"Well, it would be a 'him' if he was a gentleman dog!" retorted Tom, and then Songbird turned away in momentary disgust. But soon his good humor returned and Tom and the others allowed him to "spout poetry" to his heart's content.
It had been arranged that the Rovers, Dora, and the Laning girls should meet at the Ashton depot, and it is needless to say that the three boys were on time. They were alone, for Songbird and Stanley and some of their other chums were going to take different trains.
"Don't forget to let me hear from you this summer!" said Songbird, on parting.
"Oh, we'll be sure to write," answered Dick.
"Come and see me—if you get anywhere near my home," said Stanley.
"We'll remember that," returned Tom.
The boys were taken to Ashton depot in an au tomobile belonging to the college. Their trunks and dress-suit cases had preceded them, and as soon as they arrived they had their baggage checked straight through to Oak Run.
"I see the girls' trunks," announced Sam, who had been looking the pile of baggage over. "We could get them checked, too, if we had their tickets."
"Wonder where the girls are?" came from Tom, as he looked at his watch.
