wind."

"Yes, we can't use her any more to-day," said Dick. "Let us cover the
engine and walk to that cottage and find out just where we are, and how
we can get to Brill."

Having arranged everything as well as the means at hand permitted, the
three Rover boys left the vicinity of the brushwood and walked over to
where the small cottage was located. The ground was covered with
hailstones and Tom could not resist the temptation to gather up a
handful and pelt his brothers.

"Stop it!" cried Sam, and then, as Tom would not stop, he rushed in with
some of the hailstones in his hand and allowed them to slide down inside
of Tom's collar.

"Wow!" roared the fun-loving Rover. "Let up, Sam! That feels as if I'd
hit the North Pole!"

"Then you let up," answered Sam, firmly; and after that Tom let the
hailstones alone.

As they neared the cottage they saw that a lantern was lit and set on a
table in the centre of the living room. Around the table sat three
persons, two young fellows and an older man, evidently a farmer. The
three were smoking and playing cards, and on the table lay some
bank-bills.

"Why, look at this!" cried Dick, in astonishment. Then he added quickly:
"Get out of sight, don't show yourselves!" And he caught each of his
brothers by the arm and led the pair to the rear of the building.

"What's up, Dick?" asked Sam. "Who were they?"

"Didn't you recognize those young fellows?"

"I did!" cried Tom, in a low voice. "They were Jerry Koswell and Bart
Larkspur!"

"Koswell and Larkspur!" exclaimed Sam. "Are you sure?"

"Tom is right," replied Dick.

"Who was the third fellow?"

"I don't know. He looked like a farmer to me."

"Did you see the money on the table?" broke out Tom. "They must have
been gambling!"

"It looked that way to me, Tom."

"If they were, all I've got to say, that third fellow better look out
for Koswell and Larkspur," continued Tom. "They are sharpers at cards,
so Dudd Flockley once told me. He said they got him to put up his money
a number of times and each time they won. He was inclined to think they
didn't play fairly."

"Well, knowing them as we do, I'd say they wouldn't be above cheating,"
said Sam. "But what in the world can they be doing in this
out-of-the-way place?"

"That remains to be found out," replied his big brother. "Maybe they
were on the road and ran here for shelter from the hailstorm."

"I'm not afraid of them, Dick," said Tom.

"Neither am I, Tom,