"Was your trip a success?" asked Dick, in a low voice.
"I don't know yet—I hope so," answered the father. "Some business matters have gotten pretty well twisted up. But never mind now. I see your new machine can fly." And Anderson Rover smiled.
"Oh, she's a peach!" cried Tom slangily. "We expect to have the greatest times ever in her!"
"Yes, but you must learn all about the biplane first," added the fond father anxiously. "You mustn't think of going up until you are sure of what you are doing."
"Dat am suttenly de greatest bird wot I most eber see!" declared Aleck Pop solemnly. "If I hadn't dun see it wid my own eyes I wouldn't nebber believe it nohow!"
"That's a fact," added Jack Ness. "When the boys go up in it there won't be no holdin' 'em in."
"We're going to take you up, first thing, Jack," said Tom, with a wink at his brothers.
"Me? Not much!" cried the hired man. "I wasn't built to fly, not me!" And he began to back away in alarm.
After dinner Captain Colby made another trial flight, and then gave the three boys a lesson in the manipulation of the biplane, showing them just how to regulate the engine while running, how to balance the machine, how to steer, and how to make various turns.
"Do you ride bicycles?" he asked.