ative houses, as they drew nearer. These were constructed of
yellow bamboo, tastefully twisted together in a kind of wickerwork, and
thatched with the long tapering leaves of the palmetto. Here, too, was
the big white T of their hopes.

In a short time they had safely landed, one hour behind schedule.
Their rivals had left an hour and ten minutes before. But joy of joys!
here were four tanks of helium, and with a filling of this they would
show those fellows how to fly!

As fast as they could work, our friends overhauled their machine and
put it in shape for the long trip to San Christobal. They would have
given almost anything to have joined the many natives they saw swimming
in the cool waters of the harbor, but felt that they could not afford
to waste a single minute.

At twelve-thirty, with the sun at its zenith, they once more took to
the air. This was Thursday. By Friday evening they should be at the
Gallapagos Islands--their last stop before Panama. What a cheering
thought it was!

Heading just a trifle north of east, they ran almost full-out. It was
easy to note the difference in the behavior of the Sky-Bird since her
helium tanks had been fully charged. She sped along as she had in the
very beginning of their journey--like a long bullet fired from some
gigantic cannon. How the engine did sing! The wind rushed by them
like a hurricane, and they had to shout in order to be heard when they
had anything to say to each other.

Satisfied that all was going right, Tom and John soon turned in, for
they were very sleepy. When the operating crew awoke them it was dark.
Bob then got into wireless communication with Panama, and delivered a
message for Mr. Giddings. Following this, he and Paul also took to the
hammocks.

When the two youths awoke it was morning, and the Sky-Bird was not
behaving as well as when they had retired. Looking outside they saw
the reason for this. The entire heavens ahead were hidden under
dun-colored clouds which in places seemed to be gathering themselves
together into formidable leaden arrangement. The gentle trade-winds
had developed into a stiff wind. Down below, the sea was covered with
whitecaps, while in the distance the water was swinging into immense
swells with foaming crests.

John and Tom both looked worried. The two younger boys felt more
uneasy when they noticed this.

"I guess we're in for a pretty hard storm," said John, as he gave the
throttle up to P