“It was an accident,” replied Jerry gently. “Our anchor and rope must have come loose, and were dragging along through the air.”
“Come loose! I should say it did come loose!” spluttered the man. “So did nearly half my barn come loose! But I’ll have satisfaction for it. Hey, Bill—Sam! Come here an’ help me take care of these folks!”
He raised his voice and two husky hired men came running from the direction of the house which the boys could just make out through the trees of the orchard.
“Now then, grab ’em!” yelled the farmer, pointing his gun first at Jerry, then at Bob and then at Ned, and then beginning at Jerry again. “Grab ’em!” he cried, “an’ tie ’em up! There’s plenty of clothes line, an’ th’ women folks ain’t goin’ t’ wash t’-day.”
The hired men, grinning in appreciation of the plight in which our friends found themselves, advanced slowly.
“There’s no necessity for resorting to harsh measures,” said Jerry with dignity. “We’re not going to run away.”
“I’ll bet ye ain’t!” chuckled the farmer. “Not when I git through with ye! Tie ’em up, Sam an’ Bill.”
“Look here!” cried Jerry, seeing that it did no good to be polite, “if you lay a hand on us, you’ll get into trouble! We won’t stand for any such treatment from you! The damage we did was accidental, and we’re willing to pay——”
“That’s what ye will! Pay, an’ pay good an’ proper!” interrupted the unpleasant farmer.
“What do you think it’s worth?” asked Bob, as Jerry went to look and see if the strain of the anchor rope had done any harm to the airship.