He put on speed again, and they flashed into a level stretch. Art and Peanut both exclaimed at once, “Look—there’s Rob!”
Sure enough, standing beside the road, was Rob, plainly to be seen in the glare of the powerful search lamps. The driver put on brakes, and stopped. Rob jumped into the car.
“A car just went by—two minutes ago—no, less—a minute. I couldn’t sleep again, worrying about you kids. It was those same men, Art. Heard ’em swear.”
The pursuing car once more leaped forward. Looking back, Peanut saw the lamps of the motor next behind them. The driver put on speed now with a vengeance. It seemed hardly a second before ahead of them they heard a shout, and they emerged from the woods into the clearing by the Flume House, and their lamps struck full upon a dramatic picture.
There, in front, was the car they were chasing. Across the road was strung a heavy rope with a red lantern swung from it, and close to the car, on either side, stood two men, with gleaming revolvers pointed at the two burglars on the seat. The revolver barrels flashed in the glare of the search-light. Art and Peanut and the rest in the pursuing car sprang to the ground and ran forward. The two burglars offered no resistance. What was the use? They were looking into four pistol barrels now! Ropes were quickly brought, and their hands tied. The other three pursuing cars came up, the excitement roused a number of guests in the hotel, and Art and Peanut found themselves in the midst of a throng as the captives were being led to the concrete garage to be locked up. Everybody wanted to know all about it, and the boys had to repeat their story a dozen times.
Finally Mr. Goodwin and a young man who seemed to be his son, and who had been one of those to open the door, got hold of them.
“You boys have saved us many thousands of dollars,” the father said. “We don’t quite know how to thank you. Of course, I know something about Scouts, and I won’t offer you money, because you wouldn’t take it.”
“Oh, no, sir,” said Art.
“Of course not. But I’ve got a motor you can have to go where you please in to-morrow, or next day, or any time, and I own a whole fish pond in the woods back here, with a cabin on it where you can camp, and my wife and daughter will want to thank you. You must give me your names, so my other daughter, who was married this morning, and whose presents you saved, can write to you.”
Art and Peanut both stammered, rather uncomfortable.