noon
A few days before , Dr. Hartson Brant , Rick 's father and head of the Spindrift Scientific Foundation , a world-famous research organization , had received word from Gordon that Rick and Scotty were needed for a special assignment . Gordon had not given any details in his wire . This morning Dr. Gordon had phoned that he had been delayed , but would arrive by Navy plane around noontime . Long before noon , Rick and Scotty had moved Rick 's four-passenger Sky Wagon off the grassy runway that ran along the seaward side of the island , then settled down to the rock-throwing session . Barby said , `` I 'm pretty good with a slingshot . Let me try . '' Scotty handed her the sling .