e, the government expert on aerial matters arrived at
Hamilton Corners the next day. He sought out Herr Doodlebrod and Dick,
and said he was ready to see their machine tested. The preparations had
all been made and there was no delay.

In Dick's runabout he, his father, the inventor and the representative
from the War Department, Colonel Claflin, went out to the big field
where the airship awaited them. A large crowd was waiting. It seemed
that everyone in Hamilton Corners, who could, by any possibility get
away from work, was there.

The airship was hauled from the barn where it had been during the night,
closely guarded against possible accidents. It looked larger than ever
as, almost at the last minute, the inventor had increased the size of
some of the bat-like wings that extended on either side.

Herr Doodlebrod was the calmest person in the big crowd. He went about
looking at the wheels, levers, rods, rudders and the propeller as if he
was merely a spectator. But his sharp eyes did not miss anything. He
detected a loose screw in the motor and called for a tool to adjust it.
Then, having seen that the gasolene tank was filled, and that the
various handles for controlling the machine worked smoothly, he took his
place in the basket-car, which had been enlarged.

"Vould you not like to come?" he asked of Dick. But Dick shook his head
in dissent.

"You come," the inventor invited Colonel Claflin, but the government
representative begged to be excused.

"I may try it with you after your first flight," he said.

As the specifications called for the carrying of two passengers the
absence of one was made up by some bags of sand to give the necessary
weight.

"Iss all clear?" asked Herr Doodlebrod.

"Clear she is," replied his chief helper.

"Den here I goes!" exclaimed the inventor as he started the motor and
threw in the clutch operating the propeller.

The big arms beat the air and hummed shrilly as they whizzed around. The
new motor made the frail airship tremble. There was a moment's
hesitation, as if the craft hated to leave the earth, and then, with a
little jerk, it soared aloft.

"Hurrah!" yelled the crowd.

"She works! She works!" cried Dick, capering about in delight. He
thought the prize already won. Even Colonel Claflin looked pleased.

Herr Doodlebrod deflected one of the rudders and the airship went up at
a sharp angle. In a few seconds it was several hundred feet high. Then
it started to m