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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.
"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!
"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.
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.
"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."
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.
"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'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!"
A mortar battery was planted north of the slaughter-house. Next along the line was the church, converted now into a granary, and in the churchyard was a mortar battery. Next came the house of Lieutenant Innis, a weak and difficult post to hold, commanded as it was by several houses outside the inclosure.
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.
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