"Py shinks!" boomed Carl, who had heard Matt's remark, "I t'ought I should drow fits righdt on der shpot ven don Jugens feller tuned oop. Ve ditn't know anyt'ing aboudt it, Matt, aber he hat chewed der handtkerchief in doo. Tick und me heardt der shooding, und ve vas schared shtiff. Ve t'ink, meppy, dot you or Tashington vas hurt."
"It was a close call for Dashington," said Matt. "If it hadn't been for his quickness and cleverness you two with Jurgens would have had Whistler and Bangs down on you like a thousand of brick. They were headed that way when Dash drew them off. But it's all over now. We're out of it, and we've got Jurgens' car, and Whistler and Bangs will have to hoof it. We'll send officers back from the next town."
"That will be Micheaud," put in Dashington.
"I vonder oof dere iss a blace to eat in der town?" quavered Carl. "I haf peen lifing on oxcidement all tay, und now ven der oxcidement iss gone I feel der need oof somet'ing else."
"Trust Carl to think of his chuck," laughed Dick. "What I want in the next town is a hat. After that I can get along until we reach where we're going."
Another handkerchief had been twisted between Jurgens' jaws in lieu of the one he had gnawed in two.
"There's no need of the gag now, pards," said Matt, "and you'll make Jurgens more comfortable by taking it off."
Jurgens' first words, the moment the gag was removed, were directed at Dashington.
"Confound you!" he hissed, "you're at the bottom of all this."
"Thanks," grinned Dashington, "that's partly the way of it."