Many hands made light work of righting the overturned auto, which, aside from some dents and scratches, was little the worse for what had happened. It was in running order and one of the officers drove it back to Fayetville, much to the delight of Rick and Chot.
When the party of which Mr. Campbell was an unofficial member next telephoned to the court-house, asking for news and reporting that they had none to impart, the finding of the auto was related to them, and they were advised to return and take up the search from the cave; looking for men afoot rather than for a trio of bank robbers in an auto.
“Well, boys, you certainly brought me good luck!” exclaimed Mr. Campbell as he greeted Rick and Chot on his return. “I had about given up my car, and all in it, as gone forever. But there isn’t a thing missing of any account, and though the machine is a bit battered she’ll run all right.”
Some slight repairs were needed and it was decided that the boys and Mr. Campbell would remain over night in Fayetville, going on next day. Meanwhile the search for the robbers was continued by the sheriff and his officers.
It was assumed that the bank looters had intended to hide in the cave with the auto until it was safe to venture out and depart for some other locality. But fate had played against them, as it did to the end, for, eventually, they were caught and sentenced to long terms in prison.
Rick and Chot hoped they might find some of the stolen money in the auto, for they wished the thrill of returning it to the rightful owners, but this was not to be. There was not so much as a stray penny.
“Well, I guess we’re ready to start off once more,” said Mr. Campbell next day when the auto had been put in good order and repacked with their belongings. “Uncle Tod will be wondering what has become of you,” he added.
“Mother wrote and told him we might be delayed on the road,” said Rick. “But I’ll be glad to get to his camp.”
“Not but what we’re having a dandy time!” Rick hastened to say, for fear Mr. Campbell might think he was not grateful. “But I want to find out what it is Uncle Tod wants us to do.”
“I don’t believe anything more exciting can happen there than what we’ve already had,” said Chot.