"Thought maybe you wanted to do the driving this time, Chester," said Hal.
"That's a poor joke, Hal," declared Chester. "I don't want to die right this minute, and I guess you don't, either."
"Which is the reason I'm not going to argue with you who will do the piloting," Hal declared.
He clambered into the pilot's seat, and Chester took his place in the observer's compartment.
"All set?" called Hal.
"All set," was Chester's reply.
"Let her go, then," said Hal, and the single guard who had remained gave the machine momentum with a vigorous push.
The machine moved slowly across the ground at first, then, under Hal's guiding hand, dashed on swifter and swifter. Hal touched the elevating lever and the airplane soared into the air.
Now Chester had been aloft many times, but he had never reached a point where he was not affected by the sensation of the earth dropping away from him. For a moment he clung to the side of the car. His head cleared, in a twinkling, however, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
"All right, Chester," Hal called back, not taking the time to turn his head.