"How far is it to that deserted village?" called out Tom, as the Dartaway was about to move off.
"Six miles!" shouted one of the crowd. "That is, by the road. The way you're going it ain't more'n four!" And this answer made the crowd laugh.
"Four miles," murmured Dick. "We ought to be able to head them off."
"I wish we were armed," came from Tom. "We may have some desperate characters to deal with."
"We might go back and get pistols," suggested Sam.
Dick thought for a moment. He knew well how desperate their enemies might become. He hated to lose the time but he realized it would be worse than useless to face a gang of four or more empty-handed. There was no telling what Sobber, Crabtree and the others might do if cornered.
"I guess we'd better go back and arm ourselves," he said. "It will create talk, but that can't be helped."
"It will create talk anyway, as soon as it is known that Dora and Nellie have been carried off," answered Tom.
"What do you care for the talk!" cried Sam. "What we want to do is to save the girls—and put those rascals where they belong, in jail!"
Then the biplane was turned back in a circle and soon the boys were back in Shepleytown, much to the astonishment of those who had but a few moments before seen them leave.