The Boy Aviators in Record Flight

s to be made from the flats at the southern end of the reservation. The boys discovered that as the day of the race drew nearer that the list of entrants had narrowed down to three.

hers' machines had been broken in practice and still others were convinced, as th

y while they were all seated in front of their shed watching the Despa

there are in the race the easier it wil

ot speak, and Reade cast black looks at them as he came and went on his frequent visits to the aerodrome of Arthur Slade. However, his active antago

at was public interest that the little Government steamer that brought visitors over from the mainlan

and Billy Barnes. Lathrop was an expert operator and the boys hoped to be able to keep in constant touch with each other by means of the apparatus. Mr. Joyce, it had been agreed, was to accompany t

ost. The boys could hardly sleep for excitement and lay awake till late talking over final details. It was agreed that the auto was to "pick up" the aeroplane as it flew over

the red-bearded man whose identity was a mystery to the boys. The red dirigible drivers, not being able to afford

her. All the aviators on the island were up early and working over their machines. There were joints to be tightened, stay wires to be carefully insp

for the start drew near, the air ships were "parked." This relieved the situation and th

oys, as they rolled on to

inner," cried Billy with

to see them off, and when the hard and dirty work was finished the boys had

m ran through the crowd. Over in the city windows of skyscrapers began to fill with men and women anxious to watch th

ou all

the Department of the East, who had c

n a shout fro

quad of men drove back the pressing crowds, and the boys, after kissing their parents and bi

were started. Men, with their heels dug into the sandy ground to avoid slipping, held back the

an

starting

roared t

everybody, as if there

f!" shouted

nd then headed out far above the river toward the Jersey shore. The big dirigible, its engine

atch plants bombs were exploded at regular intervals to spread the news broadcast that the race had begun. In the offices of the evening papers the grea

air craft swept far above. The uproar was literally ear-splitting. Owing to the roar

bellowing factory whistles. Far beneath them they could see the flat green expanse of the meadows beyond with the silver paths marked on them by the

e wireless beg

g up a message,"

t them all to a frazzle," was th

t's hope so,"

tion easy. At night the Boy Aviators' auto was to burn red lights. The signal that a good landing place was at hand would be flashed upward at night by a blue flare. Of course

ed after the lubrication, while Frank kept the craft steady on her course. On and on they flew, the autos beneath seeming specks in clouds of dus

We're beating them alr

k sm

he remarked. "We've only started, Harry. We'll

were neither of the bo