he creek in a buggy. We happened to strike Zinn's
farm this evening, and stopped fur information. Zinn told us he had a
man locked up in the smoke house, but when we went to look the fellow
was gone.

"I suspected it was the party I wanted, an' knowin' that in that case
the boat couldn't be far away, we hurried down to the creek. And it's
well we did for your sake as well as mine. The next thing is to rescue
the lads and capture the rascal. We had better be quick or he will take
alarm and leave the mill."

"Moxley is the fellow's name, is it?" said the farmer. "It has a kind of
familiar ring to my ears."

"I know the man," spoke up Jeffries. "Dude Moxley he goes by, but that
ain't his real name. He comes from a good family up the valley, and was
well educated when a lad. Drink ruined him, and now he's one of the
greatest scamps unhung. I know this other chap, too," added the
constable. "His folks are sober, respectable people over at the Gap,
but he ain't much better than Moxley. We've met more than once before.
How is it, my man?"

Bug hung his head but said nothing.

The scene was inexpressibly painful to Ned, and he was greatly relieved
when the conversation turned on the rescue of his companions. He little
dreamed that the most exciting incidents of this already eventful night
were yet to come.

"We had better cross to the neck of land in your boat, Hocker,"
suggested Zinn. "The plank over that sluiceway makes a lot of racket,
and the scoundrel may hear us and slip away."

This happy idea was carried out. The entire party embarked, and landed a
moment later about ten yards below the mill. The rain had ceased some
time before, and the moon was now peeping through a rift in the scudding
clouds.

As the men crept up the stony slope they saw through the gaping crevices
of the mill the yellow gleam from Moxley's lantern. Suddenly it
vanished, and a creaking noise was hear.

"The rascal is escaping. We must run for it," whispered Hocker. He
bounded forward with Jeffries at his heels. Zinn fell behind, leaving
Bug in charge.

The men swiftly turned the upper corner of the mill just as the door was
slammed and bolted in their faces. Hocker began to kick savagely and
wrench the handle.

"That won't do any good," exclaimed Zinn, as he reached the spot. "I
made a strong job of that door, and it will take more than a little to
break it down. There are plenty of other places that can be forced in."

A brief paus