Fatty arrived nearly on time, evidently delighted. His pockets bulged as usual.
“I thought we might be hungry,” he said, “so I bought some chocolate. Here’s a cake for you fellows. On me,” he added.
“I don’t like to take your chocolate,” said Ernest, drawing back.
“That’s all right,” said Fatty, “I have a lot more.”
“It looks a little windy up there,” said Ernest, squinting at the sky. “I will put extra straps on both you boys.”
“Don’t strap us together,” said Fatty. “I wouldn’t want Rowland to drag me with him if he should get dizzy and fall out.”
“That’s what I would do, of course,” said Eddie. “But you are so fat and full of wind that you would be a regular parachute.”
“We won’t take chances,” laughed Ernest. “You will each be strapped to the car, and you take your chances with her.”
Fatty stepped jauntily in and Ernest adjusted the heavy harness. Then Eddie wedged himself into the small corner of the seat that was not full of Fatty. He too was strapped in, and when Ernest settled down on the pilot’s seat, a couple of attendants raced the plane along the field until it soared smoothly upward.
Fatty’s face was full of delight. He sat perfectly quiet, watching buildings drop away and all the land resolve itself into a beautiful map done in colors.