Dick Hamilton's Airship Part 43

"Can you make out who they are, d.i.c.k?" asked Larry Dexter.

"No, they have on protecting helmets and goggles," replied the young millionaire, as he adjusted the binoculars to his vision. "But I'm sure I know that machine!"

"Whose is it?" Innis wanted to know.

"Well, I don't want to be too positive, but I'm pretty certain that's my Uncle Ezra's craft," replied d.i.c.k, slowly.

"Great Scott!" cried Paul. "Is it possible? Oh, it's possible all right," d.i.c.k made answer, "but I did not think he would really take part in this race. However, he seems to have done so. I can't make him out, but that's just the shape of his airship, I can tell by the mercury stabilizer Larson has put on."

"Well, it looks as if we'd have a race," observed Mr. Vardon.

"He sure is speeding on," mused d.i.c.k.

"But he may be away behind his schedule," put in Larry.

"That won't make any difference," the young millionaire said. "He started after we did, and if he gets to San Francisco ahead of us, and with only two landings, he'll win the prize. That stands to reason.

He's making better time than we are."

Mr. Vardon took the gla.s.ses from d.i.c.k, and made a long observation.

When he lowered them he remarked:

"I think that is the craft Larson built, all right. And it certainly is a speedy one. He must have met more favorable conditions, of late, than we did, or he never could have caught up to us."

"I guess so," agreed d.i.c.k. "Now the point is; What can we do?"

"Speed up--that's the only thing I see to do," came from the aviator.

"We still have one landing left us, but we don't need to use it unless we have to. We have fuel and oil enough for the trip to San Francisco.

Speed up, I say, and let's see if we can't get away from him."

"We've got a heavier machine, and more weight aboard," spoke d.i.c.k.

"Say, can't you drop us off?" cried Paul. "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 sh.o.r.e, 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 d.i.c.k.

"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 d.i.c.k. "We've got to leave him if we can."

Gradually the Abaris forged on more rapidly. But it seemed as if those in the other craft were waiting for something like this. For they, too, put on more power, and were soon overhauling the larger airship.

"They've got an awful lot of force in a light craft," observed Lieutenant McBride. "She's over engined, and isn't safe. Even if your uncle gets in ahead of you, d.i.c.k, I will still maintain that you have the better outfit, and the most practical. I don't see how they can live aboard that frail craft."

It certainly did not look very comfortable, and afterward Uncle Ezra confessed that he endured many torments during the trip.

The race was on in earnest. They were over the Rockies now, and at the present rate of speed it would be only a comparatively short time before they would be at the Pacific coast.

"If I only knew how many landings he had made I wouldn't be so worried," said d.i.c.k. "If he's had more than two he's out of it, anyhow, and I wouldn't strain my engine."

"We'd better keep on," advised Mr. Vardon, and they all agreed to this.

Toward the close of the afternoon the Larabee, which they were all sure was the name of the craft in the rear, came on with a rush. Her speed seemed increased by half, and she would, it was now seen, quickly pa.s.s the Abaris.

"Well, they're going ahead of us," sighed d.i.c.k. "Uncle Ezra did better than I thought he would."

Neither he nor any of the others were prepared for what happened. For suddenly the other airship swooped toward d.i.c.k's craft, in what was clearly a savage attack. Straight at the Abaris, using all her speed, came Uncle Ezra's airship.

CHAPTER x.x.xI

THE WRECK

"What do they mean?"

"What's their game, anyhow?"

"They'll ram us if they don't look out!"

"Maybe they've lost control of her!"

"d.i.c.k, if that's your uncle, tell him to watch where he's going!"

Thus cried those aboard the aircraft of the young millionaire as they watched the oncoming of the rival craft. She was certainly coming straight at them. It was intentional, too, for Mr. Vardon, who was at the wheel of the Abaris, quickly changed her course when he saw what was about to happen, and the other pilot could have had plenty of room to pa.s.s in the air.

Instead he altered his direction so as to coincide with that of d.i.c.k's craft.

"They must be crazy!"

"If they'll hit us we'll go to smash, even if she is a lighter machine than ours!"

Thus cried Paul and Innis as they stood beside d.i.c.k.

"It's my Uncle Ezra, all right," murmured the wealthy youth. "I can recognize him now, in spite of his helmet and goggles. But what in the world is he up to, anyhow? He can't really mean to ram us, but it does look so."