"I have tried to find them all day," said the lieutenant, and he pressed the hands of the boys. "Yes, I was in an awfully tight place when the boys found me; but I am all right now."
They remained with the lieutenant and his sister for more than an hour. They had entirely forgotten their appointment with Tom. It was nearly twelve o'clock.
"I am afraid we shall have to leave you," said Ralph. "We promised Tom to be over at the hangar at eleven."
"Tom Brandon; the American dare-devil?" said the lieutenant, smiling.
"Why, yes," replied Alfred, somewhat hesitatingly. "Is he a dare-devil?" he continued, with wide-open eyes.
"Well, he doesn't seem to be afraid of anything; I suppose he would go anywhere, if he was ordered to make the trip. Is your engagement an important one?" asked the lieutenant, with a curious light in his eye.
"Why,—yes,—we—we wanted to take a flight this afternoon," said Ralph.
"Do you think they would let us?" asked Alfred quickly.
"Rather against the rules and somewhat risky," said the lieutenant, slowly shaking his head, but his face relaxed, as he saw the crestfallen appearance of the boys. "We can get around the rules sometimes," he added.
"Tom said he would try to fix it for us," said Ralph.