Part 22 (1/2)

CHAPTER XXI

THE HANGING BRIDGE

”Do we have to get out at this terribly early hour?” asked Tubby, as he dug his knuckles into his eyes, still heavy with sleep

”Yes,” said Rob ”I've taken a look at the stars, and it must be half-past two, or near it You know I've ht in that way, and can hit it every tiet ahere in the hay and waiting till we come back”

”Well, you don't shaketo crawl out of his snug nest

The night air was rather chilly, when once they found thelad to button up their coats

Looking in the direction where the ht and seeiant fireflies which they were accustos at home, they found that most of them had died out

”I expected that would happen,” said Rob, when Merritt called his attention to the altered conditions in the camp of the Ger on seeing those fires again I've got other lando by”

”I expected you'd have,” said Merritt, filled with the utle Patrol, which faith was founded on a long list of past perfor to hinder them, they made an i look back toward the hu the necessity that co for breakfast-ti

It was not exactly dark, once their eyes became accustomed to conditions The stars shone brilliantly in the clear heavens overhead, and in open country it is possible to steer one's way fairly well by starlight

For some time the boys went on Tubby, of course, often stumbled, for it would not have been Tubby otherwise; but, as he had not so far actually spread hi very well

Merritt could see how Rob had laid out their course, by the assistance of the friendly innkeeper, who had been told of their desire to reach the little place called Sempst He had really drawn Rob a rude but correct chart of the roads covering the territory between, and inforn would be

A nu ran out fro wildly at the It was only natural for the threatened one to shout angrily and kick desperately at the offending canine By great good luck he ainst the vicious animal's nose, as a loud howl announced

”There, that serves you right, for bothering rumbled Tubby

The others knew he must be very proud of that shot, and would often refer to it when complaints were made afterward to the effect that he was ”slow” Any one who could

Just what they would do should they finally reach the se of a large Ger plant, they had not as yet deterlass case by hook or crook, for, if it proved impossible to obtain by fair y

For this purpose he had even bought an eh all their adventures It was a new one, for, inup his plans, Rob ical laet possession of it by going around and offering housewives to exchange new lae with Steven, and give him a brand new case for his worn one, should the opportunity arise for such a transfer

”And once we get our hands on that bit of paper,” he had told the others, ”we'll shake the dust of this country off our shoes in the biggest hurry ever”

It must have been fully an hour after they left the stable of the village inn when Rob imparted some information to his chums that caused Tubby, at least, more or less apprehension

”It's about ti to it now,” Rob started to say

”What, already?” rehted, for, of course, he foolishly thought itfor that Rob meant