A sort of instantaneous flutter pervaded the people as some word starting from the judge's stand passed electrically through the crowd. "They've sighted something," shouted an excited spectator. "Yes, there's one of the airships," added a quick voice. "I see it!" "There's another!" "Hurrah!" Hiram stood looking up into the sky, fairly trembling with suspense. A man standing by Dave had a field glass. "I make out two," he spoke to an inquirer at his side. "I think I can tell you who they are if you'll give me your glass for a minute," said Dave. "Certainly," replied the man. "What is it, Dave?" cried Hiram, as, watching the face of his comrade closely, he discerned an intense expression upon it. "Aegis in the lead--" began Dave, lowering the field glass. "Aegis in the lead!" ran from the spot in receding echoes as the news passed down the line. "That's King's craft." "I knew it!" "Butterfly a close second," reported Dave. "There's another one!" "And another!" "See them come!" cried an excited old farmer. "Say, it beats the electric cars down at Poseyville!" The field was in a wild flutter. The contesting aircraft came nearer and nearer. Finally Hiram could make out the Aegis fully a mile in the lead, the wings set for a drop straight beyond the south pylon. "He's won--Mr. King has won!" he shouted again and again, fairly dancing up and down. The crowd surged towards the landing point as the Aegis gracefully sailed to earth, ran a stopping course, and Robert King stepped out amid the frantic cheers of his friends and admiring spectators in general. The great aviator looked please and proud. Old Grimshaw trotted at his side on the way to the Aegis hangar. "Say, you're taking about everything there is in sight," he remarked, with one of his grim chuckles. "I've run the limit on the set spurts, I guess," replied the expert airman. "I'm going to look, for something better." "What is there that's better than these famous stunts of yours, Mr. King?" inquired Hiram. "A record beater of some account," was the quick response. "Record breaker of what?" pressed the persistent Hiram. "Well," said Mr. King with an animated sparkle in his eye, "you and Dashaway come down to the hangar this evening, and I'll tell you all about it." CHAPTER IX A GIANT AIRSHIP Dave Dashaway and his friend were promptly on hand at the Aegis hangar at eight o'clock that evening. Usually the boys took their meals with Mr. King. A group of the airman's admirers, however, had insisted on a special dinner at a hotel just outside the grounds. Hiram piloted the way for Dave to the restaurant on the field. He had worked for the man having it in charge, and the best meal possible was set out for them free of charge.