"Poor Uncle Ezra," spoke Dick, musingly. "He certainly has treated me mean, at times, but I can't help feeling sorry for him. Every time he has to buy five gallons of gasolene, or some oil, he'll imagine he's getting ready to go to the poorhouse. He certainly was not cut out for an aviator, and I certainly was surprised when he built that airship." "He's being used by that fellow Larson, I'm sure of that," declared Mr. Vardon. "Your Uncle Ezra has fallen into the hands of a scoundrel, Dick." "Well, I'm sorry for that, of course," said the young millionaire, "but, do you know, I think it will do Uncle Ezra good to lose some of his money. He's got more than he needs, and he can afford to spend some on aviation. Someone, at least the workmen, and those who sell materials and supplies, will get the benefit of it." The aircraft was now going along at about her usual speed of fifty miles an hour. The aviation park had been left behind, and they were now flying along at a comparatively low altitude. "Better go up a little," suggested Mr. Vardon. "It will be dark shortly, and we don't want to run into a mountain in the night." Dick tilted the elevating rudder and the craft lifted herself into the air, soaring upward. "Here, Innis, you take the wheel now, it's your turn," called our hero, a little later. "Straighten her out and keep her on a level keel. It's my turn to get supper." "And give us plenty, if you don't mind," begged the stout cadet, who took his chum's place in the pilot house. "This upper atmosphere seems to give me an appetite." "I never saw you without it, Innis," laughed Paul. "Come on out on the deck, for a breath of air before we start to cook," suggested Larry. "We can get a fine view of the sunset there." The open deck, in the rear of the cabin, did indeed offer a gorgeous view of the setting sun, which was sinking to rest in a bank of golden, green and purple clouds. "I'll go out, too," said Lieutenant McBride. "I am supposed to make some meteorological observations while I am on this trip, and it is high time I began." And so, with the exception of Innis, who would have his turn later, and Mr. Vardon, who wanted to look over the machinery, for possible heated bearings, all went out on the railed deck. Grit, the bulldog, followed closely on the heels of Dick. "Be careful, old man," said the young millionaire to his pet. "There's no rail close to the deck, you know, and you may slip overboard." They stood for a few moments viewing the scene while thus flying along through the air. The colors of the sunset were constantly changing, becoming every moment more gorgeous. Suddenly there was a swerve to the airship, and it tilted sharply to one side. "Look out!" cried Dick, as he grasped the protecting railing, an example followed by all. "What's up?" "We're falling!" shouted Paul. "No, it's just an air pocket," was the opinion of Lieutenant McBride. "We'll be all right in another moment."