"We must not forget that, so
we want everything as nearly right as possible."
And to this end they worked.
"You're going to take Grit along; aren't you?" asked Paul of Dick
one day, as they were laboring over the aircraft, putting on the
finishing touches.
"Oh, sure!" exclaimed the young millionaire. "I wouldn't leave him
behind for anything."
"I wonder what army officer they'll assign to us," remarked Innis.
"I hope we get some young chap, and not a grizzled old man who'll
be a killjoy."
"It's bound to be a young chap, because none of the older men have
taken up aviation," said Larry. "I guess we'll be all right. I'll
see if I can't find out from our Washington reporter who it will
be."
But he was unable to do this, as the government authorities
themselves were uncertain.
The time was drawing near when Dick was to make his start in the
cross-country flight, with but two landings allowed between New York
and San Francisco. Nearly everything was in readiness.
"Mr. Vardon," said Dick one day, "this business of crossing a
continent in an airship is a new one on me. I've done it in my
touring car, but I confess I don't see how we're going to keep on
the proper course, up near the clouds, with no landmarks or anything
to guide us.
"But I'm going to leave all that to you. We're in your hands as
far as that goes. You'll have to guide the craft, or else tell us
how to steer when it comes our turn at the wheel.
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