Dick had hardly finished speaking before he came to a sudden halt.
"Keep on!" panted Matt.
"Can't! We're between two fires, matey. That other gang has heard the firing and is coming back. Let's get behind trees and do the best we can for ourselves. Oh, this is a rum go!"
Matt was able to hear the men racing along in advance of them, and the larger force behind was drawing nearer and nearer.
The outlook was dark, and the only thing left for the boys to do seemed to be to dig into the dense undergrowth and take their chances of being tracked down.
With one accord they sprang toward the left-hand side of the path. The timber, in that direction, seemed a trifle less thick than on the right.
Before they had vanished they heard a guarded voice calling from the right.
"Matt! Motor Matt!"
Startled at hearing his name, the young motorist paused and whirled about. His astonishment grew. A woman—a young woman—had emerged through the trailing creepers and was beckoning wildly.
"This way!" she called, still in the same guarded tone. "Quick, if you want to save yourselves."