The man nodded.
They sat off quite cheerily. Automobiles passed them and carriages containing ladies, one or two loaded trucks. Jack began to get very tired and lagged. “Come, hurry up,” the biggest boy said. Jack ran a little distance for a change. He began to wish he was back in school. Presently a farm wagon came jogging along.
“Give us a ride?” The biggest boy’s name was Dick and he seemed the spokesman.
“Yes—where ye want to go?”
“To Newton.”
“I turn off at the crossroads, ye kin ride that fur.”
That was a great relief. They were quite jolly again, though Jack didn’t understand the fun. But when they dismounted, Dick asked him where he lived.
“Well, that’s clear over there,” indicating it with his head. “Ta ta, little sonny.”
They both laughed and Jack felt rather affronted. Over there seemed a long way. Then it was clouding up and night was coming on. He went straight along, but now he was hungry, and his little legs ached. He had been instructed if he was ever lost to ask the way to Arch Street. So he asked now.