They followed, in a general direction, the telephone line. Frank told
them he had learned this connected with the central exchange in Darewell,
and had only been in use a short time. It had been strung by some of the
asylum attendants and was a private wire.
For a while the boys trudged on through the rain, picking out the easiest
paths for the donkey, which Bart was leading. Fenn walked ahead to see
that there were no vines or trees that might catch the ladder, while
Frank and Ned brought up in back to see that the rear end was kept clear.
Occasionally they assisted in swinging the ladder around a short turn.
"This is easier than I thought it was going to be," remarked Bart. "We
haven't had a bit of trouble yet."
"You're not out of the woods," called Fenn, repeating Bart's words of the
day before.
They had reached a little clearing in the forest, and, as there was a
good trail, the donkey increased his speed. Suddenly there came a smart
shower, and the little deluge must have frightened the beast. For, as
soon as the drops began to patter down on his back harder than usual, the
donkey lifted up its heels, kicked the rear end of the ladder to one
side, and began to run, braying loudly.
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