The sub-master described Dick's feat in climbing the apple tree and leaping from the limb of the tree to the top of the loaded hay wagon.
"It was a nervy thing for any man to do!" choked the farmer, tears of joy running down his cheeks.
"It was just like Dick Prescott," replied John Luce simply.
As soon as possible Dick and the sub-master made their escape from the earnest protestations of gratitude of the farmer and his wife, though they did not go until Mr.Luce had persuaded the parents not to whip the mischievous match-burner, but to content themselves with pointing out to the little rascal the dreadful possibilities of such pranks.
At last, however, Dick and Mr.Luce returned to the car followed by the other passengers.

The conductor gave the go-ahead signal, and the motor-man started in to try to make up some of the time lost from his schedule.
Dick, as soon as he reached Gridley, went up to Greg Holmes' house, where he knew his chums would be waiting to learn the result of his Tottenville trip.
That evening Sub-master Luce chanced to take a stroll up Main Street.

As the offices of the "Morning Blade" were lighted up, Mr.Luce stepped inside, seeking Editor Pollock in the editorial room.
"Is Prescott about ?" asked Mr.Luce, for Dick, as our readers know, earned many a dollar as a "space-writer"; that is, he was paid so much a column for furnishing and writing up local news.
"Dick went out about ten minutes ago," replied Mr.Pollock.
"Was he here long ?" "About fifteen minutes." "By the way, Mr.Pollock," the sub-master went on, "what do you think of Dick's latest feat ?" "Which one ?" "His fine work over on the Tottenville road this afternoon ?" "I haven't heard of it," replied Mr.Pollock, opening his eyes.
"Come to think of it," rejoined John Luce, "and knowing young Prescott as I do, I don't suppose you have heard of it---not from Prescott, at all events." Then the sub-master told the story of the burning load of hay in a way that made the "Blade's" editor reach hastily for pencil and paper that he might take notes.
"That's just the kind of story that Dick Prescott never could be depended upon to bring in here---if he was the central character in it," observed the editor quietly.
Despite the failure of Dick to bring in this particular story, however, the "Blade," the next morning, printed more than a column from the data furnished by Mr.Luce.
Dick, however, didn't hear of it---in Gridley.

It was Harry Hazelton, who, at four o'clock, mounted a horse he had hired for the trip and rode over to Tottenville, where the camp wagon was obtained from Mr.Newbegin Titmouse.

Hazelton wasted no time on the road, but drove as fast as the horse could comfortably travel.
It was but a few minutes after six o'clock, that August morning, when Dick Prescott and his five chums, collectively famous as Dick & Co., drove out of Gridley.
Harry Hazelton was now the driver, the other five high school boys walking briskly just ahead of the wagon.
Mr.Titmouse's special vehicle carried all that Dick & Co.