en
only a few minutes before that Bob had received the radio admonition
from the Panama station; "Town gone wild; but hurry in. You only have
six minutes left!"

Now they were circling high over the heads of the populace, with one
engine shut off and the speed of the other much reduced. In graceful,
pretty circles the Sky-Bird began to spiral her way downward, John's
eyes fastened upon the big white T of the familiar airdrome. As they
came down, people in the outlying districts rushed madly toward the
field, and the streets everywhere were choked with the concourse
pouring toward the center of attraction.

Scores of others had previously posted themselves in the airdrome; but
all were kept back by a cordon of ropes and a guard of Zone policemen.
Inside of the barrier were a favored few Government officials and
distinguished personages, newspaper men, photographers, and Mr.
Giddings and Mr. Wrenn themselves. Colonel Hess, the judge of the
contest, was also present, ready to receive the flyers' affidavits of
stops.

As the flyers stepped out of their machine many a camera clicked, and
the air was filled with the cheers of the multitude.

Colonel Hess stepped quickly up. In one hand was a watch; the other
was extended.

"My heartiest congratulations, boys!" he exclaimed, as he received
their paper. "You have arrived just in the nick of time. Panama time,
it is now exactly fifty-nine minutes after twelve!"

They had won by one minute! The flyers were so tickled that they also
felt like cheering. But they were sobered instantly when Mr. Wrenn
came forward and they saw how sorrowful he looked in spite of the brave
smile with which he greeted them.

"Young men," said the publisher of the Clarion, "as the loser in this
contest I also wish to congratulate you. We have suffered a heavy blow
ourselves, but you deserve full credit for the good work you have done,
and I am not the kind of a contemporary to withhold compliments so
fairly earned. I trust my men conducted themselves as true sportsmen,
poor fellows."

Noticing that Oliver Torrey was on the point of making reply, John gave
him a warning look, and a moment later pulled him aside and said in a
low voice: "Mr. Wrenn should not know that you fellows did not conduct
yourselves otherwise than fair in this race. That would make him feel
all the worse. Keep mum to _everybody_ about this, and we'll do the
same."

Oliver Torrey nodded--tears in his eyes a