"Don't be alarmed, Dora; I don't think he will dare to show
himself," answered Dick, and on the sly gave her hand a tight
squeeze. They were warmer friends than ever since Dick had
rescued her from those who had abducted her.

The kite-flying was now in "full blast," as Sam expressed it, and
the boys had all they could do to keep the various lines from
becoming tangled up. His own kite and Fred's were side by side
and for a long time it looked as if neither would mount above the
other.

"Run her up, Fred! You can win if you try!" cried several of the
cadets.

"Play out a bit more, Sam; you haven't given your kite all the
slack she wants," said others. So the talk ran on, while each
contestant did the best to make his kite mount higher. In the
meantime the wind kept increasing in violence, making each kite
pull harder than ever.

"It's a dandy for flying," panted Tom, who was holding his kite
with all the strength he possessed. "Something must give way
soon," and something did give way. It was the string he was
holding, and as it snapped he went over on his back in such a
comical fashion that all, even to the girls, had to laugh.

"Torn! Tom! What a sight!" burst out Nellie Laning. "You should
have brought a stronger cord."

"If I had I'd a-gone up in the clouds," answered Tom ruefully.