-hearted he would
trust most anybody."

Merrick had descended from the runabout and gone out of the cave. Now he
came back, said something to the others, and started up the auto. In
another moment he had the machine turned around. Then it spun out of the
cave and down a fairly good road in the direction of Carwell. The man
named Dangler followed the runabout to the road and watched it disappear
around a turn bordered by trees. The storm was now rolling away to the
westward and the rain had ceased.

"They have gone!" cried Tom. "Where to?"

"Perhaps to our farm--to see Uncle Randolph," answered Sam. "We ought to
follow them as quickly as we can."

"I think we had better capture the fellow left behind," said Dick. "We
ought to be able to do it."

"That's the talk," said Tom. "Sure we can do it, being three to one."

Dangler watched the runabout and then gazed up and down the mountain for
several minutes. Then of a sudden he started in a direction opposite to
that taken by the machine.

"He is going away!" cried Sam.

"Come on after him!" called his big brother, and ran from the cave with
the others at his heels. Just as he did this Dangler glanced back and
saw them.

"Hey, you!" he cried in consternation.

"Stop!" called out Dick. "We want you."

At this command Dangler was more amazed than ever. But of a sudden he
appeared to realize something of what had happened and commenced to run.

"Stop!" cried Tom and Sam, but at this the man only ran the faster.

"Come on--we've got to catch that rascal!" exclaimed Dick, and started
to sprint. The others followed as quickly as they could, and a rapid
chase along the mountain road ensued. But if the boys could run so could
the freight robber, and he made the best possible use of his legs until
he gained a side trail. Then he darted into this, and when the Rover
boys came up he had disappeared.

"Where is he?" panted Sam.

"He took to this path, but he isn't in sight," answered Dick. He was
almost winded himself.

"Come on, he must be somewhere around," put in Tom, and ran down the
path several hundred feet. Then he tripped over a fallen log and went
headlong in the bushes and wet grass. He got up looking tired out and
cross.

"We've missed him," announced Dick, rather dismally. "It's a pity, too.
He deserves to be put under arrest."

"I think we had better get home and warn Uncle Randolph," returned Sam.
"If we don't there is no telling what that fellow Mer