"We'll make Ashbury to-night," Dick announced one morning. "We'll
go about two miles past the town, halt there for two or three
days' rest, and then---back to good old Gridley for ours."

"Gridley's all right. Fine old town," Tom declared. "But as
for me, I wish we didn't have to go back there for another two
months, instead of feeling that we have to be there in a fortnight
from now."

"This has been a great hike," Dick agreed, "and a fortnight of
life of a kind that has had nothing but joy in it. Yet we've
the years ahead to think of, haven't we?"

"What has that got to do with going back to Gridley?" demanded
Danny Grin.

"Well, what are we going to the high school for?" questioned Dick
Prescott.

"I'm going because the folks send me," Dan declared. "Can't help
myself."

"Don't you want to get anywhere in life?"

"I suppose I do," Dalzell assented half dubiously.

"Danny boy, I'm ashamed of you," Dick exclaimed, though his eyes
were smiling. "Are you content, Dan, to grow up and use your
fine muscles in performing the duties of a day laborer?"