at he has a bet of L10,000 with a well-known
sporting nobleman that he will circle the globe in a
fortnight. The general opinion in San Francisco is that
these sporadic appearances of airmen in far-distant spots
are part of a cleverly devised scheme of world-wide
advertisement, engineered by a Chicago pork-packing firm
who have more than once displayed considerable ingenuity in
pushing their products.

There was general laughter when Smith read this paragraph aloud.
Rodier alone was solemn.

"They think we boom pigs!" he cried indignantly. "Pigs themselves."

"Well, Roddy, truth will out," said Smith. "I'm sorry to keep you up,
by the way, but I shall have to leave at six o'clock. Would you mind
running down to the shed and--cleaning the engine?"

"Mon Dieu! I do nothing for a week but clean the engine."

"Yes, poor chap, but you shall have a rest after this. Go to bed when
you've got things shipshape; I shall go alone; only about four hundred
miles this time."

"You really mean it, then?" said Barracombe.

"Decidedly. If you knew Captain Bolitho you would see that there's no
help for it."

"Well, then, the sooner you eat your supper and get between the sheets
the better. I'll tuck you up."

"Tuck in and tuck up. Very well."

"Your bath shall be ready at six, sir," said Simmons.

A few minutes after six o'clock, Smith made his ascent, his departure
being witnessed by his sister and Barracombe and the whole domestic
staff. He flew rapidly over Hampshire, Dorset, Devon; crossed the
Bristol Channel, and made a bee-line for Bear Haven at the entrance to
Bantry Bay. Soon after eight he descried a number of dull grey specks
strung like beads on the western horizon. They must be one or other of
the opposing fleets, either the Reds or the Blues; but which? He must
go and see. Altering his course a point or two, in a few minutes he
was running down the line of warships, which were steaming line ahead,
apparently in the direction of Bear Haven. At a glance he recognized
the _Thunderbolt_, notoriously the lame duck of the Reds, lagging
three or four miles behind the rest. Smith slowed down to quarter
speed as he passed the leading ships, and a few blank shots were fired
at him for form's sake, for the guns were incapable of an inclination
that would be dangerous to him at his height of 3,000 feet, even if
they were throwing live shell.

He drew clear of the squadron, and wa