"
"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, dear!" groaned Uncle Ezra.
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