“No, I think we’ve done enough for the first day,” said Tom, “But I’d like you to handle her now, Mr. Fenwick.  You can make the landing, while I watch the motor and other machines.”

“Yes.  I guess I can make a landing all right,” assented the inventor.  “I’m better at coming down than going up.”

He did make a good descent, and received the congratulation of his friends as he stepped from the airship.  Tom was also given much praise for his success in making the craft go at all, for Mr. Fenwick and his acquaintances had about given up hope that she ever would rise.

“Well, what do you think of her?” Mr. Fenwick wanted to know of the young inventor, who replied that, as soon as some further changes had been made, they would attempt a long flight.

This promise was kept two days later.  They were busy days for Tom, Mr. Fenwick and the latter’s assistants.  Tom sent a short note to his father telling of the proposed long flight, and intimated that he might make a call in Shopton if all went well.  He also sent a wire to Miss Nestor, hinting that she might have some apple turnovers ready for him.

But Tom never called for that particular pastry, though it was gotten ready for him when the girl received his message.

All was in readiness for the long flight, and a preliminary test had demonstrated that the whizzer had been wonderfully improved by the changes Tom made.  The young inventor looked over the supply of food Mr. Fenwick had placed aboard, glanced at the other stores, and asked: 

“How long do you expect to be gone, Mr. Fenwick?”

“Why, don’t you think we can stay out a week?”

“That’s quite a while,” responded Tom.  “We may be glad to return in two days, or less.  But I think we’re all ready to start.  Are any of your friends going?”

“I’ve tried to pursuade some of them to accompany me, but they are a bit timid,” said the inventor.  “I guess we three will make up the party this time, though if our trip is a successful one I’ll be overwhelmed with requests for rides, I suppose.”

As before, a little crowd gathered to see the start.  The day was warm, but there was a slight haziness which Tom did not like.  He hoped, though, that it would pass over before they had gone far.

“Do you wish to head for any particular spot, Mr. Fenwick?” asked Tom, as they were entering the cabin.

“Yes, I would like to go down and circle Cape May, New Jersey, if we could.  I have a friend who has a summer cottage there, and he was always laughing at my airship.  I’d just like to drop down in front of his place now, and pay him a call.”

“We’ll try it,” assented Tom, with a smile.

An auspicious start was made, the whizzer taking the air after a short flight across the ground, and then, with the lifting gas aiding in pulling the craft upward, the airship started to sail high over the city of Philadelphia.