Yes, he even told me there was still room for two more, if I could coax somebody to keep me company." Hugh busied himself in starting the car going.

He knew considerable about mechanics, as most boys of the present generation do, since automobiles have become so very common.

Running it out of the garage Hugh bade Horatio "hop aboard," which that worthy did without a second invitation.
"Better get Thad first of all, I reckon," suggested Hugh, as though he might even have figured out how best to save themselves from any unnecessary delay; "then we can clip around to Julius Hobson's place, and pick up Owen last on our way out of town." The program suited Horatio first class.

Indeed, he had such perfect confidence in Hugh that anything the other said carried conviction along with it.

It is a fine thing for any boy to have aroused such a spirit of trust in the minds of his comrades that they look up to him as a sort of natural leader, and obey his slightest wish without hesitation.