Having tested the machine, Roy could not resist one of his exhibition stunts. His propellers going full speed, he headed the car toward the beach at a point a little south of where the fence had stood.
Coming directly toward his audience, his speed could only be guessed by the rapidly growing outlines of the car.
This was shooting downward like some swift bird in search of prey. At the angle at which it was traveling, it must surely dash itself on the beach.
“Look out!” yelled Andy, alarmed.
Then something happened. With coolness that had come only with many flights, the boy in the machine made two swift motions. As one hand shut off the engine, the other shot back the rudder lever. The darting machine responded to the guiding planes, rose lightly as if it had struck an atmospheric hill, and then, the propellers coming to an instant stop, the machine floated gracefully forward as if on invisible tracks. Touching its wheels daintily on the ground a few times, it came to a gentle run which ended as Roy gradually applied the wheel brake.
“She wants a little ballast on the right side,” said Roy as he slid from his seat. Then he reached out his hands to the captain and Andy, and said, with a laugh:
“Any time you gentlemen need jobs, I’ll undertake to get them for you in Newark. Your machine is all right. The bird-tail guide certainly helps. I found a little trouble to start because I didn’t give it enough play; I didn’t allow for the counter-action. But it certainly helps. Did you see the turn? With a plain rudder, I’d have come almost to a standstill doing that. I had a dip, but nothing like the usual one.”
“Do you think we can get a patent on it?” asked Andy almost perfunctorily, for he was already feeling the engine cylinders and inspecting the shafts for hot bearings.
“I don’t know,” said Roy, loosening his coat and reversing his cap. “The idea I’ve heard of before—maybe it is patented. But I’d try. And, if you can, I hope you’ll give us the first chance at it—I mean our company.”
“Weren’t you scared?” asked Mrs. Leighton.