Project Gutenberg's The Girl Aviators' Motor Butterfly, by Margaret Burnham This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: The Girl Aviators' Motor Butterfly Author: Margaret Burnham Release Date: February 4, 2004 [EBook #10936] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL AVIATORS' MOTOR BUTTERFLY *** Produced by Suzanne Shell, Harry Jones, Lesley Halamek, David Garcia and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. THE GIRL AVIATORS' MOTOR BUTTERFLY BY MARGARET BURNHAM 1912 AUTHOR OF "THE GIRL AVIATORS AND THE PHANTOM AIRSHIP," "THE GIRL AVIATORS ON GOLDEN WINGS," "THE GIRL AVIATORS' SKY CRUISE," ETC. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY CHARLES L. WRENN CONTENTS Chapter I. Preparations and Plans. Chapter II. Off on the Flight. Chapter III. Little Wren and the Gipsies. Chapter IV. The Approach of the Storm. Chapter V. Peggy's Thoughtfulness Saves the Farm. Chapter VI. The Girl Aviators in Deadly Peril. Chapter VII. A Stop for the Night. Chapter VIII. Roy Makes an Enemy. Chapter IX. Jimsy Falls Asleep. Chapter X. Peggy's Intuition. Chapter XI. A Mean Revenge! Chapter XII. The Finding of the "Butterfly" Chapter XIII. Prisoners in the Hut. Chapter XIV. What's To Be Done with The Wren? Chapter XV. A Rambunctious Ram. Chapter XVI. An Invitation to Race. Chapter XVII. The Twisted Spark Plug. Chapter XVIII. In Search of a New Plug. Chapter XIX. The Trap. Chapter XX. An Attack in the Air. Chapter XXI. Peggy's Splendid Race. Chapter XXII. Peggy's Generosity. Chapter XXIII. The Moonshiners and the Aëroplane. Chapter XXIV. Mr. Parker's Story. Chapter XXV. The Wren Disappears. Chapter XXVI. Captured by Gipsies. Chapter XXVII. Deliverance. Illustrations 'What are you doing to this child?' demanded Roy indignantly. Both girls uttered a cry of terror as the air craft fell like a stone hurled into space. 'Take me back to earth er I'll shoot,' said a voice in his ear. 'I'd do anything for you.' said the child, as she rapidly cut the ropes. The Girl Aviators' Motor Butterfly CHAPTER I. PREPARATIONS AND PLANS. "It will be another 'sky cruise,' longer and daintier and lovelier!" exclaimed Jess Bancroft, clapping her hands. "Peggy, you're nothing if not original." "Well, there are automobile tours and sailing trips, and driving parties—" "And railroad journeys and mountain tramps—" interrupted Jess, laughing. "Yes, and there are wonderful, long-distance migrations of birds, so why not a cross-country flight of motor butterflies?" "It would be splendid fun," agreed Jess eagerly; "we could take the Golden Butterfly and the Red Dragon and ——" "Don't forget that Bess Marshall has a small monoplane, too, now. I guess she would go in with us." "Not a doubt of it. Let's go and find the boys and see what they say to it." "No need to go after them, here they come now." As the golden-haired Peggy spoke, two good-looking youths came round the corner of the old-fashioned house at Sandy Bay, Long Island, where the two young Prescotts made their home with their maiden aunt, Miss Sally Prescott. One of the lads was Roy Prescott, Peggy's brother, and the other was Jimsy Bancroft. "Well, girls, what's up now?" inquired Roy, as both girls sprang to their feet, their faces flushed and eyes shining. "Oh, nothing particular," rejoined Peggy, with assumed indifference, "except that we've just solved the problem of what to do with the rest of the summer." "And what's that,—lie in hammocks and indulge in ice-cream sodas and chocolates?" asked Jimsy mockingly. "No, indeed, you impertinent person; the young lady of the twentieth century has left all that far behind her," was Jess's Parthian shot, "for proof I refer you to our adventures on the Great Alkali." "Hello! what's this?" asked Roy, holding up a dainty cardboard box, and giving vent to a mischievous smile. "Chocolates!" cried Jimsy. "It was chocolates," corrected Peggy reproachfully. "And yet shall be," declared Jimsy, producing from some mysterious place in a long auto coat another box, beribboned and decorated like the first. "Jimsy, you're an angel!" cried both girls at once. "So I've been told before," responded the imperturbable Jimsy, "but I never really believed it till now." Peggy rewarded him for the compliment by popping a chocolate into his mouth. Gravely munching it, Jimsy proceeded to interrogation. "And how did you solve the problem of what to do with the rest of the summer?" he asked. For answer Peggy pointed to the sky, a delicate blue dome flecked with tiny cloudlets like cherub's wings. "By circling way up yonder in the cloudfields," she laughed. "But that's no novelty," objected Roy, "we've been up 5,000 feet already, and——" "But we're talking about a tour through cloudland," burst out Jess, unable to retain the secret any longer, "a sort of Cook's tour above the earth." "Wow!" gasped both boys. "There's nothing slow," added Roy, "in that or about you two. And, incidentally, just read this letter I got this morning, or rather I'll read it for you." So saying Roy produced from his coat a letter closely written in an old-fashioned handwriting. It was as follows: "My Dear Niece and Nephew: No doubt you will be surprised to hear from your Uncle Jack. Possibly you will hardly recall him. This has, in a great measure, been his own fault as, since your poor father's death, I have not paid the attention I should to my correspondence. "This letter, then, is to offer what compensation lies in my power for my neglect. Having read in the papers of your wonderful flying feats in Nevada it struck me that you and your young friends might like to pay me a 'flying trip,' making the excursion via aëroplane. "We are to have some flying contests in Marysville during the latter part of the month, and you might care to participate in them. Of course I expect your Aunt Sallie to accompany you. Hoping sincerely to see you, I am "Your affectionate uncle, "James Parker. "Marysville, North Carolina." As Roy concluded the reading the quartet of merry youngsters exchanged delighted glances. As if by magic here was an objective point descried for their projected motor flight. "Well, that's what I call modern magic," declared Jimsy glowingly; "consider me as having accepted the invitation." "Accepting likewise for me, of course," said Jess, shaking her black locks and blinking round, expectant eyes. "Of course," struck in Peggy affectionately, "the Girl Aviators cannot be parted." Just at this moment came a whirring sound from high in the air above them. Looking up, they saw a dainty green monoplane, with widespread wings and whirring propeller, descending to earth. An instant later the machine had come to a halt on the lawn, alighting as lightly as wind-blown gossamer. In the machine was seated a pretty girl of about Peggy's age, though rather stouter. In harmony with the color of the machine she drove, the newly arrived girl aviator wore a green aviation costume, with a close-fitting motor bonnet. From the beruffled edge of this some golden strands of hair had escaped, and waved above two laughing blue eyes. "Hello, people!" she hailed, as the porch party hastily adjourned and ran to welcome her, "how's that for a novice only recently out of the Mineola School?" "Bess Marshall, you're a wonder!" cried Peggy, embracing her; "the Dart is the prettiest little machine I've seen for a long time." "Isn't it a darling," agreed Bess warmly, "but, my! how I had to beg and pray dad before he would buy it for me. He said that no daughter of his should ever go up in an aëroplane, much less drive one. It wasn't till I got him down at Mineola and persuaded him to take a ride himself that he consented to buying me my dear little Dart." She laid one daintily gloved hand on the steering wheel of the little monoplane and patted it affectionately. "It's pretty enough, but it wouldn't fly very far," commented Roy teasingly, "sort of aërial taxicab, I'd call it." "Is that so, Mr. Roy Prescott? Well, I'd like you to know that the Dart could fly just as far and as fast as the Red Dragon or the Golden Butterfly." "Well, if you wanted to take a trip to North Carolina with us you'd have an opportunity to test that idea out," laughed Peggy. "A trip to North Carolina? What do you mean? Are you dreaming?" "No, not even day-dreaming." Just then Miss Prescott, her gentle face wreathed in smiles, appeared at the door. "Children! children!" she exclaimed, "what is all this? Adjourn your discussion for a while and come in and have tea." While the happy group of young fliers are entering the pretty, old-fashioned house with its clustering roses and green-shuttered casements, let us relate a little more about the young personages to whose enthusiastic talk the reader has just listened. Roy and Peggy Prescott were orphans living in the care of their aunt, Miss Prescott, the location of whose home on Long Island has already been described. At school Roy had imbibed the aërial fever, and after many vicissitudes had built a fine monoplane, the Golden Butterfly, with which he had won a big money prize, besides encountering a series of extraordinary aërial adventures. In these Peggy participated, and on more than one occasion was the means of materially aiding her brother out of difficulties. All this part of their experiences was related in the first volume of this series, "The Girl Aviators and the Phantom Airship." In the second volume, "The Girl Aviators on Golden Wings," a combination of strange circumstances took our friends out to the Great Alkali of the Nevada desert. Here intrigues concerning a hidden gold mine provided much excitement and peril, and the girls proved that, after all, a fellow's sisters can be splendid companions in fun and hardship. An exciting race with an express train, and the adventure of the "Human Coyote," provided stirring times in this story, which also related the queer antics of Professor Wandering William, an odd character indeed. Space does not permit to relate their previous adventures in more detail, but in "The Girl Aviators' Sky Cruise" still other interesting and unusual experiences are described,—experiences that tested both themselves and their machines in endurance flights. Of Roy and Peggy's devoted friends, Jess and Jimsy Bancroft, it is enough to say that both were children of Mr. Bancroft, a wealthy banker, who had a palatial summer home near to the Prescotts' less pretentious dwelling. Since we last met Jess and Jimsy their father had allowed them to purchase an aëroplane known as the White Flier. It was in this craft that Jimsy and Roy had flown over for mail when they made their entrance at the beginning of this chapter. Of the letter they found awaiting them we already know. Jolly, good-natured Bess Marshall had taken up aviation as a lark. She was a typical specimen of an American girl. Light-hearted, wholesome and devoted to all sorts of sports, tennis, swimming, golf, motoring and finally aviation had, in turn, claimed her attention. And now, having introduced our heroes and heroines of the sky to those who have not already met them, we will proceed to see how Miss Prescott receives the startling plans that her young charges are about to lay before her. CHAPTER II. OFF ON THE FLIGHT. "But, my dear children, do you realize what such a trip means?" The gentle-voiced Miss Prescott leaned back in her easy-chair and gazed at Peggy and Roy with an approach to consternation. "It means fun, adventure, and—oh, everything!" cried Peggy, clapping her hands. "You can't have the heart to refuse us," sighed Jess. "If it were only the boys it might be different, but two young ladies—" "Three," corrected Bess. "Three, then. For three young ladies, supposedly of sound mind, to go flying across country like, like—" "Butterflies," struck in Jimsy. "Wait a minute," cried Jess, "there'd have to be four ladies—" "Of course; a chaperon," breathed Peggy, with a mischievous glance. Miss Prescott dropped her knitting. "Peggy Prescott, you mean me?" "Of course; who else could go?" "My dear child, do you actually contemplate taking me flying through the air at my time of life?" "Why not? It isn't as if you'd never been up," urged Peggy. "You said you liked it, too," struck in Jess. "Um—well, I may have said so," admitted Miss Prescott, visibly weakening from the stand she had taken, and she went on: "I would like to see James again." "And here is your opportunity ready to hand, as the advertisements say," declared Bess, her blue eyes shining. "But how could I go?" The question was an outward and visible sign of capitulation on Miss Prescott's part. "Why, I was thinking we could use that big biplane I was building for Mr. Bell's use out in Nevada," spoke up Roy; "it will seat three, and is as steady as a church, thanks to that balancing device Jimsy and I figured out." "I'd fly my little Dart," declared Bess. "And you and I would take the Golden Butterfly," cried Peggy, crossing to Jessie and placing her arm round the dark-haired girl's neck. "Jimsy can fly the Red Dragon, and that leaves Roy and auntie for the biplane," she went on, bubbling over with enthusiasm as her plans matured and took form. "Goodness gracious, an aërial circus!" cried Miss Prescott. "We would attract crowds, and that wouldn't be pleasant." "I was planning to make it a sort of picnic," declared Peggy, who appeared to have an answer for every objection that could be interposed to her project. "What, camp out every night? Well, you are a wonder," exclaimed Jimsy, "if there's one thing I love it's camping out." "How long would it take us to get to Marysville?" asked Bess. "I'll get the atlas," cried Peggy, "but if we have good weather not more than three or four days." "I hardly think it would take as long as that," declared Roy, as five eager heads were bent over the atlas. "But camping out!" exclaimed Miss Prescott, "think of colds and rheumatism, not to mention snakes and robbers." "Tell you what," cried Jimsy suddenly, "what's the matter with Miss Prescott going along in an automobile? We can map out the route, arrange our stops and meet every evening at some small town where we won't attract too much of a crowd." "Jimsy, I always said you were a genius," cried Peggy. "Behold the last objection swept away," struck in Bess. "Surely you can't refuse now?" urged Jess. "Please say yes," came from them all. "But—but who would drive the car?" asked Miss Prescott, in the voice of one who is thinking up a feeble last objection. "Why, Jake Rickets, of course," declared Roy, referring to the man who helped the boys in the machine shop in which the aëroplanes for the desert mines were manufactured. After this Miss Prescott could make but a poor stand against the united urgings of five impetuous, enthusiastic young people. The air was filled with plans of all sorts. Jimsy was for going at once, but it was finally decided to meet again and set a definite date for a start. In the meantime there were parents' consents to be obtained, plans laid for the route to be followed, and various things purchased for the aërial trip. All this occupied some time, and it was not till a week later that the last difficulty in connection with the motor flight had been straightened out and the three aëroplanes stood ready, in Roy's hangar, for a tour that was to prove eventful in more ways than one. It was just after dawn on the day of the start that Roy and Jimsy for the last time went over every nut and bolt on the machines and declared everything in perfect readiness for the trip. Breakfast was a mere pretence at a meal; excitement got the better of appetites that morning. Beside the winged machines sputtering and coughing as if impatient at the delay, was a large and comfortable red touring car. At the driver's wheel of this vehicle was seated a small, "under-done"-looking man, in a chauffeur's uniform of black leather. This was Jake Rickets. "Well, Jake, we're all ready for a start," announced Roy, at last. The small man, whose hair was fair, not to say pale, glanced at the glowing boy with an expression of deep melancholy. "Yes, if something don't happen," he declared, in tones of deep pessimism. "Jake's never happy unless he's foreboding some disaster," explained Roy to Bess, who happened to be standing by drawing on her gloves. "It don't never do to be too sure," murmured the melancholy Jake, "'cos why? Well, you can't most generally always tell." "Everything ready?" cried Peggy at last, as Miss Prescott got into the car. "As ready as it ever will be," merrily called back Bess, who was already seated in the little green Dart. The chorus of engine pantings and explosions was swelled by the roar of Roy's big biplane and the rattling exhaust of Jimsy's fierce-looking Red Dragon. The Golden Butterfly, which was equipped with a silencing device, ran smoothly and silently as a sewing machine. Peggy sat at the wheel, while Jess reclined on the padded seat placed tandemwise behind her. It made a wonderful picture, the big white biplane with its boy driver, the scarlet and silver machine of Jimsy Bancroft and the delicate green and gold color schemes of the other two flying machines. "The first stop will be Palenville," announced Roy, "the biplane will be the pathfinder." Despite the earliness of the hour and the efforts that had been made to keep the motor flight a secret, the information of the novel experiment had, in some way, leaked out. Quite a small crowd gave a loud cheer as Roy cried: "Go!" "We're off!" cried Peggy, athrill with excitement. Propellers flashed in the sunlight and the next instant the biplane, after a short run, soared aloft toward a sky of cloudless, clean-swept blue. In rapid succession the Dart, Golden Butterfly and Red Dragon followed. "Come on," cried Bess to Jimsy, waving her hand challengingly. "Ladies first, even off the earth," came back from Jimsy gallantly, as he skillfully "banked" his machine in an upward spiral. Then upward and outward soared the gayly colored sky racers, like a flock of wonderful birds. It was the greatest sight that the crowd left behind and below had ever witnessed, although one or two shook their heads and prophesied dire results from young ladies tampering with them blamed "sky buggies." But not a thought of this entered the heads of the aërial adventurers. With sparkling eyes, and bounding pulses they flew steadily southward, from time to time glancing below at the touring car. Even though they were flying slowly it was plain that the big auto had hard work to keep up with them. The unique motor flight was on, and was about to develop experiences of which none of them at the moment dreamed. CHAPTER III. LITTLE WREN AND THE GIPSIES. They flew on, keeping the motor car beneath them in constant sight till about noon. Then, from the tonneau of the machine, came the waving of a red square of silk. This had been agreed upon as a signal to halt for a brief lunch. Shouting joyously, the young adventurers of the air began circling their machines about, dropping closer earthward with every sweep. Beneath them was a green meadow, bordered on one side by a country road and on the other by a small brook of clear water and a patch of dark woods. It was an ideal place to halt for a roadside lunch, and as one after the other the machines dropped to earth Miss Prescott was warmly congratulated on her choice of a halting place. The car was left in the road, and the melancholy Jake Rickets set to work getting wood for a fire, for it was not to be thought of that Miss Prescott could go without her cup of tea. In the meantime the girls spread a cloth and set out their fare. There were dainty chicken sandwiches with crisp lettuce leaves lurking between the thin white "wrappers," cold meat and half a dozen other little picnic delicacies, which all the girls, despite their aërial craze, had not forgotten how to make. The boys set up a shout as, returning from attending to the aëroplanes, they beheld the inviting table. "This beats camping out by ourselves," declared Roy, "girls, we're glad we brought you." "Thank you for the compliment," laughed Jess. "I suppose you mean that you are glad we brought all this." She waved her hand at the "spread" dramatically. "Both," rejoined Jimsy, throwing himself on the grass. By this time Jake's kettle was bubbling merrily, and soon the refreshing aroma of Miss Prescott's own particular kind of tea was in the air. The boys preferred to try the water from the brook, despite Jake's dire hints at typhoid and other germs holding a convention in it. It was sweet and cool, and the girls voted it as good as ice-cream soda. "At any rate as we can't get any we might as well pretend it is," declared Bess. So the meal passed merrily. After it had been concluded, amid gay chatter and fun, Peggy proposed an excursion to the woods for wild flowers which grew in great profusion on the opposite side of the stream. Crossing it by a plank bridge, the young people plunged into the cool woods, dark and green, and carpeted with flowering shrubs and vines. For some time they gathered the blossoms, and were just about to return to the aëroplanes and resume their journey when Peggy uttered a sudden sharp exclamation: "Hark! What's that?" she cried. They all listened. Again came the sound that had arrested her attention; a sharp cry, as if some one was in pain or fright. Then came definite words: "Don't! Please; don't hit me again!" "It's a child!" exclaimed Jimsy. "A girl!" cried Peggy, "some one is ill-treating her." "We'll soon find out!" cried Roy hotly. It infuriated the boy to think that a child was being subjected to ill-treatment, and the nature of the cries left no doubt that such was the case. "Stand back here, girls, while we see what's up!" struck in Jimsy. "Indeed we'll do no such thing!" rejoined the plucky Bess, bridling indignantly. "At any rate let us go in advance," advised Roy; "we don't know just what we may run up against." This appeared reasonable even to Bess, and with the boys slightly in advance the little group pressed rapidly forward. After traveling about two hundred yards they found themselves in a small clearing where a most unusual sight presented itself; a sight that brought a quick flash of indignation to the face of every one of them. Cowering under the blows of a tall, swarthy woman was a small girl, so fragile as to appear almost elfin. The woman wore the garb of a gipsy, and the presence of some squalid tents and tethered horses showed our young friends at once that it was a gipsy encampment upon which they had happened. The woman was so intent on belaboring the shrieking child that at first she did not see the newcomers. It was not till Roy stepped up to her, in fact, that she became aware of their presence. "What are you doing to this child?" demanded Roy indignantly. "That's none of your business," was the retort, as the woman for an instant released her hold on the child. Instantly the little creature darted to the sheltering arms of Peggy, sobbing piteously. "Oh! Save me from her, she will kill me," the child cried, in a broken voice. "There! there!" soothed Peggy tenderly, "don't cry. We won't let her harm you any more." But like a fury the woman flew at the girls. Before she could lay hands on them, however, Roy and Jimsy had seized her arms and held them. At this the crone set up a hideous shriek and, as if it had been a signal, two swarthy men, with dark skins and big earrings in their ears, came running from behind the tents. "What's the trouble?" they cried, as they ran up, regarding the boys malevolently. "It's the Wren; they're trying to steal the Wren!" shrilled out the woman. At this the men rushed at the boys, one of them waving a thick cudgel he carried. "Let go of that woman," they shouted furiously. Another instant and the boys would have been in a bad position, for both the gipsies were powerful fellows, and appeared determined to commit violence. But Roy, releasing his hold of the struggling gipsy woman, put up his fists in such a scientific manner that, for an instant, the attack paused. This gave Jimsy time to rush to his side. The instant she was released the woman darted to the side of the men. "Beat them! Kill them!" she cried frantically. The men resumed their rush, and the next moment the boys found themselves fighting to escape a furious assault. Neither of the lads was a weakling, and good habits and constant athletic exercise had placed them in the pink of condition. But the two gipsies were no mean antagonists. Then, too, the one with the cudgel wielded it skillfully. Time and again Jimsy avoided a heavy blow which, if successful, must have injured him seriously. The girls, screaming, rushed off, carrying "the Wren," as the woman called her, with them. They dashed at top speed back to the spot where the aëroplanes had been left, and summoned Jake. "I knew something would happen," declared that worthy, as he picked up a monkey wrench, the only weapon at hand, and started off for the woods. The girls followed him, Miss Prescott not having been vouchsafed anything but a most hurried explanation of what was going on. Just as Jake appeared on the scene Jimsy had received a terrific blow on the arm from one of the gipsy's cudgels. The boy's arm dropped as if paralyzed. With a howl of triumph the ruffian who had dealt him the blow rushed in on the injured lad. In another instant it would have looked bad indeed for Jimsy, but Roy, landing a hard blow against his assailant, hastened to his chum's rescue. "You look after that fellow. I'll take care of this one," cried Jake, rushing into the mêlée, whirling his monkey wrench in a formidable manner. The girls, huddled in a group, gazed on in frank alarm. "Oh, they'll be killed!" shrilled Jess. "Roy! Roy! Be careful!" cried Peggy. "Oh, I wish we could get a policeman," cried Bess, clasping her hands nervously. But as it happened a policeman, even if such a personage had been within a dozen miles, was not needed. A clever blow from Roy laid the cudgel wielder low, and the other man, not liking the look of Jake's monkey wrench, capitulated by taking to his heels. The woman cowered back among the tents. "Come on, let's be going," cried Roy, as he saw that the battle was over. "Ouch! my wrist!" exclaimed Jimsy, wringing his left hand; "I believe that fellow has broken it." "Let's have a look," said Roy, as the two boys made their way to the huddled group of girls. "Nothing but a nasty whack," he pronounced, after an examination. "Well, girls, was it an exciting battle?" "Oh, it was terrible," cried Jess; "we thought you'd be badly beaten." "But as it is we appear to be future 'white hopes,' not forgetting Jake," smiled Roy, who was still panting from his exertions. "You were awfully brave, I think," cried Bess admiringly, giving the three "heroes" a warm glance. "Well, there wasn't anything to do but fight, unless we'd run away," laughed Roy, "and now what about the cause of all the trouble?" He glanced at the little girl clinging to Peggy's hand. The child was pitifully emaciated, with drawn features and large, dark eyes that gazed about her bewilderedly. Her clothing was a red gingham dress that fitted her like a sack. She was shoeless and stockingless. Her brown hair, unkempt and ragged, hung in elf locks about her sad little face. Certainly, as regarded size and general appearance, her name, "The Wren," fitted her admirably. "I don't know what to do about her," admitted Peggy; "suppose we ask Aunt Sally? I don't want to let the gipsies have her again, and yet I don't see how we can take her." At the words the little creature burst into a frantic outbreak. "Don't let those people have me back; don't," she begged; "they'll kill me if you do." She clung passionately to Peggy's dress. Tears came to the girl's eyes at the pitiful manifestation of fear. "There! there, dear," soothed Peggy, stroking the child's head, "you shan't go back if we can help it. Come with us for the time being, anyway." "But we have no legal right to take her," objected Roy. "Don't say another word," snapped the usually gentle Peggy, whose indignation had been fully aroused, "come on. Let's get back to where we left Aunt Sally, then we can decide what to do." "Incidentally, we'll do well to get out of this vicinity before any more of those fellows come up. There must be several more somewhere close at hand," exclaimed Jimsy. "Yes; and I'll bet the others, the two who ran off, have gone to call them," put in Roy; "that woman has disappeared, too." No time was lost in getting back to the aëroplanes, "The Wren," as the gipsies called her, keeping tight hold of Peggy's hand. The boys walked behind and, with Jake, formed a sort of rear guard to ward off any possible attack. But either the other members of the band were far off, or else they did not care to attempt an assault, for the party reached the aëroplanes without further incident or molestation. Miss Prescott's consternation may be imagined as she listened to the tale they had to tell. From time to time during its relation she glanced pityingly at the Wren. "Poor child!" she exclaimed, gazing at the wizened little creature's bruised arms. They were black and blue from rough handling, and bore painful testimony to the life she had lived among the gipsies. "What is your name, dear?" she asked, motioning to the child as Peggy finished her story. "The Wren, that's what they always called me," was the response, in a thin little wisp of a voice. "Have you no other name?" asked Miss Prescott kindly. The child shook her head. "I don't know. Perhaps I did once. I wasn't always with the tribe. I remember a home and my mother, but that was all so long ago that it isn't clear." "Then she's not a gipsy," declared Peggy emphatically. "I'll bet they kidnapped her some place," exclaimed Roy. "That doesn't solve the problem of what to do with her," struck in Jess. "We can't send her back to those people," declared Bess, with some warmth. "On the other hand, how are we to look after her?" said Jimsy. "It's a problem that will have to solve itself," said Miss Prescott, after a few moments of deep thinking. "How is that?" asked Peggy. "Because she goes with us no matter what happens. It may not be legal, but humanity comes above the law sometimes," declared Miss Prescott, with emphasis. "Hurrah for Aunt Sally!" cried the boys, "she's as militant as a newly blossomed suffragette. Cheer up, Wren, you're all right now." "Then I'm to stay with you?" questioned the child. "Of course," came from Aunt Sally. The child buried her head on the kind-hearted lady's lap and burst into a passion of weeping that fairly shook her frail frame. It was at this juncture that Jake set up a shout and pointed toward the woods. From them a group of men had burst, armed with sticks and stones. They came rushing straight at the little group, uttering ferocious shouts. "We're in for it now," exclaimed Roy; "girls, you had better get in the machine and drive a safe distance. Those fellows mean mischief." CHAPTER IV. APPROACH OF THE STORM. It was apparent enough that mean mischief they did. Their dark eyes gleamed fiercely out of their swarthy faces. One or two wore a vivid red or blue handkerchief knotted about sinewy necks, this means of adornment only adding to their generally sinister look. "I knew we wouldn't get far without running into trouble," moaned Jake dejectedly. Roy turned on him sharply, almost angrily. "You get the ladies in that machine and drive off down the road a bit," he said; "I'll attend to this thing. Jimsy, come here." Jake hesitated a moment and then strode off to the auto. "Can't we stay and help?" asked Bess. "No; we can help Roy best by doing what he; wants us to. He's got some plan in his head," rejoined Peggy firmly, "come along, Wren; Jess, help me with her, she's terrified to death." This was no exaggeration. At sight of the gipsy band, the child so recently taken from their clutches shrank and cowered against her young protectress. "Don't let them take me—don't!" she kept wailing. "Never mind; don't be scared, Wren," Peggy comforted, "they won't get you." A flash of determined fire came into Peggy's eyes as she spoke. "Peg! You're magnificent," exclaimed Jess, as, headed by Miss Prescott, they hastened toward the car which Jake had already cranked. The gipsies had paused for an instant. Evidently the sight of the aëroplanes bewildered and amazed them. Expecting to come on a camp of young folks they had suddenly encountered a group of machines which, to them, must have savored of the supernatural. But as the auto drove off they were due for an even greater surprise. Following a swift whisper from Roy both boys had jumped into the Red Dragon. In an instant came the sharp barking of the engine. The flying machine dashed forward almost simultaneously. Straight at the angry nomads Roy headed it. It was as if a war chariot of old was charging into a group of defiant barbarians. For a few moments the gipsies stood their ground. But as the machine rose from the ground, skimmed it, as it were, Roy thrust on full power. The machine darted over the spot where the gipsies had stood but an instant before; but they had gone. Scattering with wild cries of fear, they could be seen running for their lives toward the wood. "I don't think they'll trouble us again in a hurry," declared Roy grimly, as he brought the Red Dragon round in a circle and headed back for the rest. From the machine came a cheer, Miss Prescott's voice ringing out as loudly as any. "The idea just came to me in a second," explained Roy modestly, in answer to the ladies' congratulations and praise, "it worked, though, didn't it?" "Like a charm," they all agreed. "Hadn't we better be getting on?" asked Jimsy, a minute later. "Yes; there's no knowing if those fellows won't try a flank attack, although I think they've had a big enough scare thrown into them to last them quite a while with economy," laughed Roy. "Who is going to take care of Wren?" asked Bess. "She'll ride right in the car with me," declared Miss Prescott positively, "you don't think I'm going to risk her in one of those things of yours, do you?" They all laughed. As a matter of fact, there was not one of the party that was not more at home in the air than on a road. Then, too, Roy's balancing device had about removed the last peril of air traveling. It was agreed to stop at Meadville, which the map showed was about thirty miles to the southeast, and purchase a dress and other necessities for their new ward. As to what was to be done with her after that nobody had any very definite plans. And so the journey was resumed, with congratulations flying over the way in which they came out of what, for a time, looked like a really serious scrape. The weather had held fair till a short time after the start was made from the scene of the encounter with the gipsies. It was Peggy who first observed a change in the sky. From the southwest billowy masses of slate-colored clouds came rolling on, obscuring the sunlit landscape beneath with an effect of lights turned down on a stage. Turning to Jess, who occupied the seat behind her, she remarked: "We're going to have some bad kind of a storm, girlie." Jess nodded. "Wonder how far we are from Meadville?" she asked. "Quite a way yet. I'm afraid that we can't make it before the storm breaks." "Look, there's Roy coming back, and Jimsy, too. I guess they want to talk about it." This turned out to be the case. As Roy came swinging by he held a small megaphone to his mouth with one hand, while the other gripped the steering wheel tightly. "We're in for a storm, girls, and a hummer, too, from the look of it." "Better drop down," counseled Jimsy. Jess nodded, and, as at this moment Bess, who had seen the boy's maneuver, came by, the news was communicated to her. The next thing to do was to look about for a suitable place to land. The country over which they were passing was heavily wooded, and seemingly sparsely populated. Beneath them wound a road, along which, but at some distance behind, the touring car could be seen coming in a cloud of yellow dust. The wind began to grow puffy, and it required all the skill of the young aviators to keep their flock of motor-driven birds on even wings. Before long, just as the distant, but fast approaching, cloud curtain began to be ripped and slashed by vivid scimitars of lightning, Roy espied, beneath them, a field, at one end of which stood a prosperous- looking farmhouse, surrounded by buildings and hay stacks. It was an ideal spot in which to land, and as the road was near by they would have no difficulty in attracting the attention of Miss Prescott when she went by. In graceful volplanes the aëroplanes lit in the field like an alighting flight of carrier pigeons. But hardly had they touched the ground when from the farmhouse a man came running in his shirtsleeves, his lower limbs being garbed in overalls and knee-boots. On his chin was a goatee, and as he drew closer they saw that his face was thin and hatchet shaped and anything but agreeable. "You git out of thar! You git out of thar!" he kept shouting as he came along, stumbling over the stubble, for the field had been newly reaped. "Why, what's the matter? We're not hurting anything," objected Roy; "surely you don't mind our occupying the field for an hour or so till the storm blows over?" "I daon't, hey? Wa'al, I do, by heck. I own all the way daown and all the way up frum this farm, and thet's ther law." "If we didn't have these ladies with us we'd be only too glad to leave your field," rejoined Jimsy, "but you can see for yourself a nasty storm is coming up." "What bizness hes gals riding round in them sky-buggies," stormed the farmer; "ef any darter uv mine did it I'd lock her up on bread an' water, by Jim Hill." "I don't doubt it in the least," smiled Peggy sweetly. "Humph!" grunted the cantankerous old agriculturist, not quite sure if he was being made fun of or if his resolution was being admired; "all I got to say is thet ef you want to stay here you gotter pay." "That can be arranged," spoke Jimsy, with quiet sarcasm. "An' pay wa'al, too," resumed the farmer tenaciously. "How much do you think the lease of your field for an hour or so is worth?" asked Roy. The farmer considered an instant, and then, with an avaricious look in his pin-point blue eyes, he looked up. "'Bout ten dollars," he said, at length. "We don't want to buy it, we just want to rent it for a very short time," struck in Bess, with her most innocent expression. "Wa'al, it's ten or git off!" snapped the farmer. "I'll pay you a fair price for it," spoke up Roy, "and not a cent more." "Then I'll drive you off with a shot-gun, by chowder." "Oh, no, you won't." "Won't, hey? What'll stop me?" "The law." "Ther law? Thet's a good one." "I think it is, a very good one," struck in Jimsy, who now saw what Roy was driving at. "Humph! wa'al, if yer a'goin' te talk law I'll jes' tell yer quick thet this is my land and thet you're all a-trespassing." "You are not very well up on aërial law, it seems," replied Roy, in an absolutely unruffled tone. "Don't know nuthin' 'bout this air-ile law," grumbled the fellow, but somewhat impressed by Roy's calm, deliberate exterior. "Well, then, for your information I'll tell you that under the laws of the country recently enacted aviators are entitled to land in any safe landing place in times of emergency. If they do any damage they must pay for it. If not the owner of the land is not entitled to anything for the temporary use of his place." "Five dollars or nothing," spoke Jimsy, "and if you try to put us off you'll get into serious trouble." "Wa'al, yer a-robbin' me," muttered the man, much impressed by Roy's oratory, "gimme ther five." It was quickly forthcoming. The old fellow took it without a word and shuffled off. As he did so there was a vivid flash of lightning and the growl of a big crash of thunder. While it was still resounding the auto came puffing up. Jake had put up the storm top and made it as snug and comfortable as a house. "Come on, boys and girls," urged Roy, "let's get the engines covered up and then beat it for the car. The rain will hit in in torrents in a few minutes." Indeed they were still making fast the waterproof covers constructed to throw over the motors in just such emergencies when the big drops began to fall. There was a helter-skelter race for the car. In they all crowded, and none too soon. The air was almost as dark as at dusk, and there was a heavy sulphurous feeling in the atmosphere. But within the curtains of the car all was fun and merriment. The case of the old farmer was discussed at length, and Jimsy convulsed them all by his clever imitation of the way the bargain was driven. He was in the midst of his description when a fearfully vivid flash lit up the interior of the car as brightly as day. As it did so The Wren uttered a sharp cry. "What is it, dear? Afraid of the lightning?" asked Miss Prescott, while a thunder volley boomed and reverberated. "No, no," shivered the child, drawing closer to her, "but when I see a flash like that I sometimes remember." "Remember what?" asked Miss Prescott tenderly. "Oh, I don't know," wailed the child, "people and places. They come for a moment and then disappear again as quickly as they came." CHAPTER V. PEGGY'S THOUGHTFULNESS SAVES THE FARM. Flash after flash, roar after roar, the lightning and thunder crashed and blazed as the full fury of the storm struck in. Miss Prescott, who was in deadly fear of lightning, covered her eyes with a thick veil and sank back in the cushions of the tonneau. But the rest of the party regarded the furious storm with interest. The rain was coming down in sheets, but not one drop penetrated the water-proof top of the big touring car. "It's grand, isn't it?" asked Peggy, after a particularly brilliant flash. "Um—ah, I don't just know," rejoined Jess, "it's rather too grand if anything. I——" Bang! There was a sharp report, like that of a large cannon. The air was filled with an eye-blistering blaze of blue fire. Stunned for an instant, and half blinded, not one of the young folks in the touring car uttered a word. The storm, too, appeared to be "holding its breath" after that terrific bombardment. "That struck close by," declared Roy, the first to recover his speech. "Oh! oh!" moaned Miss Prescott, "then the next will hit us!" "Don't be a goose, Aunt Sally," comforted Peggy; "don't you know that lightning never strikes twice in the same place?" Miss Prescott made no answer. In fact she had no opportunity to do so. From close at hand shouts were coming. Loud, frightened shouts. "Fire! fire!" "Gracious! something's on fire at that farmhouse!" cried Peggy. "That's what!" came in excited tones from Roy as he peered out through the rain. "Look at them running about," chimed in Jimsy. "It's from that haystack! See the smoke roll up!" cried Bess. "The lightning must have struck it. Say, we'd better go and help," exclaimed Roy anxiously. "I don't see that the old man who was so mean to us deserves any help," murmured Bess, rather angrily. "Why, Bess, for shame!" reproved Peggy. "Go on, boys, the rain's letting up, maybe you can help them." "All right, sis. Come on, Jimsy!" The boys dived out of the car and set off running at top speed for the scene of the blaze, which was in a haystack back of the main barn of the farmhouse. Several farm hands, under the direction of the disagreeable old man, whose name was Zenas Hutchings, were running about with buckets of water, which were about as effective as trying to sweep the sea back with a broom, so far as gaining any headway against the flames was concerned. Had the rain continued it might have been possible for the farm hands to quell the blaze with the assistance of the elements; but the storm had ceased almost as suddenly as it began, and only a few scattering drops were now falling. Off to the southwest the sky was blue once more. The farmer turned despairingly to the boys as they came running up. "'Clare ter goodness if it ain't them kids ag'in," he exclaimed; "wa'al, you ain't brought me nuthin' but bad luck so far as I kin see. Hyars a hundred dollars' worth of hay goin' up in smoke an'—" A farm hand came bustling up. His face was pale under the grime of soot that overlaid it. "Ef we don't git ther fire under control purty soon," he cried, "ther whole place 'ull go." "What's thet, Jed?" snapped old Hutchings anxiously. "I said that ther sparks is beginning ter fly. If ther fire gits much hotter it'll set suthin' else ablaze." "By heck! That's so!" cried old Hutchings, in an alarmed voice. He gazed about him perplexedly. "Isn't there any fire apparatus near here?" asked Roy. "Yep; at Topman's Corners. But that's five miles off." "Have you telephoned them?" asked Jimsy, who had noticed that the Hutchings farm, like most up-to-date ones, was equipped with a telephone; at least there were wires running into the place which appeared to be of that nature. "Ain't no use telephoning" was the disconsolate rejoinder. "Why?"