"Well, I vote we show this gentleman right now!" urged Harry.
It was accordingly agreed that a trial race was to be run between the machine owned by the boys and that of the French pilot. Quickly the news went round the camp, and by the time preparations had been made everyone was keenly alert. The boys went carefully over every part of their machine, examining every guy and fastening.
At last the Grey Eagle was pronounced ready, and final instructions were given as to the course. It was agreed that as a test of all the qualities necessary in a machine a message should be carried to an outpost on the firing line not many miles to the eastward. An officer there would give a receipt for the message, and the return of the receipt to the camp would determine which machine was the winner.
"Be careful, boys," cautioned Francois. "I think the pilot is telephoning to a friend of his to have a receipt ready written and put up on a hoop on a long pole, after the manner of your American train order deliveries. He can then drop his message, pick up the receipt, and beat you without being required to land at all!"
"Did you hear him telephoning?" asked Jimmie indignantly.
"Just now!" replied Francois. "He has but just left the booth!"
"Then we'll fix him!" declared Jimmie. "I'll report him!"
"Please do not!" begged Francois. "It would only make trouble!"
"In that case, Ned, we've got to beat this fellow by some few minutes. He's going to try to win the race by a trick!"
"Evidently we've got him scared!" laughed Ned.