go outside, Larry," said the lieutenant, and the young
reporter and the others, except Dick, who remained at the wheel, took
their places in the open.

It was a strange sensation standing out thus, on a comparatively frail
craft, shooting along at fifty miles an hour over a mile above the
earth. The cabin broke the force of the wind, and there was really
little discomfort. The Abaris sailed so steadily that there was
scarcely a perceptible motion. Larry made some notes for a story on
which he was engaged. He wrote it in his best style, and then enclosed
the "copy" in a leather case.

"I'm going to drop this when we are passing over some city," he
explained. "Someone is sure to pick it up, and I've put a note in
saying that if they will file the copy at some telegraph office, so it
can be sent to my paper, they'll get five dollars on presentation of my
note."

"Good idea!" cried Dick.

"Oh, I've got to get the news to the office, somehow," said Larry with
a smile.

A little later they passed over a large town, and, though they did not
know the name of it, Larry dropped his story and eventually, as he
learned later, it reached the office safely, and made a hit.

In order that all might become familiar with the workings of the
airship, Dick, after a while, relinquished the wheel to one of his
chums. Thus they took turns guiding the craft through the air, and
gained valuable experience.

They flew along easily, and without incident, until dusk began to
overcast the sky, and then the electric lamps were set aglow, and in
the cosy cabin they gathered about the table on which Innis had spread
a tempting lunch.

"Say, this sure is going some!" cried Larry, as he took another helping
of chicken, prepared on the electric stove. "Think of dining a mile in
the air!"

"As long as we don't fall down while we're dining, I shan't mind,"
mumbled Paul, as he picked a wishbone.

The night passed without incident of moment. For a time no one wanted
to go to the comfortable bunks, but Dick insisted that they must get
used to sleeping aboard his craft, so the watch was told off, two of
the occupants of the Abaris to be on duty for two hours at a time, to
be relieved by others.

On and on rushed the airship. Now and then she was speeded up for a
time, as Dick and the aviator wanted to see what she could do when
called on suddenly. She responded each time.

"I think she'll do," said Lieutenant McBride, when it came h