"David," cried Anne joyously, "you don't mean to say you've gone and done
it at last?"

"I have," answered David gravely; "and I've made two trips with pretty
good success each time."

Then everyone talked at once. David was the hero of the hour.

"David, my dear boy," cried Mrs. Gray. "To think that I should live to see
you an aviator!"

"I'm a long way from being one, yet, Mrs. Gray," answered David. "My bird
doesn't always care to fly. There are times when she'd rather stay in her
nest with her wings folded. Of course, I haven't nearly perfected her yet,
so I don't want it mentioned in town until I get things in shape. But I
couldn't wait until then to show it to you, my dear friends, because you
were all interested in it last year."

"Well, well, come on and fly," cried Hippy. "My heart is palpitating so
with excitement that I am afraid it will beat once too often if something
doesn't happen."

"I was waiting for my helper," answered David, "but he appears to be late.
You boys will do as well."

"Who is your helper, David?" asked Anne.

"You could never guess," he replied smiling, "so I'll have to tell you.
It's old Jean, the hunter."