d to hit the tires--but we failed," explained Tom. "The auto was
moving too fast, and the trees and bushes were in the way. Besides, we
didn't want to hit the girls."

Dick and Tom walked down to the stream. It was not very deep and they
concluded that they could easily get to the other side, by leaping from
one bit of wreckage to another,--thus keeping from getting wet,--for at
that season of the year the water was decidedly cold.

"Let us go over and climb to the top of the next hill," said Dick. "We
may be able to see which direction the auto takes."

The others were willing, and telling the colored man to wait a while for
them, and promising him good pay, they climbed over the sunken bridge to
the other shore of the stream. Then they raced along the rocky road,
around a bend, and up a steep hill that all but winded them.

"I see the machine!" cried Tom, who was the first to top the rise.
"Look!" And he pointed with his hand, down in the valley that lay
stretched out before them like a map in the gathering darkness.

At a great distance, moving at a fair rate of speed, was the enclosed
touring car containing Dora and Nellie and their abductors. It was
headed for a distant main road, lined here and there with farmhouses and
outbuildings. Presently it turned into this mainroad, and started
westward, at an increased rate of speed.

"My, see them streak along!" murmured Sam.

"They are evidently going to put as much distance as they can between
themselves and us," returned Tom.

"Say, do you see any telephone wires?" asked Dick, anxiously.

"Not a wire," came from his brothers, after a long look for lines and
poles.

"Neither do I. I guess they haven't any connections at those farmhouses,
so it will be useless to walk there."

"But what shall we do, Dick?" asked Tom, impatiently. "We can't sit
still and do nothing!"

"We'll go back to the _Dartaway_ and fly after them."

"But the wind----" began Sam.

"It has gone down a little, I think, Sam. And anyway, we've got to take
a chance--it's the only thing left. If you don't want to go----"

"Dick, stop right there! If you go I'll go," cried the youngest Rover,
firmly. "I'm as much interested in this as anybody, even though Grace
isn't there," he added, with a show of color in his round cheeks.

But little more was said just then. The three boys ran down the hill to
the stream and crawled back over the wreckage.

"I guess those horses can carry the lot of