Now, I had better stop the propellers, I guess," he added, moving toward the front of the biplane to do so.
"Yes! yes! stop em!" yelled Tom, suddenly.

"Hurry up, Dick! See how she is straining to break the ropes! Say, she wants to go up!" Dick was startled and with good reason.

Even while his brother was speaking there came a sudden snap, and one of the ropes flew apart.

Then up out of the ground came the stake holding another rope.

The big biplane, thus released on one side, slewed around, and Tom was knocked flat.