d caught a glimpse of an airplane's wings
in their midst. Many of this throng now rushed over to where the
newcomers had landed, among them a tall Englishman, who introduced
himself as the port minister and person who was to supply them with a
replacement of fuel. Several other Englishmen, all officers in the
garrison of the town, came up and were introduced.

"We 'av' been looking for you fellows, but not quite so soon," stated
the port minister. "Hif I had known--"

"How is that?" asked John. "We are just about on schedule."

"So you are; but those other flyers over there, who 'av' been 'ere the
past two 'ours declared you 'ad been delayed in South Hamerica hand
would not be hin before to-morrow morning, so as we 'av' a coasting
vessel with more petrol due 'ere then, I let them 'av' hall the petrol
they wanted, hand I fear--"

"They had no reason for telling you we were delayed to such an extent
as that, without it was to further their own interests," interrupted
John, significantly. "But I don't see their game."

"I don't know, I'm sure," was the response; "but has I was saying, they
asked for an hextra filling of their tanks, hand so--well, gentlemen, I
am sorry to say it, but there hisn't ten gallons left."

Our friends heard this with mixed feelings. They were rightfully
incensed at their rivals for such a dastardly trick, vexed with the
port minister, and dismayed to think that they would have to wait until
the following day before they could resume their journey, for at Para
they had not filled their tanks to capacity.

At this point cries arose in the other part of the field. They heard
the familiar whir of an airplane propeller, and as they looked to where
the _Clarion_ had stood, they saw the natives scatter and the gray
machine of the other crew shoot up into the air. Rapidly it gained
altitude, and was soon a mere dot on the western sky.

Ignoring the yells of the port minister and his military countrymen,
the _Clarion_ crew had gone straight on, and there seemed nothing for
our boys to do now except await the arrival of more gasoline as
patiently as they could.

John and Tom set to work cleaning up the Sky-Bird, for the field here
was low and very muddy from recent rains, and as they had dashed
through the slime in landing much of it had splattered over their
propeller and under-carriage.

Paul and Bob went into town, followed by a throng of young negroes who
fought for the privilege of