graceful curve around the big liberty pole;
and having made the complete circuit, once more headed off toward
distant Bloomsbury, with the gathering storm grumbling and growling in
the rear.

Andy was happy for the moment; and he thought he had good reason to be.
In the first place, they had met Percy going in, while they were coming
out; though Frank had wisely given his reckless rival plenty of
swinging room, not wishing to have a head-on collision. Then again,
Andy had positively caught sight of that pretty rosy countenance that
he had seen pale with fear the other day, at the time he stood between
Miss Alice and that savage bulldog.

Yes, she was there, just where she had promised to be, with the mayor
alongside; and how her dainty little handkerchief did wave to and fro,
when the daring Bird boys were making their circuit of the liberty pole!

Gradually the shouts of the enthusiastic Hazenhurst people grew fainter
in the distance; for when going at the rate of a mile a minute it does
not take long to lose even such a vast volume of sound.

Frank determined to put the little plan he had in mind into practice.
Better speak to Percy while the opportunity was still open. So he
slowed down just a trifle.

"Frank, they're gaining!" shrilled Andy, in new alarm.

"I want them to," answered the other. "I cut off some of our speed on
purpose to let him come up where I can shout out to him."

The second biplane was now close alongside. Andy could see the faces
of those aboard, and noted the fact that they were flushed with the new
hope that Frank had shot his bolt, and that his engine was now going
back on him.

Waiting until the other was on about even terms Frank called out as
loudly as he could.

"Hello! Percy!"

"Well, what d'ye want?" came back the surly answer.

"Don't you think it's next door to foolish for us to head up to the
peak with that storm coming swooping after us? Suppose we make
straight for the campus, and call that a race? Another day we can fix
it to make the try over again."

Frank was very doubtful even while shouting this proposition; and just
as he feared, Percy chose to look upon it as a sign of weakening.

"You can do what you please," he called back, with a shrill laugh, "I
know that I'm going around the top my three times. If you're afraid,
back down, and make for the town. We'll see who's got the most nerve
right now. Get that?"

CHAPTER XXII

A TERRIBLE MOMEN