"About the same time they say the lady disappeared."

"Where did the boat go to?" asked Tom.

"Well, I was kind of curious to know whose boat it was, so I watched pretty closely, and she went in over there," and the old boatman pointed with his hand to a spot on the opposite sh.o.r.e where there was a tall rock and a fair-sized cove.

"Take us over there at once and I'll pay you well," said d.i.c.k. "Get out two pairs of oars, and we'll help you to row."

Slow though he was, Caleb Belcher was always anxious to earn money, and soon a rowboat was gotten ready and the three Rover boys sprang in. The old boatman followed, and the craft was headed across the lake.

"Who lives near that spot?" questioned d.i.c.k, as they swept over the calm bosom of the lake.

"Tony Carew's farm isn't far off," answered the old boatman.

"Anybody else?"

"Not that I know of."

"Do you know this Tony Carew."

"Guess I do-we went to school together, and licked each other more'n a dozen times," and Caleb Belcher chuckled over the recollection.

"All right, show us to his place," said d.i.c.k.

As soon as the sh.o.r.e was reached all sprang out of the boat, which was tied to a bush growing nearby. Then Caleb Belcher led the way along a trail that was rather rough. Presently they came to a road and on it an old farmhouse.

"There is Tony Carew now," said Belcher, and pointed to an old man who sat on a bench, smoking.

"I didn't have nuthin' to do with it-you can't mix me up in it!" cried Tony Carew, as soon as d.i.c.k stated the object of his visit. "I didn't tech the lady!" And he bobbed his head vigorously. Evidently he was a man easily scared.

"I want to learn if you know anything about it," returned d.i.c.k, sternly.

"If you do, tell me."

"I didn't tech the lady! I wouldn't tech n.o.buddy!" howled Tony Carew.

"Did you see her and the men?"

"Yes-but I didn't tech n.o.buddy, I tell you. I stayed in the barn."

"But you saw her!" cried d.i.c.k. "Where did she go? Or where did those men take her?"

"The hull crowd got in a carriage wot was waitin' down the road."

"Whose carriage?"

"I dunno. They had a white hoss an' a black hoss, an' the carriage had the top kinder torn."

"Who was driving?"

"A man with a linen duster, an' a cap pulled away down over his face."

"Which way did they go?"

"That way," answered Tony Carew, and pointed to a side road leading eastward.

CHAPTER XIX ON THE WAY TO BOSTON

The Rover boys gazed down the road with interest. It ran between a number of tall trees, and looked to be lonely in the extreme.

"Where does it lead to?" asked Sam.

"It's an old road, running to Shaville," answered Tony Carew. "It ain't hardly used any more."

"And that is why those rascals took it," answered d.i.c.k. "They wanted to keep in the dark as much as possible. How far to Shaville?"

"'Bout two miles."

"Can you take us over in a carriage? We'll pay you, of course."

"To be sure! But, say, honestly, I didn't have nuthin' to do with carryin' her off!" cried the old farmer.

"I believe you," answered d.i.c.k. "But it's a pity you didn't report what you knew to the Cedarville police."

"I didn't want to git in no trouble."

"Want me any more?" asked Caleb Belcher.

"We may want you," answered d.i.c.k. "Stay here for a couple of hours, anyway."

"My price is twenty-five cents an hour."

"All right-and there's a dollar on account," and d.i.c.k pa.s.sed the money over.

A fairly good horse and wagon were brought from the barn, and the boys and Tony Carew got in. Then the horse was urged forward, and over the uneven road they b.u.mped, in the direction of the village of Shaville, a sleepy community, with one store, a blacksmith shop, a church, and about a dozen cottages.

When Shaville was reached the boys commenced a diligent search for some news concerning the carriage with the white and the black horse and the dilapidated top. At first they could find n.o.body who had seen such a turnout, but presently they met a tramp whom Sam stopped, and he gave them news that was surprising.

"I see 'em!" cried the tramp. "Say, boss, give me a dollar an' I'll tell you all I know."

"You'll tell all you know without the dollar!" cried d.i.c.k, and grabbed the knight of the road by the collar. "Come now, tell me, quick!"

"Don't hurt me!" yelled the tramp. "I was only foolin'. Course I'll tell you."

He was subjected to close questioning, and from him it was learned that the carriage with the three men and the lady had pa.s.sed through Shaville and turned towards Latown. The lady had tried to jump from the carriage just while it was pa.s.sing the tramp, but the men had held her back. He had heard the men mention Latown, and also speak of an automobile.