“I think he will be back,” Jack said, remaining in his place. “I want to find out all I can,” he added. The girl settled back in her place.
“That’s the fastest plane in the world,” Jack whispered. “I have seen it take off in daylight. In the air close to earth, it takes lots of fuel, but in the stratosphere, where other planes can’t travel because there’s no air for the propeller to bite into, this jet plane goes like the wind on just about no fuel at all.”
“O-o-o!” the girl murmured excitedly.
“They left a scrapbook telling all about it down there on the rocks,” he explained. “I got a look at it. Wish I’d taken it with me, but you see, I thought those first two men might be our friends. You don’t take books from friends.”
“No, you don’t,” she agreed.
“Say!” he exclaimed in a hoarse whisper. “Who are you? Where did you come from? Those natives are not your people.”
“They are not my people,” she agreed. “My home is far away. When you need to know more you shall be told. Is that fair?”
“Fair enough,” said the boy.
The jet plane came screaming back. Jack watched intently while the pilot put the ship to bed for the night. Then he said:
“We’d better go.”