112 DOGGED JACK.

 How splendid !"
 "Shall we not have fun were the exclamations of
all the children.
 The happy day was to be the very next, so
that evening Jack and Dick made their way down
to the village, and begged that the pony, Baffle,
should be up at Hillside, saddled and bridled, by
ten o'clock.
 Next day was gloriously fine, and the Hillside
phaeton was packed with its freight of provisions and
people at precisely ten o'clock. Adolphus, however,
had not yet arrived, so they were unable to start
until he should come to take his place in the back
seat.
 Dick was already mounted on Bailey's little rough
pony, and Roger Gordon had cantered up, to join
the boys, on his pony. Still there was no sign of
Adolphus, nor yet of Jack's hired pony Baffle.
 Neither Florinda nor Roger could account for
Adolphus's absence, as he had begged them some
time ago to go up to Hillside, saying he would follow
them in a few minutes. Accordingly, Dick volun-
teered to ride down to the village and hasten Baffle's
appearance, suggesting that he might then go on to
the Browns' house, and look up Adolphus.
 This proposal of his was voted to be a good idea,
and Mr. Gilbert, who was beginning to be impatient