He called the office and asked that they be called at half past two. They had already made arrangements with the cook for plenty of food to be packed for them and they were assured that everything would be ready at whatever time they appointed. “Then I reckon we’d better hit the hay for what sleep we can get which will be only about four hours,” Bill said as he finished charting his course. Ten minutes later the lights were out and all was quiet. “Gee, but twenty-one hundred miles seems like a good ways when it’s all over the water,” Gordon declared as he hopped to his seat at a quarter past three the following morning. “In miles, yes, but in time it isn’t so far,” Bill told him as he started the elevator. “We’ll be there before you know it.” “Oh, I’m not scared or anything like that,” Gordon hastened to assure him. “I never thought you were,” Bill smiled. Dawn was just breaking as they flew over San Francisco and out over The Golden Gate. “Wish it was lighter so we could see more of it,” Bill said. “We must plan it so that it will be when we come back, it’s well worth seeing,” Rogers told him. “And now there’s nothing beneath us but drink,” Gordon sighed. “And not very good drink at that,” Rogers laughed. “But there’s plenty of it such as it is,” Bill declared. “And then some,” Gordon added. It was a beautiful morning and as the sun came up behind them and threw its rays out over the ocean it was an experience they never forgot. They were flying at an altitude of a little more than a thousand feet and the ocean stretched out beneath them like an immense mirror. “No wonder they called it the Pacific if it’s always like this,” Gordon declared looking over the side of the cockpit. “But it isn’t,” Rogers reminded him. “I’ve been on it a couple of times and once in particular it wasn’t so pacific let me tell you.” “Didn’t you say you had never been where we’re going?” Gordon asked him. “I never have, but I’ve been on the Pacific. It’s a fairly big pond, you know, and you can go some little distance without banging into those islands.” “Guess you’re right at that,” Gordon laughed. An hour later they ate breakfast and found that the cook had put them up a splendid lunch. “Believe me, that baby knows his vegetables,” Gordon declared as he started on his third sandwich. “Hope he’s as good on quantity as he is on quality,” Bill sighed. “That a knock at me?” Gordon demanded. “Don’t be so quick to put the shoe on,” Bill laughed. “Is that the ninth or tenth sandwich for you?” “It’s only the third,” Gordon flung back. “How many have you had?” “Why, er——” “Don’t be bashful. How many?” “Four, not counting this one,” Bill acknowledged. “Then don’t talk to me about quantity. I’m only a piker compared with you.” “I guess we’ve got enough,” Rogers told them. “I know something about eating myself and I ordered the eats you know. Anyhow if you find we’re going to run short you can throw me overboard.”