would have felt wholly justified in emptying both barrels of the gun
after the marauders, first giving them time to get a certain distance
off, so that no serious results might follow the discharge.

But Andy was never a vindictive lad, and he believed the fellows had
received sufficient punishment, especially as no one knew exactly what
they had meant to do in connection with the new hydroplane. Possibly
Percy only wanted to look it over at close quarters, and knowing he
would not be allowed to do so if he asked permission outright, sought to
take this opportunity. But from the way in which they had rigged
themselves out, so as to avoid being recognized, if seen, it looked as
though the four boys had something more than that in view.

However, all's well that ends well, and Andy was quite satisfied with
the way things had turned out.

"Here's hopin' a few of 'em may be limpin' 'round this same mornin', and
feelin' rayther stiff in the legs," Felix took occasion to remark, as
they sat at table, and Andy was again in danger of being foundered by
the multitude of good things which the farmer's wife spread thereon,
bacon and eggs, fried potatoes, scrapple, puffy biscuits, apple sauce,
doughnuts, cold pie, jelly, and finally heaping dishes of light
pancakes, which were to be smothered in butter and real maple syrup made
on the farm each early spring when the sap was running.

"I expect Frank will be along any minute now," Andy remarked, about the
time he had to firmly refuse a fourth helping of cakes, because he could
hardly breathe comfortably. "It wouldn't take him long to do what little
work was necessary, in our shop, which you know my old guardian,
Colonel Whympers, built for us before we found my father, when he was