Part 30 (1/2)

The three looked at each other For a moment they could not understand, and then, as they stood there, the lers!” whispered Toreed Mr Damon ”And they must have taken him for you, Tom, for he had on your coat and cap What can they have done with him?”

”Taken him away, that's evident,” spoke Tom ”Let's look around, and see if we can find him”

They looked, but to no purpose Ned had disappeared There were the signs of a struggle, the fish rod was broken in several places, as if Ned had used it as a club, and the ground was torn up

”Bless my tin whistle!” cried Mr Damon ”What shall we do?”

For a moment no one knehat to say, then, as they looked at each other in silence, a voice called:

”I say! What's up? What's the matter? Where are you all? Hey, Tom Swift!”

”It's Mr Whitford!” cried Tom ”He's just in time” Then he called in louder tones:

”Here we are! In the woods by the trout brook! Coone!”

There was a co of a horse, and a ent had joined the others

”What's this?” he cried ”Ned gone? What do you lers have hiave the details

”It certainly looks so,” agreed Mr Whitford ”His wearing of your coat and cap fooled the place, and they were in hiding When they saw Ned co failed in their atteet her captain Probably they thought that if they did the Falcon could not be run, and they would be safe But they got the wrong et Ned back at once!” cried Toht away! Where do you think we can nab theovernht, and paced up and down It was clear that a great question was confronting hi to get Ned we must start at once”

”Perhaps it would be best not to try to rescue Ned at once,” said the custom house man after a pause

”What!” cried Tom ”Not rescue Ned, my best chum?”

”Not at once,” repeated Mr Whitford ”Look here, To to say, but perhaps if we proceed on our original plan, to hover over the border, and get on the trail of the soods in the United States, it will be best”

”And not rescue Ned?”

”We can best rescue hilers”

”Then you think--”

”That they have him with theet THEM we'll have NED”