"Paul!" he called out. "Paul! What does this mean? Did you bring me here?"
There was no answer, and on his hands and knees he bent over his friend. Then he gave Babcock a shake, and the hurt one opened his eyes.
"The tree—look out for the tree!" he murmured and struggled to a sitting position.
"Paul, did you bring me here?" went on Dave.
"Me? Here? What do you mean? Where am I?" stammered Babcock, and then he, too, stared out of the doorway of the freight car. "Well, I never!"
It was not until several minutes later that the pair comprehended the truth of the fact that they were in a freight car that was moving along at a good rate of speed and that they had been put in the car by some party or parties unknown.
"This certainly beats the Dutch!" cried Dave. "Are you hurt much?"
"I am pretty well shaken up, and my shoulder is a little lame, Dave. How about you?"
"I've got this lump and those scratches, that's all."
"You went into that tree and so did I. Do you remember what happened after that?"