emerging to dress themselves, a black speck,
which all had noticed in the northern sky, had developed by nearer
approach so that they thought they could recognize it as an airplane. It
was coming down the coast very rapidly. Wondering if its pilot intended
to land in the vicinity, they gathered on the beach and curiously waited
for it to come nearer.

At times they were puzzled to know whether the approaching object were
really an airplane or a great bird, for it surely looked like a bird with
its swelling breast-line and slightly tilted broad-shouldered wings.
Closer and closer it came. It was flying very high.

When it was almost over them, Mr. Giddings uttered a startled
ejaculation; "My stars, boys! It's _our_ machine!"

Paul and John Ross and Tom Meeks were equally astonished. They had
noticed the strong resemblance at the same moment. Involuntarily, with
Mr. Giddings and Mr. Choate, they turned their heads up the beach to see
if the Sky-Bird II was where they had left it.

They saw its huge outline and its patrolling black guards. It had not
changed position. Even a group of gaping Miami citizens lent reality to
the situation, and some of the latter were gazing aloft at the other
flying-machine, as our friends had been doing.

The stranger above them evidently had no intention of stopping. Instead
of circling the town, as he would have done had he intended to land, he
swept straight over and kept on his southward course, heading across
Florida Strait.

On the face of every one of our friends, as they saw this image of the
Sky-Bird II cross the sky overhead and disappear in the mists beyond, was
a look of amazement, incredulity, and finally dark suspicion.

"Can it be--?" Mr. Giddings hesitated, and looked inquiringly at his
younger companions.

"It looks that way," said John Ross, with a reluctant nod.

None needed to explain that the same thought had struck him, also. The
stolen blue-prints--the skulking man with the swarthy face! He had
duplicated the Sky-Bird!

More than that, each recalled the _Clarion's_ secrecy about the kind of
airplane it planned to use; and its willingness to attempt the long
"hops" which ordinary machines would have had difficulty in negotiating.
It all pointed to but one logical meaning. And Bob Giddings expressed
the opinion of all when he observed:

"Dad, I believe there goes our prospective competitor in the race around
the world! He's making for Panama no