In the midst of the turmoil a rear door opened and a kindly-faced old man with white whiskers and a pair of big spectacles perched on his nose, emerged, to see what could be causing all the disturbance. He fairly dropped the big book he was holding, in his astonishment as he beheld a glistening object, like a huge yellow and spangled bird, dropping in his very back yard, so to speak. But the next instant he recovered himself.
"Bless my soul," exclaimed Dr. Mays, for it was the retired physician himself, "I thought for a moment that the fabled days of the gigantic Roc, with which Sinbad the sailor had his adventures, had returned.
"It must be those Prescott children. Ah!" he exclaimed, as the aeroplane alighted and came to a standstill, "it is! Dear me, what a century we are living in! Boys and girls flying about like--like--my chickens!"
He "clucked" reassuringly to the terrified birds as he hastened toward the now stationary machine. Roy and his sister came forward to greet the venerable old doctor as he approached.
Roy hastily explained their errand, being interrupted constantly by the physician's exclamations of astonishment.
"Go back with you? Of course, I will, my children. Will one of you help me catch old Dobbin and harness him? My man Jake is in town to-day."
"Oh, doctor," cried Peggy, entreatingly, "can't we persuade you to go back with us in the Golden Butterfly?"
The aged physician threw up his hands at the idea.
"It is perfectly safe, sir," put in Roy. "Safer than old Dobbin in his present frame of mind, I should imagine."
They all had to laugh as they looked at the hitherto staid and sober equine careening about the pasture with his tail held high, and from time to time emitting shrill whinnies of terror at the sight of the strange thing which had landed in his domain.
"I don't know, I really don't," hesitated Dr. Mays. "The very idea of an old man like me riding in an aeroplane. It's--it's----"
"Just splendid," laughed Peggy, merrily, "and, doctor, I've often heard you say to father that it was a physician's duty to keep pace with modern invention."
"Quite right! Quite right! I often told your poor father so," cried Dr. Mays. "Well, my dear, it may be revolutionary and unbecoming to a man of my years, but I actually believe I will brave a new element in that flying machine of yours. More especially as we can reach my young patient much quicker in that way."