“If we find them, the dears will be hungry and thirsty,” Gran’ma said, “and it is such a beautiful evening we might as well start now.”
“You are right!” Gran’pa exclaimed. “We will start immediately!”
Eddie had remained at home to eat his supper when Gran’pa went for the boat, and now he came running over just in time to see the Flying Boat rise from the ground and go sailing over the fences and trees.
“I’ll take care of your place until you come back!” he yelled.
And Gran’pa and Gran’ma, increasing the speed of the Flying Boat, were soon only a speck in the sky.
When they had reached a great altitude, Gran’pa twisted the spool marked “Direction taken by the children” and the Flying Boat swooped down towards the earth until it was on a plane with the course taken by Janey and Johnny; then, as Gran’pa twisted the “Speed” spool, the Flying Boat whizzed through the air so fast that the wind screamed as it rushed in and out of the chinks in the wing boards. Gran’pa and Gran’ma saw the sun rise as they flew over the horizon. The side of the earth away from the sun was in darkness, so that when they flew higher it took on the appearance of a half moon.
Gran’pa looked at his watch and said it was ten-thirty.
“You take a wink of sleep, Gran’ma,” he said. “I’ll keep watch!”
So Gran’ma rolled up in the blankets she had placed in the boat and was soon fast asleep.