.

"Just as though it were a horse!" chuckled Ruth.

"You wait! I bet something happens on this trip, because of this old
heap of scrap iron that pa calls a car."

"Goodness me!" exclaimed Helen, with some exasperation. "Don't you dare
have a breakdown in the hills, Tom! I should be frightened. It's so wild
up there beyond Loon Lake."

"You needn't blame me," returned her twin. "I shall do my best."

"And so will the auto--I have no doubt," added Ruth, laughingly. "Cheer
up, Helen, dear----"

"I know the rest of it!" interrupted her chum. "'The worst is yet to
come!' I--hope--not!"

Ruth Fielding would allow no worrying or criticism in this event. They
were out for a good time, and she at once proceeded to cheer up the
twins, and laugh at their fears, and interest them in other things.

They crossed the river at Culm Falls--a beautiful spot--and it was
beyond the bridge, as the car was mounting the first long rise, that the
party of adventurers found their first incident of moment.

Here and there were clearings in the forest upon the right side of the
road (on the other side the hill fell abruptly to the river), and little
farms. As the party came in sight of one of these farms, a great cry
arose from the dooryard. The poultry was soundly disturbed--squawking,
cackling, shrieking their protests noisily--while the deep baying of a
dog rose savagely above the general turmoil.

"Something doing there!" quoth Tom Cameron, slowing down.

"A chicken hawk, perhaps?" suggested Ruth.

A woman was screaming admonition or advice; occasionally the gruffer
voice of a man added to the turmoil. But the dog's barking was the
loudest sound.

Suddenly, from around the corner of the barn, appeared a figure wildly
running. It was neither the farmer, nor his wife--that was sure.

"Tramp!" exclaimed Tom, reaching for the starting lever again.

At that moment Helen shrieked. After the running man appeared a hound.
He had broken his leash, and a more savage brute it would be difficult
to imagine. He was following the runner with great leaps, and when the
fugitive vaulted the roadside fence, the dog crashed through the rails,
tearing down a length of them, and scrambling in the dusty road in an
endeavor to get on the trail of the man again.

Only, it was not a man; it was a boy! He was big and strong looking, but
his face was boyish. Ruth Fielding stood up suddenly in the car and
shrieked to him:

"Come here! This way! Rob