“Are you hurt much?” asked Nick.
“Thought for a spell I had been kicked by a mule,” answered the smith, wiping his eye on the dingy handkerchief that was tied around his neck. “Sorry I didn’t come through in time tew help ye.”
“Gee whiz!” cried the red-headed boy, “he didn’t need no help. He downed the big feller easier’n anythin’ I ever see. Gosh, mister, but you’re great!”
The youngster looked at Nick with admiring eyes, and the latter brought out a half-dollar, which he had in his pocket, and which had somehow escaped Clancy’s search and the consequent bath in the river.
“Do you want to earn this, my lad?” Nick asked.
“Can a duck swim?” the boy chirped.
“Then get on that horse and ride up the road. You won’t have to go far before you find a couple of automobiles——”
“What’s them?”
“You’ll know when you see them—you won’t make any mistake. If there is any one with the machines say that I want them brought here. Understand?”
“Like a house afire!”