A GRAND ARRIVAL
"Glad to see you, boys! You're looking prime!"
It was the greeting of Mr. Sanderson, as the Rovers stepped from the
train at Ashton. The farmer was waiting at the platform with a
two-seated carriage to take them to his farm.
"How are you, Mr. Sanderson!" came from the three, and then all
continued in a chorus: "Did the biplane get here?"
"Something got here--two boxes an' several big bundles," answered the
farmer. "I had everything carted over to my place."
"Two boxes and four bundles," said Dick.
"Right you are. One of 'em putty heavy, too."
"That was the engine, Mr. Sanderson," vouchsafed Sam.
"Is that so! Well, times are sure changin', an' bymeby the hosses won't
be in it no more. So you calkerlate to fly over to the college."
"We do, if we can get the machine into shape," answered Tom. "It may be
that something got broke on the way and will have to be mended," he
added, anxiously.
"Well, we didn't break anything, Tom, take my word on that. If
anything's broke the railroad company done it."
The boys were soon seated in the carriage and Mr. Sanderson took up the
reins. As my old readers know, the farmer was proud of his horses and he
had good reason to be, for they started off in fine style, and presently
were passing everything on that long and somewhat dusty road.
"How is Miss Minnie?" asked Tom, on the way.
"Fust rate, Tom. She went drivin' yesterday with that young feller from
Brill that sprouts poetry."
"Oh, then Songbird has really arrived!" cried Tom.
"He has." Mr. Sanderson looked serious for a moment. "Say, is he any
good--or is he all--well, all poetry?"
"Songbird is one of the best and smartest boys in the college, Mr.
Sanderson," said Dick, bound to put in a good word for their chum. "He
likes to make up verses, but that isn't all he can do. Some day he'll be
a good business man."
"Well, I'm glad to hear that," answered the farmer; and the three Rover
boys knew he was thinking of his only daughter Minnie, and of the
attention Songbird Powell was paying to her.
It was not long before they came in sight of the Sanderson homestead,
pleasantly located in a grove of trees. Minnie Sanderson was on the
lookout for them--a round-faced, jolly young lady--and she waved her
hand as the carriage came to a halt.
"Why didn't you come in that wonderful airship!" she sang out gaily.
"I'm dying to see you fly!"
"Because you have the machine here!" answered Sam.
"Oh, we've only got some bundles, and they don't look a bit like a
flying machine," went on the girl. "But, say," she added, her cheeks
dimpling. "What a time I had yesterday, keeping your secret! Mr. Powell
took me out riding,"--she blushed a trifle--"and when we came back he
wanted to know what the bundles contained. I told him it was some kind
of machinery. He saw the canvas and said he guessed pa was going to put
up a windmill!"
"Thanks for keeping it dark!" cried Dick. "We want to surprise everybody
at Brill."
"You'll have to be careful of what you do then," went on the girl. "Some
of the young men have been around, and I--well, I don't like it."
"Who was around?" asked Tom.
"Mr. Flockley, for one," and Minnie bit her lip, for she had not
forgotten how that dudish collegian had once insulted her,--the time the
Rover boys had come to her rescue, as related in detail in "The Rover
Boys at College."
"Did he come to the house?" asked Sam.
"Oh, no, he merely walked through the orchard. But I guess he saw some
of the packages."
"He didn't speak to you, did he?" asked Dick, bluntly.
"I didn't give him the chance. When I saw him, I walked into the house,
and he didn't dare to follow me."
It was almost supper time, and the boys had arranged to remain at the
Sanderson homestead, instead of going to the rather poor hotel at
Ashton. They had a merry time with the others over the repast, and then,
even though it was late, they went down to the barn to inspect the boxes
and bundles comprising the _Dartaway_.
"Everything seems to be all right," said Dick. "We ought to be able to
put her together in a day, if we all work hard enough."
"We'll get up at six in the morning," said Sam.
So it was arranged, and Mr. Sanderson said he would call them. But this
was unnecessary, for all were up and downstairs before the appointed
hour, and before breakfast was served they had the boxes and bundles
open and the various portions of the biplane ready for assembling.
"Can't I help?" asked the farmer, who was much interested in what was
going on.
"You can help us lift the engine," said Dick. "That is rather heavy."
The boys and the farmer worked until five o'clock in the afternoon over
the biplane, knocking off a half hour for dinner. For that meal they had
same fried chicken and fresh vegetables, and an apple pie made by Minnie
which Tom declared was "a dream."
"We'll come and board with you," said Dick, to the girl. "This sort of
food goes away ahead of the college stuff; eh, boys?"
"Indeed it does!" cried Tom.
"Can't be beaten," put in Sam. And these compliments pleased the
farmer's daughter very much.
Gasoline was at hand and also oil, and soon the youths had the engine of
the biplane in working order. But it was not started until the
_Dartaway_ had been rolled off to the middle of a big field.
"I don't want to scare your horses and cattle," explained Dick, to the
farmer. "When the engine starts they'll think Fourth of July has
arrived."
Soon all was in readiness, and with a final inspection of the biplane,
Dick took his seat in the machine and called to his brothers to work the
propellers. Bang! bang! bang! went the cylinders, and around went the
big blades, faster and faster, until only a blur could be seen. Then
over the field shot the _Dartaway_ and up in the air.
"Oh, my, just to look at that!" gasped Minnie. "Just like a big bird!"
"Well, I'll be switched!" cried Mr. Sanderson. "An airship, sure as you
are born! I didn't think I'd live to see one! My! my! just to see that
thing a-sailin' through the air!"
Dick made the circuit of the field and then cut a figure eight. The
machine seemed to work perfectly, and when he came down he was well
satisfied.
"All aboard for Brill College!" he cried. "Through passage only! No
stopovers allowed!"
"Shall we sail over now, or wait until to-morrow?" asked Sam.
"Oh, come on now!" cried Tom, impatiently. "Lots of fellows will be on
the campus at this hour, and we can do some circling around before we
land."
"I'm willing," said Dick. "Who is to do the steering?"
"You do it--you're the oldest," said Sam.
"That's right," added Tom.
"I don't want all the glory," insisted Dick.
"You are not going to have," went on the fun-loving Rover. "See what
I've got for Sam and myself." And he brought out a mysterious package he
had brought from home. It contained two silken American flags and two
tin horns.
"We'll do the patriotic while you run the machine," said Sam.
"And I've got something else--but never mind what it is," went on Tom.
"No fireworks, Tom--they are too dangerous in a flying machine," warned
Dick, who knew his brother's love for things that made a noise.
"Nothing dangerous this time, Dick, I'll give you my word."
The _Dartaway_ was given another inspection and then staked to the
ground with a strong rope, fastened by a slip knot. Then the engine was
started up and the three lads clambered on board.
"Good bye!" they cried to the Sandersons.
"Good bye and good luck!" answered the farmer.
"Let us know how you arrive," added his daughter.
Then the knot in the rope was allowed to slide, and with a rush and a
whizz the biplane sped over the smooth ground and then soared into the
air. By the time Sam had hauled in the dangling rope, the flying
machine had left the Sanderson farm far behind.
"Oh, this is simply glorious!" cried Tom. He had his flag in one hand
and his horn in the other, and Sam was similarly equipped.
"Of course you know the way, Dick," said the youngest Rover.
"Oh, yes, it's easy. I'll simply follow the road. But I am going up a
bit," added Dick. "I don't want to scare any horses, or we may have some
damage suits to settle."
"The horses will have to get used to flying machines, just as they had
to get used to autos," was Sam's comment.
On and on flew the _Dartaway_, Dick managing the biplane as skillfully
as if he was a seasoned aviator. Over the farms and barns and houses
they sailed, creating much astonishment. The inhabitants came rushing
forth, some with milk pails, and women with dish cloths and towels in
their hands. One boy in his excitement shied a dipper at them, the
object falling short of its mark by several hundred yards.
"We are waking folks up," remarked Tom, as he tooted his horn and waved
his flag, and Sam followed suit. Then the fun-loving Rover placed his
horn under his arm and began to fumble at something in his pocket.
"I see Brill!" cried Sam, presently. "There is the main building!" And
he pointed with his hand.
"I see it," answered Dick. "Now for a few circles and a figure eight
before we come down. I hope they'll give us room to land."
In a few seconds more the various buildings belonging to the institution
of learning were in full view. Dick started up the engine with renewed
speed, thereby making more noise, and Tom and Sam added to the din by
blowing the horns with all their might. The two boys also waved the
flags.
The racket had the desired effect. From one building and another ran the
students and the members of the faculty, and also the hired help, and
all gazed up into the sky to learn what the noise meant.
"It's an airship!"
"There are three people on board!"
"Say, doesn't she sail along beautifully!"
"Wonder if they are sailing across the state."
"Maybe they are in the ocean-to-ocean race."
"They look like three boys! See, two of them are waving flags! Now what
do you think of that!"
"I'm going to get my spyglass," said one of the under teachers, and ran
to do so. In the meantime the _Dartaway_ came closer and circled slowly
over the main college building and the broad campus.
"Look! look!" cried several of the students. "What are they up to?"
From the bottom of the craft had suddenly burst a cluster of red, white
and blue tissue-paper streamers. These floated under and behind the
_Dartaway_, producing a beautiful effect. Then suddenly came floating
down through the air a quantity of many-colored confetti--tiny bits of
pretty paper that settled everywhere.
"The Rover boys!" cried the teacher who had brought out his spyglass.
"They are the three Rover boys!"
"The Rover boys!" cried Songbird Powell, who stood near. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Hurrah!" shouted Stanley Browne. "Now, isn't that just like them?
Always up to something new and original."
"Three cheers for the Rover boys!" called out one of the seniors. And
the cheers were given with a will, while the _Dartaway_ continued for
some time to float over the college grounds and then came settling down
like some big white bird, in the very center of the campus.