Tommy's face grew very pale. Beads of perspiration broke out on his forehead.
"Don't tell father. Don't, please don't. He'd skin me alive if he knew I did that. How'd you find out?"
"You told me," answered Bab, now with a merry twinkle in her eyes. "I guessed it first, then you admitted it just now."
"That was a mean trick. Nobody but a girl would take such a mean advantage of a fellow."
"Nobody but a mischievous boy would intentionally cause an automobile smash-up and endanger the lives of five girls, including his sister," rebuked Barbara. "What do you think I ought to do with you?"
"You aren't going to tell the governor? Oh, don't say you are. I'll do anything for you! Say, I like you better than all the rest, Bab. Honest and true I do. I'll show you how I got out of the hole last night if you won't give it away. I'll show you everything I know about the old place. You aren't going to squeal on a fellow, are you?"
"No, Tom, I'm not," answered Bab, laughing heartily. "Nor am I going to ask you to show me the exit from the secret passage. If I can't find it out for myself, I don't want to know."
Tommy regarded her admiringly.
"Say, you're a good sport, aren't you? I'll show you anyhow, for that."
About this time the setter dog, General, attracted the attention of the girls by diving into a hole in the base of a great tree that stood some little distance from the house. Nothing but his tail was visible. Tom soon had a firm grip on this and was hauling the angry General out to the accompaniment of merry shouts from the girls.