Dr. Perkins attempted none of these stunts, but from time to time he turned back to Frank and nodded as a signal to give the craft a little more power.
By the time the twin propellers were developing their top push and speed, the owner of the Firefly realized that he had a tussle on his hands. He ceased his graceful evolutions and settled down to real flying. But he had not gone a mile over the aërial race track before the Sea Eagle thundered past him like a “Limited” of the skies.
“Good-by and thank you!” Dr. Perkins found time to yell, as they flashed past, bound due south once more.
“Good-by. Good luck to you!” came from Mr. Studley, as he waved his hand in the realization that he was beaten.
There was no time to exchange more words. In a few minutes the boys, looking back, could only see a black speck like a shoe button against the sky to mark where the defeated Firefly was turning about and heading for home.
As for the Sea Eagle, at sixty miles an hour, and with her motor going faster every minute, that staunch and speedy craft was winging her way at top speed for her distant goal.
CHAPTER XXVI.—THE BOY AVIATORS’ PLUCK.
But it was almost a week later that the 1,400 odd miles down the coast to Fernandina, Florida, and from thence overland to the Crescent City, were completed. Storms and minor accidents spun out the voyage to this length, although Dr. Perkins had calculated on making a faster run. In fact, his aim had been to make about 500 miles a day, with night flights to help out, if possible.
Many interesting incidents, which it would require another volume to chronicle in detail, marked the trip. Off Savannah the Sea Eagle towed a disabled motor boat, containing a pleasure party, into port, and a short time later flew above the Atlantic squadron of the United States fleet bound south for target practice. Aërial greetings were exchanged by wireless between the Sea Eagle and Uncle Sam’s bulldogs of the ocean.
The next day the Sea Eagle was once more enabled to render aërial ambulance service by taking an injured keeper from a lighthouse off Fernandina into port, and arranging for a substitute to be sent out at once. At every city they stopped they received a great reception, for by this time the flight of the Sea Eagle had received the attention of the country through the medium of the newspapers.