CHAPTER III

HOMEWARD BOUND, BY MOONLIGHT


"Jump 'em!" shouted Frank as he threw himself upon the first fellow,
floundering in the road.

"I'm on!" echoed Jerry, suiting the action to the words by propelling
himself straight at the second motorcycle thief.

This fellow happened to have come through his fall without getting hurt.
The consequence was, he felt disposed to put up a much better fight than
his confused companion, upon whose prostrate form Frank had straddled.

He rolled over once or twice with remarkable agility, causing Jerry to
miss his guess when he thought to drop on him. Then, scrambling to his
knees, the man, who turned out to be a rough-looking chap, indeed,
pulled something out of his pocket, which he aimed at the two boys about
to pounce upon him.

"Keep back, you!" he roared, his mouth being half filled with dirt after
he had plowed up the earth of the roadway with his face.

"He's got a pistol!" shrieked Will, who was fingering his camera
nervously from a point somewhat in the rear; and they immediately heard
the little suggestive click that announced the pressure of a finger on
the trigger.