It was a great disappointment to Kiwi, for his excitement had risen to fever pitch. However, he was packed off to bed, and for the next few days all their plans waited on favorable news from the weather man. Conditions over Long Island seemed perfect for the take-off. The moon was just approaching the full.
Kiwi, for the first time, realized how many others were helping in this tremendous undertaking. Wireless operators on many ships plunging across the ocean were flashing their news of conditions as they found them at sea. Other wireless operators in lonely places were sending their data of wind velocities, rain and sleet. All this information was being gathered and carefully analyzed for these two men who would soon come to know the vagaries of nature at first hand.
Kiwi was already in bed and asleep one night when an unusual bustle about the houseboat awoke him, and he sensed that something was up. Word had come through that the path was open for the great dash across the Atlantic.
Preparations to start were again made, with innumerable last things to be thought of. Kiwi was able to pack a tiny lunch and stuff it into his pocket unobserved.
Jack
They were rowing ashore to pick up Bert when Dad said to Kiwi:
“Now, boy, after we leave, you will be taking your orders from Bert. Everything is taken care of, and he will look after you until we come back. See that you always do what you know I would want you to do.”
Kiwi smiled, sheepishly, but could think of nothing to say.
The ride over to the field seemed to take hours. Neither Dad nor Jack talked much, but Bert managed to say to Kiwi: