It was not very deep and they concluded that they could easily get to the other side, by leaping from one bit of wreckage to another,--thus keeping from getting wet,--for at that season of the year the water was decidedly cold.
"Let us go over and climb to the top of the next hill," said Dick.

"We may be able to see which direction the auto takes." The others were willing, and telling the colored man to wait a while for them, and promising him good pay, they climbed over the sunken bridge to the other shore of the stream.

Then they raced along the rocky road, around a bend, and up a steep hill that all but winded them.
"I see the machine!" cried Tom, who was the first to top the rise.
"Look!" And he pointed with his hand, down in the valley that lay stretched out before them like a map in the gathering darkness.
At a great distance, moving at a fair rate of speed, was the enclosed touring car containing Dora and Nellie and their abductors.

It was headed for a distant main road, lined here and there with farmhouses and outbuildings.

Presently it turned into this mainroad, and started westward, at an increased rate of speed.
"My, see them streak along!" murmured Sam.
"They are evidently going to put as much distance as they can between themselves and us," returned Tom.
"Say, do you see any telephone wires ?" asked Dick, anxiously.
"Not a wire," came from his brothers, after a long look for lines and poles.
"Neither do I.I guess they haven't any connections at those farmhouses, so it will be useless to walk there." "But what shall we do, Dick ?" asked Tom, impatiently.