“No spark,” he declared as he leaped out and went around to the other side. “Put down that hood a minute, Jack, till I get at the magneto. Nothing but a broken wire,” he said a moment later as he again got into the seat.
And this time the engine started at once as he pressed the starter.
“Can you run it in if I lead your wheel?” the officer asked.
“Sure.”
“All right, then. Now you get in back there and mind, no funny business, because I’ll be right alongside,” he added turning to King.
King obeyed the order sullenly all the bravado gone from his face.
It was only a few miles to the town and in a few minutes they drew up in front of the police station. Neither King or the hunchback had spoken a word during the trip, but the former gave Bob a look as he was ordered out of the car which made the boy shudder.
“Please come in a minute,” the officer asked the boys and they accompanied him into the office of the chief of police.
As soon as the latter had heard the story he called the police station at Portland and, after a brief conversation, told them that an officer from that city, who knew King by sight, was on his way to identify him. He arrived in a little over a half hour and, as soon as he was shown the prisoners, declared that he recognized them.
“If I’m not mistaken there’s a reward for that fellow King,” the chief told them as they returned to his office.