“Well, he’d better change it if he doesn’t want to get into trouble with me!” With a scowl directed at the back of the retreating Cousin Ronald, Dave opened the gate for the girls and helped them into the taxi. “I thought perhaps you wouldn’t entirely trust me as a pilot,” he declared as they were speeding rapidly toward the airfield, “so I brought along an expert. There isn’t a better pilot to be had than Don Everts. He’s waiting for us at the field.” “You know we’d trust you,” Doris protested quickly. Dave grinned. “Well, anyway, I thought it would give me a better chance to talk with you girls.” A few minutes later the cab turned in at the flying field and came to a standstill near a row of hangars. Dave helped the girls to alight and paid the driver. “This way,” he directed, leading them toward a monoplane at the far end of the runway. Quickly he introduced Don Everts, the pilot, a lean chap in helmet and dungarees. The girls found him very quiet and self-contained, but liked him at once. They took their places in the cockpit and Dave smiled at them reassuringly. The pilot carefully examined the controls and then nodded to the mechanic who stood waiting to swing the propeller. “Switch off?” “Switch off!” the pilot confirmed tersely. “Contact?” “Contact!” The mechanic gave the propeller a mighty swing and the engine began to roar. To Doris and Kitty it was all very thrilling. “All set?” Dave questioned after the engine had warmed up. Kitty and Doris nodded grimly. The monoplane had headed into the wind, and as Don Everts opened the throttle, it moved rapidly across the field. The girls held their breath, but almost before they were aware of it, the plane had taken to the air and leveled off. It no longer seemed to Kitty and Doris that they were traveling swiftly, for the plane appeared to be almost stationary in the sky. “Not going very fast, are we?” Doris asked Dave. “Ninety-eight miles per!” he shouted back. Glancing down, the girls saw the earth pass slowly in review before them. They made out a few buildings but it was difficult to believe that the miniature structures comprised the town of Rumson. The day was an ideal one for flying, with very few clouds visible. That the girls might enjoy the novelty of their ride to the utmost, the pilot presently zoomed up above a small bank of mist and permitted them to look down upon the fleece-like floor. For Doris and Kitty, who were having the thrill of their lives, the time passed all too swiftly. When Dave told them that they had been in the air nearly two hours they were amazed. “I haven’t had so much fun in ages,” Doris declared enthusiastically, after they had landed safely at the air field. “I’ll take you up again,” Dave promised, “and now that I know you won’t be afraid, I’ll pilot you myself some time. I should have my license in a little while.”