ile I was asleep. But I guess they
didn't get no chance to hurt anything," went on Abner, hastily.

"Who were they?" asked Tom.

"I don't know. They had rags tied over their faces, so I couldn't see
'em."

"How many of them were there?" questioned Dick.

"Two."

"Are you sure they didn't harm anything?" went on the eldest Rover boy,
as he entered the shed.

"No, I ain't sure, for when I woke up they was in the shed, right under
my hammock. I got scared and I blazed away at the roof, and then they
got scared, I can tell you! They jumped and let out a yell, and ran for
the door, and I got down and went to the door and fired the other barrel
into the air, as a warning. Then they disappeared in the darkness."

"I guess it was----" began Tom, when Dick caught hold of his arm and
silenced him.

"We'll take a look at the machine," said the big brother, and they went
into the shed. Here they were soon joined by Sam and the others; and
soon a close inspection of the biplane was in progress.

"I don't see any damage," said Dick, presently.

"Most likely they didn't have time to do any," replied Tom.

"I'm glad of it," added Sam, with a sigh of relief.

"Who would be so mean?" questioned Stanley.

"I've got my suspicions, but I won't say anything yet," answered Dick.

A proctor and several instructors had come down to the shed, and the
situation had to be explained to them. All thought it mean that anybody
should try to damage the flying machine.

"Perhaps it was merely a boyish trick," said Professor Blackie. "Let us
hope so."

"Maybe," answered Dick. "Just the same, I am glad that I placed Filbury
on guard." And then he told the young man to keep a closer watch than
before, and this Abner promised to do. Then the boys went back to the
dormitory, finished the feast, and went to bed.

A few days later came word that Dora and the Laning girls had arrived at
Hope Seminary, and the Rovers, of course, made immediate preparations to
visit them.

"We'll give 'em a surprise," said Tom, with a grin. "We'll visit 'em in
the _Dartaway_." And this the other brothers readily agreed to do.

A message was sent to the three girls, requesting them to meet the boys
at a certain hour on the campus of the seminary. Then the Rovers got the
_Dartaway_ in readiness for the trip, polishing up the engine and
working parts until they shone like silver.

"If only it doesn't rain, or blow too hard," said Sam, when all was in
readin