Both craft were
now high in the air, in spite of the drop made by the Abaris, and they
were about over some of the mountains of Colorado now; just where they
had not determined. They were about eight hundred miles from San
Francisco, as nearly as they could calculate.

"They're trying to get in first," said Dick. "Maybe, after all, they
just wanted to frighten us, and delay us."

"Well, if that was their game they've succeeded in delaying us," said
Mr. Vardon, grimly. "We're reduced to half speed until we get that
propeller in commission again. There's work for all of us. Reduce
sped, Dick, or we may tear the one good blade off the axle."

With only half the resistance against it, the motor was now racing
hard. Dick slowed it down, and then the work of repairing the broken
sprocket chain and gear was undertaken.

It was not necessary to stop the airship to do this. In fact to stop
meant to descend, and they wanted to put that off as long as possible.
They still had the one permitted landing to their credit.

The propellers, as I have said, could be reached from the open deck,
and thither Mr. Vardon, Dick, and Lieutenant McBride took themselves,
while Paul, Innis and Larry would look after the progress of the craft
from the pilot-house and motor-room.

Slowly Dick's airship went along, just enough speed being maintained to
prevent her settling. She barely held her own, while, far ahead of
her, and fast disappearing in the distance, could be seen the other
craft--that carrying Uncle Ezra.

"I guess it's all up with us," murmured Paul, as he went to the wheel.

"No, it isn't!" cried Dick. "I'm not going to give up yet! We can
still make time when we get the repairs made, and I'll run the motor
until her bearings melt before I give up!"

"That's the way to talk!" cried the army man. "And we're all with you.
There's a good chance yet, for those fellows must be desperate, or
they'd never have tried what they did. My opinion is that they hope to
reach San Francisco in a last dash, and they were afraid we'd come in
ahead of them. But I can't understand how that army man aboard would
permit such a thing. It is past belief!"

It was no easy task to make the repairs with the airship in motion.
Spare parts, including a sprocket chain, were carried aboard, but the
work had to be done close to the other revolving propeller, and, as
slowly as it was whirling about, it went fast enough to cause instant
death t