ove about in a circle.

"Wonderful!" murmured several.

"He seems to know his business," remarked Mr. Hamilton. "I didn't
believe it would work. I haven't much faith in airships."

"Well, it has gone, so far," replied Colonel Claflin. "But the test is
not completed. Let's watch him."

In a great circle Herr Doodlebrod sent his ship around. He turned and
twisted this way and that. Then he set off in a straight line, as called
for by the government requirements.

But suddenly something happened. There was a sharp sound, like an
explosion, up on the airship. The big propellor was seen to fly to
pieces and come fluttering down, a mass of twisted wire and cloth.

Then came another ominous sound. It was a louder explosion, and a sheet
of fire was seen to envelop the ship.

"His gasolene tank has gone up!" exclaimed Colonel Claflin. "He'll be
killed!"

The airship seemed rent apart. The two big, bat-like wings soared off to
one side. Rudders, wheels, levers and parts of machinery came raining
down. The bat wings settled to the earth more slowly.

"Where is the inventor?" asked Mr. Hamilton. "Has he been blown to
pieces?"

"It looks so," replied the colonel. "Poor chap! I'm afraid he didn't
know so much about airships as he thought."

There came a cry from the crowd, not a cry of horror, but of wonder. The
colonel, Dick and Mr. Hamilton looked toward where they pointed.

There, falling through space from his wrecked airship, was Herr
Doodlebrod.

CHAPTER XXXI

GOOD NEWS--CONCLUSION

"Look! Look!" cried the crowd, again and again.

And there was no small cause for wonder; for, though the inventor was
falling to earth, he had hold of one of the immense bat-like wings. It
acted exactly as a parachute, the air catching under the curved surface.
Thus the inventor came down so slowly that he was not in the slightest
danger. It was a wonderful escape.

No sooner had he alighted than he hurried up to where Dick stood, his
face showing the sorrow he felt.

"Vell, my young friend," said Herr Doodlebrod, "ve haf made vun grand
mistake. But I know vat der trouble vas. I need a stronger propellor. Ve
vill make vun at vunce, und haf anodder test."

"I'm afraid it will be too late for me," remarked Dick, ruefully.

"Ach, dot iss so," assented the German. "But neffer mind. I shall yet
fly. I vill at once proceed to build a new machine. I vill make some
more shoes until I haf saved money enough, und den I try a