Meanwhile, the boys and Miss Race were running down the road. Yes, even Miss Race, who was never very dignified, was running.
Suddenly they came to a trampled place in the road, showing that some struggle had taken place there.
"It was right here," said Miss Race, her eyes black with excitement. "And he ran across the road and disappeared in that thick mass of bushes. Then he covered me with his gun and told me to 'beat it while the beating was good.'"
"The rat!" cried Chet indignantly. "Come on, fellows! I want to get my hands on that rascal."
Eagerly the boys started for the woods, but Teddy turned back suddenly and called to Miss Race.
"You'd better go back now," he said, and Miss Race's eyes twinkled at his grown-up tone. "There isn't anything more you can do, and if there are any bullets flying around we don't want you to get them. Please," he added impatiently, as she did not move.
"No, I'm going to stay right here," she answered him firmly, and when Miss Race spoke in that tone everybody knew that she meant what she said. "Go along, but don't take too many risks. Remember the man is armed."
So Teddy disappeared after his comrades and Miss Race waited nervously in the road, expecting she hardly knew what.
It seemed a long time that she stood there, dreading any moment to hear a shot, blaming herself for sending the boys on such a hunt.
"I'd rather lose a hundred pocketbooks," she scolded herself, "than have a finger of one of those boys hurt. I wish I hadn't said anything about it."