"He evidently understood me." "No use for you to try to get away!" shouted Reade.

"We intend to get you if we have to chase you all the way to the seaboard." That was enough to make the fugitive veer suddenly and dart in under the trees.

Tom vented an exclamation of disappointment, for he knew the chances were easy for escape in the deep shadows of the forest.
At that instant Dick raised his right hand.

In it he held a small stone that he had picked up at the first instant of discovering the presence of the stranger.
Now Dick threw the stone, with the best judgment that he could command in the darkness.
Ahead there went up a cry, as though of pain.

Then all three pursuers distinctly heard an angry voice say! "Hang him! He hit me in the heel!" If there were any reply to this from a confederate of the injured fugitive neither Dick nor his chums heard it.
After a minute all three stopped at a low uttered order from young Prescott.
"Hush!" whispered Dick.
"Sh!" confirmed Tom Reade.
As they stood there in the forest not a sound of another human being was audible.
For some five minutes the trio of high school boys stood without stirring from their tracks.
"We've lost the trail," whispered Dick at last.