“Can you take me over in a boat? Or how can I get there alone?” Stubby asked quickly.
“I’ll take you,” Gale said. “We can use Bruce’s—that’s my friend—he lets me use his boat.”
“Fine!” Stubby rubbed his hands together gleefully. “Let’s go.”
“Wait until I get my coat,” Gale said.
She ran back to the house. In the hall she slipped into her light sports coat and called in to her mother in the living room.
“Going out for a while, Mother. I won’t be late!”
A minute later she was walking swiftly down the street beside the thick figure of Stubby. It took them only a few minutes to reach the shore and with Gale at the wheel, Stubby crouched low in the stern, holding his hat for there was a stiff breeze on the water, the boat shot toward the island.
Gale was feeling a little nervous. Brent Stockton had been so insistent that they bring no one to see him, that they should reveal his whereabouts to no one, that now she felt afraid he might be angry that she was bringing Stubby. Still it was important she argued with herself. He wanted his airplane in shape for the races and every day was precious.
She led the way up the beach to the cabin. There the pilot met them at the door. He greeted Stubby as an old friend and some of Gale’s fears were allayed. The two men talked long and earnestly but most of their conversation was so complicated and technical that Gale could not grasp the full significance of it. She waited patiently until they were finished so she might take Stubby back to the mainland in the boat.
“Then if everything isn’t all right by Saturday I will come over myself,” Brent said in conclusion.