"
The committee met in about an hour, and considered the case. Meanwhile,
Tom and Mr. Damon strolled past the tent with its flaring sign. There
was a man on guard, but Andy was not in sight.
Then Tom was sent for, and Mr. Sharp told him what conclusion had been
arrived at. It was this:
"Under the rules of the meet," said the balloonist, "we had to guarantee
privacy to all the contestants until such time as they choose to exhibit
their machines. That is, they need not bring them out until just before
the races," he added. "This is not a handicap affair, and the speediest
machine, or the one that goes to the greatest height, according to which
class it enters, will win. In consequence we cannot force any contestant
to declare what kind of a machine he will use until he gets ready.
"Some are going to use the familiar type of biplanes and, as you can
see, there is no secret about them. They are trying them out now." This
was so, for several machines of this type were either in the air,
circling about, or were being run over the ground.
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