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CHAPTER II


THE MURDER-MACHINES


An hour later I made another flight in order to try my new gyroscopic stabilizer, which—for the benefit of those unversed in aerial navigation—I may say is an invention which incorporates a horizontal reference plane of accuracy and integrity to which all angles can be referred.

I flew across to the Thames, and followed the winding silvery streak with dotted blotches of houses up to Windsor and back, finding that the invention rendered my machine a platform which was not only steady, but was also held in constant relation to the horizontal.

That morning was ideal for flying and, on my return, I was not surprised to find that both Teddy Ashton and Roseye were up again. Indeed, as I brought my machine to earth I saw Roseye flying at a great height coming in from the south.

Two or three of the school buses were up, circling the aerodrome, including an unwieldy one that always reminded us of poor Cody's 'cathedral.'

As soon as I landed, Eastwell came across again,

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