By Jove! what a way up it is!" By a mighty effort of combined hoisting and climbing, the boys, one after the other, scaled the lofty ridge, and perched themselves, as securely as they could, well forward on the mare's long back.
Luckily for them, the patient animal endured her burden meekly, and plodded on in a listless manner, pricking her ears occasionally at the riot which went on on her back, and once or twice rattling the bones of her riders by a mild attempt at a trot, but otherwise showing no signs of renewing her former more energetic protest.
In this manner, after a weary and not altogether refreshing journey, the three jaded, tightly-packed heroes came to a standstill at the door of Mountjoy House, where, one after the other, they slid sadly from their perches, and addressed themselves to the satisfying of Mrs Ashford's natural curiosity, only hoping the interview would not be protracted, and so defer for long the supper to which they all eagerly looked forward.
"Why, what's all this ?" said the matron.
"Where's the waggonette, and Tom ?" chimed in Mr Ashford, appearing at the same moment.
"Please, sir," said Dick, "we didn't wait for Tom, and drove home, and there was a little accident.

I was driving at the time, sir.

We got spilt, and the trap was a little damaged.

We left word for Tom to see to it, and I'll write and get my father to pay for mending it.

We're all awfully sorry, sir.