“‘In that awful-lookin’ thing?’ the Deacon asked, pointing with his cane and squinting at the big biplane.
“‘In that thing,’ Harry answered.
“‘How long did it take ye?’
“‘About five minutes.’
“‘It’s impossible,’ said the Deacon, as he approached the biplane and began to look at it.
“‘But you’ll see me jump back again in a little while,’ Harry assured him.
“‘Geehanniker!’ the Deacon exclaimed. ‘Jumped from the top of Delance’s Hill an’ 189 licked my caretaker an’ chased a hired man an’ sp’ilt two dogs an’ treed the minister and kissed the lady o’ the house––all in about ten minutes. I guess you’re a good deal of a feller.’
“It was the kind of thing that warmed the warrior soul of the Deacon.
“‘Hello––here’s a dead dog,’ said Harry. ‘If you’ll have one of the men bring me a shovel I’ll bury him there in the garden. Meanwhile you may tell me how much I owe you for the two dogs.’
“‘I guess about twenty-five dollars,’ said the Deacon.