So intense was the interest in the new plan to purchase an aeroplane that, when Friday came around, the opening of the camp on Perdido Bay was again postponed. The United States marshal, having taken charge of the libeled steamer, after Thursday the nightly meetings of the boys were held in Mrs. Allen’s dining room. Boating, fishing, and hunting were forgotten. At each meeting, Bob had new flying machine literature and new suggestions.

Mr. Hawkins would have done well to have accepted Mr. Rowe’s offer. March fourth, the libel case was heard, and the court promptly entered judgment for ten thousand dollars against the lumber dealer. Two days later, Mr. Hawkins, eager to get possession of the steamer to begin repairs, satisfied the claim. Mr. Rowe finally consented to accept a fee of two hundred and fifty dollars, and the remainder of the amount was paid over directly to the parties concerned, the boys, Jerry and Captain Joe Romano; each receiving a check for one thousand six hundred and twenty-five dollars.
 
The following morning, the Pensacola Journal contained this story:

THE BOY AVIATORS’ CLUB

Six Pensacola Lads To Buy an Aeroplane

Result of Recent Salvage Case

It became known yesterday that the six members of the Anclote Boat Club, who were recently awarded ten thousand dollars salvage in the Elias Ward rescue, have determined to put a part of their treasure trove into an up-to-date aeroplane. Thomas Allen and Robert Balfour, the nineteen and eighteen year old president and secretary of the club, have been delegated to go to New York to select the airship.

It also became known at the same time that there is decided objection to this on the part of the parents of more than one boy. But the youngsters seem determined, and there is a strong probability that parental objections will be defied.

Tom Allen, president of the club, said yesterday: “You bet we are going to do it. Every one of the six members of the club risked his life to earn that money, and why shouldn’t we spend it as we like? We are going to use three thousand dollars to buy an aeroplane, one thousand to repair our club house over on Perdido Bay, and divide the remainder. The court awarded us the money, and we’re going to beat the men of Pensacola by bringing an aeroplane down here before they wake up.”

Then followed a column story reviewing the rescue, the trial, and the history of the club.
 
“It’s all right,” exclaimed Tom when he read the story, “except that it’s about three-fourths wrong. There aren’t six members in the club. I didn’t say anything about risking our lives or that we were going to spend one thousand dollars on the club house.”

Bob was tempted to send a copy of the newspaper to his father, but he was afraid the joke would be on him. It was victory enough to get his mother’s consent to the plan. He was sure his father would object. The printed story was true as to Tom and Bob going north to buy the airship, but the announcement was premature. It required nearly two days of pleading before Mrs. Balfour and Mrs. Allen agreed to this. But, at last, Mrs. Balfour began to take a pride in Bob’s businesslike program, and she consented—although it was with many misgivings.

“I thought I took you out of school and brought you down here to rest and get strong,” said Mrs. Balfour to her son.

“Well,” answered Bob, “do I look as if I’m losing any weight?”

“Perhaps you’re right,” exclaimed his mother laughing. “But you’ll have to back me up when your father finds out about it.”

“Why he practically told me to buy an aeroplane,”[154] answered Bob soberly. “He really put the idea into my head.”

Hal could not accompany the purchasing committee. His positive orders were not to miss a day’s schooling. And he wouldn’t write home and ask permission because he didn’t want to say anything about his suddenly acquired fortune. He and Bob bought a draft for three thousand, two hundred and fifty dollars with their checks, and Tom and Mac each contributed one hundred dollars out of their portions to cover the traveling expenses of the committee.

The almost continuous meetings of the boys had finally resulted in the following program: Hal attended a private preparing school that granted a vacation of a week at Easter. Tom obtained his mother’s consent to absent himself from school during the same week, and all had planned to secure the aeroplane at once and ship it directly to Tampa, just south of the Mecca of all their outing dreams—Anclote Island—three hundred miles distant from Pensacola.

To this much-talked-of island, Captain Joe was to carry the club members in the Three Sisters. The aeroplane was then to be put together[155] in Tampa, conveyed through the air to the uninhabited island, and for four or five glorious days at least, there was to be a carnival of aerial exploration by land and sea.

The original attraction at Anclote Island had been the unsurpassed tarpon fishing to be found there. In the three years that the club had been in existence, the one big dream of each of its members had been the long cruise that they were some day to make to this place. Now, tarpon fishing became a secondary matter. But Anclote Island was still the center of their dreams.

The acquisition of the aeroplane gave the island new possibilities. It was on the edge of the Florida Everglades—the great, mysterious, impenetrable swamp whose unexplored depths suddenly became a new lode stone.

The plans discussed seemed endless: A temporary camp on the island, excursions to the semi-tropic shore, fishing trips on the sound and gulf, and, above all, daring forays to the interior of the state in quest of adventures in the Everglade swamp and among the hidden Seminole Indians.

Finally, on a Saturday evening, a cavalcade including Mrs. Balfour, Mrs. Allen, Hal and[156] Mac accompanied Bob and Tom to the train, and the aeroplane committee was off for New York. Mrs. Allen brought with her a little basket containing a luncheon. Tom had never made a long railroad journey before, but he knew that in these days of the sumptuous dining cars travelers no longer carried food. And, since he and Bob had ample means to do as other travelers, before the boys turned in that night, every scrap of fried chicken, jelly, cake and pickles had been eaten.

Just before noon on Monday, the two boys reached the president’s office in the shops of the American Aeroplane Company’s works in the outskirts of Newark, New Jersey. President Atkinson heard what the two lads had to say in open astonishment. He cross-examined them, smiled, laughed, inspected their draft and then grew serious. Finally, he called in his engineering expert, Mr. Osborne, and this man heard Bob’s story.

“But you don’t know how to operate an aeroplane,” was the president’s comment at last. “It’s most unusual.” Then he laughed again. “We can’t afford to have you youngsters break your necks just for the purpose of selling a machine.”
 
“We’re going to stay here until you teach us how,” said Bob promptly.

“Oh, I see,” said the engineer, also smiling and stroking his chin.

“Ain’t that a paht of the business?” inquired Tom. “Just like showing a customah how to run an automobile?”

“We’ll pay for the lessons,” added Bob.

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