The Rover Boys on Treasure Isle | Page 9

if we
can help it."
The three lads spread out in something of a semi circle and advanced
slowly into the field, keeping their eyes and ears on the alert for
anything out of the ordinary. Thus they covered fifty yards, when Tom
found himself near one of the largest of the peach trees. As he passed
this a form arose quickly from under a bough, caught him by the waist
and threw him forcibly to the ground.
"Hi!" yelled Tom. "Let up!" And then he made a clutch for his assailant,
catching him by the foot. But the man broke away and went crashing
through the corn, calling on "Shelley" to follow him.
The yell from Tom attracted the attention of Dick and Sam, and they
turned to learn what had happened to their brother. As they did this a
second man leaped up from the corn in front of them and started to run
in the direction of the river.

"Stop!" called out Dick. "Stop, or I'll fire on you!" And then he
discharged his pistol into the air as a warning. The man promptly
dodged behind a row of peach trees, but kept on running as hard as
ever.
The Rover boys were now thoroughly aroused, and all three started in
pursuit of the two men. They saw the fellows leave the field and hurry
down a lane leading to Swift River.
"I believe they are going to the river. Maybe they have a boat," said
Tom.
"I shouldn't wonder," answered Dick.
"I wish they would take to a boat," said Sam. "We could follow them
easily--in Dan Bailey's boat."
"Hi, where are you?" came a shout from behind, and they saw Jack
Ness returning. "Your uncle and aunt want you to be careful--they are
afraid those villains will shoot you."
"We'll be careful," answered Tom. "But we are going to capture them if
it can be done," he added, sturdily.
The hired man had reloaded the shotgun and also brought some
additional ammunition with him. He was nervous and the boys could
readily see that he did not relish continuing the pursuit.
"We can't do nothin' in the dark," he grumbled. "Let us wait till
morning."
"No, I am going after them now," answered Dick, decidedly.
"So am I," added Sam and Tom.
They were going forward as rapidly as the semi darkness would permit.
The ground was more or less uncertain, and once the youngest Rover
went into a mud hole, splashing the mud up into Jack Ness' face.

"Hi, stop that!" spluttered the hired man. "Want to put my eye out?"
"Excuse me, Jack, I didn't see the hole," answered Sam.
"It ain't safe to walk here in the dark--somebody might break a leg."
"If you want to go back you can do so," put in Dick. "Give Tom the
shotgun."
"Oh--er--I'm goin' if you be," answered Jack Ness. He was ashamed to
let them know how much of a coward he really was.
It was quite a distance to Swift River, which at this point ran among a
number of stately willows. As the boys gained the water's edge they
saw a boat putting out not a hundred feet away.
"There they are!" cried Dick.
"Stop!" yelled Tom. "Stop, unless you want to be shot!"
"We'll do a little shooting ourselves if you are not careful!" came back
in a harsh voice.
"Take care! Take care!" cried Jack Ness, in terror, and ran to hide
behind a handy tree.
The two men in the boat were putting down the stream with all speed.
The current, always strong, soon carried them around a bend and out of
sight.
It must be confessed that the boys were in a quandary. They did not
wish to give up the chase, yet they realized that the escaping men might
be desperate characters and ready to put up a hard fight if cornered.
"Jack, I think you had better run over to the Ditwold house and tell
them what is up," said Dick, after a moment's thought. "Tell Ike and
Joe we are going to follow in Dan Bailey's boat." The Ditwolds were
neighboring farmers and Ike and Joe were strong young men ever ready
to lend a hand in time of trouble.

"All right," answered the hired man, and set off, first, however, turning
his firearm over to Tom.
The three Rover boys were well acquainted with the river, and had had
more than one adventure on its swiftly flowing waters, as my old
readers know. They skirted a number of the willows and came to a
small creek, where they found Dan Bailey's craft tied to a stake. But
there were no oars, and they gazed at one another in dismay.
"We might have known it," said Dick, in