"He's a young fellow who once went to a military academy with us. He's a regular bully and did something for which he ought to be locked up," was Fred's reply, and then he rushed down into the street, following his three cousins. "How can Gabe Werner be down here?" questioned Andy. "Why, we left him in New York City!" "I can't help that, Andy. It was Werner just as sure as I am standing here. I just happened to glance out of the window and saw him crossing the roadway. He turned his face straight toward me, and I couldn't help but recognize him." "Where did he go?" "I'll point out the place when we get there." By this time the four Rovers had left the boardwalk and were plowing along on the side of the road through mud that varied from an inch to six inches in depth. They had started to run, but were soon compelled to slow up. "Gee, this is something fierce!" panted Andy. "Oh, you cinder path!" chanted his twin. "Wouldn't you like to do a hundred-yard dash on this road?" "It's not much farther," announced Jack. "I saw him heading for that shack yonder." The place he mentioned was a small building erected of rough boards, with a galvanized roof. They neared the shack to find two men sitting before it on a log smoking their pipes. They appeared somewhat startled. "Did a young fellow just pass this way?" questioned Jack quickly. The two men looked at the Rovers curiously, and then one shook his head. "Don't think he did, Stranger. I didn't see anybody, did you, Tom?" "No," was the positive answer. By the look on their faces Jack felt that the men were not telling the truth. Yet what he was to do he did not know. "Maybe he went back to that garage," he suggested, pointing to a smaller building in the rear. "Look around if you think anybody is there," said the first man who had spoken, and the boys hurried down to the garage, which stood open. As they did this one of the men sauntered into the shack. "Say, what's the meaning of this?" he demanded of Gabe Werner, who stood hiding behind a door. "I'll tell you as soon as they go away," was the answer of the former bully of Colby Hall. "Don't let them come in here and see me." "All right, they sha'n't come in," was the man's laconic reply; and then he went outside again, to resume his smoking. Having walked around the garage and peered inside, the four Rovers walked again to the shack. The man who had just come out of the building leered at them. "Didn't find the fellow you were after, did you?" he queried. "No," answered Jack shortly. He did not like the appearance of the man in the least. "Want to see him particularly?" "I want to give him a good thrashing--that's what I want to do!" exclaimed Jack. "And after that I might turn him over to the police, if there is any such thing in this town." "We haven't any police here. We run things to suit ourselves." "What do you want to lick him for?" questioned the other man.