d.i.c.k shot a significant look at Tom Reade, then glanced covertly in Amos Garwood"s direction. Reade understood and nodded.
"I don"t really need or want you along with me, Dave," d.i.c.k murmured as soon as the three boys were out of sight of the others. "What I wanted was a chance to talk to you. Amos Garwood must be held, if necessary, until we can find some men to seize him and turn him over to the authorities. Be careful and tactful with him, but don"t let him get away from you. The other fellows will help you, if necessary. I"m taking Greg with me, just so that Greg may run in one direction and I in another, in case we don"t find help easily. But you get back and help Tom and the others. Of course you won"t lay hands on Amos Garwood unless it becomes necessary, but in any case don"t let him get away from you. Now, hurry back, for, if Garwood suspects, and shows fight, it will take all four of you to hold him. But if you all talk naturally and pleasantly, I don"t believe he will be suspicious, or make any effort to get away."
Dave nodded, turning back, while d.i.c.k and Greg hastened to the road. Barely had they turned into the highway, when, a short distance, ahead, they espied a boy standing under a tree.
"There"s Ted, and he has Martin"s clothes with him," called d.i.c.k quietly. "Let"s hurry up to him and get him to take the clothes back."
"A precious lot I care whether Hi Martin ever has any clothes again," Greg retorted.
"Oh, well, Greg, there"s such a thing as a joke, and there"s such a thing as carrying it too far. Hi Martin has had his dose of punishment already. We can afford to be decent and let up on him now. Hi, there, Ted!"
Teall looked as though uncertain whether to run or to stand.
"Don"t be afraid, Ted," d.i.c.k called pleasantly. "A joke is all right, and we admit that it was on us."
So Ted, after a first start of suspicion, decided to remain where he was.
"Hi Martin sent you after his duds, I reckon?" inquired Ted as the other two boys ran up to him. All of Hi"s apparel lay on the ground near Teall"s feet.
"He certainly wanted some one to come," laughed d.i.c.k. "But, say, Teall, the thing has been rubbed in too hard. Run back with the things. You"ll find all hands where you hid our things."
"And I"ll find the crazy man there, too, maybe," ventured Teall.
"Also, I"ll run right into a gang that is just waiting to trim me. I thank you kindly, but if any one is to go back into that crowd with Hi"s things, it will be some one else. I won"t go---too much regard for my health, you know."
"Greg, you carry Hi"s clothes back," urged d.i.c.k. "I"ll take Ted with me."
"I will not," flared Greg in open revolt.
"Be a good fellow," begged d.i.c.k.
"That"s all right," grumbled Greg Holmes. "But I"m no valet to any North Grammar boy.
"If you fellows won"t either of you do it," protested d.i.c.k, "I"ll have to do it myself, and---oh, dear! I"m in such a hurry to get help to take care of Garwood."
"What about that crazy man, anyway?" demanded Ted, his mouth agape with curiosity.
"I don"t believe he"s crazy at all, though he may perhaps be a little flighty in his head," Prescott answered. "At any rate, he isn"t violent. There"s no danger in him. Ted, won"t you take back these-----"
Teall shook his head with vigor.
In the meantime four Grammar School boys had stationed themselves around Garwood, who stood under a tree chewing a blade of gra.s.s.
Hi, either from modesty or humiliation, had retired into a clump of bushes.
"They"ve gone to find that boy who took the clothes, I suppose,"
remarked Amos Garwood, looking towards Dave Darrin. "That was a strange boy, a very nervous boy," continued Garwood aloud.
"Just as soon as I told him my name, he turned and fled like a streak of lightning. I wonder what ailed him?"
"I wonder?" repeated Dave solemnly.
"And that boy said something else that made me very curious,"
went on Amos Garwood. "He said something about a crazy man.
I almost thought he referred to me, though the boy himself was the only one who showed any signs of being crazy. What did he mean?"
"He hasn"t told us," Dave rejoined.
But Hi, who felt that he was being shamefully used by the crowd, suddenly broke in with:
"If your name is Garwood, then Ted Teall meant that you"re the one that"s crazy. And I know where the boys have gone. They"re not looking for my clothes at all. They"re looking for constables to come and seize you!"
"You shut up, Hi Martin!" raged Tom Reade, making a dash at Hi"s leafy screen.
But the harm was done. Amos Garwood changed color swiftly.
"Ha, ha! Ho, ho!" he laughed harshly. "I begin to understand now. But no one shall seize me. I won"t let any one take me."
He started madly through the bushes, not seeking a path. Dan, who was nearest him as be pa.s.sed, leaped and threw both arms around the man, bringing him to the ground. Dave leaped to aid Dalzell, nor was Hazelton long in getting to the spot. Tom Reade decided to defer the punishment of Martin, and went to the aid of his friends instead.
Though he had been downed swiftly, Garwood was almost as speedily on his feet, fighting desperately. Darrin he seized and hurled several feet into a thicket. Dalzell sought again to wind his arms around the fellow"s legs, but was brushed aside as though he had been a fly.
Tom Reade received a blow against his right shoulder that sent him reeling away, while Hazelton, in trying to get a new hold, was boxed over his left ear in a way that seemed to make the earth revolve about him.
Hardly had the scrimmage started when Garwood was free.
"No one shall stop me, or hinder me!" cried Amos exultingly, then wheeled and raced through the forest.
After him, as soon as they could recover their faculties, dashed the Grammar School boys. For a minute or two they had him in sight. Then Garwood, on his long legs, sped ahead and out of sight. For another half minute they could hear the man"s progress through the brush. After that all was so still that Darrin and the others halted, gazing perplexedly at each other.
"Where is he?" gasped Tom.
"Which way did he go?" breathed Dan.
Though they listened, neither sight nor sound now aided them.
"Of all the sneaks and trouble-makers!" cried Dave Darrin indignantly.
"Hi Martin ought to be tied to a tree and switched until he can"t see! He"s a regular babbling b.u.t.t-in."
"What good did it do him to meddle in that fashion?" burst from Reade. "The mean, worthless fellow! And we had plenty of reason to feel grateful to Colonel Garwood, Amos"s father, after the handsome uniforms that were given us."
"It must have been Hi"s reason for spoiling our plan," muttered Hazelton. "He didn"t want us to be able really to earn the uniforms."
"Come on," urged Dave. "We mustn"t lose a bit of time. If we spread out and keep on we may sight Garwood again."
"Huh!" muttered Reade. "If Garwood has gone right ahead at the speed with which be started, then he"s in the next county by this time. We won"t see him again to-day."
After a few minutes of searching the other boys came to the same conclusion.
"Out into the road, then," ordered Dave, who naturally took command when Prescott was absent. "We want to head off any men d.i.c.k may have found and tell "em what has happened."
They turned, making rapidly for the road. As it happened, they came out near where Ted Teall stood guarding Hi"s clothing.