Part 10 (1/2)
interrupted Tom. And then he went on:
”I love to swim upon the sand, And dance upon the brine, And write my name in salty waves, And hope for dinner time To come, so I can eat my fill Of sea-foam snaps and cream; And stand upon the quarter-deck A halfback of the team!”
”Humph! do you call that poetry?” snorted Songbird. ”It sounds as much like it as a dog's bark sounds like a hymn!”
”Well, it would be a 'him' if he was a gentleman dog!” retorted Tom, and then Songbird turned away in momentary disgust. But soon his good humor returned and Tom and the others allowed him to ”spout poetry” to his heart's content.
It had been arranged that the Rovers, Dora, and the Laning girls should meet at the Ashton depot, and it is needless to say that the three boys were on time. They were alone, for Songbird and Stanley and some of their other chums were going to take different trains.
”Don't forget to let me hear from you this summer!” said Songbird, on parting.
”Oh, we'll be sure to write,” answered d.i.c.k. ”Come and see me-if you get anywhere near my home,” said Stanley.
”We'll remember that,” returned Tom.
The boys were taken to Ashton depot in an automobile belonging to the college. Their trunks and dress-suit cases had preceded them, and as soon as they arrived they had their baggage checked straight through to Oak Run.
”I see the girls' trunks,” announced Sam, who had been looking the pile of baggage over. ”We could get them checked, too, if we had their tickets.”
”Wonder where the girls are?” came from Tom, as he looked at his watch.
”How much time, Tom?”
”Ten minutes yet-and this train will most likely be late.”
Rather impatiently the Rover boys walked up and down the platform.
Presently they saw one of the Hope carryalls coming and went to meet it.
”They aren't in that,” cried Sam, disappointedly.
”Another carriage coming from Hope?” queried Tom, of the carryall driver.
”Two of 'em,” was the reply.
The second carriage arrived a minute later. It contained six girls and among them was Grace.
”Dora and Nellie are in the last carriage,” announced the younger Laning girl. ”I came on ahead to get the trunks and bags checked.”
”We'll do that,” answered Sam promptly. ”Got the railroad tickets?”
”Yes, here they are,” and Grace handed the tickets over.
It took several minutes to check the baggage, for the agent was busy, and all of the Rovers gave a hand in s.h.i.+fting the heavy trunks out to a place close to the tracks. Then d.i.c.k looked at his watch.
”Time for the train now,” he announced. ”Wonder why that carriage doesn't get here?”
”d.i.c.k is getting nervous,” said Sam, with a wink.