Part 32 (2/2)

”I' their way through the brush and around the rocks as rapidly as they could

”Let us go forward as silently as possible!” suddenly whispered the boy ”Barberry may still be around, and if that is so ant to surprise hiood idea! What a pity we can't put out the light”

”We can't do without it The track is growing fainter We are co to almost solid rock”

On and on they pushed, until Andy calculated that they had covered a distance of five hundred feet froe of a deep ravine, with a high wall of rock to the left of the he drove over that!” shuddered Andy, as he pointed into the blackness of the hollow ”That must be a hundred feet or ht, Andy--the only way he could go Have you any matches with you?”

”Yes What do you want of theht, for I fancy the wagon is not far off, and the thief ain later on”

Matt did as he had intimated, and the two found theree They could not see their hands before their faces, and had to literally feel their way along

Matt went first, with his partner holding on to the heressed but a dozen feet when, on rounding a high rock, the young auctioneer stopped once on is directly ahead”

”How do you know?”

”I can see the lantern, which is standing on the seat”

”Then the thief must still be around,” returned Andy excitedly

”I suppose so, but I don't see any one Come on, but don't ht to be captured and locked up”

”Certainly he ought to be placed under arrest I aain they on stood beneath the shelter of a large tree Matt noted that Billy had been unharnessed and was tied to the rear, where he was engaged in iven hi hi auctioneer to himself ”That fellow certainly has nerve!”

”Hold up!” suddenly cried Andy, catching the boy by the arht!”

Matt did as directed, and saw a sight which both amazed and alarmed him There, by a little fire built to keep the and s Neither of the individuals was Paul Barberry

CHAPTER XXVII

TIMELY assISTANCE