The Hardy boys were hauled roughly out of the bushes and down into the moonlight, where the two captives were being held.
"Caught 'em hiding right in the bushes," said the man who had discovered them, tightening his grip on Frank's collar.
"Boys, eh?" said the leader, coming forward and peering closely at them. "Since when have you had boys helping you, Jed?"
The prisoner called Jed looked at the Hardy boys suspiciously.
"I never saw 'em in my life before," he growled.
"What are they doing here, then?"
"How should I know?" asked Jed. "I tell you I don't know anything about them."
"Why were you hiding in those bushes?" demanded the leader, of Frank.
"We were watching those two men," Frank returned promptly, indicating Jed and his companion.
"Watching them? Helping them, you mean."
"We don't know yet what they were up to. We were watching the Shore Road for automobile thieves and we saw those men going down into the woods, so we followed them."
The boys were still completely mystified. Just what errand had brought Jed and the
