they caught those fellows at the ferry."

"Do you suppose there's any truth in that claim by the owner of the car
that it was a joy ride by unknown parties who had taken the car without
his consent or knowledge?" Hal asked.

"Looks pretty fishy to me," replied Upton. "Still, he may get away with
it. Understand that neither of the victims can identify the men in the
other car. You remember that curve is pretty sharp, and they were hit
almost before they saw the other car, let alone who was in it. Sparrer
and Pat seem to be the only ones who even had a glimpse of the
scoundrels, and that a mighty brief one. If there is any identifying
done I guess it is up to you two fellows. Think you can do it?"

"Not I!" declared Pat with emphasis. "I could shwear to the number of
points on a jumping buck in the brush, but nary a thing could I shwear
to about that ingine av destruction."

"How about you, Sparrer?" demanded Hal.

"If Oi was one of them artist guys Oi could draw you a picture of both
of them. Let me put my peepers on them and Oi'll shwear to them in a
tousand," replied the newsboy with such an air of finality that there
was no doubt in the minds of his companions that he could do just what
he said he could.

"Well, you're likely to have a chance if that case goes to court," Upton
remarked. "For my part, I hope you can do it. I'd like to see those
fellows get what's coming to 'em. I move we turn in now, for we've got
to get up at an unearthly hour. It's bad enough to turn out before
daylight in the summer, but it makes me shiver to think what it will be
at this time of year. Br-r-r-r."

Pat laughed. "If you're going out on the trap line you may as well get
broken in to early rising at once. We often have some miles behind us by
the time the sun is up," said he. "However, I guess you're right about
turning in. I'm ready, for one."

It seemed to Sparrer that he had hardly closed his eyes when some one
shook him, and he tumbled out of his berth to find the others in the
dressing room hurriedly getting into their clothes. They had no more
than time to dress and gather up their baggage and various parcels
before the train stopped. They had reached Upper Chain.

As they stepped down into the night, for day had not yet begun to break,
Upton recalled his first arrival there, a rather lonely youngster,
uncertain that this was the right place. It had been summer then, but
everything had been shrouded in a heavy night mist