“Neither did I, sir,” Tom replied, rising and listening.
Bang! bang! bang! sounded a series of sharp reports.
Tom ran out into the open Mr. Newnham following at a slower gait.
Bang! bang! bang!
“Hi, there, Riley!” roared Tom promptly. “Saddle two horses as quickly as you can. Harry, make ready to follow with me as soon as the horses are ready.”
“Is anything wrong?” inquired the president. He was answered by more explosions in the distance.
“I’m afraid so,” Tom muttered, showing his first trace of uneasiness. “However, I don’t want to say, Mr. Newnham, until I’ve investigated.”
Before the horses were ready Tom descried, half a mile away, on a clear bit of trail, a horseman riding in at a furious gallop.
“There comes a messenger, Mr. Newnham,” Tom went on. “We’ll soon know just what the trouble is.”
“Trouble?” echoed Mr. Newnham, in astonishment. “Then you believe that is the word, do you?”