“All right—get aboard,” directed the aviator.
“Here’s your rope,” added the motion picture man. “I’ll signal with a flag when I want you to make the swoop, Mr King.”
The airman pointed to a seat directly behind his own. Nimbly Dave clambered over the wing and gearing and began his first ride in an airship.
CHAPTER XV
THE PARACHUTE GARMENT
“Oh!” said Dave Dashaway simply, in a transport of delight.
There was a creak, a hum. Its even keel protected by two hangar men waiting ready for the task, the Aegis moved forward on its rubber shod wheels revolving on ball bearing axles in a soft, lifting glide that was indescribable.
The monoplane progressed in a straight line for perhaps forty feet. Then it took a straightaway flight.
Dave knew nothing of the mechanism of the plane. His eyes were fixed in a fascinated way on the aviator. With supreme faith in the expertness of the man guiding the frail yet sturdy craft, Dave did not experience a single qualm of fear. To every move of the skilled hand of the airman the splendid construction responded instantly. Dave had just one vivid sense of air sailing, safe and ecstatic, as the Aegis arose like an arrow to what seemed dizzying height. Then it began gracefully circling the aviation field.