Chapter II: Preface

This story is complete in itself, but forms the sixth volume in a line issued under the general title of “Lakeport Series.”

In the first volume of this series, which was called “The Gun Club Boys of Lakeport,” I told how several lads organized their club and went forth in the winter time for some sport in the woods.

With the coming of summer the thoughts of these boys, and many of their friends, turned to baseball, and in the second volume, entitled “The Baseball Boys of Lakeport,” I gave the particulars of several contests on the diamond. Then came “The Boat Club Boys of Lakeport,” showing how the youths became the proud possessors of some first-class shells and other water craft, and how they rowed in several races and won them.

With the end of the summer came thoughts of other sports, and in “The Football Boys of Lakeport” were given the particulars of some hard-fought rivalries on the gridiron.

During all these days many of the boys had longed for a touring car in which to make a trip through the country surrounding their homes. At last came the opportunity to use a fine car, and in “The Automobile Boys of Lakeport” I have given the details of a trip that was full of mystery as well as excitement. Once the boys had to save the car from burning up, and another time some of their enemies ran away with the machine.

In the present volume some of the boys take up the art of aviation. A few learn how to manage biplanes and other flying machines; and the particulars are given of a thrilling flight through a thunderstorm, a grand long-distance race, and how one of the lads disappeared in a most unexpected fashion.

During the present summer I have been much interested in the efforts to conquer the air, and have witnessed the flights of many of our leading birdmen, and have examined with great interest the various machines used. As yet aviation seems to be in its infancy; but since man has at last learned how to fly, the working out of the details of the science seems to be only a question of time.

EDWARD STRATEMEYER.

_August 1, 1912._

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. THE MAN IN THE BIPLANE 1

II. SOMETHING ABOUT THE BOYS 11

III. A STRANGE DISCOVERY 22

IV. THE OLD AVIATOR’S REQUEST 33

V. THE NEW OWNERS OF THE BIPLANE 44

VI. IN WHICH SOME OLD ENEMIES APPEAR 54

VII. JOE LAYS DOWN THE LAW 64

VIII. LEARNING TO FLY 75

IX. HARRY IN THE AIR 85

X. OVER THE LAKE 96

XI. A MESSAGE OF IMPORTANCE 106

XII. WHAT THE BLACK BOX CONTAINED 116

XIII. A MATTER OF BUSINESS 126

XIV. AT THE FAIRGROUNDS 137

XV. THE HYDRO-AEROPLANE 147

XVI. JOE IN THE AIR 157

XVII. MR. WESTMORE BRINGS NEWS 168

XVIII. LINK AND THE BIG KITE 178

XIX. HUNTING FOR THE “SKYLARK” 189

XX. THE CABIN IN THE WOODS 199

XXI. A QUEER CONVERSATION 210

XXII. THE OLD CISTERN 221

XXIII. THE FIRST AIRCRAFT RACE 231

XXIV. CAUGHT IN A THUNDERSTORM 241

XXV. PLANS FOR AN AERO MEET 252

XXVI. HARRY LEARNS SOMETHING 262

XXVII. A STRANGE DISCOVERY 273

XXVIII. TO THE RESCUE 283

XXIX. PREPARING FOR THE BIG MEET 294

XXX. THE AERO MEET--CONCLUSION 305

ILLUSTRATIONS

Then came a streak of lightning that was all but dazing _Frontispiece_

FACING
PAGE

There, in a heap, rested the aged aviator 30

Si Voup came rushing forth, followed by Ike Boardman and the two men 62

“Hi! hi! Don’t come down on us!” 96

“And I want all of you to tell me the truth” 118

Then it shot along for several hundred feet on an even keel 156

Then the kite went to pieces, scattering over the biplane and hanging there 186

“Hurrah! the _Skylark_ wins!” 312

THE AIRCRAFT BOYS OF LAKEPORT