They continued onward for an hour or so, landing once to refuel from an extra tank of gas. Now Linda dipped lower, anxious to watch the landscape, for she knew that she must be very near to the Pacific Ocean. She identified the roofs of a village—a little seaport town, probably—and yes—there was the ocean beyond!
“I’d go south for a while, Linda!” Chase advised. “The report was that the Sky Rocket was headed southwest.”
So Linda banked and directed her course along the coast to the southward. Flying low, and watching the ground for an airport.
From the air they were able to identify scattered seaside huts, and even fishing boats out on the ocean. But no town of any size, and no sign of an airport.
“We ought to land and make inquiries,” Linda was thinking to herself, when Dot suddenly let out a piercing scream. Terrified, Linda looked all about her, thinking they must be rushing headlong into some awful peril.
“I see the plane!” Dot cried, frantically. “Over there on the beach—to the left!”
Linda peered out to the side her chum indicated, but she could distinguish nothing but a blurred outline of green.
“The Sky Rocket!” screamed Dot. “Bank to the left!”
Though she still failed to see it with her naked eye, Linda’s heart beat rapidly with the thrill of success, and she took the direction Dot indicated. She dipped lower, and banked to the left, approaching the spot slowly. And then, sure enough, she saw it for herself. The Sky Rocket!
The beach was wide and the plane stood erect, as if all ready for a take-off. Suppose it sailed off this moment! Before Linda could get to it! The Sky Rocket was bigger, faster, newer than the Ladybug—wouldn’t it be sure to get away in a race?