“Let’s hope you’re right,” Mr. Holton said gravely as he pushed the accelerator still nearer to the floorboard.
After what seemed like hours they pulled up at their destination—a railroad freight yard.
Inside the main building they found the truck driver awaiting them, on his face a look of deep anxiety. His features relaxed a little as he caught sight of the two naturalists.
Mr. Lewis at once demanded an account of what had happened and urged the man to relate every detail.
The driver explained that he had loaded the box of specimens on the truck and, not doubting that they would be safe, had gone into the freight office for a brief stay. When he returned to the truck, he found, to his astonishment, that the box was gone. It was only then that he fully realized what had happened.
“If I’d only seen the guy that took them we might catch him,” he finished.
The scientists were greatly vexed at the driver for not taking better care of such valuable goods, but they managed to keep their temper.
They walked out to the truck to discover, if possible, the thief’s means of escape.
“He probably had another automobile waiting to take those specimens,” remarked Joe. “Maybe we can find its tracks. The ground here is soft after the recent rain.”
A careful survey of the roadway was not in vain, for soon they saw wide tracks of automobile tires which possessed a very odd tread.