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[Illustration: AS HERC TURNED, HE WAS CERTAIN THAT HE HAD SEEN A FACE
VANISH QUICKLY FROM THE CASEMENT.
                                                             --Page 62.
]




  THE
  DREADNOUGHT BOYS
  ON AERO SERVICE

  BY
  CAPTAIN WILBUR LAWTON

  AUTHOR OF "THE DREADNOUGHT BOYS ON BATTLE PRACTICE," "THE
  DREADNOUGHT BOYS ABOARD A DESTROYER," "THE DREADNOUGHT
  BOYS ON A SUBMARINE," ETC.

  NEW YORK
  HURST & COMPANY
  PUBLISHERS




  Copyright, 1912,
  BY
  HURST & COMPANY




CONTENTS


  CHAPTER                                               PAGE

      I. SOMETHING NEW IN NAVAL LIFE                       5

     II. "IF HE'S A MAN, HE'LL STAND UP"                  17

    III. FOR THE TROPHY OF THE FLEET                      30

     IV. THE AERO SQUAD                                   39

      V. UNCLE SAM'S MEN-BIRDS                            50

     VI. NED INVENTS SOMETHING                            59

    VII. A RESCUE BY AEROPLANE                            73

   VIII. HERC GETS A "TALKING TO"                         84

     IX. A CONSPIRACY IS RIPENING                         93

      X. A DREADNOUGHT BOY AT BAY                        103

     XI. IN THEIR ENEMIES' HANDS                         113

    XII. "STOP WHERE YOU ARE!"                           123

   XIII. HARMLESS AS A RATTLESNAKE                       136

    XIV. FLYING FOR A RECORD                             148

     XV. A DROP FROM SPACE                               156

    XVI. THE SETTING OF A TRAP                           167

   XVII. THE SPRINGING THEREOF                           178

  XVIII. ON BOARD THE SLOOP                              190

    XIX. "BY WIRELESS!"                                  200

     XX. NED, CAST AWAY                                  213

    XXI. A STRIKE FOR UNCLE SAM                          223

   XXII. SOME ADVENTURES BY THE WAY                      233

  XXIII. "YOU ARE A PRISONER OF THE GOVERNMENT!"         243

   XXIV. A DASH FOR FREEDOM                              255

    XXV. THE MYSTERIOUS SCHOONER--CONCLUSION             267




The Dreadnought Boys on Aero Service




CHAPTER I.

SOMETHING NEW IN NAVAL LIFE.


One breezy day in early June, when a fresh wind off shore was whipping
the water into sparkling white caps, excitement and comment fairly
hummed about the crowded foredecks of the big Dreadnought _Manhattan_.

The formidable looking sea-fighter lay with half a dozen other smaller
naval vessels--battleships and cruisers--in the stretch of water known
as Hampton Roads, which, sheltered by rising ground, has, from time
immemorial, formed an anchorage for our fighting-ships, and is as rich
in historical associations as any strip of sea within the jurisdiction
of the United States.

The cause of all the turmoil, which was agitating every jackie on the
vessel, was a notice which had been posted on the ship's bulletin board
that morning.

It was tacked up in the midst of notices of band concerts, challenges
to boxing matches, lost or found articles, and the like. At first
it had not attracted much attention. But soon one jackie, and then
another, had scanned it till, by means of the thought-wireless, which
prevails on a man-of-war, the whole fore part of the ship was now
vibrant and buzzing with the intelligence.

The notice which had excited so much attention read as follows:

"Enlisted Men and Petty Officers: You are instructed to send your
volunteer applications for positions in the experimental Aero squad.
All applications to be made in writing to Lieutenant De Frees in charge
of the experiment station."

"Aero service, eh?" grunted more than one grizzled old shell-back,
"well, I've served my time in many an old sea-going hooker, but hanged
if I'd venture my precious skin on board a sky-clipper."

"Aye, aye, mate. Let the youngsters risk their lily-white necks if they
want to," formed the burden of the growled responses, "but you and me
'ull smoke Uncle Sam's baccy, and take our pay with a good deck under
our feet."

But this state of caution did not extend to the younger members of
the ship's company. Least of all to Boats