“Looks like danger,” observed Bob.
“There’s some kind of a sign,” said Ned. “I’ll get out and read it.”
With his pocket flashlight he inspected a placard that was tacked on the big sawhorse.
“It says the bridge just ahead is being repaired, and can’t be used,” Ned called back to his chums. “And it says to go back half a mile, and take the road to the left.”
“Well, if this isn’t luck!” cried Jerry. “Will we ever get to Boxwood Hall?”
“There’s no help for it,” remarked Ned. “We can’t go over a dangerous bridge, that’s sure. The only thing to do is to go back. It won’t delay us much, as the road the sign mentions isn’t a five minutes’ ride back.”
“No, but it may take us on a roundabout way,” objected Jerry. “That’s what I’m thinking of. But I guess it’s the only thing we can do. I reckon the garage man didn’t know about the bridge.”
So back they turned for the second time, and, following the directions, they took the road to the left, speeding along as fast as they dared.
“Who proposed this auto trip, anyhow?” grumbled Ned.
“I did,” confessed Jerry. “But I guess it would have been better to have come by train, and have had a chauffeur bring our car on later. I’m sorry, fellows, that——”