"He's gone now," said Roger, "but he was right there by that old stump." "We'll have to come up here with a trap and a gun if there's foxes," decided Adrian. "Their skins bring good money." The boys kept on up the hill and soon came to the place where they were to leave the main road and strike into the woods. They waited a few minutes for their older companions to catch up, and then took up the lead again. All four kept closely together now, so there was little chance for the boys to converse without being overheard. Accordingly they confined their talk to comment on what they saw along the path. Both listened intently to what the two men were saying, but Mr. Dudley and Mr. Ranquist were apparently exchanging opinions on past occurrences. They talked of something which had taken place in New York. Not once did they refer to a railroad or anything like it. They seemed content to tramp along, paying no attention to the beauties of nature on every side of them. The trees, that bore more than half their summer suits of green, the soft moss under foot, the flitting of the birds from branch to branch--all these had no attractions for them. But to Roger such sights were a constant enjoyment, and he took in deep breaths of the balmy air, laden, as it was, with health. They had gone about a mile along the path on the side of the hill, during which time the men had seemed content to follow the boys' lead. At length Adrian nudged Roger and pointed to a path that branched off from the main one. "That will take you to our spring," he said, in a low tone. "Go ahead down it then," replied Roger. "Maybe you'll see something happen soon." Wondering what his cousin could mean, Adrian advanced, and Roger glancing back noticed with satisfaction that the two men had followed them without question. For ten minutes the boys led the way with never a word of protest from Mr. Dudley or Mr. Ranquist, who did not seem to notice they were going in a different direction from that which they desired. Suddenly a big rabbit darted across the path, almost at Mr. Dudley's feet. He started, looked at the animal, as if wondering how it came there, and then he glanced up, seeming to realize that he was at a spot he had not intended to reach. "Why! Why! Boys!" he exclaimed, turning to the younger engineer. "What is it?" broke in Mr. Ranquist. "What are we coming this way for?" asked Mr. Dudley. "I thought we were going straight along the side of the hill. Instead, we are going down." At this Mr. Ranquist looked alarmed as he glanced at the two boys. "Well," said Roger, coming forward a few steps, "you see this path goes to a spring down in a little glade. We thought you might like to see it. If you're going to build a railroad the spring would furnish water for the locomotives. There's a good place for a depot down in the little glade, too." "Why, why--," stammered Mr. Dudley.