us," said Dick; and so it was
arranged, Dick and Sam getting on the back of one steed and Tom and Ike
Henry on the other. The boys asked the colored man about telephone
connections, but he could give them little information excepting to
state that his employer had no such convenience.

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 Dick, 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.

Dick passed 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 Dick.

"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 Dick. "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 Dick 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 Dick. "But we can
try it. But I don't see how we are to steer."

"I've got my pocket compass 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