But the autos were making fast time, and soon the machines had gone as far on the way as they could be used.
"Now we'll have to get out and strike across country, through the woods," Prescott called.
So far Dick had resolutely tried to keep out of his mind any thought of that thousand-dollar reward.

It sounded too much like "Blood money" to take pay for helping any afflicted family out of its troubles.

Besides, it had been the glory of doing a piece of bright newspaper work that had allured the two High School boys at the outset.
"Yet a thousand dollars is---a thousand dollars!" Dick couldn't help feeling, wistfully, as he piloted his party across fields and through the woods.

"A thousand dollars! Five hundred apiece for Dave and me! What a fearful big lot of money! What we could do with it, If we had it! I wonder whether it would be right and decent to take it ?" Then, as he neared the place where he had left his chum on post Dick Prescott found other and anxious thoughts crowding into his mind.
Was Dave Darrin, staunch and reliable Dave---still there, on post, and unharmed?
Was Theodore Dodge there?
Were his captors still with him?
.