“That’s a good start. We’re beating them already,” exclaimed Harry.
Frank smiled.
“Two miles isn’t much in a race of this length,” he remarked. “We’ve only started, Harry. We’ll have lots of ups and downs before we’ve finished.”
How prophetic his words were neither of the boys realized at that time.
CHAPTER VII.
ABOVE THE EARTH.
As it grew dusk the boys found themselves flying high above a pleasant wooded country, dotted here and there with small villages and prosperous looking farms. From their lofty station they could see men and women rush out below them waving their arms in excited amazement as the contestants in the big race swept along. Cattle and horses, too, tore about their pastures mad with terror at what they doubtless thought were terrible destroying birds of enormous size.
Occasionally, too, they would fly above rivers and railroads and by noting these carefully they managed to keep their bearings clear. The Despatch aeroplane was now far behind and the dirigible had taken up second place. The auto had been lost sight of also.
“Send out a wireless. We must locate Billy and the others,” said Frank.
The instrument clicked off the message, its blue spark leaping and crackling across the gap like a tongue of living fire.
In a few minutes a reply came back.