"Well, thank goodness we come!" said Bill. "Now you have something to gas about besides accidents and murders."
A moment later Modo came hurrying through the gate on his wheel. He dismounted, and flashing his bright and friendly smile mounted the running-board of the car.
"They are going to make a big fuss over my birthday," he said, "and some medals have been struck off to commemorate it. I thought you might each like one since you won't be here to the party. I am to give them out and pin them on myself." He fastened glittering medals on Lawrence, Bill and Hank as he spoke.
"There!" he said. "Don't forget me! Good-bye! It was great fun to be just a boy. Good-bye, Lawrence! Don't you forget to write and send me all the football news!"
He mounted his wheel and disappeared for the last time.
"And they says," murmured Hank, "they says 'Whatcher got on?' and I says, 'Where?' and they says, 'Why, that breas'pin!' and I says, 'Oh, a little decoration the Crown Prince of Morania gimme.' Big stuff, eh?" he prodded Bill gaily.
"These are beauties all the same," said Lawrence, "and here comes Mr. Ridgeway."
Talking in "close formation," as you might say, they displayed their medals and recounted their incident. Mr. Ridgeway also had a medal, and another decoration as well: a broad purple ribbon with a gold Greek Cross blazing with jewels. It was to signify that he had been made a member of the Order of the Crown. "For bringing back the jewels," he explained, laughing.
"When do we start home, Mr. Ridgeway?" asked Hank.
"Do you men want to look around the city for an hour or so?"
"I don't," said Hank. "I seen it from above, and there's no use wasting time."
"All right then; we will go back to the dirigible and start for our little baby republic. I should have made that my first errand, but this saves a few hundred miles, and I want to get to England as soon as I can."
As they rolled along toward the aviation field, Mr. Ridgeway outlined their plans.
He was anxious for a rest. After visiting the President of the new republic, he wanted Hank and Bill to drop Lawrence and himself down at the country house where Mrs. Ridgeway was staying. There they would stop until the dirigible was in order. Then one of them could report and Mr. Ridgeway would motor over to the plane and look it over. They could then divide, and take the ships back to the United States.