plane, and for a
brief time he seemed to almost hold his breath as he watched to see
whether they would leave it behind, with Percy desperately endeavoring
to copy their spurt.

Looking thus he had seen Percy instantly imitate the action of the
other, proving that he too had been keeping a little extra speed in
reserve. And as the minutes passed Andy failed to discover the
slightest difference in the relative positions of the two airships.

"Frank, it didn't go!" he cried, with beads of perspiration on his
forehead; due, not to the heat of the afternoon, for they were making
lots of circulation in the stagnant air by their rapid progress; but
because of intense emotion.

"That's so, Andy," replied the pilot; "but perhaps a second time it may
be more successful!"

"Oh! have you any more held back, then?" asked Andy, in a trembling
voice, from which he could not however keep out the tone of joy.

"A little. Wait till we are two-thirds of the way there, and then
watch out!"

They talked no more. It was difficult, to say the least, when going at
such a frightful pace through the air. Andy divided his time watching
first the near-by aeroplane, which Percy was so skillfully guiding
toward the haven ahead; and then turning his attention towards the
western sky.

That low bank of clouds had commenced to move upward now. Yes, and
when Andy looked, he could see the sudden wicked gleam of the zigzag
lightning as it shot athwart the black masses.

No doubt he experienced a certain amount of anxiety concerning the
coming of that summer storm. It would be only natural that he should;
for if the aeroplanes were ever caught in the sweep of the furious
tornado they would be as straws, to be toppled over and over to the
ground far below.

But the fever of the race had full possession of Andy by now; and even
given a chance to descend it is doubtful whether he would have availed
himself of it.

Perhaps the storm would hold off long enough to allow them to complete
the conditions of the event. And, anyway, so long as Percy chose to
take the chances, it must not be for them to give up, and let him crow
over them by finishing alone.

Was Frank affected in the same way as his cousin? Perhaps, to some
extent; but he would have welcomed a proposition from Percy looking to
the calling off of the contest to another and better day. If no such
bail came Frank might deem it his duty to keep on.

Now they were approaching Ha