Merely as an experiment he removed the needle valve and washed several specks of dirt off it with gasoline.

Without hesitation the motor started, and Bland cursed himself quite sincerely for not having sooner thought of the simple expedient.

He must be getting feeble-minded, he said, while he adjusted the mixture and made ready to fly.
Once more they taxied down the denuded corn field, turned and ascended buoyantly, boring into the hot breeze that rose as the shadows lengthened into late afternoon.

They circled, climbing steadily.

Then pop--pop-pop-pop--pop, the motor began to stutter.