He had expected not more than one hundred negroes. That would have been a crowd that he could manage; but when he found exactly three times that number, the assemblage looked to him too much like a mob—or at least it looked like it might be easily converted into one. Hitch Diamond rose to his feet. “Brudders, dar is a cullud pusson here to-night who is come on a important job. He is de only nigger in dis country whut ever went up in a airship. He has had plenty expe’unce as a flyin’ man, an’ he has come to learn us all how to fly up!” “Whar we gwine fly to?” a voice spoke up. “Wharever you wants to go,” Hitch Diamond answered. At this point Pap Curtain rose to his feet. “Is dis here nigger a member of our lodge, Mr. Pres’dunt?” he snarled. “Naw, suh.” “Is dis here some new degree we takes in dis lodge?” Pap persisted. “Naw, suh.” “Well, whut is dis about?” “Ef you’ll set down, Pap,” Hitch growled, “an’ let our visitin’ brudder tell his bizzness in his own way, mebbe you’ll git some information.” “I’s one of de bo’d of directors of dis here lodge,” Pap snarled. “Ef dar is any bizzness dat I ain’t seen about befo’hand, I’m ag’in’ it.” The lodge members showed impatience at this interruption. Pap had been a conscientious objector to nearly everything the lodge had ever undertaken. He was quick to notice their impatience, and sat down grumbling to himself. Red Cutt arose and fingered the three badges on his breast. Touching one particular badge by the corner, and holding it out so that the lodge could see, he announced: “Dis badge is marked ‘Information,’ an’ means dat I’m de man who answers questions an’ kin tell Pap Curtain whut he wants to know. Most of you knows my visit to dis town is to organize a school of flyin’ niggers. Some of you knows how to run automobiles, an’ so you kin ride over de country. I wants to learn you how to fly through de sky jes’ as easy as you walk on de ground. Atter you have got de lesson in yo’ mind, I will he’p you to buy a cheap airship from de gover’ment, an’ den you will be fixed jes’ like Gawd intended fer a nigger to be.” Pap Curtain sprang to his feet, waved his hat in the air, and exclaimed in a loud voice: “I’ve heard tell of dese flyin’ fellers, but I ain’t never seen one fly. Ef dis visitin’ brudder has come to give an exhibition I favors it!” “Dat’s whut he has come to do,” Hitch assured him. “Whar is yo’ flyin’-machine at?” Pap howled. “Out in de Little Moccasin prairie,” Red told him. “Less go out an’ take a look at it!” Pap exclaimed. “I favor it,” three hundred negroes shouted in a chorus. “I nominates myself to lead de peerade!” Vinegar Atts vociferated.