"Well, we're pretty smart boys," said Roy. "Break it to us gently, and let us hear the worst."
"Baout five mile 'f ye take th' hill rud."
"Gracious, goodness me!" said Roy, "are they all the same length?"
"Haouw?"
"The miles; lads, I'm just reckless enough to do it."
"Wall," drawled their informant, "Ye go 'long this rud t'l ye come t' a field whar thar's a red caouw, then ye cut right through th' middle uv it 'n' go on over a stun wall 'n' ye'll come to a woods rud. Ye foller that t'l ye come to a side path on the left on it that goes up hill. Black Lake's t'other side that hill. Ye got to pick yer way up through the woods 'long that path if ye kin foller it, 'n' when ye git t' the top ye kin look daown 'n' see th' lake, but ye'll have a smart climb gettin' daown th' hill."
"That's us," said Roy. "Thanks—thanks very much."
When they had gone a little way he halted Tom and Pee-wee with a dramatic air.
"Lads," said he, "we've got the Motor Boat Heroes and the Dauntless Chums and Submarine Sam beaten to a frazzle! We're the Terrible Trio Series, volume two million. Lads, get out your dirks and keep up stout hearts. We have to cut through the middle of a red cow! That man said so!"
Three-quarters of an hour more along an apparently disused road and they came upon a trail which was barely discernible, leading up a steep and densely wooded hill. In places they had to climb over rugged terraces, extricating themselves from such mazes of tangled underbrush as they had never before seen. Now and then the path seemed to peter out and they found it again with difficulty and only by the skilful use of scout tracking lore. The long, steep climb was filled with difficulties, but they pressed on amazed at the wildness all about them.