"We figure the old stagecoach was probably carried in a closed truck or van, but if it was an open vehicle, maybe someone can give us a clue. A quarter of a mile down the road there's a new development. We're going to inquire at each house along the road for a mile to find out if anyone noticed the old stagecoach. If you girls would like to help, suppose you ask at the houses on the right side. Officer Gavin and I will take the left."

Nancy was pleased to have the a.s.signment and quickly accepted it. When they reached the settlement, she stopped in front of the second house on the right. George ran up to inquire at the first home, Bess to the third, while Nancy took the one in the center. None of the occupants answered their doorbells.

The policemen had no better luck across the street, so the two groups of inquirers moved on down the road. The same procedure followed. This time two of the residents were at home but neither of them had seen an open truck with an old stagecoach on it.

"Not a single clue," Officer Gavin said in disgust.

After the mile had been covered, each group reported failure to learn anything. The policemen thanked the girls and said they would take care of further questioning themselves.

"We'll be in touch with Mrs. Pauling to hear what you find out," Nancy told them.

Turning her car around, the young sleuth started back in the direction from which they had come. George demanded an explanation.

"I'm positive," said Nancy, "that those hijackers never came this far. It would be risky carrying the stagecoach for long on a public highway. I want to follow a hunch of mine; that is, the two hijackers went off this main road, taking the stagecoach with them. They may even have unloaded it and dragged it into the woods."

George was inclined to agree with Nancy and added, "Which side road are you going to pick, Nancy?"

"The first one those hijackers came to after they turned into the main road."

When Nancy reached the woods road from which they had emerged a little earlier, she once more turned the car around, then drove very slowly. The three girls watched intently for a little-used side road.

They had gone scarcely a thousand feet when Bess called out that she could see a trail through a wooded area. "It's probably a bridle path."

Nancy had already stopped. Bess and George quickly stepped from the car and hurried into the woods.

Within a few seconds George called back, "I think this is the road all right. Here are wheel tracks and footprints!"

Nancy locked the car, pocketed the key, and hurried after the cousins. The three excited sleuths almost ran along the bridle trail in their eagerness to find the old stagecoach.

Suddenly Bess stopped short. "We've gone far enough to prove our point," she declared. "I think we should go back and tell the state police. I certainly don't want to meet those hijackers!"

"I can't say that I do myself," Nancy replied. "On the other hand, we're only guessing that these wheel tracks belong to the old stagecoach. I think we should have more proof. Those hijackers may have taken the old stagecoach so they can hack it apart and find the clue. I'm convinced that Mr. Langstreet's secret has leaked out somehow. If we can possibly keep the antique vehicle from being destroyed, I'd certainly like to do it."

"I would too," said George. "Come on!"

Bess followed reluctantly. Less than a quarter of a mile ahead, the girls found themselves at the edge of a treeless cliff. Here the bridle trail veered off down the wooded slope. The girls paused and looked toward the foot of the cliff.

"There it is!" George cried exultantly.

Below them was the stolen stagecoach, intact! It was lying on one side.

"It isn't smashed, thank goodness," said George. "All those hijackers wanted to do was to get rid of it. But why?"

Nancy did not try to answer the question. She was not sure that she agreed with George. Bess again showed fear and insisted that the three girls leave and report to the police.

"Let's split up," Nancy suggested. "Bess, you take my car key and go back for officers Gavin and Starr. If you can't find them, get two others. George and I will go down this hillside and see what we can find out about the stagecoach." She handed the key to Bess.

"I don't like this arrangement," Bess said, "but I'll do it. And please be careful!"

"We'll stay among the trees alongside the bridle trail just to make you happy," George promised her cousin.

Bess went off, running at top speed. Nancy and George carefully descended the wooded hillside. On the way they neither saw nor heard anyone.

"I'd certainly like to get a close look at the old stagecoach," George whispered. "Do you think we dare?"

Nancy suggested that they wait a few minutes. Then, if they saw no sign of anyone, they would go into the open and find out what they could about the overturned vehicle. Ten minutes went by. Complete silence. Nancy signaled to George that they would proceed.

Just as the two girls walked up to the old stagecoach, a man's deep voice commanded harshly, "Stand where you are!"

CHAPTER VI.

Police a.s.sistance

THEIR hearts pounding, Nancy and George stood stock-still. Though both had been startled by the command from the unseen speaker, the girls tried not to show any fear.

"Who are you?" Nancy asked her hidden opponent. The man did not reply to her question. Instead, he ordered the girls to retrace their steps.

"Why?" Nancy countered, trying to stall for time until Bess could bring the police to the spot.

"Do as I say!" the stranger growled.

By this time Nancy and George had concluded that the man did not intend to reveal his whereabouts and harm them. Regaining their courage, the girls decided to stay as long as possible.

"We saw this old stagecoach from the top of the cliff," George spoke up. "We'd like to look at it."

"You leave the old thing alone!" the stranger directed.

"We're not going to harm it," Nancy argued. "Does it belong to you?"

All this time she had been listening intently, trying to find out where the speaker was located. As he called back, she decided the man was hiding in a huge maple tree not far away. She concentrated on the spot.

"That's none of your business," the stranger returned. "Now get out of here!"

Nancy detected a slight movement among the leaves on one of the stout limbs. In a shaft of sunlight she saw a man's hand and forearm. There was a slantwise scar across the wrist!

"One of the hijackers!" Nancy thought. "His blond cohort is probably with him. I guess George and I had better leave and go to meet the police."

Aloud she said, "Sorry to have bothered you. We'll go now."

George was surprised, but did not question Nancy's decision. Together the two girls scrambled up the hillside among the trees. When they were out of earshot of the man, Nancy quickly told George what she had seen.

"Hypers!" George exclaimed, using her favorite expression. "We found the hijackers! I hope they won't leave before we can have them arrested!"

The thought spurred the girls on and soon they reached the top of the cliff. They ran full speed along the bridle path toward the main road. Halfway there they met Bess and officers Gavin and Starr racing down the road. Quickly Nancy told her story and the whole group rushed back, so that the troopers might capture the hijackers.

As they neared the cliff, Officer Starr said he thought it best if the girls did not go down the bridle path, since the men below might expect a second visit from that direction and be warned away. "We'll take the other side right through the forest," he said. "And you girls, please keep in the rear." He turned to Nancy. "Would you act as lookout? Stay near the trees at the edge of the ravine. If you see anything unusual, notify us by rolling a stone in our direction."