Chapter I: Front Matter

The Rambler Club’s
Aeroplane

BY W. CRISPIN SHEPPARD

AUTHOR OF

“THE RAMBLER CLUB AFLOAT”
“THE RAMBLER CLUB’S WINTER CAMP”
“THE RAMBLER CLUB IN THE MOUNTAINS”
“THE RAMBLER CLUB ON CIRCLE T RANCH”
“THE RAMBLER CLUB AMONG THE LUMBERJACKS”
“THE RAMBLER CLUB’S GOLD MINE”
“THE RAMBLER CLUB’S HOUSE-BOAT”

Illustrated by the Author

THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY
PHILADELPHIA
MCMXII

COPYRIGHT
1912 BY
THE PENN
PUBLISHING
COMPANY

Introduction

The five boys belonging to the “Rambler Club,” together with Cranny Beaumont and his father’s ward, Willie Sloan, have made a trip to Wyoming.

They find that since their last visit to Border City the town has undergone a great change, and is still in the midst of a true Western boom. To add to the interest, a New York financier is carrying on experiments with a dirigible balloon.

At Circle T Ranch the lads meet some of their old friends among the cowboys.

This story tells how the Ramblers came into possession of an aeroplane. Willie Sloan is an odd little chap, rather difficult to understand, and is not altogether pleased with life on the plains. His presence among the crowd is largely responsible for their unexpected and startling adventures, in several of which the Border City aeronaut and his dirigible balloon figure prominently. As an aviator, Bob Somers finds that all his coolness and skill are needed.

The stay in Wyoming brings about quite an unexpected result for Willie Sloan.

Other experiences of the same boys are told in “The Rambler Club Afloat,” “The Rambler Club’s Winter Camp,” “The Rambler Club in the Mountains,” “The Rambler Club on Circle T Ranch,” “The Rambler Club Among the Lumberjacks,” “The Rambler Club’s Gold Mine,” “The Rambler Club’s House-boat.”

Contents

I. A LETTER FROM BOB 9

II. WILLIE CANNOT HELP IT 19

III. CRANNY’S PLAN 32

IV. THE RAMBLERS ARRIVE 40

V. PREPARATIONS 54

VI. BORDER CITY ONCE MORE 64

VII. AT THE RANCH 79

VIII. AT LONE PINE 91

IX. IN THE AIR 104

X. BOB TAKES A FLIGHT 124

XI. THE DIRIGIBLE 136

XII. “HE’S A PUZZLE” 147

XIII. WILLIE SHOWS HIS NERVE 159

XIV. MILLING THE HERD 172

XV. THE UNDERGROUND PASSAGE 180

XVI. THE ASTONISHING WILLIAM 192

XVII. THE TWO IN THE SKY 209

XVIII. THE RESCUE PARTY 219

XIX. THE EAGLE 232

XX. OVER THE MOUNTAINS 241

XXI. ADRIFT 250

XXII. PRISONERS 270

XXIII. BY MOONLIGHT 281

XXIV. TO THE RESCUE 291

XXV. THE VISITORS 308

Illustrations

PAGE

FOUR CURIOUSLY SPOTTED BRONCHOS _Frontispiece_

“WHAT CAN A CHAP DO OUT HERE?” 80

“GO BACK TO THE RANCH” 169

“WHAT IN THE WORLD HAS BECOME OF THEM?” 223

AN ANSWER ALMOST IMMEDIATELY FLOATED BACK 299

The Rambler Club’s Aeroplane