The crashing amidst the underbrush grew louder, and Pierre presently emerged, waving his arms even more furiously than before, while his agonized spirit poured itself forth in a series of wails.
“Monsieur the Colonel, he—it—has gone!” he gasped. “Gone!”
“What?” roared the Colonel. “The machine gone?—it can’t be possible!”
“That’s what I say, monsieur the Colonel. I run both ways on ze road, but I nevaire see him; it’s gone!” and Pierre wrung his hands in despair.
“Ah, ha!” said Bates.
“Gee whiz!” cried Jack Lyons. “Come ahead, fellows!”
“More excitement, eh?” chimed in Joe, as he followed Jack.
Without a word, Colonel Ellison strode toward the woods; his face wore a terrible frown, and with one look he completely silenced the unhappy chauffeur.
Jack Lyons and Joe Preston reached the road with the students.
“Yep,” said Bates. “Not a sign of it. Oh, what a row I feel coming.”