“All _right_,” said Hike. “Then just wait a minute till my wireless-man gets into communication with Washington, and I’ll have General Thorne come down and black my shoes!” “And now comes the worst part,” sighed the Lieutenant, suddenly looking out over the desert. “We must bury the poor devils out there—must have been forty of them wiped out by that infernal machine-gun. Let’s pray that we never fight except to bring peace, as we did here.” “Amen,” said Hike, reverently. CHAPTER XXVI A KITE FOR WATCH-TOWER “Hike!” cried Lieutenant Adeler, suddenly. “There’s a horrible possibility. Most of the revolutionists are going northwest—and the Widow Barston’s rancho is off in that direction—they’d never notice it ordinarily, but they’re sure to, the way they’re going. Mighty few men on it—it’s run by Mrs. Barston and her daughter.” “You think—they’d attack, just to get even?” “I’m afraid so.” “Gee—we’ll have to go help them,” cried Hike. “I’m sorry we let Duros and his men go. How if I hurried after them, in the _Hustle_, and brought them back?” Hike’s suggestion didn’t seem to lessen the anxiety of the Lieutenant, who sighed, “Nothing doing. Remember—they’ve got orders to report back to Torreas as soon as they can.” “Say, how if we—we two and maybe a couple of cowpunchers—went over to the Widow’s ranch, in the _Hustle_, and hovered over it—just the sight of the machine would scare off any stragglers.” “Good idea—but, no, we haven’t got much gasoline left.” “That’s so,” admitted Hike. “Not enough to hover for long. But SAY! Hover—hover—that gives me an idea. Get into the _Hustle_.” “What?” “Yump. Come on. Will you? Would you mind? I’ve got a way to protect the Widow’s ranch, and it won’t take _any_ gasoline, after we get there! We’ll try the greatest experiment the _Hustle_ has ever been put through!” “All _right_!” laughed the Lieutenant. Five minutes later, he was driving the tetrahedral toward the Widow’s rancho. “Please bring her down in the ranch-yard,” directed Hike. The Lieutenant did so—wondering what this experiment was to be. Hike explained. Martin Priest had told him, once, that the tetrahedral was the only aeroplane with so much stability that it could be used as a kite, a real kite. Anchored to the ground, with a long, heavy rope, it would probably float there, as long as the anchor held, float up there happily forever, without even an engine aboard. But no one had ever quite dared to try it, before. It had to be tried now. They had to save the Widow Barston from the hungry, angry, straggling bands of rebels. Out from the low, rough ranch-house, as they landed, came running a thin-faced, frightened woman, and her old maid daughter. Both were dressed in calico. They carried shotguns. “Lieutenant Adeler—God bless you!” the mother shouted. “We were afraid the rebels were going to get us. Two have been sneaking around here.” “We’ll watch for them. Have you some spare fence-wire?” asked Jack Adeler, quickly.