132 



would do, but if we had an accident I certainly did not want to 

 fight six men bigger than myself for water; we must have more. 

 Was there any portable tank at the aerodrome ? How big ? At least 

 five gallons. No ! But they had some at the Sunderland base. I asked 

 if we could have two and how long it would take to fetch them ? 



Diego 

 COMORES Suarez 



Cape Town 



^<- .^^ 



Fig. 4. — Map showing flight of Dakota. 



Forty minutes ! I refused to leave without that water, and as this 

 flight was for my needs, they did not question this decision and 

 sent a car racing away. That water was never used, and I must 

 record that none of them ever crowed over me on that account. 

 It was not all lost time, for the refueller at the aerodrome gave 

 trouble and needed attention. I thought how everything has its 

 points, even what might seem a disaster at the moment often 

 turns out for the best. 



