“They gave me the shivers for half an hour,” admitted Tim, “But I managed to find a gap in the third ridge and got through without burying myself in the clouds.”
“You were lucky,” commented the army man who introduced himself as Captain John Nugent, in command of the air force at Fort Armstrong.
“Better come over to my quarters and get warm and have a snack to eat,” suggested the army man.
Tim readily agreed for he was chilled to the bone and hungry.
“I know you’re anxious to start back,” said Captain Nugent, “But you’ll be more alert if you rest a few minutes and fill up with some hot food. I’ve had my boy keep things hot for you.”
“That’s mighty nice of you,” said Tim, “And I expect I’ll save time in the end if I take a few minutes rest here.”
When they reached the captain’s quarters, the army man insisted that Tim take off his things and enjoy a good meal.
“Have you planned your trip back?” he asked.
“Looks like I’ll have to try the Flint hills in the dark,” said Tim. “I’ve got to be in Atkinson before midnight if my plan to help the people at Auburn is going to work. I’m sure that ice jam will go before morning and if it does it’s goodbye to that town.”
“If anything goes wrong with your ship in the hills with the load you’ll be carrying, it will be curtains for you,” said the army man.