XVI

FREDDIE'S ESCAPE


There was really nothing Freddie Firefly could do except struggle to his
feet and try to think at the same time. Flashing his light upon Jennie
Junebug he saw that she was looking at him fondly. And that made him
detest her more than ever.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself," he said spitefully.

"Yes, indeed!" the fat lady exclaimed. "I haven't had such sport for a
whole week. One of your cousins flew with me one night. And we had a
fine time. No doubt we'd be enjoying each other's company yet, if I
hadn't had a bit of bad luck."

"What was that?" Freddie Firefly asked her quickly. He thought that if
he could only keep his dreadful companion TALKING, perhaps she would
forget about FLYING--and knocking him down. "What was your bad luck?" he
repeated impatiently.

Jennie Junebug paused and wiped her eyes.

"It was dreadful!" she said at last, as soon as she could control her
shaking voice. "It was the worst accident that ever happened to me. ...
Your cousin broke his neck!"