A section of the fence had been made removable, so as to give the Prescott
aeroplanes a free run from their stable to the smooth slope of the meadows
beyond. This was now removed, and Peggy, followed by the young officer,
took her place in the chassis. Peggy made a pretty figure at the steering
wheel.
"The first improvement I should like to call your attention to," she
began, in the most business-like tones she could muster up, "is the
self-starter. It works by pneumatic power, and does away with the
old-fashioned method of starting an aeroplane by twisting the propeller."
The girl opened a valve connected with a galvanized tank, with a pressure
gauge on top, and pulled back a lever. Instantly, a hissing sound filled
the air. Then, with a dexterous movement, Peggy threw in the spark and
turned on the gasoline which the spark would ignite, thereby causing an
explosion in the cylinders. But first the compressed air had started the
motor turning over. At the right moment Peggy switched on the power and
cut off the air. Instantly there was a roar from the exhausts and blue
flames and smoke spouted from the motor. The aeroplane shook violently. It
would have made an inexperienced person's teeth chatter. But both the
officer and Peggy were sufficiently familiar with aeroplanes for it not to
bother them in the least.
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