The above conversation took place one afternoon between Ezra Larabee and Lieutenant Larson. The airship with the mercury stabilizers was nearly completed. But a few touches remained to be put on her, to make her, according to Larson, ready for the flight across the continent. "I presume you will go with me when me make the first ascent; will you not?" the lieutenant inquired. "Who, me? No, I don't reckon I'll go up first," said Uncle Ezra slowly. "I'll wait until I see if you don't break your neck. If you don't I'll take a chance." "That's consoling," was the answer, with a grim laugh. "But I am not afraid. I know the craft will fly. You will not regret having commissioned me to build her." "Wa'al, I should hope not," said Uncle Ezra, dryly. "So far I've put eight thousand, four hundred thirty-two dollars and sixteen cents into this shebang, and I ain't got a penny out yet. It just seems to chaw up money." "They all do," said the lieutenant. "It is a costly sport. But think of the twenty-thousand-dollar prize!" "I do," said Uncle Ezra, softly. "That's all that keeps me from thinking what a plumb idiot I've been--thinking of that twenty thousand dollars." "Oh, you'll get it!" the lieutenant asserted. "Maybe--yes. If my nephew doesn't get ahead of me," was the grim reply. "Oh, he never will. We'll win that prize," the lieutenant assured him. "Now there's one other little matter I must speak of. I need some more money." "More money! Good land, man! I gave you three dollars and a half last week to buy something!" cried Uncle Ezra. "Yes, I know, but that went for guy wires and bolts. I need about ten dollars for an auxiliary steering wheel." "A steering wheel?" questioned Uncle Ezra. "You mean a wheel to twist?" "That's it. There must be two. We have only one." "Well, if it's only a wheel, I can fix you up about that all right, and without spending a cent, either!" exclaimed the stingy old man with a chuckle. "There's an old sewing machine of my wife's down cellar. It's busted, all but the big wheel. We had an accident with it, but I made the company give me a new machine, and I kept the old one. "Now that's got a big, round, iron wheel on it, and we can take that off, just as well as not, and use it on the airship. That's what you've got to do in this world--save money. I've spent a terrible pile, but we'll save some by using the sewing machine wheel." "It won't do," said the lieutenant. "It's far too heavy. I must have one made to order of wood. It will cost ten dollars." "Oh, dear!" groaned Uncle Ezra. "More money," and he looked distressed. Then his face brightened. "I say!" he cried. "There's a busted mowing machine out in the barn. That's got a wooden wheel on it. Can't you use that?" Lieutenant Larson shook his bead. "It's no use trying to use make-shift wheels if we are to have a perfect machine, and win the prize," he said. "I must have the proper one. I need ten dollars."