You probably heard what Mr. Vardon said about his machine
being tampered with."
"I sure did. And I think the same thing myself. It worked to
perfection the day before, and then, all at once, she turned turtle.
The gyroscope equilibrizer must have broken."
"Well, you can see what happened, for we've got her out of the water
now," said Dick. "And there may be more news when the army aviators
arrive."
"Are they coming here? I hadn't heard. I've been so busy getting
straightened out after my plunge into the river."
"Yes, they're coming here to give us instructions, and there may be
all sorts of stunts pulled off. So you'd better stick."
"I will, thanks. But I'm mostly interested in your airship. It
sure will be great to take a flight with you. But there's Mr.
Vardon. I want to hear what he says."
The aviator, and his helper, who had almost fully recovered from
their narrow escape from death, were carefully examining the airship
which was now hauled out on a level spot in the campus, just above
the river bank. Eagerly the cadets crowded around the machine.
"Come here, Grit!" called Dick to his prize bulldog. "First you
know someone will step on you, and you'll just naturally take a
piece out of his leg. You don't belong in a crowd."
Grit came at the word of command, and Dick, slipping on the leash,
gave the animal in charge of one of the orderlies to be taken to
the stable. Grit whined and barked in protest at being separated
from his master, but Dick wanted no accidents.
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