"Boys! Not a bit of it," replied Paul. "It was a regular
hold-up. And the mail! I must get that, if they have left it on
the road. Did you see the car? Is it all right?"

"It appeared to be," said Cora. "It was the car that brought us
to a standstill. It's in the middle of the road."

Paul shook himself as if expecting to find some damage to limb or
muscle. Then he turned toward the open path.

"Tell us about it," demanded Cecilia. "Wasn't it a joke?"

"Joke!" he reiterated. "Well, I should say not! Would you call
it a joke to have two masked men jump in front of a running car,
and flash something shiny? Then to have them climb in, cover my
eyes and tell me I would be all right, and not to worry!"

"Oh," sighed Hazel, "I felt something would happen to you, Paul,
dear. You must give up this position."

"Well, we will see about that," he replied. "Perhaps I won't have
anything to say about it - if the mailpouch is gone."

"Then they brought you out here?" asked Cecilia, determined to
hear all the story.

"Carried me like a baby," replied Paul, "and in sheer humane
consideration they put me near the road, so that my call might be
heard."