"Have you a lantern on the wagon?" asked Dick, of Ike Henry.

"Yes, sah."

"Then we'll have to buy or borrow it, my man. Supposing I give you two
dollars for the use of the horses and another dollar for the lantern,
how will that strike you?"

"Dat's all right, boss," answered Ike Henry, who remembered that the
lantern had cost but seventy-five cents.

Dick passed over the bills and received the lantern, which was filled
with oil, and also a box of matches, which Ike Henry chanced to carry.

"Wot you-all gwine to do now?" asked the colored man, as he prepared to
hitch up his team again.

"We are going back into the woods, where we left our flying machine,"
answered Tom.

"You-all be careful dat yo' don't git in de swamp. Dat am a terribul bad
spot."

"We'll be careful."

"Tell me, where does that mainroad on the other side of the river run
to?" put in Dick.

"Dat road?" queried Ike Henry. "Dat way or dat way?" and he motioned
first to the east and then to the west.

"I mean to the westward."

"Why, dat's de way to git to Sherodburg an' Fremville."

"Do you know how far those places are?"

"Sherodburg am 'bout eight miles; Fremville am 'bout twenty or moah."

"All right. Come on, boys," said Dick. "Good night, Ike."

"Good night, sah! Much erbliged!" cried the aged colored man. "Hope
yo'-all dun catch dem rascals," he added earnestly.

"We'll do our best," answered Tom.

In a few seconds more the Rover boys had plunged into the woods. Here it
was quite dark, and Dick took the lead, holding the lantern close to the
ground, so that he might follow the trail he and his brothers had made
on leaving the _Dartaway_. All were gratified to find that the wind had
died down completely.

"I don't know how a run in the darkness will go," said Dick. "But we can
try it. But I don't see how we are to steer."

"I've got my pocket compass with me," answered Sam. "That may help some.
We know those towns are west of us. We can sail along until we see the
lights and then go down and ask about the touring car."

"A good idea, Sam."

Skirting the swamp with only the rays from the lantern to aid them was
no easy task, and once Tom slipped from a clump of rushes and went down
over his ankles in soft mud.

"Hi! hi! help me out!" he yelled. "Quick, before I get in any deeper!"

"Stand still!" called back Dick, and placed the lantern in another clump
of rushes. Then he caught hold of a tree that was handy and took a grip
on Sam's hand. "Now catch hold of Tom," he went on, and the youngest
Rover did so. Then came a long and strong pull, and with a sucking
sound, poor Tom came out of the sticky mud and landed beside his
brothers.

"Wow! that's a mess!" said the fun-loving Rover, as he surveyed his
feet, plastered thick with the mud.

"Stick to the dry ground after this," advised Dick. "Come on, the dead
leaves will soon brush that mud off." And forward he went once more,
holding the lantern as before. In a little while after this the swamp
was left behind, and then progress through the woods was more agreeable.

"Dick, don't you think we ought to be getting to the _Dartaway_ pretty
soon?" asked Tom, after a quarter of an hour more had passed and they
were still moving forward.

"Yes."

"It didn't seem so far away as this," put in Sam. "Are you sure you are
following the trail?"

"You can see for yourselves," answered Dick, and held the lantern close
to the ground.

"Footsteps, sure enough," murmured Tom. Then of a sudden he bent
closer. "But look!" he cried. "They are not ours!"

"What?" exclaimed his two brothers, in surprise.

"These footprints are not ours--they are altogether too big. We have
picked up and are following the wrong trail!"




CHAPTER XXV

THE TRAIL OF THE TOURING CAR


All started in astonishment at the footprints before them. What Tom had
said was true--the prints were altogether too large to have been made by
their own feet in walking through the woods.

"How could I have made such a mistake!" murmured Dick.

"I wonder where you got mixed up?" said Sam. "I looked at the prints
down by the swamp. They seemed to be O. K. there."

"Then that is where I must have gotten mixed up--maybe after we pulled
Tom from the mud."

"We'll have to go back," came from Tom. "Too bad! But it can't be
helped. I don't blame you, Dick," he added, hastily.

"Neither do I," put in Sam. "Anybody might make such a mistake, with
nothing but that smoky lantern to guide him."

They turned back, and after a while reached the edge of the swamp. Here,
after a long search, they found their own footprints.

"Now we are all right!" cried Sam. "Come on!"

"Yes, and let us be careful that we don't make another mistake," added
Tom.

"I don't know about this," said Dick, hesitatingly. "Somehow, it doesn't
look altogether right to me."

"Why not?" queried his two brothers.

"It doesn't seem to be the right direction. But they are our footprints,
so we may as well follow them."

They went on and proceeded for several hundred feet in silence. Then Tom
uttered a cry of dismay.

"Well, this beats the Dutch!" he gasped.

"What's wrong now?" asked Dick.

"Do you know what we are doing? We are heading for the road again,
instead of for the place where we left the _Dartaway_!"

"Tom!" gasped Sam. "Are you sure?"

"I am. See that fallen tree? We are about half way between the road and
the swamp."

"Yes, I remember the tree, and you are right," said Dick. "This is too
bad! And when we are in such a hurry, too!" His voice had a note of
despair in it.

"Well, keep to this trail now," said Sam. "Don't miss it,--only follow
it backwards."

Once more the three Rover boys turned, and now they scanned every foot
of the trail with care. Again they passed the swamp and there discovered
how they had made a false turn. Then they hurried forward, under the
trees and through the bushes.

The darkness of night had closed in all around them, and the only light
was that of the smoky lantern, and from the few stars that shone down
through the tree tops. Everything was silent, excepting for the
occasional note of a tree toad, or the "glunk" of a frog in the swamp.

"We ought to be there by now," said Sam, a few minutes later.

"There she is!" cried Dick, swinging the lamp up over his head. And in
the widening circle of light the three youths beheld the biplane,
resting exactly as they had left the craft.

"Thank goodness!" cried Tom. "I was beginning to think we had made
another mistake."

They hung the lantern on a tree limb and then lit the lights attached to
the biplane, for they had insisted that the _Dartaway_ be supplied with
these,--not for the purpose of flying at night, but so that the machine
could be lit up in the dark if it rested in the road or in some other
place where some person or vehicle might run into it.

It was an easy task to bring the biplane out into the opening in the
woods, and this done the boys took a general view of the situation, so
that they might get their bearings. Then all but one lantern were
extinguished, and the engine was started up and they got aboard the
craft, Dick taking the wheel.

"Now, Sam, it is up to you to give me the points of the compass," said
Dick. "And, Tom you keep your eyes open for the lights of Sherodburg and
Fremville."

Into the sky with its twinkling stars swept the _Dartaway_, and Sam gave
the direction to be taken by consulting the tiny pocket compass he
carried. Of course these directions were crude, but they were better
than nothing, and soon Tom cried out that he could make out the lights
of a settlement in the dim distance.

"That must be Sherodburg," said Dick.

"Why stop there?" asked Tom. "I don't think the touring car did. More
than likely they streaked through for all they were worth. Why not go on
straight to Fremville? That is a much larger town, and we'll be sure to
find a telephone there, or a telegraph office."

"Just what I was thinking," replied his big brother.

They swept over Sherodburg five minutes later, dipping down so low that
they could see every house and every store. They looked along the main
street for the touring car, but only carriages and farm wagons were in
view.

"I wish we had a searchlight," said Dick, with a sigh. "If we had one we
could easily keep that highway in view all the way to Fremville."

"Well, we haven't one, so we'll have to make out without it," answered
Tom. "Fly as low as you can and we'll try to keep the highway in sight.
Most of the farmhouses have lights in 'em, and that will help a little."

Dick flew as low as seemed advisable, and by straining their eyes the
boys managed to make out the winding road, lined on either side with
farms and patches of woods. Occasionally they swept over small
collections of houses,--hamlets located between the town they had left
behind and the one they were approaching.

The breeze had died down utterly, so Dick had little trouble in
manipulating the biplane. He sent the _Dartaway_ onward at a good rate
of speed, the engine making a noise like a battery of gatling guns. More
than likely many a farmer and his family were astonished at the sounds
and wondered what they meant. If any saw the biplane the Rovers did not
know it.

"I guess we are coming up to Fremville now," said Sam, when the distant
lights of a town showed on the horizon. "We'll have to look for some
safe place to land, and that is not so easy in the darkness."

Dick slowed down the motor as they drew closer to the town, which was
composed of several streets of stores, half a dozen churches, some
schools, and a hundred or more houses. He made a circle, and then,
seeing a level field back of some of the houses, headed for it, and shut
off the engine. They landed without anybody seeing them do it.

"Tom, I think you had better watch the machine, while Sam and I make
some inquiries," said Dick, as he alighted.

"Oh, don't you think I had better go too?" asked Tom anxiously.

"We can't leave the _Dartaway_ alone."

At that moment a man came out of the darkness, attracted by the voices.
He was surprised to see the biplane. He told the lads that his house was
close by and wanted to know what they were doing.

"We are on the trail of a big, enclosed touring car that came this way,"
answered Dick. "Did you see anything of it?"

"Say, that must be the machine Jim Hickey told about!" cried the man.
"Jim said it went tearin' through like mad, about half an hour ago."

"Which way was it headed?" asked Tom, eagerly.

"I don't know--I didn't ask. Jim could tell you."

"Where is he?"

"Jim? Why he keeps the barber shop, down on the corner of Main Street
and Lumber Alley."

"Do you know if he is at his barber shop now?" asked Dick.

"He must be--he was going there when he saw the auto."

The boys waited no longer, but asking the man to look after the
_Dartaway_ during their absence, they hurried to the main street of the
town and then to the barber shop in question. Jim Hickey was busy
shaving a customer but he was willing to suspend operations long enough
to answer the Rover boys.

"Did I see the car?" he cried. "If I hadn't I'd be a dead man this
minit!" he cried. "She was going some, she was!"

"Which way did the car go?" asked all the boys.

"Down Main Street to the bridge and then turned around the church
corner."

"Where does that road lead to?" asked Tom.

"Leads to Plankville and Bulltown."

"Yes, but they can't git through on that road," put in the customer,
wiping the lather from around his mouth so he could talk. "The bridge is
shut off--they're fixin' it--went at the work this morning."

"You are sure about that?" queried Dick, eagerly.

"Sure, I saw 'em takin' up the plankin' of the bridge. They will have to
come back."

"How far is that bridge from here?"

"About three miles."

"Is there any other side road?" put in Sam.

"None that would be good enough for an auto. The north road is all sand
an' mud."

"Come on!" cried Dick to his brothers. "I think we've cornered them!
Come on!" And he rushed from the barber shop, and Sam and Tom followed,
leaving the barber and his customer staring after them in astonishment.




CHAPTER XXVI

THE MOONLIT TRAIL


Once in the street the three Rover boys halted and looked at each other.
The same thought was in the mind of each; should they follow the touring
car on foot, or go back for the airship?

"We'll get the _Dartaway_!" cried Dick. "We can follow them so much more
quickly that way."

At top speed they raced for the spot where they had left the biplane.
They found the strange man on guard, smoking his pipe.

"We saw the barber," said Dick, "and now we are going after that touring
car and the fellows in it. Much obliged for looking after the biplane,"
and he handed the man a silver half dollar.

"Thank you," said the man. "Want to catch 'em, eh?"

"Yes, they are rascals who ought to be in jail," answered Tom. And then,
before the man could ask any more questions, the boys started up the
engine and propellers and swept into the air once more.

The late moon had come up, and this light, added to that of the stars,
made it possible for them to keep the road well in view. Over the town
they swept and then over the church near the bridge. Then they commenced
to follow the road leading to Plankville and Bulltown.

It must be confessed that all of the youths were deeply excited, and Tom
and Sam looked to their pistols, to make certain that the weapons were
ready for use. They felt that the rascals who had abducted Dora and
Nellie in such a high-handed fashion would not give in without a
struggle.

As they went on, Dick slowed down the engine, and ran closer and closer
to the road.

"There is a sign and a big plank, closing the road!" cried Tom,
presently. "And there is the bridge, just ahead."

Scarcely had he spoken when Dick shut off the engine entirely and
volplaned to the broad roadway and only a short distance from the
bridge. All looked around eagerly. Not a sign of a touring car could be
seen.

"Maybe they made a mistake----" commenced Sam, when Dick, who was
examining the ground, uttered a cry.

"Here are the tracks of the rubber tires!" exclaimed the eldest Rover
boy. "See, they pushed the plank aside and steered right for the
bridge!"

"But did they get over?" asked his brothers.

"I suppose so. Wait, I'll go over and see."

Lantern in hand, Dick crossed on the beams of the wooden bridge. On the
opposite side he saw the same tracks of the tires in the dust and dirt.

"Yes, they came over!" he shouted.

"But the planking----" came from Tom.

"They must have thrown it into place to cross and then taken it up
again, so that they couldn't be followed,--that is, in a carriage, or an
auto, or on horseback."

"Yes, but they can't stop a biplane!" cried Sam, eagerly. "And this must
have taken time to do! We must be close behind them!"

"Let's get right after 'em!" put in Tom, and all three ran once more for
the _Dartaway_, and soon the quick explosions of the motor sounded on
the night air.

If the boys had been excited before, they were more so now, for they
realized that the touring car at the best could be but a few miles away.
Could they catch up to it before those running the machine had a chance
to slip them in the darkness?

"They must have their lights lit," said Dick. "They'd not dare run
without them. Look and see if you can't spot their headlights. Their
taillight we smashed with a pistol shot."

On and on swept the biplane. As the late moon came up higher, the way
became brighter, until they could distinguish the road below quite
plainly. But nothing like a touring car came into view.

"They must have had more time than we thought, or else they ran mighty
fast," remarked Dick, after several miles had been covered.

Presently they saw two bright lights coming towards them, down on the
road. At once Dick shut off the power, and allowed the biplane to come
down in the centre of the highway. Then Tom waved the lantern, and at
the same time all three lads took hold of their pistols.

It was a runabout that was coming up, an old affair, carrying two men
that looked like farmers.

"Hello, what's this, a hold-up?" cried one of the men. "By gum! if it
ain't an airship!" he gasped, as his machine came to a standstill in
front of the _Dartaway_.

"We'd like some information," said Dick, stepping forward and holding up
the lantern. "We are looking for a big enclosed touring car that came
this way. Did you meet it on the road?"

"A tourin' car? No, we didn't meet any kind o' an auto."

"None at all?"

"Nary a one," answered the second man.

"May I ask how far you've come?" went on Dick.

"We came from Plankville."

"How far is that?"

"About six miles."

"Are there any side roads between here and Plankville?"

"Plenty of 'em, but none good enough fer a car. Them that ain't sand is
mud, an' deep mud, too. This is the only road in these parts fit for
autoing."

"You are sure that car didn't go through Plankville? It was a big
enclosed car, painted dark blue."

"I was sittin' on the hotel stoop fer an hour before we came along an'
there wasn't nary a car went through."

"Well, that car was on this road," said Tom. "It must have gone
somewhere."

"I don't see where it could go," said the second man, and shook his head
slowly. "All the side roads is terrible in these parts."

"Well, we are much obliged for the information," said Dick. "Wait, we'll
soon have our biplane out of the way." And then he and his brothers
wheeled it to one side, so the runabout could pass.

The men were curious to see the machine fly and remained while the boys
started up the engine.

"What are you going to do next?" whispered Sam.

"We'll take a look at the side roads," replied Dick. "Maybe the touring
car tried one of them and got stuck. I hope it did."

With a rush and a roar, the _Dartaway_ sped down the highway and then
arose in the air, and as it did this the men in the runabout gave a
cheer and clapped their hands. Then the Rover boys continued their hunt.

They kept close to the main road and did not fly any higher than was
necessary. Whenever they reached a side road Dick would make a circle,
coming back to the highway and going forward. Thus they kept on until
they came in sight of Plankville.

"Hark!" cried Sam, as a distant bell tolled out. "Ten o'clock!"

"Only ten o'clock!" murmured Tom. "It seems like a week since we left
Brill!"

"And we haven't had supper yet," went on the youngest Rover.

"Who wants any supper?" came from Dick. "I'm sure I don't."

"Not a mouthful, until we rescue Dora and Nellie," answered Tom.

"I'd like a drink--I'm as dry as a herring," said Sam.

"We'll look for water when we go down again," answered Dick.

Presently they descended once more, and, as a brook was handy, each
drank his fill. Then Dick turned back in the direction from which they
had come.

"Now what?" demanded Tom.

"I'm going to find out where they went, Tom. They didn't come this far,
I am sure of that."

"Why?"

"Because I can't find their tracks in the road. The tracks of the
runabout are there and that's all. They didn't come this far. They
stopped or branched off somewhere between here and that bridge the road
men are repairing."

"Why can't we search the road for tracks?" asked Sam.

"Just what I am going to do. We can go down every half mile or so and
look the ground over."

This was done three times, and twice they saw no tracks. Then they
located them once more, about half way between the bridge and
Plankville.

"Perhaps we had better follow them up on foot for awhile," suggested
Dick. "They aren't in the roadway half a mile from here."

"Well, there are no side roads nearby," returned Tom. "And no houses or
barns, either," he added, searching the moonlit landscape.

Lantern in hand, Dick led the way, the others following. Thus several
hundred feet were covered. Then all came to a halt and stared at each
other. The tracks of the touring car led from the roadway directly into
a big field, backed up by what looked to be a dense woods.

"We are getting closer!" cried Dick. "Now, to put the _Dartaway_ in a
safe place and then we'll follow them on foot!"




CHAPTER XXVII

THE CHAUFFEUR OF THE TOURING CAR


"Let us run the biplane down the road a way and then into another field
and down among the trees," suggested Tom. "No use of leaving it too near
here--some of that gang might come and ruin it."

Tom's advice was considered good, and once more the three Rover boys
hurried to the _Dartaway_. As there was still no wind, it was an easy
matter to roll the machine along on its wheels. They found a field where
the fence was down, and ran the biplane across this and in among some
trees and bushes.

"Are you going to take the lantern?" asked Sam. "It seems to me it won't
be wise to let them see us, at first."

"I'll take it along unlit," answered his big brother. "It may come in
handy later."

"Let us get some clubs," suggested Tom. "They may come in handier than
the pistols."

"Right you are!" cried Dick. "We don't want any shooting if it can be
avoided."

"Evidently you think they are close at hand," remarked Sam, while they
were cutting stout sticks from among the brushwood.

"They can't have gone so very far, in that dense woods," answered Tom.
"Why, the auto couldn't get through."

At last the boys were ready to continue the search, and stick and
lantern in hand, Dick led the way, with Tom and Sam close behind. They
had to bend close to the ground, to make sure that they were following
the tracks of the touring car.

The trail led among the trees onto what was evidently a road used for
hauling out timber. Following this for about a quarter of a mile, the
youths discovered a dark object, resting near what looked to be the end
of the road.

"It's the auto!" whispered Dick.

"Anybody around?" questioned Tom, in an equally low voice.

"I don't know. Be careful and we'll see."

With extreme caution the boys walked closer to the touring car and then
all around it. Nobody was at hand, and not a sound broke the silence of
the night.

"Deserted!" whispered Sam. "Where did they go to, I wonder?"

"Hush!" returned Dick. "They may be close enough to hear you."

With strained ears, the Rover boys listened for some sound that might
indicate the presence in that vicinity of those they were after. But
they heard nothing but the call of a night bird and the far-off hoot of
an owl.

"They have gone on," said Dick, at last. "We'll have to find the trail
and follow. Maybe I'll have to light the lantern."

"Say, let us fix the auto first--so they can't use it, if they come
back!" exclaimed Tom.

"A good idea, Tom," answered his big brother. And, as soon as Dick had
lighted the lantern, Tom and Sam set to work to render the touring car
unusable for the time being by turning off the flow of gasoline from the
tank and disconnecting the spark plugs.

"That will keep 'em guessing for a while, if they try to run it," was
Sam's comment.

In the meantime Dick was examining the ground, and soon he found the
mark of many footprints in the moss and leaves. They led along a
well-defined footpath running through the woods and up something of a
hill.

"They went this way," he said. "The fact is, I don't see how they could
go any other,--the brushwood is so thick."

"Maybe there's a house back there," suggested Tom.

"I shouldn't be surprised. That path must lead to somewhere."

The boys had just started to move along the footpath when from out of
the darkness came an unexpected hail:

"Hello, there! Who are you?"

The call came from ahead, and at a turn of the trail the lads saw, by
the dim rays of the lantern, the form of a man, wearing a fur coat and
an automobile cap.

"The driver of the car!" burst out Dick.

"I say, who are you?" called the man, coming to a halt. Evidently he was
coming back to take care of the automobile, or run it away.

"Hello, yourself!" answered Dick, boldly. "What are you doing here this
time of night?"

"Humph! Is that any of your business?" growled the man. He was evidently
a rough customer and not pleased at being thus surprised.

"I don't know; perhaps," answered Dick, drawing closer. "Don't let him
get away," he whispered to his brothers.

The boys made a rush forward, raising their sticks as they did so, and
before the man could think of retreating they had him surrounded.

"Say, look here, what does this mean?" demanded the fellow, trying to
put on a bold front, although he was much disturbed.

"You'll find out what it means before we are done with you," cried Tom,
hotly. "More than likely it means state's prison for you."

"State's prison!" The man shrank back. "Why--er--I haven't done anything
wrong."

"Oh, of course not!" returned Dick, sarcastically. "Abducting two young
ladies isn't wrong I suppose!"

"I didn't abduct anybody," growled the man. "Somebody hired my car,
that's all I know. Now the job is done, and I'm going about my
business."

"Not just yet," said Dick, quietly but firmly. "Tell me, what have they
done with the two young ladies?"

"That ain't my business," commenced the chauffeur, savagely. "You let me
go, or I'll----Oh!"

He stopped short and let out a yell of pain and fright. He had tried to
push Dick out of his path. The oldest Rover boy had dropped the lantern
and struck out fairly and squarely with his fist, and the blow had
landed on the man's jaw, nearly taking him from his feet.

"Now behave yourself and come along!" cried Dick, and caught the man by
the arm. "Don't let him escape!" he cried, to his brothers. "Use your
sticks, and your pistols, too, if it is necessary."

The boys closed in, and the sight of the sticks and the pistols
frightened the chauffeur greatly. He saw that he was trapped, and that
resistance might put him in a worse hole.

"I didn't do it!" he whined, as the boys hurried him back towards the
automobile. "I was hired for a certain job, that's all. The men said
they had a right to carry the young ladies off--that one of 'em was the
old man's stepdaughter, and that both of 'em had run away from a girls'
school and wouldn't learn their lessons."

"And you mean to tell me that you believe such stuff!" snorted Tom.

"Well, that's what they told me," answered the man doggedly. "They hired
the car first without telling me what sort of a job it was. Then they
told me they wouldn't give me a cent if I didn't do what I was told to
do. I'm a poor man, and----"

"You tell it well, but I don't believe a word of it," interrupted Dick.
"You have committed a serious crime, and the only way in which you can
help yourself at all is by helping us."

"Will you let me go if I help you?" demanded the chauffeur, eagerly.

"We'll see about that later," answered Dick, briefly. "For the present
we intend to keep you a prisoner."

"A prisoner! You haven't any right----"

"We'll take the right."

"That's the talk!" put in Tom.

By this time the party had reached the automobile. As Dick had surmised,
several straps and ropes lay in the box under the back seat, and with
these they bound the man's hands behind him. Once he started to resist,
but when Tom raised his shining pistol he wilted.

"Now you tell me where they took the young ladies," said Dick, after the
fellow had been strapped fast to his own automobile.

"They took 'em up to the house."

"What house?"

"The old mansion back there on the hill."

"Who was in the crowd?"

"The old man and the old lady, and the two young ladies, and the three
young men, and the doctor."

"The old lady!" cried Dick. "Who was she? What was her name?"

"I think they called her Sobber, same as one of the young fellows. They
had her along to look after the girls."

"It must be the one from Boston!" cried Sam. "Tad's aunt, or whatever
she is."

"Where did they pick her up?" asked Dick.

"Down at Fremville. She was waiting with one of the young men, a chap
they called Koswell."

"Are they all up at that old mansion now?"

"I suppose so. They were there when I left."

"Who lives at the place?"

"I don't know,--I didn't see anybody."




CHAPTER XXVIII

AT THE OLD MANSION


After that the chauffeur became more communicative, and in a few words
told how he had been engaged by Koswell and Larkspur to do a certain job
that they said might take the best part of the afternoon and night. They
had told him that a certain college professor at Brill had a wayward
stepdaughter and that the daughter and her school chum had grossly
insulted a lady teacher and were in danger of being arrested. The old
professor wanted to get the two girls away and place them under the care
of an old lady, a distant relative, who would know how to manage them.
He had been promised fifty dollars if he would do the work and say
nothing about it to anybody, he being informed that the old professor
wanted to avoid all publicity and also wished to shield his
stepdaughter.

"They told me first there were three girls," went on the man. "And so
there were, but one got away somehow, so then we took only the two."

"But you heard what the girls said, didn't you?" asked Dick, sharply.

"I was paying attention to running my car," mumbled the chauffeur.

"How about when I and my brother came after you on horseback? Why didn't
you stop and find out what we wanted?"

"The young fellow, Sobber, said you were from the school where the young
ladies attended and that maybe you wanted to arrest them. They made me
go on."

"That sounds pretty fishy to me," returned Dick. "Still, I won't condemn
you until this whole thing is cleared up. Just now we've got to find
those young ladies."

"Going to leave me tied up?" cried the chauffeur.

"Yes, until we get back."

"That aint fair nohow!"

"Well, fair or not, that's the way it is going to be," put in Tom. "My
own opinion is, you are almost as guilty as anybody. You didn't plan
this thing, but you were perfectly willing to do your share in carrying
it out."

The chauffeur begged and pleaded, but the three boys would not listen to
him. All were eager to go on, to ascertain what had become of Dora and
Nellie. They felt that the girls must be suffering intensely even though
Mrs. Sobber was with them.

"No use of taking the lantern, we can easily find the way," said Dick.
"I'd rather have the stick handy, and my pistol."

Leaving the chauffeur grumbling roundly, the three Rover boys hurried
along the woodland trail. It made half a dozen turns, the last around a
spring of pure cold water, which the tired-out lads could not resist.
Each got a good drink and felt much refreshed. All were too excited to
notice their hunger, even though they had not tasted a mouthful of food
since the noon lunch.

"I see the house!" whispered Sam, presently, and pointed ahead, and his
brothers nodded.

Set in a cleared space was an old stone mansion, two stories high, and
with several wings. The porch was badly rotted, the chimney top gone,
and the whole structure showed signs of decay. Around the place was what
had once been a well-kept flower garden, now overrun with a tangle of
dead flowers stalks and untrimmed rose bushes. Evidently no one had done
any work around the place for several years.

"Just the kind of a place those chaps would pick out," whispered Dick to
his brothers. "They never suspected anybody would trace 'em. I suppose
they found out the old mansion was not being used, and they either hired
it or took possession without asking."

"I begin to think this was all a well-laid plot," said Sam.

"Sure thing," muttered Tom. "The only trip-up they made was when they
didn't catch Grace as well as Nellie and Dora."

"And when old Crabtree dropped that visiting card," added Dick.

The boys saw that lights were burning in one of the lower rooms of the
old mansion and in two of the upper rooms.

"I guess they are all there," said Dick.

"Can't we get closer and make sure?" pleaded Tom.

"We don't want them to see us, Tom."

"Why not?"

"Because it might spoil everything. Remember they are four or five
strong, not counting the woman, and she would probably fight as hard as
anybody, if cornered."

"Five?" queried Sam.

"Yes, counting that fellow the girls took for a doctor."

"Oh, yes, I'd forgotten him. The machine certainly had a load coming to
the place."

"If the girls are there--and safe for the time being--I know what I'd
like to do," went on the big brother, after a pause.

"What?"

"Go to the nearest town and notify the authorities, and make that whole
crowd prisoners."

"That would be fine!" cried Tom. "But can we do it? They might try to
slip away."

"That is true, although I doubt it. I think their plan is, now they are
here, to lay low. They'll think they are perfectly safe here. Most
likely they'll send some kind of a letter to dad, and to Mrs Stanhope
and Mrs. Laning, asking for money, and then they'll wait for answers.
They'll want us to pay a big sum for the release of Dora and Nellie."

"If only we could capture them ourselves!" murmured Tom, his eyes
glistening. "Don't you think we can do it, with the sticks and pistols?"

"We might, Tom,--but it would be a big risk. Those fellows are
desperate, Sobber especially, and they must be armed, too. There is no
use of our getting shot if it can be avoided."

With extreme caution the three boys walked around the old mansion. In
one of the upper rooms, the curtains of which had been drawn, they could
make out several forms moving about.

"There, I think that was Nellie!" cried Tom, as a shadow appeared on the
curtain.

"And there is that woman!" added Sam, as another form appeared and
vanished.

"I'd like to know if Dora is there," murmured Dick.

They waited for a minute and saw several shadows pass and repass the
curtain. They were sure Nellie was there but were not so certain about
her cousin. The woman was Mrs. Sobber beyond a doubt.

"If they leave the girls in that room and alone--with that window
unlocked----" began Dick.

"The woman may stay with them," interrupted Tom.

"Get back--somebody is coming!" whispered Sam, and dragged his brothers
down, behind some rose bushes.

Two persons were coming out of the old mansion. One carried a lantern
and what looked to be some bed slats and the other a ladder. They were
Tad Sobber and Jerry Koswell.

"Do you think the ladder is long enough?" they heard Koswell ask.

"I guess so--I'll soon see," answered Tad Sobber.

The pair walked around to the side of the house and the ladder was
placed in position under the window of the room the boys had been
watching. Then Sobber went up with the slats, and some nails and a
hammer, and commenced to nail the slats across the window.

"He's going to make a regular prison cell of the room!" whispered Tom.
"Oh, if only I dared to run in and yank that ladder from under him!" he
added, with grim humor.

"Hush, or they'll hear you," warned Dick. "I am glad to see this," he
went on, in a low whisper. "It shows that they think they haven't been
followed and are safe. Now to get to the nearest town, notify the
authorities, and bag the bunch of them!"

"If we could only get some word to the girls," murmured Tom.

"Yes, Tom, that would be very nice. But we can't afford to take the
chance. If some of those rascals get away, sooner or later they'll make
more trouble for us."

"I know that."

"I think one of us might remain here on guard, while the others go to
town for help."

"How are you going to get to town?"

"I've got a plan for that," and Dick smiled faintly. "I'll make our
friend, the chauffeur, do us a good turn."

"What, will you go in that touring car?" cried Sam.

"Why not? It's a big, roomy car, and can carry a lot of officers of the
law. And we know it can make speed."

"All right, Dick, go ahead. I guess you know the right thing to do."

After a few words, it was decided that Tom should remain on guard while
Dick and Sam went for assistance. Dick cautioned Tom not to show
himself.

"If you do, you may spoil everything," said he.

"All right, I'll lay low," answered Tom, "that is, unless I find out
that the girls actually need me," he added. "I won't stand it if that
old woman, or Crabtree, illtreats them."

"No, if they try that, sail in and do what you can to save them," said
Dick.




CHAPTER XXIX

THE ARM OF THE LAW


Soon Dick and Sam were on the way to where they had left the chauffeur
and the big touring car. They fairly ran down the woodland trail,
stumbling over the rocks and tree roots in the darkness. Once Sam went
down, and scratched his hand, but he got up without complaining.

They were almost in sight of the machine when they heard a peculiar
sound. Dick's heart gave a bound.

"Listen!" he cried. "He's trying to crank up! He must have gotten free
of his bonds!"

The oldest Rover boy was right, the chauffeur had worked at the straps
and ropes until he had liberated himself. Now he was working at the
crank of the touring car, hoping to get away in the machine.

"He won't get started," muttered Sam, remembering what he and Tom had
done to the automobile.

They sneaked up behind the man, and before he could resist had thrown
him flat on his back. Then, while Dick held him down, Sam ran and got
the straps and ropes.

"You let me go!" yelled the man. "Let me go, or it will be the worse for
you!" And he tried to get away. But then Dick put a pistol to his head
and he collapsed and offered no more resistance.

As soon as the chauffeur was again secured, the boys bundled him into
the enclosed portion of the car and tied him fast to the foot rail and
the robe rail. Then the youths lost no time in readjusting the machine
so it could be used, and lighting all the front lamps.

"If they hear us they'll think it is the chauffeur going away," said
Dick.

"Can you run her, Dick?" asked his brother.

"I think so. It seems to be a good deal like our car at home, only
larger."

It was agreed that Sam should get into the coach part and watch the
prisoner while Dick ran the car. Then Dick started up the machine,
backed out and turned around, and then made his way out of the woods and
across the field to the highway. At first he ran cautiously, but as soon
as he became accustomed to the car he turned on the speed and spun along
at the rate of thirty miles an hour in the direction of Plankville.

"How is she going?" asked Sam, from behind.

"Fine! How is that prisoner?"

"As mad as a hornet," and there was a chuckle in Sam's tone.

It was not long before they came in sight of Plankville, and Dick slowed
down a little. He ran directly up to the hotel, where several men were
on the point of separating for the night.

"I want to get some officers of the law," he cried. "Where can I find
them?"

"Well, you've got one of 'em right here," answered one of the men,
stepping forward. "What do you want?"

"Who are you?"

"I am Jackson Fells, and I happen to be sheriff of this county."

"The sheriff!" burst out Dick. "Just the man I'd like to meet. Sheriff,
I've got a prisoner for you, and I want you to raise a posse as quickly
as you can and round up five or six other persons."

"Eh, what? A prisoner?" cried the sheriff. "Where is he?"

"Tied up good and tight inside the car. Tell me where to take him, will
you?"

"Hum! Well, I guess you better take him over to my office first and
we'll look into this," said the sheriff. "It's right around the corner.
I was just going home."

The county official got into the car and the other men followed on foot,
anxious to see what was going on. In less than a minute they reached the
sheriff's office and several lamps were lit and the chauffeur was
brought in.

It took quite some time for Dick and Sam to make themselves clear and
get Sheriff Fells to move. The driver of the big touring car was
questioned, and then placed in charge of the keeper of the lock-up.

"Maybe you'll get off easy, if you turn state's evidence," said one of
the men present. "You'd better do it, too, for this is a serious case."

"I'm willing to tell all I know," growled the prisoner. "I was led into
this before I knew what was going on."

"We're going to use the car to round up the others," added Dick.

"Go ahead, I don't care. It don't belong to me anyway--I hired it from
my boss."

"Then we'll settle with your boss," said Sam.

One of the men present was a constable and another a special policeman,
and both said they would go along with the sheriff and the boys. The
posse went well armed, for Dick had warned them that some of the
rascals to be rounded up were desperate characters.

"We don't want any of them to get away," said the oldest Rover boy. "We
want to make each one a prisoner."

"Don't you worry, young man, they won't get away from me," answered the
sheriff. "I used to be on the New York force before I moved out here,
and I know that class of scoundrels. I know that old stone house, and
when we get there we'll fix a plan to bag every one of 'em."

All were soon in the touring car, and once more Dick put on the speed.
They ran so fast it made the constable chuckle.

"Gee whizz!" he murmured. "We're exceedin' the speed limit, Sheriff!
Don't you think I'd better hop out an' arrest the bunch?"

"'Necessity knows no law,'" quoted the county official. "Just the same,
young man, don't you land us head up in a ditch!" he added, to Dick.

The boys were on the watch, and presently saw the field from which they
had come and steered into it. Then they ran into the woods and brought
the car to a standstill just where it had been before.

"Now, I think you had better be as quiet as possible," said Dick.

"Right you are," returned the sheriff, and gave orders to his men to
that effect.

As silently as so many ghosts the posse and Dick and Sam hurried along
the woodland trail in the direction of the old stone mansion. Soon they
came in sight of the place. As they did so Tom came to meet them.

"Anything new?" questioned Dick, in a whisper.

"The men folks are in the sitting room of the place," answered Tom.

"In the sitting room? As late as this? Wouldn't you think they'd
retire," said Sam.

"They are quarrelling," went on Tom, and now he was chuckling.

"Quarrelling? Over what?"

"Over the way they are going to divide the money they squeeze out of dad
and Mrs. Stanhope and Mrs. Laning. They've got it all cut and dried that
they are going to get forty or fifty thousand dollars before they send
Nellie and Dora back to school, and Crabtree and Sobber want the lion's
share, while Koswell and Larkspur and that other chap, the doctor,--if
he is one--want just as much. They are at it hot and heavy."

"What of the girls?"

"They must still be in the upper room, and the woman is either with
them or next door to them."

Tom was glad to see the sheriff and his men, and in a very few words the
county official outlined his plan for capturing the evildoers in the old
stone mansion.

"We'll let them believe that I brought about a dozen men with me," said
Sheriff Fells. "That will most likely take the starch right out of them.
Then, before they can think of resisting, I'll clap the irons on them.
You, Thompson, can stay out in front, and you, Rapp, can walk around to
the rear. If they run, plug them in the legs," added the sheriff grimly.
It had been a long time since he had had such an important case to deal
with and he intended to make the best showing possible.

"We can go in with you, can't we?" asked Dick.

"Certainly, and don't hesitate to show your guns, boys. But don't use
them unless they show fight and try to get away."

"They are not going to get away!" cried Tom, sturdily. "This is the time
we are going to round 'em up, every one!"

A few further directions were given by the sheriff, and then he and the
three Rover boys advanced to the front door of the old mansion. At the
same time, with pistol in hand, the officer named Thompson remained
where he was, while he named Rapp walked around to guard the rear.

The door was unlocked, for those inside had not dreamed of being
disturbed. On tiptoes the party entered the dark hallway. To keep out
the cold, the door to the sitting room had been closed. From within the
room came a murmur of voices.

"Well then, that's settled," came from Tad Sobber.

"I think we ought to have more money," grumbled Koswell.

"You will be getting your full share," said Josiah Crabtree, tartly.

"And you'll be getting what is coming to you in another minute!"
chuckled Tom.

Advancing to the door the sheriff paused for a moment and then threw it
wide open, at the same time holding up a brace of pistols.

"Hands up!" he cried sternly. "Hands up, all of you, in the name of the
law!"




CHAPTER XXX

THE ROUND-UP--CONCLUSION


"What's this?"

"It's the Rovers!"

"Who is this man--an officer?"

"We are caught!"

"Let me get out of here!"

These and various other exclamations rent the air, when those in the
sitting room of the mansion beheld the sheriff of the county and the
three Rover boys standing at the doorway, each armed. All leaped to
their feet and every one present tried to get out of range of the
sheriff's pistols.

"The game is up, gentlemen," went on Sheriff Fells. "The best thing you
can do is to submit quietly. I've got fifteen men outside to take care
of you."

"Caught!" burst out Bart Larkspur hoarsely, and sank on a chair all but
overcome. "Oh, why did I go into this scheme!"

"The--there is--er--some mistake!" stammered Josiah Crabtree, whose
face had gone the color of white chalk.

"Yes, a big mistake, Crabtree--and you and the others are going to pay
for it," answered Dick.

"I'll not submit!" yelled Tad Sobber, and sneaking up behind Koswell he
sent that individual flying into the sheriff. Then he leaped towards one
of the windows. At the same moment Crabtree leaped for another window.

But the Rover boys were too quick for them, and while the sheriff
continued to cover Koswell and the so-called doctor, and also kept an
eye on Larkspur, the lads leaped on their old enemies. With a rapid
swing of his right hand, Tom gave Sobber a blow on the jaw that sent him
staggering against the wall. At the same time Dick attacked Josiah
Crabtree.

"That for abducting Dora Stanhope and her mother!" he exclaimed, and his
fist landed on Crabtree's nose with such force that the former teacher
was sent spinning across the room. He let out a yell of agony, and
another yell when Dick hit him in the left eye.

"Don't! don't! I beg of you Rover!" he whined.

While this was going on, Koswell tried to dodge behind Larkspur and go
out by a side door. But Sam put out his foot and tripped the rascal up,
and then sat on him.

The noise downstairs reached the ears of those above, and in a few
seconds Mrs. Sobber appeared at the head of the stairs, with a lighted
candle.

"What is going on down there?" she asked.

"Madam, you keep where you are!" shouted the sheriff. "This house is
surrounded by officers of the law. Don't you dare to come down."

"Oh dear me!" shrieked the woman.

"Sam, go up and see if the girls are safe!" cried Dick. "We can take
care of things down here. Don't let that woman get away."

"I'll take care of that woman, never fear!" answered the youngest Rover.

The sheriff had brought along all the handcuffs necessary, and in a few
seconds he had handcuffed Koswell. He threw a pair of the steel
bracelets to Dick and another pair to Tom, and the Rovers had the
satisfaction of handcuffing Josiah Crabtree and Tad Sobber. Then the
sheriff made prisoners of the rest of the crowd, and called in the two
men from the outside, at the same time shouting loudly: "You other
fellows remain where you are!" as if the force of a dozen or more were
still there.

"Can we go upstairs now?" asked Dick.

"Sure you can," said the sheriff, with a little grin. "But I'll have to
go along--to get the evidence, you know."

Up the stairs bounded Dick and Tom. They found Mrs. Sobber in a corner
of the hallway, the lighted candle on a dusty stand. At a nearby door
Sam was inserting a key in the lock.

"Just got the key from the woman," he explained. "Can we come in?" he
called out.

"Yes! yes!" came eagerly from Dora and Nellie.

The youngest Rover opened the door, and like a flash Dick and Tom sped
past him and into the room. Dora and Nellie rushed to meet them,
laughing and crying hysterically.

"Oh, Dick! Dick!" burst out poor Dora, and then sank into his arms, too
weak to stand.

"Dora!" he murmured. "Oh, this is awful! Well, it shall never happen
again, never!" And he pressed her to him.

"Oh, Tom, how glad I am that you came!" said Nellie as she clung to him.

"They didn't hurt you, did they?" demanded Dick.

"They carried us off--that was enough," answered Dora. "Oh, Sam, what of
Grace?"

"It was Grace who told us," answered the youngest Rover. "She got away
from them, you know."

"We hoped so, but we weren't sure. They wouldn't tell us about her,"
said Nellie. "Are you alone?"

"No, indeed; we have the sheriff and his posse with us. Every one of the
rascals is under arrest."

"Good! It is what they deserve!"

"Have you got Mr. Crabtree?" faltered Dora.

"Yes," returned Dick. "And this time we'll take care that he is put
where he will never bother you and your mother again," he continued.

Although told to do so by Mrs. Sobber, the girls had refused to go to
bed and were fully dressed. They had been offered supper by the woman
but had found it impossible to eat.

"Well, we haven't had a mouthful ourselves," said Sam.

"But we are going to have the finest kind of a spread just as soon as we
get to town and those rascals are locked up," added Tom.

"But how did you manage to follow us so quickly?" asked Dora,
wonderingly.

"We came to Hope to call on you in the _Dartaway_," Dick explained. "And
we followed most of the way by biplane."

"Then you have the flying machine here?"

"Yes, although we didn't bring it very close to the house."

"What are you going to do with me?" cried Mrs. Sobber. "Oh, please do
not send me to prison! Tad made me do it!"

"This case is now in the hands of the law," answered Dick, coldly. Then
the sheriff, who had said nothing, came forward and handcuffed the woman
and marched her downstairs.

When the Rovers and the girls went below they found that all of the
prisoners had been marched outside. The sheriff was anxious to get them
to the jail and the boys did not blame him.