it. As a rule, you
know, fellows, I'm not much in favor of racing, when there's so much
danger involved, but just as I said a bit ago, Percy knows how to fix
things so as to stick pins in you. He's written his challenge in a way
that makes us accept, or be branded for cowards."

"Oh, he needn't have worried about that!" cried Andy, angrily. "If he
knows anything about the Bird boys he ought to make sure they never
take water. Didn't we see whatever he did before, and go him one
better? And down in the land of revolution he knows who carried off
the honors, as well as saved him from those men who had him in their
power. Frank, we've just got to do it!"

"I suppose so, Andy," returned his cousin; "but if you think that
another win on our part is going to close Percy up like a clam you're
away off. He makes me think of a medicine ball--every time you hit it
and send it flying, it comes back again as chipper as ever. He just
won't stay down, that's all."

"I don't agree with you there," said Andy. "If we can only rub it into
him hard enough, Percy will never have the nerve to hold up his head
again in Bloomsbury."

"But we can't expect to do that, you know," Frank went on. "He seems
to have a splendid machine there, that will make us hustle all we know
how to pass ahead. And even you give the fellow credit for knowing his
business. He's a bird boy all right, even if his name happens to be
Carberry. No overconfidence, Andy. That's lost any number of races
that ought to have been won, hands down."

"Oh! I understand that, Frank," the other said; "but I believe in you,
and that Perc ain't in the same class. Count on him to make a mistake
when the crisis comes. And if he thinks he's going to be passed there
ain't any low down trick he wouldn't be guilty of. I leave it to
Larry, Nat and Elephant if that isn't right."

"I've known him to do lots of mean things," spoke up Elephant,
promptly; "and if I had to enter a race with him I tell you right now
I'd keep out of his reach, all right."

"The best way is to get the lead in the start, and never let him come
within striking distance. Then you could snap your fingers at his
games," declared Larry.

"Say, there is something in that, Frank," Andy admitted.

"I believe it," returned the other young aviator. "The only trouble I
can see is that Percy usually starts off with a furious rush, and takes
the lead. He believes it gives him an advantage, and pe