"This section of the road is the worst managed of the lot." "And how far is it to Ashton ?" asked Dick.
"About twelve miles by the railroad." "Then walking is out of the question," came from Sam.

"I shouldn't mind hoofing it if it was two or three." "The railroad has to run around the hill yonder," went on the train hand.

"If you go up the tracks for a quarter of a mile you'll come to a country road that will take you right into Ashton, and the distance from there isn't more than seven or eight miles." "Any houses on that road ?" asked Tom.
"Of course--farmhouses all along." "Then come on," went on Tom to his brothers.

"We can hire a carriage to take us to Ashton and to the college.

Some farmer will be glad of the chance to earn the money." "Let us wait and see if the train moves first," answered Dick.
"She won't move just yet," answered the brakeman with a sickly grin.
The boys stood around for a quarter of an hour and then decided to walk up to the country road that had been mentioned.