T ON OLD THUNDER TOP.

That settled it!

Andy had been holding in his breath while this short conversation was
being held between the rival pilots of the aircraft, with voices raised
to shouts.

"Are you going to give it up, Frank?" he questioned anxiously, as the
other once more let his new Kinkaid engine out to its utmost, so that
they began to forge to the front again.

Frank hardly knew what to do. Prudence dictated that he decline to
risk his life and that of his cousin in such a foolhardy attempt to
fulfill the conditions of the race. And yet he did hate most
unmercifully to show the white feather. What lad with red blood in his
veins does not? And then there was Andy, who, seeing his state of
wavering uncertainty, began to plead with him to try the thing.

"Frank, don't let 'em crow over us!" he went on, the fever still in his
blood. "We can do it, all right, you know. It'd only take a few
minutes to wheel around that bald old peak three times; and then a long
dip will carry us clear to the campus. Frank, head for Old Thunder
Top! Show him he ain't the only Bloomsbury aviator that's got nerve!"

And so Frank decided. Possibly he might regret his choice when it was
too late; but having taken the jump, he began to gradually rise, so as
to get on a level with the high peak.

"He's right after us, Frank!" commented Andy, seeking by that means to
keep the determination of his cousin from growing slack.

"So is the storm!" thought Frank, as he realized that already some of
the advance couriers of the cloud bank had raced up, and were even then
around them.

Sitting there, with his teeth pressed firmly together, Frank realized
that by deciding on accepting the challenge Percy had so scornfully
thrown to him, he had indeed taken big chances.

Would they ever live to finish that race; or must the wind, when it
finally bore down upon them, send both aeroplanes, together with their
occupants, to a terrible fate far below?

It was now too late to change his course. And besides, Frank was not
even at this moment fully ready to throw up the sponge. Perhaps the
storm would kindly hold off a little longer, as sometimes happened, and
give them a fair chance to go around the peak of the bald mountain
thrice before heading for home.

"Hang the old clouds!" cried Andy. "The folks won't be able to follow
us around each time. And if Percy chooses to turn tail, and cut for
home, declaring that he did the ben