The Bird boys, of course, had many friends among the lads of Bloomsbury; but only two who were close enough to be admitted freely to the workshop on the grounds of Frank’s father’s place, where the young inventors worked out many of their lofty ideas.

These were Larry Geohegan, and a small runt who had been called “Elephant” by his companions in a spirit of sport, and could not shake the name.  His full name was Fenimore Cooper Small, and as a rule he had always been rather timid.  But Elephant was always having queer ideas in which he believed fully himself; but which were nearly always jeered at by more practical Larry.

The two Bird boys had been out on this afternoon, trying some new arrangement in connection with their hydroplane, when they met with an accident when attempting to land on the Quackenboss farm, to make some changes they saw were needed, to improve the working of the machine.

Neither of them had been even scratched, but a certain amount of damage had befallen one of the planes, which might have been remedied on the spot in time to allow them to get back home easily, only for the unfortunate fact that just when they needed a monkey wrench the worst kind, it was discovered to be missing; perhaps the only occasion when such a thing had happened with the boys.

“I just saw somebody go into the barn there,” remarked Frank, as they approached the large outbuildings connected with the successful farm of Josiah Quackenboss.

“Yes, and it was the farmer himself,” added Andy.  “I know him pretty well; and I guess you do too, because your father brought his little boy around when everybody thought he didn’t have a single chance to get well.  I don’t believe we’ll have any trouble getting Felix Boggs to look after our machine tonight, Frank.”

They quickly reached the door of the barn and could hear the steady fall of the streams of milk passing into the buckets as the farmer and his hired hand pursued the regular business of the evening.

As the two boys entered, the half grown boy started up with an exclamation of alarm, for of course both Andy and Frank looked rather queer.  Each of them had on a white woolen hood that fitted close to head and shoulders, for the air in the upper currents was very cold these days, and secured to this were goggles to protect the eyes, so that they would not water and dim the vision of the aviator at just a critical instant when they needed clear sight.  Then they also wore warm colored mackinaw jackets, so that altogether Felix had reason to be startled when two such “sights” suddenly entered the barn.  Why, even the gentle cows showed evidence of nervousness, and came near upsetting the milk buckets.

“Hello, Mr. Quackenboss!” called out Andy, cheerfully; “we’re the Bird boys, and we’ve dropped in on you without an invitation.  The fact is, we had a little trouble with our aeroplane, and landed in your field.  How much rent will you charge us, Mr. Quackenboss; to let our machine lie there over night?  It needs a little fixing which we can’t do until morning.”