o
keep up, he started in swift strides for the Hampton house, which
could be seen above the intervening tree tops, about a quarter of a
mile away.

"I thought you came out from town for a little peace and quiet, Dad,"
said Bob. "You're certainly getting it, aren't you? Hey. There he
goes." And with a shout, Bob started running swiftly toward the figure
of a man who had just emerged from the open cellar door at the rear of
the Hampton house.

CHAPTER III

A DARING LEAP

At Bob's shout the intruder who had just emerged from the Hampton
cellar looked back over his shoulder. Seeing he was discovered he
broke into a desperate run. He was heading toward the front of the
house where ran the long and winding drive which led to the main
highroad.

The man shouted hoarsely, and from the front of the house came the
sound of a powerful motor engine being set in motion.

"He's got a car waiting for him," cried Bob, who was in the lead.
"Drat the luck, he'll escape us yet."

"Hey, Bob, we can cut 'em off at the Gut," called Frank, and he struck
away at a tangent from their course as the man disappeared around the
house and the motor car could be heard roaring off down the drive.

"Righto," cried Bob, and he followed his chum.

Old Davey had dropped far behind and Mr. Temple and Tom Barnum were
laboring along some yards in the rear of the two boys and steadily
losing ground.

"Careful, boys," called Mr. Temple gaspingly, as he grasped the
meaning of the boys' maneuver. "Don't be rash. May be several of
them."

"All right, Dad," sang out Bob over his shoulder. "We'll be careful.
Follow along."

The boys were heading for a place in the woods where the drive ran
between six-foot banks before turning a sharp corner. Cars perforce
had to be slowed up going through this place which the boys called the
Gut. Furthermore, the drive approached this place by a winding,
circuitous route, while the boys were not far distant from it by the
shortcut through the woods which they were following. Chances were
even that they would be in time to intercept the fugitives. Yet what
could they do even if they arrived in time? They gave no thought to
that as they crashed through the underbrush.

Bob slightly in the lead reached the top of the bank overhanging the
road ahead of his comrade and experienced a thrill of triumph as he
heard the roar of the approaching car and realized he had arrived
first. The car slowed down as it ente