CHAPTER XVI 

DICK AND DORA 

"Oh, Dick, how lovely!" 

"Weren't you afraid, Sam?" 

"What a big flying machine, Tom!" 

Such were the exclamations from Dora, Grace and Nellie, as all rushed forward to where the boys were alighting from the _Dartaway_. Soon they were shaking hands all around, and soon other girl students were coming up, to learn what the arrival of the flying machine meant. 

"Well, we certainly had a great trip," said Dick. 

"The wind was pretty strong," put in Sam. 

"Strongest wind you ever saw!" declared Tom, stoutly. "Turned us over about 'steen times and rolled us into a regular ball." 

"Oh, Tom, what an idea!" exclaimed Nellie, and began to laugh. "But weren't you afraid?" she went on anxiously. 

"What, me? Never! But Sam was so afraid he shook off his shoes, and one of 'em dropped right on a cow, and----" 

"Tom Rover!" burst out Grace. "What a story-teller you are!" 

"Well, Grace, if you don't believe it, go and ask that cow," went on the fun-loving Rover, soberly. "It's lucky Sam has elastics on the shoes--to pull 'em back by. If he hadn't had----" Tom did not finish but shook his head mournfully. 

"I am so glad you got here safely, Dick," said Dora, in a low voice. "But oh, do you think it is quite safe?" she went on, anxiously. "I--I don't want you to get hurt!" 

"I guess it is safe enough, Dora," he replied, not wishing to alarm her. "It's like an auto--you've got to get used to it." 
Who was?

"What, me? Never! But Sam was so afraid he shook off his shoes, and one of 'em dropped right on a cow, and----" 