“Let cousin Forester and me go,” said Marco.  “I will go and ask him.”

So Marco went and found Forester.  When Forester heard of the plan he was quite inclined to accede to it.  He had been much engaged in studying for some time, and had had very little exercise and recreation, so that he was easily persuaded to undertake an expedition.  The plan was all soon agreed upon.  The horses had been put out to pasture at a farmer’s up the river about twelve miles.  In going that twelve miles the river took a great turn, so that in fact the farm where the horses were pastured was not, in a straight line, more than four miles from Mr. Forester’s house.  But the intermediate country was a desolate and almost impassable region of forests and mountains.  There was, indeed, a sort of footpath by which it was possible for men to get through, but this path was dangerous, and in fact almost impracticable for horses.  So James had formed the plan of walking through the woods by the path, and then of coming home by the road, riding one of the horses and leading the other.

Forester and Marco concluded to adopt the same plan; except that in coming home there would be just a horse a-piece for them to ride.  They put up some provisions to eat on the way, packing them in Marco’s knapsack.  The knapsack, when it was ready, was strapped upon Marco’s back, for he insisted on carrying it.  Forester consented to this arrangement, secretly intending, however, not to allow Marco to carry the load very far.

Forester asked James if there would be any difficulty about the way.  James said that there would not be.  The path, though it was not an easy one to travel, was very easy to find.

“You go on,” said he, “along the back road about three quarters of a mile, and then you will come to a small school-house on the left hand side of the road, on a sort of hill.  It is in the Jones district.”

“What sort of a school-house is it?” asked Forester.

“It is a small school-house, with a little cupola upon the top of it,” said James, “for a bell.  It stands upon a knoll by the side of the road.  Just beyond it the main road turns to the right, and there is a narrower road leading off to the left through a gate.  You must go through that gate and then follow the path into the woods.”

“We can find it, I think,” said Forester.

“Yes,” said Marco, “I know the place very well.”

Forester said he thought that they should find the way without any difficulty, and so bidding his uncle and aunt good-bye, he and Marco set out.

They went through the garden, and from the garden they passed out through a small gate into the orchard.  Marco wished to go this way in order to get some apples.  He chose two from off his favorite tree and put them into the knapsack, and took another in his hand to eat by the way.  Forester did the same, only he put the two that he carried with him, into his pockets.