a couple of valves she began to depress the
aeroplane.

"There's a good landing place off there to the right of the end of the
lake," cried Roy, indicating a bare spot where some land seemed to have
been cleared at one time.

"All right, my brilliant brother," laughed Peggy merrily. "I saw it at
least five minutes ago. Hold tight, I'm going to drop fast."

To any one less accustomed to aerial navigation than our two young
friends, the downward plunge would have been alarming in its velocity.
But to them it was merely exciting. Within a few feet of the ground, just
when it seemed they must dash against the surface of the earth with
crushing force, Peggy set the planes on a rising angle and the Golden
Eagle settled to earth as gracefully as a tired bird.

"Well, here we are," exclaimed Roy, looking about him at the sylvan scene
as they alighted; "and now what comes next?"

"A hunt for the spring, of course," cried Peggy, placing one hand on her
brother's shoulder and nimbly leaping from the chassis to the soft,
springy ground. And off they set toward the margin of the little lake
below them.

"Reminds me of Ponce de Leon's hunt for a spring," laughed Roy, who felt
in high spirits over the fine way the Golden Butterfly had conducted
herself.

"But he was looking for the Fountain of Eternal Youth," said Peggy,
quickly.

"Wonder if he'd have been any happier if he'd found it," murmured Roy,
philosophically.

"If he'd been a woman he would," said Peggy.

"Would what? Have found it?"

"No, you goose, but have been perfectly happy if he had attained
perpetual youth. Why, I think----Why, whatever was that?"

The girl broke off short in her laughing remarks and an expression of
startled astonishment crept over her features.

"Why, it's some one groaning," cried Roy, after a brief period of
listening.

"Yes. Some one in pain, too. It's off this way. Come on, Roy, let us find
out what is the matter."

Without a thought of personal danger, but with all her warm girlish
sympathy aroused, plucky Peggy plunged off on to a path, from a spot
along which it appeared the injured person must be groaning. But Roy
caught her arm and pulled her back while he stepped in front of her.

"Let me go first, sis," he said; "we don't know what may be the matter."

Peggy dutifully tiptoed along behind, as with hearts that beat somewhat
faster than usual they made their way down the narrow path which led them
into the deep gloom