“Opened less than a week ago,” answered his uncle. “Now watch sharp if you want to win that prize.”
On and on sped the two automobiles. Seven miles more were covered, and then they turned sharply to the left and mounted a long hill thickly wooded on either side. At the top of the hill both automobiles came to a stop.
“Why, I declare!” stammered Fred. “It’s Dexter’s Corners! There is the Swift River and there’s the railroad station at Oak Run! Why, we’re going to Valley Brook Farm!”
“Right-o!” sang out his uncle. And then he tooted the horn three times. At the same time the horn from the other automobile sounded out.
“Hello, they’ve discovered it too!” burst out Mary.
“Hurrah for Valley Brook Farm!” shouted Randy.
“What do you know about this?” came from the other automobile, in Jack’s voice. “Some surprise, eh? We’re going to have our Thanksgiving turkey on the farm.” And then he added quickly: “Will father and mother be there?”
“Yes, they’re coming up on the early morning train to-morrow,” answered his Uncle Sam.
In a minute more they had passed across the river in the direction of Dexter’s Corners. Then they struck the old road leading to the farm where great-uncle Randolph and great-aunt Martha resided, and where Dick, Tom and Sam had spent so much time when their father, Anderson Rover, had been lost in the jungles of Africa.
“My, but the old place certainly looks good to me!” cried Jack, as they rolled up, both machines sounding their horns loudly.