this time, and following it the boys heard a sound as it a blow had been struck.
"Someone is being attacked!" cried Tom. "Maybe some poor tramp has taken shelter in there and a dog is after him. Come on, Ned, we've got to help!"
They started on a run for the lonely house, but while still some distance away a curious thing happened.
There was a sudden cry—an appeal for help it seemed—but this time in the open. And, as Tom and Ned looked, they saw several men running from the rear of the old house. Between them they carried an inert form.
"Something's wrong!" exclaimed Tom. "There's crooked work going on here, Ned."
"You're right! It's up to us to stop it! Come on!"
But before the boys had taken half a dozen more steps they heard that which caused them great surprise. For from a shed behind the house came the unmistakable throb and roar of a motor.
"They're going off in an auto!" cried Ned.
"And they're carrying someone with them!" exclaimed Tom.
By this time they had gotten to a point where they could see the shed, and what was their aston-
