“'Jerushy!' says I, lollin' back luxurious. This is fine, ain't it?'
“'Cost seventy-five hundred to build,' he says casual. 'Made to order for the boss. Lightest car of her speed ever turned out.'
“'Go 'way! How you talk! Seventy-five hundred what? Not dollars?'
“'Sure,' he says. Then he turns round—he was in the bow, hangin' on to the steerin' wheel—and looks me over, kind of interested, but superior. 'Say,' he says, 'I've been hearin' things about you. You're a hero, ain't you?'
“Durn them Orham gabblers! Ever sence I hauled that crew of seasick summer boarders out of the drink a couple of years ago and the gov'ment gave me a medal, the minister and some more of his gang have painted out the name I was launched under and had me entered on the shippin' list as 'The Hero.' I've licked two or three for callin' me that, but I can't lick a parson, and he was the one that told Billings.
“'Oh, I don't know!' I answers pretty sharp. 'Get her under way, why don't you?'
“All he done was look me over some more and grin.
“'A hero! A real live gov'ment-branded hero!' he says. 'Ain't scared of nothin', I reckon—hey?'
“I never made no answer. There's some things that's too fresh to eat without salt, and I didn't have a pickle tub handy.
“'Hum!' he says again, reverend-like. 'A sure hero; scared of nothin'! Never rode in an auto afore, did you?'