The Secret Mountain

The Beginning Of The Adventures
One bright sunny morning, very early, four children stood on the rough grass
of a big airfield, watching two men busily checking the engines of a gleaming
white aeroplane.
The children looked rather forlorn, for they had come to say good-bye to their
father and mother, who were to fly themselves to Africa.
“It’s fun having a famous father and mother who do all kinds of marvelous
flying feats,” said Mike. “But it’s not such fun when they go away to far-off
countries!”
“Well, they’ll soon be back,” said Nora, Mike’s twin sister. “It will only be
a week till we see them again.”
“I somehow feel it will be longer than that,” said Mike gloomily.
“Oh, don’t say things like that!” said Peggy. “Make him stop, Jack!”
Jack laughed and slapped Mike on the shoulder. “Cheer up!” he said. “A week
from today you’ll be here again to welcome them back, and there will be
cameramen and newspaper men crowding round to take your picture - son of the
most famous air-pilots in the world!”
The children’s father and mother came up, dressed in flying suits. They kissed
and hugged the children.
“Now, don’t worry about us,” said their mother. “We shall soon be back. You
will be able to follow our flight by reading what the newspapers say every
day. We will have a fine party when we come home, and you shall all stay up
till eleven o’clock!”
“Gracious!” said Jack. “We shall have to start going to bed early every night
to get ready for such a late party!”
It was rather a feeble joke, but everyone was glad to laugh at it. One more
hug all round and the two flyers climbed into the cockpit of their tiny
aeroplane, whose engines were now roaring in a most business-like way.
Captain Arnold was to pilot the aeroplane for the first part of the flight. He....