“Of course, I’m not at all certain that it was his aëroplane. It came from near the house, but it might have belonged to some one else.”
“All the same, I think I’ll look the gent up,” Holton remarked. “It’s the only clue I’ve had, and it sounds pretty good to me.”
There was silence for a few moments, then Merriwell glanced suddenly at the special officer.
“Are these monoplanes hard to manage?” he asked.
“Why, no, not very,” Holton answered. “The control is very simple, once you’ve got the hang of it. I’d rather manipulate a monoplane than a biplane any day. Ever been up in one?”
“No, but I’ve always wanted to,” Dick answered. “I’ve done something with gliders at college. The principle is pretty much the same, isn’t it?”
“Exactly. Some people seem to have the idea that you get along by flapping the planes like the wings of a bird, whereas they are almost immovable. Of course, they can be deflected or depressed according as you rise or descend, but the only thing that keeps you going is the revolution of the propeller. If the engine should stop, you’d be turned into a simple glider. Even then, you wouldn’t go down with a smash, but by a proper manipulation of the plane and rudders, you could glide on a long, easy curve, and could almost choose your own spot for alighting.”
“I see,” Dick said. “The two rudders are controlled by levers, I suppose.”
“Sure.”
Holton stepped to the rear of the aëroplane and Merriwell followed him interestedly.