o be looking this way right now," Andy went on
to say. "Chances are, that he's got his old field glass leveled, and is
searching the heavens right along, in hopes of locating his lost
machine. And say, if he does glimpse this fine parade right now, can't
you see him turning green with envy to think of another glorious chance
coming to the hated Bird boys. Oh! my, oh! me! but it would be gall and
wormwood to Perc. Just as like as not he'd take a fit!"

But Frank was not giving any time to such thoughts as these. More
serious affairs engaged his attention. When once he left the firm
footing of the solid earth, and invaded the upper currents where up to
lately man had never traveled, save in a drifting balloon, he always put
levity aside, and paid strict attention to business.

The panorama below them was constantly changing, and the boys could not
but admire the pictures thus presented to their gaze. No matter how
often one may go up a thousand feet or more above the earth, it is next
to impossible to weary of the wonderful scenes that keep passing
constantly in review as the buzzing motor keeps carrying the aeroplane
along over plain, valley, hills, forests, rivers, and villages or towns
that chance to lie in the route.

To Andy it was all somewhat in the nature of a grand picnic, for his
nature was not one to contemplate peril at a distance. Had he and Frank
just come out for an hour's spin he could not have shown more delight,
as they went whirling through space, with that rival flier a mile or two
ahead.

"Do you think we're gaining on them?" asked Andy, after some time had
elapsed, and the country below began to get unfamiliar, proving that
they had now come beyond the range of any previous trip taken to the
northward of Bloomsbury.

"I don't know for sure," replied his cousin. "Sometimes I think we are,
and then again I'm a little in doubt. Suppose you get the glass out, and
see what they're doing, Andy?"

"Well, I'm a great one, forgetting all about that bully marine glass."
As he said this Andy hastened to feel for the article in question, which
was always kept handy, because there never could be any telling when
they might want to use it in a hurry.

"Go slow; no use rocking the boat," sang out the pilot, who was forever
cautioning his companion with regard to quick motions when seated in
such a delicately balanced contraption as a biplane. "It's a good thing
that we've got that new fool-proof contrivance