He and Nappy Martell led the way, and soon the whole crowd had left Columbina behind and were trudging along the muddy road leading to Derrickville. The way was dark and anything but inviting, and all of them made slow progress. "The house is over there in the field," said Slugger presently, as he came to a halt. "You needn't be afraid, because there are only a very old man and a woman living there. Gabe Werner has been boarding with them since he came down here." "Are you fellows working for Carson Davenport?" questioned Randy. "We expect to work for him, yes. But nothing has been settled as yet," answered Nappy. "He has offered us thirty dollars a week, but we think we can get more than that elsewhere," he added loftily. "And what of Werner? Is he going to work with you?" "That was the idea," answered Slugger. "But I don't know what he'll do now. He's certainly in bad shape." "How did he get his leg broken?" "He didn't tell us a word about it," answered Nappy. "There is something queer about the whole transaction. But he said he must see all of you Rovers and do it to-night. What he's got on his mind, I don't know." The Rovers hardly knew what to do. They were unarmed, and the place certainly looked like a lonely one. They wondered if it would be possible for Carson Davenport and his crowd to be at the house waiting for them. "You and Slugger go ahead," Jack said. "We'll follow behind. And mark you, no tricks!" "There is nothing to be afraid of," Slugger assured him. And then he and Nappy stalked off in the fast-gathering darkness. They walked up to the lonely house, and disappeared around a corner of the building. "Say, Jack, this doesn't look right to me at all," announced Fred. "I wish I had a pistol." "I'm going to arm myself with a club," said Randy, and looked around for such a weapon. The others did the same, two of them picking up sticks and the others arming themselves with stones. Then they advanced with caution, keeping their eyes wide open for the appearance of anything that might look dangerous. "I don't see any light around the place," announced Jack, as they drew closer. "I wonder what became of Nappy and Slugger?" broke in Fred. "I don't see them anywhere." "Suppose we call them," suggested Andy. "Let us walk around the house first," returned his twin. "They may have gone in by the back way. Most of the folks living around here use the back door for everything." With added caution the Rover boys walked slowly around one side of the building. In the rear they found everything as dark and deserted as in the front. "This is certainly strange," announced Jack. He advanced and knocked sharply on the closed door. There was no reply, and he knocked a second time. Then Randy beat upon the door with his stick. "It looks to me as if there wasn't a soul in the place," announced Andy. "I wonder what has become of Nappy and Slugger?"