be an easy matter to see where it was taken into the woods in case
the men should attempt to hide.

"I guess we had our labor for nothing in blocking up the road," said
Bob, as they walked along, "for there is no chance of our passing the
team so long as we can see the tracks as plain as this."

"We certainly didn't hurt ourselves piling up the carts, and the time
was well spent, if only for the sake of the precaution," said George;
and then, stopping suddenly, after they had walked nearly a mile, he
pointed to a second track, which led directly into the woods a few yards
ahead of them. "They have been to the end of the road, and come back,"
he whispered. "Perhaps they have just turned in here after hearing us."

For a moment the three boys stood looking at the trail made by those
they had been so anxious to meet, and then George said, in a low tone:

"We mustn't lose any time here, and when we do start it must be quickly.
We will follow this track in, and keep right on in it; for we shall
either find the team now in the bushes, or else the men will have done
as I feared--passed us while we were on the road."

There was still a chance that the men might get away with the team if
they had succeeded in reaching the road in the rear of the boys, for it
might be possible for them to clear away the obstructions near the main
road before the boys could run a mile, unless the farmer could prevent
them.

George dashed into the bushes, followed closely by Ralph and Bob, and
before they had gone very far, it was evident to all that the men were
trying to do just as George had suggested.

The track made by the carriage could be followed very readily, and there
was no longer any question, after the boys had run a hundred yards, but
that they were traveling in a half circle, the end of which would be at
the road.

"Come on as fast as you can," shouted George, when he thus saw his
suspicions verified; and, regardless of whether he was followed or not,
he dashed ahead at full speed, perfectly satisfied that when he saw his
team again it would be at the barricade.

When he reached the road up which they had just come, the second track
of wheels could be seen, and he half expected to hear the farmer's
warning cry, forgetting for the time that any ordinary pair of lungs
could hardly be heard a mile away.

Close behind George came Ralph and Bob, both excited by the thought that
there was yet a possibility the men might escape w