"What ho!" he exclaimed. "Who can that be? Yo-ho-ho!" he cried, making a funnel with his hands.
"Not anybody in our crowd," replied Jim Valier, "or he would answer. Hope it isn't a thief—with designs on your new plane."
"We better chase him!" said Jackson Stiles, who was always ready for adventure, "Come on, fellows, let's rush him!"
The boys darted off, all except Jim Valier, who said gallantly that he had better stay as protection for the ladies, though of course everybody knew it was only because he was too lazy to run. The girls laughed and chattered while they were gone—all except Linda, who waited nervously to find out what success they had had.
In less than three minutes, however, they had returned, shamefacedly admitting defeat.
"Maybe the fellow couldn't sprint!" announced Ralph. "I'll bet he's a track-runner——"
"Or a chicken thief!" suggested Maurice.
"Do you think he is a tramp?" inquired Miss Carlton, relieved that the man had disappeared. Tramps were so dirty, so unpleasant!
"Don't think so. Big fellow—not badly dressed, as far as we could see. Had red hair."