"

But, like Worth, whom they were most glad to have with them again, all
hated to feel that the pride of their hearts, their new car, was gone.
But where?

At this juncture they were joined by MacLester, who after greeting Billy
very effusively for one who had seen him just two hours before, turned
to the others, interrupting Worth's brief recital of what had happened
to him.

"Boys," Dave began, "I followed those tracks about thirty yards or so;
then they turned towards the railroad; right through the woods, too.
Rough going for a car like ours. I bet she's all scratched up by now, if
nothing worse happens to her."

"Did you go any further, Dave?" This from Paul eagerly.

"Why, yes! Presently the car struck another old trail that led towards
the road, and I picked up this."

Mac held out the visored cap Worth had mentioned to Paul and Phil. At
sight of it Billy grabbed it and turned it over in his hands as he said:

"That's the one the chap in gray wore, I'm sure."

"Must 'a' got knocked off going through the woods," said Dave. "I think
they were in a hurry or they'd never have plunged along the way they did
over such rough places."

"Well, if we're through here, let's get on." Thus spoke Phil, ever
mindful of the lost car. "I took a look into a back room of the old
tavern, and I saw a queer outfit--looked as if they'd been camping and
working there. Saw tools, and what looked like a sort of forge or
fireplace. But we've no time now for anything but to look after the car.
Come on!"

Rapidly now the four lads pushed through the woods along the old road,
then into the woods again along the open trail that led recklessly over
rocks, through thick undergrowth and over fallen saplings, with here and
there uneven rifts and rises, showing that nothing but superior motor
power could have propelled the machine thus far.

"Bust their dirty hides!" said Paul wrathfully. "Those two ain't fit to
drive cattle to water! Hello! What's that?"

Jones, being in the lead, was pointing at a tumbled mass of their own
outfit that had been dumped overboard during a rapid downward course,
the end of which was not in sight owing to the thicker screen of bushes
beyond, which the partially denuded car somehow had crashed through.

Paul and Billy paused to gather up the suitcases, bags of bedding, and
the wicker hamper containing their present supply of food, while Dave
and Phil hurried ahead, their route roughly descending now un