ether, in a
large open wagon shed attached to the rear of the big barn. The biplane
has a stretch from side to side of over thirty feet, and the shed had
been cleaned out from end to end to make room for it. There was a rudder
in front and another behind, and in the centre was a broad cane seat,
with a steering wheel, and several levers for controlling the craft.
Back of the seat was the engine, lightly built but powerful, and above
was a good-sized tank of gasoline. The framework of the biplane was of
bamboo, held together by stays of piano wire, and the planes themselves
were of canvas, especially prepared so as to be almost if not quite air
proof. All told, the machine was a fine one, thoroughly up-to-date, and
had cost considerable money.

"We'll have to get a name for this machine," remarked Tom. "Have you any
in mind?"

"Well, I--er--thought we might call her the--er----" And then his big
brother stopped short and grew slightly red in the face.

"I'll bet an apple you were going to say _Dora_," cried Tom quickly.

"Humph," murmured Dick. "Maybe you were going to suggest _Nellie_."

"No, I wasn't," returned Tom, and now he got a little red also. "If I
did that, Sam might come along and want to name it the _Grace_. We had
better give the girls' names a rest. Let's call her the _Dartaway_, that
is, if she really does dart away when she flies."

"All right, Tom; that's a first-class name," responded Dick. "And
_Dartaway_ she shall become, if Sam is willing. Now then, we'll fill
that gasoline tank and let the engine warm up a bit. Probably it will
need some adjusting."

"Can we use the same gasoline as we use in the auto?"

"Yes, on ordinary occasions. In a race you can use a higher grade, so
that aviator said. But then you'll have to readjust the magneto and
carburetor."

"Gracious, Dick! You're not thinking of an air race already, are you!"

"Oh, no! But we might get in a race some day,--and such things are good
to know," answered Dick, as he walked off to the garage, where there
was a barrel of gasoline sunk in the ground, with a pipe connection. He
got out a five-gallon can and filled it, and then poured the gasoline in
the tank of the biplane.

"She'll hold more than that," said Tom, watching him. "Here, give me the
can and I'll fill the tank while we are at it. We'll want plenty of gas
when that aviator gets here."

In a few minutes more the gasoline tank was full, and then the two lads
busied them