he same.

"I'll tell you when we are on the way. Quick, start the propellers! I'll
take the wheel," and Dick sprang into the seat.

In another moment the engine had been started, and with a rush and a
whizz the _Dartaway_ left the campus. Dick made a turn, then headed in
the direction of the road through the woods. He flew low and rather
slowly.

"Keep your eyes open," he cautioned, "for any sight of the girls--or any
sight of our enemies." And then he related as much as he knew of what
had occurred.

"Do you think somebody sent that message to decoy Dora away from the
seminary, Dick?" asked Sam.

"Doesn't it look that way? Why should anybody send word that I was hurt,
when I wasn't?"

"I think you are right!" declared Tom. "I think I can see through it,"
he went on quickly. "They found out they couldn't dynamite dad or Uncle
Randolph into giving up that money, and they couldn't get at Mrs.
Stanhope or Mrs. Laning to get it, so now they are going to see what
they can do through Dora--and maybe Nellie and Grace."

"That's exactly the way I figure it!" exclaimed Dick. "And the sooner we
reach the girls the better! For all we know, it may even now be too
late!"

"Oh, let us hope not!" cried Sam.

"Did they go on foot?" asked Tom.

"Yes."

"Were they to meet anybody?"

"I don't know. Miss Haven said they went off in a great hurry--which was
natural, if they thought I had tumbled out of the biplane and been hurt.
I suppose poor Dora was scared half to death," and Dick heaved a long
sigh.

As the flying machine swept along over the woods and the roadway the
three youths kept their eyes on the alert for a sight of the girls. For
a long time they saw nothing out of the ordinary. Then Sam uttered a
cry:

"See! see! There is Grace! She is waving her handkerchief at us!"

All looked in the direction indicated, and at a spot along the road
where there was quite a cleared space they saw Grace Laning standing on
a flat rock, waving frantically at them. They had to make a circle, and
then, with care, Dick brought the biplane down into the roadway.

"What is it, Grace?" yelled Sam, as he leaped from his seat. "Where are
the others?"

"Oh, Sam!" moaned the girl, and then they saw that her hair was awry and
her shoes were covered with dust. "Oh, save them! Go after them at
once!" And then she staggered forward and fainted in Sam's arms.

The three Rovers were greatly alarmed and for the moment did not know
what