t," answered the farmer. "But them critters is
powerful runners, I can tell ye thet! That black don't like no better
fun than to run away."

"Take care of yourself, Tom," called Dick, who had now stopped the
engine. And then he and Sam watched their brother and the farmer as they
went riding away at top speed after the runaway steeds.

"Well, anyway, the engine seems to be O. K.," remarked Sam, after the
others had disappeared. "And the propellers go around like circular
saws. Now all we've got to do is to have those bamboo sticks bound up,
or replaced by new ones. Wouldn't it be great if we could go home in
this machine!" he added, enthusiastically.

The boys inspected the split poles and the canvas, which had been
punctured in several places, and then tried the engine once more.

"Makes a lot of noise," was Sam's comment. "You'd think it was half a
dozen Fourths of July rolled into one."

Presently they saw a farmer approaching, accompanied by two boys. The
farmer had a shotgun in his hands, and each of the boys carried a club.

"Wot's this noise about, an' wot's that thing?" demanded the farmer, and
he showed his nervousness by the way he handled his gun.

"This is an airship," answered Dick, pleasantly. "I was trying the
engine, that's all."

"Gosh all hemlock! An airship, eh? I thought it was a company o'
soldiers firin' their rifles! Wot be you a'doin' here in my pasture
lot?"

"Is this your lot?"

"It sure is, an' has been for forty years."

"We came here with Mr. Marley, of Rayville, to get the machine. It got
away from us and landed in the river. We dragged it over here,"
explained Dick. "We'll make it right with you for using the lot," he
added, with a smile.

"Oh, so thet's it, eh? Well, you're welcome to use the lot," said John
Snubble. "I'm glad o' the chanct to see an airship. Boys, this is one of
them airships you read about in the papers," he went on to his two sons.
"Ain't no danger o' an explosion, is there?" he asked anxiously, as he
slowly drew closer.

"I don't think so," answered Dick. And then he explained to Mr. Snubble
how the two horses had become frightened and run away, and how Mr.
Marley and Tom had gone after the runaway steeds.

"It's too bad it's broke," said one of the farmer's sons. "I'd like to
see her go up."

"So would I," added the other.

"Perhaps you'll see her go up when she's mended," said Sam.

"If this is your farm, could you rent me a shed in which to st