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his speech in class that very afternoon.
    â€œHoly leaping creepers!” Joe breathed. “Professor Bullfinch has invented a real, honest-to-goodness spaceship!”

CHAPTER NINE
    Lost
    Danny trudged back, kicking at loose stones. He stopped to glance at the barn. Then he almost jumped out of his skin, for a voice behind him said, “Hey, Dan!”
    He whirled. “Joe!” he said. “Where—where’d you come from?”
    Joe’s eyes were dancing. “Gosh! Why didn’t you tell me?” he cried.
    â€œTell you?” Danny said cautiously.
    â€œAbout what’s in the barn.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI followed you. I didn’t mean to spy on you—I thought you were running away from home. But when the Professor opened the barn door, I saw it.”
    â€œJust what do you think you saw?” Danny asked.
    â€œAw, Dan, quit kidding around. I know a spaceship when I see one,” said Joe.
    â€œOh.” Danny rubbed his nose. Then he said, “You saw the ship? Gee, Joe, you’re in trouble. It’s a strict secret—a government secret.”
    All Joe’s enthusiasm evaporated, and his face returned to its usual gloom. “Ooh. What do you think they’ll do to me? Shoot me at dawn, maybe?”
    â€œNo. I don’t think Professor Bullfinch would let them do that . Anyway, I don’t think anybody saw you. And I won’t say anything.” He pulled Joe further into the shadows of the woods. “Now listen. First of all, I’m glad I didn’t tell you anything about it. I’ve kept my mouth shut all this time, and now you’ll have to swear to do the same.”
    Joe nodded.
    â€œRaise your right hand,” Danny ordered.
    Joe did so.
    â€œDo you, Joseph Pearson, solemnly swear by your right hand and blood to keep this deadly secret and never say a word to anybody, so help you?”
    â€œI swear,” Joe said in a voice that sounded as if it were coming from underground.
    â€œO.K. But I sure hope nobody ever finds out. Honest, Joe, if you ever let anything slip, I may be shot at dawn.”
    They began walking back through the woods.
    â€œWhy didn’t the Professor let you in?” Joe asked.
    â€œWell, generally they let me hang around and watch them,” Danny said. “But the first trial flight of the ship is going to be sometime in the next twenty-four hours, so they made me leave. Mr. Willoughby, the head of the project, said that strict secrecy requires it.” As he said this, Danny imitated Willoughby’s voice.
    â€œHe’s never trusted me,” he went on. “He said a couple of times he doesn’t really think a kid can keep a secret as big as this. But the Professor told him I could. And I did, too.”
    â€œYou sure did,” Joe said. “I thought you were mad at me for some reason, or crazy, or something.”
    They came to the road and found their bicycles.
    Danny said, “I’ve got to get home. I want to get those sentences out of the way tonight so I can be free tomorrow to watch the ship take off.”
    â€œWill they let you watch?”
    â€œNo, they don’t want me around. But I know a way to get to the barn without the guards’ seeing me. There are security guards from the government around the building, you know.”
    â€œYes, I saw one of them talk to you.”
    â€œWell, I found an old culvert that runs right up under the barn, and I get in that way sometimes when I don’t want Willoughby to know.”
    They pedaled along in silence for a few minutes, and then Joe said, “Listen. Suppose I come home with you and help you with the sentences?”
    â€œHelp me? How?”
    â€œTo write ’em. I can imitate your handwriting. Anyway, Miss Arnold won’t know the difference. You know teachers never read those sentences.”
    â€œThat doesn’t matter. It wouldn’t be honest,” Dan