There was a sliding swish, a vast cracking of branches.
His weight dropped one end of the ironing board. It landed against a big branch, and Andy found himself safely anchored in the tree top.
CHAPTER IX
GOOD-BYE TO FAIRVIEW
Looking back at the attic window, Andy Wildwood wondered how he had ever made the successful descent.
Any boy lacking his sense of athletic precision would have scored a dangerous fall. Andy now slowly worked his way down thrown the branches of the tree. He got a few sharp scratches, but was vastly pleased with himself when he landed safely on the ground.
"Good-bye to Fairview!" he spoke with a stimulating sense of freedom, waving his hand across the scene in general. "I may not come back rich or famous, but I shall have seen the world."
Andy did not turn in the direction of Centreville. He felt of the pocket containing his father's watch and the little box, and then headed straight for Millville.
That was where the big scholar, Graham, lived. It was five miles away.
Graham boarded with the farmer who had bought Mr. Dale's cow and calf.
Andy had kept Graham in mind ever since he had agreed to pay for burning up the hay stack. It was about two o'clock when he reached his destination.