Part 17 (2/2)
Bill was unconscious of the passing ti breakfast, and luncheon was forgotten There was no ti of s
He carefully scanned the country they were passing over for a landing place Bill's face ell covered with the flaps of his helles, but Ernest fancied that the young aviator was pale He felt that they must land for awhile Even now they were many hours ahead of the time they would have made on a railroad train He indicated an upward course, and Bill rose as they raced over a flat and open part of the country Far ahead there lay what see intervals with s district evidently, far froasoline in any ha places The only question reet doithout a s to risk what _had_ to be risked
The sun ell in the west They see disk when Ernest, pointing to a wide plain far ahead, touched Bill and told hiave a short nod and prepared to obey There flashed into his head a saying of To that hurts”
Bill felt everything--their safety, his own self-respect and Ernest's confidence in him--rested on this last and different test He could not conceive of a reason for landing, but Ernest said land, so land it was!
At any rate, his engine was going perfectly, so he was not required to atte to be spared that Bill picked the likeliest spot in the distant landscape, all iroups of black dots to break its late fall greenness Bill could not tell the nature of the dots at the height he was flying They ht be bushes or cows Bill hoped for the latter, and as he caht Coould be likely to scatter, thought Bill, but bushes would be difficult to steer around
About a hundred feet fro plane, and thea turn, he ca the grassy surface of the field
The cows scattered all right When the iant dragonfly, all that re tails galloping off into the second grohich rihts, re pilot as he cliround His head whirled, and his eyes felt strained out of his head With fingers that treles
”Well, boy, I may say that I was never so proud of a friend in my life!
You have done nobly!”
”What did we land for?” asked Bill ”I don't see as we can afford the tias and rest you up a little Don't you worry, son! You are going to drive all night to-night unless--well, why didn't I think of this before? We are 'way past the path of the storht!” interrupted Bill ”Was it only last night? I feel as though it was a week ago”
”I was going to say,” resuraht at a farht, perhaps earlier”
”I don't approve of that,” said Bill ”If ht I was 'up in a balloon, boys,' she would about die of fright”
”She gave you permission,” reht anything like this would happen and honestly I wish you wouldn't! I can drive all night all right That is, if I can get a little rest,” he added, as he sensed his aching muscles and realized the tension he had been under
”I think about so,” said Ernest ”I will look around for a farmhouse
Must be one near on account of all these cows Oh, goodness! See what's coed a small but excited procession A lean boy on horseback, without saddle or bridle and guiding the sha colt he rode by a halter strap, led the van Behind him, as lean as he, and about seven feet tall, a farmer, whiskered like a cartoon, kept pace easily with the horse Behind ca in the breeze as she bowled along dragging a fat little girl by each hand Three dogs barking loudly brought up the rear
Twenty-five feet from the plane the procession was thrown into confusion by the colt which suddenly discovered what see lazily He had drea in the shade on hot summer days, but here, oh, here was the creature itself ready to fly up and alight on hiation, but whirled and left for parts distant where the cows peered through the saplings at the awful intruder in their peaceful pasture The sod was soft and the young rider, rolling head over heels, was not har his red head
”What's your hurry?” asked Ernest, s
”Nuthin',” said the boy ”Say, is that a airyplane?”
”Sure thing!” replied Ernest ”Do you live near here?”
”Yep!” said the boy ”Let's see you fly in it”
Ernest laughed ”You certainly believe in speeding the parting guest, don't you, young chap? Is this your father co?”