I can
change my seat, and still reach every lever easily. And as to
balancing, the time has come when the aviator is going to be freed from
all that anxiety. Give me a start, will you, fellows? It's easier
rising from the water than on land, because no stumps or roots get in
the way there. That's it. Good day, sir!"

There was a whirr of the powerful little Kinkaid engine, the lightest
ever installed in an aeroplane, and immediately the new biplane started
to take on speed. When, in the estimation of the one who handled the
flier, it has attained sufficient momentum, the planes were elevated,
and like a great bird it gracefully began to mount upward into space.

Larry was watching the two gentlemen in the car, who had been paying
the closest attention to every little detail. He saw Mr. Marsh turn
his head, and nod several times quickly to his companion.

"As neatly done as I ever saw it accomplished," the gentleman muttered,
though the sharp ears of Larry Geohegan caught the suggestive words.

Then, after a few pleasant words to the two boys who had been fishing,
the men in the touring car started off, heading toward town, and were
speedily lost to sight in a cloud of dust.

"Let's take the short-cut, and bring up at the field where Frank and
Andy do pretty much all of their practice, turning, and cutting
figure-eights," suggested Larry, as though he had a purpose in saying
this.

"Oh! I guess I'm still able to toddle that far," remarked Elephant who
was compelled to work his short legs very fast when trying to keep
alongside the taller Larry; and yet these two, so unlike in almost
every way, had long been known as inseparables, ready to have an
occasional little spat, yet just as quick to pour oil on the troubled
waters again.

"There's Andy turning out," remarked Larry, after a while. "Perhaps,
if you could only get going a little bit faster we might overtake him
before he reaches home. I reckon he means to head for the shop in the
field, because I know he always keeps a lot of old duds there."

"Sure thing," assented the dwarf, cheerfully, as he started on what was
for him very like a run. "And it would be just like Andy to want to
help when Frank comes along with the new biplane. Say, ain't she a
dandy, though? Did you ever see such a neat contraption? Guess them
gents thought we had some pretty smart fellows in Bloomsbury."

"That's just what I was thinking, Elephant," remarked Larry, "but h