“Waugh! I should say it had!” growled Brad, in disgust.
Aaron now attempted to frighten the boys by telling them how fierce the masked men were and how thoroughly armed.
“Singular you saw so much of them,” observed Dick. “Never mind if they are armed thus and ready to commit murder at the drop of a hat; we’ll do our best to trail them, just the same.”
“Right, partner!” cried Buckhart. “It’s up to us to do everything we can for the sake of Nadia. It hurt me a heap to see her heartbroken over her brother, and I couldn’t stay with her any longer. I told her we’d find him.”
Down the road went Dick and Brad, with Aaron following them like a dog.
They entered the woods, where the bare trees stood silent and grim, coming at length to the path that turned off toward the lake. This Dick took.
Reaching the shore, Merriwell quickly announced that Budthorne had been placed in a boat and taken away.
“That lad ha’ th’ power o’ a witch!” whispered Aaron to himself. Then he shook as he beheld Dick’s eyes fastened on him.
“Come,” said the boy grimly, “we can’t follow them on water, for that leaves no trail. We’ll return to the inn.”
As they entered the inn Nadia rushed at them, asking if they had learned where her brother was and what had happened to him.