Just as Ned was about to start the engine, Jimmie leaned over and placed a detaining hand on his arm. Ned glanced quickly at the boy.
"Say, fellows," suggested Jimmie. "If the General is in a hurry to go somewhere, he can't do better than take a trip with us. What do you say to inviting him to have a little ride?"
"We can carry him, all right," responded Ned, "but the quarters will be rather cramped. We haven't room to entertain many visitors."
"If we can stand it, he ought to get along for a while!"
"All right, then, go ask him if you want to," Ned grinned.
In an instant Jimmie was on the ground racing toward the train. Not many minutes passed before he was seen returning, accompanied by the General and the officer who had first greeted them.
To the rousing cheers of the soldiers, the Grey Eagle, with its precious freight, rose above the wreckage of the bridge. Headed to the northward, the boys and their guests were soon far from the scene.
"Where will you go, General?" asked Ned from the pilot's seat.
"Here comes that monoplane again!" interrupted Harry, who had been using the binoculars. "He's coming up fast from the eastward!"