“Only one, so the trick can’t be duplicated,” answered Frank, confidently.
“I wouldn’t put it past that sneak Sandy, to let a monkey wrench drop on us, if he could lay hands on one,” cried Andy; and then raising his voice he shouted: “Hey! don’t you dare try that trick again! Accidents don’t happen twice in succession; and they’ll hang you for murder if anything knocks us out. They can see everything that goes on up here!”
Possibly this was stretching it pretty lively; but all the same Andy meant to frighten Sandy, so that he would not dream of following up a blunder by a second miserable attempt.
“It’s too late, anyhow!” said Frank, with a vibration in his voice that might be caused by anticipated triumph.
“Yes, we’re passing them, as sure as you live! Look at the poor old biplane dropping out of the race, Frank! Why, it might just as well stand still as try to keep up with this dandy little airship, once you pull the throttle wide open! We’ve got ’em beat to a frazzle, I tell you! Goodbye, fellows. We’ll wait for you on top of old Blitzen and Thunder! Sorry, but somebody’s got to eat the drumsticks of the turkey!”
Andy was feeling immensely relieved. The monoplane no longer ranged under its larger opponent. Superior speed, backed by careful management, had given them the lead. And as Andy declared, it looked as though the race might end in a real Garrison finish, the one behind shooting to the front when on the home stretch.
No matter what they would have liked to do, Puss and Sandy were now helpless to hinder the triumphal arrival of their rivals on top of the mountain. Everything depended on the success that might attend Frank, when making his drop. Should he make a bad job of it, and shoot beyond the other edge of the plateau, possibly after all the others might be the first to land. It was their only hope.
Frank knew what he had before him. He was keenly alive to the chances of making a poor landing. And like a wise general he had anticipated all such things before now, even practicing stopping within a certain limited space when going at full speed.
“We’re high enough, all right, Frank!” cried Andy reassuringly, as they swooped down toward the top of the ominous cliffs that had always barred their gaining lodgment on the crown of Old Thunder Top.
“Yes, no doubt about that, Andy,” returned the other, confidently. “Now, be ready for your part. Remember, not to blunder, or we may lose out yet. They are coming hotfooted after us, you know!”