No one answered his shout. But a moment later, the door of the barn was flung back, and the boys found themselves gazing into the blinding light of a gasoline lantern.
A massive, squat figure, whose shadow was grotesque, stood silhouetted in the doorway.
“So, it’s you again, my young friends!” observed a harsh, mocking voice. “This time I’ve caught you red handed!”
Brad and Dan could not see the man’s face for the glare of the lantern. But there was no mistaking the voice. The one who confronted them from the doorway was Saul Dobbs.
CHAPTER 13
Accusations
“So you’ve been stealing pheasants while I was away!” the workman accused the startled boys. “This time you won’t get off with excuses! I’m turning you over to the police on a delinquency charge!”
Saul Dobbs set the lighted lantern on the floor and moved toward Brad and Dan. Before he could lay hands upon them, the barn door creaked behind the foreman.
“What’s going on here?” demanded a familiar voice.
Dobbs whirled around to see Mr. Silverton and Sam Hatfield standing directly behind him.
“I caught ’em this time, Mr. Silverton,” the workman said in keen satisfaction. “When I found ’em here, they were stealing the pheasants.”