"I was waiting for my helper," answered David, "but he appears to be late. You boys will do as well."
"Who is your helper, David?" asked Anne.
"You could never guess," he replied smiling, "so I'll have to tell you. It's old Jean, the hunter."
"Why, the dear old thing!" cried Grace. "To think of him leaving his uncivilized state to do anything so utterly civilized and modern as to help with a flying machine."
"And he does it well, too," went on David. "He is not only thoroughly interested but he keeps guard out here in case any one should try to break in. There are his cot and things in the corner. He sleeps in the open unless it rains. Then he sleeps inside."
As the old hunter did not put in an appearance David decided to wait no longer.
"Why can't we all help?" asked Grace. "What must we do? Please tell us."
"All right," answered David, "just give it a shove into the open space, and you'll see how she gradually rises for a flight."
After making a careful examination of all the parts of the aëroplane, and starting the engine, David took his seat in the machine.
Then the two boys, assisted by Grace and Nora, pushed it swiftly out into the broad open space back of the ruin.