"I hope he gets left," said Phil, softly.
"If we could only hire a big sleigh and some horses, we might drive to Oakdale," suggested Ben.
"Hurrah, that's the talk!" cried Dave. "There must be some farmhouse near here."
"Say, if you can get a sleigh, I'll pay my share, if you'll take me along," put in Nat Poole, eagerly. He hated to think of being left behind.
"All right, Nat, I'm willing," said Dave, generously.
"We've got to find the sleigh first," added the senator's son.
"And see if we can get horses enough to pull it," said Ben. "Some farmers won't let their horses out in such a storm as this--and you can't blame 'em much, either."
"If we can't get a sleigh, perhaps we can stay at some farmhouse all night," suggested Sam.
All of the party climbed through the snow to the top of the railroad cut and then looked around for some buildings.
"I see a light!" cried Phil, and pointed it out, between some bare trees.
"It's a house; come on," replied Dave, and set off without delay, the others following. "Who knows but that somebody else may want to ride, and if so, we want to be first to get a sleigh."
It was rather a toilsome journey to the farmhouse. Between them and the place were a barn and a cow-shed, and just as they passed the former there arose a fierce barking, and three big black dogs came bounding toward the students.
"Look out! The dogs will chew us up!" yelled Nat Poole, in terror, and started to retreat.
"Down!" called out Dave, who was still in advance. "Down, I say! Charge!" But instead of obeying, the big dogs continued to approach until they were within a dozen feet of the students. Then they lined up, growled fiercely, and showed their teeth.
"Let us get into the barn," suggested Roger, and flung open a door that was handy. Into the building they went pell-mell, Dave being the last to enter. One dog made a dart at the youth's leg, but Dave gave him a kick that sent him back. Then the door was slammed shut and latched, and the students found themselves in utter darkness.
"Wonder if they can get in any other way?" asked Phil, after a second of silence, during which they heard the dogs barking outside.
"I doubt if any of the doors are open in this storm," answered Shadow.