days, and--"

"So that's been your worry!" interrupted Paul. "I knew it was
something, but I never guessed it was that. Fire ahead."

"Ever since your cousin came here, Innis, in his craft, and since
the colonel has arranged for aviation instruction, I've been
thinking of having an airship of my own," Dick resumed. "I wrote
to dad about it, but he didn't seem to take to the idea very much."

"No, I can't say that I did," said Mr. Hamilton, decidedly. "I
consider it dangerous."

"It's getting more safe every day, Dad. Look how dangerous
automobiling was at the start, and yet that's nearly perfect now,
though of course there'll always be accidents. But I won't go in
for this thing, Dad, if you really don't want me to."

"Well, I won't say no, and I'll not say yes--at least not just yet,"
said Mr. Hamilton slowly. "I want to think it over, have a talk
with some of these 'birdmen' as you call them, and then you and I'll
consider it together, Dick. That's why I came on. I want to know
more about it before I make up my mind."

Mr. Hamilton became the guest of the colonel, as he had done on
several occasions before, and, in the following days, he made as
careful a study of aviation as was possible under the circumstances.
He also had several interviews with Mr. Vardon.

"Have you decided to let your son have an airship of his own?" the