and return to something pleasant."

They continued to bump along the rocky road with its deep ruts. At
times K.K. had to make little detours in order to navigate around
some obstacle which could not be surmounted; for time had not dealt
lightly with the quarry road, and the rains and wintry frosts had
played havoc with its surface.

But, eventually, they sighted light ahead. Steve was the first to
glimpse an opening, and announce that the main highway leading down
to Scranton must be close at hand. His words turned out to be true,
and soon afterwards they issued forth from the covert and found
themselves upon the turnpike, headed for home.

Hugh turned around to mark the spot well in his mind, though he knew
that it was to be the exit, and not the entrance, to the short-cut, in
case he concluded to utilize the quarry road when the great race was on.




CHAPTER IV

IN TRAINING FOR THE GREAT TOURNAMENT


It was an afternoon on the following week, after school hours, and the
athletic field bordering the outskirts of the town of Scranton afforded
a pretty lively spectacle. Indeed, it could be readily seen that the
approaching tournament had taken a great hold upon the young people of