marooned in that valley in South America, a prisoner for many months,
because the cliffs around prevented him from escaping. And of course
he'll gallop out here on your saddle horse, Mr. Quackenboss."

"Well, work ain't got any call on either Felix or me until we see all
that goes on, that's flat," remarked the farmer, with a smile, "and it's
lucky he done the milkin' already, or else the cows'd have to wait long
after their usual hour, which is a bad way to treat 'em, you know."

They all went out to the field, even the housewife and little Billie
wanting to see what a real aeroplane looked like at close quarters. Many
times had all of them seen the Bird boys, and perhaps Percy Carberry as
well, soaring aloft as if the upper air currents might be their natural
heritage; but up to now they had never had the chance to examine one of
the wonderful machines, and touch the various parts gingerly as though
afraid of injuring them.

"Beats all what people are a-doing nowadays," ventured the farmer,
shaking his head with astonishment, almost awe, as he looked the thing
over. "They ain't even contented to just fly like a red-tailed hawk, or
an eagle that kin look the sun direct in the eye; but now they got to
have a contraption that's at home in the air or on the water; a
hydroplane you called, it didn't you, Andy? And them ere twin pontoons
underneath, that look kinder like gondolas, as you say, are made of
aluminum, and kin hold up the whole affair when you light on water. But
tell me, how in all creation kin you ever mount up agin, once you settle
there?"

"Why that's the easiest thing of all," replied the young aviator;
"you've watched a wild duck get up many a time, haven't you, Mr.