een removed from my mind by this recent
performance of the Sky-Bird II. I have now not the slightest doubts of
her adaptability to make a round-the-world trip, and if she performs
then as she did this morning, we are not only going to defeat the
_Clarion_'s crew, but we are going to smash all existing records for a
journey of the kind. I wish to know if you really think you could
operate this machine steadily night and day, say for a couple of weeks,
stopping only for fuel and food?"

"By alternating the engines--yes, sir; no doubt of it," declared John
Ross without a moment's hesitation, while Tom Meeks nodded his frowsy
head energetically.

"Then," said Mr. Giddings, "you may consider that's what the entire
four of you will have to do in a few months, as soon as we can pick out
a route and get fuel supplies at the different airports or stops for
you. John, you and Tom may consider yourselves under salary right on
until after this race; there will be enough for you to do, helping me
with arrangements and taking care of the airplane."

"Well, but how about Paul and me, dad?" broke in Bob anxiously; "aren't
we going to have anything to do?"

"Oh, you two will have enough to do going to school, I think," laughed
Mr. Giddings; "but, to satisfy you, I will let you both help John and
Tom select a route and make out a schedule. Do this just as soon as
you can, so that I may be able to give Mr. Wrenn, the publisher of the
_Clarion_, a copy. He can then make intelligent preparations for his
own crew. I am going to give my rival every consideration in this
matter, so that he cannot do any howling if we beat him. It must be an
out-and-out fair race, do you understand?"

All nodded.

"Have you heard anything about the other crew yet, Mr. Giddings?"
inquired Paul. "I mean, do you know what sort of a craft they are
going to use, or who is going to fly against us?"

"I am as much in the dark about those points as you young men," was the
reply. "I judge that Mr. Wrenn, who is an astute business man, will
keep us in ignorance of his personnel until the last minute. The fact
is, I am going to treat him to a dose of his own medicine in this
respect. So be careful not to let the public get close to this
machine, and talk with no one about it."

With that the publisher and Bob drove home, but the latter came back in
the afternoon, and all four young men immediately repaired to the
Yonkers Public Library with a blank ta