used
against us in this proposed race around the world, wouldn't it?"
demanded Bob Giddings.

Paul and John Ross looked at him in dismayed astonishment. They had
not thought of this contingency before.

CHAPTER VII

WHO'S AT THE WINDOW?

The making of a big airplane is a good-sized job. Especially is this
the case with the first airplane made up from new plans. And when the
job has to be done by no more than three young men, it becomes an
unusually formidable task.

The loss of the blue-prints did not hold up the progress of our friends
in the least, as it was only the matter of fifteen or twenty minutes'
work for Paul to make a new set from the tracings he had at home; but
there were unexpected difficulties met here and there in the
constructive work, as is always the case in large mechanical
undertakings of an original nature, besides which the young builders
ran into the usual delays caused by slow deliveries of parts and
materials from distant dealers and manufacturers; and sometimes the
railroads were tardy in transporting shipments.

All in all, the summer slipped away only too quickly, and it came time
for Paul and Bob to go back to school again with Sky-Bird II not more
than half finished. It is true that the long fuselage of the craft was
done, with its graceful curves and splendid, roomy, enclosed cabin,
accommodating five persons; but all concerned were a little
disappointed that more progress had not been made. Mr. Giddings had
been quite a frequent visitor at the fair-grounds all through the
summer, lending a voice of encouragement throughout the operations. He
looked really concerned, however, when Paul and Bob had to return to
Clark Polytechnic Institute for the new term of study.

"This is rather hard on us, isn't it, boys?" he observed, with a light
laugh in which he unsuccessfully tried to conceal his anxiety. "Here
we are with a half-completed airplane, a race staring us in the face
for next summer, and two of our workmen snatched away for the whole
winter by the inexorable demands of school life, leaving only one lone
fellow to finish the job."

"We'll be able to work Saturdays, dad," ventured Bob, trying to wedge a
little bit of cheer into the gloomy prospect.

"And evenings. I'd be willing to work after supper every night for a
couple of hours," proposed Paul.

"You won't do any such thing," came the firm answer. "While you are at
school you two fellows need your evenin