The cowboy galloped up.
“Hello, youngsters! Me an’ Pete saw that there machine a-scootin’ around in the air. Any o’ you lads have the nerve to try it?”
“Did we?—Well, I should rather say so—all but this little chap here,” exclaimed Tom, proudly, pointing to Willie.
“An’ I kin say they were sartingly a bunch o’ pale ones when they kim down,” said Willie.
“I don’t blame ’em,” grinned Jed. “A little old pony for me, every time. Ready, Bob?”
“Yes, Jed, old boy.”
While the horses were being hitched to the buckboard the crowd raced to the shop to say good-bye. They found the inventor and his two sons busily engaged in testing a motor for the “Ogden III.”
This biplane, Mr. Ogden explained, was a great advance on the others. Conveniently placed by the aviator’s seat was a stand to hold charts, compass and other instruments. An acetylene lamp also attracted Bob Somers’ attention.
“We have been thinking of making some flights at night,” explained the inventor, in answer to his inquiring look.
“I suppose you lads suffered great annoyance in not being able to talk during the flights,” remarked Rob, with a smile. “This little arrangement allows the flyers to converse to some extent with one another.”