er's style: "Land ho, my
hearties!"

Taking the glass, one by one his comrades gladly echoed the
announcement.

But suddenly Bob's face turned chalky. "Jiminy, fellows," he cried,
"what boneheads we are! We have been figuring on San Cristobal time
all the while. Panama's close to an hour ahead!"

"And we've only got thirty-five minutes in which to land!" said Tom.
"Huckleberry pie! Boneheads we are! Boneheads, boneheads! I repeat
it--boneheads, boneheads! It's all off now."

Tom actually wrung his hands in his misery, and the others felt just
about as humiliated and disgusted with themselves.

"Here's where our prize goes a-flickering," groaned Paul. "We never
can make Panama in thirty-five minutes!"

"I don't know about that," declared his brother grimly. "Here goes for
the effort, anyhow. I'll make the Sky-Bird fly as she has never flown
before!"

With that he brought the throttle wide open, and two minutes later
threw the second engine into commission.

CHAPTER XXXI

THE FINISH

They were not beaten yet! The wind whistled, shrieked, and roared as
it swept aft along the smooth body of the Sky-Bird. The propeller
whirred, and the engines purred like two huge twin cats. So great were
the noises combined that the voice was completely overwhelmed, and no
effort was made by the flyers to talk with one another.

With their pulses beating wildly and hearts thumping in accord, they
watched the hazy streak on the horizon line ahead rapidly develop into
the unmistakable rugged form of land. As they drew closer, they could
even see the glint of water on the other side, and knew without the
shadow of doubt that what they were looking at was the long belt of
earth connecting the two Americas--the Isthmus of Panama itself. And
down their backs ran a new thrill at the recognition.

Larger and larger loomed the brown and green strip in advance.
Presently, amid the checker-board of nature's colorations, they could
make out a bay and on a tongue of land a considerable collection of
buildings. It was Panama City! Five minutes later they could even
distinguish the American flag--how glorious the sight!--fluttering at
the staffhead of the courthouse, and could see the streets and ships in
the harbor thronged with people who were evidently waiting to welcome
them.

The excitement of the throngs increased as the airplane drew closer.
People jumped up and down, yelled, and waved their hats. It had be