Read Four Afoot: Being the Adventures of the Big Four on the Highway Page 1

  FOUR AFOOT

  * * * * * *

  BY RALPH HENRY BARBOUR.

  Each Illustrated, 12mo, Cloth, $1.50.

  Double Play. Forward Pass! The Spirit of the School. Four in Camp. Four Afoot. Four Afloat. The Arrival of Jimpson. Behind the Line. Captain of the Crew. For the Honor of the School. The Half-Back. On Your Mark. Weatherby’s Inning.

  D. APPLETON & COMPANY, NEW YORK.

  * * * * * *

  “Swinging along a country road on Long Island.”]

  FOUR AFOOT

  Being the Adventures of the Big Four on the Highway

  by

  RALPH HENRY BARBOUR

  Author of “The Half-Back,” “Behind the Line,”“Weatherby’s Inning,” “On Your Mark,”“Four in Camp,” etc.

  New York and LondonD. Appleton and Company1910

  Copyright, 1906, byD. Appleton and Company

  Published September, 1906

  To L. S. S.

  IN MEMORY OF PLEASANT HOURS

  TO THE READER

  Many of you who followed the adventures of Nelson, Dan, Bob, andTom, as narrated in a previous story, FOUR IN CAMP, have very kindlyprofessed a willingness to hear more about this quartette of everydayboys, and the author, who has himself grown rather fond of the “BigFour,” was very well pleased to take them again for his heroes.It seems now as though there might even be a third volume to theseries--but that will depend altogether on how well you like this one,for, as of course you understand, the author is writing in an effort toplease you, and not himself. And if he doesn’t please you, he would bevery glad to have you tell him so, and why.

  If you go to searching your map of Long Island for the places mentionedin this story you will be disappointed. They are all there, but, withone or two exceptions, under other names. You see, it doesn’t do to betoo explicit in a case of this sort. Mr. William Hooper, for instance,might seriously object were you to stop in front of his house andremark, “Huh! there’s where old Bill Hooper lives, the fellow thatwouldn’t give the ‘four’ any supper!” Of course it is different in thecase of Sag Harbor--that town has already been immortalized on thestage, and is probably by this time quite hardened to publicity. And asfor Jericho--but then they never got there!

  RALPH HENRY BARBOUR. CAMBRIDGE, MASS.

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER PAGE

  I.--IN WHICH THE BIG FOUR SET OUT FOR JERICHO 1

  II.--IN WHICH TOMMY DELAYS PROGRESS AND THEY LOSE THEIR WAY 13

  III.--INTRODUCES MR. JERRY HINKLEY AND AN IMPROMPTU DINNER 24

  IV.--INTRODUCES MR. WILLIAM HOOPER AND AN IMPROMPTU SUPPER 37

  V.--DESCRIBES A SECOND ENCOUNTER WITH MR. WADE 45

  VI.--WITNESSES A RESCUE AND AN ADDITION TO THE PARTY 57

  VII.--WHEREIN BARRY DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF 67

  VIII.--IN WHICH POVERTY CLAIMS THE FOUR 77

  IX.--SHOWS THEM BOTH HUNGRY AND SATISFIED 88

  X.--IN WHICH NELSON SEES STRANGE VISIONS 98

  XI.--IN WHICH JERRY TELLS HIS STORY AND DAN PROVIDES DINNER 112

  XII.--WITNESSES THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF “DANELLO” 128

  XIII.--WHEREIN THEY MEET THE WILD MAN OF THE TARTARY STEPPES 137

  XIV.--TOM SWIMS IN THE OCEAN AND DIPS INTO POETRY 151

  XV.--TELLS HOW THEY MEET THE MANNIG BASEBALL CLUB AND HOW NELSON AND BOB GET ENGAGEMENTS 170

  XVI.--WHEREIN NELSON AND BOB PLAY BALL AND LAURELVILLE MAKES A PROTEST 184

  XVII.--IN WHICH A FIRE ALARM AIDS MANNIG, AND THE FOUR LEAVE HURRIEDLY 201

  XVIII.--TELLS OF AN ADVENTURE IN A HUT 218

  XIX.--TELLS OF A VOYAGE AND A SHIPWRECK 230

  XX.--FOLLOWS WITH A RESCUE AND INTRODUCES FRIENDS IN NEED 246

  XXI.--WHEREIN TOM LOSES HIS TOOTHBRUSH AND DAN TELLS A STORY 261

  XXII.--WHEREIN GOOD-BYS ARE SAID AND BARRY MAKES HIS CHOICE 271