way lays over there
somewhere. Pick out the easiest way to get our car there. We can hardly
go back the way we came, can we?" The others shook their heads at this.
"When you're through, come back. Mebbe we'll meet you on the way."

Without a word Paul vanished in the thick undergrowth beyond the
brooklet. Meanwhile Dave was examining the car, which he pronounced
uninjured by the rough usage to which it had been subjected with the
exception of sundry scars and a slight twist in one of the minor
connecting rods, easy to readjust. Both he and Phil were kept busy
restoring the things that had been dumped out by the fleeing couple
during the last stages of that hurried flight to--where? Probably where
they thought the nearest open road would be; or perhaps it was the
railroad and the nearest station they sought.

When Paul came back, he said that they were only a short distance to the
new highway and the railroad. The guide book told them that they were
within a very few miles of a small station east, while Midlandville, the
nearest town west, was not more than two hours away, with a good road.

"Better put that chap in the tonneau, hadn't we?" suggested Worth.

"Aw, where'll we take him?" This from Dave who now was in the driver's
seat.

"Looks like we had enough trouble long of him and his mate as it is."

"Put him in back, of course," corrected Phil. "If these two are in bad
about something, it is our duty to keep track of this one, for the
present at least. Who knows? He may give us a pointer yet as to what
they were up to."

So the wounded man, despite his querulous complaints, was put in the
tonneau with Billy and Paul to assist him and do whatever was necessary
to make him as comfortable as conditions would permit.

Then the Big Six was started. As has been stated, the incline being
gradual, the big car, carefully steered, had less trouble in making the
remainder of the trip to the new highway than the boys anticipated.
True, with the injured man and the equipment of the lads the car was
rather crowded, but the motor did its duty, the purring sounds being as
even as could be wished. Paul, on his return, had broken down a sort of
trail which it was not difficult to follow.

Arrived at the roadway it had been already determined that, as the day
was already well spent, they would return to Feeney's for the night,
then make for Midlandville in the morning.

"Won't old Feeney open his eyes when we tell him what