ere
we are at the edge of the old field, and Andy just ahead. See that,
he's aiming for the shop in the middle of the patch, where the hangar
lies that holds their old monoplane. Perhaps you could buy that cheap
now, Elephant. You know you always declared you meant to take up
flying some day."

"Haven't given it up yet, either," returned the other, doggedly.

"Well, I advise you to think it over good and hard. Remember the fate
of Darius Green. It needs a mighty active fellow to manage one of
those tipsy, cranky machines. And if you ever should fall out I bet
you there'd be an awful squash!" chuckled the tall boy.

"Let up on that, can't you?" expostulated Elephant. "I'm small, but I
can get around as well as the next one. And when I get to sailing
through the air, I expect to have wings. Then, if any accident comes
along, it's me to flap my feathers, and drop like a thistle-down. In
other words, Larry, I've got a parachute all arranged that will let me
down easy; just like the fellow at the county fair, who drops from a
hot air balloon."

"Hello! now what d'ye think of that?" claimed Larry, suddenly.

"What do you mean?" demanded the small boy. "You're the most
mysterious fellow ever. Oh! I see now, by the way you stare over
yonder. Yes, it's the same two gentlemen who admired the daring of the
Bird boys a little while back. They must have found out where Andy
lives, and have run out here from town to see what sort of a hangar
they have."

"Yes, that's right, but I don't like it, I tell you," Larry went on, as
he led the way over the fence that surrounded the field.

"What's that?" cried Elephant. "Sure you don't suspect these two fine
looking gents might be another pair of crooks like the ones that tried
to steal Frank's monoplane last summer, do you?"

"Oh! rats! You wouldn't understand if I did try to explain. There
they go now, in a cloud of dust. Guess they saw us pointing at the
car. Come along, slowpoke, and get up with Andy," and Larry linked his
arm in that of his comrade, though he had to stoop considerably in
order to make the connection.

"Why, hello, fellows!" exclaimed Andy, who now for the first time
became aware of the fact that they had been trailing after him.

"Just dropped around to see if we could be of any use putting the new
machine away," remarked Elephant, as if an apology were needed to
account for their presence; but both boys had always been accounted
special