The Aeroplane Boys on the Wing | Page 3

up his engine suddenly, and the storm passed by
without any hurt!"
Some of the fellows, who happened to know what this sly reference on
the part of the hotheaded Andy meant, began to chuckle. Of course
such a thing would only serve to make Puss more angry. He chose to
believe that they were all only trying to bait him.
Frank in particular came in for his dark looks. And Larry, who had
once run in the same company as Puss, so that he knew his whims
better than many others, took occasion to give Frank Bird a sly nudge
in the side, as he whispered:
"Look out for him, Frank; he's getting near the danger point, sure!"

But Frank did not have to be warned. He had grown tired of warding
off this ever threatening danger of a broil with Puss Carberry. Like his
cousin Andy, the other had no father; and his wealthy mother had long
since given up in despair the idea of controlling the headstrong lad. So
that Puss had his way, whenever he wanted to do anything out of the
ordinary.
Because Mrs. Carberry was one of his father's patients, and Dr. Bird
esteemed her very highly, Frank had postponed the reckoning just as
long as he could endure the insults of the bully. But he believed the last
ditch had been reached, and was determined to no longer raise a hand
to avert the threatening storm.
Puss had turned when Andy spoke, to flash a look in his direction. But
it had no effect upon the other, who could be as reckless at times as the
next one. Indeed, Frank often had to curb the impatience and daring of
his chum.
"Oh! that's what sticks in your craw, does it, Andy Bird?" demanded
Puss. "Just because Sandy happened to drop that ballast, thinking we
might make better time if we lightened ship, you choose to make all
sorts of nasty insinuations about us wanting to knock you out! Shows
where your mind is. Another fellow wouldn't ever let such a fool notion
get a grip on him. And you'd better put a reef in that tongue of yours,
my boy, unless you want to have it get you into trouble."
Andy flared up at once, and would have replied; but Frank calmly
stepped in between the two, as though he claimed first right.
"Neither of us have charged you with intentionally trying to disable our
aeroplane by dropping that sand bag, Puss," he remarked quietly. "All
we say is that it was a queer coincidence you wanted to get rid of your
ballast just when we were walking up on you hand over fist, and about
to pass under you, to take the lead. That's all!"
Again there was a low laugh from among the boys who stood around
listening. To them it was a rich treat to see the recognized bully of
Bloomsbury baited to his very face in this characteristic way; and they

were enjoying it hugely.
"Well, let me tell you it ain't all, not by a jugful!" exclaimed Puss, his
face taking on a purple hue, as it always did when he became enraged.
"Both of you fellows have got to stop speaking about that sand bag
dropping, or there's going to be a licking in store for you. See?" and he
thrust his face close to that of Frank as he said this. Larry Geohegan
fairly held his breath. "Now it's coming; don't I know the signs?" he
whispered to the boy next him.
Frank continued to stand there, close to the side of the speeding launch.
They were about half way across the deep lake at the time. Evening
was coming on, for the sun had just reached the distant rugged horizon
in the west.
"Do you refer to me when you say that, Puss?" he asked, with that same
queer little smile on his face--a look that mystified the other, who could
not understand what it meant.
"Yes, both you and that loud-mouthed cousin of yours. Just because
luck favored you, and you won that blooming race by a head, you think
I can't manage an aeroplane as well as you. Huh! perhaps you don't
know that I'm going to take my machine with me when I go down to
the cocoa plantation we own along the Amazon, and use it exploring
where a white man has seldom been seen. You can just stay here and
grow up with the country, while I'm doing great stunts. But as long as I
stay here I'm going to stop this talk about trickery and low-down
dodges. You're responsible for most of it, Frank Bird. I warn you what's
coming to you." "Perhaps," said Frank, pleasantly, "you would be kind
enough