy one of his stabilizers. Do yon think he +would like to take the contract from me?" + +"Do I?" cried Innis earnestly. "Say, he'll jump at the chance! You try +him, and see! Say, this is fine of you, old man!" + +"Oh, nonsense! It isn't anything of the sort," protested Dick. "I've +got to have somebody build my airship, and I'd rather it would be your +cousin than anyone else." + +"It's fine and dandy!" Innis exclaimed. "Come on; let's find him and +tell him. He needs something to cheer him up, for he's got the blues +horribly. Come along, Dick." + +To say that Mr. Vardon was delighted to accept Dick's offer is putting +it mildly. Yet he was not too demonstrative. + +"This is the best news I've heard in a long while," he said. "I guess +my cousin has told you I'm pretty badly embarrassed financially," he +added. + +"Yes," assented Dick. "Well, I happen to have plenty of money, through +no fault of my own, and we'll do this airship business up properly. + +"I'd like you to get started at it as soon as you can, and as there +will be preliminary expenses, I'm going to advance you some cash. +You'll have to order certain parts made up, won't you?" he asked. + +"Yes, I presume so," agreed the aviator. + +"And, of course, I'll want your stabilizer on my craft." + +"That's very good of you to say. It will give me a fine chance to +demonstrate it," said Mr. Vardon. + +Later in the day, Dick, his chums, the aviator and Larry Dexter were +talking about some of the flights made in the army machines that +afternoon. + +"Can you arrange to have a wireless outfit on my airship?" asked the +young millionaire, as an exchange of wireless talk had been a feature +of the exhibition that day. + +"Oh, yes, that can easily be done," assented the birdman. + +"Say, you're going to have a fine outfit!" complimented Paul. + +"Might as well have a good one while I'm at it," answered Dick, with a +laugh. "I've got to make good on dad's account anyhow. I can't stand +him laughing at me. I wish I had my airship now." + +"I'll start building it, soon," promised Mr. Vardon. + +"I'll want it in time for the summer vacation," went on Dick. "I'm +going to spend a lot of time in the air." + +"Why don't you make a try for the prize?" suggested Mr. Vardon. + +"What prize?" Dick wanted to know. + +"Why the United States Government, to increase interest in airship +navigation, and construction, especially for army purposes, has offered +a prize of twenty thousand dollars for the first flight from the +Atlantic to the Pacific, or from New York to San Francisco, by an +airship carrying at least three persons. Only two landings are allowed +during the flight, to take on gasolene, or make repairs. Why don't you +try for that?" + +"What, me try for that prize in the first airship I ever owned!" +exclaimed Dick. "I wouldn't have the nerve! I guess the government +doesn't want amateurs in the trans-continental flight." + +"It doesn't make a bit of difference," declared Mr. Vardon. "It is +going to be an open competition. And, let me tell you, amateurs have +done as much, if not more, than the professionals, to advance and +improve aviation. Why, as a matter of fact, we're all amateurs. We are +learning something new every day. The art, or business, of flying is +too new to have in it anything but amateurs. Don't let that stop you, +Dick." + +"Well, I'll think about it," said the young millionaire. + +Dick obtained some detailed information, and entry blanks for the +government prize contest, and a little later announced to his chums: + +"Well, fellows, in view of what Mr. Vardon said about amateurs, maybe I +will have a try for that prize. It will give us an object, instead of +merely flying aimlessly about. And if I should win, wouldn't I have +the laugh on dad! Yes, I'll make a try for it!" he added. + +"And we'll help you!" cried Paul. + +"And I'll make a good story of it," promised Larry Dexter. + +"I guess we'd better get the airship first," suggested Innis, dryly. + +"Oh, I'll look after that," promised his aviator cousin. + +The days that followed were busy ones at Kentfield Academy. A course +of instruction was arranged concerning the making and flying of +airships. In the former Mr. Vardon was the chief lecturer, as he had +had more practical experience in building the aircraft than had either +of the army captains. + +But the army men had made a study of air currents, and the management +of biplanes and monoplanes, and were equal to Mr. Vardon in this +respect. And so the cadets looked on and listened, watching the army +aviators test their machines, run them over the starting ground, and +finally, by a tilting of the rudders, send the machines up like big +birds. + +"Young gentlemen," announced Colonel Masterly after chapel exercises +one morning, "I have an important announcement to make. You have been +studying aviation for some time now, and it is necessary, if you keep +on with it, to have practical work. Therefore we have decided that, +taking turns, those cadets in this course will make a flight, beginning +with today. You will go up, one in each aeroplane, with the two army +officers, who will look after and instruct you. + +"I will now call for volunteers to make the first flight. Don't all +speak at once," added the colonel, with a grim smile. + +There was a moment of breathless pause, and then, from where he sat, +Dick arose. With a salute he said: + +"I'll volunteer, sir." + +"Good!" came in whispered comment that the colonel did not try to check. + +"And I'll also volunteer!" spoke Innis, quickly. + +"So will I!" added Paul, and then several more announced their +intention. + +That afternoon came around very quickly, it seemed. Out on the +starting ground were the two big machines, being looked over by the +army men. The cadets were drawn up in files. + +"All ready, sir," announced Captain Grantly to Major Rockford. "The +first cadet will take his place." + +"Dick Hamilton!" called the commandant, and our hero stepped forward +for his first airship flight. + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A QUEER LANDING + +"Now don't get nervous," said Captain Grantly to Dick, with a grim +smile, as the young millionaire took his seat in the place provided for +the third occupant of the biplane. + +"Well, I'll try my best," answered Dick, smiling ruefully. "Am I to do +anything?" + +"Not a thing," Captain Grantly assured him. "Just sit still; that's +all." + +Dick rather wished he could have gone in the other machine, for he had +no liking for the surly lieutenant with the captain. But Dick had been +assigned to this craft, and military rules prevailed at Kentfield. You +did as you were told without question. + +Dick took his place, and watched with interest the operations of +Captain Grantly and his lieutenant. Whatever one thought of the +latter, personally, it must be admitted that he knew his business when +it came to airships. In some matters even his superior officer, +Captain Grantley, deferred to the judgment of Larson. + +"You won't have to do a thing," went on the lieutenant to Dick. "Just +sit still, and, above all, no matter what happens, don't touch any of +the wheels or levers." + +"No, that might wreck us," added the captain. + +"We'll manipulate the machine, at the same time telling you, and +showing you, how to do it. In time you will run it yourself, with us +looking on, and I believe it is the intention of Colonel Masterly to +have you cadets finally operate a machine on your own responsibility." + +"I hope I may learn to do so," spoke Dick, "for I'm going to have a +craft of my own." + +"Are you indeed?" asked the captain, interestedly. "It's rather an +expensive pleasure--not like automobiling." + +"Well, luckily or not, I happen to have plenty of money," said Dick. +"I'm going to have quite a large machine built." + +Was it fancy, or did Lieutenant Larson look at Dick with peculiar +meaning in his rather shifty eyes. Dick, however, was too much +occupied in the coming flight to pay much attention to this. + +"If you're going to have a machine, perhaps you're going to have a try +for the twenty thousand dollar prize," suggested Captain Grantly, as he +tested the gasolene and spark levers, and looked at several +turn-buckles which tightened the guy wires. + +"Well, I have about decided to," answered Dick, looking over at the +other aircraft, in which Paul Drew was to make an ascent. + +"Jove! I wish I had that chance!" exclaimed Larson. "I'm sure, with my +mercury balancer I could--" + +"There you go again!" cried Captain Grantly. "I tell you your idea is +all wrong about that balancer! Wing warping is the only proper way." + +"But that isn't automatic, and what is needed is an automatic balancer +or equilibrizer," insisted the lieutenant. + +"Well, we won't discuss it now," went on the captain. "Are you all +ready, Mr. Hamilton?" + +"All ready, yes, sir." + +The captain and Lieutenant Larson took their places, one on either side +of Dick. Some of the orderlies at the Academy had been detailed to +assist in the start, holding back on the biplane until the engine had +attained the necessary speed. + +There was an arrangement whereby the machine could be held in leash, as +it were, by a rope, and when the necessary pressure developed from the +propeller blades, the rope could be loosed from the aviator's seat. +But that attachment was not in use at Kentfield then. + +The powerful motor hummed and throbbed, for a muffler was temporarily +dispensed with on account of its weight. Every unnecessary ounce +counts on an airship, as it is needful to carry as much oil and +gasolene as possible, and the weight given over to a muffler could be +more advantageously applied to gasolene, on the smaller craft. + +Faster and faster whirled the big blades, cutting through the air. The +captain kept his eyes on a balance scale, by which was registered the +pull of the propellers. + +"That's enough!" he cried. "Let her go!" + +Dick felt the machine move slowly forward on the rubber tired bicycle +wheels over the grassy starting ground, gradually acquiring speed +before it would mount upward into the air. + +Perhaps a word of explanation about airships may not be out of place. +Those of you who know the principle on which they work, or who have +seen them, may skip this part if you wish. + +The main difference between a balloon and an aeroplane, is that the +balloon is lighter than air, being filled with a very light gas, which +causes it to rise. + +An aeroplane is heavier than air, and, in order to keep suspended, must +be constantly in motion. The moment it stops moving forward it begins +to fall downward. + +There are several kinds of airships, but the principle ones are +monoplanes and biplanes. Mono means one, and monoplane has but one set +of "wings," being built much after the fashion of a bird. + +A biplane, as the name indicates, consists of two sets of planes, one +above the other. There are some triplanes, but they have not been very +successful, and there are some freak aeroplanes built with as many as +eight sets. + +If you will scale a sheet of tin, or a thin, flat stone, or even a +slate from a roof, into the air, you will have the simplest form of an +aeroplane. The stone, or tin, is heavier than the amount of air it +displaces, but it stays up for a comparatively long time because it is +in motion. The moment the impulse you have given it by throwing fails, +then it begins to fall. + +The engine, or motor, aboard an aeroplane keeps it constantly in +motion, and it glides along through the air, resting on the atmosphere, +by means of the planes or wings. + +If you will take a clam shell, and, holding it with the concave side +toward the ground, scale it into the air, you will see it gradually +mount upward. If you hold the convex side toward the ground and throw +it, you will see the clam shell curve downward. + +That is the principle on which airships mount upward and descend while +in motion. In a biplane there is either a forward or rear deflecting +rudder, as well as one for steering from side to side. The latter works +an the same principle as does the rudder of a boat in the water. If +this rudder is bent to the right, the craft goes to the right, because +of the pressure of air or water on the rudder twisted in that +direction. And if the rudder is deflected to the left, the head of the +craft takes that direction. + +Just as the curve of a clam shell helps it to mount upward, so the +curve of the elevating or depressing rudder on an airship helps it to +go up or down. If the rudder is inclined upward the aeroplane shoots +toward the clouds. When the rudder is parallel to the plane of the +earth's surface, the airship flies in a straight line. When the rudder +is tilted downward, down goes the craft. + +I hope I have not wearied you with this description, but it was, +perhaps, needful, to enable those who have never seen an aeroplane to +understand the working principle. One point more. A gasolene motor, +very powerful, is used to whirl the wooden propeller blades that shove +the airship through the air, as the propeller of a motor-boat shoves +that craft through the water. + +Faster and faster across the grassy ground went the biplane containing +Dick Hamilton and the army officers. It was necessary to get this +"running start" to acquire enough momentum so that the craft would +rise, just as a heavy bird has sometimes to run along the ground a few +steps before its wings will take it up. + +"Here we go!" suddenly exclaimed the captain, and as he raised the +elevating rudder the big craft slowly mounted on a slant. + +Dick caught his breath sharply as he felt himself leaving the earth. He +had once gone up in a captive balloon at a fair, but then the earth +seemed sinking away beneath him. This time it seemed that he was +leaving the earth behind. + +Higher and higher they went, and Dick could feel the strong wind in his +face. His eyes were protected by goggles, made of celluloid to avoid +accidents from broken glass in case of a fall, and on his head he wore +a heavy leather helmet, not unlike those used by football players. He +was strapped to his seat, as were the others, in case the machine +should turn turtle. The straps would then prevent them from falling +out, and give them a chance to right the craft. + +For this can be done, and now some aviators practice plying upside down +to get used to doing it in case they have to by some accidental shift +of the wind. Some of them can turn complete somersaults, though this +is mostly done in monoplanes, and seldom in a biplane, which is much +more stable in the air. + +"Feel all right?" asked Captain Grantly of Dick. He asked this, but +Dick could not hear a word, on account of the great noise of the motor. +But he could read the officer's lip motions. + +"Yes, I'm all right," the young millionaire nodded back. + +He was surprised to find, that, after that first sinking sensation at +the pit of his stomach, he was not afraid. He now felt a glorious +sense of elation and delight. + +He was actually flying, or the next thing to it. + +"We'll go a little higher," said the captain, as he elevated the rudder +a little more. The aeroplane kept on ascending. Dick looked down. He +did not feel dizzy as he had half expected. Far below him were the +buildings of Kentfield, and the green parade ground. But what were +those things like little ants, crawling over the campus? + +Why the cadets, of course! They looked like flies, or specks. Dick +was ready to laugh. + +On a level keel they now darted ahead at greater speed as Lieutenant +Larson turned on more gasolene. Then, when Dick had become a little +used to the novel sensation, they showed him how to work the different +levers. The motor was controlled by spark and gasolene exactly as is +an automobile. But there was no water radiator, the engine being an +up-to-date rotating one, and cooling in the air. The use of the +wing-warping devices, by which the alerons, or wing-tips are "warped" +to allow for "banking" in going around a curve, were also explained to +Dick by means of the levers controlling them. + +You know that a horse, a bicyclist, or a runner leans in toward the +centre of the circle in making a curve. This is called "banking" and +is done to prevent the centrifugal force of motion from taking one off +in a straight line. The same thing must be done in an airship. That +is, it must be inclined at an angle in making a curve. + +And this is accomplished by means of bending down the tips of the +planes, pulling them to the desired position by means of long wires. It +can also he accomplished by small auxiliary planes, called alerons, +placed between the two larger, or main, planes. There is an aleron at +the end of each main wing. + +Straight ahead flew the army men and Dick, and then, when the cadet was +more used to it, they went around on a sharp curve. It made the young +millionaire catch his breath, at first, for the airship seemed to tilt +at a dangerous angle. But it was soon righted and straightened out +again. + +Suddenly a shadow seemed to pass over Dick's head. He looked up, +thinking it was a dark cloud, low down, but, to his surprise, it was +the other army craft flying above them. + +"A race!" thought Dick, and he wondered how his chum Paul was faring. + +There was an impromptu race between the two aircraft, and then they +separated, neither one gaining much advantage. Back and forth they +went, over the school grounds, and then in circles. Dick was rapidly +acquiring knowledge of how to operate the big biplane. + +"We'll go down now!" spoke the captain, though Dick could not hear the +words. The young millionaire made up his mind that he would have a +muffler on his airship, and also more room to move about. He intended +to make rather a long flight. + +The deflecting rudder was tilted downward, and the descent began. They +were some distance out from the Kentfield grounds now, but were headed +for them on a long slant. Dick wondered if they would reach them. + +At a nod from the captain, Lieutenant Larson reached up and shut off +the motor. The sudden silence was startling. + +Dick understood what was to be done. They were to glide, or as it is +called "volplane" (pronounced vol-pla-nay, with the accent on the last +syllable) to the ground. + +"I hope we make it safely," mused Dick. But it did not look as though +they had been near enough the landing place when the motor was cut off. +Dick saw the two army men glance rather apprehensively at one another. +Was something wrong? + +Dick was sure of it a moment later when, as Captain Grantly pulled the +lever of the deflecting rudder toward him, there was a snapping, +breaking sound. + +"Lost control!" cried the captain. "Wire snapped! Look out, +everybody!" + +Dick wanted to jump, but he knew that would be rash, as they were still +some distance above the ground. + +"Can't you guide her?" asked Larson. + +"No! We've got to land the best we can!" was the answer. + +They were right over a little farm now, and seemed to be headed +directly for a small, low building. + +"Something is going to smash!" thought Dick grimly. + +The next moment the airship had come down on the roof of the low farm +building, crashing right through it, and a second later Dick and his +companions found themselves in the midst of a squealing lot of pigs, +that fairly rushed over them. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +AT HAMILTON CORNERS + +Instinctively, as he felt the airship falling, without being under +control, Dick had loosed the strap that held him to his seat. This +advice had been given as one of the first instructions, to enable the +aviator to leap clear of the craft as it struck. + +But, in this case the landing had been such a queer one that there was +no time for any of the three to do the latter. Down on the roof of the +pig sty they had come, crashing through it, for the place was old and +rotten. + +It was this very fact, however, that saved them from more serious +injuries than severe joltings. The roof had collapsed, had broken in +the middle, and the squealing porkers were now running wild. Most of +them seemed to prefer the vicinity of the spot near where the three +aviators were now tumbled in a heap, having been thus thrown by the +concussion. + +"Get out of here, you razor-back!" cried Dick, as a pig fairly walked +over him. He managed to struggle to his feet, but another pig took +that, seemingly, as an invitation to dart between the legs of the young +millionaire, and upset him. + +Dick fell directly back on the form of Captain Grantly, who grunted at +the impact. Then, as Lieutenant Larson tried to get up, he, too, was +bowled over by a rush of some more pigs. + +But the two army officers, and Dick, were football players, and they +knew how to take a fall, so were not harmed. Fortunately they had been +tossed out on a grassy part of the pen, and away from the muddy slough +where the porkers were in the habit of wallowing. + +"Get out, you brutes!" cried Dick, striking at the pigs with a part of +one of the pen roof boards. Then, with the army men to help him, he +succeeded in driving the swine out of their way. This done, the +aviators looked at one another and "took an account of stock." + +"Are you hurt?" asked the captain of Dick, grimly. + +"No, only bruised a bit. As the old lady said of the train that came +to a sudden halt because of a collision, 'do you always land this way?'" + +"No, indeed!" exclaimed the captain, as he looked at the ruin of the +shed, amid which the airship was. "This is my first accident of this +kind. The lever of the vertical rudder snapped, and I couldn't control +her. Luckily the roof was rotten, or we might have smashed everything." + +"As it is, nothing seems to be much damaged," said the lieutenant. "I +wonder if we can fly back?" + +"It is doubtful," the captain answered. "We'll try and get her out, +first." + +As they were climbing over the pile of broken boards to get a view of +the aeroplane, an excited farmer came rushing out of a barn, a short +distance away. + +"Hey, what do you fellers mean--smashing down out of the clouds, +bustin' up my pig pen, and scatterin' 'em to the four winds?" he +yelled. "I'll have th' law on you for this! I'll make you pay +damages! You killed a lot of my pigs, I reckon!" + +"I don't see any dead ones," spoke the captain, calmly. "It was an +accident." + +"That's what them autermobile fellers says when they run over my +chickens," snarled the unpleasant farmer. "But they has t' pay for 'em +all the same." + +"And we are willing to pay you anything in reason," said the Captain. +"I don't believe we killed any of your pigs, however. But the shed was +so rotten it was ready to fall down of itself, which was a good thing +for us. How much do you want?" + +"Well, I want a hundred dollars--that's what I want." + +"The shed, when new, wasn't worth a quarter of that." + +"I don't care!" snapped the farmer. "That's my price. Some of my pigs +may be lost for all I know, and pork's goin' t' be high this year. I +want a hundred dollars, or you don't take your old shebang offen my +premises. I'll hold it till you pay me." + +The army officers looked serious at this. Clearly the farmer had a +right to damages, but a hundred dollars was excessive. + +"I'll give you fifty, cash," said Dick, as he pulled out a roll of +bills. "Will that satisfy you?" + +The farmer's eyes gleamed at the sight of the money. And, as Dick +looked at his companions, he caught a greedy glint in the eyes of +Lieutenant Larson. + +"It's wuth a hundred; smashin' my shed, an' all the trouble you've +caused me," grumbled the farmer. "But I'll take sixty." + +"No you won't. You'll take fifty or you can bring a lawsuit," replied +Dick, sharply. "I guess you know who I am. I'm Hamilton, from the +Kentfield Academy. Colonel Masterly buys some garden stuff of you, and +if I tell him--" + +"Oh, shucks, give me the fifty!" cried the farmer, eagerly, as he held +out his hand for the money. "And don't you try any more tricks like +that ag'in!" + +"We haven't any desire to," said Captain Grantly. "Now we'll see if we +can navigate." + +"And I've got t' see if I kin get them pigs together," grumbled the +farmer, as he pocketed Dick's money. + +"You can put in a requisition for this, I suppose," suggested the +lieutenant. "I don't know whether Uncle Sam ought to reimburse you, or +we, personally." + +"Don't mention it!" exclaimed Dick. "I'm always willing to pay for +damages, though I suppose if my Uncle Ezra Larabee was here he'd haggle +with that farmer and make him throw in a pig or two for luck." + +"Who is Uncle Ezra Larabee?" asked the lieutenant, curiously. + +"A relative of mine," answered Dick. "Rather 'close' as regards money." + +"Is he rich?" + +"Yes, quite wealthy, but you'd never know it. He lives in Dankville, +and he and my dog Grit never can get along together. He hates Grit and +I guess Grit doesn't love him. But shall we try to get this machine +out of the shed?" + +"I guess it's the best thing to do, now that the pigs are out of the +way," agreed the captain. + +And, while the farmer and his hired man were chasing after the escaped +pigs, the army officers and Dick began extricating the airship. The +splintered boards of the pig-shed were pulled to one side, and then it +was seen that, aside from a broken landing wheel, little damage had +been done. The engine was not harmed in the least and the snapped wire +that had prevented the rudder being set to make a proper landing, was +easy to splice. + +"And, as we've got a spare wheel we can put that on and soon start +back," said the lieutenant. + +"Say, this is getting off better than even in an automobile accident," +spoke Dick, with a laugh. "I didn't know you carried spare parts." + +"We do the wheels, as they are very light," the captain said. "Now +let's roll her out and see what we can do." + +The smashed wheel was removed from the axle, and the spare one +substituted. The broken wire was repaired and the aeroplane was now +about the same as before. It was rolled to a level place, and the +motor tested. It ran perfectly. + +The farmer, having collected all his pigs, and perhaps feeling joyful +because of the fifty dollars in his pocket, agreed to "hold back" on +the craft, to steady it until the necessary speed of the motor had been +attained. His hired man helped him. + +Just as the captain was about to give the word to "let go" the other +airship was seen coming to look for the missing one. But there was now +no need of assistance, and, a moment later, Dick and his companions +again arose in the air. + +A quick return was made to the Academy, those in the other airship +being informed, by a signal, that all was now right. When the story of +the queer landing was told, Dick was regarded as a hero by his +companions. + +"Just think!" complained Paul, whimsically, "your first trip, and you +have an accident and you don't get so much as a scratch." + +"Yes, but I got run over and knocked down by a pig," laughed Dick. +"I'll take the scratches, please. No more pigs!" + +"And after that, are you still going to build an airship?" asked Innis. + +"I sure am! It's the greatest sensation in the world--aviation! I +wouldn't miss it for a fortune. And I'm going to pull down that twenty +thousand dollar prize; don't forget that, fellows." + +"Good luck!" wished Paul. + +In the days that followed there were many more airship flights, but no +accidents of moment. Dick went up again several times, and at last was +allowed to run the aeroplane himself, with the captain and lieutenant +to coach him. Then only one officer went along, another cadet being +taken up with Dick. + +And finally the day came when Dick was qualified to take the craft up +alone, with two other cadets. He had graduated as a pilot of the air, +and properly proud he was of the honor. + +"All you want now is experience," said Captain Grantly, as Dick came +back after a successful flight with Paul and Innis. "And that takes +time." + +Dick's two intimate chums also qualified as amateur pilots, and a +number of other cadets were equally successful. The aviation course at +Kentfield was very popular. + +Then came the end of the term, and the summer vacation was at hand. The +last drills and guard-mounts were held. The graduation exercises were +finished in a "blaze of glory." The Juniors gave a gay dance, at which +Dick and his chums met the pretty girls whom they had seen at the dock +that day. + +"And now for Hamilton Corners!" cried the young millionaire, when the +Academy was formally closed for the term. "I want you fellows to come +out with me, and watch my airship being built." + +Mr. Vardon had found he could not build for Dick at Kentfield the craft +he wanted. It would take too long, and there were not the facilities. +So he and his helper went to Hamilton Corners, to do the preliminary +work. Dick and his chums were to follow as soon as school was over. +Larry Dexter went back to New York, but promised to join Dick in time +for the flight for the big government prize. + +"Well, Dad, how are you?" cried Dick, as he greeted his father at the +family mansion in Hamilton Corners. + +"Fine, my boy! There's no use asking how YOU are, I can see you are +fine!" + +"Did Vardon and Jack get here? Have they started work?" Dick wanted to +know. + +"Yes, I did just as you asked me to in your letter. I let them have +the run of the place, and they've been busy ever since they came. I +hope you are successful, Dick, but, I have my doubts." + +"I'll show you!" cried the cadet enthusiastically. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +UNCLE EZRA'S VISIT + +Dick and his father had much to talk about concerning the airship. Dick +explained his plans, and described the new stabilizer. + +"Well, now that you have explained it to me, I don't see but what it +may be possible," said Mr. Hamilton, after carefully considering the +matter. "It isn't so much the expense, since you have your own +fortune, but, of course, there is the element of danger to be +considered." + +"Well, there's danger in anything," agreed Dick. "But I think I have a +lucky streak in me,--after the way we came out of that pig-pen +accident," and he laughed. + +"Yes, you were fortunate," conceded Mr. Hamilton. "But, don't take too +many risks, my son. Go in and win, if you can, but don't be rash. I +am still from Missouri, and you've got to show me. Now I've got a lot +of business to attend to, and so I'll have to leave you to your own +devices. You say Paul and Innis are coming on?" + +"Yes, they'll be here in a few days and stay until the airship is +completed. Then they'll fly with me." + +"Anybody else going?" + +"Yes, Larry Dexter--you remember him?" + +"Oh, sure! The young reporter." + +"And I think I'll take Mr. Vardon along. We may need his help in an +emergency." + +"A good idea. Well, I wish you luck!" + +A large barn on the Hamilton property had been set aside for the use of +the aviator and his men, for he had engaged several more besides Jack +Butt to hurry along the work on Dick's new aircraft. The order had been +placed for the motor, and that, it was promised, would be ready in time. + +Dick, having had lunch, went out to see how his airship was +progressing. Grit raced here and there, glad to be back home again, +though he would probably miss the many horses and grooms at Kentfield. +For Grit loved to be around the stables, and the hostlers made much of +him. + +"How are you coming on?" asked the young millionaire, as he surveyed +the framework of the big craft that, he hoped, would carry him across +the continent and win for him the twenty thousand dollar prize. + +"Fine, Dick!" exclaimed Mr. Vardon. "Everything is working out well. +Come in and look. You can get an idea of the machine now." + +Dick Hamilton's airship was radically different from any craft +previously built, yet fundamentally, it was on the same principle as a +biplane. But it was more than three times as large as the average +biplane, and was built in two sections. + +That is there were four sets of double planes, or eight in all, and +between them was an enclosed cabin containing the motor, the various +controls, places to sleep and eat, the cabin also forming the storage +room for the oil, gasolene and other supplies. + +This cabin was not yet built, but, as I have said, it would be +"amidship" if one may use that term concerning an airship. Thus the +occupants would be protected from the elements, and could move about in +comfort, not being obliged to sit rigidly in a seat for hours at a time. + +"She's going to be pretty big," remarked Dick, as he walked about the +skeleton of his new craft. + +"She has to be able to carry all you want to take in her," said the +aviator. "But she'll be speedy for all of that, for the engine will be +very powerful." + +"Will she be safe?" asked Dick. + +"As safe as any airship. I am going to incorporate in her my gyroscope +equilibrizer, or stabilizer, as you suggested." + +"Oh, yes, I want that!" said Dick, in a decided tone. + +"It is very good of you to allow me to demonstrate my patent on your +craft," the inventor said. "It will be a fine thing for me if you win +the prize, and it is known that my stabilizer was aboard to aid you," +he said, with shining, eager eyes. + +"Well, I'm only too glad I can help you in that small way," spoke Dick. +"I'm sure your patent is a valuable one." + +"And I am now positive that it will work properly," went on Mr. Vardon. + +"And I'll take precious good care that no sneak, like Larson, gets a +chance to tamper with it!" exclaimed Jack Butt. + +"You must not make such positive statements," warned his chief. "It may +not have been Larson." + +"Well, your machine was tampered with; wasn't it, just before we sank +into the river?" + +"Yes, and that was what made us fall." + +"Well, I'm sure Larson monkeyed with it, and no one can make me believe +anything else," said Jack, positively. "If he comes around here--" + +"He isn't likely to," interrupted Dick. "The army aviators were sent +to Texas, I believe, to give some demonstrations at a post there." + +"You never can tell where Larson will turn up," murmured Jack. + +Dick was shown the progress of the work, and was consulted about +several small changes from the original, tentative plans. He agreed to +them, and then, as it was only a question of waiting until his craft +was done, he decided to call on some of his friends at Hamilton Corners. + +Innis and Paul arrived in due season, and were delighted at the sight +of Dick's big, new aircraft, which, by the time they saw it, had +assumed more definite shape. Mr. Vardon and his men had worked rapidly. + +"And that cabin is where we'll stay; is that it?" asked Paul, as he +looked at the framework. + +"That's to be our quarters," answered the young millionaire. + +Paul was looking carefully on all sides of it. + +"Something missing?" asked Dick, noting his chum's anxiety. + +"I was looking for the fire escape." + +"Fire escape!" cried Dick. "What in the world would you do with a fire +escape on an airship?" + +"Well, you're going to carry a lot of gasolene, you say. If that gets +afire we'll want to escape; won't we? I suggest a sort of rope ladder, +that can be uncoiled and let down to the ground. That might answer." + +"Oh, slosh!" cried Dick. "There's going to be no fire aboard the--say, +fellows, I haven't named her yet! I wonder what I'd better call her? + +"Call her the Abaris," suggested Innis, "though he wasn't a lady." + +"Who was he?" asked Dick. "That name sounds well." + +"Abaris, if you will look in the back of your dictionary, you will note +was a Scythian priest of Apollo," said Innis, with a patronizing air at +his display of knowledge. "He is said to have ridden through the air +on an arrow. Isn't that a good name for your craft, Dick?" + +"It sure is. I'll christen her Abaris as soon as she's ready to +launch. Good idea, Innis." + +"Oh, I'm full of 'em," boasted the cadet, strutting about. + +"You're full of conceit--that's what you are," laughed Paul. + +Suddenly there came a menacing growl from Grit, who was outside the +airship shed, and Dick called a warning. + +"Who's there?" he asked, thinking it might be a stranger. + +A rasping voice answered: + +"It's me! Are you there, Nephew Richard? I went all through the +house, but nobody seemed to be home." + +"It's Uncle Ezra!" whispered Dick, making a pretense to faint. + +"I've come to pay you a little visit," went on the crabbed old miser. +"Where's your pa?" + +"Why, he's gone to New York." + +"Ha! Another sinful and useless waste of money! I never did see the +beat!" + +"He had to go, on business," answered Dick. + +"Humph! Couldn't he write? A two cent stamp is a heap sight cheaper +than an excursion ticket to New York. But Mortimer never did know the +value of money," sighed Uncle Ezra. + +Grit growled again. + +"Nephew Richard, if your dog bites me I'll make you pay the doctor +bills," warned Mr. Ezra Larabee. + +"Here, Grit! Quiet!" cried Dick, and the animal came inside, looking +very much disgusted. + +Uncle Ezra looked in at the door of the shed, and saw the outlines of +the airship. + +"What foolishness is this?" he asked, seeming to take it for granted +that all Dick did was foolish. + +"It's my new airship," answered the young millionaire. + +"An airship! Nephew Richard Hamilton! Do you mean to tell me that you +are sinfully wasting money on such a thing as that--on something that +will never go, and will only be a heap of junk?" and Uncle Ezra, of +Dankville, looked as though his nephew were a fit subject for a lunatic +asylum. + + + +CHAPTER X + +BUILDING THE AIRSHIP + +Grit growled in a deep, threatening voice, and Uncle Ezra looked around +with startled suddenness. + +"I guess I'd better chain him up before I answer you," said Dick, +grimly. "Here, old boy!" + +The bulldog came, unwillingly enough, and was made secure. + +"An--an airship!" gasped Uncle Ezra, as though he could not believe it. +"An airship, Nephew Richard. It will never go. You might a good deal +better take the money that you are so foolishly wasting, and put it in +a savings bank. Or, I would sell you some stock in my woolen mill. +That would pay you four per cent, at least." + +"But my airship is going to go," declared the young millionaire. "It's +on the same model as one I've ridden in, and it's going to go. We're +sure of it; aren't we, Mr. Vardon?" + +"Oh, it will GO all right," declared the aviator. "I'm sure of that. +But I don't guarantee that you'll win the prize money." + +"What's that? What's that?" asked Uncle Ezra in surprise. He was all +attention when it came to a matter of money. "What prize did you speak +of?" + +"Didn't you hear, Uncle Ezra?" inquired Dick. "Why, the United States +government, to increase the interest in aviation, and to encourage +inventors, has offered a prize of twenty thousand dollars to the first +person who takes his airship from the Atlantic to the Pacific, or +rather, from New York to San Francisco with but two landings. I'm +going to have a try for that prize!" + +"Yes, and he's going to win it, too!" cried Paul. + +"And we're at least going to share in the glory of it," added Innis. + +"Twenty thousand dollars!" murmured Uncle Ezra. "Is it possible?" + +"Oh, it's true enough, sir," put in Mr. Vardon. "The offer has been +formally made. I know several of my aviator friends who are going to +have a try for it. I intended to myself, but for the accident in which +my craft was smashed. Only for the kindness of your nephew in engaging +me on this work I don't know what I should be doing now." + +"That's all right!" interrupted Dick, who disliked praise. "I'm doing +MYSELF as much a favor in having you build this airship as I am YOU. I +intend to have a good time in this craft, even if I don't win the +prize." + +"Twenty thousand dollars," murmured Uncle Ezra again, slowly. "It's an +awful lot of money--an awful lot," he added in an awed tone of voice. + +The truth of the matter was that Uncle Ezra had nearly a million. But +he was very "close," and never missed a chance to make more. + +"And do you intend to get the government prize in that--that +contraption?" he asked, motioning to the half-completed aeroplane. + +"Oh, it isn't finished yet," explained Dick. + +"When it is, it will be one of the finest aircraft in this, or any +other, country," declared Mr. Vardon. "I don't say that just because I +am building it, but because Mr. Hamilton is putting into it the very +best materials that can be bought." + +"And we mustn't forget your stabilizer," laughed Dick. + +"What's that?" Uncle Ezra wanted to know. Since hearing about the +twenty thousand dollar prize his interest in airships seemed to have +increased. + +"The stabilizer, or equalibrizer, whatever you wish to call it, is to +keep the airship from turning over," explained Mr. Vardon, and he went +into the details with which I have already acquainted my readers. + +But it is doubtful if Uncle Ezra heard, or at least he paid little +attention, for he was murmuring over and over again to himself: + +"Twenty thousand dollars! Twenty thousand dollars! That's an awful +lot of money. I--I'd like to get it myself." + +From time to time Grit growled, and finally Uncle Ezra, perhaps fearing +that the dog might get loose and bite him, said: + +"I think I'll go in the house for a while, Nephew Richard. Your father +is not likely to be home today, but as I have missed the last train +back to Dankville, listening to your talk about airships--foolish talk +it seems to me--I will have to stay all night." + +"Oh, certainly!" exclaimed Dick, remembering that he must play the +host. "Go right in, Uncle Ezra and tell the butler to get you a lunch. +I'll be in immediately." + +"Well, I could eat a little snack," admitted the crabbed old man. "I +did think of stopping in the restaurant at the railroad depot on my way +here, and getting a sandwich. But the girl said sandwiches were ten +cents, and they didn't look worth it to me. + +"I asked her if she didn't have some made with stale bread, that she +could let me have for five cents, but she said they didn't sell stale +sandwiches. She seemed real put-out about it, too. She needn't have. +Stale bread's better for you than fresh, anyhow. + +"But I didn't buy one. I wasn't going to throw away ten cents. That's +the interest money on a dollar for two whole years." + +Then he started back to the house. + +"Isn't he the limit!" cried Dick, in despair. "He's got almost as much +money as we have, and he's so afraid of spending a cent that he +actually goes hungry, I believe. And his house--why he's got a fine +one, but the only rooms he and Aunt Samantha ever open are the kitchen +and one bedroom. I had to spend some time there once, as I guess you +fellows know, and say--good-night!" cried Dick, with a tragic gesture. + +"He seemed interested in airships," ventured Paul. + +"It was the twenty thousand dollars he was interested in," laughed +Dick. "I wonder if he--" + +"What?" asked Innis, as the young millionaire paused. + +"Oh, nothing," was the answer. "I just thought of something, but it's +too preposterous to mention. Say, Mr. Vardon, when do you expect our +engine?" + +"Oh, in about a week now. I won't be ready for it before then. We can +give it a try-out on the blocks before we mount it, to see if it +develops enough speed and power. But have you made your official entry +for the prize yet?" + +"No, and I think I'd better," Dick said. "I'll do it at once." + +Dick and his chums had their lunch, and then went for a ride in Dick's +motor-boat, which had been brought on from Kentfield. They had a jolly +time, and later in the afternoon returned to watch the construction of +the airship. + +The building of the Abaris, as Dick had decided to call his craft, went +on apace during the days that followed. Uncle Ezra was more interested +than Dick had believed possible, and prolonged his stay nearly a week. +He paid many visits to the airship shed. + +Mr. Vardon, and Jack, his right-hand man, and the other workmen labored +hard. The airship began to look like what she was intended for. She +was of a new model and shape, and seemed to be just what Dick wanted. +Of course she was in a sense an experiment. + +The main cabin, though, containing the living and sleeping quarters, as +well as the machinery, was what most pleased Dick and his chums. + +"It's like traveling in a first-class motor-boat, only up in the +clouds, instead of in the water," declared Innis. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A SURPRISE + +"Toss over that monkey wrench; will you?" + +"Say, who had the saw last?" + +"I know I laid a hammer down here, but it's gone now!" + +"Look out there! Low bridge! Gangway! One side!" + +These, and many other cries and calls, came from the big barn-like +shed, where Dick Hamilton's airship was being constructed. Dick +himself, and his two chums, Innis Beeby and Paul Drew, had joined +forces with Mr. Vardon in helping on the completion of the Abaris. + +"We've got to get a move on!" Dick had said, after he had sent in his +application to compete for the twenty thousand dollar government prize. +"We don't want to be held back at the last minute. Boys, we've got to +work on this airship ourselves." + +"We're with you!" cried Innis and Paul, eagerly. + +And so, after some preliminary instructions from Mr. Vardon, the cadets +had taken the tools and started to work. + +It did not come so unhandily to them as might have been imagined. At +the Kentfield Military Academy they had been called upon to do much +manual labor, in preparation for a military life. + +There had been pontoon bridges to build across streams, by means of +floats and boats. There had been other bridges to throw across defiles +and chasms. There were artillery and baggage wagons to transport along +poor roads. And all this, done for practice, now stood Dick and his +chums in good stead. + +They knew how to employ their hands, which is the best training in the +world for a young man, and they could also use tools to advantage. + +So now we find Dick, Paul and Innis laboring over the new airship, in +which the young millionaire hoped to make a flight across the United +States, from ocean to ocean. + +"That's what I like to see!" exclaimed Uncle Ezra, as he came out to +the shed just before he started back for Dankville. "It does young men +good to work. Pity more of 'em don't do it. Hard work and plain food +is what the rising generation wants. I don't approve of airships--that +is as a rule," the crabbed old miser hastily added, "but, of course, +twenty thousand dollars is a nice prize to win. I only hope you get +it. Nephew Richard. I like to see you work. I'm going back now. +I'll tell your Aunt Samantha that you've at last learned how to do +something, even if it is only building an airship." + +"Don't you call my studies at Kentfield something, Uncle Ezra?" asked +Dick. + +"No sir! No, sir-ee!" cried the elderly man. "That's time and money +thrown away. But I see that you can do manual labor, Nephew Richard, +and if you really want to do useful work, and earn money, I'd be glad +to have you in my woolen mill. I could start you on three dollars and +a half a week, and you could soon earn more. Will you come?" + +"No, thank you," said Dick. "Thank you just the same." + +He had a vivid idea of what it might mean to work for his Uncle Ezra. +Besides, Dick's fortune was such that he did not have to work. But he +fully intended to, and he was getting a training that would enable him +to work to the best advantage. Just because he was a millionaire he +did not despise work. In fact he liked it, and he had made up his mind +that he would not be an idler. + +Just now aviation attracted him, and he put in as many hours working +over his airship--hard work, too,--as many a mechanic might have done. + +"Well, I'll say good-bye, Nephew Richard," spoke Uncle Ezra, after +walking about the big airship, and looking at it more closely than +would seem natural, after he had characterized it as a "foolish piece +of business." + +"I'm sorry you won't stay until my father gets back," spoke Dick. "I +expect him tomorrow, or next day." + +"Well, if I stayed I know my hired man would waste a lot of feed on the +horses," said Uncle Ezra. "And every time I go away he sits up and +burns his kerosene lamp until almost ten o'clock at night. And oil has +gone up something terrible of late." + +"Well, I hope you'll come and see us again," invited Dick, as his uncle +started to go. "But won't you let me send you to the station in the +auto? It isn't being used." + +"No, Nephew Richard. Not for me!" exclaimed Uncle Ezra. "You might +bust a tire, and then you'd expect me to pay for it." + +"Oh, no, I wouldn't!" + +"Well, then, there might be some accident, and I might get my clothes +torn. That would mean I'd have to have a new suit. I've worn this one +five years, and it's good for three more, if I'm careful of it!" he +boasted, as he looked down at his shiny, black garments. + +"Then you're going to walk?" asked Dick. + +"Yes, Nephew Richard. There's grass almost all the way to the station, +and I can keep on that. It will save my shoes." + +"But people don't like you to walk on their grass," objected Dick. + +"Huh! Think I'm going to tramp on the hard sidewalks and wear out my +shoe leather?" cried Uncle Ezra. "I guess not!" + +He started off, trudging along with his cane, but paused long enough to +call back: + +"Oh, Nephew Richard, I got the cook to put me up some sandwiches. I can +eat them on the train, and save buying. The idea of charging ten cents +in the railroad restaurant! It's robbery! I had her use stale bread, +so that won't be wasted." + +Dick hopelessly shook his head. He really could say nothing. + +His chums knew Uncle Ezra's character, and sympathized with their +friend. + +The cadets resumed work on the big airship. The framework of the wings +had been completed, and all that was necessary was to stretch on the +specially made canvas. The cabin was nearing completion, and the place +for the engine had been built. The big propellers had been constructed +of several layers of mahogany, and tested at a speed to which they +would never be subjected in a flight. The bicycle wheels on which the +big airship would run along the ground, until it had acquired momentum +for a rise, were put in place. + +"I didn't just like those hydroplanes, though," said Dick, who had +added them as an after thought. "I think they should be made larger." + +"And I agree with you," said Mr. Vardon. "The only use you will have +for the hydroplanes, or wheel-pontoons, will be in case you are +compelled to make a landing on the water. But they should be larger, +or you will not float sufficiently high. Make them larger. But it will +cost more money." + +"I don't mind that," returned Dick. "Of course I am not anxious to +throw money away, but I want to make a success of this, and win the +prize, not so much because of the cash, as to show how your +equilibrizer works, and to prove that it is possible to make an airship +flight across the continent. + +"So, if bigger hydroplanes are going to make it more certain for us to +survive an accident, put them on." + +"I will," promised the aviator. + +Pontoons, or hydroplanes, in this case, I might state, were hollow, +water-tight, wooden boxes, so fitted near the wheels of the airship, +that they could be lowered by levers in case the craft had to descend +on water. They were designed to support her on the waves. + +Several days of hard work passed. The aircraft was nearing completion. +The cabin was finished, and had been fitted up with most of the +apparatus and the conveniences for the trip. There were instruments to +tell how fast the Abaris was traveling, how far she was above the +earth, the speed and direction of the wind and machinery, and others, +to predict, as nearly as possible, future weather conditions. + +In the front of the cabin was a small pilothouse, in which the operator +would have his place. From there he could guide the craft, and control +it in every possible way. + +There was a sleeping cabin, fitted with bunks, a combined kitchen and +dining-room, a small living-room, and the motor-room. Of course the +latter took up the most space, being the most important. + +In addition there was an outside platform, built in the rear of the +enclosed cabin, where one could stand and look above the clouds, or at +the earth below. + +Gasolene and storage batteries furnished the power, and there was +plenty in reserve. Dick wanted to take no chances in his prize flight. + +The second day after Uncle Ezra's departure the motor for the airship +arrived. + +"Now for a test!" cried Dick, when the machine had been uncrated and +set up on the temporary base. The attachments were made, an extra pair +of trial propellers connected, and the power turned on. + +With a roar and a throb, the motor started, and as Mr. Vardon glanced +at the test gages with anxious eyes he cried: + +"She does better than we expected, Dick! We can cross the continent +with that engine, and not have to make more than two stops." + +"Are you sure?" asked the young millionaire. + +"Positive," was the answer. + +Further tests confirmed this opinion, and preparations were made to +install the motor in the airship. + +It was while this was being done that a servant brought Dick a message. + +"Someone has called to see you," said the man. + +"Who is it?" + +"He says his name is Lieutenant Larson, formerly of the United States +Army, and he has important information for you." + +"Larson!" exclaimed Dick in surprise. "I wonder what he wants of me?" + +"Will you see him?" asked Paul. + +"I suppose I had better," said Dick, slowly. "I wonder what he wants?" + + + +CHAPTER XII + +LARSON SEES UNCLE EZRA + +Dick Hamilton had not been very friendly with Lieutenant Larson during +the aviation instruction at Kentfield. In fact the young millionaire +did not like the army officer. Added to this the suspicion that Larson +might have had some hand in tampering with the stabilizer of Mr. +Vardon's craft, did not make Dick any too anxious to see the birdman. + +And yet he felt that in courtesy he must. + +"I'll go in the library and meet him," said Dick, to the servant who +had brought the message. "I don't care to have him out here, where he +might see my airship," Dick added, to his chums. + +"I guess you're right there," agreed Paul. + +"He might take some of your ideas, and make a machine for himself that +would win the prize," added Innis. + +"Oh, well, I'm not so afraid of that," replied Dick, "as I intend, +after I complete my craft, and if she wins the prize, to turn my plans +and ideas over to the government, anyhow, for their use. But I don't +just like the idea of Larson coming out to the work-shed." + +Mr. Vardon and his men were in another part of the big barn, and had +not heard of the arrival of the army man. + +"How do you do?" greeted Dick, as he met Larson in the library. "I'm +glad to see you." + +This was polite fiction, that, perhaps, might be pardoned. + +"I don't want to trouble you, Mr. Hamilton," went on the lieutenant, +with a shifty glance around the room, "but I have left the army, and +have engaged in the building of airships. + +"I recall that you said at Kentfield, that you were going to construct +one, and I called to see if I could not get the contract," Larson went +on. + +"Well, I am sorry, for your sake, to say that my craft is almost +completed," replied Dick. "So I can't give you the contract." + +"Completed!" cried Larson, in tones that showed his great surprise. +"You don't mean to tell me you have undertaken the important work of +constructing an aeroplane so soon after coming from the military +academy?" + +"Well, I didn't want to waste any time," replied Dick, wondering at the +lieutenant's interest. "I'm going to try for the government prize, and +I wanted to be early on the job." + +Larson hesitated a moment, and resumed: + +"Well, then it is too late; I suppose? I hoped to get you to adopt my +plans for an aeroplane. But I have been delayed making arrangements, +and by resigning from the army. + +"Perhaps I am not too late, though, to have you adopt my type of +equilibrizer. My mercury tubes--" + +"I am sorry, but you are too late there," interrupted Dick. + +"What type are you using?" the lieutenant cried, dramatically. + +"The Vardon. I might say that Mr. Vardon is also building my airship. +It will contain his gyroscope." + +"A gyroscope!" cried the former officer. "You are very foolish! You +will come to grief with that. The only safe form is the mercury tube, +of which I am the inventor." + +At that moment Vardon himself, who wished to consult Dick on some +point, came into the room, not knowing a caller was there. + +"I am sorry," went on the young millionaire, "but I am going to use Mr. +Vardon's gyroscope." + +"Then you may as well give up all hope of winning the prize!" sneered +Larson. "You are a very foolish young man. Vardon is a dreamer, a +visionary inventor who will never amount to anything. His gyroscope is +a joke, and--" + +"I am sorry you think so," interrupted the aviator. "But you evidently +considered my gyroscope such a good joke that you tried to spoil it." + +"I! What do you mean? You shall answer for that!" cried the former +lieutenant, in an unnecessarily dramatic manner. + +"I think you know what I mean," replied Vardon, coolly. "I need not go +into details. Only I warn you that if you are seen tampering about the +Hamilton airship, on which I am working, that you will not get off so +easily as you did in my case!" + +"Be careful!" warned Larson. "You are treading on dangerous ground!" + +"And so are you," warned the aviator, not allowing himself to get +excited as did Larson. "I know of what I am speaking." + +"Then I want to tell you that you are laboring under a +misapprehension," sneered the former officer. "I can see that I am not +welcome here. I'll go." + +Dick did not ask him to stay. The young millionaire was anything but a +hypocrite. + +"What did he want?" asked Mr. Vardon, when Larson had left. + +"To build my airship. He evidently did not know that I had already +engaged you. He got a surprise, I think." + +"He is a dangerous man, and an unscrupulous one," said the aviator. "I +do not say that through any malice, but because I firmly believe it. I +would never trust him." + +"Nor shall I," added Dick. "I presume though, that he will have some +feeling against me for this." + +"Very likely," agreed Mr. Vardon. "You will have to be on your guard." + +The young millionaire and the aviator then went into details about some +complicated point in the construction of the Abaris, with which it is +not necessary to weary my readers. + +Larson must have recalled what Dick had told him about Uncle Ezra being +a wealthy man, for, as subsequent events disclosed, the disappointed +army officer went almost at once to Dankville. And there he laid +before the miserly man a plan which Uncle Ezra eventually took up, +strange as it may seen. + +It was the bait of the twenty thousand dollar prize that "took," in his +case. + +Larson had some trouble in reaching Mr. Larabee, who was a bit shy of +strangers. When one, (in this case Larson) was announced by Aunt +Samantha, Mr. Larabee asked: + +"Does he look like an agent?" + +"No, Ez, I can't say he does." + +"Does he look like a collector?" + +"No, Ez, not the usual kind." + +"Or a missionary, looking for funds to buy pocket handkerchiefs for the +heathen?" + +"Hardly. He's smoking, and I wish you'd hurry and git him out of the +parlor, for he's sure to drop some ashes on the carpet that we've had +ever since we got married." + +"Smoking in my parlor!" exclaimed Uncle Ezra. "I'll get him out of +there. The idea! Why, if any sun is let in there it will spoil the +colors. How'd you come to open that?" he asked of his wife, wrathfully. + +"I didn't. But I was so surprised at havin' someone come to the front +door, which they never do, that I didn't know what to say. He asked if +you was to home, and I said you was. Then he said: 'Well, I'll wait +for him in here,' and he pushed open the parlor door and went in. I +had it open the least mite, for I thought I saw a speck of sun comin' +through a crack in the blinds and I was goin' in to close it when the +bell rang." + +"The idea! Sitting in my parlor!" muttered Uncle Ezra. "I'll get him +out of that. You're sure he ain't a book peddler?" + +"He don't seem to have a thing to sell except nerve," said Aunt +Samantha, "and he sure has got plenty of that." + +"I'll fix him!" cried Uncle Ezra. + +But he proved to be no match for the smooth sharper in the shape of +Larson. + +"Did you want to see me?" demanded the crabbed old man. + +"I did," answered Larson coolly, as he continued to puff away at his +cigar. "I came to offer you a chance to make twenty thousand dollars." + +"Twenty thousand dollars!" Uncle Ezra nearly lost his breath, he was +so surprised. + +"That's what I said! I'm in a position to give you a good chance to +make that much money, and perhaps more. If you will give me half an +hour of your time--" + +"Look here!" interrupted Mr. Larabee, "this ain't no lottery scheme; is +it? If it is I want to warn you that I'm a deacon in the church. I +wouldn't go into any lottery unless I was sure I could win. I don't +believe in gambling. As a deacon of the church I couldn't countenance +nothing like that. No gambling!" + +"This is not a gamble," Larson assured him. "It's a sure thing. I'll +show you how to make twenty thousand dollars!" + +"I--I guess I'd better open a window in here, so we can see," said +Uncle Ezra, faintly. "That's quite a pile of money to talk about in +the dark," and to the horror of Aunt Samantha she saw, a little later, +the sun shamelessly streaming in on her carpet that had only been +treated to such indignities on the occasions of a funeral, or something +like that. The parlor of the Dankville house was like a tomb in this +respect. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +UNCLE EZRA ACTS QUEERLY + +Exactly what passed between Uncle Ezra Larabee and his caller, Aunt +Samantha never learned. She was so overcome at seeing the parlor +opened, that perhaps she did not listen sufficiently careful. She +overheard the murmur of voices, and, now and then, such expressions as +"above the clouds," "in the air," "twenty thousand dollars, and maybe +more." + +"Gracious goodness!" she murmured as she hurried out to the kitchen, +where she smelled something burning on the stove. "I wonder what it's +all about? Can Ezra have lost money on some of his investments? If he +has, if it's gone up above the clouds, and in the air, the way he's +talking about it things will be terrible; terrible! It will come nigh +onto killin' him, I expect!" + +She went back to listen again outside the parlor door, but could make +out nothing. + +She did catch, however, her husband's expression of: + +"Twenty thousand dollars! It's a pile of money! A heap!" + +"Oh my!" she murmured faintly. "If he's lost that we'll go to the +poorhouse, sure!" + +But nothing like that happened. As a matter of fact Uncle Ezra could +have lost that sum several times over, and not have felt it except in +the anguish of his mind. + +When the caller had gone, Uncle Ezra seemed rather cheerful, much to +the amazement of Aunt Samantha. She could not understand it. At the +same time her husband appeared to be worried about something. + +"But he doesn't act as though he had lost a lot of money," his wife +reasoned. "He certainly acts queer, but not just that way. I wonder +what it can be?" + +And during the next week Uncle Ezra acted more queerly than ever. He +received several other visits from the strange man who had given his +name to Aunt Samantha, when first calling, as "Lieutenant Larson." +Also, Mr. Larabee went off on several short trips. + +"I wonder whatever's got into him?" mused Aunt Samantha. "I never knew +him to act this way before. I do hope he isn't doing anything rash!" + +If she had only known! + +Uncle Ezra became more and more engrossed with his caller who came +several days in succession. They were shut up together in the parlor, +and one window shutter was opened each time, to the horror of Mrs. +Larabee. + +"That carpet will be faded all out, and clean ruined," she complained +to her husband. + +"Well, if it is, maybe I'll get money enough to buy a new one," said +Uncle Ezra. "Mind, I'm not saying for sure," he added, cautiously, +"but maybe." + +"Why, how you talk!" cried Aunt Samantha. "That carpet ought to last +us until we die! A new carpet! I never heard tell of such a thing! +Never in all my born days! The idea!" + +Uncle Ezra chuckled grimly. It was clear that he was acting in a new +role, and he was a surprise, even to himself. + +At last Aunt Samantha could stand the suspense no longer. One night, +after a rather restless period, she awakened Uncle Ezra who had, most +unusually, been talking in his sleep. + +"Ezra! Ezra! Wake up!" she demanded in a loud whisper, at the same +time vigorously shaking him. + +"Eh! What is it? Burglars?" he asked, sitting up in bed. + +"No, Ezra. Nothin' like that!" + +"Oh, cats, eh? Well, if it's only cats go to sleep. I don't mind 'em." + +"No, Ezra, I didn't say cats. But you're talkin' in your sleep. That +is, you were." + +"I was?" + +"Yes." + +"What'd I say?" and he seemed anxious. + +"Why you were talkin' a lot about flyin' in the air, and goin' up to +the clouds, and bein' in a race, and winnin' twenty thousand dollars! +Oh, Ezra, if you care for me at all, tell me what mystery this is!" she +pleaded. + +"Did I say all that?" he asked, scratching his head. + +"Yes, and a lot more! You said something about an airship." + +"Humph! Well, that's it!" + +"What is?" + +"An airship! I might as well tell you, I reckon. I'm having one of +them contraptions made." + +"What contraptions? Oh, Ezra!" + +"An airship," he answered. "I'm going to have one, and win a twenty +thousand dollar prize from the government. Then I'll go into the +airship business and sell 'em. I'll get rich, Samantha!" + +"Oh Ezra! Do you mean to say you're goin' in for any such foolishness +as that?" + +"'Tain't 'foolish!" + +"'Tis so! And--and are you--are you goin' to go up in one of them +things--them airships?" + +"Well, I reckon I might. It's my machine, and I'm not going to let +them aviary fellers monkey too much with it unless I'm on board. They +might bust something, and want me to pay for it. Yes, I reckon I'll do +some flying myself." + +"Ezra Larabee!" cried his horror-stricken wife. "Be you plumb crazy?" + +"I hope not, Samantha." + +"But goin' up in an airship! Why it's flyin' in the face of +Providence!" + +"Well, it'll be flying in the air, at the same time," he chuckled. +Clearly this was a different Uncle Ezra than his wife had ever known. +She sighed. + +"The idea!" Aunt Samantha murmured. "Goin' up in an airship. You'll +fall and be killed, as sure as fate." + +"That's what I was afraid of first," said Uncle Ezra, "and I didn't +want to go into the scheme. But this young feller, Lieutenant Larson, +he proved to me different. They can't fall. If your engine stops all +you got to do is to come down like a feather. He used some funny word, +but I can't think of it now. But it's safe--it's safer than farming, +he claims. Most any time on a farm a bull may gore you, or a threshing +engine blow up. But there's nothing like that in an airship. + +"Besides, think of the twenty thousand dollars I'm going to get," he +added as a final argument. + +"You're not sure of it," objected his wife. + +"Oh, yes I be!" he boasted. "Then I'm going into the airship business. +Well, now I've told you, I'm going to sleep again." + +"As if anyone could sleep after hearin' such news," she sighed. "I +jest know suthin' will happen! And think what everybody will say about +you! They'll say you're crazy!" + +"Let 'em!" he replied, tranquilly. "They won't say so when I get that +twenty thousand dollars!" + +"But can't you get the money any easier way?" she wanted to know. + +"How, I'd like to know? All I got to do to get this, is to get an +airship to fly from New York to San Francisco." + +"Why Ezra Larabee!" she exclaimed. "Now I'm sure you're not right in +your head. You'll have the doctor in the mornin'." + +"Oh, no, I won't!" he declared. "Don't catch me wasting any money on +doctors. I'm all right." + +How Aunt Samantha managed to get to sleep again she never knew. But she +did, though her rest was marred by visions of airships and balloons +turning upside down and spilling Mr. Larabee all over the landscape. + +Mrs. Larabee renewed her objections in the morning, but her husband was +firm. He had decided to have an airship built to compete for the big +prize, and Larson was going to do the work. + +Just what arguments the aviator had used to win over Uncle Ezra none +but he himself knew. I rather think it was the harping constantly on +the twenty thousand dollar prize. + +That Mr. Larabee was hard to convince may easily be imagined. In fact +it was learned, afterward, that the lieutenant almost gave up the +attempt at one time. But he was persistent, to gain his own ends at +least, and talked earnestly. Finally Uncle Ezra gave a rather grudging +consent to the scheme, but he stipulated that only a certain sum be +spent, and that a comparatively small one. + +To this the lieutenant agreed, but I fancy with a mental reservation +which meant that he would get more if he could. + +At any rate preparations for building the craft, in an unused part of +Uncle Ezra's woolen mill at Dankville, went on apace. + +I say apace, and yet I must change that. Uncle Ezra, with his usual +"closeness" regarding money, rather hampered Larson's plans. + +"What do you reckon an airship ought to cost?" Mr. Larabee had asked +when he first decided he would undertake it. + +"Oh, I can make a good one for three thousand dollars," had been the +answer of the former lieutenant. + +"Three thousand dollars!" whistled Uncle Ezra. "That's a pot of money!" + +"But you'll get twenty thousand dollars in return." + +"That's so. Well, go ahead. I guess I can stand it." But it was not +without many a sigh that the crabbed old man drew out the money from +the bank, in small installments. + +The work was started, but almost at once Larson demanded more than the +original three thousand. Uncle Ezra "went up in the air," so to speak. + +"More money!" he cried. "I shan't spend another cent!" + +"But you'll have to. We want this airship to win the prize, and get +ahead of the one your nephew is building. I have decided on some +changes, and they will cost money." + +Uncle Ezra sighed--and gave in. The truth was that Larson was little +better than a sharper, and, though he did know something about +aeroplanes, he knew more about how to fleece his victims. + +And though Uncle Ezra furnished more money he tried to save it in other +ways. He skimped on his table, until even Aunt Samantha, used as she +was to "closeness," objected. Then Mr. Larabee announced a cut in +wages at his factory, and nearly caused a strike. + +But he was firm, and by reducing the pittance earned by the luckless +operatives he managed to save a few hundred dollars which promptly went +into the airship--that is, what Larson did not keep for himself. + +But Uncle Ezra's airship was being built, which fact, when it became +known, caused much comment. No one save Uncle Ezra and the lieutenant +and his workmen, were allowed in the factory where the machine was +being constructed. It was to be kept a secret as to the form of +construction. + +Meanwhile, having committed himself to becoming an aviator, Mr. Larabee +began to study the methods of birdmen. He obtained several volumes +(second hand, of course) on the history of navigating the air, and on +the advance in the construction of aeroplanes. These he read +diligently. + +He could also have been observed going about, gazing up into the +clouds, as though he was calculating from how great a height a man +could fall with safety. In reality he imagined he was studying air +currents. + +Uncle Ezra Larabee was certainly acting most queerly, and his friends, +or, rather, his acquaintances, for he had no real friends, did not know +what to make of him. He did not give up his idea, however, not even +when Larson raised his original estimate to five thousand dollars. + +"Petrified polecats!" cried Uncle Ezra. "You'll bankrupt me, man!" + +"Oh, no," answered Larson, with a winning smile. "This is getting off +cheap. I want to increase the size of my mercury stabilizer to render +the airship more safe for you when you go after that twenty thousand +dollars." + +"Well, I s'pose I've got to," sighed Uncle Ezra, and he made a careful +note of how much had already been spent. "There's three thousand, nine +hundred twenty-eight dollars and fourteen cents you've had so far," he +reminded the lieutenant. "Don't be wasteful!" + +"I won't," was the promise, easily given at least. + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE TRIAL FLIGHT + +"All ready now; take her out!" + +"Yes, and look out for the side wings! That doorway isn't any too +wide." + +"No. We'll have to cut some off, I guess!" + +"Say, it's big; isn't it?" + +These were the comments of Dick Hamilton and his chums as the fine, new +airship, the Abaris, was wheeled out of the shed where it had been +constructed. And certainly the young millionaire might be proud of his +newest possession. Mr. Vardon and his men had labored well on the +aeroplane. + +It was rather a tight squeeze to get the big craft out of the barn +doors, wide as they were, but it was successfully accomplished, and the +craft now stood on a level stretch of grass, ready for her first trial +flight. + +Save for a few small details, and the stocking and provisioning of the +craft in preparation for the trip across the continent, everything had +been finished. The big motor had been successfully tested, and had +developed even more power than had been expected. The propellers +delivered a greater thrust on the air than was actually required to +send the Abaris along. + +"We'll have that for emergencies," said Dick. "Such as getting about +in a hurricane, and the like." + +"I hope we don't get into anything like that," remarked Mr. Vardon, +"but if we do, I think we can weather it." + +"How does the gyroscope stabilizer work?" asked Paul, who with Innis, +had made Dick's house his home while the airship was being built. + +"It does better than I expected," replied the inventor. "I was a bit +doubtful, on account of having to make it so much larger than my first +model, whether or not it would operate. But it does, perfectly,--at +least it has in the preliminary tests. It remains to be seen whether +or not it will do so when we're in the air, but I trust it will." + +"At any rate, Larson hasn't had a chance to tamper with it," said Jack +Butt, grimly. + +"No, he hasn't been around," agreed Dick. "I wonder what has become of +him?" + +As yet the young millionaire knew nothing of the plans of his Uncle +Ezra, for he had been too busy to visit his relatives in Dankville. + +"Well, let's wheel her over to the starting ground," proposed Dick, as +they stood around the airship. A level stretch had been prepared back +of the barn, leading over a broad meadow, and above this the test +flight would be made, as it offered many good landing places. + +The airship was so large and heavy, as compared with the ordinary +biplane, that a team of horses was used to pull it to the starting +place. But heavy as it necessarily had to be, to allow the enclosed +cabin to be carried, the young millionaire and his aviator hoped that +the power of the motor would carry them aloft and keep them there. + +"Go ahead!" cried Dick, as the team was hitched to the long rope made +fast to the craft. "Take it easy now, we don't want an accident before +we get started. Grit, come back here! This is nothing to get excited +over," for the bulldog was wildly racing here and there, barking +loudly. He did not understand the use of the big, queer-looking +machine. + +"Well, I'm just in time, I see!" exclaimed a voice from the direction +of the house. Dick turned and cried: + +"Hello, Larry, old man. I'm glad you got here. I was afraid you +wouldn't," and he vigorously shook hands with the young reporter, who +also greeted the other cadets. Grit leaped joyfully upon him, for he +and Larry were great friends. + +"Going to take her up, Dick?" asked Larry Dexter. + +"Going to try," was the cautious answer. + +"Want to take a chance?" + +"I sure do! It won't be the first chance I've taken. And I may get a +good story out of this. Got orders from the editor not to let anything +get away from me." + +"Well, I hope you have a success to report, and not a failure," +remarked Paul. + +"Same here," echoed Beeby. + +When the airship had been hauled to the edge of the starting ground, a +smooth, hard-packed, level space, inclining slightly down grade, so as +to give every advantage, a careful inspection was made of every part of +the craft. + +As I have explained, all the vital parts of the Abaris were in the +enclosed cabin, a unique feature of the airship. In that, located +"amid-ships," was the big motor, the various controls, the living, +sleeping and dining-rooms and storage compartments for oil, gasolene +and supplies. Naturally there was no excess room, and quarters were +almost as cramped as on a submarine, where every inch counts. + +But there was room enough to move about, and have some comfort. On an +enclosed platform back of the cabin there was more space. That was +like an open deck, and those on it would be protected from the fierce +rushing of the air, by means of the cabin. This cabin, I might add, +was built wedge-shaped, with the small part pointing ahead, to cut down +the air resistance as much as possible. + +The big propellers were of course outside the cabin, and in the rear, +where was located the horizontal rudder, for guiding the craft to right +or left. At the rear was also an auxiliary vertical rudder, for +elevating or lowering the craft. The main elevation rudder was in +front, and this was of a new shape, never before used, as far as Mr. +Vardon knew. + +There was another feature of the Abaris that was new and one which +added much to the comfort and safety of those aboard her. This had to +do with the starting of the motor and the operation of the big wooden +propellers. + +In most aeroplanes, whether of the single or double type, the +propeller, or propellers, are directly connected to the motor. In some +monoplanes the motor, especially the Gnome, itself rotates, carrying +the blades with it. In biplanes, such as the Burgess, Wright or +Curtiss, it is the custom to operate the propellers directly from the +motor, either by means of a shaft, or by sprocket chains. + +But, in any case, the starting of the engine means the whirling of the +propellers, for they are directly connected. This is why, when once +the engine stops in mid-air, it can not be started again. Or at least +if it is started it is mostly a matter of chance in getting it to go +under compression or by the spark. There is no chance for the aviator +to get out and whirl the propellers which are, in a measure, what a +flywheel is to an automobile. + +Also that is why the aviator has to be in his seat at the controls, and +have some other person start his machine for him, by turning over the +propeller, or propellers until the motor fires. + +Lately however, especially since the talk of the flight across the +Atlantic, a means has been found to allow the aviator, or some helper +with him, to start the engine once it has stalled in midair. This is +accomplished by means of a sprocket chain gear and a crank connected to +the engine shaft. The turning handle is within reach of the aviator. + +But Mr. Vardon, and Dick, working together, had evolved something +better than this. Of course in their craft, with space to move about +in the cabin, they had an advantage over the ordinary aviator, who, in +case of engine trouble, has no place to step to to make an examination. + +But Dick's engine was not directly connected to the propellers. There +was a clutch arrangement, so that the motor could be started, with the +propellers out of gear, and they could be "thrown in," just as an +automobile is started. This gave greater flexibility, and also allowed +for the reversing of the propellers to make a quick stop. + +And it was not necessary for Dick to "crank" his motor. An electric +self-starter did this for him, though in case of emergency the engine +could be started by hand. + +In fact everything aboard the Abaris was most up-to-date, and it was on +this that Dick counted in winning the big prize. + +"Well, I guess everything is as ready as it ever will be," remarked the +young millionaire, as he and the aviator made a final inspection of the +craft. "Get aboard, fellows!" + +"He's as cheerful about it as though he were inviting us to a hanging," +laughed Paul. + +"Oh, I'm not worrying about any accident," said Dick quickly. "I'm +only afraid we've made her too big and won't get any speed out of her. +And speed is what's going to count in this trans-continental flight." + +"She'll be speedy enough," predicted Mr. Vardon, with a confident air. + +Paul, Innis, Larry and Mr. Vardon entered the cabin. Then Dick went +in, followed by Jack Butt, who remained to tighten a guy wire that was +not just to his satisfaction. + +"Well, are we all here?" asked Dick, looking around. + +"Yes," answered Paul, and there was a note of quiet apprehension in his +voice. Indeed it was rather a risk they were all taking, but they had +confidence in Mr. Vardon. + +"Let her go," said Dick to the aviator. + +"No, you have the honor of starting her, Mr. Hamilton," insisted Mr. +Vardon, motioning to the electrical apparatus. + +"All right! Here goes," announced the wealthy youth, as he pressed the +starting handle. Everyone was on the alert, but nothing happened. The +motor remained "dead." + +"What's the trouble?" asked Dick. + +"You've always got to turn that switch first, before you turn the +starting handle," explained Jack. + +"Oh, sure! How stupid of me!" cried Dick. "And I've started it in +practice a score of times. Well, now, once more." + +This time, when the switch had been thrown, the motor started at once +with a throbbing roar. Faster and faster it rotated until the whole +craft trembled. There was considerable noise, for the muffler was not +fully closed. Dick wanted to warm-up the machinery first. + +"That'll do!" shouted Mr. Vardon, who was watching the gage that told +the number of revolutions per minute. "Throw in your clutch!" + +"Now to see if she'll rise or not," murmured Dick. He pulled the lever +that closed the muffler, thus cutting down, in a great measure, the +throb of the motor. Then, with a look at his chums, he threw in the +clutch. The great propellers began to revolve, and soon were flying +around on their axles with the swiftness of light. + +Slowly the Abaris moved forward along the ground. + +"We're off!" cried Paul, excitedly. + +"Not quite yet," answered Dick. "I want more power than we've got now." + +He had it, almost in a moment, for the airship increased her speed +across the slightly downward slope. Faster and faster she rolled along +on the rubber-tired wheels. + +"Now!", cried Dick, with his hand on the lever of the elevating rudder. +"Look out for yourselves, fellows!" + +He gave a backward pull. A thrill seemed to go through the whole +craft. Her nose rose in the air. The forward wheels left the ground. +Then the back ones tilted up. + +Up shot the Abaris at an easy angle. Up and up! Higher and higher! + +"We're doing it!" cried Dick, as he looked from the pilot house window +to the earth fast falling below him. "Fellows, she's a success! We're +going up toward the clouds!" + + + +CHAPTER XV + +IN DANGER + +That Dick was proud and happy, and that Mr. Vardon and the chums of the +young millionaire were pleased with the success of the airship, +scarcely need be said. There was, for the first few moments, however +such a thrill that scarcely any one of them could correctly analyze his +feelings. + +Of course each one of them had been in an aeroplane before. Mr. Vardon +and his helper had made many flights, not all of them successful, and +Dick and his fellow cadets had gone up quite often, though they were, +as yet, only amateurs. Larry Dexter was perhaps less familiar with +aeroplanes than any of them, but he seemed to take it as a matter of +course. + +"Say, this is great! Just great!" cried Dick, as he slipped the lever +of the elevating rudder into a notch to hold it in place. He intended +going up considerably higher. + +"It sure is great, old man!" cried Paul. "I congratulate you." + +"Oh, the praise belongs to Mr. Vardon," said Dick, modestly. "I +couldn't have done anything without him." + +"And if it hadn't been for your money, I couldn't have done anything," +declared the aviator. "It all worked together." + +"Say, how high are you going to take us?" asked Innis. + +"Not getting scared, are you?" asked Dick, with a glance at the +barograph, to ascertain the height above the earth. "We're only up +about two thousand feet. I want to make it three." He looked at Mr. +Vardon for confirmation. + +"Three thousand won't be any too much," agreed the aviator. "She'll +handle better at that distance, or higher. But until we give her a +work out, it's best not to get too high." + +The big propellers were whirling more and more rapidly as the motor +warmed-up to its work. The craft was vibrating with the strain of the +great power, but the vibration had been reduced to a minimum by means +of special spring devices. + +"Now we'll try a spiral ascent," said Dick, as he moved the lever of +the horizontal rudder. The Abaris responded instantly, and began a +spiral climb, which is usually the method employed by birdmen. They +also generally descend in spirals, especially when volplaning. + +Up and up went the big aircraft. There was a section of the cabin +floor made of thick transparent celluloid, and through this a view +could be had of the earth below. + +"We're leaving your place behind, Dick," said Paul, as he noted the +decreasing size of the home of the young millionaire. + +"Well, we'll come back to it--I hope," Dick answered. "Don't you +fellows want to try your hand at steering?" + +"Wait until you've been at it a while, and see how it goes," suggested +Innis. "We don't want to wreck the outfit." + +But the Abaris seemed a stanch craft indeed, especially for an airship. + +"Say, this is a heap-sight better than sitting strapped in a small +seat, with the wind cutting in your face!" exclaimed Larry, as he moved +about the enclosed cabin. + +"It sure is mighty comfortable--the last word in aeroplaning, just as +Dick's touring car was in autoing," declared Paul, who had taken a seat +at a side window and was looking out at some low-lying clouds. + +"All we want now is a meal, and we'll be all to the merry!" Dick +exclaimed. + +"A meal!" cried Larry. "Are you going to serve meals aboard here?" + +"Yes, and cook 'em, too," answered the young millionaire. "Paul, show +Larry where the galley is," for the reporter had not called at Hamilton +Corners in some time, and on the last occasion the airship had been far +from complete. + +"Say, this is great!" Larry cried, as he saw the electrical appliances +for cooking. "This is the limit! I'm glad I came along." + +"We won't stop to cook now," said Mr. Vardon. "I want to see the +various controls tested, to know if we have to make any changes. Now +we'll try a few evolutions." + +In order that all aboard might become familiar with the workings of the +machinery, it was decided that there should be turn and turn about in +the matter of steering and operating the craft. Reaching a height of +three thousand feet, as Dick ascertained by the barograph, the young +millionaire straightened his craft out on a level keel, and kept her +there, sending her ahead, and in curves, at an increasing speed. + +"There you go now, Paul," he called. "Suppose you take her for a +while." + +"Well, if you want an accident, just let me monkey with some of the +works," laughed the jolly cadet. "I can do it to the queen's taste." + +"You'll have to go out of your way, then," said Mr. Vardon. "I've +arranged the controls so they are as nearly careless proof as possible. +Just think a little bit about what you are going to do, and you won't +have any trouble. It's a good thing for all of you to learn to manage +the craft alone. So start in." + +Paul found it easier than he expected, and he said, in spite of her +bulk, that the Abaris really steered easier than one of the smaller +biplanes they had gotten used to at Kentfield. + +Back and forth over the fields, meadows and woods in the vicinity of +Hamilton Corners the airship was taken, in charge of first one and then +another of the party aboard. Larry Dexter was perhaps the one least +familiar with the workings of the machine, yet even he did well, with +Dick and Mr. Vardon at his side to coach him. + +"Now we'll give the gyroscope stabilizer a test!" said Mr. Vardon, when +each, including himself, had had a turn. "I want to make sure that it +will stand any strain we can put on it." + +"What are you going to do?" asked Dick. + +"I'm going to tilt the craft suddenly at an angle that would turn her +over if it were not for the stabilizer," was the answer. + +Dick looked at the barograph, or height-recording gage. It registered +thirty-eight hundred feet. They had gone up a considerable distance in +making their experiments. + +"Maybe you'd better wait," suggested the young millionaire, pointing to +the hand of the dial, "until we go down a bit." + +"No," decided the aviator. "If she's going to work at all she'll do it +up at this distance as well, if not better, than she would five +hundred, or one hundred feet, from the ground." + +"But it might be safer--" began Paul. + +"There won't be any danger--it will work, I'm sure of it," said Mr. +Vardon, confidently. + +The gyroscope which was depended on to keep the airship on a level keel +at all times, or at least to bring her back to it if she were thrown to +a dangerous angle, had been set in motion as soon as the start was +made. The big lead wheel, with the bearings of antifriction metal, was +spinning around swiftly and noiselessly. Once it had been started, a +small impulse from a miniature electrical motor kept it going. + +"Now," said Mr. Vardon, issuing his orders, "when I give the word I +want you all suddenly to come from that side of the cabin to this side. +At the same time, Dick, you will be at the steering wheel, and I want +you to throw her head around as if you were making a quick turn for a +spiral descent. That ought to throw her nearly on her beams' end, and +we'll see how the gyroscope works. That will be a good test. I'll +stand by to correct any fault in the gyroscope." + +They were all a little apprehensive as they ranged themselves in line +near one wall of the cabin. The airship tilted slightly as all the +weight came on one side, just as a big excursion steamer lists to +starboard or port when the crowd suddenly rushes all to one rail. But, +on a steamer, deck hand are kept in readiness, with barrels of water, +and these they roll to the opposite rail of the boat, thus preserving +the balance. + +Mr. Vardon depended on the gyroscope to perform a like service for the +airship, and to do it automatically. + +The aviator waited a few moments before giving the order to make the +sudden rush. Already the apparatus to which was contrasted Lieutenant +Larson's mercury tubes, had acted, and the Abaris, which had dipped, +when all the passengers collected on one side, had now resumed her +level keel again, showing that the gyroscope had worked so far at any +rate. + +"Now we'll give her a trial," called Mr. Vardon. "All ready, come over +on the run, and throw her around, Dick!" + +On the run they came, and Dick whirled the steering wheel around to the +left, to cause the Abaris to swerve suddenly. + +And swerve she did. With a sickening motion she turned as a vessel +rolls in a heavy sea, and, at the same moment there was a dip toward +the earth. The motor which had been humming at high speed went dead on +the instant, and Dick Hamilton's airship plunged downward. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +DICK IS WARNED + +"What's the matter?" + +"What happened?" + +"We're falling!" + +"Somebody do something!" + +Everyone seemed talking at once, calling out in fear, and looking +wildly about for some escape from what seemed about to be a fatal +accident. For the Abaris was over half a mile high and was shooting +toward the earth at a terrific rate. + +"Wait! Quiet, everybody!" called Dick, who had not deserted his post +at the steering wheel. "I'll bring her up. We'll volplane down! +It'll be all right!" + +His calmness made his chums feel more secure, and a glance at Mr. +Vardon and his machinist aided in this. For the veteran aviator, after +a quick inspection of the machinery, no longer looked worried. + +"What has happened?" asked Innis. + +"Our engine stalled, for some unknown reason," answered Mr. Vardon, +quickly. "Fortunately nothing is broken. I'll see if I can't start it +with the electrical generator. Are you holding her all right, Dick?" + +"I think so; yes. I can take four or five minutes more to let her down +easy." + +"Well, take all the time you can. Head her up every once in a while. +It will be good practice for you. The stabilizer worked all right, +anyhow." + +The airship was not on a level keel, but was inclined with her "bow" +pointed to the earth, going downward on a slant. But Dick knew how to +manage in this emergency, for many times he had practiced volplaning to +earth in ordinary biplanes. + +By working the lever of the vertical rudder, he now brought the head, +or bow, of the airship up sharply, and for a moment the downward plunge +was arrested. The Abaris shot along parallel to the plane of the +earth's surface. + +This operation, repeated until the ground is reached, is, as I have +already explained, called volplaning. + +"Something is wrong," announced Mr. Vardon, as he yanked on the lever +of the starting motor, and turned the switch. Only the hum of the +electrical machine resulted. The gasolene motor did not "pick up," +though both the gasolene and spark levers were thrown over. + +"Never mind," counseled Dick. "I can bring her down all right. There's +really nothing more the matter than if we had purposely stopped the +motor." + +"No, that's so," agreed Mr. Vardon. "But still I want to see what the +trouble is, and why it stopped. I'll try the hand starter." + +But this was of no use either. The gasolene motor would not start, and +without that the propellers could not be set in motion to sustain the +big craft in the air. Mr. Vardon, and his helper, with the aid of +Innis, Paul and Larry, worked hard at the motor, but it was as +obstinate as the engine of some stalled motor-boat. + +"I can't understand it," said the aviator. + +"There's plenty of gasolene in the tank, and the spark is a good, fat +one. But the motor simply won't start. How you making out, Dick?" + +"All right. We're going to land a considerable distance from home, but +maybe we can get her started when we reach the ground." + +"We'll try, anyhow," agreed the aviator. "Is she responding all right?" + +"Fine. Couldn't be better. Let some of the other boys take a hand at +it." + +"Well, maybe it would be a good plan," agreed the aviator. "You never +can tell when you've got to make a glide. Take turns, boys." + +"I don't think I'd better, until I learn how to run an airship that +isn't in trouble," said Larry Dexter. + +"Well, perhaps not," said Mr. Vardon. "But the others may." + +Meanwhile the Abaris had been slowly nearing earth, and it was this +slowness, caused by the gradual "sifting" down that would make it +possible to land her with scarcely a jar. + +If you have ever seen a kite come down when the wind has died out, you +will understand exactly what this "sifting" is. It means gliding +downward in a series of acute angles. + +The first alarm over, all was now serene aboard Dick's airship. The +attempt to start the motor had been given up, and under the supervision +of Mr. Vardon the two cadets, Innis and Paul, took turns in bringing +the craft down with the engine "dead." The aviator and his helper had +had experience enough at this. + +"Say, this is something new, guiding as big a ship as this without +power," remarked Innis, as he relinquished the wheel to Paul. + +"It sure is," said tile latter. Then, a little later, he called out: + +"I say, somebody relieve me, quick. I believe I'm going to bring her +down in that creek!" + +They all looked ahead and downward. The Abaris, surely enough, was +headed for a stream of water. + +"Perhaps you'd better handle her," said Dick to the builder of the +craft. "We don't want her wrecked before we at least have a START +after that prize." + +Mr. Vardon nodded, and took the wheel from Paul. A few seconds later +he had brought the craft to the ground within a few feet of the edge of +the stream. Had it been a wider and deeper one they could have landed +on it by using the hydroplanes, but the water seemed too shallow and +full of rocks for that evolution. + +And so skillfully had Mr. Vardon manipulated the planes and levers that +the landing was hardly felt. A number of specially-made springs took +up the jar. + +"Well, we're here!" exclaimed Dick, as they all breathed in relief. +"Now to see what the trouble was." + +"And we've got a long walk back home, in case we can't find the +trouble," sighed Innis, for he was rather stout, and did not much enjoy +walking. They had come down several miles from Hamilton Corners. + +"Oh, we'll get her fixed up somehow," declared Dick, with confidence. + +Quite a throng had gathered from the little country hamlet, on the edge +of which the aircraft had descended, and they crowded up about the +Abaris, looking in wonder at her size and strange shape. + +Mr. Vardon lost no time in beginning his hunt for the engine trouble, +and soon decided that it was in the gasolene supply, since, though the +tank was nearly full, none of the fluid seemed to go into the +carburetor. + +"There's a stoppage somewhere," the aviator said. The fluid was drawn +off into a reserve tank and then the cause of the mischief was easily +located. + +A small piece of cotton waste had gotten into the supply pipe, and +completely stopped the flow of gasolene. + +"There it is!" cried the aviator, as he took it out, holding it up for +all to see. + +"I wonder if anyone could have done that on purpose?" asked Dick, +looking at his chums, reflectively. + +"You mean--Larson?" inquired Jack Butt. "He's capable of anything like +that." + +"But he wasn't near the machine," said Paul. + +"Not unless he sneaked in the barn some night," went on the machinist, +who seemed to have little regard for the former lieutenant. + +"Well, there's no way of telling for certain, so we had better say +nothing about it," decided Dick. "Then, too, any of us might have +accidentally dropped the waste in the tank while we were working around +the ship. I guess we'll call it an accident." + +"But it must have been in the tank for some time," argued Larry Dexter, +"and yet it only stopped up the pipe a little while ago." + +"It was probably floating around in the tank, doing no damage in +particular," explained Mr. Vardon. "Then, when we made the ship tilt +that way, to test the stabilizer, the gasolene shifted, and the waste +was flushed into the pipe. But we're all right now." + +This was proved a little later when the motor was started with no +trouble whatever. There was not a very good place to make a start, +along the edge of the stream, but Dick and his chums realized that they +could not always have perfect conditions, so they must learn to do +under adverse ones. + +"Look out of the way!" warned the young millionaire to the assembled +crowd. They scattered from in front of the craft. The motor throbbed +and thundered up to high speed, and then the propellers were thrown +into gear. The big blades beat on the air, the ship moved slowly +forward. It acquired speed, and then, amid the wondering comments and +excited shouts of the crowd, it soared aloft, and glided through the +air to a great height. + +"Off again!" cried Dick, who was at the wheel. + +The trip back to Hamilton Corners was made safely, and without incident +worthy of mention. The four young men took turns in working the +various controls, so as to become familiar with them, and Dick paid +particular attention to Larry Dexter, who needed some coaching. + +"I'll get a good story out of this for my paper," said the young +reporter, who was always on the lookout for "copy." + +"Well, we've proved that she will fly, and take care of us even when an +accident happens," remarked Dick, when the craft had been put back in +the barn. "Now we'll groom her a bit, put on the finishing touches, +and we'll be ready to try for that prize. The time is getting short +now." + +"I hope you win it," said Mr. Vardon. "I shall feel responsible, in a +way, if you don't." + +"Nothing of the sort!" cried Dick. "Whatever happens, I've got a fine +airship, and we'll have a good time, even if we don't get the twenty +thousand dollars." + +The next week was a busy one, for there were several little matters +about the airship that needed attention. But gradually it was made as +nearly perfect as possible. + +Then, one morning, Mr. Hamilton, who had some business to transact with +Uncle Ezra, said to Dick: + +"Could you take a run over there and leave him these securities? He +asked me to get them for him out of the safe deposit box. I don't know +what he wants of them, but they are his, and I have no time to take +them to him myself. You can go in your airship, if you like, and give +him a surprise." + +"No, I think I'll go in the auto. Mr. Vardon is making a change in the +motor, and it isn't in shape to run today. I'll take the boys over to +Dankville in the small car." + +A little later Dick and his chums were on their way to Uncle Ezra's. +They reached Dankville in good time, but, on calling at the house, Aunt +Samantha told them her husband was at the woolen mill. + +"We'll go down there and see him," decided Dick, after talking to his +aunt a little while. She had been looking in the parlor to see that, +by no chance, had a glint of light gotten in. Of late her husband and +his airship-partner, Larson, had not used the "best room," and so Aunt +Samantha's fears about the carpet being spoiled by cigar ashes had +subsided. + +At the factory Dick was directed, by a foreman, to an unused wing of +the building. + +"You'll find your uncle in there," the man said to Dick. "He's +building an airship!" + +"A what!" cried the young millionaire in great astonishment, for he had +been too busy, of late, to hear any news from Dankville. + +"An airship--a biplane, I believe they're called," the foreman went on. + +"Well, I'll be gum-swizzled!" cried Dick, faintly. "Come on, fellows. +The world must be coming to an end, surely." + +As he started to enter the part of the factory whither he had been +directed, his uncle, plainly much excited, came out. + +"Stop where you be, Nephew Richard!" he warned. "Don't come in here! +Stay back!" + +"Why, what in the world is the matter?" asked Dick. "Is something +going to blow up?" + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +OFF FOR THE START + +Uncle Ezra Larabee stood fairly glaring at his nephew. The crabbed old +man seemed strangely excited. + +"No, there ain't nothing going to blow up," he said, after a pause. +"But don't you come in here. I warn you away! You can go in any other +part of my factory you want to, but not in here." + +"Well, I certainly don't want to come where I'm not wanted, Uncle +Ezra," said Dick, with dignity. "But I hear you are building an +airship, and I thought I'd like to get a look at it." + +"And that's just what I don't want you to get--none of you," went on +Mr. Larabee, looking at Dick's chums. "I don't want to be mean to my +dead sister's boy," he added, "but my airship ain't in shape yet to be +inspected." + +"Well, if it isn't finished, perhaps we can give you some advice," said +Dick, with a smile. + +"Huh! I don't want no advice, thank you," said Uncle Ezra, stiffly. "I +calkerlate Lieutenant Larson knows as much about building airships as +you boys do." + +"Larson!" cried Dick. "Is he here?" + +"He certainly is, and he's working hard on my craft. I'm going to be +an aviator, and win that twenty-thousand-dollar government prize!" Mr. +Larabee said, as though it were a certainty. + +"Whew!" whistled Dick. "Then we'll be rivals, Uncle Ezra." + +"Humph! Maybe you might think so, but I'll leave you so far behind +that you won't know where you are!" boasted the crabbed old man. + +"Building an airship; eh?" mused Dick. "Well, that's the last thing +I'd ever think of Uncle Ezra doing." Then to his relative he added: +"But if you're going to compete for the prize your airship will have to +be seen. Why are you so careful about it now?" + +"Because we've got secrets about it," replied Mr. Larabee. "There's +secret inventions on my airship that haven't been patented yet, and I +don't want you going in there, Nephew Richard, and taking some of my +builder's ideas and using 'em on your airship. I won't have it! That's +why I won't let you in. I'm not going to have you taking our ideas, +not by a jugful!" + +"There's no danger," answered Dick quietly, though he wanted to laugh. +"My airship is all finished. We've used her, and she's all right. I +wouldn't change her no matter what I saw on yours." + +"Wa'al, you might think so now, but I can't trust nobody--not even you, +so you can't come in," said Uncle Ezra. + +"Oh, we won't insist," answered Dick, as he passed over the bonds. +"Father said you wanted these, Uncle Ezra." + +"Yes, I do," and an expression, as of pain, passed over the man's face. +"I've got to raise a little money to pay for this airship. It's costing +a terrible pile; a terrible pile!" and he sighed in despair. "But +then, of course, I'll get the twenty thousand dollars, and that will +help some. After that I'm going to sell plans and models of my +successful airship, and I'll make a lot more that way. So of course +I'll get it all back. + +"But it's costing me a terrible pile! Why, would you believe it," he +said, looking around to see that the door to the factory was securely +closed, "would you believe I've already spent five thousand, six +hundred twenty-seven dollars and forty-nine cents on this airship? And +it ain't quite done yet. It's a pile of money!" + +"Yes, they are expensive, but they're worth it," said Dick. "It's +great sport--flying." + +"It may be. I've never tried it, but I'm going to learn," declared +Uncle Ezra. "Only I didn't think it would cost so much or I never +would have gone into it. But now I'm in I can't get out without losing +all the money I've put up, and I can't do that. I never could do +that," said Uncle Ezra with a doleful shake of his head. + +He gave a sudden start, at some noise, and cried out: + +"What's that? You didn't dare bring your bulldog in here, did you, +Nephew Richard? If you did I'll--" + +"No, I left Grit at home, Uncle Ezra." + +Then the noise was repeated. It came from the part of the factory +where the airship was being constructed, and was probably made by some +of the workmen. + +"I guess I'll have to go now," said Mr. Larabee, and this was a hint +for the boys to leave. + +"Lieutenant Larson said he wanted to consult with me about something. +I only hope he doesn't want more money," he added with a sigh. "But he +spends a terrible pile of cash--a terrible pile." + +"Yes, and he'll spend a lot more of your cash before he gets through +with you, if I'm any judge," thought Dick, as he and his chums went +back to the automobile. "To think of Uncle Ezra building an airship! +That's about the limit." + +"Do you really think he is going to have a try for the government +prize?" asked Larry Dexter. + +"Well, stranger things have happened," admitted the young millionaire. + +"You're not worrying, though, are you?" asked Paul. + +"Not a bit. I imagine I'll have to compete with more formidable +opponents than Uncle Ezra. But I do give Larson credit for knowing a +lot about aircraft. I don't believe, though, that his mercury +stabilizers are reliable. Still he may have made improvements on them. +I'd like to get a look at Uncle Ezra's machine." + +"And he doesn't want you to," laughed Innis. "He's a queer man, +keeping track of every cent." + +"Oh, it wouldn't be Uncle Ezra if he didn't do that," returned Dick, +with a grin. + +There were busy days ahead for the young millionaire and his chums. +Though the Abaris seemed to have been in almost perfect trim on her +trial trip, it developed that several changes had to be made in her. +Not important ones, but small ones, on which the success, or failure, +of the prize journey might depend. + +Dick and his friends worked early and late to make the aircraft as +nearly perfect as possible. + +Dick's entry had been formally accepted by the government, and he had +been told that an army officer would be assigned to make the +trans-continental flight with him, to report officially on the time and +performance of the craft. For the government desired to establish the +nearest perfect form of aeroplane, and it reserved the right to +purchase the patent of the successful model. + +"And it is on that point that more money may be made than by merely +winning the prize," said Mr. Vardon. "We must not forget that, so we +want everything as nearly right as possible." + +And to this end they worked. + +"You're going to take Grit along; aren't you?" asked Paul of Dick one +day, as they were laboring over the aircraft, putting on the finishing +touches. + +"Oh, sure!" exclaimed the young millionaire. "I wouldn't leave him +behind for anything." + +"I wonder what army officer they'll assign to us," remarked Innis. "I +hope we get some young chap, and not a grizzled old man who'll be a +killjoy." + +"It's bound to be a young chap, because none of the older men have +taken up aviation," said Larry. "I guess we'll be all right. I'll see +if I can't find out from our Washington reporter who it will be." + +But he was unable to do this, as the government authorities themselves +were uncertain. + +The time was drawing near when Dick was to make his start in the +cross-country flight, with but two landings allowed between New York +and San Francisco. Nearly everything was in readiness. + +"Mr. Vardon," said Dick one day, "this business of crossing a continent +in an airship is a new one on me. I've done it in my touring car, but +I confess I don't see how we're going to keep on the proper course, up +near the clouds, with no landmarks or anything to guide us. + +"But I'm going to leave all that to you. We're in your hands as far as +that goes. You'll have to guide the craft, or else tell us how to +steer when it comes our turn at the wheel." + +"I have been studying this matter," the aviator replied. "I have made +several long flights, but never across the continent. But I have +carefully charted a course for us to follow. As for landmarks, the +government has arranged that. + +"Along the course, in as nearly as possible a bee-line from New York to +San Francisco, there will be captive balloons, painted white for day +observation, and arranged with certain colored lanterns, for +night-sighting. Then, too, there will be pylons, or tall towers of +wood, erected where there are no balloons. So I think we can pick our +course, Dick." + +"Oh, I didn't know about the balloon marks," said the young +millionaire. "Well, I'll leave the piloting to you. I think you know +how to do it." + +Several more trial flights were made. Each time the Abaris seemed to +do better. She was more steady, and in severe tests she stood up well. +The gyroscope stabilizer worked to perfection under the most +disadvantageous conditions. + +Several little changes were made to insure more comfort for the +passengers on the trip. Dick's undertaking had attracted considerable +attention, as had the plans of several other, and better-known +aviators, to win the big prize. The papers of the country were filled +with stories of the coming event, but Larry Dexter had perhaps the best +accounts, as he was personally interested in Dick's success. + +Dick paid another visit to Uncle Ezra, and this time his crabbed +relative was more genial. He allowed his nephew to have a view of the +craft Larson was building. The former lieutenant greeted Dick coldly, +but our hero thought little of that. He was more interested in the +machine. + +Dick found that his uncle really did have a large, and apparently very +serviceable biplane. Of course it was not like Dick's, as it designed +to carry but three passengers. + +"We're going to make the trip in about forty-eight hours, so we won't +need much space," said Uncle Ezra. "We can eat a snack as we go along. +And we can sleep in our seats. I've got to cut down the expense +somehow. It's costing me a terrible pile of money!" + +Uncle Ezra's airship worked fairly well in the preliminary trials, and +though it did not develop much speed, Dick thought perhaps the crafty +lieutenant was holding back on this so as to deceive his competitors. + +"But, barring accidents, we ought to win," said the young millionaire +to his chums. "And accidents no one can count against." + +Everything was in readiness. The Abaris had been given her last trial +flight. All the supplies and stores were aboard. Jack Butt had taken +his departure, for he was not to make the trip. His place would be +taken by the army lieutenant. A special kennel had been constructed +for Grit, who seemed to take kindly to the big airship. + +"Well, the officer will be here in the morning," announced Dick, one +evening, on receipt of a telegram from Washington. "Then we'll make +the start." + +And, what was the surprise of the young millionaire and his chums, to +be greeted, early the next day, by Lieutenant McBride, the officer who +had, with Captain Wakefield, assisted in giving instructions at +Kentfield. + +"I am surely glad to see you!" cried Dick, as he shook hands with him. +"There's nobody I'd like better to come along!" + +"And there's nobody I'd like better to go with," said the officer, with +a laugh. "I was only assigned to you at the last minute. First I was +booked to go with a man named Larabee." + +"He's my uncle. I'm glad you didn't!" chuckled Dick. Then he told +about Larson and Lieutenant McBride, himself, was glad also. + +In order to be of better service in case of an emergency, Lieutenant +McBride asked that he be taken on a little preliminary flight before +the official start was made, so that he might get an idea of the +working of the machinery. + +This was done, and he announced himself as perfectly satisfied with +everything. + +"You have a fine craft!" he told Dick. "The best I have ever seen, and +I've ridden in a number. You ought to take the prize." + +"Thanks!" laughed the young millionaire. + +"Of course I'm not saying that officially," warned the officer, with a +smile. "I'll have to check you up as though we didn't know one other. +And I warn you that you've got to make good!" + +"I wouldn't try under any other conditions," replied Dick. + +The last tuning-up of the motor was over. The last of the supplies and +stores were put aboard. Grit was in his place, and the cross-country +fliers in theirs. Good-byes were said, and Mr. Hamilton waved the +Stars and Stripes as the cabin door was closed. + +"All ready?" asked Dick, who was the captain of the aircraft. + +"All ready," answered Lieutenant McBride. + +"All ready," agreed Mr. Vardon. + +"Then here we go!" cried Dick, as he pulled the lever. The airship was +on her way to the starting point. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +UNCLE EZRA FLIES + +"Well, Mr. Larabee, we are almost ready for a flight." + +"Humph! It's about time. I've sunk almost enough money in that +shebang to dig a gold mine, and I haven't got any out yet--not a cent, +and I'm losing interest all the while." + +"Well, but think of the twenty thousand dollars!" + +"Yes, I s'pose I've got to. That's the only consolation I have left." + +The above conversation took place one afternoon between Ezra Larabee +and Lieutenant Larson. The airship with the mercury stabilizers was +nearly completed. But a few touches remained to be put on her, to make +her, according to Larson, ready for the flight across the continent. + +"I presume you will go with me when me make the first ascent; will you +not?" the lieutenant inquired. + +"Who, me? No, I don't reckon I'll go up first," said Uncle Ezra +slowly. "I'll wait until I see if you don't break your neck. If you +don't I'll take a chance." + +"That's consoling," was the answer, with a grim laugh. "But I am not +afraid. I know the craft will fly. You will not regret having +commissioned me to build her." + +"Wa'al, I should hope not," said Uncle Ezra, dryly. "So far I've put +eight thousand, four hundred thirty-two dollars and sixteen cents into +this shebang, and I ain't got a penny out yet. It just seems to chaw +up money." + +"They all do," said the lieutenant. "It is a costly sport. But think +of the twenty-thousand-dollar prize!" + +"I do," said Uncle Ezra, softly. "That's all that keeps me from +thinking what a plumb idiot I've been--thinking of that twenty thousand +dollars." + +"Oh, you'll get it!" the lieutenant asserted. + +"Maybe--yes. If my nephew doesn't get ahead of me," was the grim reply. + +"Oh, he never will. We'll win that prize," the lieutenant assured him. +"Now there's one other little matter I must speak of. I need some more +money." + +"More money! Good land, man! I gave you three dollars and a half last +week to buy something!" cried Uncle Ezra. + +"Yes, I know, but that went for guy wires and bolts. I need about ten +dollars for an auxiliary steering wheel." + +"A steering wheel?" questioned Uncle Ezra. "You mean a wheel to twist?" + +"That's it. There must be two. We have only one." + +"Well, if it's only a wheel, I can fix you up about that all right, and +without spending a cent, either!" exclaimed the stingy old man with a +chuckle. "There's an old sewing machine of my wife's down cellar. +It's busted, all but the big wheel. We had an accident with it, but I +made the company give me a new machine, and I kept the old one. + +"Now that's got a big, round, iron wheel on it, and we can take that +off, just as well as not, and use it on the airship. That's what +you've got to do in this world--save money. I've spent a terrible +pile, but we'll save some by using the sewing machine wheel." + +"It won't do," said the lieutenant. "It's far too heavy. I must have +one made to order of wood. It will cost ten dollars." + +"Oh, dear!" groaned Uncle Ezra. "More money," and he looked +distressed. Then his face brightened. + +"I say!" he cried. "There's a busted mowing machine out in the barn. +That's got a wooden wheel on it. Can't you use that?" + +Lieutenant Larson shook his bead. + +"It's no use trying to use make-shift wheels if we are to have a +perfect machine, and win the prize," he said. "I must have the proper +one. I need ten dollars." + +"Oh, dear!" moaned Uncle Ezra, as he took out his wallet, and carefully +counted out ten one-dollar bills. + +"Couldn't you look around and get a second-hand one?" he asked +hopefully. + +"No; we haven't time. We must soon start on the prize trip. We don't +want to be late." + +"No, I s'pose not. Wa'al, take the money," and he parted with it, +after a long look. Then he made a memoranda of it in his pocket +cash-book, and sighed again. + +Several times after this Lieutenant Larson had to have more money--or, +at least, he said he needed it, and Uncle Ezra brought it forth with +many sighs and groans. But he "gave up." + +To give Larson credit, he had really produced a good aircraft. Of +course it was nothing like Dick's, and, after all, the former army man +was more interested in his stabilizers than he was in the airship +itself. But he had to build it right and properly to give his patent a +good test, and he used his best ideas on the subject. + +In general Uncle Ezra's machine was a biplane, a little larger than +usual, and with a sort of auxiliary cabin and platform where one could +rest when not in the seats. Three passengers could be carried, +together with some food and supplies of gasolene and oil. It was an +airship built for quick, continuous flight, and it really had a chance +for the prize; perhaps not as good a chance as had Dick's, but a good +chance compared with others in its class. The one weak point, and this +Lieutenant Larson kept to himself, was the fact that it was only with +the best of luck that the flight could be made with but two landings. + +Finally the former army man announced that the craft was ready for a +flight. He had spent all the money Uncle Ezra would give him--nearly +ten thousand dollars--and I suspect that Larson himself had lined his +own pockets well. + +"She's ready," he announced to Uncle Ezra, one day. + +"Well, take her up." + +"Will you come?" + +"Not till I see how you fare. Go ahead." + +"Ezra, be you goin' up in that contraption?" asked Aunt Samantha, as +she came out in the meadow where a starting ground had been laid out. + +"I'm aiming to, if he comes back alive with it," Uncle Ezra made +answer, grimly. + +"Well, as I said before, it's flyin' in the face of Providence," +declared Mrs. Larabee. "I might as well order my mourning now, and be +done with it." + +"Oh, I ain't aiming to be killed," chuckled Uncle Ezra. "I guess it's +safe enough. I've got to get my money back out of this thing." + +Lieutenant Larson, with one of the helpers, made the first flight. He +did not go very high, so that Uncle Ezra would have confidence. When he +came back to the starting point he asked: + +"Well, will you take a chance?" + +"I--I guess so," replied Mr. Larabee, and his voice was not very steady. + +"I'm goin' in the house," announced Mrs. Larabee. "I don't want to see +it!" + +Uncle Ezra took his place. + +"I've got accident insurance in case anything happens," he said, slowly. + +"I don't believe your policy covers airship flights," the lieutenant +returned. + +"Then let me out!" cried Uncle Ezra. "I'll have the policy changed! +I'm not going to take any such chances!" + +"It's too late!" cried Larson. "Here we go!" The engine was +thundering away, and a moment later the craft shot over the ground and +into the air. Uncle Ezra was flying at last. + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +UNCLE EZRA'S ACCIDENT + +For some seconds after he had been taken up in the atmosphere in his +airship, Uncle Ezra said nothing. He just sat there in the padded +seat, clutching with his hands the rails in so tight a grip that his +knuckles showed white. + +Up and up they went, Larson skillfully guiding the craft, until they +were a considerable distance above the earth. + +"That's--that's far enough!" Uncle Ezra managed to yell, above the +throb of the now throttled-down motor. "Don't go--any higher!" + +"All right," agreed the aviator. "But she'll work easier up a little +more." + +"No--it--it's too far--to fall!" said Mr. Larabee, and he could not +keep his voice from trembling. + +Really, though, he stood it bravely, though probably the thought of all +the money he had invested in the craft, as well as the prize he was +after, buoyed up his spirits. + +"How do you like it?" asked Larson, when they had circled around over +Mr. Larabee's extensive farm for some time. + +"It's different from what I expected," remarked Uncle Ezra. "But it +seems good. I don't know as I'll stand it all the way to San +Francisco, though." + +"Oh, yes, you will," asserted Larson. "You'll get used to it in time." + +"Is she working all right, Lieutenant Larson?" + +"Yes, pretty well. I see a chance to make one or two changes though, +that will make her better." + +"Does that mean--er--more money?" was Uncle Ezra's anxious question. + +"Well, some, yes." + +"Not another cent!" burst out the crabbed old man. "I won't spend +another cent on her. I've sunk enough money in the old shebang." + +Larson did not answer. He simply tilted the elevating rudder and the +biplane poked her nose higher up into the air. + +"Here! What you doing?" demanded Uncle Ezra. + +"I'm going up higher." + +"But I tell you I don't want to! I want to go down! This is high +enough!" and Uncle Ezra fairly screamed. + +"We've got to go higher," said Larson. "The carburetor isn't working +just right at this low elevation. That's what I wanted the extra money +for, to get a new one. But of course if you feel that you can't spare +it, why, we'll simply have to fly higher, that's all. The carburetor +we have will work all right at a high elevation on account of the +rarefied air, but with a different one, of course we could stay +lower--if we wanted to. + +"Still, if you feel you can't afford it," he went on, with a sly look +at the crabbed old man who sat there clutching the sides of the seat, +"we'll have to do the best we can, and make this carburetor do. I +guess we'll have to keep on a little higher," he added, as he glanced +at the barograph. + +"Say! Hold on!" yelled Uncle Ezra in his ear. "You--you can have that +money for the carburetor! Go on down where we were before." + +"Oh, all right," assented Larson, and he winked the eye concealed from +his employer. + +The aircraft went down, and flew about at a comparatively low +elevation. Really, there did not seem to be much the matter with the +carburetor, but then, of course, Larson ought to know what he was +talking about. + +"She's working pretty good--all except the carburetor," said the former +army man, after they had been flying about fifteen minutes. "The motor +does better than I expected, and with another passenger we'll be +steadier. She needs a little more weight. Do you want to try to steer +her?" + +"No, sir! Not yet!" cried Uncle Ezra. "I can drive a mowing-machine, +and a thresher, but I'm not going to try an airship yet. I hired you +to run her. All I want is that twenty-thousand-dollar prize, and the +chance to sell airships like this after we've proved them the best for +actual use." + +"And we can easily do that," declared Larson. "My mercury stabilizer +is working to perfection." + +"When can we start on the race?" Mr. Larabee wanted to know. + +"Oh, soon now. You see it isn't exactly a race. That is the competing +airships do not have to start at the same time." + +"No?" questioned Uncle Ezra. + +"No. You see each competing craft is allowed to start when the pilot +pleases, provided an army officer is aboard during the entire flight to +check the results, and the time consumed. Two landings will be +allowed, and only the actual flying time will be counted. + +"That is if the trip is finished within a certain prescribed time. I +think it is a month. In other words we could start now, fly as far as +we could, and if we had to come down because of some accident, or to +get supplies, we could stay down several days. Then we could start +again, and come down the second time. But after that we would be +allowed no more landings, and the total time consumed in flying would +be computed by the army officer." + +"Oh, that's the way of it?" asked Uncle Ezra. + +"Yes, and the craft that has used the smallest number of hours will win +the prize," went on Larson. "I'm sure we can do it, for this is a fast +machine. I haven't pushed her to the limit yet." + +"And don't you do it--not until I get more used to it," stipulated the +owner of the airship. + +The former army officer sent the aircraft through several simple +evolutions to test her. She answered well, though Uncle Ezra gasped +once or twice, and his grip on the seat rail tightened. + +"When do you plan to start?" Mr. Larabee wanted to know, again. + +"Oh, in about a week. I have sent in an application to have a +representative of the government assigned to us, and when he comes +we'll start. That will give me a chance to buy the new carburetor, and +make some other little changes." + +"Well, let's go down now," suggested Uncle Ezra. "Hello, what's this?" +he cried, looking at his coat. "Why, I'm all covered with oil!" + +"Yes, it does drip a little," admitted the aviator. "I haven't +tightened the washers on the tank. You mustn't mind a little thing +like that. I often get soaked with oil and gasolene. I should have +told you to put on an old suit." + +"But look here!" cried Uncle Ezra, in accents of dismay. "I didn't put +on an old suit! This is my second best. I paid thirteen dollars for +it, and I've bad it four years. It would have been good for two more +if your old oil hadn't leaked on it. Now it's spoiled!" + +"You can have it cleaned, perhaps," suggested the lieutenant as he sent +the biplane about in a graceful curve, before getting ready for a +descent. + +"Yes, and maybe have to pay a tailor sixty-five cents! Not much!" +cried Uncle Ezra. "I'll clean it myself, with some of the gasolene. I +ain't going to waste money that way. I ought to charge you for it." + +"Well, I'll give you the gasolene to clean it," said the aviator, with +another unseen wink. + +"Humph!" ejaculated Uncle Ezra with a grunt, as he tried to hold on +with one hand, and scrub off some of the oil spots with his +handkerchief. + +"Well, I guess we'll go down now," announced Larson, after making +several sharp ascents and descents to test the efficiency of the +vertical rudder. + +"Why, we're quite a way from the farm!" exclaimed Mr. Larabee, looking +down. "I didn't think we'd come so far." + +"Well, I'll show you how quickly we can get back there!" boasted +Larson. "I'll have you at your place in a hurry!" + +He turned more power into the motor, and with a rush and a roar, the +biplane shot forward. + +But something happened. Either they struck an air pocket, or the +rudder was given too sudden a twist. Anyway, the airship shot toward +the ground at a sharp angle. She would have crashed down hard, only +Larson threw her head up quickly, checking, in a measure, the momentum. + +But he could not altogether control the craft, and it swept past a tree +in an orchard where they were forced to land, the side wing tearing off +the limbs and branches. + +Then, bouncing down to the ground, the airship, tilted on one end, and +shot Uncle Ezra out with considerable force. He landed in a heap of +dirt, turned a somersault, and sat up with a queer look on his face. + + + +CHAPTER XX + +IN NEW YORK. + +"Well, this is going some!" + +"I should say yes!" + +"All to the merry!" + +"And no more trouble than as if you got in a taxicab and told the +chauffeur to take you around the block." + +Thus did Dick Hamilton's chums offer him their congratulations as they +started off on the trip they hoped would bring to the young millionaire +the twenty-thousand-dollar prize, and, not only do that but establish a +new record in airship flights, and also give to the world the benefit +of the experience in building such a unique craft. + +They were in the Abaris flying along over the town of Hamilton Corners, +a most successful start having been made. As they progressed through +the air many curious eyes were turned up to watch their flight. + +"I say! Which way are you steering?" asked Paul, as he came back from +a trip to the dining-room buffet, where he had helped himself to a +sandwich, a little lunch having been set out by Innis, who constituted +himself as cook. "You're heading East instead of West, Dick," for the +young millionaire was at the steering-wheel. + +"I know it," replied the helmsman, as he noted the figures on the +barograph. "But you see, to stand a chance for the prize you've got to +start from New York, and that's where we're headed for now. We've got +to go to the big town first, and then we'll hit the Western trail as +nearly in a straight line as we can." + +"That's the idea," said Lieutenant McBride. "The conditions call for a +start from New York, and I have arranged for the beginning of your +flight from the grounds at Fort Wadsworth. That will give the army +officers there a chance to inspect your machine, Mr. Hamilton." + +"And I'll be very glad to have them see it," Dick said, "and to offer +their congratulations to Mr. Vardon on his success." + +"And yours, too," added the aviator. "I couldn't have done anything +had it not been for you." + +"Then we really aren't on the prize winning flight, yet?" asked Larry, +who wanted to get all the information he could for his paper. + +"Not exactly," replied the lieutenant. "And yet the performance of the +airship will count on this flight, in a measure. I have been +instructed to watch how she behaves, and incorporate it in my report. +It may be, Mr. Hamilton, though I hope not, that the prize will not +come to you. But you may stand a chance of having your airship adopted +by Uncle Sam, for all that." + +"That would be a fine feather in my cap!" cried Dick. "I don't care so +much for the money, I guess you all know that." + +"I should say not!" cried Innis, with a laugh. + +"Any fellow who's worth a million doesn't have to bother about a little +small change like twenty thousand dollars." + +"Not that I haven't a due regard for the prize," went on Dick. "But if +I lost it, and still could have the honor of producing an airship that +would be thought worthy of government approval, that would be worth +while." + +"Indeed it would!" agreed the lieutenant. + +"Are we going to have any time at all in New York?" asked Paul. "I +have some friends there, and--" + +"I believe her name is Knox; isn't it?" interrupted Innis, with a grin +at his chum. "First name Grace, lives somewhere up in Central Park, +West; eh, old chap?" + +"Oh, dry up!" invited Paul. "Don't you s'pose I've got any friends but +girls?" + +"Well, Grace does live in New York," insisted Innis. + +"Yes, and so do Irene Martin and Mabel Hanford!" burst out Paul. "It's +as much on you fellows as it is on me," and he fairly glared at his +tormentor. + +"Easy!" laughed Dick. "I guess we may as well make a family party of +it while we're about it. Of course we'll see the girls. In fact I +half-promised Miss Hanford I'd call on her if I could get my airship to +work." + +"Oh, you sly dog!" mocked Innis. "And you never said a word!" + +"I didn't know I could get it to work," laughed Dick, as he stood at +the wheel. + +The Abaris was cleaving through the clear air at a fast rate of speed, +though she was not being sent along at her limit. The aviator wanted +to test his machinery at moderate speed for some time before he turned +on full power, and this trip to New York for the start gave him the +very chance wanted. + +It was a journey of about five hundred miles from Hamilton Corners to +New York City, and, as Dick and his friends had planned it, they would +be in the air all night. + +They had set for themselves a rate of progress of about fifty miles an +hour, and if this was kept up it would take ten hours to the metropolis. + +Of course the journey could have been made in much less time than that, +for Dick's motor was calculated to give a maximum speed of one hundred +miles an hour. But this was straining it to its capacity. It would be +much more feasible, at, least on this trial trip, to use half that +speed. Later, if need be, they could go to the limit. + +They had started late in the afternoon, and by journeying at fifty +miles an hour they would reach the upper part of New York city in the +morning; that is if nothing occurred to delay them. But the weather +predictions were favorable, and no storms were in prospect. + +"I think I'll take her up a bit," remarked Dick, when they had passed +out over the open country, lying outside of Hamilton Corners. "We might +as well get used to good heights, for when we cross the Rocky Mountains +we'll have to ascend some." + +"That's right," agreed the lieutenant. "Take her up, Dick." + +The young millionaire pulled over the lever of the vertical rudder, and +as the nose of the Abaris was inclined upward, she shot aloft, her big +propellers in the rear pushing her ahead. + +"I'm going out on the outer deck and see how it seems," said Larry. "I +want to get some new impressions for the paper. I told the editor we'd +pull off a lot of new stunts. So I guess I'll go outside." + +"No, you won't," said Lieutenant McBride, laying a detaining hand on +the arm of the reporter. "Do you see that notice?" + +He pointed to one over the door. It read: + + +"No one will be allowed on the outer deck while the airship is +ascending or descending." + + +"What's that for?" Larry wanted to know. + +"So you won't roll off into space," replied Lieutenant McBride. "You +see the deck is much tilted, when we are going up or down, and that +makes it dangerous. Of course the cabin floor is tilted also, but +there are walls here to save you from taking a tumble in case you slip. +Outside there is only a railing." + +"I see," spoke Larry. "Well, I'll stay inside until we get up as high +as Dick wants to take us." + +"Not very high this time," the young millionaire answered. "About six +thousand feet will be enough. We haven't gone quite a mile yet, and it +will be a good test for us." + +Steadily the aircraft climbed upward until, when he had noted from the +barograph that they were at a height of nearly six thousand feet, Dick +"straightened her out," and let her glide along on a level keel. + +"You may now go outside, Larry," said the lieutenant, and the young +reporter and the others, except Dick, who remained at the wheel, took +their places in the open. + +It was a strange sensation standing out thus, on a comparatively frail +craft, shooting along at fifty miles an hour over a mile above the +earth. The cabin broke the force of the wind, and there was really +little discomfort. The Abaris sailed so steadily that there was +scarcely a perceptible motion. Larry made some notes for a story on +which he was engaged. He wrote it in his best style, and then enclosed +the "copy" in a leather case. + +"I'm going to drop this when we are passing over some city," he +explained. "Someone is sure to pick it up, and I've put a note in +saying that if they will file the copy at some telegraph office, so it +can be sent to my paper, they'll get five dollars on presentation of my +note." + +"Good idea!" cried Dick. + +"Oh, I've got to get the news to the office, somehow," said Larry with +a smile. + +A little later they passed over a large town, and, though they did not +know the name of it, Larry dropped his story and eventually, as he +learned later, it reached the office safely, and made a hit. + +In order that all might become familiar with the workings of the +airship, Dick, after a while, relinquished the wheel to one of his +chums. Thus they took turns guiding the craft through the air, and +gained valuable experience. + +They flew along easily, and without incident, until dusk began to +overcast the sky, and then the electric lamps were set aglow, and in +the cosy cabin they gathered about the table on which Innis had spread +a tempting lunch. + +"Say, this sure is going some!" cried Larry, as he took another helping +of chicken, prepared on the electric stove. "Think of dining a mile in +the air!" + +"As long as we don't fall down while we're dining, I shan't mind," +mumbled Paul, as he picked a wishbone. + +The night passed without incident of moment. For a time no one wanted +to go to the comfortable bunks, but Dick insisted that they must get +used to sleeping aboard his craft, so the watch was told off, two of +the occupants of the Abaris to be on duty for two hours at a time, to +be relieved by others. + +On and on rushed the airship. Now and then she was speeded up for a +time, as Dick and the aviator wanted to see what she could do when +called on suddenly. She responded each time. + +"I think she'll do," said Lieutenant McBride, when it came his turn to +take a little rest. "You have a fine craft, Mr. Hamilton." + +"Glad of it," responded Dick. "We'll see what she does when we +straighten her out on the long run to San Francisco." + +The night wore on. Above the earth, like some gigantic meteor, flew +the airship, her propellers forcing her onward and onward. Now and +then some of the machinery needed attention, but very little. The +gyroscope stabilizer worked well, and as it was automatic, there was no +need of warping the wing tips, or of using the alerons, which were +provided in case of emergency. The Abaris automatically kept herself +on a level keel, even as a bird does when flying. + +The gray dawn crept in through the celluloid windows of the aircraft. +This material had been used instead of glass, to avoid accidents in +case of a crash. The celluloid would merely bend, and injure no one. + +"It's morning!" cried Dick, as he sprang from his bunk, for he had had +the previous watch. + +"Morning?" repeated Innis. "Well, where are we?" + +"Have to go down and take an observation," suggested the lieutenant. "I +think we must be very near New York." + +Paul, who was in charge of the wheel looked for confirmation to Dick. +The latter nodded, and the cadet pulled the lever that would send the +airship on a downward slant. + +It was not long before a group of big buildings came into view. It +needed but a glance to tell what they were sky-scrapers. + +"New York!" cried Dick. "We're over New York all right!" + +"Then I've got to get a message to my paper!" exclaimed Larry. "Is the +wireless working?" + +"We'll have to make a landing to send it up," replied Mr. Vardon. + +"Well, if we're going down anyhow, a telephone will do as well," went +on the reporter. "Only it's going to be a job to land down among all +those sky-scrapers." + +"We can't do it," Mr. Vardon declared. + +"We'll have to head for an open space." + +"Central Park, or the Bronx," put in the lieutenant. "Either place +will give us room enough." + +"We'll try the Bronx," suggested Dick. "That will give us a chance to +see New York from aloft. We'll land in the Bronx." + +They had sailed over to the metropolis from a point about opposite +Jersey City, and now they took a direct Northward course flying +lengthwise over Manhattan. + +As they came on down and down, they were observed by thousands of early +workers, who craned their necks upward, and looked with eager eyes at +the big airship over their heads. + +A few minutes of flying over the city brought the aviators within sight +of the big beautiful Zoological Park which is the pride of New York. +Below Dick and his chums stretched out the green expanses, the gardens, +the little lakes, and the animal enclosures. + +"There's a good place!" exclaimed Dick, pointing to a green expanse +near the wild-fowl pond. + +"Then you take the wheel and make it," suggested Innis, who had been +steering. + +Dick did so, but his hand accidentally touched the gasolene lever, +cutting off the supply to the motor. In an instant the machine went +dead. + +"Never mind!" cried the young millionaire. "I'll go down anyhow. No +use starting the motor again. I'll volplane and land where I can." + +And, as it happened, he came down in New York, in the midst of the +Bronx Park buffalo range. + +It was a perfect landing, the Abaris reaching the ground with scarcely +a jar. But the big, shaggy buffaloes snorted in terror, and ran in all +directions. That is, all but one big bull, and he, with a bellow of +rage, charged straight for the airship! + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +OFF FOR THE PACIFIC + +"Look out for him!" + +"Go up in the air again!" + +"Has anybody got a gun?" + +"Start the motor!" + +These, and other excited cries, came from those in Dick Hamilton's +airship as they saw the charging buffalo. The animal was the largest +in the captive herd, probably the leader. It seemed a strange thing +for a modern airship to be threatened with an attack by a buffalo in +these days, but such was the case. + +"He may damage us!" cried Dick. "We've got to do something!" + +But there seemed nothing to do. Before they could get out of the cabin +of the airship, which now rested on the ground within the buffalo +range, the frightened and infuriated animal might rush at the craft. + +And, though he would probably come off second best in the odd battle, +he might damage some of the frail planes or rudders. + +"Come on!" cried Paul. "Let's all rush out at him at once, and yell as +hard as we can. That may scare him off." + +But there was no need of this. Before the buffalo had time to reach +the airship a mounted police officer rode rapidly up to the fence of +the enclosure, and, taking in the situation, novel as it was, at a +glance, he fired several shots from his revolver at the rushing animal. + +None of the bullets was intended to hit the buffalo, and none did. But +some came so close, and the noise of the shots was so loud, that the +beast stopped suddenly, and then, after a pause, in which he snorted, +and pawed the ground, he retreated, to stand in front of the herd of +cows and other bulls, probably thinking he constituted himself their +protector against the strange and terrible foe. + +"Well, that's over!" exclaimed Dick, with a sigh of relief. "Say, +isn't this the limit? If we bad an airship out on the plains fifty +years ago it wouldn't have been any surprise to be charged by a +buffalo. But here in New York--well, it is just about the extreme +edge, to my way of thinking!" + +"All's well that ends well," quoted Innis. "Now let's get breakfast." + +But it seemed that something else was to come first. + +"Get your craft out of there," ordered the police officer, who had +fired the shots. + +"I guess we'd better," said Dick to his chums. "That buffalo might +change his mind, and come at us again." + +"How are we going to get out?" asked Mr. Vardon, as he noticed the +heavy fence around the buffalo enclosure. And there was hardly room +inside it to get the necessary start to raise the big airship. + +"I'll unlock this gate for you, and you can wheel her out," said the +officer, who seemed to know something about aircraft. He rode over to +a double gate, which he soon swung open, and Dick and his chums, by +considerable exertion, managed to wheel the airship out on the walk. +The slope of the buffalo enclosure was downward or they might not have +been successful. + +"Now then," went on the mounted policeman, when he had locked the gate +to prevent any of the animals from straying out, "who's in charge of +this outfit?" + +"I am," admitted Dick, as his chums looked at him. + +"Well then, I'm sorry, but I have to place you under arrest," spoke the +officer. "You'll have to come with me." + +"Arrest! What for?" gasped Dick. + +"Two charges. Entering the buffalo enclosure without a permit, and +flying an airship over a city. I saw you come from down New York way." + +For a moment those of Dick's aviation party hardly knew whether to +treat the matter as a joke or not, but a look at the face of the +officer soon convinced them that he, at least, was in earnest. + +"Under arrest!" murmured Dick. "Well, I guess the two charges are +true, as far as that goes. We did fly over the city, but there was no +harm in that, and--" + +"Hold on--yes, there was!" exclaimed Mr. Vardon. "It was stupid of me +to forget it, too. It is against the law now for an aeroplane to fly +over a city, and contrary to the agreement of the association of +aviators." + +"You are right!" exclaimed Lieutenant McBride. "I should have thought +of that, too, but I was so interested watching the working of the +machinery I forgot all about it. The rule and the law was made because +of the danger to persons over whose heads the aeroplanes might +fly--that is, not so much danger in the flying as in the corning down. +And then, too, as a general thing it might not be safe for the aviators +if they were forced to make a landing. But we've gone and done it, I +guess," and he smiled frankly at the officer. + +"As for coming down in the buffalo enclosure, I was sorry we did it +when I saw that old bull coming for us," remarked Dick. "But it seemed +the best place around here for us to land, after our motor stopped. I +suppose it won't do any good to say we're sorry; will it?" he asked the +policeman, with a smile. + +"Well, I shall have to do my duty, and arrest you," said the officer, +"but I will explain to the magistrate that you did not mean to land +contrary to the law." + +"Who is the magistrate before whom we shall have to appear?" asked +Larry Dexter. + +"Judge Scatterwaite," was the answer. + +"Good!" cried the young reporter. "I know him. My paper supported him +in the last campaign, and I believe he will be glad to do a favor for +me. Is there a telephone around here?" he asked the officer. "Oh, we +won't run away," he hastened to assure the guardian of the peace. "I +just want to talk to the judge. I'm Larry Dexter, of the Leader." + +"Oh, is that so? I guess I've heard of you. Aren't you the reporter +who worked up that stolen boy case?" + +"I am," admitted Larry, modestly. "There's a telephone right over +there, in the Rocking Stone restaurant," went on the officer, who +seemed to regard Larry and his friends in a different light now. "You +can call up the judge. He'll probably be at his house now. I'll go +with you. It may be that he will want to speak to me, and will dismiss +the complaint." + +"We'll wait here for you, Larry," said Dick. "There's nothing like +having a reporter with you when you break the law," he added, with a +laugh. + +The officer rode his horse slowly along with Larry, going to the place +whence a telephone message could be sent. Larry was soon talking with +the judge, who, on learning the identity of the young reporter, and +having heard the circumstances, spoke to the officer. + +"It's all right!" exclaimed the policeman, as he hung up the receiver. +"I'm to let you go. He says he'll find you all guilty, and will +suspend sentence." + +"Good!" cried Larry. "That's the time my 'pull' was of some use." + +"And I'm glad I didn't have to take you to the station," the mounted +man proceeded. "I'm interested in airships myself. I've got a boy +who's crazy about them, and wireless. He's got a wireless outfit--made +it all himself," he added, proudly. + +There was nothing further to worry the aviators, on the return of Larry +with the officer, so they prepared to have breakfast, and then +Lieutenant McBride said he would arrange to have the official start in +the prize race made from Fort Wadsworth. + +"But we'll have to fly over New York again," suggested Dick, "and if +we're arrested a second time--" + +"I think I can arrange that for you," said the army man. "I will have +the war department make a request of the civil authorities who will, no +doubt, grant permission to soar over the city." + +"Good!" cried Dick. "And now for breakfast. Didn't that officer say +something about a restaurant around here?" + +"Yes, I telephoned from one," spoke Larry. "Then let's go there and +have breakfast," suggested the young millionaire. "We'll have a little +more room than in the airship, and Innis won't have to do the cooking." + +"Oh, I don't mind," the stout cadet put in. + +"What about leaving the airship all alone?" asked Paul, for already a +crowd had gathered about it. + +"I'll look out for it while you're gone," promised the officer. + +"Isn't there some shed around here where we could leave it, so it would +be safe?" asked Innis. + +"What's the idea of that?" Dick wanted to know. "We'll be sailing down +to the fort in an hour or so." + +"Why can't we stay over a day or so in New York?" went on Innis. "I +don't get here very often, and I'd like to see the sights." + +"You mean you'd like to see the girls!" declared Paul, laughingly. + +"Have your own way," murmured Innis. "But, if the airship would be +safe up here in the park, in a shed, we could take our time, and not +have to hurry so." + +"I guess that would be a good plan," agreed Dick. "I'd like to see the +girls myself. We'll do it if we can find a shed." + +The obliging officer arranged this for them, and the airship was soon +safely housed, a watchman being engaged to keep away the curious. Then +our friends went to breakfast, and, later, down town. + +Mr. Vardon wanted to call on some fellow aviators, now that it had been +decided to postpone the start a day, and Larry Dexter had some business +to transact at the newspaper office. + +"And we'll go see the girls!" cried Dick. + +Mabel Hanford, Grace Knox and Irene Martin, the three young ladies in +whom the boys were more than ordinarily interested, had come on to New +York, after their school closed, and our friends had made a +half-promise to meet them in the metropolis. Now the promise could be +kept. They found the girls at a hotel, where they resided part of the +year, and, sending up their cards, were ushered to their sitting-room. + +"And did you really come all the way from Hamilton Corners to New York +in your airship?" asked Mabel of Dick. + +"We surely did," he answered. "And we're going to start for San +Francisco tomorrow. We just stopped overnight to see you." + +"We appreciate the honor," laughed Irene, with a bow. + +"Have you any engagement for tonight?" asked Innis. + +"We were going to the theatre," said Grace. + +"Isn't there any place we could go to a dance?" inquired Paul. + +"Say, he's crazy on these new dances!" exclaimed Dick. "I caught him +doing the 'lame duck' the other night, with the broom for a partner." + +"Oh, do you do that?" cried Mabel. + +"A little," admitted Paul. + +"Will you show us how the steps go?" asked Irene. + +"And I know the 'lace glide,' and the 'pivot whirl,'" put in Dick. "You +needn't think you can walk off with all the honors," he said to his +chum, laughingly. + +"Oh, let's stay at the hotel and dance tonight," suggested Mabel. +"Mamma will chaperone us. It will be more fun than the theatre." + +"We'll have to hire dress suits," said Innis. "We didn't bring them in +the airship." + +"No, we'll make it very informal," Grace remarked. "There is a little +private ballroom we can engage." + +So it was arranged, and the young people spent an enjoyable evening, +doing some of the newest steps. + +"We'll come down to the fort in the morning, and see you start for San +Francisco," promised Mabel, as she said good-night to Dick. + +"Will you!" he exclaimed. "That will be fine of you!" + +An early morning start was made for the fort, after the airship, which +had been left in Bronx Park all night, had been carefully gone over. +An additional supply of gasolene was taken aboard, some adjustments +made to the machinery, and more food put in the lockers. + +"There are the girls!" exclaimed Dick, after they had made a successful +landing at the fort, which they would soon leave on their long flight. + +"Oh, so they are! I hardly thought they'd come down," observed Paul, +as he waved to the three pretty girls with whom they had danced the +night before. + +"I wish we were going with you!" cried Mabel, as she greeted Dick. + +"Oh, Mabel! You do not!" rebuked Irene. + +"Well, I just do!" was the retort. "It's so stupid just staying at a +summer resort during the hot weather." + +"We'll come back, after we win the prize, and do the 'aeroplane glide' +with you," promised Innis. + +"Will you?" demanded Irene. "Remember now, that's a promise." + +Final arrangements were made, and everything was in readiness for the +start for the Pacific. The army officers had inspected the craft, and +congratulated the young owner and the builder on her completeness. + +"Well, good-bye, girls," said Dick, as he and his chums shook hands +with their friends who had come to see them off. The aviators took +their places in the cabin. A hasty inspection showed that everything +was in readiness. + +"Well, here we go!" murmured Dick. + +He turned the switch of the electric starter, and, an instant later, +the Abaris shot forward over the ground, rising gracefully on a long, +upward slant. + +Then Dick, who was at the steering wheel, headed his craft due West. + +From the parade ground below them came cheers from the army men and +other spectators, the shrill cries of the three girls mingling. + +"I wonder what will happen before we dance with them again?" spoke +Paul, musingly. + +"You can't tell," answered Innis, as he looked down for a last sight of +a certain pretty face. + +"Well, we can only hit the ground twice between here and San +Francisco," remarked Dick, as he turned on more power. "If we have to +come down the third time--we lose the prize." + +"We're not going to lose it!" asserted Mr. Vardon, earnestly. + +Of course there were many more entrants for the prize than Dick +Hamilton. Two airships had started that morning before he got off in +his craft, and three others were to leave that afternoon. One +prominent birdman from the West was due to start the next day, and on +the following two from the South were scheduled to leave. There were +also several well-known foreigners who were making a try for the fame, +honor and money involved. + +But this story only concerns Dick Hamilton's airship, and the attempt +of himself, and his Uncle Ezra, to win the prize, and I have space for +no more than a mere mention of the other contestants. + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +UNCLE EZRA STARTS OFF + +Let us now, for a moment, return to Uncle Ezra. We left him sitting on +the ground after his rather unceremonious exit from the airship which +had crashed into the apple tree in the orchard. Somehow the strap, +holding him to his seat, had come unbuckled, which accounted for his +plight. + +"Are you hurt?" asked Lieutenant Larson, after a quick glance that +assured him the airship was not badly damaged. + +"I don't know's I'm hurt such a terrible lot," was the slow answer, +"but my clothes are all dirt. This suit is plumb ruined now. I swan +I'd never have gone in for airships if I knew how expensive they'd be. +This suit cost thirteen dollars and--" + +"You're lucky you don't have to pay for a funeral," was the +lieutenant's grim answer. "You must look to your seat strap better +than that." + +"Well, I didn't know the blamed thing was going to cut up like this!" +returned the crabbed old man. "That's no way to land." + +"I know it. But I couldn't help it," was the answer. "I'm glad you're +not hurt. But I think we have attracted some attention. Here comes +someone." + +A man was running through the orchard. + +"It's Hank Crittenden, and he hates me like poison!" murmured Uncle +Ezra, as he arose from the pile of dirt, and tried to get some of it +off his clothes. + +"Hi, there! What's this mean?" demanded Hank, as he rushed up, +clutching a stout club. "What d'ye mean, comin' down in my orchard, +and bustin' up my best Baldwin tree? What d'ye mean?" + +"It was an accident--purely an accident," said Lieutenant Larson, +suavely. "It could not be helped." + +"Accident? You done it on puppose, that's what you did!" cried Hank, +glaring at Uncle Ezra. "You done it on puppose, and I'll sue ye for +damages, that's what I'll do! That Baldwin apple tree was one of the +best in my orchard." + +"Well, we didn't mean to do it," declared Mr. Larabee. "And if you sue +we can prove in court it was an accident. So you'll have your trouble +for your pains." + +"I will, hey? Well, I'll show you, Ezra Larabee. I'll teach you to +come around here bustin' my things up with your old airship! You ought +to be ashamed of yourself, a man of your age, trying to fly like a hen +or rooster." + +"I'm trying for the government prize," said Dick's uncle, weakly. + +"Huh! A heap sight chance YOU have of winnin' a prize, flyin' like +that!" sneered Mr. Crittenden. "Comin' down in my orchard that way!" + +"It was an accident," went on the former army man. "We were making a +landing, but we did not intend to come clown just in that spot. We are +sorry the tree is broken, but accidents will happen, and--" + +"Yes, and them as does 'em must pay for 'em!" exclaimed Hank. + +At the mention of money Uncle Ezra looked pained. He looked more so +when Hank went on: + +"I'll have damages for that tree, that's what I'll have and good +damages too. That was my best Baldwin tree--" + +"You told us that before," said Larson, as he began to wheel the +aeroplane out into an open space where he could get it started again. + +"Here, where you takin' that?" demanded Hank, suspiciously. + +"We're going to fly back to Dankville," replied Mr. Larson. + +"No, you ain't! You ain't goin' t' move that machine until you pay fer +the damage to my tree!" insisted Hank, as he took a firmer grasp of the +club. "I want ten dollars for what you done to my tree." + +"Ten dollars!" grasped Uncle Ezra. "'Tain't wuth half that if it was +loaded with apples." + +"Well, you'll pay me ten dollars, Ezra Larabee, or you don't take that +machine away from here!" insisted the owner of the orchard. "You beat +me once in a lawsuit, but you won't again!" + +The two had been enemies for many years, Mr. Crittenden insisting that +a certain lawsuit, which went against him, had been wrongfully decided +in favor of Dick's uncle. + +"Well, I won't pay no ten dollars," said Mr. Larabee, firmly, putting +his hand in his pocket, as if to resist any attempt to get money from +it. + +"Ten dollars or you don't take that machine out!" cried Hank. "You're +trespassers on my land, too! I could have you arrested for that, as +well as suin' ye fer bustin' my tree." + +"I'll never pay," said Uncle Ezra. "Come on, Lieutenant, we'll take +the airship out in spite of him." + +"Oh, you will, eh?" cried Hank. "Well, we'll see about that! I +reckoned you'd try some such mean game as that Ezra Larabee, and I'm +ready for you. Here, Si and Bill!" he called, and from behind a big +tree stepped two stalwart hired men, armed with pitchforks. + +"This Ezra Larabee allows he'll not pay for damagin' my tree," +explained Hank. "I say he shall, and I don't want you boys t' let him +take his contraption away until he forks over ten dollars." + +"It ain't worth nigh that sum," began Mr. Larabee. "I'll never--" + +"I think, perhaps, you had better pay it to avoid trouble," said the +lieutenant. "He has some claim on us." + +"Oh, dear!" groaned Uncle Ezra. "More money! This airship business +will ruin me. Ten dollars!" + +"Not a cent less!" declared Hank. + +"Won't you call it eight?" asked the crabbed old miser. + +"Ten dollars if you want to take away your machine, and then you can +consider yourselves lucky that I don't sue you for trespass. Hand over +ten dollars!" + +"Never!" declared Ezra Larabee. + +"I really think you had better," advised the aviator, and then with a +wry face, and much reluctance, Dick's uncle passed over the money. + +"Now, you kin go!" cried Hank, "but if I ketch you on my property ag'in +you won't git off so easy. You can go back, boys; I won't need you +this time," he added grimly. + +The hired men departed, and Mr. Crittenden, pocketing the money, +watched the lieutenant and Uncle Ezra wheel the biplane out to an open +place where a start could be made. + +The machine was somewhat damaged, but it could still be operated. The +motor, however, was obstinate, and would not start. Hank added insult +to injury, at least in the opinion of Uncle Ezra, by laughing at the +efforts of the lieutenant. And finally when the motor did consent to +"mote," it went so slowly that not enough momentum could be obtained to +make the airship rise. It simply rolled slowly over the ground. + +"Ha! Ha! That's a fine flyin' machine you've got there!" cried Hank, +laughing heartily. "You'd better walk if you're goin' t' git any +gov'ment prize!" + +"Oh, dry up!" spluttered Uncle Ezra, who was now "real mad" as he +admitted later. He and the lieutenant wheeled the machine back to have +another try, and this time they were successful in getting up in the +air. The aviator circled about and headed for Dankville, the airship +having come down about three miles from Uncle Ezra's place. + +"Well, you're flyin' that's a fact!" cried Mr. Crittenden, as he looked +aloft at them. "But I wouldn't be surprised t' see 'em come smashin' +down ag'in any minute," he added pessimistically. "Anyhow, I got ten +dollars out of Ezra Larabee!" he concluded, with a chuckle. + +Mr. Larabee looked glum when he and the lieutenant got back to the +airship shed. + +"This is costing me a terrible pile of money!" said the crabbed old +man. "A terrible pile! And I reckon you'll have to spend more for +fixing her up; won't you?" he asked, in a tone that seemed to indicate +he hoped for a negative answer. + +"Oh, yes, we'll have to fix her up," said the lieutenant, "and buy a +new carburetor, too. You know you promised that." + +"Yes, I suppose so," sighed Uncle Ezra. "More money! And that skunk +Hank Crittenden got ten dollars out of me! I'll never hear the last of +that. I'd rather have landed anywhere but on his land. Oh, this is +awful! I wish I'd never gone into it." + +"But think of the twenty thousand dollars," said the former army man +quickly. It would not do to have his employer get too much +discouraged. And the aviator wanted more money--very much more. + +The airship was repaired in the next few days, though there was a +constant finding of fault on the part of Uncle Ezra. He parted with +cash most reluctantly. + +However, he had officially made his entry for the government prize, and +he could not withdraw now. He must keep on. Lieutenant Larson +arranged with one of the army aviators to accompany them on the +prospective trip from coast to coast, and finally Larson announced that +he was ready to start for New York, where the flight would officially +begin. + +"Well, Ezra," said his wife, as he climbed into the machine on the day +appointed, "I don't like to be a discourager, and throw cold water on +you, but I don't reckon I'll ever see you again, Ezra," and she wiped +her eyes. + +"Oh, pshaw! Of course you'll see me again!" her husband cried. "I'm +going to come back with that twenty thousand dollars. And I--I'll buy +a new carriage;--that's what I will!" + +"That's awful good of you, Ezra," she said. "But I'm not countin' on +it. I'm afraid you'll never come back," she sighed. + +"Oh, yes, I will!" he declared. "Good-bye!" + +They were to pick up the army officer in New York, and so Larson and +Uncle Ezra made the first part of the journey alone. They had +considerable trouble on the way, having to come down a number of times. + +"Say, if she's going to work this way what will happen when we start +for San Francisco?" asked Mr. Larabee. + +"Oh, it will be all right when I make a few changes in her," the +lieutenant said. "And when we have another man aboard she'll ride +easier." + +"Well, I hope so," murmured Uncle Ezra. "But more changes! Will +they--er--cost money?" + +"A little." + +Uncle Ezra groaned. + +However, New York was eventually reached, and after some repairs and +changes were made, the airship was taken to the same place where Dick's +had started from, and with the army representative aboard, the journey +for the Pacific coast was begun. The beginning of the flight was +auspicious enough, but if Uncle Ezra could have known all that was +before him I am doubtful if he would have gone on. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +AN IMPROMPTU RACE + +"How's she running?" + +"Couldn't be better!" + +"You're not crowding her though, are you? I mean we can go faster; +can't we?" + +"Oh, yes, but I think if we average fifty miles an hour for the whole +trip, we'll be doing well." + +Dick, Paul and Innis were talking together in the small pilot-house of +the airship. And it was Dick who made the remark about the speed. +They had risen high above New York now, and were headed across the +Hudson to the Jersey shore. They would cover the Western part of the +Garden State. + +"It sure is great!" cried Innis, as he looked down from the height. "If +anyone had told me, a year ago, that I'd be doing this, I'd never have +believed him." + +"Me either!" declared Dick. "But it's the best sport I ever heard +about." + +"And you sure have got some airship!" declared Larry, admiringly. The +young reporter had just finished writing an account of the start, +heading his article, "Aboard the Abaris," and, enclosed in a leather +holder, had dropped the story from a point near the clouds. The +leather cylinder had a small flag attached to it, and as it was dropped +down while the airship was shooting across the city, it attracted +considerable attention. By means of a glass Larry saw his story picked +up, and he felt sure it would reach the paper safely. And he learned, +later, such was the case. + +"We'd better arrange to divide up the work of running things while +we're in the airship," suggested Dick. "We want to have some sort of +system." + +"That's right," agreed Mr. Vardon. "We shall have to do some sleeping." + +"How long do you figure you will take for the trip?" asked Lieutenant +McBride, who was making official notes of the manner in which the motor +behaved, and of the airship in general. + +"Well," answered Dick, "we can make a hundred miles an hour when we're +put to it," and he looked at Mr. Vardon for confirmation. + +"Yes, that can be done," the aviator said. "But of course we could not +keep that up, as the motor would hardly stand it. But fifty miles, on +the average, for the entire trip, would be a fair estimate I think." + +"And figuring on it being three thousand miles from New York to San +Francisco, we could do it in sixty hours of continuous flight," added +Dick. "Only of course we'll not have such luck as that." + +"No, we've got to make one descent anyhow, about half-way across, to +take on more oil and gasolene," Mr. Vardon said. "And we will be very +lucky if we don't have to come down but once more on the way. But we +may have luck." + +"I think we will!" cried Dick. + +While the young millionaire was at the wheel, taking the airship higher +and higher, and Westward on her journey. Mr. Vardon and Lieutenant +McBride arranged a schedule of work, so that each one would have an +opportunity of steering. + +"And while you're at it," suggested Innis, "I wish you'd arrange a +schedule for the cooking. Have I got to do it all?" + +"Indeed not," said Dick. "We'll put Paul and Larry to work in the +galley." + +"Not me!" exclaimed Paul. "I can't even cook water without burning it." + +"Get out! Don't you always do your share of the camp cooking when we +go off on hikes and practice marches?" objected Innis, to his cadet +chum. "Indeed and you'll do your share of it here all right! I'll see +to that." + +"I guess I'm caught!" admitted Paul. + +The start had been made about ten o'clock in the morning, and before +noon more than ninety miles had been covered, as registered on the +distance gage. This took the party across New Jersey. + +They had passed over Newark, and the Orange mountains. The rule +against flying over a city had bothered Dick who argued that it would +take him much out of his air line, and consume more time if he always +had to pick out an unpopulated section. + +So the rule was abrogated as far as the aviation association was +concerned. + +"And if the policemen of any cities we fly over want to take a chance +and chase us in an aerial motor cycle, let 'em come!" laughed the young +millionaire. + +Dinner was served at a height of about eight thousand feet. Dick +wanted to get himself and his companions accustomed to great heights, +as they would have to fly high over the Rockies. There was some little +discomfort, at first, in the rarefied atmosphere, but they soon got +used to it, and liked it. Grit, however, suffered considerably, and +did not seem to care for aeroplaning. But he was made so much of, and +everyone was so fond of, him that he seemed, after a while, to forget +his troubles. He wanted to be near Dick all the time. + +Mr. Vardon was a veteran aviator, and heights did not bother him. +Lieutenant McBride, too, had had considerable experience. + +Afternoon found the Abaris over Pennsylvania, which state would require +about six hours to cross at the speed of fifty miles every sixty +minutes. The captive balloons, and other landmarks, enabled them to +keep to their course. + +Dick put his craft through several "stunts" to further test its +reliability and flexibility. To every one she answered perfectly. The +gyroscope stabilizer was particularly effective, and no matter how +severe a strain was put on the craft, she either came to an even keel +at once when deflected from it, or else did not deviate from it. + +"I shall certainly report as to the wisdom of having such an apparatus +on every airship the United States uses," declared Lieutenant McBride. +"No matter whether Dick Hamilton's craft wins the prize or not,--and I +certainly hope he does--the gyroscope must be used." + +"I am glad to hear you say so," spoke the inventor, "but I never would +have been able to perfect it had it not been for my friend Dick +Hamilton." + +"Why don't you blush, Dick?" asked Innis, playfully. + +"I don't take any credit to myself at all," said the young millionaire. + +"Well, I'm going to give it to you," declared the aviator. "From now +on the gyroscope stabilizer will be known as the Vardon-Hamilton, and +some additional patents I contemplate taking out will be in our joint +names." + +"Thanks," said Dick, "but I'll accept only on one condition." + +"What is that?" + +"It is that no money from this invention comes to me. If I win the +twenty thousand dollar prize I'll be content." + +"What are you going to do with the money?" asked Paul Drew, for Dick +really had no need of it. + +"I'll build a new gym, at Kentfield," was the reply. "Our present one +is too small. We need an indoor baseball cage too." + +"Good for you!" cried Innis. "You're a real sport!" + +In the evolutions of the airship each one aboard was given a chance to +pilot her. He was also allowed to stop and start the machinery, since +it could not be told at what moment, in an emergency, someone would +have to jump into the breech. + +It was about three o'clock in the afternoon, when Dick's ship was +nearing the Western borders of Pennsylvania, that Paul, who was looking +down through the celluloid floor in the cabin, cried out: + +"Something going on down below us, boys!" + +All save Innis, who was steering, crowded around the odd window. + +"Why, there's an airship meet going on down there," said Dick. "Look, +there are a lot of monoplanes and some biplanes." + +"Let's go down a bit and salute them," suggested Larry. + +"Down she is!" cried Innis, as he pulled over the lever of the +deflecting rudder. "Say when, Dick." + +"Oh, keep her up about two thousand feet. We don't want to interfere +with any of their evolutions." + +But the advent of the Abaris seemed welcomed by the other airships that +were taking part in the evolutions below. Two of them, which had been +flying high, at once pointed their noses upward, and raced forward to +get in line with Dick's craft. + +"They're going to race us!" Paul shouted. + +"Come on, Dick, now's your chance!" + +"Shall I?" the young millionaire asked of Mr. Vardon. + +"Yes, go ahead. Let's see what we can do to them. Though they are +probably much swifter than we are." + +"Take the wheel, Dick!" cried Innis. "I want to see you beat 'em." + +The implied challenge was at once accepted, and in another moment the +impromptu race was under way. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +GRIT'S GRIP + +Two large biplanes were in the race with Dick Hamilton's airship. They +were of the latest type, as could be noted by the young millionaire, +and were swift craft. They had come up from behind, on a long, upward +slant, and were now about in line with each other, and on a par with +the Abaris, though considerably below her. + +"Say, look at that crowd of people!" exclaimed Paul, as he stood at the +side of Dick who was at the wheel. The cadet was ready to lend any +assistance that might be needed in working the airship. + +"Yes, there is quite a bunch," observed Dick, as he opened the gasolene +throttle a little wider, and took a quick glance down through the +celluloid bull's-eye in the floor of the cabin. "It's a big meet." + +They were flying over a big aviation park, that Mr. Vardon at once +recognized as one in which he had given several exhibitions. + +"This is quite a meet, all right," the aviator remarked as he noted at +least ten machines in the air at one time. There were mono and +biplanes, but only two of the latter were near enough to Dick's machine +to engage in the impromptu race with it. + +"How are we coming on?" asked Paul. + +"Holding our own," answered the young millionaire. "I haven't started +to speed yet. I'm waiting to see what those fellows are going to do." + +The latter, however, were evidently also hanging back trying to "get a +line" on the performance of the big craft. The pilots of the lower +biplanes could, very likely, tell by the size of the Abaris that she +was no ordinary airship, and, in all probability, they had read of her, +and of the try for the prize. For Larry Dexter made a good press +agent, and had written many a story of Dick's plans. + +"Now they're coming on," cried Dick, as he saw one of the lower +machines dart ahead of the other. "He's trying to get me to sprint, I +guess." + +"Why don't you try it now?" suggested Mr. Vardon. "We'll soon be at +the limits of the aviation field, and I doubt if these machines will be +allowed to go beyond it. So, if you want to beat them in a race now is +your time to speed up." + +"Here she goes!" cried Dick, as he opened wider the gasolene throttle. + +In an instant the big craft shot ahead, fairly roaring through the air. +The closed cabin, however, kept the pressure of wind from the +occupants, or they might not have been able to stand it, for the gage +outside registered a resistance of many pounds to the square inch. + +It was an odd race. There were no cheering spectators to urge on the +contestants by shouts and cheers, though doubtless those who were +witnessing the evolutions of the aircraft, before Dick's advent on the +scene, were using their voices to good advantage. But the birdmen were +too high up to hear them. + +Nor could the excited calls, if there were any such, from the two +rivals of our hero be heard. There were two men in each of the +competing biplanes, and they were doing their best to win. + +It must have been an inspiring sight from below, for Dick's craft was +so large that it showed up well, and the white canvas planes of the +others, as well as those of the Abaris, stood out in bold contrast to +the blue of the sky. + +"We're doing ninety an hour!" called Dick, after a glance at the speed +gage, while his companions were looking down at the craft below. + +"Pretty nearly the limit," remarked Mr. Vardon. "If you can reach a +hundred, Dick, do it. I don't believe those fellows can come near +that." + +"They're falling behind now," observed Paul. "Go to it, Dick, old man!" + +The young millionaire pulled open the gasolene throttle to the full +limit and set the sparker to contact at the best advantage. The result +was at once apparent. The aircraft shot ahead in a wonderful fashion. +The others evidently put on full speed, for they, also, made a little +spurt. + +Then it was "all over but the shouting," as Larry said. Dick's machine +swept on and soon distanced the others. + +"I've got to get back a story of this!" cried Larry. "It will be good +reading for those who buy the Leader." + +"But how are you going to do it?" asked Paul. "You can't send back a +story now, and we'd have to make a descent to use the wireless," Dick's +craft being so fitted up. + +"I'll just write a little note, telling the editor to get the story +from the Associated Press correspondent who is covering this meet," +Larry answered. "All they need in the Leader office is a 'tip.' +They'll do the rest. But I'll just give them a few pointers as to how +things went on here." + +He hastily dashed off a story and enclosed it in one of several leather +cylinders he had provided for this purpose. Each one had a sort of +miniature parachute connected to it, and a flag to attract attention as +it shot down. + +Enclosing his story in one of these Larry dropped it, as he had done +before, trusting that it would be picked up and forwarded. The plan +always worked well. + +The leather messenger fell on the aviation field, and our friends had +the satisfaction of seeing several men running to pick it up, so Larry +knew his plan would be successful. + +The Abaris was now speeding along at the top notch, and for a few +minutes Dick allowed her to soar through the air in this fashion. And +then, having some regard for his engines, he cut down the gasolene, and +slowed up. + +"No use tearing her heart out," he remarked. + +"There's time enough to rush on the last lap. I wonder if we'll have a +race at the end?" + +"I shouldn't be surprised," Mr. Vardon answered. "A number of +celebrated aviators are planning to compete for this prize, and some +may already be on the way across the continent ahead of us." + +"Then there's your Uncle Ezra," put in Paul. + +"Poor Uncle Ezra," spoke Dick, musingly. "He certainly has treated me +mean, at times, but I can't help feeling sorry for him. Every time he +has to buy five gallons of gasolene, or some oil, he'll imagine he's +getting ready to go to the poorhouse. He certainly was not cut out for +an aviator, and I certainly was surprised when he built that airship." + +"He's being used by that fellow Larson, I'm sure of that," declared Mr. +Vardon. "Your Uncle Ezra has fallen into the hands of a scoundrel, +Dick." + +"Well, I'm sorry for that, of course," said the young millionaire, +"but, do you know, I think it will do Uncle Ezra good to lose some of +his money. He's got more than he needs, and he can afford to spend +some on aviation. Someone, at least the workmen, and those who sell +materials and supplies, will get the benefit of it." + +The aircraft was now going along at about her usual speed of fifty +miles an hour. The aviation park had been left behind, and they were +now flying along at a comparatively low altitude. + +"Better go up a little," suggested Mr. Vardon. "It will be dark +shortly, and we don't want to run into a mountain in the night." + +Dick tilted the elevating rudder and the craft lifted herself into the +air, soaring upward. + +"Here, Innis, you take the wheel now, it's your turn," called our hero, +a little later. "Straighten her out and keep her on a level keel. +It's my turn to get supper." + +"And give us plenty, if you don't mind," begged the stout cadet, who +took his chum's place in the pilot house. "This upper atmosphere seems +to give me an appetite." + +"I never saw you without it, Innis," laughed Paul. + +"Come on out on the deck, for a breath of air before we start to cook," +suggested Larry. "We can get a fine view of the sunset there." + +The open deck, in the rear of the cabin, did indeed offer a gorgeous +view of the setting sun, which was sinking to rest in a bank of golden, +green and purple clouds. + +"I'll go out, too," said Lieutenant McBride. "I am supposed to make +some meteorological observations while I am on this trip, and it is +high time I began." + +And so, with the exception of Innis, who would have his turn later, and +Mr. Vardon, who wanted to look over the machinery, for possible heated +bearings, all went out on the railed deck. Grit, the bulldog, followed +closely on the heels of Dick. + +"Be careful, old man," said the young millionaire to his pet. "There's +no rail close to the deck, you know, and you may slip overboard." + +They stood for a few moments viewing the scene while thus flying along +through the air. The colors of the sunset were constantly changing, +becoming every moment more gorgeous. + +Suddenly there was a swerve to the airship, and it tilted sharply to +one side. + +"Look out!" cried Dick, as he grasped the protecting railing, an +example followed by all. "What's up?" + +"We're falling!" shouted Paul. + +"No, it's just an air pocket," was the opinion of Lieutenant McBride. +"We'll be all right in another moment." + +They were, but before that Grit, taken unawares, had slid unwillingly +to the edge of the open deck. + +"Look out for him!" shouted Dick, making a grab for his pet. + +But he was too late. The deck was smooth, and the bulldog could get no +grip on it. In another instant he had toppled over the edge of the +platform, rolling under the lowest of the guard rails. + +"There he goes!" cried Paul. + +Dick gave a gasp of despair. Grit let out a howl of fear. + +And then, as Larry Dexter leaned over the side, he gave a cry of +surprise. + +"Look!" he shouted. "Grit's caught by a rope and he's hanging there by +his teeth!" + +And, as Dick looked, he saw a strange sight. Trailing over the side of +the airship deck was a piece of rope, that had become loosed. And, in +his fall, Grit had caught hold of this in his strong jaws. To this he +clung like grim death, his grip alone keeping him from falling into +space. + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +A FORCED LANDING + +"Hold on there, old boy! Don't let go!" begged Dick of his pet, who +swung to and fro, dangling like some grotesque pendulum over the side +of the airship. "Hold on, Grit!" + +And Grit held on, you may be sure of that. His jaws were made for just +that purpose. The dog made queer gurgling noises in his throat, for he +dare not open his mouth to bark. Probably he knew just what sort of +death would await him if he dropped into the vast space below him. + +"How we going to get him up?" asked Larry. + +"I'll show you!" cried Dick, as he stretched out at full length on the +deck, and made his way to the edge where his head and shoulders +projected over the dizzying space. The airship was still rushing on. + +"Grab his legs--somebody!" exclaimed Paul. "I'll sit on you, Dick!" + +"That's right! Anchor me down, old man!" Dick cried. "I'm going to +get Grit!" + +"Are you going to make a landing to save him?" asked Larry. + +"No, though I would if I had to," Dick replied. "I'm just going to +haul him up by the rope. Keep a good hold, old boy!" he encouraged his +pet, and Grit gurgled his answer. + +And then Dick, leaning over the edge of the deck, while Paul sat on his +backward-stretched legs to hold him in place, hauled up the bulldog +hand over hand, by means of the rope the intelligent animal had so +fortunately grasped. + +Inch by inch Grit was raised until Larry, who had come to the edge to +help Dick, reached out, and helped to haul the dog in. + +"There he is!" cried Dick, as he slid back. + +"Well, old boy, you had a close call!" + +Grit let go the rope and barked. And then a strange fit of trembling +seized him. It was the first time he had ever showed fear. He never +ventured near the edge of the deck again, always taking a position as +near the centre as possible, and lying down at full length, to prevent +any danger of sliding off. And he never went out on the deck unless +Dick went also, feeling, I suppose, that he wanted his master near in +case of accidents. + +"Say, that was some little excitement," remarked the young millionaire, +as he wiped the beads of perspiration from his forehead. "I thought +poor old Grit was sure a goner." + +"It did look so," admitted Paul. "He's an intelligent beast, all +right." + +"Takes after me," laughed Dick. "Well, let's see how Innis made out +while we were at the rescue." + +"I was all ready to send her down quick, if you'd given the word," said +the cadet in the pilot house, when the party went inside the cabin. + +"But she's still on her course," he added, after a glance at the +compass. + +"I'm glad we didn't have to go down," Dick remarked. "As we only have +two landings we can make I want to save my reserve until we are +actually forced to use it. I wonder about where we are, anyhow? Let's +make a calculation." + +By figuring out the rate of speed, and comparing the elapsed time, and +then by figuring on a scale map, it was estimated, as dusk settled +down, that they were about on the border line between Pennsylvania and +Ohio. + +"We'll cross the state of Ohio tonight," spoke Dick, "and by morning we +ought to be in Indiana. Not so bad, considering that we haven't really +pushed the machine to the limit yet, except in that little brush with +the other airships." + +"Yes, we are doing very well," said Mr. Vardon. "I wonder how some of +our competitors are making out? I'd like to get some news of them." + +"So would I," went on Dick. "Particularly my Uncle Ezra." + +Had he but known it, Mr. Larabee, in his airship with Larson and the +army man, was following close after him. For really the big biplane, +with the mercury stabilizers, which Larson had constructed, was a fine +craft, and capable. That Larson had cheated Mr. Larabee out of +considerable money in the building had nothing to do with the working +of the apparatus. But of Uncle Ezra and his aircraft more later. + +"We'll get some news the first landing we make," suggested Lieutenant +McBride. + +"Well, I would like to get news all right," admitted Dick. "But I +don't want to go down until I have to. Now for supper. Anything you +fellows would like, especially?" + +"Green turtle soup for mine!" sung out Larry. + +"I'll have pickled eels' feet," laughed Innis, who had relinquished the +wheel to Mr. Vardon. "Wait a bit, Dick, and I'll drop a line overboard +and catch a few." + +"And I'll see if I can't shoot a mock turtle," came from Paul. + +"Nothing but roast turkey for mine," insisted Lieutenant McBride. "But +I guess we'll have to compromise on capsule soup and condensed +sandwiches." + +"Oh, I can give you canned chicken," promised the young millionaire, +"and perhaps I can make it hot for you." + +"Not too much tabasco sauce though, the way you dosed up the stuff for +the last Freshman dinner!" objected Paul. "I ate some of that by +mistake, and I drank nothing but iced water for a week after." + +"That's right--it was a hot old time!" cried Dick, with a laugh at the +recollection. + +As space was rather limited on board the airship, no ice could be +carried, and, in consequence no fresh meats were available except for +the first few hours of travel. Of course, when a landing was to be +made, another limited supply could be laid in, but, with only two +descents to earth allowed, this would not help much. + +However, as the trip was going to be a comparatively short one, no one +minded the deprivation from the usual bountiful meals that, somehow, +one seemed to associate with the young millionaire. + +A good supply of "capsule" food was carried. In making up his larder +Dick had consulted Lieutenant McBride, who had given him a list of the +highly nutritious and condensed food used in the army. + +While such food was not the most appetizing in the world, it could be +carried in a small space, was easily prepared, and would sustain life, +and provide working energy, fully as long as the more elaborate dishes, +which contain a large amount of waste materials. + +Soon the electric stove was aglow, and on it Dick got up a tasty +supper. Innis insisted on helping his chum, though it was Dick's turn +to play cook. + +"You just can't keep out of the kitchen; can you?" asked Dick, of the +stout cadet. "You always want to be around where eating is going on." + +"Well, the only way to be sure of a thing, is to do it yourself," said +Innis. "I would hate to have this fine appetite of mine go to waste." + +It was quite dark when they sat at supper, for some slight defect +manifested itself in one of the small motors just as they were about to +eat, and it had to be repaired at once. + +But, gathered about the folding table, with the electric lights aglow +overhead, there was little indication among the party of aviators that +they were in one of the most modern of skycraft, sailing a mile above +the earth, and shooting along at fifty miles an hour. So easy was the +motion of the Abaris, and so evenly and smoothly did she glide along, +due to the automatic action of the gyroscope stabilizer, that it really +seemed as if they were standing still--floating between heaven and +earth. + +Of course there was the subdued hum of the great propellers outside, +and the throb of the powerful gasolene motor, but that was all that +gave an idea of the immense force contained in the airship. + +From time to time Lieutenant McBride made notes for future use. He had +to report officially to the war department just how this type of +airship behaved under any and all circumstances. Then, too, he was +interested personally, for he had taken up aviation with great +enthusiasm, and as there were not many army men in it, so far, he stood +a good chance for advancement. + +"The possibilities of aeroplanes in time of war are only beginning to +be understood," he said. "Of course there has been a lot of foolish +talk about them, and probably they will not be capable of doing all +that has been claimed for them, as yet. But they will be of immense +value for scouting purposes, if for nothing else. In rugged and +mountainous countries, an aviator will be under no difficulties at all, +and can, by hovering over the enemy's camp, get an idea of the +defenses, and report back. + +"Thus it will be possible to map out a plan of attack with every chance +of success. There will be no time lost, and lives may be saved from +useless exposure." + +"Do you think airships will ever carry light artillery, or drop bombs +on an enemy?" asked Dick. + +"Well, you could carry small artillery aboard here if you didn't have +so much company," answered the army man. "It is all a question of +weight and size. However, I believe, for the present, the most +valuable aid airships will render will be in the way of scouting. But I +don't want to see a war just for the sake of using our airships. +Though it is well to be prepared to take advantage of their peculiar +usefulness." + +After supper they prepared to spend their first night aboard the +airship on her prize-winning attempt. They decided to cut down the +speed a little. + +"Not that there's much danger of hitting anything," Dick explained, +"though possibly Uncle Ezra and Larson might come up behind and crash +into us. But at slower speed the machinery is not so strained, and +there is less likelihood of an accident." + +"That's right," agreed Mr. Vardon. "And an accident at night, +especially when most of us are asleep, is not so easily handled as when +it occurs in daylight. So slow her down, Dick." + +The motor was set to take them along at thirty miles an hour, and they +descended until they were fifteen hundred feet above the earth, so in +case of the Abaris becoming crippled, she would not have to spend much +time in making a landing. + +Everything was well looked to, and then, with Dick and Mr. Vardon +taking the first watch, the others turned in. And they were so tired +from the rather nervous excitement of the day of the start, that they +were soon asleep. Dick and the aviator took turns at the wheel, and +attended to the necessary adjustments of the various machines. + +It might seem strange for anyone to sleep aboard a moving airship, but, +the truth of the matter was, that our friends were realty worn out with +nervous exhaustion. They had tired themselves out, not only +physically, but mentally, and sleep was really forced on them. +Otherwise they might not have slumbered at all. + +It was shortly past midnight when Dick, who, in spite of his attempts +to keep awake, had partly dozed off, was suddenly aroused by a howl +from Grit. + +"What--what's the matter, old boy?" he asked. "In trouble again?" + +There came another and louder howl. "Where is he?" asked Mr. Vardon, +looking in from the pilot-house. + +"I can't see him," Dick answered. "Can he be out on deck?" + +A moment later there was a flash as of lightning, within the cabin, and +Grit mingled his howls and barks as though in great pain. + +"Something's wrong!" cried the aviator. "Look about, Dick, I can't +leave the wheel. We seem to be going down!" + +The young millionaire sprang up and leaped toward the place where he +had heard Grit howling. The next moment Dick laughed in a relieved +fashion. + +"Where are those rubber gloves?" he asked. + +"Rubber gloves?" repeated Mr. Vardon. + +"Yes. Grit has gotten tangled up in the little dynamo that runs the +headlight, and he's short-circuited. He can stand more of a shock than +I can. I want to get him off the contacts. Where are the gloves?" + +The aviator directed Dick to where the insulating gauntlets were kept, +and in another moment Grit was pulled away from the contact. He had +been unable to move himself, just as when one grasps the handles of a +galvanic battery the muscles become so bound as to be incapable of +motion. + +Fortunately the current, while it made Grit practically helpless, for +the time, was not strong enough to burn, or otherwise injure him. He +gave a howl of protest at the accident, as Dick released him, and +shuffled off to his kennel, after fawning on his master. + +"One of the wires has some of the insulation off--that's what caused +the trouble," Dick explained. "I'll wind some tape on it until we have +time to put in a new conductor." + +"Grit seems to be getting the worst end of it this trip," said Paul, +who had been awakened by the commotion. + +"Yes, he isn't much used to airships," agreed Dick. "But you'd better +turn in, Paul. You've got an hour yet before it's your turn at the +wheel." + +"Oh, better let me have it now. I'm awake, and I can't get to sleep +again. Turn in yourself." + +Which Dick was glad enough to do, as he was quite tired. The remainder +of the night passed without incident, and when morning came the airship +was put at her former speed, fifty miles an hour. That may not sound +very fast, but it must be remembered that this rate had to be kept up +for sixty hours straight, perhaps. + +After breakfast the wire that had shocked Grit was renewed, and then +some observations were taken to determine their position. It was +calculated they were about halfway across Indiana by noon. + +The afternoon was slowly waning, and they were preparing for their +second night of the prize trip, congratulating themselves that they had +not yet been forced to descend. + +Suddenly Larry, who was at the wheel, uttered a cry of alarm. + +"Something's wrong!" he shouted. "I can't steer her on the course any +longer. She's heading North instead of West." + +Dick and Mr. Vardon rushed to the pilot-house. A glance at the compass +confirmed Larry's statement. The aviator himself took the wheel, but +it was impossible to head the craft West. She pointed due North. + +"The horizontal rudder is out of gear!" cried Dick. + +"Yes, and we'll have to go down to fix it," said Mr. Vardon, after a +quick inspection. "Boys, we've got to make our first landing! It's too +bad, but it might be worse." + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +ON LAKE MICHIGAN + +Unsuccessfully they tried to make repairs to the horizontal rudder +without going down, but it was not to be. The airship was being sent +farther and farther along on a Northern course, taking her far out of +her way. And more time and distance might thus be lost than by +descending, making repairs, and going on again. + +"Well, I did hope we'd cover at least half the trip before we had to go +down," Dick said, and his tone was regretful. "Try once more and see +if we can't get her back on the course." + +But the horizontal guide--by which I mean the apparatus that sent the +craft to left or right--was hopelessly jammed. To try to force it +might mean a permanent break. + +"Take her down," Dick finally gave the order, as captain. "What sort +of a landing-place is below us?" + +"We're too far up to see," said Mr. Vardon. + +"And I hope we have the luck to be above open country. We can't go to +left or right except in the smallest degree, so we'll have to land +wherever Fate disposes. We are all right on going up or down, but not +otherwise." + +The vertical rudder was now depressed, and on a long slant Dick's +airship was sent down. Lower and lower she glided, and soon an +indistinct mass appeared. It was almost dusk, and no details could be +made out. Then, as she went lower what appeared to be a gray cloud +showed. + +"There's a bank of fog below us," declared Paul. + +"Or else it's the smoke of Pittsburg," said Innis. + +"We left Pittsburg behind long ago," Larry returned. "Why!" he cried, +as the gray foglike mass became more distinct. "That's water--that's +what it is!" + +"Water!" exclaimed Dick. "Can we have gone in the wrong direction, and +be back over the Atlantic?" + +"Or the Pacific?" suggested Larry with a laugh. + +"No such good luck as that! We haven't had time to cross the continent +yet," declared Dick. "But what water can it be?" + +"Oh, some small lake," spoke Paul. + +"It isn't a small lake--it's a big one--an inland sea," was Dick's +opinion, as they settled lower and lower. + +"It's Lake Michigan, that's what it is!" shouted Larry, after a quick +glance at the map. "Fellows, we're over Lake Michigan!" + +"And we're going to be IN it--or on it--in a little while, I'm +thinking," Lieutenant McBride said, grimly. "Are you ready for a bath?" + +"There won't be any trouble about that," answered Dick. "The +hydroplanes will take care of us. I only hope it isn't too rough to +make a safe landing." + +Paul took a telescope from the rack, and, going out on the deck, looked +down. The next moment he reported: + +"It's fairly calm. Just a little swell on." + +"Then we'd better get ready to lower the hydroplanes," went on Dick, +with a look at the aviator. + +"That's the best thing to do," decided Mr. Vardon. "We'll see how +they'll work in big water." + +The hydroplanes, which were attached to the airship near the points +where the starting wheels were made fast, could be lowered into place +by means of levers in the cabin. The hydroplanes were really +water-tight hollow boxes, large and buoyant enough to sustain the +airship on the surface of the water. They could be lowered to a point +where they were beneath the bicycle wheels, and were fitted with +toggle-jointed springs to take up the shock. + +Lieutenant McBride took out his watch, and with pad and pencil prepared +to note the exact moment when the airship should reach the surface of +the lake. + +"I shall have to take official notice of this," he said. "It +constitutes your first landing, though perhaps it would be more correct +to call it a watering. As soon as you are afloat, your elapsed time +will begin, and it will count until you are in the air again. You will +probably be some time making repairs." + +"No longer than we can help," said Dick. "I don't want Uncle Ezra, or +anybody else, to get ahead of me." + +Down and down sank the Abaris, on her first descent from the cloud-land +since her auspicious start. But, as Dick admitted, it might be worse. +The accident itself was a comparatively slight one. + +"Get ready, everybody!" called Mr. Vardon, as he saw that, in a few +seconds more, they would be on the surface of the water. + +"Do you fear something will go wrong?" asked Larry, quickly. + +"Well, we've never tried the hydroplanes in rough water, and there is +always the chance for an accident. Stand out where you can jump, if +you have to," he directed. + +Lieutenant McBride was standing with his watch out, ready to note the +exact second of landing. He knew he must be officially correct, though +he would give Dick every possible chance and favor. + +"Here we go!" came the cry from the aviator. "Only a few seconds now!" + +They could plainly see the heaving waters of the big lake. Fortunately +it was comparatively calm, though once she had landed the airship could +stand some rough weather afloat. + +Splash! went the hydroplanes into the water. The springs took up the +shock and strain, and the next moment Dick's craft was floating easily +on the great lake. The landing had been made without an accident to +mar it. + +"Good!" cried Lieutenant McBride, as he jotted down the time. "Do you +know how long you have been, so far, Dick, on the trip?" + +"How long?" + +"Just thirty-five hours, four minutes and eight seconds!" was the +answer. + +"Over half the estimated time gone, and we re only a third of the way +there!" exclaimed the young millionaire. "I'm afraid we aren't going +to do it, Mr. Vardon." + +"Well, I'm not going to give up yet," the aviator answered, grimly. +"This is only a start. We haven't used half our speed, and when we get +closer to the finish we can go a hundred and twenty-five miles an hour +if we have to--for a spurt, at any rate. No, I'm not giving up." + +"Neither am I," declared Dick, for he was not of the quitting sort. + +Floating on the surface of Lake Michigan was like being on the ocean, +for they were out of sight of land, and there were no water craft in +view. The Abaris seemed to have the lake to herself, though doubtless +beyond the wall of the slight haze that hemmed her in there were other +vessels. + +"Well, now to see what the trouble is," suggested Dick. "It must be +somewhere in the connecting joints of the levers, for the rudder itself +seems to be all right." + +"But we'd better begin out there and make sure," suggested Mr. Vardon. +He pointed to the rudder, which projected some distance back of the +stern of the aircraft. + +"How you going to get at it to inspect it?" asked Paul. "It isn't as +if we were on solid ground." + +"And no one has long enough a reach to stretch to it from the deck," +added Innis. + +"You forget our collapsible lifeboat," Dick answered. One of those +useful craft was aboard the airship. It could be inflated with air, +and would sustain a considerable weight. + +"I'll go out in that and see what's the trouble," Dick went on. "It +will tell us where we've got to begin." + +"Perhaps we had better wait until morning," suggested Lieutenant +McBride. "It is fast getting dark, and you can do much better work in +daylight. Besides, you are not pressed for time, as your stay here +will not count against you. I think you had better wait until morning." + +"And stay here all night?" asked Dick. + +"I think so. You have proved that your hydroplanes are all right. Why +not rest on the surface of the lake until morning? You can't anchor, +it is true, but you can use a drag, and there seems to be no wind, so +you will not be blown ashore. Besides, you can, to a certain extent, +control yourself with the propellers." + +"I think we will wait then," decided the young millionaire captain. "As +you say we can make a drag anchor to keep us from drifting too much." + +By means of a long rope a drag anchor was tossed out at the stern of +the aircraft. This would serve to hold her back. Then, as nothing +further could be done, preparations were made for supper. + +"Well, this aeroplaning has its ups and downs," said Paul, with a +laugh, as he sat at table. "Last night we were eating up in the air, +and now we're on the water." + +"And it's lucky we're not IN the water!" exclaimed Innis. "Regular +Hamilton luck, I call it." + +"No, it's Vardon luck," Dick insisted. "He planned the hydroplanes +that made it possible." + +Lights were set aglow to show the position of the craft on the water. + +"We don't want to be run down in the night," Dick said, as he noted the +red and green side lights as well as the white ones at bow and stern. +For, in the water, the Abaris was subject to the same rules as were +other lake craft. It was only when in the air that she was largely a +law unto herself. + +The night passed quietly enough, though it came on to blow a little +toward morning. But the drag anchor worked well. + +"And now for the repairs," cried Dick, after breakfast, as he and his +chums got out the collapsible boat. It was blown up, and in it Dick +and Mr. Vardon paddled out to the stern rudders. + +They were examining the universal joint, by which the apparatus was +deflected when Dick suddenly became aware of a wet feeling about his +feet, and a sinking feeling beneath him. He looked down, and found +that the boat, in which he and Mr. Vardon were standing, was going +down. Already it was half filled with water. + +"More trouble!" cried Dick. "I guess we'll have to swim for it!" + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +A HOWLING GALE + +There was no doubt about it. The little craft was going down. Later it +was learned that a leaky valve had allowed the air to escape, and a +break in the boat's rubber sides had let in the water. + +"Come on!" cried Dick. "Overboard, Mr. Vardon!" + +There was really little danger, as both of them could swim, though if +they did not jump out they might be carried down with the boat. + +So, overboard went Dick and his aviator. The collapsible boat sank +with the downward impulse given it when they leaped out, but as it was +moored to the airship by a cable it could be recovered. + +"Say, what is this--a swimming race?" asked Paul, as he tossed Dick a +rope, a like service being performed for Mr. Vardon by Innis. + +"Looks like it--doesn't it?" agreed the young millionaire. "I should +have tested that boat before we went out in it," he added, as he +clambered up, Grit frisking and barking about him in delight. + +"Yes, that's where we made the mistake," agreed Mr. Vardon. "That +rubber must have been cut as it was packed away. Well, we can easily +mend it, so no great harm is done." + +By means of the cable, the sunken boat was pulled to the airship, and +when the water was allowed to run out it was hauled aboard. Then it was +examined, the leak found, and the craft was placed out in the sun to +dry, after which it could be mended. + +"Well, we can't do anything but wait," said Dick, after he had changed +into dry garments. "The break is out on that part of the rudder that's +over the water. We can't reach it without the boat." + +"Then, while we're waiting let's have a swim," proposed Paul. "It will +do us all good." + +"And then we can do some fishing," added Innis. "I'd like some nice +broiled fish. Did you bring any tackle along, Dick?" + +"No, I'm sorry to say I didn't." + +"Then I'll have to rig up some. I'll use some cold canned chicken for +bait." + +"What about a hook?" asked Lieutenant McBride, with a smile. + +"Well, anybody who can build an airship ought to be able to make a fish +hook. I'm going to call on Dick for that," went on Innis. + +"I guess I can file you out one from a bit of steel wire," answered the +young millionaire. + +This was done, after some little labor, and with several of the +improvised barbs, and bait from some of the canned goods, a fishing +party was organized. There was plenty of string, and for leaders, so +that the fish would not bite off the hooks, Innis used some spare banjo +strings. He had brought his instrument along with him. + +The swim was much enjoyed, for the day was warm. The young aviators +sported around in the cool waters of the lake, and several little +spurting races were "pulled off," to use a sporting term. + +I cannot say that the fishing was very successful. A few were caught, +but I imagine the bait used was not just proper. It is difficult to +get canned chicken to stick on a hook, unless you use a piece of +gristle. But some good specimens were caught, and were served for +dinner, being fried on the electric stove. + +All this while the airship floated tranquilly on the surface of the +lake. Several vessels came near, attracted by the strange sight of +Dick's craft, but, by means of a megaphone they were kindly asked not +to approach too near, as the least contact with one of the heavier +craft would damage the Abaris. Through the captain of one craft Dick +sent a message to his father, and Larry a story to his paper. + +"Well, I think that boat must be dry enough to mend now," said Dick, +some time after dinner. "We don't want to spend another night here if +we can help it." + +"No, for the weather might not always be as calm as it is now. The +barometer is falling, and that means a storm, sooner or later," spoke +Mr. Vardon. "And these lake storms can be pretty had when they try." + +It was found that the collapsible boat was dry enough to patch up, and +by means of a rubber cement the hole in the side was closed. + +The leaky intake valve was also repaired, and then, when the peculiar +craft was blown up and tested, it was found to be all right. + +"Now we'll have another try at fixing that rudder," said Dick, as he +and the aviator started once more to paddle to the stern of the +aircraft. + +This time all went well. No water came in the rubber boat, and by +standing up in it the two were able to learn the cause of the trouble +with the rudder. + +It was simple enough--a broken bolt making it impossible to turn it in +a certain direction. As Dick had plenty of spare parts aboard, a new +bolt was soon substituted for the fractured one, and then they were +ready to proceed again. + +"I've a suggestion to make," said Lieutenant McBride, when Dick was +about to give the word to mount into the air again. + +"What is it?" asked the young millionaire. + +"Why not try your boat over the water? While it is not exactly a +hydroplane, yet it has those attachments, and you can probably skim +over the surface of the water as well as float on it. And that might +come in useful in winning the prize. + +"Of course the conditions call for an air flight from New York to San +Francisco, but I believe, in case of emergency, a short water trip +would not count against you? And you might have to make it some time." + +"I'll see what we can do, at any rate," decided Dick. "We will +probably never get a better chance than this. Come on, boys! We'll +see how our hydroplanes act!" he called. + +The only thing that was necessary to do was to start the motor that +operated the propellers. The aircraft was at this time resting easily +on the surface of Lake Michigan. + +She would be driven forward by the propellers beating on the air, +exactly as a sailboat it aided by the wind. Only, in her case, the +Abaris would furnish her own motive power. + +In anticipation of some time having to navigate on the water, a small +auxiliary rudder had been attached to Dick's craft. This rudder went +down into the water, and would be used in steering in conjunction with +those used when she was in the air. + +This wooden rudder was now dropped into the water, tested, and found to +answer properly to the lever which, in the pilot-house, controlled it +by means of wire ropes. + +"Well, let her go!" cried Dick, "and we'll see what sort of luck we'll +have." + +"Which way?" asked Mr. Vardon, who was at the wheel. + +"Why not head for Chicago?" suggested Lieutenant McBride. "We can't be +a great way from there, according to the map, and that would be a good +place to make the new start from." + +"I think it would be," agreed Dick, "if that would be covering the +conditions of the contest." + +"Well, you can easily travel back enough to make up any shortage in +miles," the army man went on. "You still have plenty of time." + +So this was agreed to, and, after a look over the craft to make sure +there were no defects, Mr. Vardon pulled over the lever of the starting +motor. + +With a hum and a buzz, the propellers started, and this time the Abaris +shot forward on the surface of the water, instead of up into the air. + +"She's going!" cried Paul. + +"She sure is doing it!" yelled Innis. + +"Yes, I think she's as successful on the waves as he was in the +clouds," agreed Dick, as he looked at a speed-measuring gage. "We're +hitting up forty miles an hour right now." + +"And that's good speed for a craft of this size in the water, or, +rather, on top of the water," declared Lieutenant McBride. + +For a hydroplane craft, as you probably know, does not go through the +water as a motor-boat does. A regular hydroplane is fitted with a +series of graduated steps, and the front of the boat rises as it skims +over the water. But all hydroplane craft are designed to slip over the +surface of the water, and not to cleave through it. And it was the +former that Dick's craft was doing. + +Faster and faster speed was attained, until there could be no question +about the second success of the young millionaire's airship. If ever +occasion should require that he take to the water, in an emergency, it +could be done. + +"And now for Chicago!" Dick cried, when several hours had been spent in +maneuvering about, each member of the party taking turns at steering. +"And I think we'll go up in the air for that trip," he added. + +"There's an aero club in the outskirts of Chicago," explained +Lieutenant McBride. "I am a member of it, and I think we could make a +call there. It would not be necessary to cross the city, and of course +we will not land." + +It was agreed that this would be a good plan, and Dick, taking the +wheel, sent his craft ahead on the lake at fast speed. + +"Here we go up!" he suddenly cried. Then, yanking over the lever of +the elevating rudder, he sent the Abaris aloft. The rudder for sideway +steering worked perfectly, now that repairs had been made. + +Up, up into the air soared the big biplane, and from the lake she had +left came a blast of saluting whistles from the water-craft that thus +paid tribute to a sister vessel. + +During the wait on the water Dick had purchased from a passing steamer +a supply of gasolene and oil. + +"Now we'll have enough so we won't have to land to take on any more," +he said. "Our provisions are holding out well, and if nothing happens +we can make the trip from here to San Francisco without stop." + +"But we still have one landing to our credit if we need it," said Paul. + +"Oh, yes, but I hope we don't have to use it," went on Dick. "It will +be so much more to our credit if we don't." + +The supposition that they were not far from Chicago proved correct, for +when they had arisen above the mist that suddenly spread over Lake +Michigan, they saw, in the distance, the Windy City. + +A course was laid to circle about it, and not cross it, as that might +complicate matters, and a little later they were within view of the +aviation grounds, of which club Lieutenant McBride was a member. + +He had said there might be a meet in progress, and this proved to be +so. A number of biplanes and monoplanes were circling about, and the +big crowd in attendance leaped to its feet in astonishment at the sight +of the young millionaire's new and powerful craft. + +It was not the intention of Dick and his chums to stop and make a +landing, but they wanted to get some news of other competing craft +which might be trying for the big prize. Accordingly a plan was +evolved by which this could be done. + +The lieutenant wrote out a brief account of their trip, telling of the +stop, and to this Larry added a request that, after it had been read, +it might be telegraphed to his paper. Then information was asked for +in regard to aerial matters. + +"But how are we going to get information from them?" asked Paul. "We +can't get our wireless to working, we can't hear them, even with +megaphones, wig-wagging won't do, and we're not going to land." + +"I've asked them to send up a bunch of toy balloons, carrying any +message they can send us," the lieutenant said. "I think we can +manipulate our craft so as to grab some of the balloons as they float +upward. I've seen it done." + +Little time was lost over this. The message was dropped down in one of +Larry's leather cylinders. It was seen to be picked up and while Dick +and his friends circled about above the aviation grounds their note was +read. An answer was hastily prepared to be sent up as Lieutenant +McBride had suggested. + +Meanwhile a number of the other aeroplanes whizzed past, close to +Dick's. + +"I hope they don't come so close that they'll collide with us," +murmured the young millionaire. But the pilots were skillful. They +tried to shout what were probably congratulations, or questions, at the +trans-continental party, but the motors of the small biplanes made such +a racket it was impossible to hear. + +"Here come the balloons!" cried Dick, as he saw a group tied together +floating upward. "Now to get them! You'd better handle her, Mr. +Vardon." + +"No, you do it, Dick. I'll stand out on deck and try to grab them." + +"We can all reach from windows," suggested Paul, for there were windows +in the cabin. + +Dick was so successful in maneuvering his craft that Mr. Vardon had no +trouble at all in catching the message-carrying toy balloons. The note +was brief. It conveyed the greeting of the aero-club, and stated that +a number of competing craft were on their way west. + +"The Larabee leads, according to last reports," read Innis. + +"That must be Uncle Ezra's machine," murmured Dick. "He's right after +us. Well, we'd better get on our course again." + +"I think so," agreed Mr. Vardon. The Abaris was sent in a Westerly +direction once more, and those aboard settled down to what they hoped +would be the last "lap" of the big race. + +But matters were not destined to be as easy and comfortable as they +hoped for. Soon after supper that night the wind sprang up. It +increased in violence until, at ten o'clock, there was a howling gale, +through which the airship had to fight her way with almost all her +available power. + +"Some wind!" cried Dick, when he went on duty, and, glancing at the +gage noted it to be blowing at seventy miles an hour. + +"Luckily it isn't altogether dead against us," said Mr. Vardon. "As it +is, though, it's cutting down our speed to about twenty miles an hour, +and I don't want to force the engine too much." + +"No," agreed Dick. "It isn't worth while, especially as the gale is +serving the other craft just as it is us." + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +ABLAZE IN THE CLOUDS + +There was small consolation, however, for those aboard Dick's craft, in +the thought that other competing airships were in the same plight as +themselves. For, as the night wore on, the wind seemed to increase in +power. Only the mechanical strength of the Abaris enabled her to +weather the storm. + +"We could not possible do it were it not for the gyroscope stabilizer," +declared Lieutenant McBride. "We would be on our beams ends all the +while. It's a great invention." + +"Well, this certainly is a good test of it," agreed Mr. Vardon, with +pardonable pride. + +Indeed, no more severe strain could have been put upon the apparatus. +There would come a great gust of the tornado, and the ship would begin +to heel over. But the marvelous power of the gyroscope would force her +back again. + +On through the night and through the gale went the airship. So severe +was the storm that it was not deemed wise for any one to remain in his +bunk. So everyone spent the hours of darkness in wakeful watching and +waiting. + +"We want to be ready to act in any emergency," explained Mr. Vardon. +"There's no telling when something may give way under the strain." + +"Well, then we ought to go over all the machinery every ten minutes or +so, and see if anything is wrong," suggested Dick. "We might see the +trouble starting in time to prevent it." + +"Good idea!" cried the lieutenant. "We'll make periodical inspections. +Everyone on the job, as the boys say." + +The task of looking after the machinery was divided up among the young +aviators, and, as the craft was swayed this way and that by the gale, +eager and anxious eyes watched every revolution of the gear wheels, +pistons were minutely inspected in the light of electric torches, and +valves adjusted when they showed the least sign of going wrong. + +Poor Grit seemed to be afraid, which was something new for him. He +would not leave Dick for an instant, but kept at his heels, even when +his master went near the sparking motors and dynamos, which the bulldog +had good reason to fear. But now he seemed more afraid of something +else than the machines that had shocked him. + +"I wonder what's the matter?" spoke the young millionaire. "I never +saw him act this way before. What is it, old boy?" he asked soothingly. + +Grit whined uneasily. + +"Sometimes animals have premonitions," said Mr. Vardon. "I remember +once, in my early days of flying, I took a dog up with me. + +"Everything seemed to be going along fine, but the dog showed signs of +uneasiness, though it wasn't on account of the height, for he'd been up +before. But it wasn't five minutes later before one of my propeller +blades broke off, and I nearly turned turtle before I could make a +landing." + +"I hope nothing like that occurs now," said Larry. "It might make a +good story, but it would be a mighty uncomfortable feeling." + +"I don't anticipate anything," said the aviator. "We seem to be doing +very well. But we are making scarcely any progress, and we are being +blown considerably off our course." + +"We'll make it up when the wind stops," Dick said. "I'm determined to +win that prize!" + +"This is a peculiar storm," Lieutenant McBride observed. "It seems to +be nothing but wind. I'm inclined to think there had been an area of +low pressure about this region, caused possibly by some other storm, +and the air from another region is now rushing in, filling up the +partial vacuum." + +"In that case we might try to rise above it," suggested Mr. Vardon. +"I've often done that. We could go up. It would not be advisable to +go down any lower, as we don't want to run the risk of colliding with +any mountains, and we are getting pretty well to the Northwest now. +Suppose we try to go up?" + +This was agreed on as a wise plan, and Dick, who was taking his turn at +the wheel, shifted the rudder to send his craft up on a long slant. + +But now a new difficulty arose. It seemed that the change in angle +made a heavier wind pressure on the big planes, and the speed of the +airship was reduced to a bare ten miles an hour. In fact she seemed +almost stationary in the air, at times. + +"This won't do!" cried Dick. "We've got to turn on more power, even if +we do strain the machinery. We've got to have more speed than this!" + +"That's right!" cried Mr. Vardon. "I'll turn 'em up, Dick." + +And with the increased speed of the big motor that was whirling the +propellers came increased danger of a break. Vigilance was redoubled, +and they had their reward for their care. + +"Here's something wrong!" cried Innis, as he passed a small dynamo that +supplied current for the electric lights. "A hot bearing!" and he +pointed to where one was smoking. + +"Shut down! Quick!" cried Mr. Vardon. "Throw over the storage battery +switch. That will run the lights until that shaft cools. It must have +run out of oil." + +The dynamo was stopped and as the storage battery was not powerful +enough to operate all the lights for very long, only part of the +incandescents were used, so that the interior of the ship was only +dimly lighted. + +"Use your portable electric torches to examine the machinery in the +dark places," directed the aviator. "We'll use the dynamo again as +soon it cools." + +This machine, going out of commission, had no effect on the progress of +the airship. She was still fighting her way upward, with Dick at the +wheel, and Grit crouching uneasily near him. The dog gave voice, +occasionally, to pitiful whines. + +"What is it, old boy?" asked Dick. "Is something wrong?" + +And Grit's manner showed very plainly that there was. But what it was +no one could guess. + +"How is she coming, Dick?" asked Innis, a little later. "Can I relieve +you?" + +"No, I'm not tired. It's only a nervous sort of feeling. I feel as if +I were trying to push the airship along." + +"I know how it is," murmured the cadet. + +"But just take it easy. How is she doing?" + +"Better, I think. We seem to be gaining a little. If we could only +get above the gale we'd be all right. But it's hard forcing her up. +I'd just like to know how Uncle Ezra is making out." + +As a matter of fact, as Dick learned later, his relative had no easy +time of it. He had gotten off in fair weather, and under good +circumstances, but engine trouble developed after the first few hours, +and, while he and Larson, with the army man, did not have to come down, +they could only fly at slow speed. + +"I don't know what's the matter with the thing," said Larson. "I'm +afraid we'll have to use even a different carburetor." + +"What! And spend more money!" cried Uncle Ezra. "I guess not! No, +sir! Up to date this machine has cost me nigh on to eleven thousand +dollars! I've got it all down." + +"But you'll double your money, and have a fine machine to sell to the +government," said Larson. "It will be all right. Give me money for a +larger carburetor." + +"Well, if I have to I have to, I suppose," sighed the miserly old man. +"But try and make this one do." + +It would not answer, however, and after trying in vain to get more +speed out of the craft, Larson was obliged to use one of the two +allowed descents, and go down to readjust the motor. + +Then when a couple of days had elapsed, though of course this time was +not counted any more than in the case of Dick, another start was made. +The Larabee, as Uncle Ezra had called his craft, seemed to do better, +and at times she showed a spurt of speed that amazed even Larson +himself. They passed several who had started ahead of them. + +"We're sure to get that prize!" he exulted. + +"Well, I cal'alate if we don't there'll be trouble," declared Uncle +Ezra, grimly. + +Then they had run into the storm, as had Dick's craft, and several +other competing ones, and Larson, the army man and Uncle Ezra were in +great difficulties. But they forced their machine on. + +Of course Dick and his friends knew nothing of this at the time, as +several hundred miles then separated the two airships. + +Onward and upward went the Abaris. Now and then she seemed to gain on +the wind, but it was a hard struggle. + +"I think we're going to do it, though," declared Dick, as he went about +with the aviator, looking at and testing the various pieces of +machinery. "Our speed has gone up a little, and the wind pressure +seems less." + +"It is; a little," agreed Mr. Vardon. "But what is worrying me is that +we'll have a lot of lost time and distance to make up when we get out +of this storm. Still, I suppose it can't be helped." + +"Indeed not. We're lucky as it is," admitted the young millionaire. +"But I'm going to get Innis and make some coffee. I think it will do +us all good." + +The electric stove was soon aglow, and a little later the aromatic odor +of coffee pervaded the cabin of the airship. Some sandwiches were also +made. + +And thus, while the craft was fighting her way through the gale, those +aboard ate a midnight lunch, with as good appetites as though they were +on solid ground. For, in spite of the fact that they were in the midst +of danger, they were fairly comfortable. True the aircraft was tilted +upward, for she was still climbing on a steep slant, but they had +gotten used to this. The gyroscope stabilizer prevented any rolling +from side to side. + +"Maybe Grit is hungry, and that's what's bothering him," said Dick, as +he tossed the dog a bit of canned chicken. But though the animal was +usually very fond of this delicacy, he now refused it. + +"That's queer," mused Dick. "I can't understand that. Something +surely must be wrong. I hope he isn't going to be sick." + +"Had we better go any higher?" asked Innis, at the wheel, as he noted +the hand on the gage. "We're up nearly nine thousand feet now, and--" + +"Hold her there!" cried Mr. Vardon. "If we've gone up that far, and we +haven't gotten beyond the gale, there isn't much use trying any more. +We'll ride it out at that level." + +Indeed the Abaris was very high, and some of the party had a little +difficulty in breathing. Grit, too, was affected this way, and it +added to his uneasiness. + +"If we had some means of making the cabin air-tight we could make the +air pressure in here just what we wanted it, regardless of the rarefied +atmosphere outside," said Dick. "In my next airship I'll have that +done." + +"Not a bad idea," agreed Mr. Vardon. "It could be arranged." + +The night was wearing on, and as the first pale streaks of dawn showed +through the celluloid windows of the cabin it was noticed by the wind +gage that the force of the gale was slacking. + +"We've ridden it out!" exulted Dick. "She's a good old airship after +all. Now we can get back on our course. We ought to be crossing the +Rockies soon, and then for the last stage of the trip to San Francisco." + +"Oh, we've got considerable distance yet to cover," said the aviator. +"I fancy we were blown nearly five hundred miles out of our way, and +that's going to take us several hours to make good on." + +"Still you are doing well," said the army man. "No airship has ever +made a trans-continental flight, and there is no speed record to go by. +So you may win after all, especially as the storm was so general." + +It was rapidly getting light now, and as they looked they saw that they +were above the clouds. They were skimming along in a sea of fleecy, +white mist. + +"First call for breakfast!" cried Dick. His tones had scarcely died +away when there came a howl from Grit, who was standing near the +compartment of the main motor. + +"What is the matter with that dog?" asked Dick, in a puzzled voice. +Grit's howl changed to a bark, and at the same moment, Larry Dexter, +who was passing, cried out: + +"Fire! There's a fire in the motor-room! Where are the extinguishers?" + +A black cloud of smoke rushed out, enveloping Grit, who howled dismally. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +THE RIVAL AIRSHIP + +"What did it?" + +"Had we better descend?" + +"Everybody get busy!" + +"Fire extinguishers here!" + +These and other confused cries sounded throughout the airship, +following Larry's alarm. + +"No, don't go down!" shouted Mr. Vardon. "We'll stay up as long as we +can. We'll fight the fire in the air--above the clouds!" + +"Hold her steady, Innis!" called Dick to his chum, who was at the wheel. + +"Steady she is!" was the grim answer. + +And while the Abaris was rushing onward those aboard her prepared to +fight that most deadly of enemies--fire--and at a terrible +disadvantage--nearly ten thousand feet in the air! + +Fortunately preparations had been made for this emergency, and a number +of portable extinguishers were placed in various places on the walls of +the cabin. + +These the young aviators now pulled down and rushed with them to the +motor compartment, from which the black smoke was pouring in greater +volume. + +"Look out for a gasolene explosion!" warned the lieutenant. "Is there +any of it there?" + +"Only a little," answered Mr. Vardon. "The main supply is in the deck +tank. But there is a small can in there for priming the cylinders, in +case we have to." + +"It smells like oil afire," said Larry Dexter. + +"That's what it is--probably some oily waste started by spontaneous +combustion," said Mr. Vardon. + +As he spoke he threw the contents of his extinguisher inside the motor +compartment--it was hardly large enough to be called a room. The smoke +was so black that no blaze could be seen. + +"Open some of the windows!" shouted Paul. "It's choking in here." + +"That's right!" agreed Larry, with a cough and a sneeze. + +"Stoop down--get near the floor of the cabin," ordered the army +lieutenant. "The air is always more pure there." + +He, too, emptied the contents of his extinguisher in the compartment, +and his example was followed by the others. The smoke seemed to be +less now, and much of it went out through the opened windows, which +Paul slid back in their groves. + +"There's the blaze!" cried Dick, as he saw, through the lessening haze +of smoke, some bright, red tongues of fire. + +"Douse it!" cried Paul, handing his chum a fresh extinguisher, for Dick +had used his. + +The young millionaire threw on the chemical powder, for this happened +to be that sort of an extinguisher, and almost instantly there followed +a sharp explosion. + +"Look out!" yelled Dick, ducking instinctively. "I guess this is the +end of everything!" + +But, to the surprise of all, the motor still kept up its hum, and they +could tell, by the "feel" of the craft that she was still progressing. +The gale had now almost completely died out, and the Abaris was making +good time, and on her proper course, when the fire was discovered. + +"The fire is scattered!" Dick yelled, as he rose up and took another +look in the motor-room. "I guess it was only that little tank of +gasolene that went up." Afterward this was found to be so. + +The blazing liquid, however, had scattered all about the motor +compartment. Fortunately the walls were of steel, so that the fiery +stuff could burn itself out without doing much damage. + +"More extinguishers!" yelled Dick, as he saw the spots of fire about +the motor. "First thing we know, some of the insulation will be burned +off, and we'll have a short circuit!" + +The motor-room was almost free of smoke now, and there were only a few +scattered spots of fire. Standing in the entrance, Dick threw the +contents of several extinguishers inside, as they were passed to him, +and he had the satisfaction of seeing the flames gradually choked by +the chemical fumes thus released. + +"Now I guess we're all right," said Mr. Vardon, when no more fire could +be seen. "And the marvel of it is that our motor never stopped!" + +"That's the one thing that saved us from making another descent--our +last," murmured Dick. "That's sure some motor, all right." + +But they were congratulating themselves too soon, it seemed. For, +hardly had Dick spoken than the monotonous whine of the powerful +machine seemed to weaken in tone. It died out--the high note sunk to a +low one, and gradually went out. + +"What's up now?" asked Paul, peering over Dick's shoulder. The motor +compartment was still too hot to enter with safety, and it was also +filled with acrid vapor, from the extinguishers. + +"I--I'm afraid it's going to stop," gasped Dick, for he was out of +breath from his exertions, and from the excitement of the occasion. + +"Stop!" cried Paul. "If she does we'll have to go down!" + +And stop the motor did. There was a sort of final groan or gasp, as if +of apology, and then the wheels stopped revolving and the big +propellers outside the cabin, which had been forcing the craft onward, +gradually ceased their motion. + +"Quick?" shouted Mr. Vardon. "Throw on the self-starter, Dick! We may +catch her before she loses all her momentum!" + +"All right!" answered Dick. He made one jump to the switch that put +into commission the electrical starter. But he was too late to "catch" +the motor. It had died down, and, though the young millionaire made +contact after contact with the copper knife-switch, there was no +response. + +"We're falling!" cried Innis, from the pilot-house, as he noted the +height gage, and saw that the hand was constantly receding. "We're +falling, Dick!" + +"I know it--no help for it," answered our hero, hopelessly. + +The Abaris was certainly going down. When the propellers had ceased to +urge her forward she began to dip toward the earth, even as a stone +falls when the initial impulse from the sling, or the hand of the +thrower, is lost. + +Foot by foot she dropped, and those aboard her looked helplessly at one +another. They had made a brave fight against the fire, but it seemed +to have gone for naught. They could not keep up with the motor stalled +as it was. + +"I guess we'll have to make another landing," said Innis, as he +remained at the wheel. + +Of course they were entitled to one more, but it would be the last, and +a long and hard part of their trans-continental flight was still ahead +of them. If they went down this time, and, after making repairs, came +up into the air once more, they would not, under the rules, be allowed +to land again before reaching San Francisco. + +"It's tough luck, but I guess we'll have to do it," said Larry Dexter. + +"Maybe not!" Dick cried. "I have an idea." + +"What is it? Tell us quick!" begged Innis, for he, as well as all of +Dick's friends, wanted to see him win the prize. + +"I think the insulation has been burning off some of the wires of the +motor," was his answer. "That would make a short circuit and put it +out of business. Now if we can only keep afloat long enough to change +those wires, we may be able to start the motor again, and keep on our +way before we touch ground." + +"You've struck it!" cried Mr. Vardon. "Dick, you take charge of the +wheel--you and any of your friends you want. I'll look over the motor, +and make repairs if I can." + +"And they'll have to be made pretty soon," called out Innis from the +pilot-house. "We're falling fast." + +"Throw her nose up," cried Dick. "That's what we've got to do to save +ourselves. We'll volplane down, and maybe we can keep up long enough +to have Mr. Vardon put in new wires in place of the burned-out ones. +If he can do that, and if we can start the motor--" + +"It sounds too good to be true," said Innis. "But get in here, Dick, +and see what you can do. You've got to volplane as you never did +before." + +"And I'm going to do it!" cried the young millionaire. + +The motor-room was now free from smoke, and the fire was out. A pile +of charred waste in one corner showed where it had started. + +"That's the trouble--insulation burned off!" cried Mr. Vardon, as he +made a quick inspection. "I think I can fix it, Dick, if you can keep +her up long enough. Take long glides. We're up a good height, and +that will help solve." + +Then began a curious battle against fate, and, not only a struggle +against adverse circumstances, but against gravitation. For, now that +there was no forward impulse in the airship, she could not overcome the +law that Sir Isaac Newton discovered, which law is as immutable as +death. Nothing can remain aloft unless it is either lighter than the +air itself, or unless it keeps in motion with enough force to overcome +the pull of the magnet earth, which draws all things to itself. + +I have told you how it is possible for a body heavier than air to +remain above the earth, as long as it is in motion. It is this which +keeps cannon balls and airships up--motion. Though, of course, +airships, with their big spread of surface, need less force to keep +them from falling than do projectiles. + +And when the motor of an airship stops it is only by volplaning down, +or descending in a series of slanting shifts, that accidents are +avoided. + +This, then, is what Dick did. He would let the airship shoot downward +on a long slant, so as to gain as much as possible. Then, by throwing +up the head-rudder, he would cause his craft to take an upward turn, +thus delaying the inevitable descent. + +All the while this was going on Mr. Vardon, aided by Lieutenant +McBride, was laboring hard to replace the burned-out wires. He worked +frantically, for he knew he had but a few minutes at the best. From +the height at which they were when the motor stopped it would take them +about ten minutes to reach the earth, holding back as Dick might. And +there was work which, in the ordinary course of events, would take +twice as long as this. + +"I'm only going to make a shift at it," explained the aviator. "If I +can only get in temporary wires I can replace them later." + +"That's right," agreed the army man. + +"How you making it, Dick?" asked Larry, as he came to the door of the +pilot-house. + +"Well, I've got five hundred feet left. If he can't get the motor +going before we go down that far--" + +Dick did not finish, but they all knew what he meant. + +"Another second and I'll have the last wire in!" cried Mr. Vardon. "Do +your best, Dick." + +"I'm doing it. But she's dipping down fast." + +"Oh, for a dirigible balloon now!" cried the lieutenant. "We could +float while making repairs." + +But it was useless to wish for that. They must do the best they could +under the circumstances. + +"There she is! The last wire in!" shouted the aviator. "How much +space left, Dick?" + +"About two hundred feet!" + +"That may do it. Now to see if the self-starter will work!" + +Eagerly he made a jump for the switch. He pulled it over. There was a +brilliant blue spark, as the gap was closed. + +The electrical starter hummed and whined, as if in protest at being +obliged to take up its burden again. + +Then, with a hum and a roar, the motor that had stalled began to +revolve. Slowly at first, but soon gathering speed. + +"Throw in the propeller clutch!" yelled Dick. "We're going right +toward a hill, and I can't raise her any more." + +"In she goes!" yelled Lieutenant McBride, as he pulled on the lever. + +There was a grinding of gears as the toothed wheels meshed, and the big +wooden propellers began to revolve. + +"There she goes!" cried Mr. Vardon. + +The Abaris, which had almost touched the earth, began to soar upward +under the propelling influence. Dick tilted back the elevating plane +as far as he dared. + +Had the motive power come in time, or would they land on the hill? + +But success was with them. Up went the big airship. Up and up, flying +onward. Her fall had been checked. + +And only just in time, for they went over the brow of the hill but with +a scant twenty feet to spare. So close had they come to making a +landing. + +"I congratulate you!" cried Lieutenant McBride. "I thought surely you +would go down." He had out his pencil and paper to make a note of the +time of landing. It would have been the last one allowed, and it would +seriously have handicapped Dick. But he had escaped, and still had +some reserve to his credit. + +"And now I guess we can eat," said the young millionaire, with a sigh +of relief. + +"A quick bite, only," stipulated Mr. Vardon. "Some of those wires I +put in last are a disgrace to an electrician. I want to change them +right away. They won't stand the vibration." + +"Well, coffee and sandwiches, anyhow," said Dick, and the simple meal +was soon in progress. + +Steadily the airship again climbed up toward the clouds, from which she +had so nearly fallen. And with a sandwich and a cup of coffee beside +him, Mr. Vardon worked at the wires, putting in permanent ones in place +of the temporary conductors. This could be done without stopping the +motor. + +"I wonder if it was the fire Grit was anticipating all the while he +acted so queer?" asked Innis. + +"I don't know--but it was something," Dick said. "I shouldn't wonder +but what he did have some premonition of it. Anyhow, you gave the +alarm in time, old boy!" and he patted his pet on the back. + +Grit waved his tail, and barked. He seemed himself again. + +It took some time to make good the damage done by the fire, and it was +accomplished as the airship was put back on her course again, and sent +forward toward the Pacific coast. They were all congratulating +themselves on their narrow escape from possible failure. + +It was that same afternoon, when Mr. Vardon had finished his task, that +something else happened to cause them much wonderment. + +The motor was again in almost perfect condition, and was running well. +Most of the party were out on the deck behind the cabin, enjoying the +air, for the day had been hot, and they were tired from fighting the +tire. + +Suddenly Grit, who was in the pilot-house with Dick, ran out into the +main cabin, and, looking from one of the windows, which he could do by +jumping up in a chair, he began to bark violently. + +"Well, what's the matter now?" demanded Dick. "Is it another fire?" + +Grit barked so persistently that Dick called to Paul: + +"See what ails him; will you? He must have caught sight of something +out of the window." + +"I should say he had!" yelled Paul, a moment later. "Here's a rival +airship after us, Dick!" + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +AN ATTACK + +Paul's announcement created considerable excitement. Though they had +covered a large part of their trip, the young aviators had not yet seen +any of their competitors. As a matter of fact, Dick's craft was among +the first to get away in the trans-continental race. But he had feared, +several times, that he might be overtaken by lighter and speedier +machines. + +Now, it seemed, his fears were about to be realized. For the big +biplane that Grit had first spied, could be none other than one of +those engaged in a try for the twenty-thousand-dollar prize. They were +now nearing the Rockies, and it was not likely that any lone aviator +would be flying in that locality unless he were after the government +money. + +"Another airship; eh?" cried Dick. "Let me get a look at her! Someone +take the wheel, please." + +"I'll relieve you," offered Lieutenant McBride, whose official duties +allowed him to do this. "Go see if you can make out who she is, Dick." + +The approaching craft had come up from the rear, and to one side, so +she could not be observed from the pilot-house in front. + +Catching up a pair of powerful field-glasses, Dick went to where Paul +stood with Grit, looking out of the celluloid window. By this time +some of the others had also gathered there. + +"It's a big machine all right," murmured Innis. + +"And there are three aviators in her," added Paul. + +"Can you make out who they are, Dick?" asked Larry Dexter. + +"No, they have on protecting helmets and goggles," replied the young +millionaire, as he adjusted the binoculars to his vision. "But I'm +sure I know that machine!" + +"Whose is it?" Innis wanted to know. + +"Well, I don't want to be too positive, but I'm pretty certain that's +my Uncle Ezra's craft," replied Dick, slowly. + +"Great Scott!" cried Paul. "Is it possible? Oh, it's possible all +right," Dick made answer, "but I did not think he would really take +part in this race. However, he seems to have done so. I can't make +him out, but that's just the shape of his airship, I can tell by the +mercury stabilizer Larson has put on." + +"Well, it looks as if we'd have a race," observed Mr. Vardon. + +"He sure is speeding on," mused Dick. + +"But he may be away behind his schedule," put in Larry. + +"That won't make any difference," the young millionaire said. "He +started after we did, and if he gets to San Francisco ahead of us, and +with only two landings, he'll win the prize. That stands to reason. +He's making better time than we are." + +Mr. Vardon took the glasses from Dick, and made a long observation. +When he lowered them he remarked: + +"I think that is the craft Larson built, all right. And it certainly +is a speedy one. He must have met more favorable conditions, of late, +than we did, or he never could have caught up to us." + +"I guess so," agreed Dick. "Now the point is; What can we do?" + +"Speed up--that's the only thing I see to do," came from the aviator. +"We still have one landing left us, but we don't need to use it unless +we have to. We have fuel and oil enough for the trip to San Francisco. +Speed up, I say, and let's see if we can't get away from him." + +"We've got a heavier machine, and more weight aboard," spoke Dick. + +"Say, can't you drop us off?" cried Paul. "That would lighten you a +whole lot. Let Innis and me go!" + +"I'll drop off, too, if it will help any," Larry Dexter offered. + +"And be killed?" asked Mr. Vardon. + +"Not necessarily. You could run the airship over some lake, or river, +lower it as close as possible, and we could drop into the water. We +can all swim and dive. You could drop us near shore, we could get out +and make our way to the nearest town. That would leave you with less +load to carry." + +"I wouldn't think of it!" cried Dick. + +"Why not?" asked Innis. + +"In the first place I want my airship to do what I built it for--carry +this party across the continent. If it can't do that, and in time to +at least give me a chance for the government prize, I'm going to have +one that can. In the second place, even if your going off would help +me to win, I wouldn't let you take the risk. + +"No, we'll stick together. I think I can get away from Uncle Ezra, if +that's who is in that biplane. We can run up our speed considerable. +We haven't touched the extreme limit yet." + +"Well, if you won't you won't--that settles it," said Paul. "But if +you're going to speed you'd better begin. He is sure coming on." + +Indeed the other aircraft was rushing toward them at a rapid rate. It +had been some distance in the rear when first sighted, but now the +three figures aboard were plainly discernable with the naked eye. + +"Speed her up!" called Dick. "We've got to leave him if we can." + +Gradually the Abaris forged on more rapidly. But it seemed as if those +in the other craft were waiting for something like this. For they, +too, put on more power, and were soon overhauling the larger airship. + +"They've got an awful lot of force in a light craft," observed +Lieutenant McBride. "She's over engined, and isn't safe. Even if your +uncle gets in ahead of you, Dick, I will still maintain that you have +the better outfit, and the most practical. I don't see how they can +live aboard that frail craft." + +It certainly did not look very comfortable, and afterward Uncle Ezra +confessed that he endured many torments during the trip. + +The race was on in earnest. They were over the Rockies now, and at the +present rate of speed it would be only a comparatively short time +before they would be at the Pacific coast. + +"If I only knew how many landings he had made I wouldn't be so +worried," said Dick. "If he's had more than two he's out of it, +anyhow, and I wouldn't strain my engine." + +"We'd better keep on," advised Mr. Vardon, and they all agreed to this. + +Toward the close of the afternoon the Larabee, which they were all sure +was the name of the craft in the rear, came on with a rush. Her speed +seemed increased by half, and she would, it was now seen, quickly pass +the Abaris. + +"Well, they're going ahead of us," sighed Dick. "Uncle Ezra did better +than I thought he would." + +Neither he nor any of the others were prepared for what happened. For +suddenly the other airship swooped toward Dick's craft, in what was +clearly a savage attack. Straight at the Abaris, using all her speed, +came Uncle Ezra's airship. + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +THE WRECK + +"What do they mean?" + +"What's their game, anyhow?" + +"They'll ram us if they don't look out!" + +"Maybe they've lost control of her!" + +"Dick, if that's your uncle, tell him to watch where he's going!" + +Thus cried those aboard the aircraft of the young millionaire as they +watched the oncoming of the rival craft. She was certainly coming +straight at them. It was intentional, too, for Mr. Vardon, who was at +the wheel of the Abaris, quickly changed her course when he saw what +was about to happen, and the other pilot could have had plenty of room +to pass in the air. + +Instead he altered his direction so as to coincide with that of Dick's +craft. + +"They must be crazy!" + +"If they'll hit us we'll go to smash, even if she is a lighter machine +than ours!" + +Thus cried Paul and Innis as they stood beside Dick. + +"It's my Uncle Ezra, all right," murmured the wealthy youth. "I can +recognize him now, in spite of his helmet and goggles. But what in the +world is he up to, anyhow? He can't really mean to ram us, but it does +look so." + +The two airships were now but a short distance apart, and in spite of +what Mr. Vardon could do, a collision seemed inevitable. The fact of +the matter was that the Larabee, being smaller and lighter, answered +more readily to her rudders than did the Abaris. + +"We've got to have more speed, Dick!" called the aviator. "I'm going +to turn about and go down. It's the only way to get out of their way. +They're either crazy, or bent on their own destruction, as well as +ours. Give me more speed, Dick! All you can!" + +"All right!" answered the young millionaire. "We'll do our best to get +out of your way, Uncle Ezra!" + +As Dick hastened to the motor-room, Grit trotted after him, growling in +his deep voice at the mention of the name of the man he so disliked. + +Dick realized the emergency, and turned the gasolene throttle wide +open. With a throb and a roar, the motor took up the increase, and +whirled the big propellers with mighty force. + +Then, in a last endeavor to prevent the collision, Mr. Vardon sent the +craft down at a sharp slant, intending to dive under the other. + +But this move was anticipated by Larson, who was steering the Larabee. + +He, too, sent his craft down, but just when a collision seemed about to +take place, it was prevented by Mr. Vardon, who was a more skillful +pilot. + +The propellers of the Abaris worked independently, on a sort of +differential gear, like the rear wheels of an automobile. This enabled +her to turn very short and quickly, by revolving one propeller in one +direction, and one in the opposite, as is done with the twin screws of +a steamer. + +And this move alone prevented what might have been a tragedy. But it +was also the cause of a disaster to Dick's aircraft. + +With a rush and a roar the Larabee passed over the Abaris as she was so +suddenly turned, and then something snapped in the machinery of the big +airship. She lost speed, and began to go down slightly. + +"Did they hit us?" cried Dick, in alarm. + +"No, but we've broken the sprocket chain on the port propeller," +answered Mr. Vardon. + +"We'll have to be content with half speed until we can make repairs. +Come now, everybody to work. Those crazy folks may come back at +us--that is begging your pardon for calling your uncle crazy, Dick." + +"You can't offend me that way. He MUST be crazy to act the way he did. +I can't understand it. Of course Larson was steering, but my uncle +must have given him orders to do as he did, and try to wreck us." + +"I shall report whoever the army man was that did not make an attempt +to stop their attack on us," declared Lieutenant McBride, bitterly. "I +don't know who was assigned to the Larabee, but he certainly ought to +be court-martialed." + +"Perhaps no army representative was aboard at all," suggested Paul. + +"There were three persons on the airship," said Larry. "I saw them." + +"And the race would not be counted unless an army representative was +aboard," declared Lieutenant McBride. "So they would not proceed +without one. No, he must have been there, and have entered into their +plot to try and wreck us. I can't understand it!" + +"They've evidently given it up, whatever their game was," called Innis. +"See, there they go!" + +He pointed to the other airship, which was now some distance away, +going on at good speed, straight for San Francisco. Both craft were +now high in the air, in spite of the drop made by the Abaris, and they +were about over some of the mountains of Colorado now; just where they +had not determined. They were about eight hundred miles from San +Francisco, as nearly as they could calculate. + +"They're trying to get in first," said Dick. "Maybe, after all, they +just wanted to frighten us, and delay us." + +"Well, if that was their game they've succeeded in delaying us," said +Mr. Vardon, grimly. "We're reduced to half speed until we get that +propeller in commission again. There's work for all of us. Reduce +sped, Dick, or we may tear the one good blade off the axle." + +With only half the resistance against it, the motor was now racing +hard. Dick slowed it down, and then the work of repairing the broken +sprocket chain and gear was undertaken. + +It was not necessary to stop the airship to do this. In fact to stop +meant to descend, and they wanted to put that off as long as possible. +They still had the one permitted landing to their credit. + +The propellers, as I have said, could be reached from the open deck, +and thither Mr. Vardon, Dick, and Lieutenant McBride took themselves, +while Paul, Innis and Larry would look after the progress of the craft +from the pilot-house and motor-room. + +Slowly Dick's airship went along, just enough speed being maintained to +prevent her settling. She barely held her own, while, far ahead of +her, and fast disappearing in the distance, could be seen the other +craft--that carrying Uncle Ezra. + +"I guess it's all up with us," murmured Paul, as he went to the wheel. + +"No, it isn't!" cried Dick. "I'm not going to give up yet! We can +still make time when we get the repairs made, and I'll run the motor +until her bearings melt before I give up!" + +"That's the way to talk!" cried the army man. "And we're all with you. +There's a good chance yet, for those fellows must be desperate, or +they'd never have tried what they did. My opinion is that they hope to +reach San Francisco in a last dash, and they were afraid we'd come in +ahead of them. But I can't understand how that army man aboard would +permit such a thing. It is past belief!" + +It was no easy task to make the repairs with the airship in motion. +Spare parts, including a sprocket chain, were carried aboard, but the +work had to be done close to the other revolving propeller, and, as +slowly as it was whirling about, it went fast enough to cause instant +death to whoever was hit by it. So extreme caution had to be used. + +To add to the troubles it began to rain violently, and a thunderstorm +developed, which made matters worse. Out in the pelting storm, with +electrically-charged clouds all about them, and vivid streaks of +lightning hissing near them, the aviators worked. + +They were drenched to the skin. Their hands were bruised and cut by +slipping wrenches and hammers. Their faces were covered with black +grease, dirt and oil. But still they labored on. The storm grew +worse, and it was all the Abaris could do to stagger ahead, handicapped +as she was by half power. + +But there were valiant hearts aboard her, and everyone was imbued with +indomitable courage. + +"We're going to do it!" Dick cried, fiercely, and the others echoed his +words. + +Finally, after many hours of work, the last rivet was driven home, and +Mr. Vardon cried: + +"There we are! Now then, full speed ahead!" + +The repaired propeller was thrown into gear. It meshed perfectly, and +once more the Abaris shot ahead under her full power. + +"Speed her up!" cried Dick, and the motor was put to the limit. But +much precious time had been lost. Could they win under such adverse +circumstances? It was a question each one asked himself. + +Darkness came on, and the tired and weary aviators ate and slept. The +night passed, a clear, calm night, for the storm had blown itself out. +High over the mountains soared the airship through the hours of +darkness. She was fighting to recover what she had lost. + +And when morning came they calculated they were but a few hundred miles +from San Francisco. + +Paul, who had gone to the pilot-house to relieve Innis, gave a startled +cry. + +"Look! Look!" he shouted. "There's the other airship!" + +And as the others looked they saw, ahead of them, emerging from the +midst of a cloud, Uncle Ezra's speedy craft. And, as they looked, they +saw something else--something that filled them with horror. + +For, as they gazed at the craft which had so nearly, either by accident +or design, wrecked them, they saw one of the big side planes crumple +up, as does a bird's broken wing. Either the supports had given way, +or a sudden gust of air strained it too much. + +"They're falling!" cried Dick, hoarsely. + +The other airship was. The broken plane gave no support on that side, +and as the motor still raced on, whirling the big propellers, the +Larabee, unevenly balanced, in spite of the mercury stabilizers, tilted +to one side. + +Then, a hopeless wreck, she turned over and plunged downward toward the +earth. Her race was over. + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +SAVING UNCLE EZRA + +For a moment those aboard Dick's airship uttered not a sound. Then, as +they saw the rival craft sifting slowly downward, gliding from side to +side like a sheet of paper, they looked at one another with horror in +their eyes. It seemed such a terrible end. + +Dick was the first to speak. + +"We'll have to go down and help them," he said simply. "Some of them +may be--alive!" + +It meant stopping the race, it meant making the last of the two +landings allowed them. And it was a landing in a wild and desolate +place, seemingly, for there was no sign of city or town below them. And +just now, after her repairs, when everything was running smoothly, it +behooved Dick and his associates to take advantage of every mile and +minute they could gain. Otherwise some other craft might get in ahead +of them. + +Yet Dick had said they must go down. There was no other course left +them, in the name of humanity. As the young millionaire had observed, +some of those in the wrecked airship might be alive. They might +survive the fall, great as it was. + +"Send her down, Mr. Vardon," said Dick quietly. "We may be able to +save some of them." + +If he thought that possibly he was losing his last chance to win the +trans-continental race, he said nothing about it. + +The motor was shut off, and there was silence aboard the Abaris. No one +felt like talking. As they volplaned downward they saw the wreck of +the Larabee strike the outer branches of a big tree, and then turn over +again before crashing to the ground. + +"She may catch fire from the gasolene," said Dick, in a tense voice. +"We ought to hurry all we can." + +"I could go down faster," said Mr. Vardon, "by starting up the motor. +But I don't like to until I see what sort of landing ground we'll have." + +"No, it's wiser to go a bit slowly," agreed Lieutenant McBride. "We +must save ourselves in order to save them--if possible. It's a +terrible accident!" + +As they came nearer earth they saw a comparatively smooth and level +spot amid a clearing of trees. It was not far from where the wreck +lay, a crumpled-up mass. Down floated the Abaris gently, and hardly +had she ceased rolling along on her wheels that Dick and the others +rushed out to lend their aid to Uncle Ezra and the others. + +Dick's uncle lay at some little distance from the broken craft. + +"He's alive," said his nephew, feeling of the old man's heart. "He's +still breathing." + +Lieutenant Wilson, as the name of the army officer on the Larabee was +learned later to be, seemed quite badly injured. He was tangled up in +the wreckage, and it took some work to extricate him. Larson was the +most severely hurt. He was tenderly placed to one side. Fortunately +the wreck had not caught fire. + +"Let's see if we can revive them," suggested Lieutenant McBride, +nodding toward Uncle Ezra and his fellow soldiers. "Then we will +consider what is best to do." + +Simple restoratives were carried aboard Dick's airship, and these were +given to Uncle Ezra, who revived first. He opened his eyes and sat up. + +"Where--where am I?" he stammered. "Did I win the race?" + +"No, Uncle Ezra, I'm sorry to say you didn't," answered Dick, gently. +"There was an accident, and your airship is smashed." + +The old man slowly looked over to the crumpled mass of planes and +machinery, and then, slowly and painfully, for he was much bruised, he +pulled a note-book from his pocket. Leafing over the pages he +announced: + +"Busted to smithereens, and she cost me exactly eleven thousand five +hundred and thirty-three dollars and nineteen cents! Oh, what a lot of +money!" And the expression on his face was so painful that Dick felt +inclined to laugh, solemn as the occasion was. But he restrained +himself. + +"Where's that fellow Larson?" asked Uncle Ezra. + +"Badly hurt," said Dick, quietly. + +"Oh, well, then I won't say anything," murmured the old man. "Oh, what +a trip it was!" + +"Are you much hurt?" asked Dick. + +It did not appear that his uncle was. The fall had been a lucky one +for him. His helmet had protected his head, and he had on two suits of +clothes, well padded. The others were dressed likewise, but it had not +saved Larson. + +Lieutenant Wilson's most serious injury was a broken leg, but he was +also otherwise hurt. He soon recovered consciousness, and said: + +"Please don't misjudge me. I could not stop Larson from trying to ram +you. He was insane, I guess. We have had a terrible time with him. +He was mad to try to win this race. We remonstrated with him when he +sailed toward you, but he said he was only trying to show you what a +superior machine he had, and how much better his mercury stabilizers +worked than your gyroscope. But I really fear he meant you some +injury." + +"I think so, too," said Lieutenant McBride, "and I am glad to learn no +one else was in the plot." + +"And his own foolish actions were the cause of this wreck," went on +Lieutenant Wilson. "He said he was sure of winning after he had left +you behind, and he wanted to try some experiments in quick turns. He +made one too quick, and broke off one of the planes." + +"Well, we must consider what is to be done," said Mr. Vardon. "We must +get you all to a hospital and a doctor, at once." + +"Don't mind about me," replied Lieutenant Wilson, gamely. "If you can +send me help, do so, but don't delay here. Go on and win the race. +You have the best chance, I believe." + +"We don't go on until we see you cared for," spoke Dick. "We would +take you all with us, only it might endanger you." + +"Well, I wish you'd take me!" exclaimed Uncle Ezra, limping about. "I +want to get back home. Nephew Richard, I'm sorry I tried to beat you +in this race." + +"That's all right, Uncle Ezra," answered the young millionaire. "You +had as good a right to try for the prize as I did." + +"But I want to say I didn't have no hand in trying to butt into you," +went on Mr. Larabee. "It was all that--that unfortunate man's idea," +he added more softly, as he gazed at Larson who was still unconscious. +"Dick, will you forgive me, and shake hands?" + +"Surely, Uncle Ezra," and as their hands met, Grit, who had been eyeing +Mr. Larabee narrowly, uttered a joyful bark, and actually wagged his +tail at Uncle Ezra. + +"Grit, you shake hands, too," ordered Dick, and though Uncle Ezra was a +little diffident at first, he grasped the extended paw of the bulldog. +They were friends for the first time. + +"We could take Uncle Ezra in the airship," said Paul, after a pause, +"and if we could only send out a call for help for Lieutenant Wilson +and Larson, they would be looked after." + +"There's an army post not far from here," spoke Wilson. "If you could +make a trip there--" + +"We'd have to land again, to summon aid, and this is the last stop we +are allowed in the race," said Mr. Vardon. "I don't see how--" + +"Your wireless!" interrupted Lieutenant McBride. "We can send out a +call to the army post by that--if they have a wireless station." + +"They have," answered Lieutenant Wilson, as his fellow officer looked +at him. "If you will summon aid from there, we will be well taken care +of." + +"Good!" cried Dick. "That problem is solved." + +The wireless apparatus was brought out, the small balloon inflated, and +it carried aloft the aerials. Then, while the call for aid was being +sent out, Lieutenants Wilson and Larson were made as comfortable as +possible, and some of Uncle Ezra's scratches and bruises were looked +after. + +"No more airships for me," he said bitterly, though with a chastened +spirit. "I'm going to stick to farming, and my woolen mill. Just +think of it--over eleven thousand dollars in that pile of--junk!" and +he shook his head sadly at the wreck of his airship. + +"We'll take you on to San Francisco with us, if you like," said Dick. +"You can see us win the race--if we can," he added. + +"You still have an excellent chance," said Lieutenant McBride. "My +advice to you would be to remain here a few days to rest up and make +sure all your machinery is in good order. The time will not count +against you. By that time the injured ones will be cared for. Then +you can go on again and complete the course. You have enough oil and +gasolene, have you not?" + +"We could ask that some be brought from the army post, if we have not," +Dick answered. "I think we will adopt that plan.'' + +"And I--I hope you win," said Uncle Ezra. "I'd like to see that twenty +thousand dollars come into the family, anyhow," he added, with a +mountainous sigh. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +WITH UNCLE EZRA'S HELP + +"We're off!" + +"On the last lap!" + +"No more landings!" + +Thus cried Innis, Paul and Larry as they stood in the cabin of the +airship. Once more they were on the flight. + +"This train makes no stops this side of San Francisco!" cried Dick +Hamilton, after the manner of the conductor of a Limited. "That is, I +hope we don't," he added with a grim smile. "If we do it will cost me +twenty thousand dollars." + +"Quite an expensive stop," observed Lieutenant McBride. + +"Don't think of it!" said Uncle Ezra. "Nephew Richard, after my +failure, you've just GOT to win that prize." + +"I'll try," Dick answered. + +It was several days after the events narrated in the last chapter. The +wireless, sending out its crackling call, had brought speedy help from +the army post, and the two lieutenants were taken to the hospital by +their fellow soldiers. + +Larson recovered consciousness before Dick and his friends left, but +was delirious, and practically insane. They had to bind him with ropes +to prevent him doing himself and others an injury. His mind had been +affected for some time, it was believed. + +Some time later, I am glad to say, he recovered, in a sanitorium, +though he was always lame from the accident. He was a much different +man, however, and begged Dick's forgiveness for trying to collide with +him. Lieutenant Wilson made a quick recovery, and, in spite of the +mishap, still kept up his interest in aviation, winning much fame for +himself. + +The army officers, who came to attend the injured ones, brought Dick +some supplies and gasolene. + +Uncle Ezra begged that some part of his wrecked airship be saved, but +it was impossible. There was little left that was worth anything, and +Dick, by taking his uncle as an extra passenger, added enough weight as +it was, so that no parts of the Larabee could be taken along. + +"I might have saved a little," said Uncle Ezra, with a sigh. "I've +lost a pile of money!" But he realized that it was out of the question. + +The Abaris had been gone over minutely, and put in excellent shape for +her final dash. She was taken to the edge of a sloping table-land and +there once more launched into space. Before that, however, Lieutenant +Wilson had been taken back to the army post, and Larson sent to the +hospital. Lieutenant Wilson wished Dick and his friends all sorts of +good luck. + +Then, with Uncle Ezra aboard, the start was made. There was some +crowding, because of the extra passenger, and his valise, which he +insisted on bringing with him, but this could be borne. + +"We ought to make San Francisco in three hours now," said Dick, when +they were up in the air once more. + +Uncle Ezra was frankly delighted with his nephew's craft. He did not +even say it was wasteful, when Dick told him how much she cost. + +"I know airships are terrible expensive--terrible!" said Mr. Larabee, +as he looked at the note-book in which he had jotted down every item of +money paid for his own. + +That Larson had wasted money, and used much of what was given him for +his own purposes was very evident. But it was too late to think of +that now. + +Uncle Ezra told of their experiences in crossing the continent. They +had really had excellent luck, and in the hands of a better aviator, or +one more dependable, the Larabee might have won the race. She was +really a good biplane, but could only carry three, and then with no +comfort at all, as compared to Dick's. But the mercury stabilizers +worked fairly well, though not as good as the gyroscope. + +"Yes, I was sorry, more than once, that I ever left Dankville," Uncle +Ezra said, "but Larson wouldn't let me stop. He kept right on. I'm +sure he was crazy." + +On and on rushed the Abaris. She was racing against time now, and +every minute and mile counted. While down on the ground, helping save +Uncle Ezra, Dick had, by wireless, communicated with the army +authorities in San Francisco, telling them he was coming on the last +stage, and asking that a landing-place be designated. This was done, +Presido Park Reservation, on the outskirts of the city being named as +the spot where the craft could officially come down. + +"We'll soon be there," remarked Dick, who was at the wheel. It was +afternoon, and by computation they were not more than ninety miles from +their goal. + +"See anything of any other craft?" asked Paul of his chum. + +"Take a look, Innis," suggested the young millionaire. "We might get a +race at the last minute." + +Innis swept the horizon with the glasses. + +"There's something coming behind us," he said. "I can't tell whether +it's a big bird, or an airship." + +A little later, however, the speck in the blue sky was made out to be a +big biplane, rushing onward. + +"They're probably trying for the prize," said Dick. "Of course we +don't know anything about their time and stops, but, just the same, I'm +going to beat her in, if I can. We'll run the motor under forced +speed, Mr. Vardon, and feed her heated gasolene." + +"That's the idea!" cried the aviator. "That ought to help some." + +The motor was so adjusted as to take heated gasolene, the liquid +vaporizing and exploding better than when cold. The Abaris rushed on +at increased speed. + +But so, also, came on behind her the other airship. As Dick had said, +that craft might have no chance, having used up more than her limit of +stops, or having consumed more elapsed time than had he. But, for all +that, he was taking no chances. + +The other craft was a swift one. That was easily seen as it slowly +crept up on Dick. The speed of each was terrific. The gages showed +ninety-five miles an hour for the Abaris. At that rate the city of +Oakland, just across the bay from San Francisco, was soon sighted. + +And then something happened that nearly put Dick out of the race. His +motor suddenly stopped, and all efforts to start it proved futile. + +"We've got to go down!" cried our hero, "and within sight of the goal, +too! This is fierce!" + +"What's the trouble?" asked Larry. + +"Not a drop of gasolene left!" said Mr. Vardon, with a tragic gesture, +as he made an examination. "There's a leak in the tank. We haven't a +drop left. The vibration must have opened a seam and we've been +spilling our fuel as we went along." + +"There goes the other airship!" cried Innis, as the big biplane flashed +by them. They had now crossed Oakland and the bay. + +"And the Presido Park is in sight!" yelled Paul, pointing to a big +field, now black with people, for the coming of Dick had been flashed +all over San Francisco and Oakland. + +"We can never make it," the young millionaire murmured. "We'll have to +volplane down, but we can't reach the park. Oh, for a gallon of +gasolene! One gallon would do!" + +"What's that!" cried Uncle Ezra, coming from his bunk room. "What do +you want of gasolene?" + +"To complete the trip," cried Dick. "Ours is all gone! A gallon would +do." + +"Then, by hickory, you shall have it!" suddenly cried Mr. Larabee. + +"Where can you get it?" demanded Dick. "There isn't a drop aboard! + +"Oh, yes there is!" his uncle answered. "Here it is," and he brought +from his room a square, gallon can. + +"Great Scott!" cried Dick, as he took it and hurried with it toward the +empty tank. "Where in the world did you get it?" + +"I brought it along in my valise to clean the grease spots off my +clothes," answered Uncle Ezra, simply. "I got all oil from my airship. +But I wasn't going to buy a new suit when I could clean my old one." + +"Whoop!" cried Dick, with boyish enthusiasm. "This may save the race +for us." + +The Abaris had already begun to settle down, but a moment later, as the +motor received the supply of gasolene so Providentially provided, she +shot forward again, her momentum scarcely checked. + +On and on she rushed. It was nip and tuck now between her and the +rival airship. The big crowd in the aviation field yelled and shouted +at the sight of the thrilling race. + +The other airship seemed to falter and hesitate. The pilot cut off his +motor, but too soon. Dick rushed his craft on, passed the other, and +then, seeing that he had the advantage, he turned off his power, and +volplaned to the landing spot just about fifteen seconds in advance of +his rival. He had beaten in the race at the last minute. But it still +remained to be seen whether he had triumphed over other, and possibly +previous, arrivals. + +Out of the Abaris rushed the young millionaire and his friends before +she had ceased rolling over the ground. The other biplane was just +behind them. + +An army officer ran out of the crowd of spectators. + +"Who is the pilot of this craft?" he asked. + +"I am," answered Dick. + +"And where is your official army timekeeper?" + +"Here," answered Lieutenant McBride, saluting. "Are we the first to +cross the continent?" + +How anxiously Dick waited for the answer. "No, not the first," replied +the San Francisco officer. "One biplane arrived yesterday. What is +your time?" + +Lieutenant McBride made a hasty calculation. + +"Sixty-two hours, forty minutes and fourteen seconds from, New York, +taking out the time of two landings," was the reply. + +"Then you win!" cried Captain Weston, as he introduced himself. "That +is, unless this other craft can better your time. For the first +arrival was seventy-two hours altogether." + +And Dick had won, for the biplane with which he had just had the +exciting race, had consumed more than eighty hours, exclusive of stops, +from coast to coast. + +"Hurray, Dick! You win!" cried Innis, clapping his chum on the back. + +"The best trans-continental flight ever made!" declared Captain Weston, +as he congratulated the young millionaire. + +"I'd like to have gotten here first," murmured Dick. + +"Well, you'd have been here first, only for the delay my airship caused +you," said Uncle Ezra. "I'm sorry." + +"But you get the prize," spoke Lieutenant McBride. + +"Yes," assented Captain Weston, of Fort Mason. "It was the time that +counted, not the order of arrival. Which reminds me that you may yet +be beaten, Mr. Hamilton, for there are other airships on the way." + +But Dick was not beaten. His nearest competitor made a poorer record +by several hours, so Dick's performance stood. + +And that, really, is all there is to tell of this story, except to add +that by the confession of Larson, later it was learned that he had +tampered with Mr. Vardon's gyroscope, as had been suspected. The twenty +thousand dollars was duly paid, and Dick gave the United States +government an option to purchase his patents of the Abaris. For them he +would receive a substantial sum, and a large part of this would go to +Mr. Vardon for his gyroscope. + +"So you'll be all right from now on," his cousin Innis remarked. + +"Yes, thanks to your friend Dick Hamilton. My good luck all dates from +meeting him." + +"Yes, he is a lucky chap," agreed Paul. + +"I think Uncle Ezra had all the luck this trip," put in Dick, as he +heard the last words. "That gasolene he brought along to clean the +grease off his clothes saved our bacon, all right. It sure did!" + +And I believe Dick was right. + +Mr. Hamilton, to whom Dick wired a brief message of the successful +ending of the trip, telegraphed back: + + +"Congratulations. You made good after all. I haven't any doubts now." + + +"That's another time I put one over on dad!" laughed Dick. + +"Where are you going, Larry?" asked the young millionaire, as he saw +his young newspaper friend hurrying across the aviation field. + +"I'm going to wire the story to the Leader," was the answer. "I want +'em to know we crossed the continent and won the prize. It'll be a +great beat!" + +Of how Dick was feted and greeted by an aviation club in San Francisco, +of how he was made much of by the army officers, and how he had to give +many exhibition flights, I will say nothing here, as this book is +already lengthy enough. Sufficient to remark that the young +millionaire had a great time at the City of the Golden Gate, and Uncle +Ezra and his friends enjoyed it with him. Grit, also, came in for a +share of attention. + +Dick Hamilton left his airship with the San Francisco army officers, as +he had agreed to do, for they wanted to study its construction. In due +season, the party started back East. + +"I rather calculated you'd go back in the airship," said Uncle Ezra. +"Railroad fare is terrible expensive, and I've lost so much money +already--" + +"I'll buy your ticket," said Dick generously, "especially as you helped +me win the race," and Mr. Larabee, with a look of relief on his face, +put back his pocketbook. + +"And now for Hamilton Corners!" exclaimed Dick, as they got in the +train. "I've had enough of airships for a while, though it was great +sport." And here we will take leave of Dick Hamilton and his friends. + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Dick Hamilton's Airship, by Howard R. Garis + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DICK HAMILTON'S AIRSHIP *** + +***** This file should be named 2065.txt or 2065.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/6/2065/ + +Produced by Pat Pflieger. 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