“R-r-r-r-r-r-r-r! R-r-r-r-r-r-r —!” The big machine taxied slowly over the runway — faster — faster — and then, light as a bird, it left the ground, skimmed over the hedges and the trees, and was up in the sky in two minutes.
“Off to Baronia!” said Mike, thrilled.
“Adventuring again,” said Jack. “Isn’t this fun?”
“The runway looks about one inch long!” said Nora, peering out of the window.
“In half an hour we shall be over the sea,” said Paul. “Let’s look out for it.”
It was grand to be in the big aeroplane once more. All the children were used to flying, and loved the feeling of being high up in the sky. Sometimes clouds rolled below them, looking like vast snow-fields. The sun shone down on the whiteness, and the clouds below the plane became almost too dazzling to look at.
Suddenly there was a break in the clouds, and Mike gave a yell.
“The sea! Look — through the clouds. Hi, Ranni, Ranni, isn’t that the sea already?”
Ranni turned and nodded. “We are going very fast,” he shouted. “We want to be in Baronia by lunch time.”
“I’m so happy,” said Nora, her eyes shining. “I’ve always wanted to go to Baronia, Paul. And now we’re really going.”