“I reckon you’re right.  Do you think that Ford feller will send money for your board?”

“I think he will, if he can, for he wants to keep me here; but I don’t think he has much money with him.”

“All the worse for marm.”

“Abner,” said Herbert, after a pause, during which he had been thinking seriously, “would you mind running away pretty soon?”

“No, bub; I’m ready any time.  Are you in a hurry?”

“You see, Abner, I don’t want to live on your mother.  She isn’t rich—­”

“No, I guess not.  Ef she hadn’t married sech a good-for-nothin’ as dad—­”

“I wouldn’t speak so of your father, Abner.”

“Why not?  Isn’t it the truth?  Dad’s no grit.  He gits drunk whenever he has a chance.  Marm’s a good, hard-workin’ woman.  She’d git along well enough ef she was alone.”

“At any rate, she can’t afford to board me for nothing.  So I am ready to start whenever you are, Abner.”

“Suppose we get up early to-morror and start?”

“How early?”

“Three o’clock.  Marm gets up at five.  We must be on the road before that time.”

“I’m willing, Abner.  You must wake me up in time.”

“You’d better go to bed early, bub, and git all the sleep you can.  We’ll have a hard day to-morrer.”

CHAPTER XXXIII

THE JOURNEY BEGINS

“Wake up, there.”

The little boy stirred in his sleep, and finally opened his eyes.  By the faint light that entered through the window, he saw Abner bending over him.

“What is it?” he asked, drowsily.

“The kitchen clock’s just struck three,” whispered Abner.  “You haven’t forgotten that we are going to run away, have you?”

“I’ll get right up,” said Herbert, rubbing his eyes.

In two minutes the boys were dressed and ready for a start.  It had taken a great deal longer for Herbert to dress at home, but he had become less particular as to his toilet now.

The boys took their shoes in their hands, and stole out in their stocking feet.  As they passed the door of the room in which Mr. and Mrs. Barton slept, they heard the deep breathing of both, and knew that they were not likely to be heard.

Outside the door they put on their shoes, and were now ready to start.

“Wait a minute, bub,” said Abner.

He re-entered the house, and presently came out holding half a loaf in his hand.

“That’ll do for our breakfast,” he said.  “We won’t eat it now.  We’ll wait till five o’clock.  Then we’ll be hungry.”

By five o’clock they were as many miles on their way.  They had reached the middle of the next town.

“Do you feel tired, bub?” asked Abner.

“A little.  I feel hungry.  Don’t you think we can eat the bread now?”

“Yes, we’d better.  I feel kind o’ gone myself.”