Noddy speeded up the car, under Vasco’s directions. Faster and faster it raced, the searchlight throwing out a glaring beam far in advance.
Meanwhile, Bob and Maximina were making all speed possible. Every now and then the girl would halt her pony and listen intently.
“They no come yet,” she would say. “No can hear horses comin’ after us. We get ’way maybe.”
Bob certainly hoped so. His experience as a captive was not such as to cause him to like the rôle, and he longed to be with his friends, who, he knew, must be greatly alarmed about him.
It seemed to be getting darker as the two traveled on.
“Be sunrise ’bout hour,” said Maximina, and Bob remembered that he had read about it being darkest just before daybreak. “We mus’ hide then,” the girl went on.
Suddenly a sound came to them from over the dark fields that bordered the road. At the same time there was a shaft of light.
“There they come!” cried Bob. “They’re after us in the automobile!”
“Ride! Ride fast!” called Maximina, fiercely. “If they catch us they kill!”