Bill pushed over a switch and the horizontal propeller, which they had dubbed, “the elevator,” began to revolve. Faster and faster the blade whirled as Bill added notch after notch until, with a slight lurch, the plane lifted from the ground. Slowly it rose in the air and started in the direction of the pond as Bill set the forward propeller in motion. “Better make it snappy so cook’ll have time to put on a couple extra plates,” Gordon told him as the plane skimmed the top of the mountain on the other side of the pond. “Be there in twenty minutes,” Bill promised. And he kept his word for the noon whistles were blowing just as the Albatross landed in front of the home hangar. Without waiting to push it inside the boys hurried around to the front of the house where they found their guest on the porch talking with Mr. Hunniwell. “Talk about pleasant surprises,” Bill said as they shook hands. “Hope I haven’t disturbed your vacation,” Rogers told him. “Not a bit of it, we were coming out this afternoon anyhow,” Bill assured him. “Caught a ten pounder, Dad,” Gordon said with a proud look at his father. “Tell that to the marines,” Mr. Hunniwell laughed. “Wait a minute and I’ll show you,” and Gordon darted off to be back in a minute holding the big trout out for their inspection. “That’s no fish,” Rogers declared, “That’s a whale, and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if it’s the very one that swallowed Jonah.” “I didn’t know they grew that large in Lost,” Mr. Hunniwell added. “Well, I reckon you’ll have to believe it now,” Bill told him. “Unless you’re like the man who, the first time he saw a giraffe, declared ‘there ain’t no such animal,’” Rogers laughed. “Well, seeing’s believing,” Mr. Hunniwell assured them. “But there’s the dinner bell and we’d better not keep them waiting.” An hour later they were again sitting on the porch with the exception of Mr. Hunniwell who had returned to his office. “Well,” Rogers began as soon as they had sat down, “I suppose you boys are wondering what is up.” “Something like that,” Gordon grinned. “Anything is welcome so long as it brought you up here,” Bill added. “Thanks,” Rogers smiled. “Believe me I’m always glad to come here and see you two boys. Don’t know of a single other place where I’d rather be. But this time I had a very definite object in coming and when I’ve told you the story I think you’ll agree that it’s a queer one.” “Starts in good,” Gordon declared. “But it hasn’t started yet,” Rogers told him. “No, but I mean it sounds as though it was going to be good,” Gordon explained.