Mr. Hampton’s eyes were moist and his lips moved soundlessly in a prayer from the heart for the success of the expedition and the safe return of all concerned.
Jack’s eyes were unashamedly moist, too, and, as they trudged back apart from the others, Mr. Hampton’s arm went across his son’s shoulders and stayed there. The two were very close in that hour.
A guard of six, four Athensian revolutionists and two Arabs, had been left in the valley of Korakum to watch the river approach. Accordingly, it was deemed unnecessary for the balance of the party which had witnessed the start of the flight, to return at once and, instead, a halt was made under the trees of the grove where the radio station had been set up.
Jack took his seat at the instruments, while the others crowded around, eager to hear the first word received from the plane with which, of course, constant communication could be maintained. Earlier, before going down to the desert after his rest period to begin the flight, Frank had broadcasted a message of cheer to Bob, in the faint hope that he might be able to receive it, telling him of the effort to be made that afternoon for his rescue.
At once Jack began calling, and back came Stone’s voice in re-assuring accents almost immediately, telling that they had cleared the Mountain Wall in handsome style, that the plane was performing flawlessly, and that even the cross-currents of wind which tugged at them, sweeping down valleys and canyons and around mountain peaks, seemed to make no difference to Frank. To the latter’s skill, Stone paid handsome tribute.
All this Jack repeated to his auditors and Ali and Jepthah interpreted for the Arabs and the revolutionists respectively. Jepthah had stayed to witness the start of the expedition instead of rejoining his command and now intended to wait the few hours more which would tell its outcome.
Suddenly, excitement seized Jack. His brow contracted, his eyes blazed.
“Say that again,” he shouted into the transmitter.
A moment of concentrated listening, then:
“All right, I’ll tell them. How far away, did you say? Twenty-five miles of straight flying. All right, all right. We’ll be ready for them.”