Part 42 (1/2)
”Are there any side roads between here and Plankville?”
”Plenty of 'em, but none good enough fer a car. Them that ain't sand is mud, an' deep mud, too. This is the only road in these parts fit for autoing.”
”You are sure that car didn't go through Plankville? It was a big enclosed car, painted dark blue.”
”I was sittin' on the hotel stoop fer an hour before we came along an'
there wasn't nary a car went through.”
”Well, that car was on this road,” said Tom. ”It must have gone somewhere.”
”I don't see where it could go,” said the second man, and shook his head slowly. ”All the side roads is terrible in these parts.”
”Well, we are much obliged for the information,” said d.i.c.k. ”Wait, we'll soon have our biplane out of the way.” And then he and his brothers wheeled it to one side, so the runabout could pa.s.s.
The men were curious to see the machine fly and remained while the boys started up the engine.
”What are you going to do next?” whispered Sam.
”We'll take a look at the side roads,” replied d.i.c.k. ”Maybe the touring car tried one of them and got stuck. I hope it did.”
With a rush and a roar, the _Dartaway_ sped down the highway and then arose in the air, and as it did this the men in the runabout gave a cheer and clapped their hands. Then the Rover boys continued their hunt.
They kept close to the main road and did not fly any higher than was necessary. Whenever they reached a side road d.i.c.k would make a circle, coming back to the highway and going forward. Thus they kept on until they came in sight of Plankville.
”Hark!” cried Sam, as a distant bell tolled out. ”Ten o'clock!”
”Only ten o'clock!” murmured Tom. ”It seems like a week since we left Brill!”
”And we haven't had supper yet,” went on the youngest Rover.
”Who wants any supper?” came from d.i.c.k. ”I'm sure I don't.”
”Not a mouthful, until we rescue Dora and Nellie,” answered Tom.
”I'd like a drink--I'm as dry as a herring,” said Sam.
”We'll look for water when we go down again,” answered d.i.c.k.
Presently they descended once more, and, as a brook was handy, each drank his fill. Then d.i.c.k turned back in the direction from which they had come.
”Now what?” demanded Tom.
”I'm going to find out where they went, Tom. They didn't come this far, I am sure of that.”
”Why?”
”Because I can't find their tracks in the road. The tracks of the runabout are there and that's all. They didn't come this far. They stopped or branched off somewhere between here and that bridge the road men are repairing.”