Part 12 (2/2)

”No, hardly bruised, but a bit shaken. Engine failure, they say,” continued the Lieut.-Commander. ”That leaves only the Hun to be accounted for.”

”And I suppose he's completed the circuit?” remarked Fosterd.y.k.e, questioningly.

The naval officer laughed.

”Completing the circuit of a prison-yard!” he exclaimed. ”That's about his mark. A Spanish yacht brought Count von Sinzig in this morning and handed him over to the Port Admiral. It'll be a three years' job, I fancy. Huns must learn that they can't bomb British air stations in peace time with impunity.”

The destroyer ran alongside the dockyard. Fosterd.y.k.e and the rest of his crew disembarked. On the jetty they were met by several of the chief Naval, Military, and Air Force officials and two representatives of the International Air Board.

Fosterd.y.k.e looked puzzled. He didn't want commiseration, but congratulation seemed a bit out of place.

”On what grounds, Admiral?” he asked.

”On winning the Chauva.s.se Prize for completing the circ.u.mnavigation of the globe,” replied the senior International Air Board representative, speaking instead of the Port Admiral. ”Fact! You've won it fairly and squarely.”

”But----” began the astonished baronet.

”You have,” persisted the official. ”Do you recollect when the airs.h.i.+p broke adrift? The destroyer went in pursuit and put you on board. That was within three miles or so of Ceuta. The same destroyer picks you up out of the water five miles from 'Gib.' Consequently, you've more than completed the circuit, and although the official start was from Gibraltar I don't think there will be any difficulty in obtaining the International Air Board's decision to the effect that you've won.”

And that was exactly what happened. Had it not been for Count von Sinzig's underhand work in employing Enrico Jaures to cast adrift the ”Golden Hind,” Fosterd.y.k.e would not have completed his aerial voyage round the world. By the irony of fate the Hun had enabled his rival to score.

Fosterd.y.k.e won the Chauva.s.se Prize and the honour of being the first man to fly round the world. Needless to say Kenyon and Bramsdean and the rest of the crew were not forgotten. Honours were heaped upon the intrepid airmen. They were lionised, feted, and praised to such an extent that they were in danger of developing ”swelled heads.”

But Kenyon and Bramsdean knew that the achievement would be but a nine days' wonder. Having attempted and won, they were content to return to their profession, their financial standing much increased by their shares in the big prize. They had enough honours and diplomas to satisfy them, but what they prized most was a certificate from the Royal Humane Society for saving the crew of the Hilda P. Murchison.

”So, after all,” declared Kenyon, ”we did do something useful, old son!”

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