But the mare did not intend to whoa, and reaching the barn, she flew by like a meteor, much to the combined chagrin of the riders. Joe was in front, holding the reins, and Harry in the rear, with his arms about his brother’s waist. Both kept bouncing up and down like twin rubber balls. “Do stop her, Joe!” “Whoa!” repeated Joe. “Whoa! Confound the mare, she won’t listen to me!” “She is running away with us!” “Well, if she is, I can’t help it.” “Pull in on the reins.” “That’s what I am doing—just as hard as I can.” “Hi! hi!” came in Andy Dugan’s voice. “Phy don’t ye sthop? Ain’t this the barn ye was afther spakin’ about?” “Yes!” yelled back Joe. “But your mare won’t stop!” “Hit her on th’ head wid yer fist!” screamed Pat Dugan. “I don’t believe that will stop her,” said Harry. “Perhaps it will, if she’s used to it,” said his brother, and an instant later landed a blow straight between the mare’s ears. Up went the creature’s hind quarters in a twinkling and over her head shot the two boys, to land in the snow and brushwood beside the roadway. Then the mare shied to one side and pranced down the road, and soon a turn hid her from view. CHAPTER III A FRUITLESS SEARCH “B’ys! b’ys! Are ye after bein’ hurted?” It was Andy Dugan who asked the question, as he came rushing to Joe and Harry’s assistance and helped to set them on their feet. “I—I guess I’m all right, Mr. Dugan,” panted Harry. “But I—I thought my neck was broken at first!” “So did I,” put in Joe. His left hand was scratched but otherwise he was unharmed. “Oh, father, the mare’s run away!” chimed in Teddy Dugan. “We won’t never git her back anymore!” “Hould yer tongue!” answered the parent. “She’ll come back as soon as it’s feedin’ time, don’t worry.” “Oh, father, are you sure?” “To be course I am. Didn’t she run away twice before, an’ come back that same way, Teddy? Come on after thim tramps an’ let the mare take care av hersilf.” “We’ve made noise enough to bring the tramps out—if they’re still in the barn,” was Joe’s comment. “I believe they’ve gone.” “Exactly my opinion,” answered Harry. Advancing boldly to the doorway of the barn, Andy Dugan pointed his gun and cried: “Come out av there, ye rascals! Sure an’ it won’t do ye any good to hide!” To this demand no answer was returned, and a moment of painful silence followed. “Are ye comin’ out or not?” went on Dugan the elder. “Answer me.” “How can they answer, father, if they ain’t there?” put in Teddy Dugan, with a broad smile on his freckled face. To this query the father made no reply, but advancing cautiously, he gazed into the barn and then stepped inside. “Are they there, Mr. Dugan?” queried Joe. “If they are, they’re mighty good at hidin’.” “Let us make a search,” said Harry. “Pat, you remain on guard outside.” “That I will,” answered Pat. “Run ’em out here till I shoot ’em first, an’ have ’em arrested afterwards!”