“Do you ever see any more of Roy Bock and his crowd?” asked Pepper.
“No, and we don’t wish to see them,” answered Flossie, with a toss of her curly head.
After the games there was music on the piano and singing, and then some more refreshments, and all too quickly it was time for the boys to return to the Hall. All said they had had a splendid time.
“I am glad to hear it,” said Mrs. Ford. “And do not forget to come again.”
It was still light when the boys leaped on their bicycles and started along the forest road for Putnam Hall. All were in high spirits, and Andy, in front, set a pace which the others followed with difficulty.
“Be careful,” sang out Jack. “This road is none of the best.”
“Oh, it’s all right,” answered the acrobatic youth. “Come on!” And he pushed ahead as hard as ever.
“I think this road is better than it used to be,” said Pepper, after a mile and a half had been covered. “They must have——”
A crash ahead caused him to cut his speech short. They saw Andy fly over the handle-bars of his machine and land in some thick bushes. The bicycle spun around in the roadway and then fell, with the front wheel completely wrecked.
“Are you hurt, Andy?” asked Jack, slackening his pace just in time.