While this was taking place the carriage had whirled out from the forest inn into the highway, with the horses at a dead run. Persons rushing from the inn were startled and astonished, but they gave their attention to the search for Miguel Bunol, who had lately leaped through one of the windows of Robin Hood’s Tavern.
Zenas Gunn gave himself up for lost.
“Never thought I’d come to such an untimely end,” he moaned. “Why did we ever visit Sherwood Forest?”
Suddenly he became frantic and began to shout for help. Three times he did this before the man astride of him could do anything to prevent it.
“For ’Eaven’s sake smother ’im!” burst from the other man.
The fellow holding Gunn down got him by the throat and quickly checked the cries.
But those cries had been heard by both Dick Merriwell and Brad Buckhart.
The carriage bounced, and swayed, and rumbled over the forest road.
It was a terrible experience for Professor Gunn. The old fellow believed he had fallen into the hands of robbers, who were carrying him off with the idea of holding him for ransom.
Suddenly something happened. Some portion of the harness on one of the horses became unfastened, and the driver was compelled to pull up as soon as possible. He sprang down from the seat and made haste to fix the harness.