“Well,” said Roy, with some self complacency, stepping out of the machine, “everything seems to be ready for the initial flight of the Golden Butterfly, my lords and gentlemen.”
“And ladies, if you please,” put in Jess, in a voice that was vibrant with excitement, despite her endeavor to keep calm.
“And ladies,” added Roy, with a gallant bow in her direction.
Peggy in the meantime, like an anxious little mother fussing over dolls, had been examining the aeroplane once more. Suddenly she gave a little cry. The exclamation interrupted Roy who was explaining, with great satisfaction, that everything was all right.
“I’ve looked it over and if there had been anything wrong it couldn’t have escaped my notice,” he observed rather pompously.
“Oh, Roy! Just look here! The spring of this landing wheel is all slack!”
This was the exclamation from Peggy that brought up Roy somewhat shortly in the midst of his self-confident harangue.
“By George, so it is, sis!” exclaimed Roy, reddening a little, while Lem Sidney, one of his chums, observed with a chuckle to Jeff Stokes, that Peggy appeared to know as much, if not more, about the machine than did Roy.
The spring was soon tightened by means of a monkey wrench. But that did not prevent them all realizing that had it not been for Peggy’s acute observation a serious accident might have occurred. This done, even Peggy’s anxious glances could not detect any other flaw in the machine.
“What time did that aviator fellow say he would show up?” then demanded Jimsy, abruptly.