Last good-byes were said, and the motor began to whirr like a gigantic locust. There was a grinding and buzzing as the gears meshed and the aeroplane began to scud off.
"Fer all ther world like some big, pesky grasshopper," declared Mrs. Beasley, as it scudded off across the smooth turf.
But if the good lady was astonished, then it was nothing to her amazement when a moment later the Butterfly soared up into the air, lifting as gently on the windless atmosphere as a bit of drifting gossamer.
Up and up it swept in graceful hawk-like circles.
"Dear Suz!" shrieked Mrs. Beasley presently, "if they ain't agoin' out ter sea!"
"Just what they air," shouted her husband, shading his eyes with a wrinkled hand. "I never thought ter have lived ter have seen such a thing!"
Roy had been unable to resist the temptation to take a little spin out above the glassy, scarcely heaving water. The gulls, soaring above it, viewed with amazement the invasion of their realm by this buzzing, angry looking monster. They flew about it shrieking.
"Goodness, I hope they don't attack us," exclaimed Peggy.
"Not likely," was Roy's response. "They think we are some kind of big bird, I guess, and want to have a game with us."
As they swept on, all agreed that never had they felt such a feeling of exhilaration as came to them as they swooped and swung above the glistening blue water, for all the world like some huge bird. Once or twice motor boats went by beneath them, and the occupants looked up at first in wonderment and then in enthusiasm at the sight the Golden Butterfly and her three young occupants presented.
But all at once the steady song of the engine began to grow different. It "skipped" and sputtered and coughed. Blue smoke rolled from the exhausts. The aeroplane began to waver and sag.
"What is the matter?" he gasped, steadying his voice as much as he could as the aeroplane began to drop steadily down toward the water beneath them.
"The gasolene's given out," rejoined Roy in a voice which was full of anxiety.
Peggy gasped as the aeroplane, its propeller beating the air more and more feebly, began to descend with greater rapidity.
"We'll have to volplane to some land if we can, and if we can't we must take our chances for it in the water," was Roy's grim reply.