[CHAPTER V.]
MOTOR MATT PROTESTS.
The parade was finished without further incident worthy of note, a huge crowd following it back to the show grounds to see the aëroplane flight. As soon as the grounds were reached, Ben Ali came for Haidee. There was a burning light in his black eyes, and he was shaking like a man with the ague.
"Just a minute, Ben Ali," said Matt, catching the Hindoo by the sleeve of his embroidered coat and leading him apart. "What's the matter with your niece?"
"Salaam, sahib," chattered Ben Ali. "Haidee all right soon."
"She can't make an ascension with me, Ben Ali. She was the cause of that trouble, and it would be sheer madness to take her aloft on that trapeze."
"Yis, sahib, such baht" (that is true). Ben Ali drew a quivering hand over his forehead. "But she be well like ever soon, sahib."
Ben Ali whirled away, took Haidee by the hand, and vanished among the wagons.
Boss Burton strode to the scene.