“That’s Joe Pompilli for sure!”
“Who is he?” Kathleen demanded.
“Joe’s the ring leader of a bunch of hi-jackers,” one of the patrolmen informed her. “Off and on for the last six months, he and his boys have been hi-jacking cargo and taking it through here right under the noses of the forest rangers.”
“So that was why they didn’t want help!” Judy exclaimed. “That truck that went off the road was loaded with stolen cargo!”
Taking the girls into the patrol car, the two patrolmen proceeded with all speed toward the scene of the accident.
“It’s just around the next bend,” Judy informed the driver.
“Then I’ll let you girls out here,” he said, pulling up at the side of the road. “There may be shooting. Stay back until we see what’s what.”
Piling out of the car, the Scouts waited until the patrolmen had driven on. Then, they rounded the bend, tense and expectant.
The truck remained in the ditch where last they had seen it, but neither of the injured men were anywhere visible.
Watching from a safe distance, the girls saw the patrolmen carefully search the truck cab.