"All ready—let her go!" sang out several of the lads.
At that moment the dogs began to set up another bark, and then came a call from the darkness.
"Hi, there, wait a minute!"
"Who is that?" questioned Dave. "Hullo, if it isn't the stout man!"
It was Isaac Pludding, true enough. He had been walking rapidly and was nearly out of wind.
"Whe—where are you going?" he panted, to the farmer.
"Goin' to take these chaps to Oakdale."
"That is where I want to go." Isaac Pludding glared at the students. "I don't like to ride with those boys, but I suppose I can stand it. Got room for another passenger? I suppose they told you how the train broke down."
"They did," answered Shadrach Mellick.
"Reckon I can carry one more," he added. "But yeou'll have to pay me. These boys are paying me ten dollars for the trip."
"How much do you want?" demanded Isaac Pludding.
"About a dollar, I guess."
"It's enough, but I'll go you," answered the stout man, and prepared to climb into the big sleigh.
As soon as Isaac Pludding appeared, Dave held a whispered conversation with Roger and some
