es that had been taken
to inform meddlers of the warm reception they might expect.

All the same, Andy kept up his vigil until sleep almost overpowered him,
when he aroused Felix to finish out the night.

With the coming of early dawn he knew that the safety of the imperiled
aeroplane was assured, and that when the horn blew, he and Felix could
both go in to breakfast. Indeed, he released the farm hand long before
that time, so that he might go about his usual early morning chores; and
Andy himself found plenty to do around the machine until summoned to the
morning meal.

The farmer was a hard sleeper, and had not heard a single thing that had
taken place; so that he was surprised when told how the enemy had come
after all, and what measures the boys had taken in order to frighten
them away.

He even told Felix he could have a day off as soon as the last load of
hay was in the barn, just to show how he appreciated the bold way in
which his hired help had tickled the rascals when they were getting over
the fence. Indeed, the farmer said Andy had been too lenient, and that
if it had been his aeroplane that was threatened in that mean way, he
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 smoth