t was an accident," went on the former army man. "We were making a
landing, but we did not intend to come clown just in that spot. We are
sorry the tree is broken, but accidents will happen, and--"

"Yes, and them as does 'em must pay for 'em!" exclaimed Hank.

At the mention of money Uncle Ezra looked pained. He looked more so
when Hank went on:

"I'll have damages for that tree, that's what I'll have and good
damages too. That was my best Baldwin tree--"

"You told us that before," said Larson, as he began to wheel the
aeroplane out into an open space where he could get it started again.

"Here, where you takin' that?" demanded Hank, suspiciously.

"We're going to fly back to Dankville," replied Mr. Larson.

"No, you ain't! You ain't goin' t' move that machine until you pay fer
the damage to my tree!" insisted Hank, as he took a firmer grasp of the
club. "I want ten dollars for what you done to my tree."

"Ten dollars!" grasped Uncle Ezra. "'Tain't wuth half that if it was
loaded with apples."

"Well, you'll pay me ten dollars, Ezra Larabee, or you don't take that
machine away from here!" insisted the owner of the orchard. "You beat
me once in a lawsuit, but you won't again!"

The two had been enemies for many years, Mr. Crittenden insisting that
a certain lawsuit, which went against him, had been wrongfully decided
in favor of Dick's uncle.

"Well, I won't pay no ten dollars," said Mr. Larabee, firmly, putting
his hand in his pocket, as if to resist any attempt to get money from
it.

"Ten dollars or you don't take that machine out!" cried Hank. "You're
trespassers on my land, too! I could have you arrested for that, as
well as suin' ye fer bustin' my tree."

"I'll never pay," said Uncle Ezra. "Come on, Lieutenant, we'll take
the airship out in spite of him."

"Oh, you will, eh?" cried Hank. "Well, we'll see about that! I
reckoned you'd try some such mean game as that Ezra Larabee, and I'm
ready for you. Here, Si and Bill!" he called, and from behind a big
tree stepped two stalwart hired men, armed with pitchforks.

"This Ezra Larabee allows he'll not pay for damagin' my tree,"
explained Hank. "I say he shall, and I don't want you boys t' let him
take his contraption away until he forks over ten dollars."

"It ain't worth nigh that sum," began Mr. Larabee. "I'll never--"

"I think, perhaps, you had better pay it to avoid trouble," said the
lieutenant. "He has some claim on us."

"Oh