"There!" cried Scudmore; "you now behold the _Eagle_, a flying-machine that will fly, or, rather, sail. With the wind it will travel at wonderful speed, and it can beat to windward like a vessel. I have been at work upon it for years. Some time ago I perfected it, and I brought it here for my trial voyage. I have set it up and inflated it without attracting attention or advertising myself. I should not have called on Professor Scotch, but I was full of enthusiasm, and thought it would be a fine thing to have an eminent man like him accompany me on my first voyage." The boys looked at each other. "Phwat do yez think av it, Frankie?" asked Barney. "Can't tell," was the reply. "Let's look her over." "That's right, look her over," urged Professor Scudmore. "I am going to start at once, but I must first get aboard a few things that are in this hut." So the boys examined the airship, while the inventor brought bundles from the hut and placed them in the car. "Phwat do yez think now?" asked Barney, when they had looked it over quite thoroughly. "Will she sail?" "She will rise in the air, like an ordinary balloon," said Frank; "but I am not satisfied that the rudders and sails will work." "I will soon satisfy you on that point," said the professor, who happened to be near enough to overhear their words. Immediately he set about explaining everything in connection with the handling of the singular craft, and it did not take him long to make it seem an assured thing that the _Eagle_ could be steered in almost any direction, and that, with the aid of horizontal rudders, she could be brought to the ground or sent soaring into the air, without a change of ballast or the body of gas. Frank was intensely interested. "It is remarkable, professor!" he cried. "Scotch made a mistake when he refused to accompany you on your trial trip." "Ha! You are a boy of sense! Saw it the first time my eye rested on you. I will make you famous." Frank looked surprised. "How?" "You shall accompany me on my trial trip." "How long will it be?" "As long, or as short as we choose to make it. What do you say? Decide quickly. I am eager to be off." "Can you take Barney along?" "I can, but two is enough. I do not care for too many." "Can you drop us in Blake by nightfall?" "Yes." "Well, if you will take us both, we'll go along, professor." Scudmore considered, his right elbow resting in the hollow of his left hand, the long forefinger of his right hand touching his forehead. "I will do it!" he cried, with a snap. "Get in. We'll lose no more time. In a few moments we shall be sailing away like a bird." "Here goes, Frankie," grinned the Irish lad. "Av we're both killed, Oi want yez to tell me ould mither how Oi died." They entered the car, and Scudmore prepared to cast off. He was full of anxiety and excitement. At length but a single rope held the now swaying and surging air ship to the ground.