“And we have to buy provisions for the other boys, too,” Ben agreed.
While the boys talked over the situation a man in the uniform of a forest ranger, mounted on a little brown pony, came galloping down the road. He drew up when he saw the machines blocking the highway and called out:
“Hello, strangers! It’s a wonder you wouldn’t take possession of the whole road! How long have you been in this part of the country?”
“Just lit!” answered Ben. “Come on in,” he added with a chuckle. “We’ll make way for you. We don’t own this road.”
Indeed it was necessary to shift the great planes of the Ann before the ranger could ride up to where the boys stood.
“You’ve got some fine machines there!” the ranger commented.
“You bet we have!” answered Ben.
“Are those the machines that have been racing about in the air all day?” asked the ranger.
“We haven’t been in the air all day,” replied Carl, “but I reckon the Bertha and the Ann have been doing considerable flying.”
“And there’s been something of a ruction over at Monterey about a machine, too,” said the ranger.