"The Rover boys!" cried the teacher who had brought out his spyglass. "They are the three Rover boys!"
"The Rover boys!" cried Songbird Powell, who stood near. "Are you sure?"
"Hurrah!" shouted Stanley Browne. "Now, isn't that just like them? Always up to something new and original."
"Three cheers for the Rover boys!" called out one of the seniors. And the cheers were given with a will, while the _Dartaway_ continued for some time to float over the college grounds and then came settling down like some big white bird, in the very center of the campus.
Before the biplane had come to a complete standstill the students on the campus made a rush and surrounded the three Rover boys.
"The grandest arrival I ever heard of!" cried Songbird Powell, as he caught one after another by the hand. "I shall have to write some verses about this."
"However did you manage it?" queried Stanley Browne. "I didn't know you could run an aeroplane."
"It's out of sight alretty!" came from Max Spangler. "But we could see it, yes!" he added hastily.
"Oh, we thought we'd give the fellows a little surprise," answered Dick modestly. "We purchased the biplane some time ago. It's easy to run after you get the knack of it."
"But carrying three!" went on Stanley. "I've heard of 'em carrying two but not more than that."
"It's quite a load," said Tom. "We've got to have a more powerful engine if we want to carry that many right along."
"And the streamers and confetti!" cried Songbird. "I'll bet those were Tom's idea!"
"And he thought of the flags and horns, too," put in Sam, bound to place the credit where it was due.
"I had to do something to let off steam," said Tom lightly. "Dick wouldn't allow me to fire a bomb, or a cannon, or anything like that," he continued dryly.
During this talk many of the students and instructors commenced to inspect the biplane, and soon the Rover boys were kept busy answering questions.
"Well, young gentlemen, allow me to congratulate you on your successful flight to this place!" said a pleasant voice, and turning the youths found themselves confronted by Doctor John Wallington, the head of the college. He smiled broadly as he shook hands. "This surely marks an epoch in the history of Brill," he went on. "First arrival of students by airship," and he turned to Professor Blackie, who was with him.