Page:Boy scouts in the White Mountains; the story of a long hike (IA boyscoutsinwhite00eato).pdf/120

 *mented. "Cut their tires—that's a good one! They were after the Goodwin wedding presents. Told Mr. Goodwin he ought to have a detective."

"Here he is now," said somebody.

Another man had appeared. "No, they didn't have time to take a thing," he was saying, "so far as we can see. Have you got 'em? Who was it warned us?"

The boys were pointed out to him. "Thank you both," he said. "I'll thank you more in the morning. You want a motor to chase 'em in? Get mine out, quick!"

Three minutes later, four motors were brought from the garages, and more than a dozen of the men who were gathered in the road piled into them. Peanut and Art rode in the first car, with two of the watchmen. Art had his hatchet in his hand, and the watchmen had their revolvers ready, too. They went down the road at high speed, the search-lights throwing the road and the bordering trees into brilliant white relief ahead, amid the surrounding gloom. The occupants of the car sat with their eyes glued on the end of the white shaft of light.

"Some rims on that car!" said the driver. He slowed down. "See, there are the tracks. They must have been traveling, too. How many of 'em were there, did you say?"

"Two," said Art.