come twelve thousand miles in three days and a half.  That’s a thing to be proud of.  He tells me he’s going to get back in another three days and a half.  I am sure I speak for you all when I say ‘good luck to him!’ ("hear! hear!”) Think what it means, gentlemen.  It means going round the world in a week.  When I was last in England I met a man at a hotel who kept me up till three in the morning proving to me that the earth is flat.  I’ll give Mr. Smith his address, and when he gets home he can go and prove to him that he’s a flat. (Laughter.) You remember in a play of Shakespeare there’s a little chap that says he’ll put a girdle round the earth in forty minutes.  His name was Puck, gentlemen.  Mr. Smith won’t do it quite so quick—­not this journey, at any rate—­but who knows what these young scientific fellows will be a-doing of next?  Mr. Smith’s aeroplane hasn’t got a name, I believe, but he’d better christen it Puck, which is the same as the Indian word pukka, and means ‘jolly good.’”

“Now I’m not going to make a speech, so I’ll just conclude these few remarks by wishing Mr. Smith a safe journey home, quick promotion, and a seat in the House of Lords.  He’s used to going up, and that’s about as far up as he can go.”

When the cheering had ceased, the company crowded about the aeroplane, and gazed at it as if by sheer hard staring they might discover the secret of its speed.

While Rodier explained its working to some of them, Smith sat with the officers, his father and brother, and Sir Matthew, discussing the immediate future.

“You must be very tired,” said his father.  “Don’t you think you have better give up the idea of returning at once, and come with us?  The Admiralty will stretch a point if we cable an explanation.”

“On no account, father,” replied Smith.  “I am going back.  I had the good luck to get here in time.  That’s all right so far.  But after coming through the air I couldn’t stand a slow voyage back; it would be like riding in a growler after a taxi.  Besides, I confess I am out to make a record.  I can’t make a name in geology, but why shouldn’t I go down to posterity as the first man to fly round the world?”

“In seven days, as Sir Matthew remarked,” added Tom.  “It will be rather a feather in your cap, old fellow, if you can do it.”

“Oh, I’ll do it, if only my engine holds out.  By the way, Roddy ought to be cleaning up in preparation for starting.  I hope he won’t be demoralized by this ovation.  Roddy,” he called, “it’s time to clean up.”

“All right, mister,” replied the French man.  “I’ll take the shine out of her.”

“Roddy’s English is not perfectly accurate,” said Smith, laughing; “but he’s exactness itself in his work.”  He pulled out his watch.  “It’s exactly eighty-one hours since I left London; I’ve got eighty-seven to get back in.”

“How will you go?” asked Underhill.

“First to Samoa, then Honolulu, then ’Frisco, and straight across the States.”