of carrying on their business, at once started in
pursuit, probably without thought as to how he could make prisoners of
two men whom he had not dared to grapple with when they were trying to
tear down the barrier which prevented them from getting away with their
booty.

George, who still continued to lead the party, stopped when he reached
the side of the carriage. He had gained possession of his team once
more, and he was content.

CHAPTER XX.

A SOUVENIR OF THE THIEVES.

Even had they been so disposed, neither Bob nor Ralph could have joined
the farmer in the pursuit of the men, because by the time they arrived
at the carriage they were so nearly exhausted that it would have been a
matter of impossibility for them to run fifty yards further, whatever
the inducement.

All three stood by the side of the recovered property, panting and
breathless, but watching eagerly the unequal race, where the two men
could run a trifle more than twice as fast as their pursuer.

The farmer, seeing how sadly he was being distanced, looked behind for
an instant, to see if any of the boys were going to aid him, and then,
seeing that they had all halted, gave up the contest by hobbling back to
his stable, looking quite as red in the face and panting quite as hard
as if he had run a thousand yards instead of twenty.

"If you'd only followed me we could have caught 'em all," he said, in a
half-reproachful tone, as he came up to the boys.

"I don't believe you could have overtaken them if all of us had been
close at your heels," replied George, speaking with considerable
difficulty because of the shortness of his breath. "But, as a matter of
fact, I don't think we could have followed those men even if the team
itself had been ours only in consideration of our catching them. You
see, we have run a mile at full speed, and we're about used up."

"Wall, it's a pity to let 'em go, for they'll be lookin' 'round for some
other team, now they've lost your'n, an' jest as likely as not I'll be
the one that'll have to furnish it for 'em," said the farmer,
mournfully, as he fanned himself vigorously with his broad-brimmed straw
hat. "But I've seen them chaps before, I'm pretty sure. I b'lieve
they're the same ones that was nosin' 'round here four or five weeks
ago, lookin' for oil signs over my pasture."

"Oh, we'll hope not!" exclaimed Bob, with a laugh. "For the sake of
those who are really engaged in the oil business, we'll hope t