“There are two men!” said Pauline in surprise, as the aviators climbed out and one of them began to adjust something about the plane. “I’d like to turn the field glasses that way. I wonder if I couldn’t be looking at a meadow lark or something and accidentally swing the glasses around toward them!”
“I fear that it would not be very polite,” said Betty, laughing, “and I imagine that the better part of valor would be for us to start for the Hall.”
But no sooner had Betty spoken than they observed the idle aviator in the act of turning a field glass in their direction. A look seemed to satisfy him, for he touched his helmet in salute, and came hurrying over the grass toward them.
“What shall we do?” asked Betty.
“Wait and see who he is. He might be Donald.”
“No, it isn’t Donald at all,—it looks like,—it is—Oh, dear, help me to be polite, girls!”
“How fortunate I am,” said Captain Holley, as he came up to the girls. “My friend was taking me for my first ride in an aeroplane and something about it was not just right. I was quite glad to reach terra firma in safety. I suppose this is part of a bird class?” The captain was assuming all the dignity and patronage which as a teacher in a neighboring school he could take.
“Yes, Captain Holley,” replied Isabel, with remarkable meekness. “We were looking for a warbler and found a night hawk instead,—I have called this plane that we hear occasionally the ‘night hawk’,” she added on noticing that Captain Holley looked a little taken aback and startled. “Is it an army plane?” she continued, not thinking that as an ‘enemy alien’ he would not be permitted to ride in one.
“No, not exactly,” replied Captain Holley. “A friend of mine is experimenting. By the way, Miss Betty, do you know whether our young friend Donald Hilton has gone across yet?”
“No, I think not, but I think that he is to sail soon with one of the convoys.”