It was a full hour before Tom and Peter Marley came back and even then they did not bring the runaway horses in the field where the biplane was located.
"Won't take no more chances," said the farmer. "I kin tie 'em down here on the edge o' the woods jest as well." And this was done.
"Well, we may as well store the machine here for the present," said Dick. "We'll have to get some piano wire for those broken poles."
"Aren't you going to try to take it home?" asked Tom, in surprise.
"What's the use? This is a good field to fly from. We can mend theDartawayhere and then, if Captain Colby is willing, he can sail her from here to our farm."
A big wagon shed was cleaned out, and John Snubble and his sons aided the others in rolling the biplane under the roof. Some old blankets were thrown over the engine.
"Do you think she'd be safe here?" whispered Dick, to Peter Marley.
"She will be so far as Snubble is concerned," said the farmer. "He'll leave her alone, an' so will his sons. But some outsider may come an' fool with her."
"Well, we've got to take that chance," returned the eldest Rover boy. "We won't leave the biplane here any longer than necessary."
It was not until nearly supper time that the boys got back to Rayville. Here Peter Marley was paid for what he had done, and then the youths lost no time in running out their automobile and going home.
The next day they telegraphed to the aviator who was to give them lessons in sailing theDartaway, and he came as soon as he could. He listened with much interest to what the lads had to tell him.
"Well, it was certainly a great try-out!" he declared. "It proves that theDartawayis a well-balanced machine, and that means much."
He had brought with him the necessary wire for repairs, and soon all were on the way to the Snubble farm, taking a road that would land them directly at the door.
"Glad you come!" cried John Snubble on seeing the boys. "Going to take the machine right away, ain't you?"
"We hope to," answered Dick. "Why?" For he saw that the farmer had something on his mind.
"Might have been burnt up last night, that's why."
"Burnt up!" cried Tom. "How?"
"Heard a noise outside about eleven o'clock—my wife did, she ain't well an' don't sleep good. I came down with my shotgun, thinkin' chicken thieves might be around. I heard somebuddy at the flyin' machine and sneaked up to see who it was. Hang my skin if a young feller wasn't there with a lighted candle an' some loose hay, and wantin' to start a fire close to the gasoline tank! I gave a yell, an' he dropped the candle and legged it for dear life."
"Why didn't you stop him, or shoot him?" queried Sam.
"I was too excited, fer the candle dropped into the hay an' it begun to blaze up. I stamped the fire out, an' by that time the feller was out o' sight."
"He must have wanted to blow the biplane up!" exclaimed Captain Colby.
"He sure did, an' he might have burnt up theshed an' the barn, an' the house, too!" added John Snubble.
The three Rover boys looked at each other. The same thought was in the mind of each.
"Tad Sobber!" murmured Sam.
"Sure as you're a foot high," added Tom. "Oh, what a mean thing to do!"
"He must have watched what we did, and then planned to wreck theDartaway," said Dick. "It's just like his meanness."
"Let's go down to the old mill after him," burst out Tom. "I'd like nothing better than to wipe up the ground with him." And he clenched his fists tightly.
"Humph! Do you think he'd show himself?" asked Sam. "Not much! He'd hide where you couldn't find him. Now he and old Crabtree know we are around they'll take good care not to get caught."
"We might burn down the old mill!" murmured Tom. "It would serve 'em right, for all their meanness."
"Let it go," was Dick's advice. "Some day we'll catch both of them red-handed at something, and then we can give 'em what's coming to 'em."
The matter was talked over with John Snubble and the aviator, and the farmer said he would keep on guard against Sobber and Crabtree andreport to Dick if he found out anything unusual. Then the biplane was brought forth, and Captain Colby made an examination.
"All these breaks can easily be mended," said the aviator. "We'll go to work at once. Then I'll give theDartawaya little try-out, and if she runs as she should I'll take her back to your home."
"Don't you want a passenger?" asked Sam and Tom in a breath.
"Why, do you want to go?"
"Sure!"
"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. I want to try the machine several times before I risk taking anybody up."
The Snubble boys were delighted to think they could see theDartawayfly and they assisted the others in making the necessary repairs. For two hours all were very busy and then Captain Colby announced the biplane in as good a condition as before the wild flight.
"Now I'll give her a short try-out," he said, and this was done. Up into the air mounted theDartawayas gracefully as a bird, and all of the boys clapped their hands in delight.
"By gum! beats the nation!" said one of the Snubble lads.
"It's grand! I'm going to save up for one!" added the other.
Around the field sailed Captain Colby and then made the figure eight three times. Then he came down near the spot from which he had started.
"Couldn't be better," he declared. "I could take her a hundred miles if I wished."
"Wish I could go up," said Sam wistfully.
"Your time will come pretty soon," added the aviator. "The flight to your home will be a good test."
A little later the aviator arose again in the air, this time headed for Valley Brook farm. The boys were also ready and started off immediately in the automobile.
"Come again!" shouted the Snubble boys.
"We will," answered Dick. "Your field makes a dandy landing place."
Dick ran the automobile and put on good speed all the way home. As they went along they watched the flight of the biplane, but soon the machine passed from view.
"She certainly can sail!" cried Tom. "Oh, Dick, we'll have to take her to Brill with us!"
"That's it!" cried Sam. "What's the use of leaving her behind? We can sail after college hours."
"Yes, and think how quickly we could get overto Hope Seminary," went on Tom. The place he mentioned was a young ladies' boarding school located not many miles from Brill. Dora Stanhope went to Hope, and so did the two Laning girls.
"We'll see about it," replied Dick, briefly. But the idea of taking the flying machine to Brill pleased him as much as it did his brothers.
When they got home they found that Captain Colby had already arrived. He and theDartawaywere in the field back of the barn, and surrounding the aviator were all the members of the Rover household.
"Well, boys, got back, eh?" cried Anderson Rover, as they rolled up in the automobile.
"Hello, dad!" came from all three. And then they leaped to the ground to greet their parent. All could not help but notice that he looked a trifle pale and careworn.
"Was your trip a success?" asked Dick, in a low voice.
"I don't know yet—I hope so," answered the father. "Some business matters have gotten pretty well twisted up. But never mind now. I see your new machine can fly." And Anderson Rover smiled.
"Oh, she's a peach!" cried Tom slangily."We expect to have the greatest times ever in her!"
"Yes, but you must learn all about the biplane first," added the fond father anxiously. "You mustn't think of going up until you are sure of what you are doing."
"Dat am suttenly de greatest bird wot I most eber see!" declared Aleck Pop solemnly. "If I hadn't dun see it wid my own eyes I wouldn't nebber believe it nohow!"
"That's a fact," added Jack Ness. "When the boys go up in it there won't be no holdin' 'em in."
"We're going to take you up, first thing, Jack," said Tom, with a wink at his brothers.
"Me? Not much!" cried the hired man. "I wasn't built to fly, not me!" And he began to back away in alarm.
After dinner Captain Colby made another trial flight, and then gave the three boys a lesson in the manipulation of the biplane, showing them just how to regulate the engine while running, how to balance the machine, how to steer, and how to make various turns.
"Do you ride bicycles?" he asked.
"We do, and have for years," answered Dick.
"And do you swim?"
"Of course," came from all of the lads.
"Then just remember how you felt when youfirst tried to ride a wheel and when you first tried to swim. You got excited, didn't you? And when you thought the wheel was going over you gave it a wild twist that did send you over, and when you thought you were going to drown you thrashed around in a way that only made matters worse. Well, that's a lesson to remember in running a flying machine. Don't get excited and lose your presence of mind, or it may cost you your life. Keep cool, act quickly, but don't overdo a thing. If the machine is tipping a little to one side, don't get excited and throw it clean over the other way. And don't try to make any sharp turns until you know your machine thoroughly."
Then he had them watch him while making several flights close to the ground, and told them exactly what he was going to do. This lasted for two days.
"Running an auto and a bicycle will help you," he said. "But sailing a biplane is, after all, a science in itself. But you'll learn—I see that by the way you take hold."
There had been a slight breeze blowing during the third afternoon, but towards sunset this went down, and then the aviator said that Dick might try a short flight, over a cornfield that was close by.
"Don't go too high," he cautioned. "And ifyou feel the biplane turning over try to jump clear of the engine, so it can't crush you."
It must be confessed that Dick's heart beat loudly as he took his seat in the flying machine. It was one thing to talk about going up and quite another to really fly. He realized the danger far more than did merry-hearted Tom, or even Sam. But he was not going to show the white feather.
The engine was started, the others holding the machine back. Dick grasped the steering wheel and put his feet on the pedals.
"All ready?" asked Captain Colby.
"Yes. Let go."
"Now be careful. Take it easy,—and keep over the cornfield," said the captain. "And if you turn, make a wide circle." He thought a tumble among the corn might not be as bad as one in an open field where the ground was hard.
Those on the ground let go, and with a rush and a whirr theDartawaysped forward over the ground. Then Dick shifted the elevation rudder, and up into the air rushed the biplane, gathering speed at every revolution of the propellers.
The eldest Rover boy was in the air at last!
"Say, that's great!"
"Be careful, Dick! Don't try too much!"
"He made a very good start," came from Captain Colby, who was watching the progress of the biplane closely.
Over the cornfield sailed theDartawaywith Dick Rover the sole occupant. He was up about fifty feet in the air and presently he went still higher.
"He's making the turn!" cried Sam. "Just look at him coming around!"
"Here he comes back!" exclaimed Tom. "Hurrah! Who says Dick can't fly? Why, he's flying like a veteran!"
"Very good, so far," murmured Captain Colby. "If only he keeps his wits about him he'll be all right."
"Trust Dick to do that," answered Sam. "He knows what he is doing, every time."
The biplane had now reached a point close to where the three stood in the field. All expected Dick to come down, but he did not. Instead, he made another graceful turn to the left, and started over the cornfield a second time.
"I wish the others could see him," murmured Tom. They had not told the folks in the house about the trial flights for fear of scaring them. Everybody thought the boys would not try to fly for at least a week.
Four times did Dick sail around the cornfield, the last time making such a wide circle that he went directly over the barn and the wagon shed. Then he shut off the engine and glided slowly to earth, coming down in the middle of the field with scarcely a jar.
"By the great clam chowder of Pocahontas!" cried Tom, rushing up and helping him out of the machine. "Dick, it was fine! Couldn't have been better!"
"It was immense!" put in Sam. "You made the turns beautifully."
"It was very well done," added Captain Colby. "If you do as well in the future you will have no cause to fear. As far as you are concerned, I reckon the worst is over."
"How did it feel to be up in the air?" queried Sam.
"Oh, I felt kind of funny in my head for a few seconds," answered the older brother. "But I knew I had to pull myself together and I did. After that it was only a question of watching everything closely."
"Now I guess it's my turn, isn't it?" asked Tom, impatiently.
"If you feel equal to it," answered the captain.
"Sure thing."
Once more the biplane was gotten ready, and with another rush and a whizz theDartawayshot into the air. For a moment, as the machine wobbled from side to side, it looked as if Tom would have an accident, and his brothers gave a shiver. But then he managed to steady the machine and over the cornfield he flew, and around in a big circle twice. Then he made a still larger turn, well up in the air, and in a few seconds more was sailing over the barn and then over the Rover home!
"Gracious, that's Tom!" murmured Sam. "Always bound to go the limit!"
The noise of the engine caused those in the house to rush out and look at the machine.
"Who is running it, that aviator?" queried Mrs. Rover.
"No, it's Tom," replied her husband.
"Tom!" burst out Anderson Rover. "Impossible! Why he doesn't know enough about it yet."
"He'll be killed!" moaned Mrs. Rover. "Oh, what a daring boy!" And she began to wring her hands in despair.
Over the house flew the biplane, and then made another turn and came back. Then came sudden silence.
"Something is wrong!" cried Anderson Rover. "The engine has stopped working!"
"He's coming down like a bird!" exclaimed Aleck Pop. "Now jess to look at dat!"
As he spoke the biplane glided slowly to the ground, landing near the barn. All rushed to the spot. There sat Tom grinning broadly.
"How was that?" he asked coolly. "Wasn't that a dandy initial flight?"
"Tom! Tom!" cried his aunt. "You'll kill me with your daring! Are you hurt? Did something break?"
"No, I'm not hurt, aunty, and nothing broke," he answered. "Oh, it was immense! I could have stayed up an hour if I had wanted to."
"Very good—very good indeed!" said Captain Colby. "You took a risk in flying over the house, but as nothing went wrong we won't say anything about that."
"Now it's my turn!" cried Sam.
"Has Dick been up?" queried his father.
"Yes, and he made a splendid flight too," answered Tom. "Oh, dad, your sons are born aviators."
"Perhaps. But, Sam, do be careful! Don't try to fly so high at first," pleaded Anderson Rover.
"I'll be careful, dad," answered his youngest offspring.
All remained in the field to watch the flight of the youngest Rover. Sam was a little pale, but just as determined as his brothers had been to succeed. He looked over the biplane carefully, then took his seat, and told them to start the propellers.
Once more theDartawayarose, and as it did Mrs. Rover could not repress a shudder, for Sam was very dear to her, because he was her dead sister's youngest child, and she had never had any children of her own.
But her fears were groundless, for Sam sailed over the cornfield just as well as had Dick. He did not fly very high, but he kept in the air nearly ten minutes, which was longer than had either of the others. When he came down he did so with a little bump, but this was not enough to hurt anything.
"It's the best ever!" was Sam's comment, whenthe others gathered around. "Beats autoing all hollow!"
"Wasn't you scared, Massa Sam?" asked Aleck, who had watched the flight with wildly-rolling eyes.
"Not in the least, Aleck, after once I got started. Just when I went up I had a little chill down my backbone, that's all."
"Glory to heaben! Say, yo' know wot I think? I think dare ain't nuffin wot you Rober boys can't natually do, dat's wot!" And with this comment Aleck shuffled off to his work.
"Every one of you did well," was Captain Colby's comment. He turned to Anderson Rover. "You can be proud of your sons, sir. They handled the machine in splendid shape."
"Yes, but I want you to watch them closely, Captain," answered Mr. Rover. "Teach them all there is to know."
"I'll teach them all I know myself," answered the aviator.
That evening the boys could talk of nothing but aviation, and many were their plans for flights in theDartaway. All wanted Captain Colby to tell them if the biplane could carry three persons.
"I hardly think so," answered the aviator. "It will carry two, though, that I am sure of."
"Well, if it will carry two men it ought to carry three boys," insisted Sam.
"The best way to find out is to try it," went on the captain. "So long as you run with care, nothing can happen to you because of the extra load. Of course if the weight is too heavy the biplane won't go up, or if it does, it won't stay up."
The following day came a telegraph message from one of the old Putnam Hall pupils, Hans Mueller. He sent word that he would be in that vicinity and would call on the Rovers.
"Good for Hans!" cried Tom, who scented fun. "Maybe we can take him up in theDartaway."
"Hans would be scared stiff," returned Dick.
"It would take all the starch out of him," said Sam.
"In that case, how could he be scared stiff?" asked Tom, dryly.
It was arranged that Sam should run down to the depot with the auto for the German youth. In the meantime Captain Colby and the other boys got out theDartawayand prepared for more trial flights. Then Dick went up and remained in the air for twelve minutes, making a number of turns that were very graceful, and taking a little trip over the woods back of the farm.
"It's a sport that can't be beat, Tom," he said, on coming down. "I believe everybody will be getting a flying machine before long—just as folks have been getting autos."
The supply of gasoline had been replenished and the lubricating oil renewed, and then Tom went up. He flew around the cornfield twice, then headed in the direction of Oak Run.
"I guess he has gone off to meet Sam and Hans," said Dick. "I heard the train go through and they must be on the way here by now."
"Your brother certainly takes chances," replied Captain Colby.
"He always did. Tom acts first and thinks afterwards,—but he usually comes out on top," added Dick, loyally.
In the meantime Sam had reached the depot at Oak Run just as the train came in. He immediately espied Hans Mueller, dress-suit case in hand, and ran to meet him.
"Hello, Hans, old boy!" he exclaimed. "Glad to see you." And he shook hands cordially.
"Is dot you, Sam?" replied the German youth, who, although he had been in this country quite some time, still found a difficulty in mastering the language. "I vos certainly glad to meet you. How vas der udder poys?"
"Oh, Tom and Dick are first rate. Theycouldn't come down just now, for they are busy with our new biplane."
"A biplane, eh? Vot is dot, some kind of a saw-mill alretty?"
"No, Hans, a flying machine. Hop in, and you'll soon be at the farm and then you can look it over." And Sam led the way to the automobile, threw the dress-suit case in the tonneau, and assisted the German youth to a seat in front.
"A flying machine!" cried Hans, as they started off. "By chimanatics! Vot you poys going to git next?"
"I don't know."
"First you get a houseboat, den an autermobile, den a steam yachts, und bicycles, und now it vos a flying machine. Vot you do mid him, Sam?"
"We are learning to fly."
"Vot! you going up by der sky in him?" cried the German youth, aghast.
"Of course—and you can go up with us too."
"Me? Me go up in a airship? Not on your neckties, Sam Rofer! I got too much regart for my neck alretty yet! Ven I fly I valk on der groundt und do it, yah!"
"Oh, it's dead easy when you know how, Hans."
"Dead, hey? Chust vot I dink, Sam—put I ton't vonts to pe dead, not chust yet!"
They soon passed over the Swift River and through Dexter's Corners and came out on the highway leading to the farm. Looking up into the sky, Hans suddenly saw something unusual approaching.
"Look, look, Sam!" he bawled. "Vot is dot?"
"Oh, that must be our biplane!" answered Sam. "Yes, it is! Dick or Tom must be running it. Isn't it great, Hans?"
"Du meine zeit!" groaned the German youth. "Of Dick or Dom be in dot he preaks his neck sure! Tole him to come town, Sam!"
Sam did not answer, but slowed up the automobile, to better watch the flight of the biplane. Tom was making a graceful curve, so that he might pass directly over the machine below.
"Hello, Hans!" he cried gaily, and waved his hand, for the noise of the engine drowned out his oral salute. Then with a rush the biplane sailed directly over the automobile.
"Sthop! Ton't hit me!" yelled poor Hans, and badly frightened he ducked his head, although the flying machine was fully twenty-five feet above him.
Then Tom made another wide circle and again approached the automobile. But this time he was sailing lower, and even Sam grew uneasy.
"Go up!" he yelled to his brother, and Tomtried to obey. But for some reason, the biplane refused to respond to the rudder, and with a rush and a roar it came directly for the automobile and its occupants!
It was a moment of extreme peril. Sam brought the automobile to a stop. Had the roadway been wider he might have sheered to one side, but the highway was too narrow for that, and with a ditch on either side, to carry off rain water, he did not want to take a chance of going over.
"Go pack! Go pack!" shrieked Hans Mueller. He was crouching down, looking with staring eyes through the lowered wind shield of the touring car.
Suddenly Sam acted. While the biplane was still a hundred feet away he threw his lever into the reverse and allowed the gears to connect with the engine. Then the automobile began to move backwards, slowly at first and then faster and faster, as the youngest Rover put on the power.
"He's coming! He's coming! Ve peen busted up in a minit!" roared Hans, who was shaking aswith the ague. "Oh, vy tidn't I sthay home ven I come to pay dis visit!"
The biplane had slowed down, for Tom had shut off the engine. But theDartawaystill had headway enough to catch up to the automobile and it came up like some bird of ill-omen, that made even stout-hearted Sam quail. But he stuck to his post, sending the automobile backward as fast as he dared. He knew the roadway behind was straight, so he simply steered by keeping the wheel as it was.
"Tom, Tom, can't you do something?" he yelled. "Turn her aside!"
"I'm trying!" yelled back his brother. "The steering outfit is jammed!"
Backward went the automobile and on and on came the big biplane, until the forward part of the machine was almost over the hood of the touring car.
"Maybe you had better jump out!" cried Sam to Hans.
But even as he spoke there came a sudden snap from the flying machine. A caught wire had released itself. At once the biplane could be steered again, and with a dexterous twist of the wheel and a deflection of one of the tips, Tom brought it around. Over a rail fence it sailed, toland gracefully in the open field beyond. Then Sam stopped the automobile.
"Well!" came from the youngest Rover. And that single word meant a good deal.
"Hope I didn't scare you to death," sang out Tom, as he climbed from his seat. "Hans, did you get heart failure?"
"Oh, Dom! Dom! vot for you do him?" asked the German youth, in a voice he tried in vain to steady. "I dink sure you vos going to cut off our heads off alretty!"
"It was the steering outfit did it," explained Tom. "I'm awfully sorry I scared you. I was scared myself. I was going to fly over you and then go back when all at once I found I couldn't budge the rudders. Then I got alarmed, thinking the machine might turn turtle on me, so I shut off the engine, intending to glide to earth. But I didn't want to glide right into the auto. Sam, it's a good thing you thought to run backwards. If you hadn't there would have been a smash-up sure!"
"So dot is der new flying machine," remarked Hans, as he walked into the field to inspect theDartaway. "Mine gracious! she vos almost so pig like a house!"
"Want to go up, Hansy, old boy?" queried Tom.
"Not for a dousand tollers, Dom! No, not for a million!"
"You'll like it, Hans, when you get used to it."
"No, sir; nixy!" returned the German youth firmly. "I sthay py der ground on. You fellers can fly und I vatch you, yah!"
"How are you going to get the machine back?" asked Sam.
"Sail her back," answered his brother promptly. "But I'll have to look at that steering apparatus first—and you'll have to help me start."
"Better let Captain Colby inspect it first," advised Sam.
But Tom did not want to wait, and so he and his brother looked over the flying machine and soon found out what had gone wrong, and fixed it, so that the same accident might not occur again. Then Tom got in, and Sam and Hans started the propellers, and away sailed the youth in a manner that made the German lad stare in amazement.
"Dot's fine!" was Hans's comment. "Say, Dom, he peen a regular aviadventurer, hey?"
"What's that, Hans?"
"Dom, he peen a regular aviadventurer, or vot you call him?"
"Oh, you mean aviator."
"Yah, dot's him. He peen von sure!"
"Your word was O. K., Hans," was Sam's comment. "Tom is certainly an air adventurer!"
The two boys got into the automobile once more and were soon at the Rover homestead, where Hans was warmly greeted by the others, all but Captain Colby knowing him well. Tom had already arrived and the captain was inspecting the biplane with care.
"Such things will happen, especially with a new and stiff machine," said the old aviator. "All you can do is to watch out, and look over the machine with care every time you plan a flight."
Hans had much news of interest to tell about the boys who were still at Putnam Hall and about Captain Putnam and George Strong, the head teacher. He had also seen Mr. and Mrs. Laning, the parents of Nellie and Grace, and had heard something of the latest trouble with Tad Sobber and Josiah Crabtree.
"Vy ton't you got dem arrested?" he asked, when he was told that the evil-disposed pair were in that vicinity.
"We don't want the notoriety," said Dick. "If we had them locked up they'd be sure to drag Mrs. Stanhope and the girls into court. We are willing to let them alone if they will only let us alone."
Captain Colby remained at the farm a weekand during that time gave the Rover boys as much instruction as possible in the art of flying in general and the art of managing the biplane in particular. He had brought with him several books on flying and recommended that these be read carefully.
"You all seem to take to it naturally," he said. "I don't believe you'll have any trouble excepting on rare occasions—and every person who goes up is bound to have that."
After the captain left the boys took several flights, some of them quite long. They sailed over Dexter's Corners and the railroad station of Oak Run, and at the latter place nearly scared old Ricks, the stationmaster, into a fit, by swooping down close to where he was standing. Dick also made a flight to the Marley place, and visited the Snubble homestead.
"What did you find out?" asked Sam, when he came back from the last-named trip.
"Sobber and Crabtree have left the old mill," answered Dick. "The Snubble boys were over there twice and they couldn't see a sign of anybody."
"Have they any idea where they went to?" asked Tom.
"No. They said Crabtree sold the mill property."
"Besser you look out for dem scalavags," was the advice from Hans. "I vouldn't drust dem mit mine eyes open alretty!"
"Oh, we're on the watch!" declared Tom.
The next day the German youth had to leave, and all the boys went down to the railroad station in the touring car to see him off. Old Ricks was there and he glared souring at the Rovers when he saw them.
"I guess he didn't like that flying affair," was Sam's comment.
"Oh, he's thinking of the time Tom put the cannon cracker in the bonfire and made him think some dynamite had gone off," returned Dick, with a grin.
"Or the time Tom gave him the cigar that turned into a snake!" went on Sam, with a laugh.
"Get out of the way! Get out of the way, you boys!" cried the old stationmaster, as he brushed past, hitting Tom in the knee with a suit case he was carrying. The train that carried Hans had rolled away, leaving Ricks and the Rovers alone on the little platform.
"Why, Mr. Ricks, what's your rush?" asked Tom, sweetly. "Going to a wedding?"
"No, I ain't going to no wedding!" grunted old Ricks. "I don't want you young fellers to git in my way, that's all."
"Maybe you have to testify in that case in court," went on Tom, with a wink at his brother.
"Ain't got to testify in no court."
"Why, you're in that case—I read all about it in the papers!" cried Tom.
"Me in a case in court?" asked old Ricks, suspiciously.
"Sure. It was a terrible trouble, wasn't it?" went on Tom. "I am mighty sorry for you, really I am, Mr. Ricks."
Now as it chanced, Mr. Ricks had had some trouble with a neighbor over a fence that had blown down between the two properties. The neighbor had threatened to sue him if he did not put the fence up again. The Rovers knew nothing about this, but it had been in old Ricks's mind for a week.
"If anybody sues me he'll git the wust of it!" growled the stationmaster savagely.
"It's a terrible mess, that's a fact," went on Tom. "The papers said he had threatened to get after you with a shotgun!"
"A shotgun? After me?" exclaimed old Ricks, and turned slightly pale.
"And they say you poisoned the cat," put in Dick.
"And caught the dog and starved the poor animal to death," added Sam.
"It ain't so—I never teched his cat, nor his dog nuther!" roared old Ricks. "He's a blamed fool, he is!"
"Hush! hush!" whispered Tom, solemnly. "Don't speak so harshly of the dead."
"Dead!" exclaimed the startled Ricks. "Who's dead?"
"Didn't you know he was found on the railroad tracks dead?" asked the fun-loving Rover. "Of course they say you let the freight train run over him. But we know you wouldn't be so wicked, Mr. Ricks."
"Dead? On the tracks? Me let the train run over him?" half-whispered the stationmaster. "I—I—didn't do it! Say, this is awful! Who told you this?"
"Haven't you read the newspapers?" asked Dick.
"That comes for being too stingy to buy a morning paper," added Sam.
"Of course the local papers didn't dare to print the truth," said Tom. "But you'll find a full account in the New YorkBlizzardand the PhiladelphiaBazoo. Your picture on the front page, too, entitled, 'Did He Do It, or Did He Did It Not.'"
"Say, I ain't done nuthin', I tell ye!" almost shouted old Ricks, who was too excited to realizethat the boys were making fun of him. "If them blamed city newspapers say I did I'll sue 'em fer damages, that's wot I'll do. I ain't teched Ham Ludd, nor his cat, nor his dog nuther! And it was the wind blew the fence down, I didn't tech that nuther!" He paused to catch his breath, "Where was Ham killed? I didn't hear of anybuddy gitting struck by a train."
"Oh, I don't know who the man was, or where he was struck," answered Tom, as he started to walk away. "But they are after you, Mr. Ricks. If I was you, I'd pack my valise and hike for California, or Sing Sing, or some other place."
"I ain't going to run away, Tom Rover, and you can't make me," was the wild reply. "I ain't teched Ham, nor his cat, nor his dog, nor the fence nuther, I tell ye! It's an outrage to say so! I'll sue them newspapers fer a million dollars damages!"
"I'd make it two millions," answered Tom, calmly, and then started for the automobile, followed by his brothers.
"But see here," went on the stationmaster. "I want to know——"
"Sorry, but we haven't time now," put in Dick. "Hurry, Tom!" he whispered.
"It's Ham Ludd coming!" added Sam. "Let's get out—before the fat's in the fire!"
And off the three Rover boys ran to the automobile and were soon rolling away from the railroad station. But they did not go far.
"I'm going back and watch the fun," said Tom, and leaped out, and ran up behind the station, while his brothers followed him.
When old Ricks saw his neighbor approaching he could not at first believe his eyes. Then he ran up to the man, who was a particularly sour individual.
"Say, I thought you was dead," he gasped.
"Dead?" returned Ham Ludd. "Do I look like I was dead?" And he glared savagely at Ricks. "I ain't dead, not by a jugful!"
"Humph! Well, if you ain't dead, mebbe you'll explain about that cat, an' dog," went on old Ricks.
"Wot about 'em?"
"You told folks I poisoned the cat and starved the dog to death."
"I did not."
"You did—it was in the newspapers!" bawled old Ricks, commencing to dance around.
"I didn't! Where's them newspapers?" asked Ham Ludd, also growing excited.
"I ain't got 'em, but Tom Rover said——"
And then suddenly old Ricks stopped short. He was commencing to "smell a mouse," as the saying is.
"Wot did Tom Rover say?" demanded Ham Ludd.
"Never mind wot he said," grumbled the stationmaster. "Only you be careful o' wot you say about me in the future, Ham Ludd, thet's all!"
"Huh! I guess that Rover boy has been a'jokin' you ag'in, Ricky," said Ludd, with a grin. "How about thet busted-up bonfire, an' that snaky cigar? Ha! ha! he had you them times, didn't he?"
"You shet up, Ham Ludd!" roared the stationmaster. "Don't you say another word!"
"I'll say all I please! An' you'll put up that fence, too, or I'll have the law on ye!" retorted Ham Ludd; and then went on his way.
"Hang them Rover boys anyway!" muttered old Ricks, as he gritted his teeth. "I'll be glad when they go off to college ag'in. Wish they would stay away!" And he went about his work.
"Ricks and Ludd will have it in for each other from now on," remarked Dick, as he and his brothers got into the automobile to go home.
"Yes, and he'll have it in for us—me especially," returned Tom, with a broad grin. "Never mind; I can stand it," he added, carelessly.Troubles, past or to come, never set heavily on that fun-loving youth's shoulders.
The boys had given the biplane one trial in carrying two passengers, Dick and Sam going up together while Captain Colby was present. On the day following the departure of Hans, they rearranged the seats on theDartawayand got ready to go up three strong, provided the biplane would carry the load.
"I know she will do it if we get a more powerful engine," said Dick.
"Then we'll get the engine," returned Sam.
They made the start with care, all the others at the homestead being present to witness the trial. TheDartawaywent up slowly, with Dick in the center, at the wheel, and Sam on one side of him and Tom on the other.
"Hurrah! we are going to make it!" cried Tom, as the biplane arose like some big bird.
"It's a strain though," answered Dick. "We won't be able to fly very high nor very long."
"But it's great to be up together!" murmured Sam.
They flew for nearly ten minutes, making wide circles and a big figure eight. They went over the house and the barn, and in plain sight of several surrounding farms, men, women and childrencoming out to look at them. Once more the Rover boys were the talk of the whole country-side.
"Ain't nothing they can't do," said one of the farmers living near. "If they tackle a thing it's plumb bound to go through, every time!"
"It's because they are so full of grit and push," answered his wife. "Wish our Jed was like 'em," she added, wistfully.
"Jed ain't never had no chanct, Mirandy."
"Boys like them Rovers make their own chances, Silas," she retorted.
That evening it was Tom who made a proposal that met with instant approval from his brothers.
"Let's go to the college in the biplane," he said.
"Hurrah! just the cream!" returned Sam. "Say, won't the fellows stare when they see us!"
"Very nice, but we can't very well fly all the way from here to Ashton," put in Dick, mentioning the town near which Brill College was located.
"Oh, I didn't mean that," explained Tom. "I meant to fly from Ashton to Brill. We could ship the biplane to Ashton in secret, put it together on the sly, and create a big sensation by coming down right on the college campus."
"Tom, you're a wonder!" cried Sam. "It's the best plan ever! Oh, let's do it!"
"Wonder where we could ship it to, so the otherfellows wouldn't get on to what was doing?" mused Dick.
"Why not ship it to Mr. Sanderson?" suggested Sam. The man he mentioned was a farmer living some distance from the college. The boys had once done the farmer's daughter Minnie a great favor, saving her from insults at the hands of Jerry Koswell and Dudd Flockley.
"That's the talk!" cried Tom. "He'll take care of it and let us put it together in one of his open fields. Then we can make the fellows at Brill open their eyes."
The new idea pleased all the youths immensely, and the next day a long letter of explanation was sent to Mr. Sanderson, and he was asked to telegraph a reply. The biplane was taken apart and packed up for transportation, and then the boys packed their trunks and dress-suit cases, and got ready to "go back to the greasy grind," as Tom expressed it.
It must not besupposedthat the lads had forgotten to write to the Stanhopes and the Lanings, and to their college friends. Numerous letters had been mailed and about an equal number had been received. The girls were all going to Hope, but one week later than the boys would have to depart for Brill. Nothing more had been seenor heard of Crabtree or Sobber, for which all were thankful.
"Here's a letter from William Philander Tubbs," said Tom. "I sent him a letter just for fun, asking him the style in socks this fall. Listen to his reply." And he read the following: