Before starting on the return, d.i.c.k made another examination of the injured man to see if his wounds were so serious that he might bleed to death on the way, but found that the cold air had caused the blood to congeal, and that there was no danger from the source feared.

Mounted and riding close behind the carriage, the boys turned their faces toward the inn, their hearts heavy in their bosoms, for the uncertainty of the fate that had befallen Professor Gunn oppressed them.

"For all of the accident and the smash-up," said d.i.c.k, "Bunol's game to carry off the professor has succeeded."

"That's right," agreed Brad. "But why should he do anything like that? I confess it puzzles me up a plenty."

"Recall his little trick at Lochleven."

"That was some different. By getting hold of Dunbar Budthorne he hoped to force Nadia into a marriage with him. He reckoned that, to save her brother, she might hitch with him."

"You don't think he counts on murdering Zenas Gunn, do you, partner?"

"No; had he intended to murder the professor he would not have gone to so much trouble to capture him and run him off. The men who did that could have finished the old man in his room at the tavern while we were having our little racket with Bunol below. Bunol knows the strength of the law and fears it. He's none too good or too timid to commit a cold-blooded murder, but he fears the consequences of such an act.

To-night he told me he has dogged us everywhere since we left Kinross.

We did succeed in fooling him by helping Budthorne and his sister to get away secretly. Having lost track of Nadia, Bunol has followed us, believing we would join the Budthornes sooner or later.

"Of late he has been growing impatient. Finding we contemplated visiting Newstead Abbey and the haunts of Robin Hood, he decided to strike a blow here in this forest. Some of his spies must have learned from our conversation and inquiries that we meant to remain overnight at Robin Hood's Inn. Having learned that much Bunol acted swiftly. Durbin was with him, and probably Marsh. He must have secured the aid of ruffians who were familiar with this part of the country. He had an idea that, could he meet me face to face and quite alone, he might exercise his newly discovered hypnotic powers on me, and this he tried to do to-night. But I know something about hypnotism myself, and I was able to combat him and defeat him on his chosen ground.

"He had prepared for defeat, having instructed his ruffianly tools to capture and carry off Professor Gunn, whom he knew to be timid, old, and incapable of making serious resistance. Through threats of what he may do to the professor he hopes to bring me to my knees. It is his object to conquer us now, Brad, for he is sure he can accomplish his designs on the Budthornes, once he can place us beyond interfering and baffling him. Without doubt he will threaten and frighten Zenas into telling him where to find Nadia Budthorne. I do not fear that he will seriously injure the old professor, unless Zenas was injured in the runaway and smash-up."

"But Nadia!" cried Brad. "If he forces the professor to tell where Nadia may be found--"

"We'll lose no time in sending a warning message to the Budthornes. Then it will be a race between us and Miguel Bunol out of England, across the Channel and down into sunny Italy. But Bunol will seek to baffle and delay us."

"How?"

"By keeping Zenas Gunn a prisoner somewhere, knowing we'll not leave England until we have found and freed him."

"Great tarantulas! I reckon you're right, partner! You're a whole lot long-headed, and you have tumbled to his game. Whatever can we do?"

"We must beat him at that game."

"Elucidate how."

"This runaway and smash-up was something not reckoned on by Bunol."

"Certain not."

"Durbin was left for dead."

"No doubt of it."

"If Durbin lives long enough to talk, we may induce him to tell us where Zenas Gunn is to be kept a prisoner."

"I sure hope so."

"Then it will be our business to waste no time in finding the professor and setting him free. After that the race for Italy will begin."

Buckhart was greatly stirred up over the prospect.

"If we permit that Spaniard to get ahead of us, pard, I'll certain feel like committing suicide some!" he cried. "You made a big mistake when you kept me from taking a crack at him with my gun as he went whooping away from the Robin Hood. If I had bored him--"

"We should have been arrested and compelled to stand trial. It is true we might have been acquitted; but shooting a human being, even though it may be a dastardly dog like Bunol, is mighty bad business, and I don't believe you wish, any more than I do, to stain your hands with human blood."

"I punctured Rob MacLane at Lochleven."

"But it was only a flesh wound in the shoulder, and the authorities, who seemed relieved and pleased over the death of the Strathern outlaw, decided that the cause of his death was not the bullet wound, but came from a broken neck received when he fell from Lochleven Castle."

"All the same," muttered the Texan, in a low tone, "I don't opine he'd taken that fall if I hadn't fired at him. I saw he was going to murder Aaron by flinging him over, and I didn't falter any at all in shooting.

My conscience hasn't troubled me much."

"But with Bunol mounted on a horse and trying to escape from us, the aspect of the case would have seemed different. At least, that is the way I looked at it."

"I suppose you're right, partner, for you're right as a rule ten times out of ten; but I'm powerful afraid Bunol will get a start on us now."

"We'll do our best to baffle him at his game," said d.i.c.k. "This accident that befell Luke Durbin may enable us to defeat the Spaniard."

"At the same time, it's mighty sure to put Durbin out of the running, even if he doesn't die, for I judge he's badly busted up, and he won't be so frisky and troublesome in future."

"But for Bunol, Durbin never would have been a hard man to check. Bunol is reckless to the point of madness. He has resolved to possess Nadia Budthorne and her money--"

"But by the stars above us I swear he never shall!" cried the Texan fiercely.

When they reached Robin Hood's Tavern once more, the boys, a.s.sisted by Swinton, lifted the injured man, who was still alive, and carried him inside, where he was placed on a bed.

"How far is it to the nearest doctor?" asked d.i.c.k. "This man is badly injured, and he must have medical treatment, if he does not die before a doctor can be brought."

"It's good ten miles," said the landlord.

"Send a man for a physician without delay," directed d.i.c.k. "I will pay all expenses."

"It's easy enough for you to say so," returned the doubting keeper of the inn; "but I have not yet seen the color of your money, and my doors and windows have been smashed, the people in the house, including my wife, nearly frightened to death, and the reputation of the place ruined. What have I done that all this misfortune should be heaped upon me?"

"Would you see this man die for want of medical attention?"

"How do I know what will follow before morning? There may be further trouble here. Besides myself I have but two men about the place, and I must keep them to protect the ladies."

"You will send a man for a doctor," said d.i.c.k, sternly. "Here, I have money to pay. Tell me what your bill is for the broken door and window, and it will be settled-unless you make it exorbitant. Tell me how much it will cost to dispatch a man on a horse for the doctor, and I will pay that, too."

At sight of the boy's money the landlord immediately became quite humble and obliging. He started to ramble in his statement concerning the damage done, saying no money could pay him for the injury to the good name of the house; but Merriwell cut him short, a.s.serting he would settle that matter after he had seen the man start to bring a physician.

Within a short time the hostler was dispatched on a good horse, with instructions not to return under any condition without the needed physician.

"I feel better about that now," confessed d.i.c.k. "I wouldn't see my worst enemy in the condition of Durbin without doing what I could for him."

The injuries the man had received about the face were washed and dressed by d.i.c.k himself, while Durbin was given a little whisky, which seemed to revive him, although it was apparent to all that he might die within the hour.