The boys hardly knew what to say to such a warm greeting as this, but Fly put in his appearance at that moment and saved them from further confusion.
"Come on over here, Fly," called Jerry.
"He's just crazy about airships," he explained, turning to Mr. Hawke.
"Then I want to meet him," said the aviator, his genial face lighting with a smile.
"I'd rather meet you then Santa Claus," exclaimed Fly, enthusiastically, feeling at home at once with the newcomer, and experiencing none of the embarrassment of the other boys. "I hope you're goin' to stay."
"Well, I'm planning to spend my vacation here. I didn't expect to arrive so soon, but some friends were coming this way, so I dropped in unannounced."
"We all like this kind of a surprise," assured the captain, just as Dunk Rivers came up and said he was wanted on the telephone.
"I guess I can leave you with the boys, Hawke," said the captain, after introducing Dunk.
"You bet. I like boys—especially aeroplane boys."
"Maybe you can give them some pointers about the mystery at the Phipps ranch," Mr. Crawford called back as he hurried away.