“Wal, I reckon not. I sure ain’t hankerin’ ter land kerflunk among a herd o’ longhorns.”
“Then, as you are out of the running, who shall it be? Whoever wishes to experience the novel sensation of aeroplaning will be given a chance. But——”
“Hooray—hooray!” yelled Cranny, excitedly, amidst a burst of cheers. “Shall I climb aboard now, Mr. Ogden?”
“But, as I was about to say, it seems fitting that the first candidate for the honor should be——”
“Bob Somers!” cried Tommy, with all his force.
And every one but Cranny immediately raised his voice in a loud roar of assent.
CHAPTER IX
IN THE AIR
“Much obliged, fellows,” laughed Bob, “but I’m willing to step aside if Cranny is so anxious to get the first crack at it.”
“That’s all right, Bob—I’ll go the second trip,” grinned Cranny, good-naturedly. “Only don’t hang the machine up in the clouds. It will be hard to wait for you.”
“You’ve been waiting seventeen long years for this; and ten minutes more won’t do you a bit o’ harm,” chirped Willie.