Frank took the box, tucked it under his arm, and indicated that they should turn out the oil-lamp while he switched on his flashlight.
Out of the house they trooped, a happy crowd of boys, all but the end of the mystery solved—in fact, the mystery itself was solved, the trial and conviction of these thieves being the only thing left.
The flashlight darted hither and yon as the four boys found the trail and started for the barnyard.
Bang! A shot rent the air just as they got to the barn. It came from the direction of the crowd on the river bank!
All was quiet for a moment, then they heard the call of one man.
“Halt! Halt, or I’ll kill!”
Another crack of a weapon tore through the air.
The boys stopped dead in their tracks at the first shot, as they heard the command to halt. But started on a wild run for the river bank when the second shot was fired.
Crashing and breaking through the weeds and brush, they came to the little cleared place, where they saw the entire party looking toward the river.
The chief was just taking aim to fire again. The motor boat was already out from shore, its motor had started, and the occupant was turning it downstream!