They flew over meadow land and pasture, farmhouses where tiny figures
emerged from buildings and looked up at them, over rivers and
railroads, and still the alternator spat and sparked and the messages
between Jack and his father were interchanged in a steady stream.
Rayburn had been left behind. They were now over a small town Jack
believed to be Hempstead.

He looked at his map to make sure. It was one that he had specially
plotted out himself from observations he had made when flying in the
vicinity. Having verified their whereabouts he found that they had
flown about fifty miles, possibly a fraction more.

But at this juncture he noticed that the voice of his father pulsing
through space began to grow thin and weak. Obviously the limit of the
radio 'phone's capacity had been reached.

"Better turn back," said Mr. Chadwick.

Jack turned to Tom and gave him the necessary instructions. Then he
set over his guiding wheel, turning the big rudder at the stern of the
Wondership and she acted as obediently as a sea-going craft answering
her helm. Never had she behaved better.

They flew swiftly back toward High Towers and were soon in sight of
Rayburn. In order to test what effect the magnetism of the earth had
upon the radio messages, Jack brought the great flying craft close to
the ground. They almost grazed the treetops as they flew along.

Skimming a patch of trees they roared above a farmhouse with a great