CHAPTER VII
THE RUNAWAY HORSES
In the middle of the river the ford was so deep that the water almosttouched the feet of the riders. But fortunately the current wassluggish, so the horses managed to keep their footing. They were allowedto take their own time, so it took several minutes to gain the oppositeshore.
"Well, I'm glad we are out of that," was Tom's comment, as they reacheda trail on the other bank.
"We'll have to endure it again, to get back," said Sam. "And what aboutthe biplane?"
"Just wait till we find the machine first," answered Dick, with a faintsmile. "You know the old saying, 'Don't count your chickens----'"
"Before they are fried," finished Tom, with a grin. "You see, somebodymight lift them from the henroost before you had a chance to cook them,"he went on soberly.
"By gum! thet ain't no joke nuther!" burst in Peter Marley. "Many achicken I've lost through tramps an' wuthless niggers."
"THERE SHE IS!" BURST FROM TOM'S LIPS.--_Page_ 63. _RoverBoys in the Air._]
They had to go around several walls of rocks and through a tangle ofbrushwood, and then came to a small clearing where was located theremains of a wood-cutter's hut. Not far beyond was the locality wherethey had seen the object that looked like one of the biplane's wings.
It must be confessed that the hearts of the three boys beat a bit fasteras they drew closer. Would they find the flying machine, and if so,would it be in serviceable condition or so smashed up as to beworthless?
"There she is!" burst from Tom's lips, and he pointed out into thewater.
"Right down between half a dozen big rocks," added Sam. "Is she smashedmuch? How about the engine, Dick?"
"The engine is there, but I can't tell if it's broken or not. We'll soonfind out."
The big biplane lay among some rocks and bushes, the latter overhangingthe water, which at this spot was less than two feet deep. By taking offtheir shoes and socks, and rolling up their trousers, the boys were ableto wade out to the flying machine and make an inspection.
"One of the planes is broken," said Dick. "But as the bamboo poles aremerely split I think they can be repaired with some fine wire,--just aswe repair a split baseball bat."
"But the engine?" asked Sam, impatiently.
"I think the engine is all right--at least it looks all right to me. Ofcourse we can't be sure until we clean it up and try it."
"Then she must have struck the water on the slant and that must havebroken the shock," said Tom; and this surmise was undoubtedly correct,for had the _Dartaway_ come down squarely on the rocks the planes andthe engine must have been broken to bits.
"Do you think we can get her ashore?" asked Sam.
"Sure we can, by the aid of the hooks and ropes, and the horses. But wewant to be careful how it's done. There is no sense in breaking themachine still more."
"We might get some planks from that old hut and roll the wheels up onthem," suggested Tom. "I don't believe anybody uses the hut."
"No, that ain't been used for years," said Peter Marley. "Ye can teardown the hull thing if ye want to."
The boys and the farmer set to work, and presently they had severalrough planks taken from the sides of the hut. They had the horses dragthese down to the water, and by hard work managed to get the planksunder the flying machine. As the planks were of wood they aided infloating the affair.
"By jinks! I've got an idea!" suddenly cried Dick. "We'll want themachine on the other side of the river. Why not build a raft and floather over instead of bringing her ashore here? There is plenty of stuffin that old hut."
"That's the ticket!" answered Tom. "Hurrah for a life on the rollingdeep!"
"It's a good idee," was the farmer's comment. "I was wonderin' how we'dgit over with the contraption. You kin keep on shovin' planks an' logsunder till she floats, an' tie them together with the ropes ye brungalong. A good idee."
It was not until noon that they had the so-called raft built and thebiplane fastened to it. The work had made them all hungry and they wereglad that they had brought along a substantial lunch. They sat down inthe shade of the woods to eat, washing the meal down with some waterfrom a spring back of the old hut,--or rather of what was now left ofthe structure. While the boys ate they talked about Josiah Crabtree andTad Sobber and the others who were their enemies.
"They'll surely try to do something," said Dick. "But what it will be Ican't guess. We'll have to keep on guard."
"Who is going to go on the raft?" asked Sam. "It won't carry all of us."
"I'll pole it over," answered Dick. "The rest of you will have to goaround by the ford."
"Don't you want any help?" asked Tom.
"No, I think I can do it alone. If two of us got on the raft it mightsink too deep and get stuck on the rocks."
So it was arranged, and a few minutes later Dick set off. Peter Marleyhad cut for him a slender but tough pole, which he was to use in shovingthe novel craft across the stream.
"Don't go overboard!" cried Sam.
"I'm going to take off the most of my clothing," answered the olderbrother. "You can carry the things for me--and don't drop them at theford."
Soon Dick was on the way, standing behind the biplane and using the longpole as best he could. He was in water up to his ankles and as theplanks were slippery he had to watch his footing. Once he came close togoing overboard but saved himself by clutching one of the wire stays ofthe machine.
In the middle of the stream the current caught the raft and forced itdown the river for quite a distance. But Dick had expected this, andkept his eyes on a sandy stretch still further below. He poled alongwith vigor, and did what he could to avoid the rocks and shallows. Oncethe raft caught fast, but soon he had it loose again, and a few minuteslater the sandy stretch was gained and he sent the raft shoreward withall his force. It came up on the sand and there it stuck; and the voyagewas at an end. Somewhat out of breath, Dick sat down to await the comingof the others.
"Safe and sound, eh?" cried Tom, as he galloped up from the ford. "Goodenough!"
"Now what's the next move?" asked Sam, who was at his brother's heels.
"We'll let the horses pull the whole concern up into the meadow,"answered Dick. And as soon as Peter Marley arrived this was done, andthen the biplane was unfastened from the raft and rolled still furtherinland, to a level, grassy field belonging to a farm of the vicinity.
The boys were anxious to learn if the engine of the flying machine wasin running order, and all set to work at once, drying and cleaning theparts. Fortunately the gasoline tank had remained airtight. While Tomlooked over the spark plugs and Sam tried the oil feed, Dick adjustedthe carburetor and magneto.
"Now I guess we can try it," said the eldest Rover boy, at last. "Butwe'll tie her down first," he added, with a grin.
"Yes, and good and hard this time," added Tom.
"Rope her to the raft," suggested Sam. "And drive a few stakes in theground, too," and this was done.
It was a wonder that none of the propeller blades had been broken, yetsuch was a fact. They were scratched and nicked, but a coat of varnishwould soon remedy all that.
Dick turned on the spark, adjusted the gasoline feed, and then he andTom took hold of the propeller blades. Half a dozen turns provedunavailing and the boys looked glumly at each other. Had the engine beendamaged after all?
"Give her another," said Dick, and this was done. Then the enginesuddenly responded, and there followed those gatling-gun like explosionsthat set the horses to prancing wildly.
"Hi! hi! let up with thet racket!" yelled Peter Marley. "If ye don'tthem hosses will run away!"
"All right, I'll stop her and you can take the horses up into thefield," answered Dick.
He sprang to the front of the biplane to stop the engine, but ere hecould do so one of the horses broke away and galloped madly away in thedirection of the woods. Then another followed.
"There they go!" bawled the farmer, lustily. "Stop 'em!"
Sam and T
om leaped to do as bidden. But they were too late, and so wasPeter Marley. Across the field dashed the horses, badly frightened bythe noise, and in a few seconds they disappeared into the timber.
"Well, by gum! Now what's to be did?" asked the farmer helplessly.
"Let's go after 'em!" answered Tom, running for the horse he had ridden."We ought to be able to catch them, Mr. Marley. Dick and Sam can stayhere."
"All right, we'll try it," answered the farmer. "But them critters ispowerful runners, I can tell ye thet! That black don't like no betterfun than to run away."
"Take care of yourself, Tom," called Dick, who had now stopped theengine. And then he and Sam watched their brother and the farmer as theywent riding away at top speed after the runaway steeds.
"Well, anyway, the engine seems to be O. K.," remarked Sam, after theothers had disappeared. "And the propellers go around like circularsaws. Now all we've got to do is to have those bamboo sticks bound up,or replaced by new ones. Wouldn't it be great if we could go home inthis machine!" he added, enthusiastically.
The boys inspected the split poles and the canvas, which had beenpunctured in several places, and then tried the engine once more.
"Makes a lot of noise," was Sam's comment. "You'd think it was half adozen Fourths of July rolled into one."
Presently they saw a farmer approaching, accompanied by two boys. Thefarmer had a shotgun in his hands, and each of the boys carried a club.
"Wot's this noise about, an' wot's that thing?" demanded the farmer, andhe showed his nervousness by the way he handled his gun.
"This is an airship," answered Dick, pleasantly. "I was trying theengine, that's all."
"Gosh all hemlock! An airship, eh? I thought it was a company o'soldiers firin' their rifles! Wot be you a'doin' here in my pasturelot?"
"Is this your lot?"
"It sure is, an' has been for forty years."
"We came here with Mr. Marley, of Rayville, to get the machine. It gotaway from us and landed in the river. We dragged it over here,"explained Dick. "We'll make it right with you for using the lot," headded, with a smile.
"Oh, so thet's it, eh? Well, you're welcome to use the lot," said JohnSnubble. "I'm glad o' the chanct to see an airship. Boys, this is one ofthem airships you read about in the papers," he went on to his two sons."Ain't no danger o' an explosion, is there?" he asked anxiously, as heslowly drew closer.
"I don't think so," answered Dick. And then he explained to Mr. Snubblehow the two horses had become frightened and run away, and how Mr.Marley and Tom had gone after the runaway steeds.
"It's too bad it's broke," said one of the farmer's sons. "I'd like tosee her go up."
"So would I," added the other.
"Perhaps you'll see her go up when she's mended," said Sam.
"If this is your farm, could you rent me a shed in which to store thisbiplane until she is mended?" said Dick, to the farmer.
"Maybe I can," was the slow answer. "But we'd have to keep the thing outo' sight o' the hosses an' cattle, or they'd cut up wuss nor them hosesdid wot run away," the man added soberly.