According to his resolve, Brian Strong tackled Jaurez, the chief aviator instructor, on the subject of his nephew's progress.
"He is a born bird-man, señor," replied Jaurez, with an admiration that even his secret contempt for Englishmen failed to suppress. "Reckless, nombre de Dios! yes; but he can keep his head. In three days, perhaps, then he will be sufficiently expert to go up in control."
"That is good news," said Brian Strong.
Suddenly the instructor's mood changed.
"For why, Señor Strong, does your nephew wish to fly?" he demanded. "Surely Rioguay can produce sufficient pilots without having to make use of Englishmen?"
"I won't dispute that, Señor Jaurez," rejoined Peter's uncle. "But it so happens that there are certain modifications in the design which I wish to test. My knowledge of the Rioguayan tongue is fair, as you know, but there are several technical terms of which I am ignorant. You can readily see that there would be difficulties innumerable if I had to discuss the improvements with a Rioguayan pilot."
Señor Jaurez grinned amicably. Previous experience had taught him that Brian Strong's assertion was a correct one. In the earlier stages of the El Toro experimental and constructive works the language difficulty had been a serious obstacle. He was a disciple of the doctrine "follow the line of least resistance".
Eight days later, Peter went up for the first time as sole pilot of that notorious flying-boat El Boyeta, but on this occasion he was accompanied by three Rioguayan airmen who were sufficiently "salted" to be immune from that distressing malady, air-sickness. Uncle Brian was nowhere to be seen. He had retired to his private experimental shed, having previously given Peter certain instructions.
According to the usual custom, Peter went on board to test the controls. He was rather a long time—not that the testing was a lengthy affair.
As soon as he gained the for'ard motor-room, he proceeded to enclose the magneto of each of the two for'ard motors with sheets of pure Para rubber, making a tight joint to each of the high tension and "earth" wires.