“Did you ever see a cat in a fit? That was the professor just then, so Nate said. He tried to wave his sprained wrists and couldn't; tried to stamp his foot and found it too lame. But his eyeglasses flashed sparks and his tongue spit fire.
“'Are you goin' to start that machine?' he screams at the blue-white, shaky Augustus.
“'No, Professor Dixland,' stammers Gus. 'No, sir, I'm sorry, but—'
“'Why don't you ask Mr. Scudder to make the experiment, uncle?' suggests that confounded niece, smilin' the spitefullest smile.
“'Scudder,' says the professor, 'I'll give you five thousand dollars cash to start in that aeroplane this moment.'
“For a jiffy Nate was staggered. Five thousand dollars CASH—whew! But then he thought of how deep Gus had been shoved into that sandbank. And there was a new and more powerful motor aboard the thing now. Five thousand dollars ain't much good to a telescoped corpse. He fetched a long breath.
“'Well, now, Mr. Dixland,' he says, 'I'd like to, fust rate, but you see I don't know nothin' about mechanics.'
“'Professor—' begins Augustus. 'Twas the final straw. Old Whiskers jumped out of the chair, lameness and all.
“'Out of this house, you ingrate!' he bellers. 'Out this instant! I discharge you. Go! go!'
“He was actually frothin' at the mouth. I cal'late Olivia thought he was goin' to die, for she run to him.