re.
He climbed into the aeroplane amid the admiring comments of the farm
hands, who, by this time, had come in from the fields, drawn by the
wonderful airship, and stood all about it gaping and wondering.

Peggy, in a dress belonging to the farmer's daughter, who was away on a
visit, stepped quickly to Roy's side as, after glancing at the clock
attached to the front of the aeroplane, he started the engine.

As it started its uproarious song, the farm hands jumped back in
affright. But Peggy clasped her brother's hand.

"Win that prize, Roy," she said.

"I'll do my best, little sister."

And that was all, but as Peggy Prescott gazed a few minutes later at the
fast diminishing form of the speeding aeroplane she felt that all she had
braved and dared that day had not been in vain.

CHAPTER XX.

IN THE NICK OF TIME.

Excitement had reached its topmost pitch on the aviation field. It was
but a few minutes to starting time for the great contest, and already
four young aviators had their winged craft in line before the judge's
stand.

Engines were belching clouds of acrid blue smoke heavily impregnated with
oily, smelling fumes. The roar of motors shook the air. Folks in the
grandstand and on the crowded lawns excitedly pointed out to one another
the different machines, all of which bore large numbers.

Excited officials, red-faced and perspiring, bustled about importantly,
while from the top of the judge's stand a portly man bellowed occasional
announcements through a megaphone.

Suddenly he made an announcement that caused a hum of interest.

"Machine number seven--mach-ine num-ber sev-en! Fanning Harding, owner,
has withdrawn from the race," he announced.

A buzz of comment went through the crowd. Jess, Jimsy and Hal Homer,
standing in a group by the empty Prescott hangar, exchanged astonished
glances as they heard the news. What did that mean? Fanning had been
swaggering about, boasting of his wonderful aeroplane, and now it
appeared at the eleventh hour he had decided not to enter it.

"Must have had an accident," opined Jimsy.

"Maybe he gave it one of those pleasant looks of his," suggested Jess.

"Wherever can Peggy be," exclaimed the girl the next minute; "she's been
gone for more than an hour. I do hope nothing has happened to her."

"Not likely," rejoined Jimsy, although he looked a little troubled over
the non-appearance of the Golden Butterfly.

"The police said they had a dragnet out