The old man took a moment for thought. “You’ll pay me sixty dollars now, cash in hand?” he asked.
“Yes sir, cash in hand just as soon as the boys are alongside this airplane. No promises, but good hard cash!”
“It’s a bargain,” said Mackey Jones. Turning to his men, he ordered, “Row for your lives, men! Hurry! That girl may change her mind!”
A few minutes later Terry saw the hatch being opened and the two boys scrambled out. They were hustled without ceremony into the boat and Mackey Jones and his men rowed for dear life.
While Mackey Jones was bringing the boys toward the plane, Dan said, “You can drop me here, if you like. I’ll go back with the fleet.”
“All right, Dan, and thank you for your help.” The girl passed him a roll of bills but Dan shook his head. “You’ve already paid me five dollars, that’s plenty for what I did.”
But Terry pressed the money into his hand. “No Dan, take it, you earned it. Some day we’ll see you again. You’ll want to see Sally and you’ll always be welcome at Elmwood.”
The boy had no time to answer for Mackey Jones hailed them.
“Here you are, Miss! Now where’s my money?”
Terry wrapped the bills in her handkerchief and dropped them into the boat as Allan and Syd shouted a greeting.