“So do I,” agreed Chot. “Anyhow, I’m glad we got Ruddy along.”
Rick was, too, and he gently pulled the ears of his four-footed chum, at which sign of affection Ruddy tried to wash Rick’s face with that ever-busy red tongue.
It grew very dark as they progressed along the quiet back-country road, and Mr. Campbell drove carefully, scanning the highway as it was revealed to him in the glare of his powerful headlights.
“I think we’re going to have another storm, boys,” he remarked.
There was a flashing of distant lightning and a rumble of thunder, at which sound Ruddy pricked up his ears.
“Think it’ll come before we get to Elmwood?” asked Rick.
“I hope not. I don’t fancy being on a dirt road in a rain,” was the answer. “But I think we must be nearly there.”
“I just saw a sign post!” exclaimed Chot as they flashed past one. “Shall I get out and see what it says?”
“If you wouldn’t mind,” suggested Mr. Campbell.
He stopped the car and Rick and Chot, accompanied by Ruddy ran back, for the boys said they wanted to “stretch their legs” that were cramped from long sitting in the car.