"Giddap," retorted Dr. Bentley, giving his machine a start. "I helped introduce four of you boys to this world, so I'm in a measure responsible for you."
"Stop at the drug store, Joe," Dick called out, as the horses were started.
"Say, wasn't that fine of Dr. Bentley?" glowed Dick, as they rode along.
"Sure," nodded Dan, "but our folks will find it somewhere in their bills, between now and summer."
"Dan, for that," warned Prescott, "we'll wash your face in the first snow that falls out in the woods."
"We surely will," confirmed Tom Reade.
The stop at the drug store was made, whereby the cash capital was lowered by eighty cents. Then Dick & Co. were off in earnest.
So late had the start been made that the boys did not expect to reach their log cabin until after two o'clock. Over Christmas most of the snow had disappeared. There was not enough for good sledding, but just enough to make the going on wheels rather difficult.
Before noon, appetite asserted itself. Fortunately the boys had brought along lunches for use on the road. These were devoured with much relish, Joe Miller, of course, being invited to share with them.
By one o'clock the horses headed into the forest. For the first mile or so there was a fair sort of road, but after that it dwindled down to something more like a trail.