"Lost nothing!" exclaimed Jimmie scornfully. "You can't lose Ned Nestor! He's probably having an argument with the guys over there, who will do everything they can to delay him so their friend can win!"
"That wasn't exactly a fair thing to do, anyhow!" protested Francois. "I think it was arranged for a huge joke!"
"Joke?" queried Jimmie, bristling. "Joke? If those things are jokes, I haven't any sense of humor. That's no joke!"
"It's a mighty low sort of trick, I say!" spoke up Harry.
"That's what it is," chimed in Jimmie. "And, say, Francois," he went on, "we like you, and you're a good friend of ours, but please don't try to smooth over this Frenchman's actions. It won't go!"
"All right," replied the lad. "I don't approve of it any more than you do, but I wanted to make peace, that's all."
"Well, you just remain neutral, and it'll be all right!"
A general laugh went up at this declaration. They knew that Jimmie loved neutrality and peace, even if he had to fight to get them.
Directly the clamor of the monoplane's motors ceased. The noise had been growing louder and more distinct, but now died away entirely. Jimmie stood up in his place and peered anxiously about.