Though given an occasional whiff of the stuff from the bottle, that kept
him senseless, Dick was allowed to regain his wits after the surrey had
branched off over the forest roads.

"Keep quiet and be a good boy," admonished Dexter grimly. "You don't
want any more of the stuff, do you? Too much of it might wind you up for
good. We don't want to go that far--if you've got sense enough to be of
use to us at last."

"Where on earth are they taking me--and what for?" wondered Dick,
struggling against the nausea that the inhaling of the drug had caused.
"What's Dexter's newest piece of villainy, I wonder? Whew! But that was
a slick trick! Anyway, dad can't be hurt at all. Mother would never pick
them as the messengers to send for me! I'm glad dad's all right, anyway,
even if I may happen to have a rough time ahead of me."

The messenger who had entered the schoolroom, it may be said in passing,
was not in the plot, nor had he been aware that there was any one at all
in the rear part of the surrey. That messenger had been picked up on the
street, by Driggs, and had been offered a quarter to take the note
upstairs to the principal's class room, "because," Driggs had explained,
"I don't dare leave my horse."

"How on earth did this rascally pair ever manage to write a note that
would look enough like mother's handwriting!" was Dick's next puzzle.

As this, of course, was beyond his fathoming, Dick's next and very
natural thought was:

"What on earth do these scoundrels want of me? I don't believe they have
brought me away just for vengeance."

"A nice ride like this, off amid the beauties of nature, is a whole lot
better than spending your time over dull school books, isn't it?" Dexter
asked mockingly.

But Dick could gain no idea as to the kind of country through which he
was passing, more than that the surrey was moving over rough road.
Jammed down where he was he could see nothing but the half dark interior
of the vehicle.

At last Driggs began to whistle softly. That being a signal, Ab. Dexter
again produced the bottle. There was the same sickening odor as a wet
handkerchief was placed against Dick's nostrils. Then he lost track of
what was happening.

"Whoa!" called Driggs and willingly enough the horse stopped. There was
a ripping aside of the rubber side panels to the carriage, after which
Driggs stood on the ground to receive the senseless boy as Dexter passed
him out.

"Into the house, I suppose?" inqui