And he was as good as his word. His plans were completed, the route finally decided on, and, with the auto thoroughly in shape, the boys started off early one morning, Grit sitting proudly beside Dick, who was at the wheel. "Take care of yourself, my boy," cautioned Mr. Hamilton, as he shook hands with his son and his chums. "I will, Dad. If Uncle Ezra asks for me--well, tell him I'll see him later!" "I will. Have you the papers safe?" "Yes, they're in the auto where no one can find them. I'll write as often as I can. All ready, boys?" "Let her go, Dick!" cried Paul. "Start off!" exclaimed Innis Beeby. Dick pressed the button of the electric starter. There was a hum, a throb of the powerful motor, and the big car moved slowly out of the yard. Dick and his chums were off on their long trip. CHAPTER XII UNCLE EZRA PLOTS "What's our time-table, Dick?" asked Paul, as they swung out of Hamilton Corners into the less-populated country. "We haven't any. That is, we're not going to try to make any special time, as long as we get to 'Frisco by September first," for Dick had told his chums of the endeavor he was going to make to save Mr. Wardell's fortune. "What's our programme, then?" Innis Beeby wanted to know. "Are we going to run along, hit or miss, or have we some definite plan?" "I thought I gave you our route." "Well, old man, we went over it so often, and made so many changes, that I don't know now whether we're going by way of New Orleans or Alaska." "More like Alaska this time of year!" exclaimed Paul. "Shall I start the electric fan, Dick?" "Yes, do. There isn't much breeze to-day," and soon a big electric fan near the roof of the touring car was stirring the air, making the three travelers more comfortable. "This is the schedule the way I have worked it out," went on Dick, as he steered out to avoid a load of hay being driven along the country road. "We'll go to Buffalo, and from there on to Cleveland. Next, in the order as they come, will be Chicago, Des Moines, Omaha, Denver, Leadville, Salt Lake City, Carson City, Sacramento, and then 'Frisco." "All good places to visit," observed Innis, reflectively. "Well, we may not strike all of them," Dick went on. "If we have to change our route because of bad roads, or from other causes, we may cut out the big cities, and just go somewhere near them. But that route will give us plenty of travel." "I should say so!" agreed Paul. "Nearly four thousand miles, I guess. Well, your car looks good for it, Dick!" And indeed the _Last Word_ appeared able to navigate to the Arctic regions if called on to do so. "Are we going to put up at a hotel for lunch?" asked Innis, when they had gone on several miles farther. "That isn't a hint that I'm hungry!" he hastened to add, "but I was just wondering, Dick." "I think we'll try camping out a bit," said that young man. "We might as well get used to it, and the weather is good now." "That's right," agreed Paul.