CHAPTER X--LEARNING TO FLY
That was the first of many pleasant and interesting visits that Andy hadwith Mr. Morse, the inventor. By the end of the week the automobile boyhad become an airship enthusiast. Andy was charmed. When he was notpottering about the _Eagle_ or sailing the air with John Parks, he waswith Mr. Morse in a congenial atmosphere of mechanics.
Although John Parks was now engrossed in using his glider, he had notgiven up using his dirigible balloon, and he also gave Andy some lessonsin running this.
The dirigible was shaped like a fat cigar, and had under it a frame-workcarrying a thirty horse-power motor and two six-foot suction wheels.When there was no wind, the dirigible could sail quite well, but in abreeze it was hard to make much progress, and to use it in a high windwas entirely out of the question.
HE GAVE ANDY SOME LESSONS IN RUNNING THIS]
"The monoplanes and biplanes make the old-style balloons and thedirigibles take a back seat," said the Airship King. "But, just thesame, if your motor gives out, a dirigible is a nice thing to float downin."
"I like the dirigible," answered Andy. "But for speed, give me the newkind of flying machines."
Andy was in his element among the lathes, vises, saws, and general toolsof the workshop. Once or twice he made practical suggestions thatpleased Morse greatly. The inventor rarely left the camp, and when hedid it was generally after dark. There was material and aeroplane partsto purchase. These commissions were entrusted to Andy, and he showedintelligence in his selections. Once he had to go fifty miles on therailroad to a factory to have some special devices made. He used suchdispatch, and was so successful in getting just what was wanted bystaying with the order till it was filled, that Mr. Morse warmlycommended him to Parks.
Andy had drifted completely away from the old life. He was fastforgetting all about the Talbots and his former troubles at Princeville.One day, in a burst of satisfaction over a trial flight Andy made alonein a monoplane, John Parks declared that he would not rest until he hadmade Andy the junior air king of America. Then Andy felt that he hadfound his mission in life, and pursued his new avocation with morefervor than ever.
About all Parks thought or talked of was the coming aero meet. Andylearned that he was investing over two thousand dollars in maintainingthe camp and in building the machine with which he was to compete forthe prize. His success would mean something more than the winning of thefive thousand dollars. It would add to the laurels already gained as theAir King in his former balloon experience, and would make him aprominent figure in the aviation field.
"Come on, Andy," he said to his young assistant one afternoon. "We'llstroll over to the main grounds and see what new wrinkle these ambitiousfellows are getting up."
They spent an interesting hour over in the main enclosure whereprospective exhibitors were located. There was quite a crowd ofvisitors. Some of the aviators were explaining the make-up of theirmachines, and others were making try-out flights. Parks and Andy werepassing to the outfield where the test ascensions were in progress, whenthe former suddenly left the side of his companion.
Andy was surprised to see him hasten up behind a sinister-looking man,who was apparently explaining to an old farmer about the machines. Parksseized the man rudely by the arm and faced him around squarely. Thelatter scowled, and then a strange, wilted expression came into his darkface.
"Excuse this gentleman, if you will," said Parks to the farmer.
"Why, suttinly," bobbed the ruralite. "Much obleeged to him for being soperlite in showing me 'round."
Parks drew the shrinking man he had halted to the side of a tent.
"Now, then, Gib Duske," he said sternly, "what were you up to with thatgreenhorn?"
"He told you, didn't he?" growled the other; "showing him the sights."
"You're given to doing such things for nothing!" rejoined Parkssarcastically. "I recall some of your exploits in that line in the ruraldistricts when you were with the circus."
"See here," broke out the other angrily, "what is it your business?"
"Just this," retorted Parks steadily; "we're trying to run a decententerprise here, and such persons as you have got to give an account ofthemselves or vacate. What's your game, anyhow?"
"I'm up to no game that I know of," sullenly muttered the man called GibDuske. "If you must know, I've entered my airship for the race."
"You!" exclaimed Parks; "'Your airship!' Where did you get an airship?"
"I suppose I have friends to back me like anybody else when they see ashow for their money. I'm an old balloonist. A syndicate, knowing myprofessional skill, has put up the capital to give me a try."
"Oh, they have?" observed Parks incredulously. "I'd like to see yoursyndicate."
"And I've got my machine," declared Duske excitedly, "I'd have you know.I've heard you're entered. Fair play, then, and I'm going to beat thefield."
Parks eyed his companion in speculative silence for a minute or two.Then he said:
"You talk about fair play. Good! You'll get it here, if you're square.If you're not, you had best take my warning right now, and cut out forgood. There will be no balloon slitting like there was at a certain raceyou were in two years ago out West. The first freak or false play youmake to queer an honest go, I'll expose you to the field."
"I've got no such intentions," mumbled Duske, with a malicious glance athis challenger.
"See you don't, that's all," retorted Parks, and walked off. "Younoticed that man?" he added, as he rejoined Andy, who had listened withinterest to the conversation.
"Yes, particularly," answered Andy, really able to tell his employermore than he dared.
"Whenever you run across him," went on the Air King, "keep your eyeswide open. I'd like to know just how much truth there is in his talkabout entering for the race."
"Is he a bad man, Mr. Parks?" inquired Andy.
"He was once a confidence man," explained the aeronaut. "When I knew himhe was giving balloon ascensions at a circus. He had a hired crowdpicking pockets while people were staring up into the air watching histrapeze acts. Once at a race he slyly slit the balloon of an antagonist,who was nearly killed by the fall."
"I'll find out just what he is doing," exclaimed Andy.
"You can manage, for he knows me," observed Parks.
Andy said no more. He was pretty sure from the name and description thatthe fellow whom his employer had just called down was the enemy that Mr.Morse had told him about. He wished he could tell Mr. Parks all that heknew and surmised, but he could not break his promise to the inventor.
"Hello, there, Ridley!" hailed Parks, as they came to where a lithe,undersized man was volubly boasting to an open-mouthed crowd about thesuperior merits of his machine. "Bragging again?"
"Go on, John Parks," called the little man good-naturedly. "I'm not inyour class, so what are you jumping on me for?"
"Oh, just to stir you up and keep you encouraged. I hear you've got amachine that will land just as steadily and balance on top of atelegraph-pole as on a prairie."
"That's pretty near the truth, John Parks," declared Ridley. "I can'tmake a mile in thirty seconds, but I can get to the ground on a straightdive ahead of your clumsy old _Eagle_, or any other racer on the field."
"Why, Ridley," retorted Parks, in a vaunting way, "I've got a boy herewho can give you a handicap and double discount you."
"Is that him?" inquired Ridley, with a stare at Andy.
"That's him out of harness," laughed Parks. "Like to see him dosomething?"
"Just to show you're all bluster, I would," answered Ridley.
"Machine in order?"
"True as a trivet."
"Andy, give them a sample of a real bird diving, will you?"
"All right," said Andy.
He had not been tutored by his skillful employer vainly. Andy was inexcellent practice. He got into the clear, started up the Ridleymachine, and took a shoot on a straight slant up into the air about onehundred and fifty feet.
A
cry of surprise went up from the watching group as Andy suddenly letthe biplane slide on a sharp angle towards the ground, shutting off thepower at the same time.
Again reaching a fair height, he tipped the biplane on an angle of fivedegrees and came down so fast that the spectators thought something waswrong. When the machine was within a yard of the ground, Andy brought itto the horizontal with ease and made a pretty landing.
"Well, Ridley," rallied John Parks, as the stupefied owner of themachine stared in open-mouthed wonder, "what do you say to that?"
"What do I say," repeated Ridley. "I say, look out for your laurels,John Parks. That boy is a wonder!"
Airship Andy; Or, The Luck of a Brave Boy Page 10
