A course was laid to circle about it, and not cross it, as that
might complicate matters, and a little later they were within view
of the aviation grounds, of which club Lieutenant McBride was a
member.
He had said there might be a meet in progress, and this proved to
be so. A number of biplanes and monoplanes were circling about,
and the big crowd in attendance leaped to its feet in astonishment
at the sight of the young millionaire's new and powerful craft.
It was not the intention of Dick and his chums to stop and make a
landing, but they wanted to get some news of other competing craft
which might be trying for the big prize. Accordingly a plan was
evolved by which this could be done.
The lieutenant wrote out a brief account of their trip, telling of
the stop, and to this Larry added a request that, after it had been
read, it might be telegraphed to his paper. Then information was
asked for in regard to aerial matters.
"But how are we going to get information from them?" asked Paul.
"We can't get our wireless to working, we can't hear them, even with
megaphones, wig-wagging won't do, and we're not going to land."
"I've asked them to send up a bunch of toy balloons, carrying any
message they can send us," the lieutenant said. "I think we can
manipulate our craft so as to grab some of the balloons as they
float upward. I've seen it done."
Little time was lost over this. The message was dropped down in
one of Larry's leather cylinders.
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