"Certainly I'll take Archie le Bon," replied Matt, glad to find such a way out of the disagreement. "Bring him here while I'm getting the machine ready."
Haidee began to cry, but Burton took her by the arm and led her away, talking earnestly and in a low voice.
A trick was worked on the king of the motor boys that morning, and it was something for which he never forgave Boss Burton. And it was a trick carried to a successful conclusion almost under the very eyes of McGlory and Ping. Matt, being busy with the aëroplane and the motor, did not discover it until too late.
Matt went over the machinery of the Comet with the same care he exercised before every flight. A loose bolt or screw might spell death for him if it escaped his attention.
When he was through with his examination, and had taken his seat ready for the flight. Le Bon appeared. He was in his shirt sleeves, not having had time to exchange his everyday clothes for ring costume.
"I'll run with the machine," said Le Bon, "and climb over the lower plane from behind when it gets to running too fast for me."
"That will do," answered Matt.
Amid the breathless silence of the crowd, Matt set the motor to working.
"Ready!" he called.
The machine started along the road, gaining in speed with every foot of its progress.