Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber’s Note: Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_.

JOE STRONG
AND HIS
WINGS OF STEEL

OR

_A YOUNG ACROBAT IN THE CLOUDS_

BY
VANCE BARNUM
Author of “Joe Strong, the Boy Wizard,” “Joe Strong
on the Trapeze,” etc.

_ILLUSTRATED_

NEW YORK
HEARST’S INTERNATIONAL LIBRARY CO.
PUBLISHERS

BOOKS FOR BOYS
BY
VANCE BARNUM

THE JOE STRONG SERIES

12mo. Cloth Illustrated. Price per volume, 60 cents, postpaid.

JOE STRONG, THE BOY WIZARD
Or, The Mysteries of Magic Exposed

JOE STRONG ON THE TRAPEZE
Or, The Daring Feats of a Young Circus Performer

JOE STRONG, THE BOY FISH
Or, Marvelous Doings in a Big Tank

JOE STRONG ON THE HIGH WIRE
Or, Motor-Cycle Perils of the Air

JOE STRONG AND HIS WINGS OF STEEL
Or, A Young Acrobat in the Clouds

COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY
HEARST’S INTERNATIONAL LIBRARY COMPANY

JOE STRONG AND HIS WINGS OF STEEL

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. A QUEER MACHINE 1

II. TANGLES 10

III. A SETBACK 18

IV. UNDER CANVAS AGAIN 28

V. IN THE TANK 36

VI. A NEW ACT 45

VII. JEALOUSY 53

VIII. THE NEW WINGS 60

IX. AN ACCIDENT 69

X. SUCCESS AT LAST 77

XI. JOE’S SURPRISE 86

XII. THE RUNAWAY BALLOON 94

XIII. RESCUED 102

XIV. THE AVIATION MEET 111

XV. JOE’S PLAN 119

XVI. THE PRIZE RACE 127

XVII. THE OLD INVENTOR 136

XVIII. A PRISONER 146

XIX. A DANGEROUS PLIGHT 154

XX. SUSPICIONS 163

XXI. A QUEER OFFER 173

XXII. THE HOTEL FIRE 184

XXIII. A PERILOUS FLIGHT 193

XXIV. REVELATIONS 201

XXV. NEW PLANS 210

ILLUSTRATIONS

Then the Bat was seen to drop suddenly _Frontispiece_

FACING
PAGE

Nearer and nearer he came to the floating balloon 108

There the rescuers, somewhat overpowered by
the strong and sickening odor, saw Joe
lying in a heap on the floor 166

Joe glided down in the Bat as the men on the
roof rushed toward him 202

JOE STRONG AND HIS

WINGS OF STEEL