The Airplane Boys among the Clouds | Page 7

some
extent accustomed to tumbling overboard; though this time the
consequences might have been most serious only for the lucky presence
of the Bird boys near by, intent on trying out their new hydroplane.
Tommy's mother managed to thank the rescuer, after a fashion; but
Andy was a modest lad, and made light of his recent adventure.
"Don't mention it, fellows," he laughed when Larry and Elephant
started to lavish praise on his head. "I'm thinking of sending in an
application to become a member of the Life Saving Corps on the Great
Lakes, you know. And this was just the finest chance ever to try how
things worked. Besides, some day Frank and myself may have to take a
header from an aeroplane, and it's just as well to know how to drop."
"Well, all I can say is, that you did it as well as any expert," observed
the occupant of the tonneau, who had given the name of Mr. Marsh.
Andy looked at him, noticing for the first time that strangers were
present.
"Thank you, sir," he said, blushing a trifle, for he was as yet hardly
accustomed to praise, and quite unspoiled. "But there comes Frank with
the machine. Did you see us rise from the lake, fellows?"
"Did we?" exclaimed Elephant, with his face beaming; "well, I should
smile we did now. It was the greatest stunt ever. I thought at first, Andy,
something had happened to your new biplane; but these gentlemen
knew all about such things, and they explained to us what you meant to
do."
Andy at this stole another side glance at the occupants of the big
touring car. Noticing this, Mr. Marsh hastened to remark:

"Well, that is putting it rather strong, my boy. We've been interested in
several aviation meets during the last year, and keep posted as to what
is new along those lines. Plenty of people know about hydroplanes, and
such things. And so this represents the last thing in your work, does it?
I must say you are a credit to your teacher, whoever he may be."
Frank, who had landed close by, heard these words, as possibly the
gentleman intended he should. But he was too much interested in other
matters to pay any particular attention to the flattery of passing tourists.
"How did Tommy come out of the accident?" he asked.
"All right, I guess," laughed Andy Bird, his cousin. "His ma has carried
him off into the house, to fill him up with cake, or bread and molasses.
He didn't swallow more than a pint of water."
"Lucky Tommy!" observed Mr. Marsh.
"You made the drop in fine shape, Andy," Frank went on, still keeping
his face turned toward his chum, as though not really caring to enter
into conversation with these unknown gentlemen, who seemed to be so
well posted on things aeronautic.
"It was a peach of a dive!" exclaimed Elephant, enthusiastically.
"And since you're wringing wet I don't think you'd better go up with me
again right now," Frank continued. "Hike for home, and get into some
dry duds. I'll knock around for a spell, to try out a few more stunts I
have in mind."
Truth to tell Frank was eager to get his new hydroplane away from
those searching eyes of Mr. Marsh. They gave him a queer feeling,
which of course he was quite unable to understand.
During the preceding summer, when the Bird boys were using the
monoplane they had put together so successfully, it chanced that they
had quite a serious adventure with a couple of thieves who had robbed
a jewelry establishment, and were trying to get out of the country,

where the roads were being closely watched by the police.
On this occasion one of the rascals chanced to be a man named Jules
Garrone, who, over across the water had been something of an aeronaut
and aviator. Conceiving the brilliant scheme that if the monoplane of
the Bird boys could only be stolen he and his companion could easily
elude their hunters, he had given Frank and Andy lots of trouble before
finally falling into the net.
That was one reason why Frank felt rather cool toward strangers who
manifested undue interest in his work. He was of an inventive turn of
mind, and believed he had several new features connected with this
hydroplane that as yet were, so far as he knew, novel to the science of
aviation.
And those keen eyes of Mr. Marsh gave him an uneasy feeling.
"Your biplane seems to be built especially for two?" remarked that
gentleman, as he watched Frank swing the machine around, with the
help of the willing Larry and Elephant.
"Yes, sir," replied the boy, promptly. "Andy and myself always hunt
together. We are