The Girl Aviators and the Phantom Airship

of an hour or more at the junction was necessary. Thus it was quite dark when the young Prescotts were ready to make for h

experience in night piloting, and when they were ready Peggy switched on the tiny shaded bulb that illuminated the compass. This don

lights beneath her, and presently the Golden Butterfly was skimming along above dark woodlands and gloom-enshrouded meadows. There was something awe inspiri

nly a bright glare shot up against the night from below, and a little a

med Roy. "Let's fly over by t

have felt a great interest in Mr. Gibbons. But we'll h

read over the stars, dimming their bright lamps, and

. From the ground a red light and a green light set at some distance apart began to rise. Up and up they climbe

ied the boy and gi

plane!" cried Peggy

can fly!" she ad

er grudging reply, as the red an

s, we don't want a co

reathed Peggy. "I never would have credit

an Harding giving place to admiration-ge

med presently, after an interval in which the lights had climbed far

rejoined the girl, with a sigh. "I w

'd be foolish if he didn't. Odd that

and then spring it on an astonished world," rejoin

puff of wind struck them both in the face. Peggy's hands fairly flashed

up at the other aeroplane to see how it was faring.

't even bother Fan Harding's craft. I

it altogether," sniffed Peggy;

ut I'm afraid it is a substantial enough

Butterfly careened violently, and then, under Peggy's skillful handling, ri

gets any worse," advised Ro

y, desperately, "but the wind

ote in his voice; "if this wind freshens m

he instant he tried to steer the aeroplane round, the wind,

d; "we've got t

?" asked Peggy, a litt

at," decided Roy. "It would be su

n every wire and brace of the Golden Butterfly. Brother and sister

tronger every minute. The dark landscape beneath fairly flew by under them. Neithe

er his sister's shoulder and glance

sis," he said, in

Roy? Are we in any

ly in response to the anxiety

. "Girlie, we are be

words held a real poig

do something!" she

about. The machine would tip like a buck

kness, brother and sister sat in silence, waiting for

and the starlight, which, dim as it was, might have help

rately against the wind, they saw, far below them, the cheerful lights of some f

nd at home, as they were blown onward by th

the risk of careening the aeroplane when they shifted their positions. Every now and then he tried to

eggy uttered

oy! Th

m of the motor they could now hear another

as they broke in showers of spray on the seashore. A real sense of terror,

his voice, he

er," he said; "we'll p

ng, fixed eyes, she sat motionless and silent, as the Golden Butterfly was driven out above the roaring surf and the t

the aeroplane in a flood of radiance. The next instant it was gone, but

cried Roy. "The