"Here the conquering hero comes!"
"Say, but he looks like a real Lord, doesn't he?"
"Don't forget to bow to all the people you pass, Sir Tubbs!"
So the cries rang on, as the carriage and the carryall rolled away from the Ashton depot.
"Say, look here, what does this mean?" stammered the dudish student. "I tell you I'm no lord, or knight, or anything like that! I was over to Paris, not London, don't you know. Weally, this is—er—very embarrassing!" he pleaded, wildly.
"Stand up and make a speech, when you get to the campus, Willie boy!" sang out Tom. "Give 'em something grand on high finance, or railroad building, or cooking beans, or something like that."
"Why, Tom, weally, don't you know, I know nothing of—er—railroads, or—er—beans. Pleasestop the carriage, I wish to get out. This is—er—awful, don't you know!" fairly panted the dude. He had stood up, but now the carriage gave a jolt and down he sat very suddenly.
On through the town and straight for the college drove the two turnouts, the students yelling themselves hoarse. Many at Brill had been let into the secret, and when the grounds were reached a big crowd was congregated, to take part in the sport.
"Here they are!"
"Hurrah for Lord Tubbs!"
"How are you, Duke William Philander!"
"Do you wear the order of the Red Garter?"
"No, it's the Blue Suspender he was decorated with."
"Speech! speech!" came the cry from every side.
Then the carriage came to a halt and was immediately surrounded by a howling mob. A few had flowers that they threw at William Philander, while others had supplied themselves with stalks of celery, carrot and beet tops, and similar things, which they sent forward with force and directness.
"Here's a bouquet for you!"
"My kindest regards, Tubbs!"
"Oh, isn't it grand to be a real, live Emperor!"
"Hi, let up, will you!" fairly shrieked poor Tubbs, as the things hit him in the head and shoulders, "Let up, I tell you! Oh, what a joke! Let me get out of the carriage! I can't make a speech! Stop throwing at me! Oh, my eye!" he added, as a beet top caught him in the left optic. Then, watching his chance, he leaped from the carriage, dove like a madman through the crowd, and rushed for one of the dormitories, quickly disappearing from view.
"Good bye, my boy, good bye!" sang out several. And then Tom sent the dress-suit case after him; and the fun came to an end.
"Poor William Philander, he won't forget that in a hurry!" was Dick's comment. "Just the same, I am afraid the sport got a little too rough at the end."
"Maybe it did," answered Tom. "If you want it, I'll speak to Tubbs and apologize."
"I see that apology in a gold frame right now!" declared Sam, with a laugh. "Tom, let him alone and he'll be all right."
All of the boys wondered how Tubbs would act when he showed himself. Much to their amazement he called Tom to one side that evening and shook hands cordially.
"It was all a mistake—this report that I had—er—been knighted, don't you know," he lisped."But it was very nice to get up such a reception in my honor, Thomas, really it was—although it got a bit rough towards the end. But I know it was meant well, and I thank you, honestly I do." And the dudish student shook Tom's hand again.
And then, for once in his life, Tom Rover didn't know what to say. As he afterwards admitted, he was completely "stumped." Poor, innocent Tubbs had really thought it an honor! To Tom that was "the limit."
"I'll never really know that chap," he said to his brothers. "His head must be filled with sawdust and punk."
"Well, let him drop now," advised Dick. "Quit your fooling, Tom, and get at your studies. You know what I told you. We may have to leave Brill before we anticipated. And we want to get all the learning we can."
"Have you heard anything more from dad?" demanded the fun-loving Rover quickly.
"Yes, a letter came this evening. That business affair is in a worse twist than ever. But dad hopes he can straighten it out. But he writes that he isn't feeling as well as he was. If he gets sick, we'll have to jump in—or at least I will—and take his place."
"We'll all jump in," was Sam's comment. "I'd like to do something in a business way."
"Did dad give any particulars?" asked Tom.
"None but what we already know. He felt too ill to write much."
"Has he heard anything more of Crabtree or Sobber?"
"Nothing."
During the following week there was some excitement at Brill because of a football game between that college and another institution of learning. It was a gala occasion, and the Rover boys hired a three-seated carriage and brought Dora, Nellie and Grace to the game. Brill won the contest, and a great jubilee lasting far into the night followed. The Rovers and the three girls had a little feast of their own at the Ashton hotel, and on the way back to Hope the young people sang songs, and had a good time generally. Perhaps some very sentimental things were said—especially between Dick and Dora—but if so, who can blame them? The placing of that engagement ring on Dora's finger by Dick had made them both exceedingly happy.
During those days the boys took several short trips in theDartaway, once landing in the field on the Dawson farm. They sought out Dan Murdock and asked him if he had seen anything more of Koswell and Larkspur.
"Yes, I see 'em last week, but they got out ofsight in the woods, and I couldn't find 'em," answered the farm hand.
"Around here?" asked Dick.
"No, that was on the edge of the big woods back of Hope Seminary. I was driving along, with some crates of eggs for the girls' college, when I see 'em, sitting on a fallen tree, smoking cigarettes. I stopped my hosses and spoke to 'em, and then they up and run into the woods as fast as they could go! I looked for 'em, but I couldn't git on their track nohow."
"What can they be doing up around Hope?" murmured Sam.
"Maybe they are sweet on some of the girls," returned Tom. "I know they used to go up there, when they attended Brill."
"I hope, if they visit Hope, they don't speak to Dora and the others," said Dick, as his face clouded.
"Maybe we better warn the girls," said Sam.
"No, don't do that," said Tom. "You'd only scare them. They know Koswell and Larkspur well enough. Don't say anything." And so the matter was dropped.
Two days later came a special delivery letter from home that filled the three boys with intense interest.
"Josiah Crabtree and Tad Sobber have at last shown their hand," wrote Mr. Anderson Rover. "They have sent an unsigned communication to me demanding fifty thousand dollars. They give me just two weeks in which to get the money together in cash and place it at a certain spot along the road between our home and Oak Run. If the money is not forthcoming they promise to blow up every building on the farm. The communication says, 'You can pay half of this and get the other half from your lady friends.' Which means, of course, the Stanhopes and Lanings."
"Josiah Crabtree and Tad Sobber have at last shown their hand," wrote Mr. Anderson Rover. "They have sent an unsigned communication to me demanding fifty thousand dollars. They give me just two weeks in which to get the money together in cash and place it at a certain spot along the road between our home and Oak Run. If the money is not forthcoming they promise to blow up every building on the farm. The communication says, 'You can pay half of this and get the other half from your lady friends.' Which means, of course, the Stanhopes and Lanings."
"Of all the cowardly things!" cried Tom, after listening to the above. "Why, it's a regular sort of Black Hand communication!"
"So it is," added Sam. "What else does dad say," he went on, and Dick continued the reading of the letter:
"At first I was inclined to treat the communication lightly and laugh at it, but then came another letter—a mere scrawl, stating they would give me a taste of what to expect that night. I told the detective of this and he came to the house and remained all night with us. About three o'clock in the morning there was an explosion outside, and when we dressed and ran out we foundone of the chicken houses blown to flinders by dynamite or some other explosive. About one hundred chickens were destroyed."
"At first I was inclined to treat the communication lightly and laugh at it, but then came another letter—a mere scrawl, stating they would give me a taste of what to expect that night. I told the detective of this and he came to the house and remained all night with us. About three o'clock in the morning there was an explosion outside, and when we dressed and ran out we foundone of the chicken houses blown to flinders by dynamite or some other explosive. About one hundred chickens were destroyed."
"Just listen to that!" gasped Tom. "Oh, the rascals!"
"And Uncle Randolph's prize stock chickens!" murmured Sam. "That must have made his heart ache!"
"I'll wager Aunt Martha was scared to death," added Tom. And Dick read on:
"Of course there was great excitement, and four of us, the detective, Ness, Pop, and myself, went after the rascals, leaving your Uncle Randolph to look after your aunt and the cook, both of whom were very much frightened. We hunted around until daylight, but without success. Then we went to the old mill in the auto, but the place was deserted. After that I notified the local authorities, and I have hired ten watchmen to guard the farm and every building on it. I have also sent for two more detectives, and I am hoping that, sooner or later, they will be able to trace the scoundrels and run them down."
"Of course there was great excitement, and four of us, the detective, Ness, Pop, and myself, went after the rascals, leaving your Uncle Randolph to look after your aunt and the cook, both of whom were very much frightened. We hunted around until daylight, but without success. Then we went to the old mill in the auto, but the place was deserted. After that I notified the local authorities, and I have hired ten watchmen to guard the farm and every building on it. I have also sent for two more detectives, and I am hoping that, sooner or later, they will be able to trace the scoundrels and run them down."
"Does he say how he is feeling?" questionedSam, as his brother paused in the reading of the letter.
"Yes, he says he is about the same, but that Uncle Randolph is very much upset over the loss of his chickens and wants to know if they hadn't better pay the money demanded."
"Oh, I hope they don't pay a cent!" cried Tom.
"So do I," added Sam. "But I don't want to see them blown up either," he continued, seriously.
"None of us want that," said Dick. "But I'd not give them a cent—I'd be blown up a dozen times before I'd do it!" he continued, firmly.
"Do they want us home?" asked Tom.
"No, dad says it will do no good for us to come home. He says he will write or telegraph if anything newdevelops. He thinks, with the extra watchmen on guard, and the detectives at work, Crabtree and Sobber will get scared and leave them alone."
"I hope they do," said Sam. He heaved a deep sigh. "Gracious! it seems to me that no sooner are we out of one trouble than we get into another!"
"That is true."
"It's too bad—to have this piled on poor dad when he's so worried about that business affair."
"Well, you know the old saying, 'troubles never come singly,'" answered the older brother.
After that the three boys watched the mails anxiously for over a week. Then came another letter from their father, in which he stated that nothing new had developed. Then came another wait—until the day after that set by Crabtree and Sobber for the delivery of the fifty thousand dollars,—when Dick got a telegram, as follows:
"All quiet. Received another letter, to which I have paid no attention. Feel almost sure the rascals have left this part of the country. All fairly well."
"All quiet. Received another letter, to which I have paid no attention. Feel almost sure the rascals have left this part of the country. All fairly well."
"Well, that's some comfort," was Tom's comment. "I hope they have gone away, and that we never see or hear of them again."
"Don't comfort yourself that way, Tom," answered Dick. "They are bound to show their hand again, sooner or later. We won't be safe from them until they are in jail."
One clear afternoon the three Rover boys decided to take a run up to Hope Seminary in theDartaway. There was very little wind and, although it was growing colder, they knew they could easily bundle up in their aviation coats and boots. Sam and Tom had been trying out the biplane, and they pronounced everything in perfect order for a flight.
"Dick, let me run the machine over," said Sam, and the big brother agreed, for Tom had been at the wheel on a previous occasion.
The boys had no classes to attend after lunch and so got away by two o'clock.
"I trust we can see the girls," said Dick, as they started up the engine of the flying machine.
"Oh, they'll be at liberty after hours," answered Tom. "They always are."
Previous to leaving, the boys had filled the oilfeed and the gasoline tank, so they were prepared for quite a trip.
"Maybe we can get the girls to go up, for just a little sail, you know," said Sam. "I am sure theDartawaycould carry them, on a pinch."
"Where would they sit, in our laps?" asked Tom, with a grin.
"No, they could sit in the seats and we could sit back of them, like on a bob-sled," answered the youngest Rover.
"I don't think they'll care to go up," answered Dick. "They'd be too scared. As yet, flying machines are hardly built for ladies. But I think the time will come when they will use them."
As they were in no hurry, the boys took their time in sailing over the farms and country roads. They did not go up very high, and often saw farmers and others staring at them, shouting things they could not catch.
"By and by flying machines will be as common as autos," remarked Dick. "But now the sight of one is a great curiosity to these folks."
Sam handled the machine like a veteran and even showed what he could do by making a small figure eight and a spiral dip.
"I wish we had a little monoplane, just for one," he said. "My! couldn't a fellow scoot around then!"
"Sam's got the flying bee all right!" cried Tom.
"Well, wouldn't you like it yourself?" demanded the youngest Rover.
"I'd rather have a big airship. Then I could give all my friends a ride—have a regular airship party."
"Well, I'd like that too," was Sam's reply.
Presently they came in sight of the seminary buildings. They circled around for some time and then landed at the far end of the campus. A few girls were in sight, but not those they had come to visit.
"Good afternoon," said Dick, to a girl he had met, named Ida Strong. "Can you tell me where I can find Miss Stanhope, or the Misses Laning?"
"The three of them went for a walk, about half an hour ago," replied Ida Strong.
"Do you know where they went?"
"I do not, excepting that they took the road to Beechwood," and the girl student pointed out the highway mentioned, one that ran through the big woods back of the seminary. It led to the village of Beechwood, which was several miles beyond.
"Thank you," returned Dick. "If we shouldn't meet them, will you tell them we called, in our biplane?"
"I will," said the girl.
Dick was about to rejoin his brothers, and suggest that they go up and fly along over the woods road, when another girl, named Bess Haven, came running up.
"Oh, Mr. Rover, isn't this queer!" she cried. "I thought you were hurt!"
"Hurt?" repeated Dick, puzzled. "How so?"
"Why Dora Stanhope said you were—that you had had a fall out of the flying machine."
"That I fell out of the machine?" cried Dick. "There is some mistake here. I have had no fall. When did she tell you that?"
"About half an hour ago. She got some sort of a message, and she was terribly upset. She went off to visit you."
"Where to?"
"I don't know. But wait—yes, she did say you had had a fall in the woods."
"Did she go alone?" And now Dick's heart began to thump strangely. He was thinking of their many enemies. Was this some new trick?
"No, Nellie and Grace Laning, her cousins, went with her."
Dick turned to Ida Strong.
"You saw them go?"
"Yes, just as I told you. Oh, Mr. Rover, is anything wrong?"
"I don't know—I hope not. But I think wehad better go after them at once. Good day." And Dick fairly ran back to where Tom and Sam rested near the biplane.
"Start her up, quick!" he said to his brothers, in a low voice. "Something is wrong! We've got to get after the girls right away!"
"What is it?" demanded Tom, leaping to his feet, while Sam did the same.
"I'll tell you when we are on the way. Quick, start the propellers! I'll take the wheel," and Dick sprang into the seat.
In another moment the engine had been started, and with a rush and a whizz theDartawayleft the campus. Dick made a turn, then headed in the direction of the road through the woods. He flew low and rather slowly.
"Keep your eyes open," he cautioned, "for any sight of the girls—or any sight of our enemies." And then he related as much as he knew of what had occurred.
"Do you think somebody sent that message to decoy Dora away from the seminary, Dick?" asked Sam.
"Doesn't it look that way? Why should anybody send word that I was hurt, when I wasn't?"
"I think you are right!" declared Tom. "I think I can see through it," he went on quickly. "They found out they couldn't dynamite dad orUncle Randolph into giving up that money, and they couldn't get at Mrs. Stanhope or Mrs. Laning to get it, so now they are going to see what they can do through Dora—and maybe Nellie and Grace."
"That's exactly the way I figure it!" exclaimed Dick. "And the sooner we reach the girls the better! For all we know, it may even now be too late!"
"Oh, let us hope not!" cried Sam.
"Did they go on foot?" asked Tom.
"Yes."
"Were they to meet anybody?"
"I don't know. Miss Haven said they went off in a great hurry—which was natural, if they thought I had tumbled out of the biplane and been hurt. I suppose poor Dora was scared half to death," and Dick heaved a long sigh.
As the flying machine swept along over the woods and the roadway the three youths kept their eyes on the alert for a sight of the girls. For a long time they saw nothing out of the ordinary. Then Sam uttered a cry:
"See! see! There is Grace! She is waving her handkerchief at us!"
All looked in the direction indicated, and at a spot along the road where there was quite a cleared space they saw Grace Laning standing ona flat rock, wavingfranticallyat them. They had to make a circle, and then, with care, Dick brought the biplane down into the roadway.
"What is it, Grace?" yelled Sam, as he leaped from his seat. "Where are the others?"
"Oh, Sam!" moaned the girl, and then they saw that her hair was awry and her shoes were covered with dust. "Oh, save them! Go after them at once!" And then she staggered forward and fainted in Sam's arms.
The three Rovers were greatly alarmed and for the moment did not know what to do. Then Dick rushed to the side of the roadway, where some water trickled along in a hollow, and brought some, using a collapsible cup they carried when on a trip. With this they bathed Grace's face and they forced a little water into her mouth, and soon she opened her eyes and stared around her.
"Go away! Go away! Don't touch me!" she gasped.
"Hush, Grace, you are safe," answered Sam, gently.
"Oh, Sam! I forgot!" She struggled to her feet, he still supporting her. "Did—did you find them? Did you bring them back?" she asked wildly.
"You mean Dora and Nellie?" asked Dick and Tom, in a breath.
"Yes! yes!"
"We don't know where they are. Tell us about it," went on Dick.
"Oh, it's terrible!" cried Grace, and now the tears began to course down her cheeks. "We got a note—at least Dora did—stating you had had a fall from the biplane and were hurt. The note was signed 'Tom,' and we of course thought Tom had sent it. It said to keep the matter quiet but to come without delay—down this road to the old white cottage. So the three of us started off as soon as we could. Dora was so afraid it was serious she ran nearly all the way, and Nellie and I ran, too. We had thought you were at the cottage, but when we got there we didn't see anybody. While we hunted around a big touring car, one of the kind with a closed coach top, dashed up. There was a man running the car and another man inside, a fellow who looked like a doctor. The driver asked if we were the girls who had come to see Dick Rover, the aviator, and we said yes. Then he said the car had been sent for us and for the doctor, and for us to get in and he would take us to Dick Rover at once. We got in, and then, before we knew it, the touring car was rushing along the road at a great rate of speed. We asked the doctor about you, Dick, but he said he hadn't seen you yet. Then we askedthe driver, but he acted so queer we began to get suspicious. Then, oh, wasn't it strange? Nellie saw a card on the floor of the car, and picked it up, and it was Josiah Crabtree's visiting card! She showed it to Dora and I, and Dora screamed, and wanted to leap out of the car. But the doctor—if he was a doctor—held her, and held Nellie, too. But I was too much for him. I don't know how I did it, but, just as we were rounding a curve rather slowly, I flung myself out of the door, and I landed in some bushes. I got scratched a little, as you can see, but I wasn't hurt, and I started to run back to the seminary and was doing that when I saw your flying machine. You know the rest." And now Grace stopped, too exhausted to say another word.
"And the touring car went on?" queried Dick.
"Yes! yes! I saw the man shut the door, too. Oh, Dick, they have carried poor Nellie and Dora off, just as they carried Dora's mother off!"
"They kept to this road?"
"I believe so. I don't know of any cross road this side of Beechwood."
"Then we'll get after them at once!" declared Dick. "Sam, do you want to take Grace back, or come with us?"
"Well—I—er——"
"Go with them, Sam—they may need you!"broke in the girl quickly. "I can go back alone, and I'll send word to the authorities, over the telephone. Hurry! hurry, or it will be too late!"
The boys needed no further urging. Dick and Tom ran for the flying machine, and soon the explosions of the motor filled the crisp autumn air. Then all the boys leaped on board. Dick was at the wheel, and he sent theDartawayalong at a good rate of speed. Sam looked back, to see Grace hurrying in the direction of Hope Seminary.
"I hope she gets back safely," he said anxiously.
"I think she will," answered Tom. "Those rascals are all further along the road—waiting for Nellie and Dora."
"Keep your eyes open," put in Dick. "Don't let anything escape you. We must spot that auto without fail!"
The nerves of the Rover boys were on edge. Dick and Tom were particularly anxious, for those who had been thus rudely carried off were very dear to them.
"I wonder who that so-called doctor was?" mused Sam, as theDartawaysailed along, keeping over the road as well as the windings through the dense woods permitted.
"Most likely some tool of Crabtree or Sobber, or both," answered Tom.
"Do you think Koswell and Larkspur are in this game?"
"Perhaps they are!" cried Dick. "It would be just like them to join forces with Crabtree and Sobber. They are down and out, and need money, and all of them would expect to get a big stake out of this."
"Then you think they carried the girls off for money?" questioned Tom.
"I do, Tom. You hit the truth when you said they found out they couldn't do anything at the farm, and couldn't reach Mrs. Stanhope and Mrs. Laning. The only things left were to try to reach us or the girls."
"And they didn't dare tackle us," put in Sam.
"Do you suppose that Mrs. Sobber is in this?" continued Tom, referring to a relative of Tad Sobber, who had assisted once in the carrying off of Mrs. Stanhope.
"She may be, although she was pretty well scared that other time," replied his older brother.
The boys relapsed into silence, each busy with his own thoughts. All were anxious to catch a glimpse of the enclosed touring car. But they came within sight of the village of Beechwood without encountering a turnout of any sort.
"I'll land here and make some inquiries," said Dick.
"Yes, if the auto went through here somebody must have seen it," said Tom.
A landing was made directly on the village green, in front of the post-office, and a small crowd quickly collected.
"It's them young fellers from Brill!" cried one of the villagers. "I heard tell they had an airship."
"That ain't no airship, it's an aryplane," saidanother. "They don't lift up like no balloon—they sail like a bird, on them canvas wings."
"Wot makes the thing go, Job?"
"Them wooden things. They go 'round like windmills."
"Say, we want some information and we want it quick!" cried Dick. "Have any of you seen a big auto go through here, an enclosed auto—one with a coach-like body?"
"Sure we did!" cried one of the villagers. "By heck! the thing nearly killed Si Levering, it did! Si was crossin' the road, when whizz! bang! shoo! that auto went past him like a streak o' greased lightnin'! Si jumped back an' sit hisself down in the waterin' trough an' got hisself all wet."
"Which way did the auto go?" went on Dick.
"Right straight ahead."
"No, it didn't nuther," put in a farmer, who had just arrived in the village. "It took the road to Shepleytown—I see it."
"Which is that?" questioned Tom.
"You go up this road about a mile an' then take the cross road to the left. You can't miss it, 'cause there's a big tree on the corner that was struck by lightnin'."
"All right, we'll go to the corner that was struck by lightning," said Tom, who could not help joking, even in that moment of anxiety.
"I didn't say the corner was struck—it was the tree," explained the farmer soberly.
"All right, much obliged," answered Tom; and then the three boys started up the engine once more. The villagers had crowded around, but as those explosions rent the air several leaped back, and then the whole crowd ran for their lives.
"She's goin' up!" one yelled.
"Is the engine goin' to bust?" asked another.
"Look out, Jim, or she'll mow ye down like a mowin' machine!"
"Clear the track!" cried Sam, and then, with the usual rush and roar, theDartawayleaped over the village green and arose in the air, leaving the gaping and wondering crowd behind.
It was an easy run up to the blasted tree, and sighting this, Dick headed the biplane along the road that led to Shepleytown.
"How far is that place?" asked Sam.
"I think it is about six or seven miles," answered Tom. "I was there once, on a bicycle—went after nuts with Stanley and Songbird."
"What, to the town?" questioned Sam, with a grin.
"No, the woods back of the town, Sam. Say, that's one on me,—as bad as that countryman's struck-by-lightning corner," and Tom grinned, too.
On and on swept the flying machine, the boys watching every rod of the winding road below. Once Tom gave a cry, as they saw a turnout at a distance. But it proved to be nothing but a tinware peddler's wagon. On the ground lay various pieces of tinware, scattering over a distance of fifty feet.
"Look at that!" cried Sam. "He must have had an accident."
"Say, maybe that auto struck his wagon," exclaimed Tom.
"It looks that way," was Dick's comment.
"Shall we land and question him?"
"What's the use? We know the machine came this way. That's enough for the present. We don't want to lose a minute more than is necessary."
"Say, we were chumps that we didn't telephone ahead from Beechwood!" cried Sam. "We might have had that auto stopped when it went through Shepleytown."
"It couldn't be done, for there is no line from Beechwood to Shepleytown," answered Dick. "The line only runs the other way."
The route was now over a dense woods and the boys had to sail slowly, for fear of passing the automobile while the latter was running under the overhanging trees. Once they saw something thatlooked like an automobile and Dick had to sail in a circle and come back, to make sure. But it proved to be only a two-seated carriage; and they passed on.
Shepleytown proved to be quite a place, with a main street containing a dozen stores. It connected by stage with Chaplet, which was a railroad center, five miles away.
The coming of the boys created as much of a sensation as had their arrival at Beechwood, and once more the biplane was surrounded.
"Sure, I saw that 'mobile you are after," said one man, in answer to their questions. "It was running putty lively an' no mistake. It went past the mill an' took the old Snagtown road. Queer, too, 'cause that road ain't half as good as the Chaplet turnpike."
"Did you see who was in the auto?" queried Dick.
"I think a couple o' men an' some girls. I couldn't see very well, the machine run so fast. I had to hold my hoss, for I was afraid they'd run into me."
Several others had also seen the big enclosed touring car and all were sure it had taken to the old Snagtown road.
"Where does that road run to?" asked Dick.
"Goes over the hills to what used to be Snagtown," answered one of the men. "But there ain't no town now, since the mills closed down—only empty houses."
"Just the place they'd be likely to head for!" cried Tom, in a low voice to his brothers. "Come on, hurry up!"
Sam and Dick needed no urging, and having thanked the men for their information they started up the engine once more.
"How far is it to that desertedvillage?" called out Tom, as theDartawaywas about to move off.
"Six miles!" shouted one of the crowd. "That is, by the road. The way you're going it ain't more'n four!" And this answer made the crowd laugh.
"Four miles," murmured Dick. "We ought to be able to head them off."
"I wish we were armed," came from Tom. "We may have some desperate characters to deal with."
"We might go back and get pistols," suggested Sam.
Dick thought for a moment. He knew well how desperate their enemies might become. He hated to lose the time but he realized it would be worse than useless to face a gang of four or more empty-handed. There was no telling what Sobber,Crabtree and the others might do if cornered.
"I guess we'd better go back and arm ourselves," he said. "It will create talk, but that can't be helped."
"It will create talk anyway, as soon as it is known that Dora and Nellie have been carried off," answered Tom.
"What do you care for the talk!" cried Sam. "What we want to do is to save the girls—and put those rascals where they belong, in jail!"
Then the biplane was turned back in a circle and soon the boys were back in Shepleytown, much to the astonishment of those who had but a few moments before seen them leave.
"Is there a hardware store handy?" asked Dick, of the first man who came up. He had told his brothers to let him do the talking.
"Sure—Bill Simmons's place, just down the street," answered the man, pointing with his finger.
"Thank you. Tom, bring that five-gallon gasoline can with you. Sam, you mind the machine," went on Dick, loudly.
"All right," answered the brothers, and Tom got the can in question, and he and Dick started for the store.
"Humph! got to have gasoline to run 'em, eh?" said one of the men, to Sam.
"Yes, indeed," answered the youngest Rover.
"Well, Bill Simmons can give ye all ye want, pervidin' ye pay for it," chuckled the man. "He keeps gasoline fer auto fellers an' fer farmers as has gasoline engines."
Dick and Tom hurried to the hardware store and asked the proprietor about gasoline. While he was filling the can they looked at an assortment of pistols that were exhibited in a showcase.
"They look pretty good," said Dick, when the hardware man came towards them.
"Are good, too. Wouldn't you like to buy a good shooter?" he added, anxious to do business.
"Show me a really good five-shooter," said Dick, and several were quickly handed over. He selected one and Tom selected another.
"Have to get one for Sam, too," whispered Tom.
"Sure," replied his brother, and this was done, and they also purchased the necessary cartridges.
"Now you are well armed—if anybody tries to steal your airship," said Bill Simmons.
"We don't want the machine stolen, or tampered with," answered Dick. "We can't afford to take chances. If a fellow tampered with our machine it might go wrong when it was in the air and we'd get our necks broken." And then Dick and Tom hurried back to theDartawaycarrying the can of gasoline between them. The can was fastened where it belonged,—for the regular tank had still plenty of gasoline in it,—and then the boys sailed away once more, over the winding road leading to Snagtown.
"That's a dandy revolver!" exclaimed Sam, on receiving one of the weapons, with some cartridges. "And loaded, too! Now I guess we are ready for those rascals!" he added, with satisfaction.
"Remember, we are not to use any firearms unless it becomes absolutely necessary," said Dick, firmly.
"Yes, but I am not going to give them a chance to down me and get away with Nellie!" cried Tom, stoutly.
"Oh, no, Tom! We'll not allow that!" returned his big brother, with equal firmness.
"It seems to be getting a bit cloudy," said Sam, a minute later. "Wonder if it will rain?"
"I don't think that is rain, Sam," answered Dick. "It's worse than that, for us."
"You mean wind?"
"Yes."
Dick was right, and presently the first puff of the coming breeze hit theDartawayand sent the aircraft up on a slant. Dick promptly moved the tips and one of the rudders, and the flying machine came along on a level. But from then on the oldest Rover boy had all he could do to keep to the course, for the breeze became stronger and stronger.
"It's too bad!" murmured Tom, as he clung tohis seat. "Hang the luck! Why couldn't that wind have kept off for an hour longer!"
"You fellows keep your eyes on the road!" sang out Dick. "I've got to give all my attention to the biplane!"
"All right," was the answer of the others.
After that but little was said, for Dick had to watch every movement of theDartawaywith care, and his hands and feet were constantly on the alert, to make whatever shift seemed necessary. Sam and Tom strained their eyes to catch sight of the enclosed touring car, which, they had learned, was painted a dark blue.
The wind kept growing stronger and stronger, coming in fitful gusts that were particularly bad for such a flying machine as the boys possessed. Once came a gust that sent them spinning far out of their course.
"Phew! this is getting pretty wild!" gasped Sam. "Dick, can you manage her?"
"Not if it gets any worse," was the grim answer.
"Don't take too much of a chance," put in Tom. "We don't want to get wrecked in this wilderness."
His reference to a wilderness was not without reason, for below them stretched a series of hillsand valleys covered with stunted trees and clumps of brushwood. Not a house was in sight.
"This is what you'd call Lonesomehurst," murmured Sam.
"Do you see any place where we can land?" was Dick's question, a little later, after he had battled with another angry gust and then run through a particularly trying "soft spot."
"Nothing around here," answered Tom.
"I see something of a clearing over to the left," came from Sam. "I don't know what it amounts to though, it's too far off."
"We'll look at it," said Dick, in a low voice.
He had to fairly battle his way along, so fierce were the gusts of wind. He made something of an oval, and presently found himself over a spot covered with grass and low bushes. Then came another gust of wind and without waiting longer he shut off the engine, and theDartawaycame down with a bump that threatened to break the wheels on which it rested. They swept through the bushes, and then tilted up beside several small trees.
"Hold her down!" shouted Dick. "Tie her fast, before the wind turns her over!"
All set to work, and, not without great difficulty, they managed to run the biplane directly between several trees and some clumps of bushes.
"Fasten every rope well," sang out Dick. "Unless I miss my guess, this is going to be a corker of a blow!"
"I don't think it will be as bad as it was during that hailstorm," answered Tom. "But it is bad enough."
The ropes were all well secured, and then the boys breathed easier. Down on the ground the wind did not appear to be so powerful, and they felt that, unless it increased greatly, theDartawayway would be safe in her berth among the trees and bushes.
"Well, what's the next move?" questioned Sam, after they had rested for a moment from their labors.
"I hardly know what to say," answered his eldest brother. "We can hardly follow that auto on foot."
"The worst of it is, it will be growing dark before long," put in Tom. "What are we going to do then? I thought we'd catch up to that auto long before this."
They talked the matter over, but could arrive at no satisfactory conclusion.
"I'm almost sorry we came down," said Dick. "We might have gotten through—although the wind is worse than it was."
"No, we couldn't do anything in this wind,—we'd simply wreck theDartaway," said Sam. "But come on, let's go as far as we can. We can come back for the biplane any time."
While under such a strain of mind, the boys could not remain quiet, and so they set off through the woods in the direction of the road. It was hard walking, and several times they had to literally force their way through the brushwood. Then they came to a swamp and had to make a detour, for fear of getting stuck in the mud. When they at last reached the road they were well-nigh exhausted.
"I'll have to rest just a minute!" panted Sam. "Say, that was something fierce, wasn't it?" And he sank on a rock.
"Listen! I think I hear somebody coming!" cried Dick.
All strained their ears, and presently made out the sounds of a farm wagon moving slowly over the rocky roadway that was hidden by the trees. Then the turnout came into view, loaded with freshly-cut cord wood, and drawn by a pair of bony, white horses. On the seat of the wagon sat an aged colored man, talking volubly to his team.
"Hello there, uncle!" cried Dick, as the wagon came closer. "Stop a minute, I want to talk to you."
"What you-all wants?" demanded the colored man nervously, for the spot was a particularly lonely one.
"Did you come from the direction of Snagtown?" went on Dick.
"Dat's wot I did, sah."
"Did you see anything of a big automobile going that way, one with a coach top?"
At this question the aged colored man blinked his eyes and shifted uneasily. He glanced back, over his load of wood.
"I—I ain't got nuffin to say, boss, I ain't got nuffin to say!" he answered finally, and prepared to drive on.
"Oh, yes, you have got something to say—and you are going to say it!" cried Dick, and he ran forward, in front of the horses, and caught hold of one by the bit.