Price $1.50
THE AUTOMOBILE BOYS
OF LAKEPORT
Or, A Run for Fun and Fame
By EDWARD STRATEMEYER
Fifth Volume of “The Lakeport Series”
Illustrated 12mo Cloth
The author tells us in a manner that will please both young and old how
the dauntless lads of Lakeport got their big touring car, how they went
on a long trip through the mountains, and how they won a great race.
Early in the story a mystery of a most peculiar nature is introduced,
and this increases as the tale proceeds. There are likewise a thrilling
ride down a steep mountain road, and the details of saving the costly
automobile when the garage in which it was stored took fire. Some mean
fellows were jealous because they did not own the car and once they
decamped with it, carrying it on a flat-boat to an island in a lake.
Mr. Stratemeyer, whose books are the most widely read of those by any
living American writer for boys, loves motoring himself and understands
his subject thoroughly.
EDWARD STRATEMEYER’S BOOKS
Old Glory Series
_Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25._
UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA.
A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA.
FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS.
UNDER OTIS IN THE PHILIPPINES.
THE CAMPAIGN OF THE JUNGLE.
UNDER MacARTHUR IN LUZON.
Soldiers of Fortune Series
_Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25._
ON TO PEKIN.
UNDER THE MIKADO’S FLAG.
AT THE FALL OF PORT ARTHUR.
WITH TOGO FOR JAPAN.
Colonial Series
_Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25._
WITH WASHINGTON IN THE WEST.
MARCHING ON NIAGARA.
AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL.
ON THE TRAIL OF PONTIAC.
THE FORT IN THE WILDERNESS.
TRAIL AND TRADING POST.
Mexican War Series
_Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25._
FOR THE LIBERTY OF TEXAS.
WITH TAYLOR ON THE RIO GRANDE.
UNDER SCOTT IN MEXICO.
Pan-American Series
_Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25._
LOST ON THE ORINOCO.
THE YOUNG VOLCANO EXPLORERS.
YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE ISTHMUS.
YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE AMAZON.
TREASURE SEEKERS OF THE ANDES.
CHASED ACROSS THE PAMPAS.
Dave Porter Series
_Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25._
DAVE PORTER AT OAK HALL.
DAVE PORTER IN THE SOUTH SEAS.
DAVE PORTER’S RETURN TO SCHOOL.
DAVE PORTER IN THE FAR NORTH.
DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES.
DAVE PORTER AT STAR RANCH.
DAVE PORTER AND HIS RIVALS.
DAVE PORTER ON CAVE ISLAND.
Lakeport Series
_Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25._
THE GUN CLUB BOYS OF LAKEPORT.
THE BASEBALL BOYS OF LAKEPORT.
THE BOAT CLUB BOYS OF LAKEPORT.
THE FOOTBALL BOYS OF LAKEPORT.
THE AUTOMOBILE BOYS OF LAKEPORT.
THE AIRCRAFT BOYS OF LAKEPORT.
American Boys’ Biographical Series
_Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25._
AMERICAN BOYS’ LIFE OF WILLIAM McKINLEY.
AMERICAN BOYS’ LIFE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Stratemeyer Popular Series
_Fifteen Volumes. Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $0.60._
DEFENDING HIS FLAG. _Price $1.50._
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LAKEPORT SERIES
The Aircraft Boys of Lakeport
OR
Rivals of the Clouds
_By_ EDWARD STRATEMEYER
Author of “The Gun Club Boys of Lakeport,” “Dave Porter on
Cave Island,” “Old Glory Series,” “Pan-American Series,” etc.
_ILLUSTRATED BY H. RICHARD BOEHM_
[Illustration: Publisher’s colophon]
BOSTON
LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.
Published, August, 1912
COPYRIGHT, 1912, BY LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.
_All Rights Reserved_
THE AIRCRAFT BOYS OF LAKEPORT
Norwood Press
BERWICK AND SMITH CO.
Norwood, Mass.
U. S. A.
PREFACE
This story is complete in itself, but forms the sixth volume in a line
issued under the general title of “Lakeport Series.”
In the first volume of this series, which was called “The Gun Club Boys
of Lakeport,” I told how several lads organized their club and went
forth in the winter time for some sport in the woods.
With the coming of summer the thoughts of these boys, and many of their
friends, turned to baseball, and in the second volume, entitled “The
Baseball Boys of Lakeport,” I gave the particulars of several contests
on the diamond. Then came “The Boat Club Boys of Lakeport,” showing how
the youths became the proud possessors of some first-class shells and
other water craft, and how they rowed in several races and won them.
With the end of the summer came thoughts of other sports, and in
“The Football Boys of Lakeport” were given the particulars of some
hard-fought rivalries on the gridiron.
During all these days many of the boys had longed for a touring car in
which to make a trip through the country surrounding their homes. At
last came the opportunity to use a fine car, and in “The Automobile
Boys of Lakeport” I have given the details of a trip that was full of
mystery as well as excitement. Once the boys had to save the car from
burning up, and another time some of their enemies ran away with the
machine.
In the present volume some of the boys take up the art of aviation. A
few learn how to manage biplanes and other flying machines; and the
particulars are given of a thrilling flight through a thunderstorm, a
grand long-distance race, and how one of the lads disappeared in a most
unexpected fashion.
During the present summer I have been much interested in the efforts to
conquer the air, and have witnessed the flights of many of our leading
birdmen, and have examined with great interest the various machines
used. As yet aviation seems to be in its infancy; but since man has at
last learned how to fly, the working out of the details of the science
seems to be only a question of time.
EDWARD STRATEMEYER.
_August 1, 1912._
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. THE MAN IN THE BIPLANE 1
II. SOMETHING ABOUT THE BOYS 11
III. A STRANGE DISCOVERY 22
IV. THE OLD AVIATOR’S REQUEST 33
V. THE NEW OWNERS OF THE BIPLANE 44
VI. IN WHICH SOME OLD ENEMIES APPEAR 54
VII. JOE LAYS DOWN THE LAW 64
VIII. LEARNING TO FLY 75
IX. HARRY IN THE AIR 85
X. OVER THE LAKE 96
XI. A MESSAGE OF IMPORTANCE 106
XII. WHAT THE BLACK BOX CONTAINED 116
XIII. A MATTER OF BUSINESS 126
XIV. AT THE FAIRGROUNDS 137
XV. THE HYDRO-AEROPLANE 147
XVI. JOE IN THE AIR 157
XVII. MR. WESTMORE BRINGS NEWS 168
XVIII. LINK AND THE BIG KITE 178
XIX. HUNTING FOR THE “SKYLARK” 189
XX. THE CABIN IN THE WOODS 199
XXI. A QUEER CONVERSATION 210
XXII. THE OLD CISTERN 221
XXIII. THE FIRST AIRCRAFT RACE 231
XXIV. CAUGHT IN A THUNDERSTORM 241
XXV. PLANS FOR AN AERO MEET 252
XXVI. HARRY LEARNS SOMETHING 262
XXVII. A STRANGE DISCOVERY 273
XXVIII. TO THE RESCUE 283
XXIX. PREPARING FOR THE BIG MEET 294
XXX. THE AERO MEET--CONCLUSION 305
ILLUSTRATIONS
Then came a streak of lightning that was all
but dazing _Frontispiece_
FACING
PAGE
There, in a heap, rested the aged aviator 30
Si Voup came rushing forth, followed by Ike Boardman
and the two men 62
“Hi! hi! Don’t come down on us!” 96
“And I want all of you to tell me the truth” 118
Then it shot along for several hundred feet on an
even keel 156
Then the kite went to pieces, scattering over the
biplane and hanging there 186
“Hurrah! the _Skylark_ wins!” 312
THE AIRCRAFT BOYS OF LAKEPORT
CHAPTER I
THE MAN IN THE BIPLANE
“Speed her up, Joe; we can’t afford to waste any time on this auto
trip!”
“We’re making thirty-five miles an hour now, Fred,” returned Joe
Westmore, who was at the wheel of the big six-cylinder touring car that
contained five of the liveliest lads of Lakeport.
“Oh, shove her up to forty!” cried Harry Westmore, Joe’s younger
brother. “The road is clear and as straight as a string.”
“What a pity that you’ve got to give up this fine car after this week!”
sighed Link Darrow, as he sank back on the soft cushions of the tonneau.
“Never mind, we’ve had some dandy times in it this summer,” returned
Fred Rush.
“Couldn’t be beat,” put in big Bart Mason, who had been lolling back
with his eyes closed. “Say, a car like this rides as easy as a
Pullman, doesn’t it?”
“Better, I think,” answered Harry. “Anyway, I think you can see the
scenery better from an auto than you can from a railroad car.”
“Well, we needn’t complain,” observed Joe, as he increased the speed
a little. “It was awfully kind of Mr. Corsen to let us use the car at
all. Now he’s coming back I don’t blame him for wanting it.”
“Say, but we certainly did have some adventures on the road,” observed
Harry, as Joe reached a turn of the highway and slowed down. “Remember
how we were caught in that storm on the mountain?”
“Yes, and how we were caught by the constable of Coville,” added Fred,
with a grin.
“The color-blind constable!” put in Joe, and then the boys began to
laugh at the recollection of the countryman who had taken a green car
for a red one.
“Oh, say!” burst out Bart, rousing up suddenly. “Did I tell you fellows
the news?”
“What news?” demanded the four others quickly.
“Early this morning a flying machine passed over our house!”
“A flying machine!”
“Over your house?”
“Why didn’t you mention it before, Bart?”
“What kind of a flying machine was it?”
“Why--I--er--I didn’t see it--I only heard it,” stammered the big
youth. “I was going to speak of it as soon as I met you, but, somehow,
it slipped my mind.”
“It slipped his mind!” declared Link, sarcastically. “Well, if I saw an
airship--or even heard one--I’d not forget it so quickly.”
“What did it sound like?” demanded Joe, slowing down to listen to what
his big chum might have to say.
“Why, it sounded like a--er--a--well, like this auto when you’ve got
the muffler cut out,” drawled big Bart. “Only, of course, it was up in
the air, not on the ground. I was in bed, and I thought at first it was
a cyclone or something like that, and so did dad. I jumped up and ran
to the window and looked out. But it was only half-past four and rather
dark and all I could see was a cloud in the distance. But it made some
noise, I can tell you that!”
“I wonder if that’s the same noise Paul Shale said he heard a couple of
nights ago?” mused Harry. “He heard it just about midnight and said it
sounded like a train of cars in the air. He looked out, but it was too
dark to see anything.”
“Must have been the same flying machine,” answered Bart.
“I’d like to see it,” cried Fred.
“So would I,” added Link. “Wonder what it looks like, and why doesn’t
the fellow who is running it fly in the daytime?”
“Maybe he is a bit bashful,” suggested Joe, with a smile. “Or maybe he
hasn’t got his license to run.”
“Or he wants to wait until he can get a new pair of pink socks,” burst
out Harry. “No, if he runs only at night, he must have some real reason
for it. If he didn’t have some reason, he’d run in the daytime--anybody
would.”
“All of which doesn’t settle the question of which road we are to
take!” sang out Joe. “The forks are just ahead. Which shall it be,
Cresco way, or towards Blockville?”
“Let’s go Cresco way,” came simultaneously from Fred and Harry.
“Whoop! I know why they want to go there!” cried Link, with a broad
wink.
“Why?” demanded the pair, boldly.
“Because Joel Runnell lives there, and because Cora Runnell is so
pretty, and----”
“Cut it out!”
“Throw him out of the car!”
“Well, we might go Cresco way,” came from Joe. “But I was thinking----”
“Here comes another auto!” interrupted Bart. “My! what a racket it’s
making!”
Joe had by this time reached the forks of the road, and had brought the
big touring car to a stop, not being sure of which road they wanted
to take. At the cry from Bart he turned around to look back. Then he
uttered an exclamation.
“Look! look!” He pointed upwards. “It isn’t an auto--it’s the flying
machine!”
All gazed in the direction indicated, and there, high up in the air,
they saw a flying machine moving along swiftly. The explosions of
the motor could be heard plainly, and these had made Bart imagine an
automobile was coming.
“It’s a biplane!” exclaimed Harry, as the machine came closer.
“One man is running her,” added Fred.
“Look out, he’s coming this way!” yelled Link, as the flying machine
made a sudden dip in their direction.
“He’s making a circle,” added Joe, a few seconds later, as the biplane
veered to the westward and then came around on a big curve. “Say, but
this is a sight worth seeing!” he added, earnestly.
“I’d not miss it for ten dollars!” affirmed his brother.
All the lads had leaped to their feet and touring in the car was for
the time being forgotten. They saw the big biplane, with its snowy
canvas stretches, cover a big circle and then cut an equally large
figure eight. Only one man was aboard, an elderly individual, with gray
hair and a gray beard.
“Say, that’s great!” murmured Harry, enthusiastically.
“Would you like to run one?” queried Fred.
“Indeed I would, Fred! Look at him skim along like a bird!”
“He’s giving us a private exhibition,” observed Link.
“Wonder who he is and where he is from?” said Bart. “I haven’t heard of
any aviators around Lakeport.”
“Oh, they can sail miles in those machines,” answered Joe. “He may be
from some large city--out on a trial trip, to see how the biplane acts.
Maybe he is tuning up for some race.”
“I wish he’d come down--I’d like to get a near view of the machine,”
cried Fred. “Say, this sort of thing beats a balloon all hollow,
doesn’t it?”
“Yes, indeed, even a dirigible,” replied Link.
The biplane had swept off, over some open fields and a patch of
woodland. Now it came curving back, the explosions of the motor
becoming louder and louder. They could see the gray-haired old aviator
bending over to one side, as if watching some of the machinery. Then
the motor stopped for a few seconds, to start up again with a louder
banging than ever.
“The engine is missing,” cried Fred. “Must be something the matter with
his spark.”
“Look! look!” yelled Harry.
He had no need to utter the words, for all in the touring car were
straining their eyes to the utmost. They saw the biplane tilt and veer
and make a dash towards the ground. Then the old aviator changed the
angle of his elevation rudder, and up shot the flying machine towards
the clouds.
“Wow! what a narrow escape!”
“I thought he was coming down sure!”
“So did I! Say, flying isn’t so easy after all, is it?”
“If he had come down he would have been killed, sure!”
By this time the five lads were worked up to the top notch of
excitement. Who was this daring aviator, and why was he performing in
such a fashion in this lonely section of the country? There were some
farmed fields at hand, but the nearest farmhouse was all but out of
sight.
“Maybe he is trying to perfect a new kind of a plane, or new kind of a
motor, and doesn’t want any outsider to know about it,” suggested Joe.
“Here he comes back!” cried Fred. “And look how queerly the machine is
acting!”
Once more the biplane was approaching, this time at a height of about a
hundred and fifty feet. It was swaying from side to side, and the boys
could plainly see that something had gone wrong. The aged aviator was
bending to one side, working over the engine control. The machine made
a dip and a dart, and for one brief second the boys thought the affair
was coming down on their heads. Link ducked down in the tonneau of the
car and big Bart sprawled on top of him. The biplane swept within fifty
feet of them and the din from the motor was terrific.
“That engine is running wild, that’s what’s the matter!” yelled Joe,
when the danger was past.
“Say, let us get out of here!” stammered Bart, as he got to his feet
again, followed by Link. “It’s not safe.”
None of the others replied, for all were again watching the erratic
movements of the big biplane. First it would turn to one side of the
road and then the other, and then it made another circle and a dip.
After that it appeared to shoot straight for the clouds.
“Either something is wrong or that aviator is crazy!” declared Joe. “I
don’t know much about flying machines, but I know they shouldn’t act
that way.”
The motor was still exploding loudly, occasionally missing fire. The
biplane made another circle, and this time the boys saw the aviator
full in the face. He looked pale and alarmed. He seemed to shout out
something, but what it was they could not hear because of the noise
from the engine and the propellers. The latter were flashing around in
the sunlight like twin buzz-saws.
“That fellow will end up by wrecking that machine and killing himself,”
was Joe’s comment.
With a final swoop the biplane left the vicinity of the road, heading
in the direction of what was known locally as Owl Lake, a small sheet
of water deep in the Cresco woods. As it shot away something fell from
the machine, an oblong metallic box. It came crashing down in a tree,
bounced off from a limb, dropped to some brushwood, and disappeared
from view.
“Did you see that?” cried Harry.
“Yes,” answered his brother.
“What was it?” questioned Fred.
“It was a box of some sort, a black box,” answered Link. “It fell in
yonder bushes.”
“Let’s go see what it is!” cried Bart, and leaped from the automobile.
The others were equally eager to learn what it was that had come down
from out of the clouds, and all hastened forward to the spot where the
object had landed.