Five minutes later the captain appeared on deck. "Why is that Yank so keen on knowing what is within the conning-tower, Mr. Tregarthen?" Gerald flushed with surprise. The perception of the captain of the _Olive Branch_ seemed beyond comprehension. "Don't look so flabbergasted, Mr. Tregarthen. You are not the first person that fellow has broached on the matter. "However, I've made up my mind to get rid of him at the earliest possible opportunity. He may be all right, but, bluntly, I don't like his inquisitive manner." [Illustration: "Good shot!" yelled several of the officers on the _Olive Branch_. For a full ten seconds the monoplane held on its course, then, lurching like a wounded bird, it swooped swiftly downwards.] "Inquisitiveness is one of the traits of the American character, sir." "That I can make allowance for. But why didn't he come straight to me with his request?" Just then Flew, who was promenading the port side of the quarter-deck in company of Lieutenant Palmer, came abreast of the spot where the captain and Gerald were talking. In response to a sign from Captain Brookes the airman crossed the deck. "How long will it take to get your motor tuned up, Mr. Flew?" asked the captain. "A couple of hours; why?" "See yonder land? It is the coast of Syria. I would suggest, Mr. Flew, that you continue your tour from this point. The Syrian and Palestine littoral will no doubt be interesting to you, and, as we are shortly bound for the eastern part of the Mediterranean, this favourable opportunity cannot lightly be ignored." Captain Brookes spoke genially, but there was a veiled command that the airman could not fail to detect. "Very good, sir," he replied deferentially. "I guess I'll quit right here." As a matter of fact the work of assembling the monoplane and adjusting the motor was performed in less than an hour and a half, during which time the _Olive Branch_ was running southward at an easy ten knots, keeping a course parallel to the Syrian coast. "All ready now, sir." "Then nip below and have some refreshment. By the bye, is this distance too great for your flight to land?" "Not at all, sir." "Will you require any of the stanchions to be cleared away?" "No, I claim I can rise in the air at a less distance and more obliquely than any other aviator. I guess I'll not scratch the paintwork." So saying, the airman, accompanied by Lieutenant Palmer, went below, where he remained for over half an hour. When he reappeared he was fully attired for his flight, though, protesting that the heat made the device uncomfortable, he would not inflate his indiarubber suit. Practically all the officers and crew had assembled to watch his departure, the men crowding as far aft as they dared. Shaking hands with the officers, Sidney P. Flew climbed into his seat above the two air-pontoons. One or two preliminary touches, and like a gigantic hawk he was off, amid the hearty cheers of the crew.