ight and they gave a
cheer as the big biplane rushed over the campus and then arose like a
bird in the air. As the machine went up, Tom looked to one side and saw
Dudd Flockley standing on the campus, in company with a student named
Andy Yates. Both were sneering at the Rovers and their friends.

"The pair that tried to damage the machine," muttered Tom to himself. He
knew that since Larkspur and Koswell had left Brill, Flockley and Yates
had become quite friendly, and he also knew that Yates was a spendthrift
and had a reputation far from good.

Up and up went the biplane, guided by the steady hand and keen eye of
Dick. The wind rushed over the canvas planes and sang merrily through
the wire stays. The engine banged away steadily, and the propellers left
only a blur in the air as they kept whizzing around and around.

"How is it, Dick?" asked Sam, after a full minute had passed, and they
were turning in a big circle.

"Can't tell yet--pretty gusty and full of holes," was the answer, and
Dick gritted his teeth tightly and took a firmer hold of the steering
wheel. Then the _Dartaway_ came around with a rush.

"Wow!" cried Tom, clutching at his seat. "Say, this is some slant!"

"Hold tight!" yelled Dick.

The warning came none too soon, for a gust of wind hit the biplane and
all but made it "turn turtle," as the saying goes. But Dick was on the
watch, and he sent the tips down, and soon the machine righted itself.
Then they rushed away, over the woods beyond the college buildings.

"Going?" queried Sam.

"Are you game?" asked Dick, grimly.

"Sure!"

"What about it, Tom? Don't go if you don't think it is best."

"We'll try it. Dick. But if you spill us out--well, please choose a soft
spot, that's all!" went on Tom, who had to have his joke, even in such a
time of peril.

To take that trip, with such a wind blowing, was not a wise move, and
all three of the Rovers knew it. But they wanted so much to see the
girls, and show them the biplane, that they were willing to take the
risk.

On and on sailed the _Dartaway_, now in the teeth of the breeze and then
with the wind on the quarter. All of the youths clung fast constantly,
for their was great danger of being pitched into space. They had straps
for fastening themselves, but hated to use these, fearing that they
might get in some position where a quick jump might mean safety. If they
were strapped in, and the biplane fell, they might be crushed to death
unde