However, as they came presently to a rise of ground, they glimpsed him off to the right not far from the main road.
“He’s taking it easy,” Brad said in relief. “I guess he doesn’t suspect we’re following him.”
“Shall we show ourselves?” Dan demanded.
“No need to yet, Dan. The minute we do, he’ll either defy us or start to run. We’ll just keep him in sight until Mr. Hatfield catches up.”
“Sure, that’s what he told us to do,” Midge said nervously. “No telling how the kid may react.”
Without glancing around, Jack made his way directly to the road. Once he paused to stare at the crotch of a tree which had been split by lightning.
Another time, hearing the crackle of a stick, he looked quickly over his shoulder. Brad, Dan and Midge froze in their positions and the boy did not see them.
“He’s heading for the road all right,” Brad observed. “We’ve got to beat him to it.”
Dropping back into the hollow, the three Cubs hastened on. Presently, they emerged at a point where they had calculated Jack would come out of the woods.
Nor were they mistaken. In a moment, before they fully had caught their breath, they saw him coming.