Around the World in Ten Days | Page 9

and settle down into some long grass about a hundred
yards beyond.
He found it undamaged, and hurried back to his friends in the
fair-grounds, his heart beating jubilantly at the splendid results of the
flight. He hugged the small airplane to his heart as if it were the most
precious possession in the world, as indeed it was to him.

Mr. Giddings and Bob were loud in their praise, and John smiled in that
quiet way that told the younger brother how well pleased he was. It was
found that the Sky-Bird had passed over the lower fence in just one
minute and three seconds, which was certainly good speed for such a
diminutive contrivance. Several other flights were then made, all of
which were equally successful. At the conclusion Bob Giddings was so
excited that he could hardly stand still.
"Dad, isn't this little thing simply a wonder?" he exclaimed. "I'd give
anything in the world if I could own a big fellow built on this principle.
I'll bet it would pass anything now made."
His father looked thoughtful for a moment. Then, turning to the Ross
brothers, he observed:
"Do you think, boys, that these features could be successfully applied
to a full-sized airplane?"
"There's no doubt at all about it, to my mind, sir," replied John Ross.
"That's the next thing Paul and I propose doing, although I expect we
shall have a hard time getting enough money to meet the expense of
materials. Of course we shall have the regular type of gasoline engine
in place of this pneumatic arrangement, as this principle won't apply to
big machines. I figure a 400 horse-power Liberty engine would carry
such a machine two hundred miles an hour."
Again Mr. Giddings was silent a moment. Then he resumed: "John, I
hear that you have been laid off from your Air Mail job. Is that right?"
"It is, sir."
"Well, then, I am going to make a proposition to you and Paul, and in a
way Robert may consider himself involved, too, I expect. As you may
know, Robert plans to be an electrical engineer, and Mrs. Giddings and
myself are anxious to encourage him in every way we can. For some
time he has been experimenting with wireless telegraph and telephone
apparatus, and has made some sets of the latter which it seems to me
are an improvement over anything now on the market, particularly a set

for airplane use, which he has no means of properly testing out on
account of the lack of the airplane. Now my proposition is just this: I
will meet every expense of making a first-class full-sized airplane like
the Sky-Bird, and pay you, John, a wage equal to that which the
government allowed you as a pilot, if you three young men here will do
the construction work secretly, and if Robert may be allowed a
one-third interest in the venture, both in the plane to be made, and in
any future benefits to be derived from the patent rights."
Of course the delighted John and Paul accepted this splendid offer, and
Bob Giddings was so happy at the prospect of a fine big airplane in
which to install his wireless apparatus that he actually hugged his father.
They repaired to the Giddings home, and there, in true business form, a
contract was drawn up and duly signed by all interested parties, with a
notary's seal attached.
With a copy in their possession, the Ross boys hurried home, after
having dinner with the Giddings family, to acquaint Mrs. Ross with the
good news.
CHAPTER IV
PLANNING A BIG AIRPLANE
As planned, the much-talked-of Air Derby around the world took place
from Mineola Field, New York, on the 4th of July. A great crowd had
been attracted, owing to the extensive accounts of the affair in the big
newspapers for the past several months, and a thrilling hush fell over
the assemblage as, at high noon, one after another of the famous flyers
took off in various types of aircraft. There were four big dirigibles, two
of which started to cross the Atlantic at once, while the others took a
northerly course with the intention of making the final hop from St.
John's, Newfoundland, in accordance with several previous attempts of
other aircraft. Besides these, seven heavier-than-air machines started,
all making for Newfoundland also. Four of these were flying-boats, two
were seaplanes, and the other was a double-propellered biplane.
Needless to say, the Ross boys and Bob Giddings and his father were

present to see the machines off. They had arrived in the big automobile
of the publisher, and were greatly interested in every detail of the
departure. Several of the contestants John Ross knew, having met them
at some time during his flying periods,