CHAPTER XXIX. THE HUNT FOR THE ROBBERS.
"Bob was right when he declared that this thing was destined to end in something besides fun, wasn't he?" observed Tom, giving utterance to the very thoughts that were passing through Joe Morgan's mind. "But I don't believe he ever dreamed that anything like this was going to happen."
"Do you think the robbers have got hold of him?" faltered Joe, who knew that Tom expected him to say something.
"I know it?" was the answer.
"Where were you when they captured him?"
"I don't know. The way it happened was this: After you left us we decided to make the entire round of uncle's wood-lot, and as we couldn't do it if we stayed together, we separated, and that was the last I saw of Bob Emerson. Before parting we agreed to meet at the cabin at six o'clock, sharp. I was there at the minute, but Bob wasn't, and while I was waiting for him, I happened to see this notice, which was fastened to the door of the shanty with a wooden pin. That's all there is of it."
"Why don't you go down to the gorge?"
"We went there the first thing, and we've been everywhere else that we could think of," replied Tom. "They left their camp in a great hurry; but where they went is a mystery. But we will have them before many hours have passed away," added Tom, confidently. "These officers have come up from Hammondsport on purpose to arrest them, and they are not going back without them. We are taking them down to the Beach now, to raise a "hue and cry" among the guides there, and by daylight to-morrow morning the mountains will be full of men. There is an additional reward offered for the arrest of the thieves, you know, and it is big enough to stimulate everybody to extra exertion."