"None of your sass!" growled the man. "Be off, now, or I'll turn the dogs loose!"
With another took at the trampled rows of corn he went into the house, taking the lantern with him, and shutting the door after him. It seemed darker than ever in the farmyard with the light gone, and the rain was coming down in torrents.
"Nice prospect!" murmured George.
"What are we going to do?" asked Bert.
"He's the man with the original grouch all right," contributed Jack.
"Where'll we go?"
"Over this way!" called Tom, who had been looking about. "I think I see something like a gate leading into a lane. It may take us to a road. Come on."
They followed him, splashing through the mud puddles and darkness.
Then came a flash of lightning, which showed them the lane in question.
It did lead into the road, and a little later they were on the river
highway, headed toward the Hall.
"Let's run and get warmed up," proposed Bert, and they set off on a dog trot.
"I wonder if any of the others are as badly off as we are?" spoke Jack.
"I hope not," came from George.