“Well, he may yet. I don’t count much on the spunk of those fellows who call themselves motor boys,” and there was a sneer in Frank’s voice.
The other aviator and his partner announced that they were ready. They took their places, and a moment later, when the judges gave the signal, the switches of the self-starters were thrown over and with a rattle and bang the motors began to revolve the propellers.
Rapidly the big wooden blades spun around until they had speed enough to move the aeroplanes over the smooth ground. Then, like two big birds, the craft left the earth together, sailing upward on a long slant.
“Ever do the spiral?” yelled Mr. Perdy into Ned’s ear.
He nodded in affirmation.
“I’ll try it going up,” went on the aviator and he began climbing toward the clouds in corkscrew fashion.
Down below the crowd was shouting and cheering, for some of them had never seen an aeroplane before. But to many of the students of Boxwood Hall the machines were not new, though to have one of their fellow-members ascend in one was something out of the ordinary.
“I wish I had nerve enough to do that!” exclaimed Tom Bacon.
“Same here,” murmured Chet Randell. “It must be great.”