"Why bless you, you may get more'n you bargain for," replied the hotel keeper. "Now in my younger days—"

"Hiram, it's ready! An' I guess the boys is too," interrupted Mrs. Sladder, at this interesting point.

The dining-room of the Roadside House was large and comfortable, and a bountiful meal had been prepared. From the kitchen came a delicious odor of buckwheat cakes, which caused a look of great satisfaction to come over Dave Brandon's face.

Mrs. Sladder regarded the remarkable manner in which the viands disappeared as a tribute to her culinary skill, and surveyed the boys with a benevolent smile.

"It's an undeniable fact that the walking ain't just what it might be," said Mr. Sladder, who had entered the room. "Now, I've a sleigh—"

"Just the idea," broke in Sam Randall, enthusiastically. "Eh, fellows?"

"Then I'll have it ready for you in a jiffy. I take it that you want to leave pretty soon. Mapleton's a good fifteen miles."

The boys finished their meal, and sat around the table engaged in conversation until word was brought that the sleigh was ready. A moment later, the jingling of bells was heard, and it drew up to the front door.

"I'll be mighty glad to see you again, boys, any time," said Hiram Sladder, as the fellows clambered in.

"Get up, you Prince! Hi, hi, you Bobby!" yelled the driver, cracking his whip, and the sleigh began to glide over the snow-covered ground.

Upon reaching the freight house at the Stony Creek railroad station, "Jack" assisted the boys in loading the various boxes and packages upon the sleigh. Some of their supplies had to be tied upon the sleds, which, in turn, were secured in such a fashion as to trail at the rear.

"Hope yer found the town," remarked the station-master, dryly; "never had sich a question asked me before."

The boys laughed, and waved their hands, as the sleigh began to draw away from the platform.

"Hurrah! Now for the wilderness!" cried Sam Randall, enthusiastically. "We can't get there too soon."

The driver again cracked his long, snake-like whip, and the sleigh-bells jingled merrily.

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