rop down on the commons and give your people over here a chance to see
what a biplane looked like, while my cousin Frank Bird was making a few
little changes in this new machine; when we happened to see the dog
chasing after you. Then we dropped down in a big hurry; but
fortunately no damage was done."

"Oh! are you the famous Bird boys I've heard so much about?" she
exclaimed; at which Andy turned red in the face, and laughing
awkwardly, replied:

"I'm Andy Bird, all right, and this is my cousin Frank, the head and
brains of the combine; but as to our being famous, that's all a
mistake. We have taken up aviation as a business, and mean to follow
it. My father was a well-known aviator; so you see it runs in the
blood. You live in Hazenhurst, I suppose, Miss Alice?"

And it was at this point the pretty girl informed them who she was.

"Oh! I hope you will stay long enough by the liberty pole for me to
get back!" she observed, eagerly.

Andy nodded his head.

"Oh! I can promise you that we're not going to be in any very great
hurry to start back home. Why, we might even have to wait a whole
hour. There are lots of little things to be done, you see;" and as he
said this Andy gave his cousin a sly kick on the shin with his toe,
which was apparently understood by Frank, since he did not venture to
say a word in opposition to what had been spoken; though truth to tell,
he believed ten minutes would have sufficed him to make what little
changes he had in mind.

"Then I'll start right away," Alice declared. "And as I chance to be a
good walker I will show up inside of fifteen minutes at the most."

She shook hands with them again, and started toward the road. The old
farmer, with bulging eyes, watched the two lads get their biplane
ready; and obeying Frank's request even gave a shove at the proper
instant. Then he stood there, craning his scrawny neck as he watched
the great bird-like object soar upwards, hardly able to believe that he
had actually assisted in the launching of one of the modern miracles
that had conquered the forces of the upper air currents.

Andy was watching, and as they sailed over the road where Miss Alice
was trudging back to town he shouted a greeting, and waved his
handkerchief, to be delighted by a return salute.

"If I'd just dared, Frank," said Andy, regretfully, "I'd have offered
to take her to town along with us; but I was afraid you'd say no."

"Which I certainly would," re