went down, and then the aviator said that Dick might
try a short flight, over a cornfield that was close by.

"Don't go too high," he cautioned. "And if you feel the biplane turning
over try to jump clear of the engine, so it can't crush you."

It must be confessed that Dick's heart beat loudly as he took his seat
in the flying machine. It was one thing to talk about going up and quite
another to really fly. He realized the danger far more than did
merry-hearted Tom, or even Sam. But he was not going to show the white
feather.

The engine was started, the others holding the machine back. Dick
grasped the steering wheel and put his feet on the pedals.

"All ready?" asked Captain Colby.

"Yes. Let go."

"Now be careful. Take it easy,--and keep over the cornfield," said the
captain. "And if you turn, make a wide circle." He thought a tumble
among the corn might not be as bad as one in an open field where the
ground was hard.

Those on the ground let go, and with a rush and a whirr the _Dartaway_
sped forward over the ground. Then Dick shifted the elevation rudder,
and up into the air rushed the biplane, gathering speed at every
revolution of the propellers.

The eldest Rover boy was in the air at last!

CHAPTER IX

THE NEW ARRIVAL

"Say, that's great!"

"Be careful, Dick! Don't try too much!"

"He made a very good start," came from Captain Colby, who was watching
the progress of the biplane closely.

Over the cornfield sailed the _Dartaway_ with Dick Rover the sole
occupant. He was up about fifty feet in the air and presently he went
still higher.

"He's making the turn!" cried Sam. "Just look at him coming around!"

"Here he comes back!" exclaimed Tom. "Hurrah! Who says Dick can't fly?
Why, he's flying like a veteran!"

"Very good, so far," murmured Captain Colby. "If only he keeps his wits
about him he'll be all right."

"Trust Dick to do that," answered Sam. "He knows what he is doing, every
time."

The biplane had now reached a point close to where the three stood in
the field. All expected Dick to come down, but he did not. Instead, he
made another graceful turn to the left, and started over the cornfield a
second time.

"I wish the others could see him," murmured Tom. They had not told the
folks in the house about the trial flights for fear of scaring them.
Everybody thought the boys would not try to fly for at least a week.

Four times did Dick sail around the cornfield, the las