, and then struck
out with all force.

The blow landed on Hardwick's chin, and knocked his head back with such
force that for the instant he let slip his grasp and Hal was free.

But before the plucky youth could open the door the man had him fast
again, and was punching him with all his might.

"I'll teach you a lesson!" he cried. "Take that! and that! You are
smart, but you are not smart enough for me!"

"Let go!" cried Hal.

But Hardwick continued to pound him. Then, in sheer desperation, Hal
closed in and fought tooth and nail, as if his very life depended on it.

Hardwick was a heavy-built man, but he was no match for the youth, who
all his life had been used to hard labor, and whose muscles,
consequently, were like steel. He struck Hal many times, but the youth
squirmed and twisted, and suddenly hit him a crack between the eyes that
made him see stars.

"Oh!" he howled, and dropped back, while Hal, taking advantage of this
stroke of good luck, made another dash for the front door.

He opened the door, and was half-way out when Hardwick, realizing what
escape meant, leaped forward and caught him by the coat.

"Let go!" cried Hal, and with a jerk he tore away and started up the
steps leading to the street.

He had scarcely taken half a dozen steps when he ran full tilt into
Macklin, who had just driven up on the box of a closed coach.

"Wot's dis?" cried the tough. "Carson! no yer don't!"

He carried his whip in his hand, and as he spoke he brought the butt
down on Hal's head with full force.

There was a strange flash of fire through Hal's brain, and then all
became a dark blank.

CHAPTER XXIX.

HAL MAKES A LIVELY MOVE.

When Hal came to his senses he found himself bound and gagged as before,
but instead of being in a closet he was now in a coach that was whirling
along as fast as the deep snow would permit.

The curtains of the vehicle were tightly drawn, so the youth had no
chance of seeing where he was being taken.

His head ached fearfully from the blow Tommy Macklin had administered,
and for several minutes he could hardly collect himself.

"Missed it!" he groaned to himself. "And now those villains have me
completely in their power."

It was not a pleasant thought, and therefore Hal did not allow his mind
to dwell upon it.

He wondered if he could get open one of the doors of the coach, and
leap, or rather tumble, to the ground. It would be a dangerous
experiment, consideri