It is not easy for an angry man to remain angry when the person with whom he wishes to quarrel keeps his temper. For a solid ten seconds the farmer frowned; then his eyebrows raised and his balled fists unclenched.
"Look here," he began awkwardly, "I'm not such a hard man as all that. I don't want your watch. Tell me why you are all bent on getting to Belden by three o'clock."
As briefly as possible, Bunny related the misadventures of their trip.
"You're a plucky lot," commented the farmer when the boy had finished. "And I should be glad to take you, for nothing, because I counted on driving to Belden myself this afternoon. But I can't go, and I can't take you, because—"
Tense and eager, the nine boys listened for the reason.
"—because the car is busted."
"Busted!" repeated Specs dolefully. "I knew it all the time. Everybody and everything is busted!"