York to San Francisco with but two landings. I'm
going to have a try for that prize!"

"Yes, and he's going to win it, too!" cried Paul.

"And we're at least going to share in the glory of it," added Innis.

"Twenty thousand dollars!" murmured Uncle Ezra. "Is it possible?"

"Oh, it's true enough, sir," put in Mr. Vardon. "The offer has been
formally made. I know several of my aviator friends who are going to
have a try for it. I intended to myself, but for the accident in which
my craft was smashed. Only for the kindness of your nephew in engaging
me on this work I don't know what I should be doing now."

"That's all right!" interrupted Dick, who disliked praise. "I'm doing
MYSELF as much a favor in having you build this airship as I am YOU. I
intend to have a good time in this craft, even if I don't win the
prize."

"Twenty thousand dollars," murmured Uncle Ezra again, slowly. "It's an
awful lot of money--an awful lot," he added in an awed tone of voice.

The truth of the matter was that Uncle Ezra had nearly a million. But
he was very "close," and never missed a chance to make more.

"And do you intend to get the government prize in that--that
contraption?" he asked, motioning to the half-completed aeroplane.

"Oh, it isn't finished yet," explained Dick.

"When it is, it will be one of the finest aircraft in this, or any
other, country," declared Mr. Vardon. "I don't say that just because I
am building it, but because Mr. Hamilton is putting into it the very
best materials that can be bought."

"And we mustn't forget your stabilizer," laughed Dick.

"What's that?" Uncle Ezra wanted to know. Since hearing about the
twenty thousand dollar prize his interest in airships seemed to have
increased.

"The stabilizer, or equalibrizer, whatever you wish to call it, is to
keep the airship from turning over," explained Mr. Vardon, and he went
into the details with which I have already acquainted my readers.

But it is doubtful if Uncle Ezra heard, or at least he paid little
attention, for he was murmuring over and over again to himself:

"Twenty thousand dollars! Twenty thousand dollars! That's an awful
lot of money. I--I'd like to get it myself."

From time to time Grit growled, and finally Uncle Ezra, perhaps fearing
that the dog might get loose and bite him, said:

"I think I'll go in the house for a while, Nephew Richard. Your father
is not likely to be home today, but as I have missed the