Dick obtained some detailed information, and entry blanks for the
government prize contest, and a little later announced to his chums:
"Well, fellows, in view of what Mr. Vardon said about amateurs,
maybe I will have a try for that prize. It will give us an object,
instead of merely flying aimlessly about. And if I should win,
wouldn't I have the laugh on dad! Yes, I'll make a try for it!" he
added.
"And we'll help you!" cried Paul.
"And I'll make a good story of it," promised Larry Dexter.
"I guess we'd better get the airship first," suggested Innis, dryly.
"Oh, I'll look after that," promised his aviator cousin.
The days that followed were busy ones at Kentfield Academy. A
course of instruction was arranged concerning the making and flying
of airships. In the former Mr. Vardon was the chief lecturer, as
he had had more practical experience in building the aircraft than
had either of the army captains.
But the army men had made a study of air currents, and the
management of biplanes and monoplanes, and were equal to Mr. Vardon
in this respect. And so the cadets looked on and listened, watching
the army aviators test their machines, run them over the starting
ground, and finally, by a tilting of the rudders, send the machines
up like big birds.
"Young gentlemen," announced Colonel Masterly after chapel exercises
one morning, "I have an important announcement to make. You have
been studying aviation for some time now, and it is necessary, if
you keep on with it, to have practical work.
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