e has become of them, Randy?"

"I give it up! I hope they only lost their way and didn't have some
kind of an accident."

"Oh, don't speak of an accident!" cried Andy in horror. "It makes me
shiver to think of it."

"I can't understand why they didn't rejoin us as they promised to do,"
said Frank Newberry, who was present. "We looked all over for them, and
fired one or two shots to attract their attention, but it was all
useless."

The twins had passed a restless night following the continued absence
from the school of their cousins. Early in the morning they had gone
out in company with Gif and Spouter, and covered many miles in a vain
search for the absent ones. They could not settle down to their class
work, and so were excused by Professor Brice.

"Well, I've got to be getting back to the classroom," remarked Frank
Newberry, presently, and he and several others who were present hurried
away, leaving the twins to themselves.

The boys walked down the roadway which had been followed by the hunters
the day before. They had covered only a short distance when they saw a
farm wagon approaching, with Captain Dale beside it on his horse.

"There they are!" cried Andy, and an instant later added in amazement:
"Old Lacy and one of his men are with them!"

"Yes. And I bet that spells trouble for Jack and Fred," announced his
brother.

The old farmer would not stop for the boys on the roadside, but drove
directly to the Colby Hall entrance.

"Why! what's the matter?" exclaimed Randy to the military instructor.

"A little trouble, boys," was Captain Dale's answer. "You'll hear about
it later." And then he went after the wagon, and the boys took to their
heels and followed.

"Now then, you do what you promised!" snapped Elias Lacy, after Jack
and Fred had jumped from the wagon. "Don't let 'em run away, nohow!"

"You can rest assured that I will take care of them, Mr. Lacy,"
answered the captain coldly.

"When do you expect Colonel Colby back?"

"Some time this afternoon."

"Then I guess I'll be back by that time to see him. An' I guess I'll be
able to prove them boys is guilty, too."

"Why, Jack! what is it all about?" demanded Randy, while his twin
looked on questioningly. The boys' shotguns and game had been taken
from the farm wagon, and now the pair from the Lacy farm drove away.

"You've got to search me!" declared Jack. "Old Lacy accuses Fred and me
of shooting two of his cows."

"You didn't do it,