n center.

And nearly everybody seemed to be turning around, to observe the
biplane which was plainly visible, as Frank and Andy warmed the engine
up for speedy use. All sorts of remarks reached the three boys, as
they slackened their pace, once inside the limits of the town. The
vast majority of the crowds seemed to be in favor of the Bird boys;
though of course there were some who sympathized with the opposition;
not because they cared so very much for Percy and Sandy, as of a desire
to be on the other side of the fence. Some boys are built that way.
They call it "taking the weaker part" but in reality it is a spirit of
contrariness that pushes them on.

And when they reached the vicinity of the campus Larry and his comrades
were astonished to see the multitude that had gathered to witness the
novel event. All sorts of vehicles were parked in the nearby side
streets, from big touring cars, and little electrics, to farm wagons;
and even a hayrick, on which a dozen country people had ridden some ten
miles, with a desire to witness the miracle of the twentieth century,
the flying boys of Bloomsbury.

"Oh! my! where do they all come from?" gasped Elephant, as he looked
around at the sea of faces.

"Thank goodness," remarked Larry, "Chief Waller is on deck with all his
force, to keep the crowds back. Only for that how would the aeroplanes
ever get started?"

"L-l-look y-y-yonder!" said Stuttering Nat, pointing, as he stood
beside his wheel. "T-t-there he is, f-f-fellows!"

"You mean the mysterious Mr. Marsh?" echoed Larry. "So I see, and his
friend the great editor is with him too. If I get a chance to have a
few words with that Mr. Longley I'm going to ask him just why it is we
haven't received a copy of his paper containing the account of Jules'
capture. He didn't keep his promise to me, and I don't like that way
of doing things."

"There's Percy with his biplane over yonder, holding a levee," remarked
Elephant.

"He looks as happy as a clam," said Larry. "You know his way, fellows?
Ten to one he's dead sure he's got this race clinched already. See him
shake hands with Bessie Clinton! I can just guess how he's saying what
he means to do to Frank and Andy. Huh!" finishing his sentence with a
snort of disgust.

"The feller that crows last crows loudest," observed Elephant.

"Well, you ain't got that just correct, Elephant," remarked Larry,
letting his frown disappear in a grin; "but it means the s