"I wonder what they did with the body?" asked Bob.
"Carried it away with them, I guess," replied Frank. "There's no sign here of a grave having been dug."
They breathed more freely when they got away from the neighborhood of the fateful tree. To them it had all the appearance of a gallows.
They rode on slowly, dismounting at times to investigate bits of woodland where it would be difficult to take their horses, and the time passed so quickly in jest and laughter that they were surprised when George announced that it was time for lunch.
They chose a place in a grove of trees through which a little brook ran that furnished them with water. The horses were turned out to graze and the boys settled down to their lunch. It disappeared like magic and the deliciousness of the fried chicken legs made Sammy revise his opinion of Tom Lee.
They stretched out on the grass afterward, so comfortable and well fed that it was hard to resist the temptation to take a nap.
George was the first to be aroused by a drop of water falling on his face. He opened his eyes sleepily and was surprised and alarmed to see that a storm had come up while they were dozing and was just ready to break. Already the first drops were falling and they kept coming faster and faster.
Rumblings were heard in the distance and a jagged flash of lightning zigzagged across the sky.
"Wake up, fellows," cried George. "There's a storm coming. Get a move on."
They jumped to their feet in consternation. It was not good to be caught in a thunder storm so many miles from home.