th a
laugh. "I've got to make good on dad's account anyhow. I can't stand
him laughing at me. I wish I had my airship now."

"I'll start building it, soon," promised Mr. Vardon.

"I'll want it in time for the summer vacation," went on Dick. "I'm
going to spend a lot of time in the air."

"Why don't you make a try for the prize?" suggested Mr. Vardon.

"What prize?" Dick wanted to know.

"Why the United States Government, to increase interest in airship
navigation, and construction, especially for army purposes, has offered
a prize of twenty thousand dollars for the first flight from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, or from New York to San Francisco, by an
airship carrying at least three persons. Only two landings are allowed
during the flight, to take on gasolene, or make repairs. Why don't you
try for that?"

"What, me try for that prize in the first airship I ever owned!"
exclaimed Dick. "I wouldn't have the nerve! I guess the government
doesn't want amateurs in the trans-continental flight."

"It doesn't make a bit of difference," declared Mr. Vardon. "It is
going to be an open competition. And, let me tell you, amateurs have
done as much, if not more, than the professionals, to advance and
improve aviation. Why, as a matter of fact, we're all amateurs. We are
learning something new every day. The art, or business, of flying is
too new to have in it anything but amateurs. Don't let that stop you,
Dick."

"Well, I'll think about it," said the young millionaire.

Dick obtained some detailed information, and entry blanks for the
government prize contest, and a little later announced to his chums:

"Well, fellows, in view of what Mr. Vardon said about amateurs, maybe I
will have a try for that prize. It will give us an object, instead of
merely flying aimlessly about. And if I should win, wouldn't I have
the laugh on dad! Yes, I'll make a try for it!" he added.

"And we'll help you!" cried Paul.

"And I'll make a good story of it," promised Larry Dexter.

"I guess we'd better get the airship first," suggested Innis, dryly.

"Oh, I'll look after that," promised his aviator cousin.

The days that followed were busy ones at Kentfield Academy. A course
of instruction was arranged concerning the making and flying of
airships. In the former Mr. Vardon was the chief lecturer, as he had
had more practical experience in building the aircraft than had either
of the army captains.

But the army men