“There they go!” cried Ned, as he saw Noddy and his two companions urging their steeds up the slope.
“Let them go,” advised Tinny. “We have Bill back, which was what we were trying for, and we’ve got him before they had a chance to drag him to Blue Rock. So far, we’ve beaten them at their own game!”
“Unless they scared the secret out of Bill before he got away,” said Bob.
“We’ll soon know that,” remarked Jerry. “He’s coming on like a house afire.”
This was very true. The mine foreman, though not an accomplished horseman, was urging his steed on by shaking the bridle reins and kicking the animal with his heels.
“They’ve taken the gag and ropes off him!” exclaimed Ned.
“Yes, they could do that in a wild country like this,” said Tinny. “And, being unbound, Bill probably thought it was a good chance to escape, especially when he looked back and saw us.”
On came the lone rider, finally to dash up in the midst of his friends who so anxiously awaited him.
“Hello, Bill!” they greeted him.