They were flying over a large, prosperous-looking farm at a fair rate of speed when there came a sudden check in the air craft’s movement. She plunged violently and pitched forward as if about to capsize.
“It’s the grapnel line!” shouted Ned, “it’s gotten loose and hooked on to the roof of that barn!”
At the same instant there came a sound of rending and tearing wood as the steel points of the grapnel dug into the roof of a rickety old barn and tore it loose from the rafters. Jack acted like a flash. He set his descending planes and came to earth in a beautifully executed dive in a stubble field just beyond the farm buildings.
“The grapnel must have torn loose from its fastenings,” he said; “lucky it was no worse. As it is——”
He broke off short. Running toward them from the farmhouse came the farmer and two of his hired men. The farmer carried in his hand a formidable looking gun. As he drew close to the boys he leveled it at them. At the same time he cried out angrily:
“Stay right where ye be. Don’cher move, doggone yer, er I’ll shoot.”
The look in his eye, as well as the menace in his voice, convinced the boys that the threat was no idle one. The man was thoroughly angry over the accidental damage to his barn. On he came with leveled gun, shouting threats, while the two hired men kept up a steady accompaniment.
“Well, this is a fine fix,” commented Jack. “I guess we’ll have to settle for that roof before we leave here.”
“You kin jes’ bet ye’ll hev ter,” roared the farmer, who had overheard him.