Part 38 (1/2)

d.i.c.k and Tom urged the horses forward with all speed. But before they could reach the touring car, the chauffeur threw in second speed and then quickly changed to high, and away the automobile rattled, over the rickety bridge. The structure had not been built for such a weight, and, just as the machine reached the other side, the bridge went down with a crash.

”Look out!” yelled d.i.c.k, and the warning came none too soon, for both he and Tom were almost on the bridge. They turned their horses just in time, came to a sudden halt in some bushes, and stared blankly at each other.

”Gone!” cried Tom, hollowly. ”Oh, what luck!”

”Quick, your pistol, Tom!” cried d.i.c.k, suddenly.

”But the girls----” began the other.

”Don't shoot at the car, shoot at the tires,” explained d.i.c.k. And then he whipped out his own weapon, got into range, and began to blaze away.

Each of the boys fired three shots. One hit the back lamp of the automobile, smas.h.i.+ng the red gla.s.s, and another hit the differential case and glanced off. But the wheels remained untouched, and in a few seconds the big touring car was out of sight around a bend. The lads heard a scream from the two girls, and then all that reached their strained ears was the sound of the motor, growing fainter and fainter, until it died out altogether.

d.i.c.k and Tom felt sick at heart. They had been so near to rescuing the girls, and now they seemed as far off as ever! Each heaved a deep sigh.

”I suppose we can't follow them, with the bridge down,” said Tom.

”We might ford the stream,” said d.i.c.k. ”But what would be the use of trying to follow on horseback? They know we are after them and they will put on all the speed possible.”

”Well, what's to do next, d.i.c.k?”

”I don't know.”

”I'm not going to sit still and do nothing.”

”Neither am I, Tom. But what to do next I really don't know.”

CHAPTER XXIV

AT THE SWAMP

”Where are they? Didn't you catch up to them? Who fired those shots?”

It was Sam who shouted the words, as he came up on a run, followed by the aged negro.

”They got away,” answered d.i.c.k, bitterly. ”We were just a minute too late!”

”Can't you go after them?”

”Not on horseback, Sam.”

”And, if the horses were all right, look there!” cried Tom, and pointed to the fallen bridge.

”Down! What did it, the auto?”

”Yes.”

”Fo' de lan' sake!” burst out the negro farm hand. ”De bridge hab gone bust down! Say, how is we-all to git ober dat stream after dis?”