“You did not fear to accept the invitation,” Don Haurea smiled as Jim shoved the cover from over the cock-pit.
“Not so that you could notice it,” Jim declared. “Wow, what a bird.”
“Who wouldn’t! Golly, Don Haurea, it’s a wonderful present, but it’s pretty steep—”
“Don’t you like it?”
“Crazy about it.”
“My son and I both feel that the several services you Flying Buddies have rendered us certainly warrant some token—”
“Token, great heavens, Don Haurea—oh, but she’s a beauty. How did you send her over and bring her back?” Bob demanded.
“A very simple little instrument. You will notice one of the dials is a little different color from the other controls. It is now set, in time as it were, with a section of our plant here, and was controlled from the laboratory. You have demonstrated that part; we will show you the ordinary method of plane piloting in a very few minutes. One thing I shall ask is that you do not mention the fact that she is equipped to operate from a central power-control. There are five stations in the world from which she can be directed, and in an emergency, even though she ran out of gas she could be kept up. I’d suggest that you keep the dial turned to the lowest notch, that will tune-in whenever you are flying, and in case of accident it may save you some trouble.”
“Jinks,” Bob whistled.