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"Why, it's almost a perfect mechanical representation of a bird!" "Isn't she a dandy, dad?" put in Bob, his eyes snapping. "The Sky-Bird is really more of a bird than you may think, Mr. Giddings," declared Paul. "Yes," added his brother John.
Then, feeling that there was no further danger of the engines running hot, they took off. As the Sky-Bird arose into the air, the flyers noticed that Grandpa the monkey was slightly excited.
John and Tom set to work cleaning up the Sky-Bird, for the field here was low and very muddy from recent rains, and as they had dashed through the slime in landing much of it had splattered over their propeller and under-carriage. Paul and Bob went into town, followed by a throng of young negroes who fought for the privilege of getting closest to them.
And then Bob called out: "Hi, fellows, something's gone wrong! The Sky-Bird's bound to put her nose into the sea. The tail elevators don't work!" Filled with the gravest fears for the safety of the Sky-Bird and themselves, all except Bob rushed to the rear windows of the cabin and looked out to see what had caused the ripping noise, and what could be wrong with the tail.
In graceful, pretty circles the Sky-Bird began to spiral her way downward, John's eyes fastened upon the big white T of the familiar airdrome. As they came down, people in the outlying districts rushed madly toward the field, and the streets everywhere were choked with the concourse pouring toward the center of attraction.
The changes were made even as he spoke; the propeller's hum grew into a mild roar through the cabin walls, and the Sky-Bird leaped away over the ground, gaining momentum at every yard.
In Paul's hand was an envelope containing the precious plans for the Sky-Bird II completed at last by the young draftsman, and ready to be shown to the financial member of the quartet. When they were all seated in the Giddings library a little later, Mr. Giddings scrutinized the plans with every evidence of satisfaction written upon his strong features.
Back of it all stood the dark-blue velvet sky, against which the pyrotechnics were embossed in a stunning manner. Man could never have wished to witness a more remarkable manifestation of nature than did the young aviators, as they viewed the spectacle from their own favored position in the air. Swiftly the Sky-Bird drew them toward the volcano, for it was directly in their course.
"Master knows 'bout secret cave under lab'tory?" questioned the giant as the two walked across the field in the moonlight. "Cave? Oh, you mean the vault?" asked Tom, who had been thinking of other matters. "Night you go 'way in sky-bird, Koku watch. Koku hear bell go ting-ting-ting!" Suddenly Tom was paying strict attention. "Great Scott! D'you mean to say someone broke into my Chest of Secrets?
Now that the weather had cleared up so that they could run in view of the ocean, John and Tom themselves turned in for a much-needed sleep, leaving their younger companions to direct the course of the Sky-Bird on the last stage of the lap. The trade-winds were blowing freely, but with a lack of gustiness which made progress against them quite rapid and smooth.
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