WANBOROUGH PLAIN DAYS 



After a little careful thinking I came to the 

 conclusion that if we got to bed we stood a good 

 chance of missing even a glimpse of an aeroplane. 

 Consequently I got hold of one of the hotel staff 

 and made him promise to pull me out of bed when 

 the clock struck five. I could see that this would 

 be our only chance of seeing the air-pilots start off 

 for a point farther north, Stirling I believe. Luckily 

 the plan worked well. I went into Metcalf's room, 

 pulled off the bedclothes, and after many protests 

 got him out of bed. Off we went in a taxi up to 

 the flying-field. I can see now one of the pilots 

 lying in a rug on the ground trying to get a few 

 extra winks of sleep before making his hazardous 

 journey. After about an hour of waiting, wind and 

 light took a favourable turn and off went the brave 

 men, not without a certain amount of hesitation 

 about leaving the ground. Well, that is all we saw 

 of the celebrated flight around the British Isles. 

 So far as I remember a few minor mishaps did occur, 

 but I have no recollection of anything serious taking 

 place. 



The three days' trip came to an end, and when I 

 arrived home my wife hardly recognized me, since 

 I had grown a three days' beard. So ended my 

 second visit to Scotland. But the incidents of the 

 year 191 1 were by no means over, for it was a hot 

 and scorching summer. 



The following day was a Saturday, which called 

 for a good look round the farm to make arrange- 

 ments for the following week. In doing so my 

 attention was called to a field of beans which I 



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