suppress their merriment in advance.

"Purty stout, air ye?" asked Mires, as he and Jack stood by the wheels.

"I never boasted of my strength," replied Jack, beginning to wonder why so
much interest was being manifested over so slight a matter. His surprise
was increased at that moment by discovering Fret Offut among the
spectators, his big mouth reaching almost from ear to ear with an idiotic
grin.

"Come to see the fun!" declared the latter, finding that he had been seen
by Jack.

"I'll take this one," said Mires, stooping over the nearest wheel which
was half buried in dust and dirt.

Then, without any apparent effort, the small sized workman raised the
wheel to his shoulder and walked back from the direction whence they had
come.

"Now see the big gawk lift his!" exclaimed Fret Offut, who had somehow
been let into the secret. Still ignorant of the deception being played
upon him, Jack North bent over to lift the remaining wheel.




Chapter III

A Long Trip Proposed