sked Tom.

"Yes, you kin cut through the woods, and it's level all the way," was
the answer. "I'd take that road."

"But we don't want a _shorter_ way," said Tom quickly. "We're doing a
school endurance run," he explained, "and we have to cover just so many
miles. We don't want to cheat."

"Oh, you won't cheat," chuckled the farm lad. "If any thing it's
longer through them woods," and he pointed to a patch of forest just
ahead. "There's a wagon road through them trees, that comes out on the
river road. The only difference is that it cuts off the hill."

"Then let's take it!" suggested Jack. "I hate hills, and it's all
right as long as we cover the distance. There's no more checking to be
done until we hit the gym. I say let's take to the woods."

"All right," agreed Tom. "Is the path a plain one?" he asked the lad.
"We don't want to get lost."

"Oh, yes, it's plain enough. A couple of other fellows passed here a
while ago, and I told them about it."

"Sam Heller, and Nick, I'll wager!" exclaimed Bert.

"Sure," assented Jack. "Much obliged," he called to the farm lad, as
the four struck off toward the woods.

"Maybe you won't be--after a bit," murmured the lad, as he turned away
from the gate, a twinkle coming into his pig-like eyes. "I earned that
dollar easy enough--jest directin' 'em to the wood-road," and he looked
at a bill crumpled in his hand. "I never made money any easier. Them
two fellers, jest ahead, who told me to direct the next bunch into the
woods, must have lots of coin. I guess it'll be a while afore them
four lads strike the river, goin' through the woods," and, chuckling,
he went into the house, after a look at Tom and his chums.

"Say it's going to be dark before we get back," remarked George, when
they were well within the woods. "I wonder if we can see?"

"Sure," asserted Tom. "The trees are cut away at the top and it's
going to be moonlight a little later. This is a good road, and, even
if it's longer than the other, we cut off a big hill. We can explain
how we came to take it, and it's fair as long as we do the distance."

"If we only get in on time," murmured Bert.

"Oh, I guess we will," said Jack.

Together they jogged on. It became more and more dark, and, as the
wood road was not in the best of condition, they stumbled over roots
and tree branches. But, as Tom said, it was light enough to see their
way fairly well.

"Say!" exclaimed Jack, after nearly