“A mistake?” inquired the man who had ordered “hands up.”
“Yes, this is the wrong crowd—can’t you see that. Two of ’em are boys and there’s a dog!”
“I see the boys and dog all right,” grumbled the one who had given the startling order, “but they may belong to the same bunch all right.”
“I’m afraid not,” said the other. “Looks like they got away—give us the slip. Your name Cassidy?” he asked sharply of Mr. Campbell.
“No, it isn’t,” was the quiet answer. “But what’s this all about, anyhow? And where can we get in touch with the police or some one in authority?”
“What for? Have you captured the robbers?” asked one of the raiding party eagerly.
“Robbers?” exclaimed Rick and Chot who were taking all this in with wondering eyes.
“As far as robberies go we have one to report ourselves,” said Mr. Campbell. “My auto was taken, during the night, by three men who were in this shack.”
“And those are the very men we’re after!” exclaimed the leader of the last-arriving trio. “Where are they? Which way did they go? If they have your car, and it can travel, we may have hard work catching up to them.”
“I’m afraid you will,” said Mr. Campbell, grimly. “But where can I report the theft of my car? Where will I find an officer?”