It leaped ahead again, but not before Billy heard the approaching purr of the car in pursuit. Dan and his friends were close behind!
“Hold on!” yelled somebody. “Look out for the dogs.”
The thieves uttered exclamations of anger, but George slowed down. The excited canines were leaping about in the roadway. The ’coon had taken to a tall, straight tree, directly on the line of the highway. The branch on which the animal crouched overhung the road.
The torches and lanterns flashed in front of the car. The chauffeur brought it down to a creeping pace. Those beside the road obtained a good view of the car, and of the men in it. This was in all probability not to the liking of the latter. Beside, there was the license plate behind—no dragging robe covered those numbers now.
Already a man with an axe was at the base of the tree. He struck a blow, or two, before the motor car crawled past. They were going to fell the tree so as to get their quarry.
The maroon car passed. Billy heard the sound of the pursuing auto, growing louder and louder. He decided that the moment had come for him to escape from the car, for the hunters would protect him from the vengeance of the criminals.
And even as he was about crawling out of the canopy, and dropping to the lighted roadway, the boy was startled by a sharp detonation—followed by the shaking of the automobile as it was brought to a sudden stop.
“A blow-out!” thought Billy.
The car was stalled. He heard the three thieves express their fear and anger. He knew he would be less likely to be observed by them now than at any time. He leaped down and scuttled into the bushes in a moment.
“Hullo!” shouted one of the men of the hunting party. “A breakdown?”