"Mebby not, only they hain't any sech place round here and yer needn't go to hunting for any."
"Well," asked Jack, laughing slightly, "if there's no such place where's the harm in our looking for it?"
The farmer perceived that he had made a slip, and grumbling something about fool kids poking their noses round where they had no business, he started off up the road to the right, the dog following close behind.
"Well, well, the plot thickens, as the hero says in the play. Jack, that man knows something about that place, and what's more, he don't want us to know anything about it."
CHAPTER XIX.
THEY FIND THE HOUSE BUT LOSE A CAP.
As soon as the farmer disappeared, the boys started off once more, taking the left-hand road. After riding five or six miles, they entered a thick woods and about a half a mile farther on they came to a bridge, leading over a small, shallow stream. This bridge had been newly repaired as they could see that the plank flooring had been but little used.
"By jimminy, but I believe we're getting warm now," cried Bob, as he stopped his wheel on the bridge. "See where the road leads down through the brook there?"
"Yes," replied Jack leaning over the rail. "They must have crossed that way while the bridge was being fixed. But what of it?"
"Just this of it. I remember that just a few minutes after we turned into the main road that night, the machine suddenly stopped and then turned down a very rough, steep place just like this, and after going a few feet, came back into the road again, and I'll bet my cap that this is the place. Funny I didn't think of it before, for this bridge brought it to my mind. They hadn't taken the blindfold off then, so, of course, I couldn't see anything, but, this is the place sure as guns, and that road can't be more than a mile off."
"Well, come on," urged Jack, impatiently, as he mounted his wheel, "we'll soon find it if you're right."