As they now shot along on an even keel, it seemed hard to realize that they had at last started out on the important flight for which they had been planning and working so long; and as Paul watched his instruments and the scudding rival machine ahead, he could not help wondering what the issue of it all might be--if the fates would be so kind as to smile enough on the Sky-Bird to bring her in ahead of the _Clarion_ and within schedule time.
