ain wing.

Straight ahead flew the army men and Dick, and then, when the cadet was
more used to it, they went around on a sharp curve. It made the young
millionaire catch his breath, at first, for the airship seemed to tilt
at a dangerous angle. But it was soon righted and straightened out
again.

Suddenly a shadow seemed to pass over Dick's head. He looked up,
thinking it was a dark cloud, low down, but, to his surprise, it was
the other army craft flying above them.

"A race!" thought Dick, and he wondered how his chum Paul was faring.

There was an impromptu race between the two aircraft, and then they
separated, neither one gaining much advantage. Back and forth they
went, over the school grounds, and then in circles. Dick was rapidly
acquiring knowledge of how to operate the big biplane.

"We'll go down now!" spoke the captain, though Dick could not hear the
words. The young millionaire made up his mind that he would have a
muffler on his airship, and also more room to move about. He intended
to make rather a long flight.

The deflecting rudder was tilted downward, and the descent began. They
were some distance out from the Kentfield grounds now, but were headed
for them on a long slant. Dick wondered if they would reach them.

At a nod from the captain, Lieutenant Larson reached up and shut off
the motor. The sudden silence was startling.

Dick understood what was to be done. They were to glide, or as it is
called "volplane" (pronounced vol-pla-nay, with the accent on the last
syllable) to the ground.

"I hope we make it safely," mused Dick. But it did not look as though
they had been near enough the landing place when the motor was cut off.
Dick saw the two army men glance rather apprehensively at one another.
Was something wrong?

Dick was sure of it a moment later when, as Captain Grantly pulled the
lever of the deflecting rudder toward him, there was a snapping,
breaking sound.

"Lost control!" cried the captain. "Wire snapped! Look out,
everybody!"

Dick wanted to jump, but he knew that would be rash, as they were still
some distance above the ground.

"Can't you guide her?" asked Larson.

"No! We've got to land the best we can!" was the answer.

They were right over a little farm now, and seemed to be headed
directly for a small, low building.

"Something is going to smash!" thought Dick grimly.

The next moment the airship had come down on the roof of the low farm
buildin