AT THE AERO MEET
“Well, Ben, this is life worth living, eh?”
“Bob,” declared Ben enthusiastically, “it’s been the event of my life.”
“And more to come. We want to make an early start to-morrow. I’ll show you what real air sailing is then.”
Ben Hardy was, indeed, having the liveliest time in all his youthful experience. This was his third day at Blairville, and every minute since his arrival had been packed full of excitement and pleasure.
Mr. Davis had greeted him with a kindly courtesy and attention that would win the heart of any live, up-to-date boy. The fact that he was a relative of Bob Dallow had added to the friendly interest of the aviator. Bob, to use a popular phrase, had made good. He had taken to practical aeronautics like a duck to water.
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME HE HAD SEEN A REAL AIRSHIP AFLOAT.
One week of practice under the direction of the skilled man-bird, Mr. Davis, had proven that Bob was going to become as good an aviator as he was an accomplished chauffeur. Mr. Davis had comfortable living quarters in a building on the aviation field. Ben was invited to double up with Bob, and they made a happy and a merry team.
The first day had been a bewildering experience of delight and astonishment for Ben. It was an occasion of experiment and preparation for trial flights on the morrow. Bob in his lively way had become a general favorite with the various aeronauts on the field. He and Ben had free entrance to every tent and aero hangar in the enclosure. After a while Ben’s interest grew into studious attention, and that evening he pored industriously over the technical aviation literature of which Mr. Davis had a surfeit.