"Chicken thieves?" queried Tom. "I guess so--anyway they was prowlin' around the hen house an' the barn. I called an' asked 'em what they wanted and they ran for dear life--so I knew they was up to no good." "They certainly must have been chicken thieves, or worse," was Sam's comment. "Really, this is getting to be too much," he added. "We ought to catch them and have them locked up." "I'm willing to go after them," answered Tom, readily. "Did you get a good look at the rascals?" asked Dick. "Not very good," answered Jack Ness. "They weren't boys, were they?" "No--they were men--both tall and heavy fellows." "Did you ever see them before?" asked Tom. "Not that I can remember." While they were talking the party of four had run down to the edge of the cornfield. This spot was really a peach orchard, but the trees were still so small that the ground was being utilized that season for corn, planted in rows between the trees. The corn was not yet full grown, but it was high enough to conceal a man lying flat or crouching down. The sky was filled with stars and the old moon was beginning to show over the hills beyond the valley, so it was fairly light across the field. The boys kept their eyes on the corn and the peach trees, but failed to discover any persons moving among them. "My shotgun is empty--maybe I had better go back and load up," said the hired man. "Yes, do it, but hurry up," answered Dick. "I'll stay here on guard with the pistol." The hired man ran off toward the barn. Hardly had he disappeared when Sam gave a short cry and pointed into the field with his hand. "I saw somebody raise up just now and look around," he said. "He is out of sight now." "Where?" came from Dick and Tom quickly. "Over yonder by the twisted peach tree." "I'll investigate," said Dick. "You can come along if you want to. Keep your eyes open for both men. We don't want either to get away if we can help it." The three lads spread out in something of a semi circle and advanced slowly into the field, keeping their eyes and ears on the alert for anything out of the ordinary. Thus they covered fifty yards, when Tom found himself near one of the largest of the peach trees. As he passed this a form arose quickly from under a bough, caught him by the waist and threw him forcibly to the ground. "Hi!" yelled Tom. "Let up!" And then he made a clutch for his assailant, catching him by the foot. But the man broke away and went crashing through the corn, calling on "Shelley" to follow him. The yell from Tom attracted the attention of Dick and Sam, and they turned to learn what had happened to their brother. As they did this a second man leaped up from the corn in front of them and started to run in the direction of the river. "Stop!" called out Dick. "Stop, or I'll fire on you!" And then he discharged his pistol into the air as a warning. The man promptly dodged behind a row of peach trees, but kept on running as hard as ever.