The farmer had offered to drive him back to Bixter, but our hero had stated that he would rather walk and take the short cut through the woods. When he arrived at the village he found Roger wondering what had become of him. "Well, did you catch Porton?" queried the senator's son. "I did and I didn't," answered Dave, with a grim sort of smile. And he related the particulars of what had occurred. "Great hambones, Dave! you certainly have had an experience!" was Roger's comment. "Let me look at that ear. I declare! it's quite swollen. I hope it didn't hurt anything inside," he added anxiously. "It rings and aches a little, Roger; but I don't think it is seriously hurt." "How about your shoulder?" "That feels a little sore, but that's all. I'll soon get over it." "And to think you got so close to capturing him and then he got away!" was the sad comment of the senator's son. "It does beat all how slippery some of those rascals are." "I'm living in hope that those farmer boys will locate Porton," said Dave. "I promised them a reward of ten dollars if they did so. That's a lot of money for lads living around here." Now that he had rejoined Roger, and had gotten partly over the effects of his encounter with Porton, Dave was rather loath to give up the hunt. They managed to find a store where the proprietor occasionally furnished lunches, and there procured some sandwiches and hot chocolate. Then they drove to Barnett by the regular highway, and there took another look around for the missing evil-doer. "The boys have gone down to the woods to look for him," announced the farmer when Dave called on him once more. "If they learn anything I'll let you know." That evening found Dave and Roger back in Crumville, where, of course, they had to relate the details of what had happened. "Oh, Dave, you must be more careful!" cried Jessie, after he had told of the encounter in the woods. "That wicked fellow might kill you!" and she shuddered. "Yes indeed, you ought to be careful," said Laura. "Why, he seems to be almost as bad as Merwell and Jasniff were!" "So he is, Laura. And if I ever get the chance I'll put him where they are--in prison," answered the brother grimly. As was to be expected, Dave was quite worked up over what had occurred, and that night he did not sleep very well. Both his father and his sister insisted that he go to a physician and have his ear examined. "No damage done, so far as I can see," said the doctor. "But you had better bathe it with witch-hazel and keep it warm for a day or two." The next day Dave settled down to his studies as well as he was able. He hoped that word might come in that Ward Porton had been captured, but in this he was disappointed. "I think he'll steer clear of this neighborhood, for a while at least," was Mr. Porter's comment. "That's just my idea," added Dave's Uncle Dunston. "He must know that a great many swindled storekeepers and other people are on the watch for him."