Part 18 (1/2)
”Yep! Say, how do you work her?”
Ernest turned to greet the tall far out as he hoped Not only would the farive them supper and a place to rest, but he had a Ford, and on account of the distance froas Ernest gave a sigh of relief The only danger was froet the colt, and was seen riding furiously away, Ernest knew that, like Paul Revere, he was off to give an alarm and rouse the countryside He looked at his watch There should be a full moon later, but Bill was completely tired out and had not yet come into the condition known as second wind
It would take three or four hours to get ready for the rest of the flight
”What sort of a chap is that boy of yours?” asked Ernest
”Pig-headed!” said the old lady, speaking for the first ti ”I mean can you trust him?”
”Yes, you _kin_,” said his mother ”Webby will do just what he says every tiht,” said the farmer ”I kin trust Web soon as I kin myself”
”Sooner!” said his wife scornfully ”You are the forgittinest feller, and Webby don't _never_ forget If you want he should go an errant, mister, he'll be back soon”
”Not exactly an errand,” said Ernest, and noback to the field He dis
”Your mother and father tell me you can keep your word, and be trusted,”
said Ernest ”I want you to stand guard over this machine I don't want you or anyone else to _touch_ it I want you to keep everyone at least ten feet away If you will do this, I will either pay you or else take you up for a little flight”
”Wait!” said the boy He turned and went running back to his colt and, ht In fiveout-of-date rifle
”Go ahead and get soht to fix 'erass around the plane
Then he looked with a smile across the field
”Let 'eht to fix 'em!”
Ernest looked Mr Paul Revere Webby had not ridden in vain They were co
CHAPTER XIV
Ernest turned to the boy with the rifle as standing guard over the wonderful, strange thing that had alighted in his father's meadow, and was satisfied Cool, clear, honest blue eyes stared back and aze fairly
”Don't you be feared,” said the boy ”They won't come apast that scratch You kin trust me Ma and Pa trusts ?” asked Ernest
”Naw, not that,” the boy laughed ”You git on, less'n you want to answer four million questions You kin leave her with me They won't come apast that scratch, and I kin skeer 'em off with this They know I kin shoot”
He patted the long, lean rifle lying along his arm, and Ernest knew that in truth he could not leave the airplane in safer hands
He followed Bill and the far beside hiered as he walked, he was so tired, and Ernest, as accustohts, was silent too The pain in his arm was about all he could bear, and he did not feel in theto the felloho had injured him