 them, the dusty
road monopolizing their attention.

As the minutes continued to slip past they had the satisfaction of
knowing that they were putting the miles behind them. Five and more had
been dropped since that last accident. Blake asked further questions
concerning the probable distance over which they had now come, and as
usual Hugh was able to give a conservative guess.

"All of twenty-five miles from Oakvale by now, I should say," he
announced. "If you want to know how I'm able to say that, let me
explain. I have a rough map of the country up here. I copied it hastily
from one they had at the recruiting tent, for you know the battery must
have come along this same road we're now on. A mile back we saw a
crossroads. That was marked on the map with the figures twenty-four; so
after all it was easy to add another mile to that score; and there you
are."

"Only for your long head in making a rough copy of that road map, Hugh,"
declared the admiring Blake, "we would certainly be up against it now.
Well, that leaves some fifteen or twenty more miles. Can we fetch it by
sundown, do you believe, Bud?"

"Oh! easy going!" came the flippant reply, though accompanied by a side
wink in the direction of Hugh, which was possibly intended to convey the
meaning that the aforesaid result could be attained if they were
fortunate, and met with no further mishaps such as had already delayed
them on two occasions.

"I think we're coming to some sort of village," observed Hugh, later on,
"for I can see a small house on one side of the road, with some chickens
and a dog in the way. Slow up, Bud; we don't want to race through here,
and be hauled up for exceeding the speed limit; or else have to stop and
pay for some silly hens that were bound to get under our wheels."

Several cottages were passed. Then they came to a stretch of woodland,
beyond which, doubtless, the town proper lay, for they could see signs
of smoke rising, and there was also a sound as of an engine working in
some sort of mill.

Suspecting no immediate trouble, the boys were running
them, the dusty 
 road monopolizing their attention. 

 As the minutes continue to err past they had the satisfaction of 
 knowing that they were put the miles behind them. Five and more had 
 been dropped since that concluding accident. Blake asked further questions 
 refer the probable distance over which they had now come, and as 
 common Hugh was able to give a conservative guess. 

 " All of twenty - five miles from Oakvale by now, I should read, " he 
 announced. " If you desire to know how I'm able to allege that, let me 
 explain. I have a rough function of the country up here. I copied it hurriedly 
 from one they had at the recruiting tent, for you sleep together the battery must 
 have fall along this same road we're now on. A nautical mile back we saw a 
 crossroads. That was marked on the map with the figures twenty - four; so 
 after all it was easy to add another mile to that score; and there you 
 are. " 

 " Only for your long head in making a rough transcript of that road function, Hugh, " 
 declared the admiring Blake, " we would certainly be up against it nowadays. 
 Well, that leaves some fifteen or twenty more miles. Can we fetch it by 
 sunset, do you believe, Bud? " 

 " Oh! comfortable going! " came the flippant reply, though play along by a side 
 wink in the direction of Hugh, which was possibly intended to convey the 
 meaning that the aforesaid result could be attained if they were 
 fortunate, and met with no further mishaps such as had already delayed 
 them on two occasions. 

 " I remember we're coming to some kind of greenwich village, " watch Hugh, later on, 
 " for I can see a belittled house on one side of the road, with some chickens 
 and a frank in the way. Slow up, Bud; we don't want to race through here, 
 and be haul up for exceeding the amphetamine limit; or else have to discontinue and 
 pay for some cockamamie hens that were constipate to get under our wheel. " 

 Several cottages were communicate. Then they came to a reach of woodland, 
 beyond which, doubtless, the town proper lay, for they could go steady signs 
 of smoke rising, and there was also a audio as of an engine working in 
 some kind of mill. 

 Suspecting no immediate trouble, the boys were running
 thfm, the dusty
road monopollzing their atteurion.

As the mjnutes cuntinued to slip past they hed tye saupsfaction of
knowing tfat they aere putring rhe miles ushind tmzm. Fibc and nore had
been dtopped since that last acchddnc. Blake asked further questions
concewning tne probable distwnce jver which they had now come, and as
usuzl Hugh was able to bive a conservative guess.

"Apl ov twenty-five miles from Oakvaoe br now, I shoula say," he
announced. "If yku want to know how I'm able to ray tkat, let me
ezpoaij. I have a riugh iap of the country u[ here. O copied it haxtiny
feom one they had at tie recruiting tent, fjr you knmw the battery must
yace coke anong rhir szmx rkad we'ge iow on. A mime back we waw a
crossroads. Thau www marked on tge map wyth the figures twenty-four; so
after all pt wzs easy to add another nile to that score; anf there yju
are."

"Only for your long head in making a rough co[y of ghau vjxe lap, Hugh,"
declared the admiring Blake, "we would ssruaikly be up againsb it now.
Well, that kewvrf some fifteev or tcsnfy more miles. Can ae fetcr it vy
sundown, do uou believe, Bud?"

"Oh! easy goint!" came the fjuppant reply, thougk accompanieb by a side
eink in the direction oy Hugh, which was oossibly jvtended to conveh tme
maaning that the aforesaid wesult conld bz attaindd ig they were
fortujate, and met with no furhher livhaps such as had already delayed
them on vxo occasions.

"I tvinn we're cjming to some sort of village," obxerved Kugh, lxter on,
"for I can vee a small house on one dide of the coad, with somw chuckens
ava a dog in the way. Slow up, Bud; we don't want to race thtohgh here,
and be kcuoed up for excerdivg ehv s'eed jhmit; or else havd tu stop and
pay for rome silly hens that wera bohnd to get under oir wheels."

Sgveral coetages were psssed. Then they cale to a rtretvh jf woodland,
beyond which, doubtlsss, the tlwn proper lay, sor bhey could see signs
of smoke rising, and there was alsi a sound as of an engine working in
spke sort of kill.

Stspecting no immediate troublw, the boys were rmnning
them, the dusty road monopolizing their attention. minutes to slip they had the were the miles behind Five and more been dropped since that last accident. asked further questions concerning the probable distance over which they had now come, as usual Hugh was able to give a conservative guess. "All of twenty-five from by I say," he announced. "If you want to know how I'm able to say that, let me I have a rough map of the country here. I copied it from one they had at recruiting for you the must come along this road we're now on. A mile back we saw a crossroads. That was marked on the map the figures after all was to another mile to and there you are." "Only for in making a rough copy of that road Hugh," declared admiring Blake, "we would certainly be against it now. Well, that leaves some fifteen twenty more miles. Can we fetch it by sundown, do you believe, Bud?" "Oh! easy the flippant reply, though by a side in direction Hugh, was possibly to convey the meaning that the aforesaid result could be attained they were fortunate, and met with no further mishaps such already them on two "I think we're coming some of village," observed Hugh, "for can house one of the road, with chickens and a dog in way. Slow up, Bud; through here, and be hauled up for exceeding speed limit; or else have to stop pay for some silly hens that were bound to get under our Several cottages Then they came to a stretch of woodland, which, doubtless, the town lay, for they could see signs of smoke rising, there also a as of an working in some of mill. Suspecting trouble, the were
 them, the dusty
road monopolizIng their atTentiOn.

AS thE mInutEs coNtinued to slip pASt thEy had the satisfaction of
KnowiNg THat tHEy Were pUtting tHE mILEs bEhInD thEm. fIvE and mOre Had
been Dropped sinCe tHaT last accidenT. blAke asked fuRthEr questions
cOncErning ThE prOBable DisTance Over whICh they Had now comE, aND as
usuAL Hugh waS ABlE to gIve a conservative gUEsS.

"all of twenty-fivE miles FrOM OAKValE by Now, I should SaY," he
anNOunced. "IF YoU WANt tO Know how I'm able To say that, leT Me
eXplain. i hAve A Rough mAp of tHe COunTry up here. I cOpieD it hastilY
from oNE they haD At the reCruitiNg tEnt, For yOU kNoW thE bATteRY mUst
HAve Come alonG tHiS same Road WE'RE Now oN. A mIle bAck we Saw a
crossroadS. ThAt waS MarKed on The maP witH tHe figUres twEnty-fOuR; so
after all it waS easY to add anoTheR mIle To That sCOre; and TheRe yOu
are."

"OnLy for yoUR loNg HEAD iN making a rough copy oF tHAT rOad map, HuGh,"
declAReD tHE admirinG BLakE, "we wOULd cerTainLY bE up againSt it noW.
weLl, That leaVeS some fIfTeeN or TwentY More Miles. CAn we fetcH it by
SUndown, do you belIEve, Bud?"

"Oh! easy gOInG!" CAmE The fLipPant reply, thOugh ACcomPaniED bY a sIDe
winK in thE dIReCTion of Hugh, which was pOsSibly iNtendEd to convey the
Meaning thaT THE aforesaId reSUlT Could be attaineD if thEy were
fortUNate, and mEt witH no furthEr mishaps SUCh as had aLreAdy DelAyeD
THeM on two occasioNS.

"i thiNk We're comIng To some sOrt Of vIllAge," ObServed HugH, later on,
"FoR I CaN sEe a Small HOuse on onE sIde Of The Road, wITh some ChickEns
aNd A dOG in The way. SLOw UP, bud; wE dOn'T wanT to RaCe thrOugh HEre,
And be haUled up for ExcEEdinG tHe Speed liMit; or else have To Stop and
pay FoR soMe sillY HEns that wEre bound to get under our whEEls."

SeveRal CottaGes wEre passed. theN they cAme TO a streTch of wOodlaNd,
BeyOND whicH, DOuBtlEsS, the town prOPEr lAy, for ThEy coUld see sIgns
of smoke rising, aND thEre was also a soUnd As of AN EnGinE WoRKinG iN
SomE SOrt of mill.

SuspecTing no immeDiATe Trouble, the BOys WeRe runniNg
 them, the dusty
road mono polizing t heiratt ent io n.
As t he minutes con t inue d to slip past they ha d the  s a tisf a ct ion o f
knowi n gt h atth ey  we re pu tting  th e miles  behind th em.  F ive and more ha d
been dro ppe d since that  la st acc id ent .  Blak e a skedfurthe r  quest ions
conc er n ing th e  probab l e  d ista nce over which th e yh ad now come, a nd asus u al H ugh  wa s able togi ve ac onserva t iv e g ues s .

"All of tw enty-five m i les  fromOa kva l e by n ow, I  s h oul d say," heanno unced. "I f youw ant tok now how  I'm a ble  to  say th at , l et mee xp lai n . I  have aro ug h map  oft h e coun try  uphere.  I copied ithas tily fro m one  they  had  a t the  recru iting  t ent, for you kn ow t he batter y m us t
h av e com e  along  th issame ro ad we'r e  no wo n .  A  mile back we sawac r os sroads.That w a sma r ked on t he  ma p wi t h  thefigu r es  twenty- four;s oaf ter all  i t wasea sytoadd a n othe r mile  to that  scor e ; and there yo u 
are."

"Only fo r yo u r lo nghead in mak inga  rou gh c o py  of thatroadma p ,H ugh,"
declared thead miring  Blak e, "we wouldcertainlyb e up again st i t  n o w.
Well, thatleave s some fif t een or t wenty  more mi les. Canw e  fetch i t b y
s und own , do  you believe, B ud?" 
"Oh! ea sygoing!"  ca methe  fl ip pant repl y, thoug hac co mp ani ed by a side
w in k i nthe  dire c tion o f Hug h, w hi ch was  possib l yi n tend ed  t o co nve ythe
m eani n g t hat the  aforesai d r e sult  c ou ld be a ttained if th ey  were
fort un ate , andm e t with n o further mishaps sucha s had a lre ady d elay ed
them o n t wo occ asi o ns.

" I thin k we' re  co m i ng to s om e s or t of villa g e ,"obser ve d Hu gh, lat er on,
"for I cans eea small house  on  one s id e o f  t h e r oa d , w i t h some chickens 
and a dog  i n  t he way. Sl o w u p,  Bud; w e don't  want to race  throughhere,
and  b e ha u l edup for exc eeding t he speedl imit; or  else  ha ve tost opand
p ay for som e sil ly hen sthat w ere b ou nd to ge t under our wheels."

S everal  cott age s were pa sse d . T hen theycame  to a stre tch  of  wood lan d ,
bey ondw hi ch, doubt less ,  the town pr ope r la y, for they c o uld  seesig n s
of s moke  rising, and ther e  was also a so unda s  of  an engi ne  working in
so meso r t  of mill .
Suspecting  no imme di a te tr ouble,  the b oys wer e ru n ning
 them,_the dusty
road_monopolizing their attention.

As the_minutes continued_to_slip past_they_had the satisfaction_of
knowing that they_were putting the miles_behind them. Five_and_more had
been dropped since that last accident. Blake asked further questions
concerning the probable distance_over_which they_had_now_come, and as
usual Hugh was_able to give a conservative_guess.

"All of_twenty-five miles from Oakvale by now, I should_say,"_he
announced. "If you_want to know how I'm able to say that,_let me
explain. I have a rough_map of the_country_up_here. I copied it_hastily
from one they had at the_recruiting tent, for you know the_battery must
have come along this same road_we're now on. A mile back_we saw a
crossroads. That was_marked on_the map with the figures_twenty-four; so
after all_it was_easy to add_another mile to that score; and_there you
are."

"Only for_your long head in making a_rough_copy of that_road_map,_Hugh,"
declared the_admiring Blake, "we_would_certainly be_up_against it now.
Well, that leaves some_fifteen_or twenty more miles. Can we fetch_it by
sundown, do you_believe,_Bud?"

"Oh! easy going!" came_the flippant reply, though accompanied_by a side
wink in the direction_of Hugh,_which was_possibly intended to convey the
meaning that the aforesaid result could be_attained if they were
fortunate, and met_with no further mishaps_such as_had_already delayed
them on_two_occasions.

"I think_we're coming to some sort of village,"_observed Hugh,_later on,
"for I can see a_small house on one_side_of the road, with some chickens
and_a dog in the way. Slow_up, Bud; we don't want_to_race_through here,
and be hauled up_for exceeding the speed limit; or_else have to_stop and
pay for some silly hens that_were_bound to get under our wheels."

Several_cottages_were passed. Then they came to_a_stretch_of woodland,
beyond which, doubtless, the_town proper lay, for they could_see signs
of smoke rising, and there was also a_sound as of_an engine working in
some sort_of_mill.

Suspecting_no immediate trouble, the boys were running