Carson was worn out with lack of sleep and exhaustion. When Clancy dragged him to the fireplace, took a burning brand from the fire, and approached him, he let out one frightened yell. The red-haired chap knew that he could not carry out his bluff, but he held so desperate a countenance that Carson was overborne. Even Billy himself half thought that Clancy meant to put his bluff into effect.
“I give in!” yelled Carson wildly.
Clancy drew a long breath of relief, but did not let Carson see it.
“Where’s Chip Merriwell?” he demanded grimly.
“Don’t burn me!” yelled Carson frantically. “Give me a drink!”
“You’ll drink when I get ready, and not before,” roared Clancy. “Where’s Chip Merriwell? Hurry up, you galoot!”
“He’s at the Brundage Farm, on the other side of Orton,” gasped Bully. “For Heaven’s sake, give me a drink!”
The bully had given in completely and absolutely. None the less, he knew that since it was getting on toward noon, all hope of getting to Fardale for the game must now be over.
[195]
“Get up,” and Clancy kicked him to his feet. “Billy, take him out to the car and you take the wheel. I’ll come along in the Hornet. Make him guide us to this Brundage place, and do it quick!”
“Give me a drink first,” pleaded Carson.
“You’ll drink when you get there, not before. Jump lively!”
With a groan, Carson followed Billy. The fellow was in a pitiable plight, but at thought of Chip, Clancy lost all pity.
He soon ascertained from Billy Mac that Brundage was a farmer living on one of the Carson farms, just outside Orton, but on the opposite side of the town from where they were at present. Also, Carson loosened up with the story.
He confessed to having lured Chip away, and stated that both he and the driver of his machine were being held at the farm in question, in order that Chip should be detained from the Franklin game. At this Clancy climbed into the Hornet with a groan of despair.
“The harm’s done, now!” he reflected bitterly. “Billy, Chip, and I will be out of the game for certain. That means that Franklin will have a walk-away, unless old Fardale comes up to the scratch, or a miracle happens.”
Billy, driving Carson’s car with the owner huddled in the tonneau, shot out on the road, while Clancy followed in the Hornet. Poor Carson[196] was almost in a state of collapse, but Billy allowed him no sleep.
The two cars shot through Orton like a streak, giving Carson no chance to call for assistance. On the other side of town they came in sight of their goal—a large white farmhouse, set back from the road.
Billy turned in at the drive and whizzed up to the side of the house. As Clancy followed him, two men appeared, one carrying a shotgun. Clancy instantly perceived that their troubles had just begun, and took charge of the situation.
“Get a drink of water for Mr. Carson,” he cried, and the man with the shotgun leaned the weapon against the side of the house and hurried toward the well. The other came forward.
“This Mr. Brundage?” inquired Clancy.
“It is. What ye want? What’s the matter with Bully?”
Clancy turned and drew a breath of relief at sight of Bully, who had fallen sound asleep from utter weariness.
“We came after Merriwell,” he stated, turning to the farmer. “Get him out here in a hurry. Bully is tired out, that’s all.”
This statement was perfectly true. At Clancy’s air of haste, Brundage clawed his whiskers for an instant, then turned and hurriedly stamped into the house. Before the other man returned,[197] Clancy caught up the shotgun and thrust it into Billy’s hands.
“Climb into the Hornet and be ready to light out,” he exclaimed. “Keep that fellow covered.”
As the man approached, Billy ordered him to put up his hands. Clancy was already examining the barnyard. In one corner appeared an automobile, which beyond a doubt was that of the Carsonville garage.
The astonished farm hand obeyed Billy’s abrupt order. Bully Carson was in no danger of awakening for the present, and Clancy made ready to depart as soon as Chip was produced.
“We’ve got to hit her up for Fardale, Billy. When Chip comes, you give him that seat and climb out to the running board——”
“Take Carson’s car,” suggested Billy.
“No. We’ll do it in the Hornet. That old bone wagon of Bully’s couldn’t keep up with us for a mile.”
At this moment Brundage appeared at the door.
“Shall I let the other feller out——” he began, then stopped abruptly at sight of Billy covering the farm hand with the shotgun. “Hey! What you fellers up to?”
“You send Merriwell out here and do it in a hurry,” said Clancy, striding toward the door.
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