about noon
With sparkling eyes , and bounding pulses they flew steadily southward , from time to time glancing below at the touring car . Even though they were flying slowly it was plain that the big auto had hard work to keep up with them . The unique motor flight was on , and was about to develop experiences of which none of them at the moment dreamed . They flew on , keeping the motor car beneath them in constant sight till about noon . Then , from the tonneau of the machine , came the waving of a red square of silk . This had been agreed upon as a signal to halt for a brief lunch . Shouting joyously , the young adventurers of the air began circling their machines about , dropping closer earthward with every sweep .