ound!" exclaimed Frank, to change the subject from
his acrobatic abilities, concerning which he was a bit sensitive.

Sure enough, Herr Doodlebrod was flying around in a circle. He seemed to
be able to manage the ship perfectly, and Dick was delighted. He already
saw the prize won with the improved craft, and himself holder of half
the money.

"Look out, he's falling!" yelled Bricktop, suddenly, and the crowd of
men, women, boys and girls strained their eyes to see what was
happening. The airship was certainly coming down.

"Oh, he'll be killed! Isn't it terrible!" exclaimed Birdy Lee, who, with
some of her girl friends, had come to watch the test.

"I'm going to faint!" declared Nettie Henderson, covering her eyes with
her hands.

"No, he isn't falling; he's steering it down!" declared Dick. "He's all
right!"

This announcement relieved the feelings of all. Herr Doodlebrod was
indeed coming down. But he had his ship under perfect control, as shown
by the manner in which he steered it in a half circle so as to return to
the place from which he had started. In a few minutes he allowed it to
come to a stop on the ground, in the midst of the throng, where it
alighted as gently as a bird.

"Vot I tell you?" he asked of Dick, triumphantly. "I could haf stayed
longer, but my engine he vill not stand it. Ven ve gets der new
motor--den ve two vill sail in der clouds."

"I guess you'll have to excuse me from the first trip," objected Dick,
with a smile. "I want to see it tried first."

"It iss as safe as on der ground. Vait, I vill show you. But now, are
you satisfied?"

"Yes," replied Dick. "I'm willing to invest five hundred dollars in a
new motor. Then we'll see how she works."

"Und den ve vin der grand prize," announced the German. "But I haf much
to do. Ven can you spare der money?"

"As soon as you want it. Perhaps you had better come back to town with
me and we can talk it over with my father."

The airship was taken to a big barn near the scene of the test and some
workmen left in charge to guard it from the curious crowd that gathered.
Herr Doodlebrod was as calm and collected as though flying was an
every-day accomplishment of his, but Dick was quite excited over what
had taken place. Not only did he see the conditions of his mother's will
fulfilled, but he was glad of the opportunity of taking part in helping
to solve the problem of aerial navigation.

Mr. Hamilton was informed of the test and its s