t ideas on the subject.

In general Uncle Ezra's machine was a biplane, a little larger than
usual, and with a sort of auxiliary cabin and platform where one could
rest when not in the seats. Three passengers could be carried,
together with some food and supplies of gasolene and oil. It was an
airship built for quick, continuous flight, and it really had a chance
for the prize; perhaps not as good a chance as had Dick's, but a good
chance compared with others in its class. The one weak point, and this
Lieutenant Larson kept to himself, was the fact that it was only with
the best of luck that the flight could be made with but two landings.

Finally the former army man announced that the craft was ready for a
flight. He had spent all the money Uncle Ezra would give him--nearly
ten thousand dollars--and I suspect that Larson himself had lined his
own pockets well.

"She's ready," he announced to Uncle Ezra, one day.

"Well, take her up."

"Will you come?"

"Not till I see how you fare. Go ahead."

"Ezra, be you goin' up in that contraption?" asked Aunt Samantha, as
she came out in the meadow where a starting ground had been laid out.

"I'm aiming to, if he comes back alive with it," Uncle Ezra made
answer, grimly.

"Well, as I said before, it's flyin' in the face of Providence,"
declared Mrs. Larabee. "I might as well order my mourning now, and be
done with it."

"Oh, I ain't aiming to be killed," chuckled Uncle Ezra. "I guess it's
safe enough. I've got to get my money back out of this thing."

Lieutenant Larson, with one of the helpers, made the first flight. He
did not go very high, so that Uncle Ezra would have confidence. When he
came back to the starting point he asked:

"Well, will you take a chance?"

"I--I guess so," replied Mr. Larabee, and his voice was not very steady.

"I'm goin' in the house," announced Mrs. Larabee. "I don't want to see
it!"

Uncle Ezra took his place.

"I've got accident insurance in case anything happens," he said, slowly.

"I don't believe your policy covers airship flights," the lieutenant
returned.

"Then let me out!" cried Uncle Ezra. "I'll have the policy changed!
I'm not going to take any such chances!"

"It's too late!" cried Larson. "Here we go!" The engine was
thundering away, and a moment later the craft shot over the ground and
into the air. Uncle Ezra was flying at last.

CHAPTER XIX

UNCLE EZRA'S ACCIDENT

For some seconds after he