“Probably they are engaged in putting as great a distance between us as possible,” laughed Darry. “That reminds me,” he added, “that if we expect to apprehend these rascals it will be necessary to work quickly. They will no doubt have taken the alarm now, knowing that we are on their trail. Their cue will be to light out, and that, pronto.”
“Correct, as usual. But what do you suggest?” asked Fol, with interest. “We can hardly hope to round up this gang of criminals single-handed, and by the time we get back to Gibbonsville and give the alarm it will probably be too late; the counterfeiters will have fled.”
“I have thought of that,” admitted Darry.
“But I certainly hate like poison to let that gang escape,” cried Burd, impatiently.
“Besides that, I have an insatiable curiosity to find out if my suspicions concerning the furnishings of that hut are correct,” continued Darry.
“We haven’t a gun among us, either,” said Burd, disgustedly.
Amy pointed to the ancient firearms that adorned the walls of the lodge.
“What do you mean—we haven’t a gun?” she giggled.
“They look as if they hadn’t seen active service since the War of the Revolution,” remarked Darry, grinning. “I fear if we came armed with them, our friends, the counterfeiters, would give us the merry ha-ha.”
“I have an idea, and it is so simple I wonder none of you has thought of it,” said Jessie.