They arose from their cramped positions on the ground and stealthily began to retrace their steps. They were even more wary on their way out than they had been going in, for they could not be sure that they would not meet some of the men they had seen about the old house. Just before they came to the end of the wagon-road they heard the sound of a motor and saw the lights of an automobile speeding down the main road in the direction of High Ridge. "Sounds like our car," said Bob. "All those motors make the same sort of noise." "Pretty good ears you have," remarked Hugh. "You ought to see old Heinie," said Bob. "He may look stupid, but he can tell almost any make of car just by the noise it makes." "What'll he say when you get home?" queried Hugh. "He'll be mad. He doesn't think I know how to drive the car, and if there is any dirt on it he'll be madder yet." "The roads aren't muddy now though." "I know it, but he'll be cross if there's dust on it even." They emerged on the main road, looked carefully in both directions, and then still keeping to the side of the road, started back toward the spot where they had left the car. A ghostly moon, in its last quarter, shed its pale light on the highway, and aided the boys to distinguish their surroundings. "There's the place," said Bob a moment later. They ran quickly across the road and hurried towards the clump of trees where they had hidden the car. Both boys would feel relieved when they were seated in their conveyance once more, and on their way home. It was nervous work prowling around the countryside at night with a suspicious gang of men lurking near. Bob and Hugh hurried along side by side and presently came to the patch of trees, which was their destination. A feeling of relief came over them that soon they would be speeding back to High Ridge. Suddenly Bob uttered an exclamation of surprise and stopped short. "The car is gone," he gasped. CHAPTER IX ANOTHER SURPRISE At first the two boys were too amazed to speak. They stared blankly at the spot where the car had been concealed. It now was nowhere to be seen. "Is this the place?" exclaimed Hugh, the first to regain his senses. "I know it is," said Bob. "I ran the car right up under that big birch tree so that I could surely mark the spot." "Well!" gasped Hugh, unable to say more. "What'll we do?" Bob almost sobbed. "Some one has stolen the car, and it is all my fault. What will father say?" "You'll have to tell him the circumstances," said Hugh lamely. "I don't know what else you can do." "But the car is gone," insisted Bob, his mind unable to grasp any idea beyond that. "The car is gone." "Maybe it'll come back," said Hugh. "Stolen cars are often recovered." He lighted a match and held it close to the ground. There were the marks made by the tires in the damp earth. There was no doubt that this was the place. "Who could have taken it?" demanded Bob.