Without attracting the attention of the two men, Brad darted up the hill and was lost to view. Dan and the Cub leader remained in the car, watching.
The pair in the station wagon had pushed the vehicle for a short distance. There encountering deeper water, they gave up in disgust.
“I think they’ve about decided to start off afoot now,” Mr. Hatfield observed. “In that case, they may elude us.”
“Can’t we try to stop them?”
“We can try, Dan. But without an arrest warrant or proof that the men are guilty of any crime, there’s very little we can do.”
Just then Brad came hurrying down the hillside to the car.
“I reached Silverton and he’s called police!” he reported breathlessly. “A cruiser or patrol car should come along in a few minutes. Silverton and Dobbs are driving over too. They’re ready to swear out a warrant.”
“Good!” Mr. Hatfield exclaimed. “But will we be able to hold the pair until help gets here?”
Freeze and his companion, apparently abandoning all hope of pushing the station wagon to dry pavement, had begun to unload their luggage.
“They are skipping town!” Dan declared anxiously. “I guess they must have wised up after they failed to find the crate of pheasants at Mr. Silverton’s place.”