“My engine went dead when I was up ten thousand feet and to make matters worse, one of the wing stays snapped and I guess I must have lost my head for a minute. Fortunately father never would give his consent to my flying ambition until I promised that I never would go up without a parachute strapped on,” she explained. “It surely saved your life that time,” Rogers told her. “But it came very near not doing it at that,” she smiled. “You see, I didn’t jump soon enough and the result was I hit the water pretty hard and it rather knocked the breath out of me and left me pretty weak. If it hadn’t been for that I could have swam ashore easily.” “Provided a shark didn’t get you,” Rogers said gravely. “Not much danger of that,” she smiled. “But one nearly got Gordon,” Rogers told her. “Not really?” “Very really,” he assured her. “Then I owe you a lot more than I thought I did,” she said turning to Gordon who was blushing violently. “You, you——” he stammered, but she cut him short. “If you say anything like what I know you were going to say I’ll think that you don’t consider my life worth saving.” “Then I won’t say it,” Gordon blushed. “Don’t mind his blushes,” Bill laughed. “He’s mighty bashful.” “But you must tell me all about the shark,” she insisted again turning to Gordon. “There’s not much to tell,” he declared. “But I guess I did have a pretty close call,” and he told her what had happened. “I should say you did have a close call,” she said when he had finished. “I suppose your parents will be worried about you before long,” Rogers ventured. “I’m afraid they are right now,” she told them. “Do you feel strong enough to let us take you home?” Bill asked her. “In your plane?” “Certainly.” “Oh, I’m all right,” she assured them. “What make of plane have you?” “Well, it’s our own make,” Bill told her. “You mean you made it all?” “All but the motor. We bought that.” “I suppose it’s a Liberty.” “No, it’s an electric motor.” “You——why, you must be the boys who won the race across the United States,” she declared. “They sure are,” Rogers assured her, “and take it from me, they’re some boys.” “I believe you. And you’ll take me home right now?” she asked turning to Bill. “Certainly, if you’re sure you’re strong enough.” “Let’s go.” It was nearly dark when the Albatross settled gracefully to the ground directly in the rear of a large mansion in the outskirts of the city. The plane had been sighted in time for a considerable crowd to gather and it was surrounded by people all eager to know if there was news of the missing girl. When it was seen that she was a passenger a great shout of joy rose and as she jumped from the cockpit she was clasped in the arms of her parents. “Can’t we get away right now?” Gordon whispered. “Afraid not,” Bill whispered back. “Let’s make a try,” Gordon insisted. “All right. You get in and I’ll follow,” Bill told him.