Quickly he turned his glasses down the road. There he could see our car rapidly approaching. He put up his glasses and hurried down the hill toward the bridge. Then he broke into a run, the dog scouting ahead.
We were going along the road nicely now, coasting down the hill. As we approached the bridge, Elaine slowed up a bit, to cross, for the planking was loose.
Just then the farmer who had been running down the hill saw us.
"Stop!" he shouted.
But we did not hear. He ran after us, but such a chase was hopeless. He stopped, in despair.
With a gesture of vexation he took a step or two mechanically off the road.
Elaine and I were coming fast to the bridge now.
In their hiding-place, Del Mar's men were watching breathlessly. The leader was just about to press the plunger when all of a sudden a branch in the thicket beside him crackled. There stood the farmer and his dog!
Instantly the farmer seemed to take in the situation. With a cry he threw himself at the man who had the plunger. Another man leaped at the farmer. The dog settled him. The others piled in and a terrific struggle followed. It was all so rapid that, to all, seconds seemed like hours.
We were just starting to cross the bridge.