"So we are," declared Dave, somewhat sharply.
"I hope we can go up to the Adirondacks in the autos," said Laura, eagerly. "It will surely make a splendid trip."
"If we go in the autos who is going to drive?" questioned Jessie.
"I'll run our car, and I suppose Dave will run this one," answered Ben. "But we can change off with the other fellows if we want to."
The top of a small hill had been reached, and now the automobile glided down the other side in the direction of the river road. Here the way narrowed a trifle, and Dave had to give all his attention to the running of the car. As the automobile turned in toward the stream, they passed several other touring-cars, and then came in sight of a horse attached to a buggy, the two wheels of which were deep in a ditch.
"Hello! That's Mr. Aaron Poole's buggy!" exclaimed Dave.
"Yes. But it is Nat who is driving," returned Ben.
Mr. Aaron Poole was a rich money-lender, who lived not far from Crumville, and who had a son Nat, who had gone to Oak Hall with Dave and Ben. Mr. Poole was a very grasping man, and in the past he and the Porters had had a number of differences. Nat had been almost as overbearing as his father, but during the early part of the summer he had told Dave that he was going to turn over a new leaf. And since that time our hero had heard that the money-lender's son was quite a different sort of a boy, and growing better every day.
"Hello, Nat! What's the trouble?" questioned Dave, as he brought the automobile to a standstill beside the buggy.
"Trouble enough!" grumbled the money-lender's son. "Did you notice those automobiles that just went by?"