The Boys of Columbia High on the River - Graham B. Forbes

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asked the one who held the reins, and with a touch of satire in his voice.

      "There's a man!" continued Lanky.

      "Where do you mean, ahead of us?" asked Frank, suddenly interested in spite of his pretense of unconcern.

      ​"Yes, standing under that tree there. I saw him move!"

      The weary horse had dropped back into a shuffling walk, and Frank made no effort to coax or influence him to mending his ways, for he knew it was useless.

      "Huh! a stump, more than likely!" he remarked, at the same time searching with his own eyes to see if what Lanky said might be true.

      "Perhaps it was, but sure I thought the thing moved. Oh! yes, I'm seein' things all right; but who wouldn't after the funny way we came into possession of this fine outfit. I wonder now if we could get into town without anybody grabbing us? We're a fine pair of birds to be brought into the light, I don't think," and Lanky laughed harshly as he spoke aloud.

      "There it is again, Frank," he immediately added, starting back, and pointing along the road.

      The other had also noticed something that seemed to flicker, very like a lighted cigar, and at the same time he undoubtedly scented tobacco smoke, which betrayed the presence of some human being near by.

      He started to pull in the horse, while Lanky lent valiant assistance, for he had instinctively clutched hold of the lines.

      "Oh!" he mouthed, as he saw a dark figure striding forward.

      ​Frank did not show signs of alarm, for he seemed to have partially guessed what was coming.

      "Whoa!" he called to the horse that was only too willing to stop; and then the two boys heard a gruff voice, very full of authority, exclaiming:

      "Hold up, there! Both of you are under arrest!"

      ​

      CHAPTER IV

      SURPRISING CHIEF HOGG

       Table of Contents

      Lanky gave a groan of disgust.

      "That just finishes me! I thought sure we'd come to a bad end," he grumbled.

      On the other hand Frank was chuckling as if more than a little amused.

      "We surrender!" he exclaimed, quickly, elevating his hands to show that he was contemplating no manner of defense.

      He knew the peculiar voice of the man who seemed acting as master of ceremonies, and was expecting that somebody would be rather surprised presently.

      "Hey! Bill, light up that lantern, will you? Let's have a look at these smart birds before we take 'em into town!" observed this worthy; whereupon a second man, making his appearance beside the rig, struck a match, the flame of which he applied to the wick of a lantern.

      "Here you are, Captain," he said, thrusting the light upward.

      When the boys' captor took one look at the ​occupants of the buggy which had been stopped on the road outside Columbia, he stared as though he had seen a ghost.

      "What's this? what's this? I ought to know these fellows well enough!" he exclaimed, rubbing his eyes with the knuckles of his free hand.

      It was Chief Hogg, the head of Columbia's police force, clad in all the regalia of his exalted office, and with a bright silver star upon his left breast.

      "Hello, Chief! Do we look like a desperate pair of scoundrels? Is that why you are holding us up on the road to town?" asked Frank, laughingly.

      "Well, boys, this is certainly one on me. You happened to say something that made us believe the men we wanted had shown up. But it is a mighty queer thing. This rig corresponds with the description to a dot, too," he went on, looking at both horse and vehicle, and shaking his head.

      "Does it?" asked Frank.

      "Where did you get that outfit, boys? It doesn't belong in Columbia, does it?" continued the officer, eagerly.

      "Not that we know of. At least, we didn't get it there," was Frank's reply, and it acted like a dose of electricity upon the chief.

      "Say you so, Frank? Then where did it come from?" he asked, hastily.

      "They never waited to tell us, and we've been ​wondering ever since. Such kind chaps too; I never heard of their like. We asked for a ride, and they immediately handed the rig over to us, running back along the road as if afraid we might refuse to accept the loan," came the answer, in Frank's humorous fashion.

      "What's this you're telling me? Some men were in the rig, and ran off when you asked for a ride? Is that it, Frank?" demanded the officer.

      "Just as I am telling you, sir. We were up rowing near Rattail Island, and on the way down the river met with a mishap, so we had to abandon our boat. Being wet through we thought it would help out to get a lift to town, so we tackled the first rig going that way. The two men seemed alarmed at our stopping them, for they jumped out, one on each side, and put off toward Clifford at a good sprint."

      Chief Hogg gave a low cry of satisfaction.

      "Billy, this is the stolen rig, all right!" he observed, cheerfully, "But we've missed our men! That's a great pity, for the horse and buggy could go hang for all I care, if we only had laid hands on those robbers. We'll have to chase after them right away. Boys, will you put the rig up at headquarters?"

      "But wait, we haven't told you all we know," continued Frank.

      "Then go on, and hurry too, for we must be off. ​They'll get too big a lead on us unless we start soon. What else happened?" asked the officer, impatiently.

      "Why, I had a little suspicion that there was something wrong with those two timid chaps, to make them run away like that. So I felt around, and under the seat I found a leather bag!" said Frank, purposely speaking slow in order to work the stout chief up to the proper enthusiasm.

      "A leather bag—yes, go on, Frank! Did you open it, boy?" queried the other.

      "I did, and showed the contents to Lanky here, or rather told him what it held. It was half full of watches and jewelry, sir!"

      "Good! Great! You've done a big thing to-night, boys, if you've recovered all that stolen property. Where did you put the leather bag, Frank; hide it in the bushes where it could be found again when wanted?" asked the police officer.

      "No sir, I chucked it back again under the seat," replied the boy, composedly.

      Chief Hogg began a hurried search. He even held the lantern back of the buggy to assist him in looking over the field.

      "That was a very unwise move on your part, boy. The bag is gone!" he declared.

      Lanky awoke to life at that.

      "Didn't I say I felt somebody grab my shins, Frank? Mebbe you'll believe me next time, and not ​think I'm getting daffy!" he cried out, triumphantly; as if he considered the question of his veracity of more account than a dozen leather bags, no matter if they contained untold treasure.

      "Do you mean the bag has been taken out of the buggy; that some one came behind and swiped it?" asked Frank, curiously.

      "Just what happened as sure as you live. This is certainly most exasperating, to be so near a haul and get left. One of the rascals must have run after you, and still thinking you were officers, managed to get a grip on the bag. I'm disappointed in you boys. I began to hope you'd taken a fall out of those robbers. But go on in town, and leave the rig for me," the chief went on.

      "But what shall I do with this, sir?" asked Frank, holding up a package wrapped in newspaper.

      "I don't care; any old thing. But what is it, Frank?" asked

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