He gave a whistle to notify Hicks, and then ran after the man, who by this time had passed the barn and was making for a corn-field situated some distance to the right.
As we know, Bob was a good runner, and now he put forth his best effort, hoping to catch Horning before he entered the field.
But in this he was unsuccessful. The swindler gained the field, and in a moment vanished among the tall rows of corn.
Now, any one who has been in a field of tall corn knows full well how difficult it is to see in any direction over a distance of ten feet.
Bob ran after Horning, but once in the field he depended altogether on his ears to guide him toward the fellow.
He heard Horning making his way down the slope toward the creek, and he concluded that the swindler knew nothing of the “lay of the land.”
Presently Bob heard a splash, and he knew the man had reached the creek. He rushed straight ahead, and was just in time to see Horning wading knee-deep across to the stony field beyond.
“He means to escape, if the thing can be done,” thought Bob. “I wonder if I can’t jump over and thus save myself a wetting?”
He gave a loud whistle for Hicks’s benefit, and then, drawing back several paces, took the leap.
Bob was a good jumper, and he cleared the creek with nearly a foot to spare.