“By gracious, it’s Bully!” cried McQuade excitedly.
The car rolled toward them at a slow pace.
“Get ready to jump her,” ordered Clancy, in a tense voice.
“What you going to do?”
“We’ll do a little kidnaping on our own hook, Billy. Watch out, now!”
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE THIRD DEGREE.
Carson was evidently quite unsuspecting. Possibly he did not see the two figures that waited at the roadside. At all events his car rolled slowly past the smithy, and, as it came opposite to their waiting place, Clancy nudged Billy and leaped forth.
He believed in doing a thing thoroughly, when he was doing it. Consequently, as he saw Bully twist around in his seat with a start of alarm, Clancy gave him no chance to increase his speed, but put all his energies into a flying leap.
A cry broke from Carson, but he was too late. Clancy rose in the air like a bird and struck full against him, driving him down at once. The two fell in a confused tangle under the steering wheel, while the car went slowly along the road.