“We’ll see you to-night, Auntie,” returned Linda. “At the Inn.”
“I sincerely hope so,” answered the other, a little doubtfully.
In fairness to the contestants, Mr. Clavering had arranged that the planes start from different places, so that they would not have to wait long in turn for their take-offs. Linda and Ralph were to go early to the Green Falls airport to fly their autogiros up the shore, to wait until ten o’clock, the appointed time. Tom Hulbert and Frank Lawlor were to motor to a town a short distance from Green Falls, where their planes were in readiness, while Joe Elliston, Dot Crowley, and Bert Keen were all to leave from the Green Falls airport.
These last three pilots, with their passengers, were waiting at the airport when Linda, Ralph, and Amy drove over about half-past nine.
“Hurry up and get those windmills out of the way!” ordered Joe Elliston. “They clutter up the place.”
“And be sure you don’t cheat!” remarked Sarah Wheeler. “Wait till ten o’clock before you start.”
“As if five or ten minutes would make any difference,” replied Ralph. “The victor will probably win by hours, not minutes.”
“I hope there won’t be a thunderstorm,” observed Madge Keen, who was flying with her husband. “It certainly is hot.”
“I’m dropping out if anything like that happens,” said Sarah flatly. “I’m not taking chances.”
Joe looked a little doubtfully at the sky, although the sun was shining brightly. But, being an amateur, he was nervous, although he had been lucky enough to secure a Fleet, which was the kind of plane he had used for his lessons.