I THE CRASH II THE PILOT III MYSTERY IV STUBBY V COMPLICATIONS VI AT THE AIRPORT VII INVADERS VIII A TRIP IX THE RACES X WHAT HAPPENED XI THE SEARCH XII GALE XIII UNKNOWN XIV ANOTHER ATTEMPT XV LOST XVI HOME AGAIN XVII RETURN XVIII STUDIES XIX SENIOR PROM XX STRATEGY XXI CASTAWAYS
The airplane circled low over the shore, its motor a loud humming noise.The begoggled head of the pilot peered over the side at the little groupof people on the beach as he sent his plane zooming up again.
"Must be from the Army field below here," vouchsafed one sunburned youngman, raising himself on one elbow to peer up at the plane.
"It isn't an Army plane though," another added.
"He must be trying to smash himself up as quickly as possible," declaredCarol Carter.
The other five girls and three boys present agreed heartily with her.
The plane, its engine roaring, dove straight for the blue waters of theAtlantic, only to zoom upward again when the waves threatened to engulfit.
The young people, when nothing happened, turned their attention tosomething else. Airplanes were familiar to them.
"How did you make out in your English exam today?" Carol asked herfriend, Janet Gordon.
The girl in the bright red bathing suit made a wry face and sighed. "Ibelieve I established a new record for low marks."
"But you don't want to flunk in anything this term!" Phyllis Elton saidaghast. "It is your Senior year!"
"You won't be eligible for the college exams if you do," added ValerieWallace.
"I'll make it up," Janet said confidently, as usual not letting anythingworry her.
"Have you decided what college you are going to?" Bruce Latimer asked ashe let a handful of sand trickle slowly down Gale Howard's back.
She wriggled away from him. "I like Briarhurst," she answered.
"That is where we all want to go," supplied Madge Reynolds. "Do youthink you can make it, Phyllis?"
Phyllis Elton looked at the blue water lapping the shore and a littlesigh escaped her.
"I don't know," she said slowly. "I want to, more than anything--but myAunt----"
The others knew Phyllis' life was governed completely by her Aunt'swhims and commands. Since babyhood Phyllis had lived alone in a bigstone house with Miss Fields. Her friends were not allowed to visit her,nor she them if her Aunt knew it. However, when Phyllis had started HighSchool she became chums with the Adventure Girls and now every momentshe could get away from the big house was spent with one or the other ofthem.
"Why does your Aunt object to Briarhurst?" asked David Kimball.
Phyllis shrugged. "Why does she object to anything? Why doesn't she letme have friends--give parties--like other girls? I never know why sheobjects to things--she just does."
"I wouldn't stand for it," said rebellious Janet.
Phyllis smiled slowly. "What can I do? She is the only relative I havein the world. I can't do anything but what she lets me."
"What college does she suggest?" Peter Arnold wanted to know.
"Stonecliff," Phyllis said shortly.
"Not that place!" Carol cried. "It is like a prison there!"
"I know it." Phyllis sighed.
"The girls aren't allowed any fun at all! You aren't going there!" Madgewanted to know.
"I shall probably go wherever my Aunt chooses to send me," Phyllis said,and her young voice was cold with anger and rebellion. "If she insistson Stonecliff, it will be Stonecliff."
"But haven't you told her about Briarhurst?" Gale asked.
"That is why she suggests Stonecliff. She has discovered where you girlsare going and suspects that I want to go because you are. Whatever Iwant to do she objects to--you know that."
"It isn't fair!" Valerie declared.
"We ought to do something," added Carol.
"We will start a conspiracy, that is what!" declared Madge. "We won'thave you breaking up our club by going to a different college!"
"That crazy aviator is back again," volunteered David.
"Wonder who he is," murmured Bruce.
Diving and side-slipping, the pilot put on an air circus by himself forthe benefit of the people below. Straight upward the pilot nosed hisship, but suddenly it failed him. The roar of the engine was cut offabruptly. Like a falling leaf caught in an autumn wind the plane turnedover and over. In scarcely any time at all the shining red monoplane laya twisted mass of wreckage on Cloudy Island.
"You girls stay here," called Bruce over his shoulder as he and theother two boys started off on a run for the little wharf where Bruce'smotor boat lay rocking gently on the swell of the water.
Despite the boys' half-warning command, Gale and Phyllis were at theirheels when they reached the boat.