're g-g-going to pull off around here----"

"I guess he's right about that," Joe whispered to Bob.

"----and j-j-just as soon as we're through with this, w-w-we'd better
p-pull up stakes and try somewhere else."

The voice was now so close at hand that if the boys had reached out of
the thicket they would almost have touched the speaker. At this thought
Jimmy and Herb, especially, felt a thrill of excitement.

CHAPTER XXV

AN EXCITING STRUGGLE

"I think myself that we've hung round this neck o' the woods about long
enough," agreed Donegan. "And I ain't any too well pleased to have that
radio inspector snooping around the woods. He ain't up to any good if
you ask me. But brace up, Cassey, for this last haul. You ain't
generally chicken-hearted."

"You'll f-f-find that I have my n-n-nerve with me when the pinch comes,"
replied Cassey. "I'd rather be k-k-killed by a bullet than g-g-g-go back
to prison."

The voices receded as the men went on, and soon the sound of their
footsteps ceased. It was evident they were searching for the most
advantageous place for the crime that they contemplated.

"I told you that I had a hunch that that villain would be here,"
whispered Jimmy, when they felt that it would be safe to speak.

"Good thing, too," said Bob grimly. "Cassey'll get to-night what's
coming to him."

Half an hour passed--an hour--an hour and a half. Then far in the
distance the boys heard the hum of a motor engine and the rumble of a
heavy truck.

"There it comes!" ejaculated Joe, throwing caution to the winds in his
excitement.

The rumbling grew louder, and soon the boys knew that it must be close
to the bridge. Then they saw the lamps of an auto truck sending out
their beams of light a hundred feet in advance, and could just discern
above them the massive body of the truck.

It came on at a moderate rate of speed, slowing up somewhat as it struck
the bridge.

Suddenly shots rang out and the boys could see two dark figures standing
on the bridge and waving their hands at the driver, as they bellowed out
orders to stop. At the same time, as though the shots had been a signal,
three other figures came rushing from other directions.

It was impossible for the boys to keep still, and they too sprang to
their feet and started for the scene of the hold-up, running at the top
of their speed.

Just as they left their covert there was a blinding flash that made the
whole bridge as bright as day. A