"I'll go out in that and see what's the trouble," Dick went on. "It will tell us where we've got to begin."
"Perhaps we had better wait until morning," suggested Lieutenant McBride. "It is fast getting dark, and you can do much better work in daylight. Besides, you are not pressed for time, as your stay here will not count against you. I think you had better wait until morning."
"And stay here all night?" asked Dick.
"I think so. You have proved that your hydroplanes are all right. Why not rest on the surface of the lake until morning? You can't anchor, it is true, but you can use a drag, and there seems to be no wind, so you will not be blown ashore. Besides, you can, to a certain extent, control yourself with the propellers."
"I think we will wait then," decided the young millionaire captain. "As you say we can make a drag anchor to keep us from drifting too much."
By means of a long rope a drag anchor was tossed out at the stern of the aircraft. This would serve to hold her back. Then, as nothing further could be done, preparations were made for supper.
"Well, this aeroplaning has its ups and downs," said Paul, with a laugh, as he sat at table. "Last night we were eating up in the air, and now we're on the water."
"And it's lucky we're not IN the water!" exclaimed Innis. "Regular Hamilton luck, I call it."
"No, it's Vardon luck," Dick insisted. "He planned the hydroplanes that made it possible."
Lights were set aglow to show the position of the craft on the water.