ng an airship!
That's about the limit."

"Do you really think he is going to have a try for the government
prize?" asked Larry Dexter.

"Well, stranger things have happened," admitted the young millionaire.

"You're not worrying, though, are you?" asked Paul.

"Not a bit. I imagine I'll have to compete with more formidable
opponents than Uncle Ezra. But I do give Larson credit for knowing a
lot about aircraft. I don't believe, though, that his mercury
stabilizers are reliable. Still he may have made improvements on them.
I'd like to get a look at Uncle Ezra's machine."

"And he doesn't want you to," laughed Innis. "He's a queer man,
keeping track of every cent."

"Oh, it wouldn't be Uncle Ezra if he didn't do that," returned Dick,
with a grin.

There were busy days ahead for the young millionaire and his chums.
Though the Abaris seemed to have been in almost perfect trim on her
trial trip, it developed that several changes had to be made in her.
Not important ones, but small ones, on which the success, or failure,
of the prize journey might depend.

Dick and his friends worked early and late to make the aircraft as
nearly perfect as possible.

Dick's entry had been formally accepted by the government, and he had
been told that an army officer would be assigned to make the
trans-continental flight with him, to report officially on the time and
performance of the craft. For the government desired to establish the
nearest perfect form of aeroplane, and it reserved the right to
purchase the patent of the successful model.

"And it is on that point that more money may be made than by merely
winning the prize," said Mr. Vardon. "We must not forget that, so we
want everything as nearly right as possible."

And to this end they worked.

"You're going to take Grit along; aren't you?" asked Paul of Dick one
day, as they were laboring over the aircraft, putting on the finishing
touches.

"Oh, sure!" exclaimed the young millionaire. "I wouldn't leave him
behind for anything."

"I wonder what army officer they'll assign to us," remarked Innis. "I
hope we get some young chap, and not a grizzled old man who'll be a
killjoy."

"It's bound to be a young chap, because none of the older men have
taken up aviation," said Larry. "I guess we'll be all right. I'll see
if I can't find out from our Washington reporter who it will be."

But he was unable to do this, as the government authorities themselves
were u