Larson threw her head up quickly, checking, in a measure, the momentum.

But he could not altogether control the craft, and it swept past a tree
in an orchard where they were forced to land, the side wing tearing off
the limbs and branches.

Then, bouncing down to the ground, the airship, tilted on one end, and
shot Uncle Ezra out with considerable force. He landed in a heap of
dirt, turned a somersault, and sat up with a queer look on his face.

CHAPTER XX

IN NEW YORK.

"Well, this is going some!"

"I should say yes!"

"All to the merry!"

"And no more trouble than as if you got in a taxicab and told the
chauffeur to take you around the block."

Thus did Dick Hamilton's chums offer him their congratulations as they
started off on the trip they hoped would bring to the young millionaire
the twenty-thousand-dollar prize, and, not only do that but establish a
new record in airship flights, and also give to the world the benefit
of the experience in building such a unique craft.

They were in the Abaris flying along over the town of Hamilton Corners,
a most successful start having been made. As they progressed through
the air many curious eyes were turned up to watch their flight.

"I say! Which way are you steering?" asked Paul, as he came back from
a trip to the dining-room buffet, where he had helped himself to a
sandwich, a little lunch having been set out by Innis, who constituted
himself as cook. "You're heading East instead of West, Dick," for the
young millionaire was at the steering-wheel.

"I know it," replied the helmsman, as he noted the figures on the
barograph. "But you see, to stand a chance for the prize you've got to
start from New York, and that's where we're headed for now. We've got
to go to the big town first, and then we'll hit the Western trail as
nearly in a straight line as we can."

"That's the idea," said Lieutenant McBride. "The conditions call for a
start from New York, and I have arranged for the beginning of your
flight from the grounds at Fort Wadsworth. That will give the army
officers there a chance to inspect your machine, Mr. Hamilton."

"And I'll be very glad to have them see it," Dick said, "and to offer
their congratulations to Mr. Vardon on his success."

"And yours, too," added the aviator. "I couldn't have done anything
had it not been for you."

"Then we really aren't on the prize winning flight, yet?" asked Larry,
who wanted to get all the inform