"Where in the world did you get it?"
"I brought it along in my valise to clean the grease spots off my
clothes," answered Uncle Ezra, simply. "I got all oil from my
airship. But I wasn't going to buy a new suit when I could clean
my old one."
"Whoop!" cried Dick, with boyish enthusiasm. "This may save the
race for us."
The Abaris had already begun to settle down, but a moment later, as
the motor received the supply of gasolene so Providentially
provided, she shot forward again, her momentum scarcely checked.
On and on she rushed. It was nip and tuck now between her and the
rival airship. The big crowd in the aviation field yelled and
shouted at the sight of the thrilling race.
The other airship seemed to falter and hesitate. The pilot cut off
his motor, but too soon. Dick rushed his craft on, passed the
other, and then, seeing that he had the advantage, he turned off
his power, and volplaned to the landing spot just about fifteen
seconds in advance of his rival. He had beaten in the race at the
last minute. But it still remained to be seen whether he had
triumphed over other, and possibly previous, arrivals.
Out of the Abaris rushed the young millionaire and his friends
before she had ceased rolling over the ground. The other biplane
was just behind them.
An army officer ran out of the crowd of spectators.
"Who is the pilot of this craft?" he asked.
"I am," answered Dick.
"And where is your official army timekeeper?"
"Here," answered Lieutenant McBride, saluting.
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