d walked up the aisle to disappear
through the forward door. The cabin door was closed and made fast and
the three motors came to life with a thundering roar. The big ship
vibrated strongly as one motor after the other was tested until the
chief pilot was sure they were ready for the four-hour flight to
Chicago.

The huge biplane moved slowly as the pilot taxied it out of the hangar.
Then the tail was flipped around and the plane headed down the long
runway.

The night was shattered with the powerful beat of the engines and blue
tongues of flame licked around the exhausts of the wing motors.

Sue, who was next to the window, reached over and gripped Jane's hand.
Both girls had stuffed cotton in their ears and both were chewing
energetically on the gum.

With rapidly increasing speed the plane rolled down the smooth runway.
The ground flashed by at an amazing speed and before either Jane or Sue
realized it, the transport was winging its way over the edge of the
field.

The flood light below came on, outlining the entire airport with its
penetrating brilliance. The pilot banked the great biplane gently and
headed away into the east.

The roar of the motors filled the cabin but, by leaning close, Jane and
Sue were able to talk.

"Scared?" asked Jane.

"Not now, but my heart was in my mouth when we started. How about you?"

"I guess I felt the same way, but now it seems as though flying was the
most ordinary thing in the world."

The lights of University City faded and the transport bored east into
the night. Jane watched the dials on the bulkhead. The indicator for
air speed pointed to 110 miles an hour while the altimeter showed they
were now 1,200 feet above ground.

In a pocket at the rear of the chair ahead was a folding map which
showed the route of Federated Airways from Chicago to the west coast
and Jane and Sue scanned this with intense interest. Each city and
emergency landing field was marked, with a brief description printed on
the map.

Chapter Four

An Emergency Case

Dawn came as the tri-motor sped over the level farm lands of Iowa.
Passengers who had been dozing roused themselves to watch the sun shoot
over the horizon.

The night mists were dispelled and the fresh greenness of the corn belt
in spring was unfolded below them. Wisps of smoke rose from the
chimneys of farmhouses as breakfast was prepared and Jane and Sue,
looking down, saw farmers about their chores in the farmyar