The Airplane Boys among the Clouds | Page 3

do what
they're doing right now."
"That's easy for Frank and Andy Bird, sir," declared Larry. "Why,
they've got a shop that they keep under lock and key, where they spend
most of their time when they ain't flying. That biplane is what they
made last winter--got some of the parts, and did the rest themselves.
And it would be just like Frank to have invented some clever stunt
that's going to just revolutionize flying."
Again a quick look passed between the two tourists, but the boys
simply considered that it implied wonder at such youthful ingenuity.
"They must be smart boys, surely," remarked Mr. Marsh, again turning

his head to look out over the lake. "And you say they even have a shop,
where they work out these wonderful new ideas? Perhaps if we stayed
over in Bloomsbury, Longley, they might be willing to let us have a
little peep in that place?"
Elephant promptly shook his head in the negative.
"I wouldn't build too much on that, if I was you, sir," he said, "because,
you see, we're chums of the Bird boys; and if they wouldn't let us once
inside that shop all winter they ain't going to invite strangers there."
"Well, hardly," laughed the other. "How's that, Longley? Quite
interesting to run across a couple of boy inventors up this way. Must
tell Wright about it the next time we see him, and Curtiss too. They'll
want to look them up perhaps, and coax them to join the new aeroplane
trust that's forming. But what makes that biplane shine so? It glitters in
the sunlight like silver."
"That's just what me and Elephant were talking about when you came
along, mister," remarked Larry.
"And we just came to the conclusion that it must be something Frank's
been experimenting on. Mebbe he's made his machine out of aluminum;
or else he's got a new Kinkaid engine that has a lot of brass about it.
Gee! look at 'em now, Larry! My heart jumped up in my throat because
they just skimmed the water, and I was dead sure it meant a ducking for
the boys."
"They certainly seem to know how to handle an aeroplane as well as
any one I have ever seen," declared Mr. Marsh; who apparently could
not tear his eyes away from the thrilling spectacle of the swooping air
craft, that soared aloft, only to again dart daringly down toward the
surface of the almost quiet lake.
"I bet you it's a game of conquer they're playing," suggested Elephant.
"Each one seeing how close to touching the water he can come. Say,
Larry, d'ye suppose Percy Carberry has got his new biplane yet? He's
been boasting about it for weeks, and what he meant to do when she

arrived."
"I saw him this morning, and he said he was still waiting; but that the
thing had been shipped," replied the other. "Never saw such an unlucky
dog as Percy is; and to tell the honest truth, Elephant, 'twouldn't
surprise me one little bit if the old train got smashed up on the way, and
the new flying machine along with it."
"Wonder if he's watching the stunts them fellers are doing out there,
and saying all sorts of mean things about 'em?" suggested the smaller
boy, grinning.
"Shouldn't wonder," Larry chirped. "He keeps tab on all Frank does
these days. You know they've had to keep a man on duty every night
around that workshop, because of Percy. He ain't to be trusted, and
would just as soon put a match to the place as eat his dinner--if he
thought he could do it on the sly."
Mr. Marsh caught the eye of his companion, and instantly a quick
signal seemed to pass between them, unnoticed by either of the two
boys, who were keeping their attention glued on the fluttering
aeroplane a quarter of a mile away, and which had again mounted to
quite a little height by means of boring upward in circles.
"There they go again!" exclaimed Elephant, excitedly, as the flying
machine once more tilted its planes, and started down toward the water
like a huge bird intending to alight.
"Oh! look at it, would you?" cried Larry, almost as much worked up as
his smaller companion. "This time there's going to be something doing!
I bet you Frank wants to just snatch a floating piece of wood off the
water as he skims along, just like them Wild West riders do on
horseback, when they throw their hats down. Why! Something must
a-busted--they dropped splash on the lake; and look at the old biplane
sitting right there like a great big gull! Ain't that too bad, though; I'm
sorry for Frank and Andy!"
But Mr. Marsh, bending his head close