were now passing
over territory that they had never before looked down upon from such a
height, it was just as well that they keep to that distance from the
earth which would probably be their course during the race that Percy
had forced upon them.

And all the time they drew nearer the town that was to be their goal.
Both boys had been there once or twice. But this was years back when
they used to wheel all around the surrounding country during vacations.
They had now gone a long ways ahead of pedaling a bicycle. After once
soaring through the air in a biplane no one could ever be content to go
back to the old ways.

"I can see the commons," announced Andy, who was using the glass.
"Yes, and there's the liberty pole too, right in the middle. See that
big green stretch, Frank? Will you drop lower, and circle it while
we're over here?"

"Why not? Might as well go the whole thing when about it," returned
the other, as he continued to test first one thing and then another.

"On the way back let's put her to her level best speed, and see just
how long it takes us to cover the thirty miles," Andy suggested.

"All right," was the ready reply; "but before we do that I'd like to
drop down to the ground for a bit. I can see several slack guys that
will be all the better for being tightened a little. Like every other
new machine, this needs constant attention to bring things up to their
best."

"Oh! well, what's to hinder our lighting on the green, and giving the
good people of Hazenhurst a chance to see a genuine aeroplane. I don't
believe one ever came up here before," Andy remarked.

In a short time they were skimming along over the tops of the trees,
and even dipping lower when openings appeared.

"Going all right, Frank?" asked Andy, anxiously, as they drew within a
mile of the town; for if they expected to be watched by hundreds of
curious eyes he wanted everything to work smoothly.

"Just running like clock-work," the other announced.

"I haven't heard you say a single word against this biplane," remarked
Andy.

"Why should I?" laughed Frank. "I may not be so outspoken as you about
my likes and dislikes, but I feel as deeply. And, Andy, I want to say
right here that this machine is a whole lot ahead of anything I've ever
seen, or handled. She moves like a witch, and answers her rudder like
a thing of life. Why, I almost feel that I'm a part of the whole
business, and that I have only to think a t