It was late on the following morning before the guests at the farmer's barn descended the vertical ladder to the floor. They brushed the hay-seed from their clothing and the hay-dust from their eyes, and went over, in little groups, to the farm-house. Glück's aunt had prepared for them a breakfast similar to the supper of the night before, only a little better and in greater variety, and they partook of it heartily and thankfully.
The strong south wind had brought up, during the night, a storm of rain, and as soon as the lads had done eating, they retired again to the shelter of the barn.
Brightly was the last to return from breakfast, and when he entered the barn he found that the boys were all waiting for him.
"We've agreed to leave it to you, Bright," said one, "what we shall do. We've got to do something, that's certain. To my mind we're in a pretty bad fix."
Brightly stood with his back to the doorpost, facing the assembly.
"I've been thinking the matter over a little, boys," he replied, "and talking with Glück's uncle about it. We've got to get back to Riverpark to-day some way; that's plain, isn't it?"
"Well, we couldn't find wagons enough here to carry us back if we had the money to hire them; we couldn't pay our way on the cars if we were to cross the river; so I don't know of any better plan than to go as we came,--on foot. We have enough money to pay our passage across the river, and once on the other side we can get up to Riverpark easily enough. It will be a long march and a tiresome one, and will take the better part of the day; but it's the best plan I can think of. If anybody has a better one, let's have it."
No one could suggest anything better; and, after a minute's awkward pause, Brightly continued, somewhat hesitatingly at first, but with increasing firmness and earnestness,--
"Now that I'm talking, I may as well tell you what I think of this whole business. I think not only that we've made fools of ourselves, but that it's a good deal worse than that; and I believe we've got some pretty serious matters to face when we get back. I don't know what the colonel will do. I shouldn't be surprised at anything in the way of punishment; I'm sure we deserve all that we shall get. But if he lets us stay at Riverpark, I think we ought to be very thankful, and very humble, too, and take whatever comes to us, and bear it like men. We've treated the colonel very shabbily; now let's try and make it up to him as fast and as far as we can."