thorities," was Dave's opinion; and in this he was right. Some
government officers appeared by noon of the next day, and after a
lengthy talk with the head of the camp and a number of others, the
prisoners, including Jack Pankhurst, were taken away.

"I wonder if old man Tolman got his cattle back," remarked Roger.

"All but three of the animals," answered one of the men present.
"Those were trampled to death during the raid. But three are nothing
alongside of two hundred."

The raid had caused so much excitement in the camp that there was but
little work done that day. The boys went down with the others to
inspect the bridge, and look curiously at the hole which had been torn
in the corner of one of the foundations by the bomb.

"That was certainly a mean piece of business," was our hero's comment.
"It didn't do anybody a bit of good, and it's going to make a good
deal of work to repair the damage."

Several days passed, and the camp at last settled back into its usual
routine. Dave and Roger worked as hard as ever, and both were much
pleased when Mr. Obray told them that they were doing very well.

"I am going to write a letter to Mr. Ramsdell," said the head of the
camp, "and tell him that I am well satisfied with his pupils," and he
smiled faintly.

A day or two later word came to the camp which interested the chums as
much as it did anybody. It seemed that Jack Pankhurst had been
subjected to a "third degree" of questioning. He had broken down
completely and confessed that the two other Americans in the raid with
him had been former employees of the Mentor Construction Company--one
a fellow named Packard Brown, and the other William Jarvey. Pankhurst
had also let fall the information that Jarvey had once been an officer
in the United States Army, and that he was traveling under an assumed
name.

"A former officer of our army and acting in that way!" exclaimed Dave,
when he heard this report. "I certainly do hope they'll catch him and
punish him as he deserves!"

"My sentiments exactly!" added Roger.

CHAPTER XXVI

THE CHASE ON THE BRIDGE

"My, Dave! but it's hot!"

"I agree with you, Roger. This is the hottest day we've struck yet.
And such a hard day as it's been too!" and our hero paused to wipe the
perspiration from his brow.

"What do you say if we take a swim this evening?" went on the
senator's son. "A plunge into the river would feel good to me."

"I'm with you, Roger. Let us eat