Your presence desired at headquarters, at nine o’clock tomorrow morning.
George Paine Porter,
Director, Lighter-than-Air Craft,
Goodlow-Zeppelin Company.
David forgot his supper, forgot everything. It could scarcely be real! While he struggled with his surprise and delight, hardly believing the good fortune that he had not even dared to hope for, he heard Red’s voice.
“Read it! Read it, fella!” he cried, and he pressed into David’s hand a letter similar to his own, appointing Red as chief mechanic on the round-the-world flight of the Moonbeam. For once Red had nothing to say. The moment was too great, the news too stupendous.
David pushed back his chair; he could not eat. They went out and, crossing the great landing field to the hangar, they sat down on a truck and looked at the closed doors.
“She’s in there, Dave, safe and sound! And in two weeks she will carry us away over land and sea, rough mountains and sweet valleys—round the world, and home again. You and me, David; assistant pilot and mechanic!”
“Chief mechanic, as I read it,” said David, smiling. “Well, I must wire my mother the good news.”
“That’s right, and I must telegraph my mother, too, and that blackguard brother of mine, as well. I’ll just say to him, ‘Your Reverence, the ugly duckling has become a swan. Am startin’ on a world cruise in the Moonbeam on the fifteenth of June. What’s to be done about it?’ That will stop him all right.”
“I can’t think of a greater thing to have happen to us,” mused David. “Around the world, Red! Get it? Seeing all those countries, and meeting so many people. The first American dirigible to fly around the world!”
“Yes,” said Red, “and having those blessed engines right where I can keep an eye on them, day and night. Going full blast, and me with an ear for every beat. I’m just crazy with joy, Dave. Let’s go and get a sody.”