"Maybe you'll be sorry you took the beast," Mr. Armstrong added. "He's tricky, but he can't do much with the ladder on his back. It's a great idea. Now if you want any more help let me know."
The boys promised that they would, and, bidding the farmer good-day they started off. The ladder was fastened to the donkey's back lengthwise, and rested on a pile of bagging so that it would not injure the animal. The front end stuck well up into the air, while the rear nearly dragged on the ground.
The path from the farmhouse to the camp was a fairly good one, and the boys had no difficulty in leading the donkey along. The beast went quietly enough, and Fenn remarked:
"I guess Mr. Armstrong didn't know how to treat this donkey. He's as gentle as a lamb."
"You're not out of the woods yet," observed Bart, which was true in a double sense.
However, they reached the camp without a mishap, and found Ned and Frank waiting for them.
CHAPTER XXVII
THE RUNAWAY DONKEY
That night the boys talked over all their plans. They agreed that if the next night was a stormy one they would try to rescue Mr. Roscoe. The donkey was tethered outside the tent, and seemed satisfied with his surroundings. The boys patted him and fed him on all sorts of dainties, from sugar to pancakes made from quick-raising flour.
"Might as well keep on the good side of him," observed Fenn. "He's got quite a trip ahead of him."
They decided to start off early in the morning and take the ladder to the edge of the sanitarium grounds, hiding it in the woods.