the broken craft.

"He's alive," said his nephew, feeling of the old man's heart. "He's
still breathing."

Lieutenant Wilson, as the name of the army officer on the Larabee was
learned later to be, seemed quite badly injured. He was tangled up in
the wreckage, and it took some work to extricate him. Larson was the
most severely hurt. He was tenderly placed to one side. Fortunately
the wreck had not caught fire.

"Let's see if we can revive them," suggested Lieutenant McBride,
nodding toward Uncle Ezra and his fellow soldiers. "Then we will
consider what is best to do."

Simple restoratives were carried aboard Dick's airship, and these were
given to Uncle Ezra, who revived first. He opened his eyes and sat up.

"Where--where am I?" he stammered. "Did I win the race?"

"No, Uncle Ezra, I'm sorry to say you didn't," answered Dick, gently.
"There was an accident, and your airship is smashed."

The old man slowly looked over to the crumpled mass of planes and
machinery, and then, slowly and painfully, for he was much bruised, he
pulled a note-book from his pocket. Leafing over the pages he
announced:

"Busted to smithereens, and she cost me exactly eleven thousand five
hundred and thirty-three dollars and nineteen cents! Oh, what a lot of
money!" And the expression on his face was so painful that Dick felt
inclined to laugh, solemn as the occasion was. But he restrained
himself.

"Where's that fellow Larson?" asked Uncle Ezra.

"Badly hurt," said Dick, quietly.

"Oh, well, then I won't say anything," murmured the old man. "Oh, what
a trip it was!"

"Are you much hurt?" asked Dick.

It did not appear that his uncle was. The fall had been a lucky one
for him. His helmet had protected his head, and he had on two suits of
clothes, well padded. The others were dressed likewise, but it had not
saved Larson.

Lieutenant Wilson's most serious injury was a broken leg, but he was
also otherwise hurt. He soon recovered consciousness, and said:

"Please don't misjudge me. I could not stop Larson from trying to ram
you. He was insane, I guess. We have had a terrible time with him.
He was mad to try to win this race. We remonstrated with him when he
sailed toward you, but he said he was only trying to show you what a
superior machine he had, and how much better his mercury stabilizers
worked than your gyroscope. But I really fear he meant you some
injury."

"I think so, too," said Lieutenant McB