"Read it aloud, Paul," suggested Bob, and his friend proceeded to do so.  The article was to the effect that the Aero Club of America, in conjunction with eminent aviation associations of the kind in Europe and Asia, had planned to stimulate interest in flying by holding an aircraft race around the world, which would start on the morning of July 4th.  All contestants must be at least twenty-one years of age, and furnish an entrance fee of two hundred dollars.  They might use any type of aircraft they chose, and could carry as many assistants as they wished, even utilizing trains or steamships, if not less than three-fourths of their journey were made by air; and they must stop at least once in each of four continents, and cross the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.  Aside from these provisions, the selection of route was left entirely to each contestant.  Then followed an imposing list of names of well-known flyers who, it was said, had signified their intention of competing.  The article wound up with the statement that prizes aggregating a million dollars would be offered the winners.