But they
were all too far away to give effective chase.
"Bower might have come with me if he had wanted to help,"
thought Tom. But a backward glance over his shoulder did not show
that the new helper was engaging in the pursuit, and he could
have started almost on the same terms as Tom himself.
The runaway, looking back to see how near the young inventor
was to him, suddenly changed his course, and, noting this, Tom
Swift thought:
"I've got him now! He'll be bogged if he runs that way," for
the way led to a piece of swampy land that, after the recent
rains, was a veritable bog which was dangerous for cattle at
least; and more than one man had been caught there.
"He can't run across the swamp, that's sure," reflected Tom
with some satisfaction. "I'll get him all right!"
But he wanted to capture the man, if possible, before he
reached the bog, and, to this end, Tom increased his speed to
such good end that presently, on the firm ground that bordered
the swamp, Tom was almost within reaching distance of the
stranger.
But the latter kept up running, and dodged and turned so that
Tom could not lay hands on him.
Pages:
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103