"The first thing you"ll do will be to give back this poor old man"s money," d.i.c.k went on, eyeing the tramp.
"I haven"t got it," came the prompt denial. "I turned it over to Joe and Bill, and they"ve got away with it."
"You"re not going to like us a bit, my man," smiled Prescott.
"We are not the kind of fellows to take your word for anything.
We"re going to see whether or not you have the money. We"re going through your clothing for it. Poor old Mr. Hinman will need it for the care that I am afraid he is going to require.
Search the fellow, Tom."
Greg now aided Dave in holding the vagabond. The tramp made such a commotion during the search that d.i.c.k and Greg added their help in holding him.
Out of a trousers" pocket Tom dragged the peddler"s money sack.
It was still tied.
"Let me have it," said d.i.c.k, and took it over by the campfire, where he untied the sack and peered into it.
"There"s a roll of bills and at least ten, dollars in change in the sack," d.i.c.k announced, "so I think that none of the money has been taken."
"That"s my money you"ve got," snarled the tramp.
"Tell that to the Senate!" Tom suggested.
Greg and Dan now aided d.i.c.k in lifting Mr. Hinman to the floor of his wagon, where they laid him on a pile of rags. Mr. Hinman was breathing, and his pulse could be distinctly felt.
"Dave, I guess you and I had better go along with the wagon,"
d.i.c.k suggested. "Now, see here, Tom, you and the other fellows go back to camp and act just as if we were all there. Start in the morning, as usual. You ought to be in Fenton by noon to-morrow.
If Dave and I don"t join you before that time, then you"ll find us at Fenton."
"What are you going to do with the hobo?" Reade wanted to know.
"Roll him over on his face and tie his hands. Then we"ll hitch him to the back of Mr. Hinman"s wagon, and I"ll walk with him and see that he goes along without making trouble, while Dave drives."
At this moment Reade alone was occupied in sitting on the captive, Dave having risen when it was suggested that he go with d.i.c.k to Dunfield.
"Here---quick!" yelled Reade, as the boss tramp gave a sudden heave.
But like a flash the hobo sprang up and darted off through the darkness. Tom, Dave and Dan started in swift pursuit, but the tramp soon doubled on his pursuers in the darkness and got away.
"Let him go," counseled d.i.c.k. "We"ve enough else to occupy our attention."
So Greg ran out to pa.s.s the word to the pursuers to discontinue the chase. Tom, when he returned, was very angry.
"You"d no business to leave the fellow like that, Darry," he growled, "and I was a big fool not to be better on my guard. That fellow will make trouble for us yet---see if he doesn"t."
"There was no use in chasing him any further, if he eluded you in the darkness," d.i.c.k remarked. "Dave, you get up on the wagon beside Mr. Hinman. I"ll drive his horse."
Only as far as the road did Tom Reade, Dan and Greg accompany them, going ahead with the lantern to show the way.
"Now, you know the plan, Tom," d.i.c.k called quietly. "Fenton---at noon to-morrow."
"Good luck to you two!" called Reade. "And keep your eyes open for trouble."
"It will be someone else"s trouble, if we meet any," laughed Darrin gayly.
"I wonder how it was that Tom and the other fellows didn"t run into one of the scouts that the tramps had out," said d.i.c.k, after they had driven a short distance.
"Tom told me that they did catch a glimpse of a scout prowling by the road side, so they went around him," Darrin replied. "They slipped past the fellow without his seeing them."
As d.i.c.k held the reins he also eyed the dark road closely as they went along. He was not blind to the fact that the tramps might rea.s.semble and rush the wagon, for these vagabonds would want both the peddler"s money and what they would consider suitable revenge on the high school boys, for their part in the night"s doings.
However, the village of Dunfield was reached without further adventure.
Dave woke up the head of a family living in one of the cottages, and from him learned where to find the local physician. Then d.i.c.k drove to the medical man"s house.
Dr. Haynes came downstairs at the first ring of the door bell, helping the boys to bring the still unconscious peddler inside.
There, under a strong light, with the peddler stretched on an operating table, the physician looked Reuben Hinman over.
"I can"t find evidence of any bones being broken," said the physician.
"It"s my opinion that shock and exhaustion have done their work.
Reuben is a very hard-working old man."
"Then you know him?" d.i.c.k asked.
"Everyone in this part of the country knows Reuben," replied the doctor. "He"s one of our characters."
"He must have a hard life of it, and make rather a poor living,"
Prescott suggested.
"I guess he would make a good enough living, if-----" began the physician, then checked himself.
"Are you going to bring the man to consciousness, doctor?" asked Dave.
"Yes; after I get a few things ready. I don"t believe we"ll have much trouble with him, though we"ll have to get Reuben home and make him rest for a few days."
"Where does he live?" d.i.c.k inquired.
"In Fenton. Reuben has a queer little old home of his own there."
"Has he a wife?" d.i.c.k asked.
"She died fifteen years ago."
"Are there any children to look after Mr. Hinman?" Darry asked.
"He has children, but---well, they don"t live with him," replied Dr. Haynes, as though not caring to discuss the subject.
Then the physician went to work over the peddler, who presently opened his eyes.
"Drink some of this," ordered the physician. "Now, you begin to feel better, don"t you, Reuben?"