Part 25 (1/2)
As well as he was able Randolph Rover explained matters to dick
In thearound sharply and had noted several forloom under the trees dick was more suspicious than ever
”Uncle Randolph, I don't believe this man,” he said briefly ”The story he tells is too unnatural”
”I think so myself, dick; but still--”
”Why didn't this ht to the house to tell us this?”
”I'm sure I don't know”
”Ask him”
Randolph Rover put the question to Captain Villaire The Frenched his shoulders ”I had my reason,” he said briefly ”Will you come with me?”
Before Randolph Rover could answer there came a shout from behind several trees
”Look out fo' yourselves!” came in Aleck's voice ”Dis am a trap!”
”A trap!” repeated dick, when of a sudden a half dozen men rushed at him and Randolph Rover and surrounded the pair In a twinkle, before either could use his pistol, he was hurled flat and made a prisoner
”Bind them, men,” ordered Villaire sternly ”And bind them well, so that escape is impossible”
”Run for the house, Aleck!” yelled, out dick, before those on top of him could choke him off ”Save Tom and Sam!
”I will!” came from the faithful black And off he sped at top speed, with three or four of Captain Villaire's party after hioing on and hardly knowing how to turn
Randolph Rover fought desperately and so did dick But the tere no match for the six men who had attacked them, and ere they knew it the Rovers were close prisoners, with their hands bound behind therass stuffed in his lish fro better to do theywhy they had been attacked and where they were to be taken Their arms had been confiscated, so further resistance was useless When dick lagged behind he received a cruel blow on the back which nearly sent hiht the party to a so at a point where the bank was fully fifty feet above the surface of the strea hut had been built, which the African International association had once used as a fort during a ith the natives
The log hut was in a state of decay, but still fit for use and alrowth of vines which covered it
The ht Randolph Rover and dick hither evidently knew all about the hut, for they proceeded tothe Rovers into one of the aparts of the walls, one several yards from the other
”Now you must wait until Captain Villaire returns,” said the leader of the party in French ”He will be here before daylight”
”But what does this mean?” demanded Randolph Rover
”He will tell you what it and, and walked away to another part of the hut, which was built in a long, ra fashi+on, and contained a dozen or more divisions
”We are in a pickle,” re up father with a vengeance”