"Young men, a great load has been removed from my mind by this recent performance of the Sky-Bird II.  I have now not the slightest doubts of her adaptability to make a round-the-world trip, and if she performs then as she did this morning, we are not only going to defeat the _Clarion_'s crew, but we are going to smash all existing records for a journey of the kind.  I wish to know if you really think you could operate this machine steadily night and day, say for a couple of weeks, stopping only for fuel and food?"