car. Then they would decide upon what to do next.

"I think we should visit that old tavern while we are here," remarked
Paul. "No knowing what we might find there. If there's an old shovel or
anything, we might come back and dig under that rock for a starter."

Phil and Dave also had their theories as to what should next be in
order, but nothing conclusive was determined on. Meanwhile the three,
threading the trail Phil had first followed and which Dave and Paul had
made more distinct, they finally reached the clump of shade trees where
they had left Billy on guard over the Big Six.

But in the place of the glistening car with Billy Worth still on guard
there was only a vacant place. No glimpse of either was anywhere to be
seen.

"Look here--on the ground," exclaimed Paul, pointing here and there.
"Somebody else has been here! Looks as if there had been a scuffle!"

Where Paul was pointing there were signs of many footsteps, inextricably
intermingled, with sundry deep gouges in the loose soil as if those who
made them were in a struggle of some kind.

"Look here, boys!" Dave was holding up a soiled handkerchief that he had
found underneath a jumble of twigs and leaves evidently kicked together
by those engaged in the scuffling, signs of which were more than
plentiful. "By jimminy! That's Billy's handkerchief or I'm blind!"

Sure enough, it was Billy's, for in one corner were his initials which
the boys had often seen on many of his belongings.

Phil meanwhile had been taking a comprehensive survey of the whole
scene. Presently he noted that while the struggles had gone on mostly in
one spot, there were, at one side, clear markings of the car wheels as
it was steered in a semicircle towards the very road along which the
boys had traveled not more than an hour or so before.

"Boys," said he, "I hate to acknowledge it, but Billy must have been
surprised by somebody. Probably outnumbered, too. These tracks show that
Billy must have put up a good fight; but they were too many for him,
whoever they were. Come on! We've no time to lose!" And straightway he
began following the tracks through the straggly undergrowth until he
reached the road.

The others, catching the significance of Phil's suspicions, plodded
after, taking in as they went where the car, avoiding the more open
spaces, had plunged through the thicker growth. Evidently those on board
were bent on gaining the road by the nearest route, and at a point
s