remarked Mr. Porter, the proctor, as
they filed in the gate. "Report to Doctor Meredith at once."

"It was an accident--we got lost," explained Bert.

"And a crusty old farmer wouldn't show us the road," added Tom.

"I'm sorry, but I can't help it. Report to the doctor," was all the
satisfaction they received.

But the head master was not at all unkind about it. He listened to
their explanation, and consoled them for their ill luck.

They managed to get something to eat, and then, paying a surreptitious
visit to the rooms of some of their chums, they learned that they were
fully three-quarters of an hour later in coming back than were the last
of the stragglers.

"Did Sam and Nick make good time?" asked Tom, of the football captain.

"Very good, yes. They were among the first ones in. I'm sorry about
you boys."

"I suppose we're out of the game," hinted Jack.

"Well, not altogether, but it'll set you back. However, I'll do what I
can. Better turn in now. You must be tired."

"Tired isn't a name for it!" groaned Bert. "I'll sleep like a
locomotive to-night."

They were all slumbering almost as soon as they tumbled into bed, and,
though they had been well soaked, they experienced no ill effects the
next morning.

To their delight the football captain and coach said nothing about
their ill-luck in being outside the time limit for the cross-country
run, and they went to practice as usual.

"Huh! I wonder if they call that fair?" sneered Sam, when he saw his
enemy, and the latter's friends, in their usual places.

"It's not right," asserted Nick, "after we made the run, and got in on
time."

"Well, you didn't get lost in the woods," said George Abbot, who was at
least on speaking terms with Sam and his crony. "A farm fellow told us
to take the wrong road to avoid a hill."

"Did he?" asked Sam, and there was a trace of a smile on his face.
"Well, you can't always trust farm hands," and he nudged Nick in the
ribs, though George did not see it.

Two days later Doctor Meredith called Tom to his office.

"There has been a complaint made against you," said the school head.
"Trampling down the corn of one--er--Jed Appleby----" went on Doctor
Meredith, reading from a memoranda. "He says you agreed to pay for it,
and his bill is--ten dollars!"

"What!" cried Tom. "We didn't do half that damage! But I'm willing to
pay."

"And after this, please be careful not to annoy the farmers hereabou