"All right," agreed Tom with a sigh. "I suppose you'll charge us
double, but we've got to expect that from such as you."

"What do you mean?" snapped, the man swinging his lantern up so he
could see Tom's face.

"You know what I mean! You don't seem to want to be reasonable. Now,
if it's all the same to you, will you kindly direct us to the right
road? And as soon as your bill comes in I'll settle it, though I want
to say that we had no idea of injuring your corn, and wouldn't have
gotten into your field but that we got lost."

"Huh! That's a likely story. I know you fresh young school squabs!"

"Oh, where's the road?" asked Tom impatiently. "We don't care much for
your opinions!"

"Find it yourself!" snapped the man. "I'll not show you, and the
sooner you get off my property the better for you!"

"Humph! I can't say that I admire your disposition," spoke Tom, in
exasperation, for he was cold and wet, and the prospect of reporting in
late, and making a failure of the cross-country run, was not pleasant.

"None of your sass!" growled the man. "Be off, now, or I'll turn the
dogs loose!"

With another took at the trampled rows of corn he went into the house,
taking the lantern with him, and shutting the door after him. It
seemed darker than ever in the farmyard with the light gone, and the
rain was coming down in torrents.

"Nice prospect!" murmured George.

"What are we going to do?" asked Bert.

"He's the man with the original grouch all right," contributed Jack.
"Where'll we go?"

"Over this way!" called Tom, who had been looking about. "I think I
see something like a gate leading into a lane. It may take us to a
road. Come on."

They followed him, splashing through the mud puddles and darkness.
Then came a flash of lightning, which showed them the lane in question.
It did lead into the road, and a little later they were on the river
highway, headed toward the Hall.

"Let's run and get warmed up," proposed Bert, and they set off on a dog
trot.

"I wonder if any of the others are as badly off as we are?" spoke Jack.

"I hope not," came from George.

"I suppose we're out of the running," remarked Bert. "It must be after
eight."

"Half-past," said Tom, managing to see the dial of his watch by a
lightning flash.

"Ugh!" grunted Jack. "It's all up with us."

In silence they plowed on, and a little later they saw the welcome
lights of Elmwood Hall.

"Humph! Late, young gentlemen,"