neared the
ground, and before many minutes it alighted in the patch of meadow in
front of the farm house, gliding gracefully for several feet before it
stopped.

But the rubber-tired landing wheels had not ceased revolving before Roy
was at its side.

"Say, who are you, and what are you doing with my aeroplane?" he demanded
in heated tones, for the helmeted aviator had not yet even deigned to
notice him, but seemed to be busy with various levers and valves.

"Well, are you going to answer me?" sputtered Roy, while the farmer, his
wife, the old hermit and the hired men gazed on curiously.

For answer the mysterious aviator raised his helmet and a cloud of golden
curls fell about a milk-and-roses face.

"By gum, a gal and a purty one!" cried the farmer capering about.

"Peggy!" shouted Roy.

"Yes, Peggy," cried the girl. "Oh, Roy, what has happened to you? When
you didn't come back Jess and Jimsy persuaded me to put on your clothes
and at least try the Butterfly out. But I was so miserable that I could
not try her out on the track, so I flew off across country. I saw you
waving far below me and--oh, Roy!"

Peggy could go no further and half collapsed in Roy's arms as he tenderly
lifted her out.

"Great hopping water millions!" cried the farmer, "if this ain't a day of
wonders. This must be ther lad's sister he told us about, and ter think
she come flopping down out of ther sky like a seventeen-y'ar locust."

Peggy was quickly her usual strong, self-reliant self again. With
indignation blazing in her kind eyes she heard Roy's account of the
happenings of the night. At its conclusion she announced with decision:

"We must defeat them, Roy."

"Yes, but how? There's only a scant half hour before starting time if you
said they'd changed it."

"Even so you can make it. You must take these clothes, get into the
aeroplane and fly back to the track. If you go alone the 'plane will be
light and you can make it in time."

"But you, Peggy?"

"I guess I can borrow a dress from Mrs. Ingalls here," said the girl
briskly.

"Of course, you kin," put in Mrs. Ingalls, but surveying her own ample
form rather doubtfully the while.

"You kin give her one of daughter Jenny's dresses," said the farmer.

"Then that is settled, thanks to you," said Peggy with characteristic
decision.

They all entered the farm house, from which, a few seconds later, Roy
emerged, clad in the garments his sister had donned a short time befo