Strange companion: A story of survival

From back cover: "Come back here or I'll whale you good!"
David's mean stepfather has threatened him once too often. This time David is running away--the further, the better, he decides, heading for the airport. The small plane he picks to hide away on is marked U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. David has visions of flying South, perhaps to Florida. But when it gets below freezing in the cargo hold, he knows they're headed North! Then he hears the pilot's desperate cry: May-day! May Day!