He felt, the moment he
realized how much to heart Joe had taken the accident, a sense of
sincere sympathy for the lad.
Placing his hand on Joe's shoulder, he said: "My boy, what counts
most is the way you have worked to get that old machine into flying
shape, and the fact that you were ready and willing to have a shot
at flying her, with all your inexperience. Those things show keenness,
enthusiasm, and pluck. A flying man has to possess nerve. He has to
take chances sometimes. You did the best you could do. The fact
that you were inexperienced was against you, but in failing to get
through without accident you gained experience. I do not care half
so much about the machine as you might think. I might have left it
unrepaired if you boys had not taken on the job. Don't feel so
badly, my boy."
Joe had difficulty in finding his voice. "But, sir," he said in
a low tone, "the boys had looked forward so much to getting a chance
to learn to fly on the old bus. Now that is all knocked into a
cocked hat.
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