“Laura Ingalls is the stunt flyer of the women. She came out of the middle-west, from Missouri. She took to music and dancing first to express her restless spirit, and then found that it was flying that would express her best. So she went to a government-approved school, and became an expert, daring flyer. She is the holder of the record for loop-the-loops for women, and of the barrel roll record for both men and women. She is interested in the progress of aviation, but gets a great thrill out of merely flying for its own sake.”
Mrs. Martin paused. “I guess that gives you an idea,” she said, “what women are doing nowadays.”
“Women have always done the great things in aviation,” said Mrs. Gregg. “They stay home and wait while the men are risking their lives. Waiting is harder than doing.
“Women haven’t a monopoly on that,” said Bob. “What about Mr. Putnam, who waited at home while his wife flew the ocean?”
Everybody laughed. “You’re right, Bob,” said Mrs. Gregg. Then she added, “It’s getting pretty late. How about our going, Hal?”
The two of them cut across the garden to their home.
[CHAPTER X—Hawks and Doolittle]
The next day was spent in a pleasantly muddled state, getting Hal ready to go with them, and putting the finishing touches to their own equipment. Stout boots, fishing lines, flies, everything on their lists was gradually being checked off. Late in the afternoon they had a breathing space, and Bob remembered that it was Pat’s turn to tell his story.
“Come on, Pat, you might as well get it over with,” said Bob. “We haven’t anything else to do, anyway.”