besides Jack Butt to hurry along the work on Dick's new aircraft.
The order had been placed for the motor, and that, it was promised,
would be ready in time.

Dick, having had lunch, went out to see how his airship was
progressing. Grit raced here and there, glad to be back home again,
though he would probably miss the many horses and grooms at
Kentfield. For Grit loved to be around the stables, and the
hostlers made much of him.

"How are you coming on?" asked the young millionaire, as he surveyed
the framework of the big craft that, he hoped, would carry him
across the continent and win for him the twenty thousand dollar
prize.

"Fine, Dick!" exclaimed Mr. Vardon. "Everything is working out
well. Come in and look. You can get an idea of the machine now."

Dick Hamilton's airship was radically different from any craft
previously built, yet fundamentally, it was on the same principle
as a biplane. But it was more than three times as large as the
average biplane, and was built in two sections.

That is there were four sets of double planes, or eight in all, and
between them was an enclosed cabin containing the motor, the various
controls, places to sleep and eat, the cabin also forming the
storage room for the oil, gasolene and other supplies.

This cabin was not yet built, but, as I have said, it would be
"amidship" if one may use that term concerning an airship. Thus