ted
to run back to the seminary and was doing that when I saw your flying
machine. You know the rest." And now Grace stopped, too exhausted to say
another word.

"And the touring car went on?" queried Dick.

"Yes! yes! I saw the man shut the door, too. Oh, Dick, they have carried
poor Nellie and Dora off, just as they carried Dora's mother off!"

"They kept to this road?"

"I believe so. I don't know of any cross road this side of Beechwood."

"Then we'll get after them at once!" declared Dick. "Sam, do you want to
take Grace back, or come with us?"

"Well--I--er----"

"Go with them, Sam--they may need you!" broke in the girl quickly. "I
can go back alone, and I'll send word to the authorities, over the
telephone. Hurry! hurry, or it will be too late!"

The boys needed no further urging. Dick and Tom ran for the flying
machine, and soon the explosions of the motor filled the crisp autumn
air. Then all the boys leaped on board. Dick was at the wheel, and he
sent the _Dartaway_ along at a good rate of speed. Sam looked back, to
see Grace hurrying in the direction of Hope Seminary.

"I hope she gets back safely," he said anxiously.

"I think she will," answered Tom. "Those rascals are all further along
the road--waiting for Nellie and Dora."

"Keep your eyes open," put in Dick. "Don't let anything escape you. We
must spot that auto without fail!"

CHAPTER XXI

FOLLOWING DORA AND NELLIE

The nerves of the Rover boys were on edge. Dick and Tom were
particularly anxious, for those who had been thus rudely carried off
were very dear to them.

"I wonder who that so-called doctor was?" mused Sam, as the DARTAWAY
sailed along, keeping over the road as well as the windings through the
dense woods permitted.

"Most likely some tool of Crabtree or Sobber, or both," answered Tom.

"Do you think Koswell and Larkspur are in this game?"

"Perhaps they are!" cried Dick. "It would be just like them to join
forces with Crabtree and Sobber. They are down and out, and need money,
and all of them would expect to get a big stake out of this."

"Then you think they carried the girls off for money?" questioned Tom.

"I do, Tom. You hit the truth when you said they found out they couldn't
do anything at the farm, and couldn't reach Mrs. Stanhope and Mrs.
Laning. The only things left were to try to reach us or the girls."

"And they didn't dare tackle us," put in Sam.

"Do you suppose that Mrs. Sobber is in this