“There you go again—the eternal question!” complained Jack. “We’ll have to go back, that’s all, I guess.”
“I don’t like to,” said Tom. “Let’s have another try for the road. That row of trees over there looks like it.” He pointed to a row dimly visible through the storm.
“Well, come on, one more try,” assented Jack, and though there was some grumbling, none of Tom’s followers deserted him.
On they floundered through the snow, only to find, when they go to the trees, that they were on the edge of a gully.
“But I know where we are, at any rate,” declared Bert. “I believe I can find our way back to school from here, even if I can’t lead you to town.”
“All right, then do it,” assented Tom wearily, for he was tired, and rather chagrined at the failure of his plan. “But, one thing, fellows, if we do go back we’ve got to make a showing.”
“How?” asked several voices.
“We’ll burn Skeel in effigy before we go in, and then they can do as they like to us.”
“Hurray!”
“That’s what!”