"If he comes around
here--"
"He isn't likely to," interrupted Dick. "The army aviators were
sent to Texas, I believe, to give some demonstrations at a post
there."
"You never can tell where Larson will turn up," murmured Jack.
Dick was shown the progress of the work, and was consulted about
several small changes from the original, tentative plans. He agreed
to them, and then, as it was only a question of waiting until his
craft was done, he decided to call on some of his friends at
Hamilton Corners.
Innis and Paul arrived in due season, and were delighted at the
sight of Dick's big, new aircraft, which, by the time they saw it,
had assumed more definite shape. Mr. Vardon and his men had worked
rapidly.
"And that cabin is where we'll stay; is that it?" asked Paul, as he
looked at the framework.
"That's to be our quarters," answered the young millionaire.
Paul was looking carefully on all sides of it.
"Something missing?" asked Dick, noting his chum's anxiety.
"I was looking for the fire escape."
"Fire escape!" cried Dick. "What in the world would you do with a
fire escape on an airship?"
"Well, you're going to carry a lot of gasolene, you say. If that
gets afire we'll want to escape; won't we? I suggest a sort of rope
ladder, that can be uncoiled and let down to the ground. That might
answer."
"Oh, slosh!" cried Dick. "There's going to be no fire aboard the--
say, fellows, I haven't named her yet! I wonder what I'd better
call her?
"Call her the Abaris," suggested Innis, "though he wasn't a lady.
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