Other editions of book THE SECRET MOUNTAIN

The Beginning Of The AdventuresOne bright sunny morning, very early, four children stood on the rough grassof a big airfield, watching two men busily checking the engines of a gleamingwhite aeroplane.The children looked rather forlorn, for they had come to say good-bye to theirfather and mother, who were to fly themselves to Africa.“It’s fun having a famous father and mother who do all kinds of marvelousflying feats,” said Mike. “But it’s not such fun when they go away to far-offcountries!”“Well, they’ll soon be back,” said Nora, Mike’s twin sister. “It will only bea 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 weekfrom today you’ll be here again to welcome them back, and there will becameramen and newspaper men crowding round to take your picture - son of themost famous air-pilots in the world!”The children’s father and mother came up, dressed in flying suits. They kissedand hugged the children.“Now, don’t worry about us,” said their mother. “We shall soon be back. Youwill be able to follow our flight by reading what the newspapers say everyday. We will have a fine party when we come home, and you shall all stay uptill eleven o’clock!”“Gracious!” said Jack. “We shall have to start going to bed early every nightto get ready for such a late party!”It was rather a feeble joke, but everyone was glad to laugh at it. One morehug all round and the two flyers climbed into the cockpit of their tinyaeroplane, 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....

The third story commences with Captain and Mrs Arnold setting off on another long haul flight, this time to Africa. The four children are allowed leave of absence from their schools to see them off, though Prince Paul, who since meeting the children has been sent to the same school as Mike and Jack is not allowed to accompany them. It's predicted that The White Swallow (the Arnold's plane) will break new records and there is much press coverage of the flight. Predictably and in an echo of what happened in the story of The Secret Island, on the third day the Arnold's plane disappears.The Arnolds, we learn, do live in London and unusually for Blyton characters, in a flat. Also unusual for Blyton, despite the fame of the Arnolds as pioneering aviators, they do not have the usual retinue of servants. When around six weeks after the Arnolds are lost and the children return home for half-term, Dimmy is there to look after them.

The third story commences with Captain and Mrs Arnold setting off on another long haul flight, this time to Africa. The four children are allowed leave of absence from their schools to see them off, though Prince Paul, who since meeting the children has been sent to the same school as Mike and Jack is not allowed to accompany them. It's predicted that The White Swallow (the Arnold's plane) will break new records and there is much press coverage of the flight. Predictably and in an echo of what happened in the story of The Secret Island, on the third day the Arnold's plane disappears.The Arnolds, we learn, do live in London and unusually for Blyton characters, in a flat. Also unusual for Blyton, despite the fame of the Arnolds as pioneering aviators, they do not have the usual retinue of servants. When around six weeks after the Arnolds are lost and the children return home for half-term, Dimmy is there to look after them.