on. His face was glowing, too, as he
turned toward the brothers. "When we get the Sky-Bird II done, why
couldn't the three of us pick out a new course around the globe in her?
If she's as good as we think she will be, we could travel over any kind
of land or water with her, and I think we could pick out islands in the
Pacific so that we could cross that and make the entire journey by air."

"I believe this old ship could do it all right," said John, full of
confidence and thrilled at the idea, as he stepped back and looked at
the partly-assembled fuselage with a loving eye. "But, Bob, a trip
like that would cost a lot of money just for gas, and you know Paul and
I could hardly afford it."

"I'm going to speak to dad about it, anyhow," decided Bob; "he has been
talking airplanes and world routes at home to mother and me for the
last three months, and maybe he will be interested enough to back us
up. He never stops at anything when he once sets his mind on it."

It was several days after this that Bob Giddings came to work with
another newspaper in his hands.

"Things seem to be coming our way as fast as they can," he said, with a
mysterious smile. "Take in what Mr. Wrenn, the editor of this paper,
says in this framed insert on the front page."

John and Paul did as directed. The article was prominently displayed,
and was to the effect that the _Clarion_ disagreed very strongly with
the attitude adopted by its contemporary, the _Daily Independent_, in
regard to around-the-world routes. It declared that it was physically
impossible by any mode of modern travel to follow a route along, or
even within twenty degrees of, the equatorial line, and said it was a
shame to assail the creditable records made in the past. In conclusion
it stated:

If our esteemed sheet, the _Daily Independent_, feels so cock-sure of
its position, why does it not do a little demonstrating? Why does it
not organize an expedition, and prove its claim? This is all bunk! We
are so sure of it, that we right now challenge our misguided friend to
run us a race around the world on a course of his own selection, at any
time, by any mode of travel he may choose. There! we have knocked the
chip off of the _Daily Independent's_ shoulder. Now let's see if our
friend is really a bluffer or a fighter.

"You know the _Clarion_ is a powerful evening newspaper, too," said
Bob, when the Ross boys looked up from their reading. "It has always
been