For one brief moment I was so taken aback that I could neither move nor speak, and Ford seemed to be in the same condition. “Mr. Norton!” I finally gasped. “Reuben!” he replied. “What does this mean?” demanded Yates. He tried to act coolly, but it was not much of a success. “It means that we have come to Chester to have you arrested,” put in Ford. “Arrested!” “Exactly; you must consider yourselves prisoners.” And he called out at the top of his voice,―― “Police! police!” “This will never do!” cried Mr. Norton. “I am not to be captured in this fashion.” And with a sudden bound he sprang around the corner and darted away. Seeing this, Yates tried to follow suit; but Ford’s grip was a good one, and he held fast. “Hang on to him, Dan!” I exclaimed. “Don’t let him go. I am going after Mr. Norton!” And not waiting to say more, I, too, dashed away. Rounding the corner I saw my guardian fully a block up the street, and running as fast as his long legs would permit. I gave chase, and soon began to close the distance between us. The street was a narrow one, and but few people were upon it. Had there been a crowd, I would have had no trouble in getting some one to hold him. Mr. Norton was a good runner, and he made the best possible use of his time. He darted here and there over a box and around a wagon, and it was no mean job to keep him in sight. The streets of Chester were comparatively strange to me; but I believe they were also to him, so on that score we were equal. In a few moments he had crossed a river that ran through the town. There was a drawbridge over it; and no sooner had he passed than the keeper began to open the draw for the purpose of allowing a vessel to go through. “Let me over!” I cried. “I am after a thief!” “No, you don’t, young fellow!” was the grim reply. “That is an old dodge.” And the bridge-keeper continued to allow the bridge to swing around. For an instant I paused in perplexity. What was to be done? If I waited until the bridge was again in position, Mr. Norton would surely escape me. “I’ll venture it,” I muttered. And stepping back, I rushed forward and cleared the distance from the partly open draw to the opposite shore at a bound. “Hi! hi! none of that!” cried the keeper in alarm; but I paid no heed. Mr. Norton looked back to see what I would do. He was no doubt quite dismayed to see me take the jump. I raised the cry of “Stop, thief!” but it did no good, and made Mr. Norton run faster than ever. We went along this way about three blocks, and then he darted down a dark alley. I paused but an instant, and then followed. At the end was a high fence, and I entered just in time to see him disappear over the top. I followed, and found myself in the rear of a number of greenhouses. I looked around, but Mr. Norton was not to be seen. There was a path between the glass houses, and along this I picked my way as rapidly as possible, satisfied that my guardian had passed on to the front.