"Hi, where are you?" came a shout from behind, and they saw Jack Ness returning. "Your uncle and aunt want you to be careful—they are afraid those villains will shoot you."
"We'll be careful," answered Tom. "But we are going to capture them if it can be done," he added, sturdily.
The hired man had reloaded the shotgun and also brought some additional ammunition with him. He was nervous and the boys could readily see that he did not relish continuing the pursuit.
"We can't do nothin' in the dark," he grumbled. "Let us wait till morning."
"No, I am going after them now," answered Dick, decidedly.
"So am I," added Sam and Tom.
They were going forward as rapidly as the semi darkness would permit. The ground was more or less uncertain, and once the youngest Rover went into a mud hole, splashing the mud up into Jack Ness' face.
"Hi, stop that!" spluttered the hired man. "Want to put my eye out?"
"Excuse me, Jack, I didn't see the hole," answered Sam.
"It ain't safe to walk here in the dark—somebody might break a leg."