“Say, how if we—we two and maybe a couple of cowpunchers—went over to the Widow’s ranch, in the Hustle, and hovered over it—just the sight of the machine would scare off any stragglers.”
“Good idea—but, no, we haven’t got much gasoline left.”
“That’s so,” admitted Hike. “Not enough to hover for long. But SAY! Hover—hover—that gives me an idea. Get into the Hustle.”
“What?”
“Yump. Come on. Will you? Would you mind? I’ve got a way to protect the Widow’s ranch, and it won’t take any gasoline, after we get there! We’ll try the greatest experiment the Hustle has ever been put through!”
“All right!” laughed the Lieutenant.
Five minutes later, he was driving the tetrahedral toward the Widow’s rancho.
“Please bring her down in the ranch-yard,” directed Hike. The Lieutenant did so—wondering what this experiment was to be.
Hike explained. Martin Priest had told him, once, that the tetrahedral was the only aeroplane with so much stability that it could be used as a kite, a real kite. Anchored to the ground, with a long, heavy rope, it would probably float there, as long as the anchor held, float up there happily forever, without even an engine aboard.
But no one had ever quite dared to try it, before. It had to be tried now. They had to save the Widow Barston from the hungry, angry, straggling bands of rebels.