By the time Hal settled to his landing, he was surrounded by a ring of civilians and soldiers with a sprinkling of keen-eyed, sun-tanned fellows that he felt were likely aviators. Some of the crowd guffawed loudly over the squat, awkward look of the old hen as they immediately dubbed the odd, square-built machine. The majority of the men, though, applauded the unusual feat of the straight-down drop.
A heavy-set, haggard-eyed man in uniform, who appeared to be the one in authority here, stepped out and extended a hand in greeting.
Hal returned the warm grasp. “You, sir, I’m sure must be the Major Huntley I was to report to.”
“Yes, and you,” the fatigue lines on the officer’s face were momentarily lifted by a whimsical smile, “you must be the Hal Dane our man up in Axion wired us about last night. His message read, ‘Fellow with the most curious-looking plane in the world coming down to help you!’”
“That just about describes us,” said Hal with a grin, as he cocked his eye over toward the old hen.
“Well, Hal Dane, Camp Number One welcomes you and your help. That’s a strange contraption you’ve brought down though. We’ve had about everything else sent in to help us—coast guard cutters, steamboats, flatboats, army planes, navy planes—but never any such sky boat as that—something new on me—”
“Something new on everybody,” said Hal, “but if it works like we hope, it may be a help in getting folks out of tight places.”
“From all accounts, you flew the whole night through. Come on up to officers’ quarters for breakfast and some rest.” Major Huntley led out in the direction of a row of tents.
“I’ll take the breakfast—the sleep can wait,” Hal stretched his long legs to the Major’s brisk stride. “Reckon I’m a good bit fresher than you folks that have been in this thing from the beginning.”
“Oh, we’ve all gotten flood-toughened. There are fellows here that haven’t had their clothes off in six nights.” Huntley had piloted Hal to a bench before a long, rough trencherboard table. While the hot, nourishing soup, bread and coffee were being ladled out, the Major went on. “Since you’re willing to keep on working for the day, we’re too shorthanded not to accept your help.”