"Just then the hired man changed his position suddenly, and stood looking into the sky. I turned and saw an aeroplane coming down like some great bird from the hills, behind the village. It sailed high above the spires, and coasted down to a level some fifty feet above the water-plane between shore and island. In a minute or so it roared over me, circled the point, and came down in the open field that faced the Deacon's cottage. Dogs and chickens flew and ran in great confusion as it swooped to earth. I knew that Harry and his new flier had reached the island of Deacon Joe, and I hurried ashore to see--well, 'to see what I could see,' as the old song has it. Harry jumped from his seat. The hired man ran toward him. Deacon Joe and Marie and a woman-servant hurried out-of-doors. "In less time than it takes to tell it, Harry had licked the hired man, and kicked two dogs in the belly till they ran for life, and shot another one, and was chasing a second hired man around the wood-shed. Not being able to run fast enough to do further damage, Harry came to the astonished group in front of the house and caught Marie in his arms and kissed her. "Then he turned to the Deacon, and said: 'Sir, I will keep off your island if you wish, but I do not propose to be bluffed when I come to pay my compliments to you and Marie.' [Illustration: "HE LOOKED LIKE A MAN WITH A WOODEN LEG"] "Deacon Joe was dumb with astonishment. The young minister came down out of his tree and walked slowly toward the group, with rags flapping over one extremity of his union-suit. He looked like a man with a wooden leg. "'How did ye get here?' Deacon Joe demanded of Harry. "'Jumped from the top of Delance's Hill and landed right here,' said the latter. "'In that awful-lookin' thing?' the Deacon asked, pointing with his cane and squinting at the big biplane. "'In that thing,' Harry answered. "'How long did it take ye?' "'About five minutes.' "'It's impossible,' said the Deacon, as he approached the biplane and began to look at it. "'But you'll see me jump back again in a little while,' Harry assured him. "'Geehanniker!' the Deacon exclaimed. 'Jumped from the top of Delance's Hill an' licked my caretaker an' chased a hired man an' sp'ilt two dogs an' treed the minister and kissed the lady o' the house--all in about ten minutes. I guess you're a good deal of a feller.' "It was the kind of thing that warmed the warrior soul of the Deacon. "'Hello--here's a dead dog,' said Harry. 'If you'll have one of the men bring me a shovel I'll bury him there in the garden. Meanwhile you may tell me how much I owe you for the two dogs.' "'I guess about twenty-five dollars,' said the Deacon. "'How much off for cash?' Harry asked. "'Wal, sir, if you ain't goin' to ask me to charge it, ten dollars would do,' the Deacon allowed. "'There's a wonderful power in cash,' said Harry, as he produced the money. "'You're gettin' some sense in your head,' said the Deacon.