when he was told that the
evil-disposed pair were in that vicinity.

"We don't want the notoriety," said Dick. "If we had them locked up
they'd be sure to drag Mrs. Stanhope and the girls into court. We are
willing to let them alone if they will only let us alone."

Captain Colby remained at the farm a week and during that time gave the
Rover boys as much instruction as possible in the art of flying in
general and the art of managing the biplane in particular. He had
brought with him several books on flying and recommended that these be
read carefully.

"You all seem to take to it naturally," he said. "I don't believe you'll
have any trouble excepting on rare occasions--and every person who goes
up is bound to have that."

After the captain left the boys took several flights, some of them quite
long. They sailed over Dexter's Corners and the railroad station of Oak
Run, and at the latter place nearly scared old Ricks, the stationmaster,
into a fit, by swooping down close to where he was standing. Dick also
made a flight to the Marley place, and visited the Snubble homestead.

"What did you find out?" asked Sam, when he came back from the
last-named trip.

"Sobber and Crabtree have left the old mill," answered Dick. "The
Snubble boys were over there twice and they couldn't see a sign of
anybody."

"Have they any idea where they went to?" asked Tom.

"No. They said Crabtree sold the mill property."

"Besser you look out for dem scalavags," was the advice from Hans. "I
vouldn't drust dem mit mine eyes open alretty!"

"Oh, we're on the watch!" declared Tom.

The next day the German youth had to leave, and all the boys went down
to the railroad station in the touring car to see him off. Old Ricks was
there and he glared souring at the Rovers when he saw them.

"I guess he didn't like that flying affair," was Sam's comment.

"Oh, he's thinking of the time Tom put the cannon cracker in the bonfire
and made him think some dynamite had gone off," returned Dick, with a
grin.

"Or the time Tom gave him the cigar that turned into a snake!" went on
Sam, with a laugh.

"Get out of the way! Get out of the way, you boys!" cried the old
stationmaster, as he brushed past, hitting Tom in the knee with a suit
case he was carrying. The train that carried Hans had rolled away,
leaving Ricks and the Rovers alone on the little platform.

"Why, Mr. Ricks, what's your rush?" asked Tom, sweetly. "Going to a
wedding?"

"No,