He was strapped to his seat, as were the others, in case
the machine should turn turtle. The straps would then prevent them
from falling out, and give them a chance to right the craft.
For this can be done, and now some aviators practice plying upside
down to get used to doing it in case they have to by some accidental
shift of the wind. Some of them can turn complete somersaults,
though this is mostly done in monoplanes, and seldom in a biplane,
which is much more stable in the air.
"Feel all right?" asked Captain Grantly of Dick. He asked this,
but Dick could not hear a word, on account of the great noise of
the motor. But he could read the officer's lip motions.
"Yes, I'm all right," the young millionaire nodded back.
He was surprised to find, that, after that first sinking sensation
at the pit of his stomach, he was not afraid. He now felt a
glorious sense of elation and delight.
He was actually flying, or the next thing to it.
"We'll go a little higher," said the captain, as he elevated the
rudder a little more. The aeroplane kept on ascending. Dick looked
down. He did not feel dizzy as he had half expected. Far below him
were the buildings of Kentfield, and the green parade ground. But
what were those things like little ants, crawling over the campus?
Why the cadets, of course! They looked like flies, or specks. Dick
was ready to laugh.
On a level keel they now darted ahead at greater speed as Lieutenant
Larson turned on more gasolene.
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