Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 50983-h.htm or 50983-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/50983/50983-h/50983-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/50983/50983-h.zip) Transcriber’s note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). 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. * * * * * * [Illustration: “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. [Illustration] New York and London D. Appleton and Company 1910 Copyright, 1906, by D. 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, and Tom, as narrated in a previous story, FOUR IN CAMP, have very kindly professed a willingness to hear more about this quartette of everyday boys, and the author, who has himself grown rather fond of the “Big Four,” was very well pleased to take them again for his heroes. It seems now as though there might even be a third volume to the series--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 to please you, and not himself. And if he doesn’t please you, he would be very glad to have you tell him so, and why. If you go to searching your map of Long Island for the places mentioned in this story you will be disappointed. They are all there, but, with one or two exceptions, under other names. You see, it doesn’t do to be too explicit in a case of this sort. Mr. William Hooper, for instance, might seriously object were you to stop in front of his house and remark, “Huh! there’s where old Bill Hooper lives, the fellow that wouldn’t give the ‘four’ any supper!” Of course it is different in the case of Sag Harbor--that town has already been immortalized on the stage, and is probably by this time quite hardened to publicity. And as for 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