“Water!” was all that Dave could choke out, and the good housewife soon had a glass at his lips.
“Don’t stand gawking at the poor fellow and pestering him with questions,” cried the farmer’s wife. “He needs some good hot coffee and some strengthening food to brace him up,” and the speaker hurried to the kitchen, where Dave could hear the sizzling of bacon.
“I can talk to you now, sir,” he said, but weakly, taking another gulp of the reviving water. “I was kidnapped.”
“Hey!” ejaculated the farmer, with a start.
“Yes, sir.”
“In my wagon?”
“That was a mistake, I believe. Two rough men were hired to tie me up and gag me and put me in a wagon in waiting outside of the aero grounds. They mistook yours for the one they should have put me in.”
“Gracious!”
“They went back into the grounds, and you came along and drove me off with you before they returned.”
“You don’t mean to say you’ve been lying in that wagon ever since last evening?”