Beyond the boy, upon the knoll on the left side of the road, was the school-house itself.
[Illustration: THE SCHOOL-HOUSE.] The school-house was not far from the road, and there was a little grove of trees behind it.

Beyond the school-house, and almost directly before them, Marco and Forester saw the road turning a little to the left toward the gate.
"There is the gate," said Marco, "that we are to go through." "Yes," said Forester, "that must be the one." Forester and Marco walked on until they came to the school-house.
Thomas got to the school-house before them, and went in.

Forester and Marco passed on and went through the gate.

They then went on beyond the gate a little way till they came to a pair of bars.

Marco took down all but the topmost bar, and Forester, stooping down, passed under.