,
though he was always lame from the accident. He was a much different
man, however, and begged Dick's forgiveness for trying to collide with
him. Lieutenant Wilson made a quick recovery, and, in spite of the
mishap, still kept up his interest in aviation, winning much fame for
himself.

The army officers, who came to attend the injured ones, brought Dick
some supplies and gasolene.

Uncle Ezra begged that some part of his wrecked airship be saved, but
it was impossible. There was little left that was worth anything, and
Dick, by taking his uncle as an extra passenger, added enough weight as
it was, so that no parts of the Larabee could be taken along.

"I might have saved a little," said Uncle Ezra, with a sigh. "I've
lost a pile of money!" But he realized that it was out of the question.

The Abaris had been gone over minutely, and put in excellent shape for
her final dash. She was taken to the edge of a sloping table-land and
there once more launched into space. Before that, however, Lieutenant
Wilson had been taken back to the army post, and Larson sent to the
hospital. Lieutenant Wilson wished Dick and his friends all sorts of
good luck.

Then, with Uncle Ezra aboard, the start was made. There was some
crowding, because of the extra passenger, and his valise, which he
insisted on bringing with him, but this could be borne.

"We ought to make San Francisco in three hours now," said Dick, when
they were up in the air once more.

Uncle Ezra was frankly delighted with his nephew's craft. He did not
even say it was wasteful, when Dick told him how much she cost.

"I know airships are terrible expensive--terrible!" said Mr. Larabee,
as he looked at the note-book in which he had jotted down every item of
money paid for his own.

That Larson had wasted money, and used much of what was given him for
his own purposes was very evident. But it was too late to think of
that now.

Uncle Ezra told of their experiences in crossing the continent. They
had really had excellent luck, and in the hands of a better aviator, or
one more dependable, the Larabee might have won the race. She was
really a good biplane, but could only carry three, and then with no
comfort at all, as compared to Dick's. But the mercury stabilizers
worked fairly well, though not as good as the gyroscope.

"Yes, I was sorry, more than once, that I ever left Dankville," Uncle
Ezra said, "but Larson wouldn't let me stop. He kept right o