Part 39 (1/2)
At last the boys reached the spot where they had come out of the woods after leaving the _Dartaway_ and skirting the swamp.
”Have you a lantern on the wagon?” asked d.i.c.k, of Ike Henry.
”Yes, sah.”
”Then we'll have to buy or borrow it, my man. Supposing I give you two dollars for the use of the horses and another dollar for the lantern, how will that strike you?”
”Dat's all right, boss,” answered Ike Henry, who remembered that the lantern had cost but seventy-five cents.
d.i.c.k pa.s.sed over the bills and received the lantern, which was filled with oil, and also a box of matches, which Ike Henry chanced to carry.
”Wot you-all gwine to do now?” asked the colored man, as he prepared to hitch up his team again.
”We are going back into the woods, where we left our flying machine,”
answered Tom.
”You-all be careful dat yo' don't git in de swamp. Dat am a terribul bad spot.”
”We'll be careful.”
”Tell me, where does that mainroad on the other side of the river run to?” put in d.i.c.k.
”Dat road?” queried Ike Henry. ”Dat way or dat way?” and he motioned first to the east and then to the west.
”I mean to the westward.”
”Why, dat's de way to git to Sherodburg an' Fremville.”
”Do you know how far those places are?”
”Sherodburg am 'bout eight miles; Fremville am 'bout twenty or moah.”
”All right. Come on, boys,” said d.i.c.k. ”Good night, Ike.”
”Good night, sah! Much erbliged!” cried the aged colored man. ”Hope yo'-all dun catch dem rascals,” he added earnestly.
”We'll do our best,” answered Tom.
In a few seconds more the Rover boys had plunged into the woods. Here it was quite dark, and d.i.c.k took the lead, holding the lantern close to the ground, so that he might follow the trail he and his brothers had made on leaving the _Dartaway_. All were gratified to find that the wind had died down completely.
”I don't know how a run in the darkness will go,” said d.i.c.k. ”But we can try it. But I don't see how we are to steer.”
”I've got my pocket compa.s.s with me,” answered Sam. ”That may help some.
We know those towns are west of us. We can sail along until we see the lights and then go down and ask about the touring car.”
”A good idea, Sam.”