Another burst of thunder followed. Then came heavy drops of rain, followed by a perfect deluge.
The conversation continued, but Bob could only catch an occasional word, and leaving the door he walked back to the entry.
“They are a nice gang of rascals and no mistake,” thought the youth. “For the sake of gaining money they would derail a train, and perhaps kill many passengers. Frank can’t get here with those detectives any too soon.”
Bob looked outside. The rain was coming down in a perfect sheet, while the murky air seemed to be filled with lightning.
“If it wasn’t such a fearful storm, I would walk back to Dartinville, or up to Rayville, and summon help,” he muttered to himself. “But I couldn’t make any progress in such a storm as this. Phew! how the wind blows!”
A sharp streak of lightning followed which made everything as bright as though the sun were shining.
Somewhat blinded, Bob shrank back. As he did so, a hand was placed on his collar, and he was jerked rudely backward.
CHAPTER XXXII
BOB BECOMES A PRISONER
“That’s the time I caught you, you little sneak!”
It was Casco who uttered the words, and it was he who had stepped up behind Bob and pulled him partly into the room.