"That would lighten you
a whole lot. Let Innis and me go!"
"I'll drop off, too, if it will help any," Larry Dexter offered.
"And be killed?" asked Mr. Vardon.
"Not necessarily. You could run the airship over some lake, or
river, lower it as close as possible, and we could drop into the
water. We can all swim and dive. You could drop us near shore, we
could get out and make our way to the nearest town. That would
leave you with less load to carry."
"I wouldn't think of it!" cried Dick.
"Why not?" asked Innis.
"In the first place I want my airship to do what I built it for--
carry this party across the continent. If it can't do that, and in
time to at least give me a chance for the government prize, I'm
going to have one that can. In the second place, even if your going
off would help me to win, I wouldn't let you take the risk.
"No, we'll stick together. I think I can get away from Uncle Ezra,
if that's who is in that biplane. We can run up our speed
considerable. We haven't touched the extreme limit yet."
"Well, if you won't you won't--that settles it," said Paul. "But
if you're going to speed you'd better begin. He is sure coming on."
Indeed the other aircraft was rushing toward them at a rapid rate.
It had been some distance in the rear when first sighted, but now
the three figures aboard were plainly discernable with the naked
eye.
"Speed her up!" called Dick. "We've got to leave him if we can.
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