Dinner was served at a height of about eight thousand feet. Dick
wanted to get himself and his companions accustomed to great
heights, as they would have to fly high over the Rockies. There
was some little discomfort, at first, in the rarefied atmosphere,
but they soon got used to it, and liked it. Grit, however, suffered
considerably, and did not seem to care for aeroplaning. But he was
made so much of, and everyone was so fond of, him that he seemed,
after a while, to forget his troubles. He wanted to be near Dick
all the time.
Mr. Vardon was a veteran aviator, and heights did not bother him.
Lieutenant McBride, too, had had considerable experience.
Afternoon found the Abaris over Pennsylvania, which state would
require about six hours to cross at the speed of fifty miles every
sixty minutes. The captive balloons, and other landmarks, enabled
them to keep to their course.
Dick put his craft through several "stunts" to further test its
reliability and flexibility. To every one she answered perfectly.
The gyroscope stabilizer was particularly effective, and no matter
how severe a strain was put on the craft, she either came to an even
keel at once when deflected from it, or else did not deviate from
it.
"I shall certainly report as to the wisdom of having such an
apparatus on every airship the United States uses," declared
Lieutenant McBride. "No matter whether Dick Hamilton's craft wins
the prize or not,--and I certainly hope he does--the gyroscope must
be used.
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