Our friends were not quite ready, but when the other machine was a mere speck against the southwestern sky, they hopped off themselves, with Paul at the throttle.  Not one of the party had any doubt but that they could catch their rivals before the latter should arrive at Para, where they were due at six o'clock that evening.  It needed only that first stage of the journey from Panama to Georgetown to show them that they had either the speediest craft or the most skillful crew.