“In just what way?”

“Why, about the harm this fellow Cassell can do us.  In every community like this you’ll find one local ‘Pooh-bah’ who runs things pretty much as he likes.  They have satellites who will do just about as they’re told.”

“You mean—­” “That we’d better keep a good lookout on the aeroplanes.  From my judgment of Cassell I don’t think he’s got nerve enough to attack us directly, but he can wreak his vengeance on our machines if we don’t watch pretty closely.”

“I’m inclined to think you’re right.  But don’t say a word of all this to the girls.  It might upset them.  You and I will decide on a plan of action later on.  To tell you the truth, I’m not any too sure of our newly acquired watchman, Tam Tammas.”

“Nor I. We’ll wait till the rest get back and then take a stroll down to that livery stable.  Seems funny, doesn’t it, to stable aeroplanes in a livery stable?”

“Well, why not?  Wasn’t Pegasus, the first flying machine on record, a horse?”

“Humph; that’s so,” agreed Jimsy, whose supply of classical knowledge was none too plentiful.

It was not long after this that the girls returned.  With them came The Wren in a neat dress and new shoes, an altogether different looking little personage from the waif of the woods whom they had rescued at noon.

“Why, Wren,” cried Peggy, “you are positively pretty.  In a month’s time we won’t know you.”

“A month’s time?” sighed the child; “am I going to stay with you as long as that?”

Miss Prescott caught the wan little figure in her arms.

“Yes, and many months after that,” she cried.

Roy and Jimsy exchanged glances.

“Another member of the family,” exclaimed Roy; “if we go at this rate we’ll have acquired an entire set of new sisters by the time we reach the Big Smokies.”

CHAPTER IX.

JIMSY FALLS ASLEEP.

“Anybody been around, Tam?”

Roy asked the question, as later on that evening he and Jimsy dropped around to the disused livery stable in accordance with their plan.

Tam shook his head.

“Nobody bane round,” he rejoined, and then, after a moment’s pause, “’cept Yim Cassell and his boy Dan.”

“Jim Cassell and his son,” echoed Roy, “the very people we don’t want around here.  What did they want?”

“They want know where you bane,” rejoined the Norwegian youth.

“Yes; and what did you tell them?”

“I bane tell them I skall not know,” responded Tam.

“And then?”

“They bane ask me if ay have key by door.”

“Oh, they did, eh?  What did you say?”

“I say I bane not have key.”

“Then what did they do?”

“They bane go ’way.”

“Didn’t say anything else?”

“No, they must go.”

“Said nothing about coming back?”