announced his conclusions.
Naturally they fully agreed with him.

CHAPTER VII.

A STOP FOR THE NIGHT.

It was some two hours later that Meadville received the greatest
excitement of its career. People rushed out of stores and houses as
the "flock" of aeroplanes came into sight.

As they gazed down the young aviators felt a momentary regret that they
had chosen a town in which to pass the first night of their motor
flight. It appeared that they would get into difficulties when they
attempted to make a landing.

But almost simultaneously they spied a public park, which appeared
to offer a favorable landing place. As soon as their intention of
descending there became manifest, however, the crowd made a headlong
rush for the spot.

It was too late to seek some other location to alight even had there
been one available. Trusting to luck that the eager spectators would get
out of their way the four aeroplanes began their spiraling descent.

Roy was first in his big biplane. As the ponderous, white machine ranged
down close to the park the crowd became well-nigh uncontrollable. They
swarmed beneath the big machine, despite Roy's shouts of warning.

Skillfully as the boy manipulated the aircraft he could not check its
descent once begun.

"Out of the way! I don't want to hurt you!" he shouted, as he dashed
down.

But the crowd, sheeplike in their stupidity, refused to budge. Into the
midst of them Roy, perforce, was compelled to drive. Once the throng
perceived his intention, however, they scattered wildly. That is, all
sought positions of safety but one man, a stout, red-faced individual,
who appeared dazed or befuddled.

He stood his ground, glaring foolishly at the sky ship. With a quick
turn of his wrist Roy swept the big biplane aside, but a wing tip
brushed the stout man, toppling him over in a twinkling. By the time
Roy had stopped his machine the man was on his feet again, bellowing
furiously. He was not hurt, but his face was contorted with anger.

He pushed his way through the crowd toward the young aviator.

"You young scoundrel!" he yelled, "I'll fix you for that! I'll--" "Look
out, here come the rest of them!" shouted the crowd at this juncture.

Nobody needed any warning this time. They fled in all directions as one
after the other the _Golden Butterfly_, the _Red Dragon_ and the pretty,
graceful _Dart_ dropped to earth.

"Wa'al, look at them gals, will yer!" shouted a voice in the crow