ore this
biplane until she is mended?" said Dick, to the farmer.

"Maybe I can," was the slow answer. "But we'd have to keep the thing out
o' sight o' the hosses an' cattle, or they'd cut up wuss nor them hoses
did wot run away," the man added soberly.

CHAPTER VIII

TRIAL FLIGHTS

It was a full hour before Tom and Peter Marley came back and even then
they did not bring the runaway horses in the field where the biplane was
located.

"Won't take no more chances," said the farmer. "I kin tie 'em down here
on the edge o' the woods jest as well." And this was done.

"Well, we may as well store the machine here for the present," said
Dick. "We'll have to get some piano wire for those broken poles."

"Aren't you going to try to take it home?" asked Tom, in surprise.

"What's the use? This is a good field to fly from. We can mend the
_Dartaway_ here and then, if Captain Colby is willing, he can sail her
from here to our farm."

A big wagon shed was cleaned out, and John Snubble and his sons aided
the others in rolling the biplane under the roof. Some old blankets were
thrown over the engine.

"Do you think she'd be safe here?" whispered Dick, to Peter Marley.

"She will be so far as Snubble is concerned," said the farmer. "He'll
leave her alone, an' so will his sons. But some outsider may come an'
fool with her."

"Well, we've got to take that chance," returned the eldest Rover boy.
"We won't leave the biplane here any longer than necessary."

It was not until nearly supper time that the boys got back to Rayville.
Here Peter Marley was paid for what he had done, and then the youths
lost no time in running out their automobile and going home.

The next day they telegraphed to the aviator who was to give them
lessons in sailing the _Dartaway_, and he came as soon as he could. He
listened with much interest to what the lads had to tell him.

"Well, it was certainly a great try-out!" he declared. "It proves that
the _Dartaway_ is a well-balanced machine, and that means much."

He had brought with him the necessary wire for repairs, and soon all
were on the way to the Snubble farm, taking a road that would land them
directly at the door.

"Glad you come!" cried John Snubble on seeing the boys. "Going to take
the machine right away, ain't you?"

"We hope to," answered Dick. "Why?" For he saw that the farmer had
something on his mind.

"Might have been burnt up last night, that's why."

"Burnt up!" c