t time making such
a wide circle that he went directly over the barn and the wagon shed.
Then he shut off the engine and glided slowly to earth, coming down in
the middle of the field with scarcely a jar.

"By the great clam chowder of Pocahontas!" cried Tom, rushing up and
helping him out of the machine. "Dick, it was fine! Couldn't have been
better!"

"It was immense!" put in Sam. "You made the turns beautifully."

"It was very well done," added Captain Colby. "If you do as well in the
future you will have no cause to fear. As far as you are concerned, I
reckon the worst is over."

"How did it feel to be up in the air?" queried Sam.

"Oh, I felt kind of funny in my head for a few seconds," answered the
older brother. "But I knew I had to pull myself together and I did.
After that it was only a question of watching everything closely."

"Now I guess it's my turn, isn't it?" asked Tom, impatiently.

"If you feel equal to it," answered the captain.

"Sure thing."

Once more the biplane was gotten ready, and with another rush and a
whizz the _Dartaway_ shot into the air. For a moment, as the machine
wobbled from side to side, it looked as if Tom would have an accident,
and his brothers gave a shiver. But then he managed to steady the
machine and over the cornfield he flew, and around in a big circle
twice. Then he made a still larger turn, well up in the air, and in a
few seconds more was sailing over the barn and then over the Rover home!

"Gracious, that's Tom!" murmured Sam. "Always bound to go the limit!"

The noise of the engine caused those in the house to rush out and look
at the machine.

"Who is running it, that aviator?" queried Mrs. Rover.

"No, it's Tom," replied her husband.

"Tom!" burst out Anderson Rover. "Impossible! Why he doesn't know
enough about it yet."

"He'll be killed!" moaned Mrs. Rover. "Oh, what a daring boy!" And she
began to wring her hands in despair.

Over the house flew the biplane, and then made another turn and came
back. Then came sudden silence.

"Something is wrong!" cried Anderson Rover. "The engine has stopped
working!"

"He's coming down like a bird!" exclaimed Aleck Pop. "Now jess to look
at dat!"

As he spoke the biplane glided slowly to the ground, landing near the
barn. All rushed to the spot. There sat Tom grinning broadly.

"How was that?" he asked coolly. "Wasn't that a dandy initial flight?"

"Tom! Tom!" cried his aunt. "You'll kill me with your d