“Get out,” grinned Walters. “Before long you’ll be steerin’ cows over the prairie by aeroplane. Stand back, everybody!”
“I’m ready, Mr. Ogden. Good-bye, Walters!” said Bob.
The sound of the motor blended in with a volley of cheers from the crowd. The biplane again soared aloft, and soon Border City was left far behind.
A noisy and enthusiastic welcome greeted the navigators, as the machine gracefully volplaned to earth and landed without accident near the machine shop.
CHAPTER XII
“HE’S A PUZZLE”
That afternoon, Bob Somers took his first lesson in aerial navigation, his instructor being Ferd Ogden. The aviator explained the importance of learning how to volplane.
“You see, Bob,” he said, “in case of any accident befalling the engine your safety may depend upon landing at some particular point on the ground, so the pupil must often make attempts to alight within certain prescribed limits.”
The two had just made a short flight, and were standing near the ranch-house in company with the other Ramblers and Cranny.
“That’s a point I have often thought about,” remarked the latter loftily.
“Very good,” laughed Ferd. “I suppose, Bob, you have been trying to study the effects of various air currents on the machine?”