He stretched, rolled out of his fragrant bed and, brushing the wisps of hay from his hair, stepped out into the glow of the sun. His first care was to feel in his pocket to see if the carburetor parts, that had cost him all his trouble, were safe. They were all right, and then Ned began to think of breakfast and getting home. He feared his parents would be worried over his absence.
“Doesn’t seem to be a very thickly settled locality around here,” observed Ned, taking a survey and seeing nothing but fields and woods in the distance. “I guess I’m in for a long walk for breakfast. And I’ve got to push that motor. I can’t fix the tire with what tools I have along. Well, there’s no help for it, and I suppose it will give me a good appetite.”
He found Mr. Wakefield’s motor where it had been left, covered with hay to keep off the dew. Ned rolled it out into the road and then, hearing the musical tinkle of a brook near by, he bethought that a wash and a drink of cool water would not come amiss.
He found a clear sparkling little meadow stream. It raced and bubbled its way over the white pebbles, and between banks of green grass and moss.
“That looks good,” thought Ned, as he stretched out at full length on his face and took a long drink. Then he found a shallow little basin, scooped out of a stone where the water formed a pool, and there he washed and felt much refreshed.
“I’m still in the dark as to whether I’m on the right road or not,” thought Ned. “But it’s daylight now, and I might as well keep going this way until I meet some one to inquire of.”
So he started off. He was hungry and wished very much for something to eat. It was no fun pushing the heavy motor cycle along the dusty road, but Ned dared not leave it behind on the highway for fear something might happen to it.
He had gone about a mile, perhaps, when down the road he saw a farm wagon, to which was hitched a team of horses, approaching.
“Here comes some one at last,” Ned thought, “and I may get a lift.”
“Hello bub!” exclaimed the driver of the horses, a jolly-looking blue-eyed farmer, when the wagon came opposite Ned. “Had a smash up?”