Chapter 21: Home.

It was a long journey from Vierzon to Dijon. At Bourges Ralph had taken advantage of a delay of some hours--necessitated by the fact that no train was going--to get some suitable clothes, instead of the peasant's suit in which he had traversed the lines. He had, of course, brought his papers with him; so that he had no difficulty, whatever, in getting on by the train. But the train itself made but slow work of it. Bourbaki had passed west only the week before, with all his army, upon his march to the relief of Belfort; and the railway was completely choked. However, Ralph was not inclined to grumble at the cause of his delay; for it was only upon Bourbaki's approach that the Germans had evacuated Dijon--which was now held by Garibaldi's irregulars, and a considerable force of Mobiles.

So great were the delays that it was evening when the train reached Dijon. Ralph had scarcely stepped out on to the platform when Percy bounded upon him, and threw his arms round his neck.

"Dear, dear old Ralph! Thank God you are back again."

"My dear Percy, where did you spring from?"

"I have been home five days. I was still down at Marseilles, when I heard that Dijon was open again; and I came straight up.

"And how are you, Ralph?"

"Oh, I am getting all right again. How are they all, at home?"

"Well--quite well--but dreadfully anxious about you."

By this time the boys were out of the station, and were walking homeward. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. was it a long trip to Dijon?
2. Where was Ralph delayed?
3. what did he do while stuck there?
4. Was he then on a fast train?
5. when did he finally reach Dijon?
6. Had he been able to make the trip earlier?
7. Who was in Dijon that prevented that?
8. Who made them leave?
9. who held the town now?
10. Who met him at the station?
11. who hugged him?
12. Had he been in town long?
13. how long had he been there?
14. where had he been?
15. where did they walk while they talked?
16. were the people there worried about Ralph?
Answer: 1. yes
2. At Bourges
3. to get some clothes
4. No
5. in the evening
6. No
7. the Germans
8. Bourbaki's
9. Garibaldi's irregulars
10. Ralph
11. Percy
12. No
13. five days
14. Marseilles
15. homeward
16. Yes

Problem: Louisville, Kentucky (CNN) -- A secret audio recording of their biggest election year target -- Sen. Mitch McConnell -- talking to a donor summit arranged by the Koch brothers, the Democrats' 2014 bogeymen.

Democrats pushed "The Nation" story around online with frenetic glee.

McConnell's Democratic challenger for his Kentucky seat, Alison Lundergan Grimes, couldn't wait to whack him on it, telling CNN in an exclusive interview that "Mitch McConnell got caught in his 47% Mitt Romney moment."

"I think it shows the extent and the lengths he will go to to pander to his party millionaires and billionaires at the expense of hurting Kentuckians," Grimes told CNN.

The problem with the Democrats' argument is that Romney's 47% moment was only a moment because he was saying to donors in private something he would never have dared to utter in public:

"Forty-seven percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe that government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you name it. That that's an entitlement," Romney said behind closed doors about President Obama's supporters in 2012.

But unlike Romney, what McConnell said to the Koch brothers are things he has said in public, and more importantly, his comments mirror positions he has publicly backed with actual Senate votes: opposition to Democrats' plans to increase the minimum wage, extend unemployment insurance and make student loans more affordable through the tax system.
1. Who are the Koch brothers?
2. what did they arrange?
3. For who?
4. What came out of it?
5. Who was McConnelll's challenger?
6. who did she talk to
7. What did she say?
8. Was it the same?
9. What state were they in?
10. What was the story called?
Answer: 1. the Democrats' 2014 bogeymen
2. a donor summit
3. Sen. Mitch McConnell
4. a secret audio recording
5. Alison Lundergan Grimes
6. CNN
7. "Mitch McConnell got caught in his 47% Mitt Romney moment."
8. no
9. Kentucky
10. "The Nation"

question: CHAPTER XXIV

THE SEARCH FOR THE MISSING BOY

"Tom isn't here!"

It was Dick who uttered the words, as of a sudden he wheeled around on the dark trail and tried to penetrate the blackness of night behind them.

"Isn't here?" demanded Jack Wumble, while Sam set up a cry of dismay.

"No. Tom! Tom!"

Sam joined in the cry, and so did the old miner, but as we already know, it was useless.

"This is the wust yet!" growled Jack Wumble. "I told ye all to keep close to me."

"Perhaps he fell asleep-- I know he was dead tired," answered Dick, hitting the plain truth.

"We'll have to go back for him," said Sam, and turned without delay, for going ahead without Tom was all out of the question.

"Yes, we'll go back," rejoined the old miner. "But go slow, or you may make matters wuss. I kin follow a clear trail, even of three hosses, but I can't follow a trail mixed up backward an' forward."

They rode back slowly until at least half a mile had been covered. Then they shouted, but only a dismal echo came back. Dick fancied once that he heard Tom calling, but was not sure.

Daylight found them still searching around, Dick and Sam with more sober faces than they had worn in many a day. They knew only too well the danger of becoming lost in those wild mountains.

"Perhaps he has fallen in with Baxter's party," suggested Dick, as they came to a halt at the edge of a cliff overlooking a rushing river far below. It was past the breakfast hour, yet none of them felt like eating.
1. Who was looking for Tom?
2. Any idea why?
3. Where were they?
4. Was Tom asleep?
5. Why do you say that?
6. Any reason he thought that was a possibility?
7. What did they eat for a meal?
8. Why not?
9. Was there another mining crew?
10. Was there an echo?
****
answer:
1. Dick
2. lost
3. mountains
4. Perhaps
5. Perhaps he fell asleep answered Dick
6. he was dead tired
7. none of them felt like eating
8. none of them felt like eating
9. unknown
10. yes