“I believe that must be it a bit over to our right,” Rogers declared. “My idea,” Bill agreed. Gordon turned the wheel slightly and in a few minutes they had landed. A number of people had seen the plane as it was settling to the ground and they were almost immediately surrounded by a curious crowd. “What kind of an outfit is that?” one man, a big burly fellow demanded as he rested one hand on one of the wings. “It’s an aeroplane,” Bill told him. “But it didn’t make no noise like a plane,” the man objected. “No,” Bill said quietly. “You see, it’s run by an electric motor instead of a gas engine.” “Can yer beat that,” the man declared turning from the plane to the crowd. “Where you fellers from?” “Maine,” Bill told him. “That’s a good bit of a distance from here, I reckon. When did you start?” “Yesterday morning.” “No kiddin’?” “Honest injun,” Bill smiled. In spite of the man’s roughness he saw that he, as well as the rest of the crowd, was well disposed toward them and he thoroughly enjoyed his surprise. Inquiry at once gave them the information that there was a good hotel only a couple of blocks distant and willing hands helped them push the plane down the street and into the garage in the rear of the hostelry. “And so ends the second day,” Gordon declared as they made their way toward the dining-room. CHAPTER III OVER THE PACIFIC “We ought to make it from here in about fifteen hours actual flying time,” Bill said as they were getting ready for bed shortly before ten o’clock. “Then if we leave here at five we should be there about eight,” Gordon said. “But that gives us no leeway in case of trouble,” Rogers reminded them. “And we want to be sure to get there while it is light if we possibly can,” Bill advised. “Then I move that we pull out of here soon after three o’clock,” Gordon said. “Of course it’ll be dark then but it’ll get light before we get very far and we won’t mind it and we’ll all feel safer.” “Second the motion,” Bill agreed. “Third the motion,” Rogers added. “Which makes it unanimous,” Gordon laughed. “Got your course laid out?” he asked turning to Bill. “I will have it in about a minute,” Bill replied bending over the map he had been studying for the past few minutes. “Don’t make any mistakes,” Gordon cautioned him. “If we miss that island we’re likely not to see any land for a long, long time.” “And the water out there is mighty wet,” Rogers laughed. “By the way, I wonder if the Albatross will float.” “Of course we’ve never tried it,” Bill told him, “But I don’t think there’s any doubt about it. Back of your seat there’s a pretty good-sized air space which we made water tight and you know she’s very light and we carry no fuel. Yes, I think I can say she’ll float.” “I’m certain of it, but I sure hope she won’t have to demonstrate it,” Rogers smiled.