"Well, they may take a cut there. However, it doesn't matter," said
Tom.
It was beginning to get dusk now, the September days being short. There were about five miles of the run left when the four lads paused at a wayside farmhouse located at the fork of the highway to make sure they were on the right route to reach the river road.
"Yes, you kin git to it this way," remarked a tall, lanky lad, who was hanging over the front gate, seemingly waiting for someone. "There's a bad hill, though."
"Is there any other road to the river?" asked Tom.
"Yes, you kin cut through the woods, and it's level all the way," was the answer. "I'd take that road."
"But we don't want a shorter way," said Tom quickly. "We're doing a school endurance run," he explained, "and we have to cover just so many miles. We don't want to cheat."
"Oh, you won't cheat," chuckled the farm lad. "If any thing it's longer through them woods," and he pointed to a patch of forest just ahead. "There's a wagon road through them trees, that comes out on the river road. The only difference is that it cuts off the hill."
"Then let's take it!" suggested Jack. "I hate hills, and it's all right as long as we cover the distance. There's no more checking to be done until we hit the gym. I say let's take to the woods."
"All right," agreed Tom. "Is the path a plain one?" he asked the lad.
"We don't want to get lost."
"Oh, yes, it's plain enough. A couple of other fellows passed here a while ago, and I told them about it."