“We will. And look out for yourself. Our enemies haven’t given up.” “I’ll be on the watch, Tom. Good-bye and good luck!” For over four hours Tom and Ned, by turns, with occasional relief from Meldrum and Dodge, kept the motors running at top speed. And it was not quite mid morning by the clock when Ned, taking an observation, cried to his friend: “There’s Chicago below us, Tom!” “Good!” exulted Tom Swift. “We’ll finish the first leg a little ahead of time!” CHAPTER XIX DENVER Tom, by his calculations and by computing their rate of speed for the past five hours, was already pretty sure in his own mind that they would reach the City of the Lakes at least within the time limit he had set for himself. But he was, nevertheless, glad of Ned’s confirmation. “Now if they have everything in readiness at the field, we won’t lose much time in detaching this car from the _Falcon_ and in hitching it on to the _Eagle_,” Tom remarked to his chum as he prepared to make the landing. “It wouldn’t do any harm to wireless them and make sure,” Ned suggested. “No, you’re right. Go ahead and do it. And, by crickity grasshoppers!” cried Tom, as he looked at the gasoline and oil gages, “we’re getting in just by the skin of our teeth, too.” “How come?” asked Ned. “We’ve got just about enough gas left to make the field,” Tom said. “I didn’t realize we’d used up quite so much. The engine was cold when we started so early in the morning, I guess, and it took more fuel to pep it up. I’ll take along a bit extra on the next two legs.” “A good idea,” suggested Ned, as he began working the wireless instrument, to call the operator at the Chicago landing field. He was not long in getting him, for Tom had made his arrangements well, and those associated with him in the airline express were anxiously awaiting his arrival. “We’ll land in about three minutes,” Ned sent the message. “Is everything in readiness for a quick change?” “All O. K., sir,” was the reply, for a former army flier was in charge here and he held to the traditions of the service. “Better send word back to Dad,” went on Tom, as he banked the plane slightly in readiness for bringing it up into the wind to make the landing on the big field just below them. Off to the left was the glistening lake, and Tom had a momentary glimpse of the wide and beautiful Lake Shore Drive, Chicago’s principal boulevard. “Did you get him, Ned?” asked the young inventor, as he noted below him the crowd that had assembled to await his landing. Word of the sensational attempt to link the two edges of the United States by a dawn-to-dark flight had been broadcasted all over the country. “Yes, your father’s all right,” reported Ned, who had been listening. “He sends his congratulations and so does Mary.” “Is she there?” “Yes, and anxious for your success,” reported Ned.